Of late, I’ve been listening to people claim individual 1 has exposed the “weakness” in our constitution, although, I would suggest what our TWICE IMPEACED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president has exposed is the “weakness” in those holding public office who are AFRAID to honor their OATH to the constitution. Our laws and our constitution clearly would be sufficient to hold individual 1 and MANY of his sycophants accountable if we had political leaders with the courage to actually defend that document they’ve made what should be a solemn OATH to defend.

Of course, I’m talking about all those republicans who have subjected themselves to the control of individual 1 and the cult following he has because of his willingness to come along side the white nationalist/supremacist segment of America. (Which, by the way, is very large – larger than most of us understand) However, I’m also talking about the democrats who continue to act like the timid “fraidy cats” which have defined the democratic party over the course of much of my lifetime. It’s the democrats who cause me the most frustration, I have to admit.

Now, I’ve been an “independent” voter my entire life, although it should be obvious I tend to vote for democrats. The reality is I vote AGAINST republicans, because I just can’t stomach “today’s” version of the republican party. There are “red line” issues for me and one of those is the issue of race. The FACT the republican party has decided to associate themselves with the RACIST elements of our society as their “base” is a decision I can NOT support under any circumstances. Another issue for me is “climate change” and a third is the national debt. I believe, for example, the evidence shows over the course of the past 40+ years when there’s a democrat in office, they fight to pay for the “stuff” they want passed. The evidence is obvious, the real “sticking point” between republicans and democrats on the “infrastructure” bill is Biden’s commitment to PAY for it by raising taxes on America’s wealthy elite and corporations which have been CHEATING on their taxes for years. (Plus by increasing the IRS funding so they can go after all the rich American CHEATING on their taxes.)

Another issue I’ve already written about is my disappointment in Merrick Garland, Biden’s appointee to be the Attorney General of the United States. It almost feels as if he’s taking the Obama approach to legal accountability which is “looking forward instead of back.” I pointed this out when Barack Obama made that statement – you CAN’T prosecute CRIMINAL activity without “looking back.” If our Justice Department just “looked forward” there wouldn’t be prosecutions in the future. How can you prosecute CRIMINAL activity WITHOUT looking back?

The Justice Department IS looking back EVERY day as they’re hunting down the INSURRECTIONISTS who stormed our nation’s Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021. So far, they’ve found around 500 of the INSURRECTIONISTS who’ve been identified and charged with their CRIMINAL activity. Of course, virtually ALL those who entered the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 did so thinking individual 1 had “ordered” them to do so “or you won’t have a country anymore!” Others, like Mo Brooks and Rudy Giuliani and individual 1 Jr. urged the crowed to take “action” to overturn the certification of the Electoral College votes. So, why are these people NOT being investigated and indicted for their part in INSTIGATING the INSURRECTION? It’s ALL right out in the open – well, ON the TV screen!

I’ve compared this possibility – that individual 1 will be allowed to go without accountability to the Bush/Cheney administration when numerous members of their administration – including Bush, Cheney, and Don Rumsfeld – openly authorized and encouraged TORTURE. Torturing “enemy combatants” (which, GW Bush claimed he had the right to arbitrarily do) was WAR CRIMES – clear and simple. Of course, this is what Barack Obama chose to “look forward” and, in essence, ignore once he was in office. He actually STOPPED several investigations which were already underway by the time he took the OATH of office – to “defend our constitution.” (Bill Clinton’s Justice Department “looked forward” after “Iran/Contra” letting Ronald Reagan AND George HW Bush “off the hook” – suggesting they weren’t involved is, well, NOT believable)

lf our constitution allows some people to be “above the law” then we should simply acknowledge that so people like me don’t have to do all this writing. However, I believe our constitution and our system of laws are fully sufficient to hold individual 1 to account for his legal transgressions while in office. This is the ONLY way to stop this from happening in the future. Robert Mueller made it clear the EVIDENCE of individual 1 committing OBSTRUCTION of Justice could be prosecuted once he was out of office. In his report he claimed the reason they were “memorializing” the evidence was for someone else, in the future, who could hold individual 1 to account. Merrick Garland is “on the spot” as far as holding individual 1 to account. If there’s FEAR about the consequences of indicting an ex president, well, it should happen sooner rather than later – let’s get it over with. (Garland’s decision to block the release of Bill Barr’s memo showing his LYING about Mueller’s report suggests to me Garland has no stomach for prosecuting ANY of the 10 ALLEGED instances of OBSTRUCTION by individual 1.)

Obstruction is a basic CRIME upending our system of Justice. Mueller listed TEN instances of OBSTRUCTION committed by individual 1 as his (Mueller’s) team attempted to “get to the bottom” of the “Russia thing.” I realize election officials all across America are getting “death threats” for actually FAIRLY counting the ballots. So, I’m sure Mr. Garland understands what the result of indicting our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president will be. Many of these right wing RACIST groups will, potentially, react with violence. If this OBSTRUCTION is NOT going to be prosecuted then the “Special Counsel” law should be “shelved.” It has no “teeth” if the person being investigated can get away with OBSTRUCTING the investigation – IN PLAIN SIGHT – as in the case of individual 1.

And, here, I have to add I predicted the violence coming from individual 1’s supporters over one year prior to January 6th, 2021 in response to an acquaintance who predicted individual 1 would “win in a landslide” and “liberal mobs” will respond with violence. I told him he had it backwards, and – not wanting to pat my own back – time proved me correct! Sadly! Of course, I had no idea this VIOLENCE would include an INSURRECTION at the Capitol – or that the so-called “Big lie” would continue well into the next year and that republicans all across America would continue to push that “LIE” and use it to justify “Jim Crow 2.0.” The RACISM of the republican party is now on full display – it’s as if George Wallace is back and had taken over the republican party. Yikes!

This country is teeming with CRIMINALS willing to do whatever it takes to turn our democratic republic into an autocracy – something resembling Putin’s Russia. Honestly, that SHOULD give even individual 1’s supporters pause. Why would they want a country with a constitution which has been shredded, and, by the way, for some of them, the ONLY part of the constitution which registers in their minds is the “Second Amendment” – which, of course, they’ve abused over the course of time. Here’s what the Second Amendment actually says: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Now, those words definitely are vague, but suggesting they mean there can be no restrictions on the “arms” “we the people” have a right to “keep” is, to me, absurd. (A topic for another day)

Individual 1 was committing SCANDALS on such a regular basis that “we the people” became somewhat numb to all of his CRIMINAL activity. He was IMPEACHED twice and easily could have been IMPEACHED on other occasions as well. He’s left the impression he’s impervious to any legal accountability and, now, there seems to be MILLIONS of his supporters who believe they can also threaten people with impunity. Individual 1 continues to act like a mob boss and his supporters believe they can send threats to election officials with no blowback. I hate to bring this up again, Merrick Garland, but it’s on you watch these egregious attacks on our constitutional republic will either be held to account OR they’ll be fuel for future lawless behavior. It’s pretty much as simple as that.

Final Thought: The optimist in me wants to believe the democrats can figure out a way to pass the legislation which would “head off at the pass” all the racist voter suppression bills I referenced above as “Jim Crow 2.0.” As I’ve said, I’ve been watching democrats act as if they’re afraid of their own “shadow” for most of my lifetime and, it appears, we could be in for, at least, a couple more years of this. And, of course, republicans will be busy gerrymandering even more districts making keeping the democrats in control of the House near impossible. And, the VOTER SUPPRESSION bills are clearly aimed at all the African American votes which republicans believe got Joe Biden into the “White House.” With the “conservative” democrats in the Senate, it may not be necessary for republicans to control Congress to be able to OBSTRUCT Biden’s agenda.

There are too many photos, for example, to my liking of both Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema hanging out with republicans who clearly are attempting to keep them from supporting the democratic agenda. To me, Sinema is more difficult to understand, because her state is “turning blue” – well, at least prior to their VOTER SUPPRESSION bill which is aimed directly at “Maricopa County” which is the population center of the state – ie where the “people of color” reside. Should be interesting, stay tuned…………….

Oh yes, I still remember Chief Justice Roberts obfuscating as to why his court GUTTED the 1965 Voting Rights Act – sections 4 and 5 of it, which required “preclearance before states with a history of voter SUPPRESSION.” Well, now the Court has three more right wing judges, but the bottom line is it will have to be the COURTS which BLOCK “Jim Crow” 2.0 if the democrats are unable to get S-1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act bill passed “sooner rather than later.” To Garland’s credit, he’s suggested the Justice Department will begin that process and there are other “entities” who may be challenging these laws in Court. Will they be able to block this GIANT step backward in America – by the racists in the republican party – which, sadly, appears to be MOST of them – only time will tell!? It’s clear, there’s a large block of American “white people” who fear the loss of their “white privilege.” They would also tell you they believe in “free markets.” I’ve always said, there are NO “free markets” – only markets which are “free” by those who control them. The hypocrisy is palpable! OK, progressives – do whatever you have to do in order to cast your ballot in 2022!

My latest “reading” is “Alt America, The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump,” (ie individual 1) by David Neiwert. I’d LOVE all my “conservative” acquaintances to read this book, but I know NOT of a single one who would do so. The TRUTH of what has been happening to America since the days of Ronald Reagan is NOT something they’re interested in. In fact, I don’t know ANY of them who read anything aside from what they can find on right wing websites. And, of course, when they have their TV’s on, they’re watching propaganda outlets like Fox “news,” “Newsmax,” and “OANN.” I’ve read recently how Fox has gone farther off the “guardrails” since the day their election prognosticators pointed out Joe Biden would win Arizona prior to any of the other “prognosticators,” in order to keep their audience.

The Fox viewers were so outraged they would make that prediction, which, of course, was “right on,” but the viewers could care less. They’ve never been much “in” on the TRUTH if it doesn’t comport with their “wishes.” It was reported after this right wing “fiasco” Fox was losing viewers in droves to Newsmax – and, I can confirm I know some of the fleeing viewers – who actually told me “Fox is too liberal” – and, subsequently Fox has become even MORE outrageous in their attempt to get their viewers back – which seems to be working. Just as republicans are all about POWER so to is Fox all about the MONEY – no matter what damage is caused to this great nation. Republicans have accepted LYING as part of their “means to an end.”

So, in Neiwert’s book, the actual history of what took place on January 6th, 2021 is traced back to the beginnings of the right wing “populist” movement leading to today’s extremism from various groups attempting to instigate another “civil war.” The underlying foundation of ALL these groups is the white nationalist/supremacist movement which has been part of America since her earliest days. For example, much of today’s “extremism” on the “right” comes straight from the “bowels” of the KKK. Of course, the KKK was much more “out in the open” many years ago, but, today, leaders like David Duke and Don Black operate more stealthily, but, for example, the website “Stormfront.com” is a “hub” for much of the right wing “militia’s” who were at our nation’s Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021.

One of the groups I’m presently reading about in this book is the “Oathkeepers.” This group was founded by a paranoid ex-military person named Stewart Rhodes. This group and groups like it are full of members who are manipulated via FEAR mongering. The “Oathkeepers” are recruiting former members of the military and police departments – which is a bit alarming when you realize how many of those people are willing to be “sucked in” to these DISHONEST groups (Many were ARRESTED after January 6th, 2021). Rhodes is making a good living grifting off members who fall for his shtick and, of course, while there were numerous “Oathkeepers” arrested after January 6th, 2021 it was no surprise to me to find out Rhodes wasn’t one of them. Just as individual 1 will likely avoid accountability for INCITING the INSURRECTION, so to with Rhodes who encouraged his followers to participate, but when push came to shove, he was no where to be seen, just like individual 1.

Paranoid, I say and you might say, huh? Well, here’s a “quote” from Mark Potok on the Bill O’Reilly show back in 2010 after Rhodes claimed the Obama administration planned to “disarm Americans”: “What the group is really about is the fear that martial law is about to be imposed, that Americans are about to be herded into concentration camps, that foreign troops are going to be put down on American soil. The Oath Keepers say specifically, we will not obey these orders, we will refuse orders to put Americans into concentration camps. Now, is that dangerous? It seems to me the danger is that these are men and women, in the case of police officers, who are given a real power over the rest of us, sometimes the power of life and death. They make very important decisions. And if these men and women are animated by the idea that, you know, foreign forces are about to come into this country and put us under martial law and throw us all into concentration camps, I think there is a certain danger associated with that … They’re operating on the basis of crazy theories that may cause one them to draw a gun one day.” These people are fear mongering wack jobs!

Here’s the irony of all this: They call themselves “Patriots” and “Constitutionalists” – yet, there they were marching into the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021 in an attempt to overturn the constitutional ordered process of certifying the Electoral College results of the 2020 election – results confirmed in OVER 60 FAILED – by individual 1 – (and frivolous) lawsuits after the election. I certainly DON’T call them either “patriots” or “constitutionalists.” I mean, suggesting they’re constitutionalists is absurd on its face, and “patriots?” I say, “Are you kidding me?” They use these names to help them recruit people who are unable to think critically. And, trust me, I know a bunch of “conservatives” who are unable to think critically.

One of the offshoots of the “Oathkeepers” was a group called the “Three percenters,” another group “grifting” off disaffected “conservatives” who, in essence, are “all in” on the white nationalist/supremacist movement in America. These types of groups go well back before President Obama took office, but, it seems, it was the election of our first President of “color” which spawned the “Oathkeepers” and, then, the “Three Percenters.” The “Three Percenters” “militia” was concocted by Mike Vanderboegh at about the same time as Rhodes started the “Oathkeepers,” and his “vision” was to enlist American gun owners. These are two examples of extremist “anti-government” groups who chose to represent our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president in an attempt to keep him in power after building up their groups via FEAR MONGERING. So, anti-government? Most of these groups claim what they really don’t like is when elections don’t turn out the way they would want – which is when they become “patriots.” Give me a break!

Just as individual 1 is delusional, so too are these groups who somehow have allowed themselves to be convinced they’re “patriots” and/or “constitutionalists,” or “conservatives.” As I’ve been thinking about what has happened to our country I’ve been reminded of the reality of an “infection” or, maybe a better analogy would be “dry rot.” In both instances when the “rot” or the “infection” first appears it is critical to address it or it simply continues to grow. The “infection” of all these so-called “militias” or “patriot movements” in America have been “festering” for years. Things got really “out of control” under the administration of Barack Obama as virtually ALL these groups were in “panic mode” once “we the people” had elected a person with African American ancestry to the “White House.” I’ll never forget Chuck Norris, in a public interview, warn of “10,000 cells” across America ready to “take our country back.” (From what? A duly elected president?)

Well, in addition, during the first years of President Obama’s administration we all saw the “Tea Party” emerge – with the help of the Koch brothers and Fox “news” – and the “Tea Party” became somewhat intertwined with many of these right wing militia movements – the “Oathkeepers” were right in the middle of many of the “Tea Party” rallies. And, if you saw what took place at those rallies you saw OVERT racism in a group which has now gained a stranglehold on the republican party. I’ve still got acquaintances who are “die hard” republicans who look at you funny when you point out the party is controlled by RACISTS. They always respond with “I’m not a racist” as if I should be ashamed to even bring it up. Of course, there’s one “conservative” I know who then points out “There’s going to be another ‘civil war.'” Yikes!

I would recommend to anyone who wants to understand the “underpinnings” of what is going on in America to read “Alt America.” It goes much deeper into the right wing extremism problem in America than simply the “Oathkeepers” and the “Three Percenters” and what led to January 6th, 2021. (If you’re confused why I keep writing that date it’s because I’m trying to do my part to prevent people from “forgetting” what happened) This extremism goes well back beyond President Obama – it seems to “grow” when there’s a democrat in the “White House” – but, the INSURRECTION is confirmation of what Chris Wray has been talking about since before January 6th, 2021, “the greatest threat to America is domestic right wing extremists.” Republicans in Congress would have us all believe this is “poppycock” – that the INSURRECTIONISTS were simply “visitors to the Capitol” and they’re being abused by the FBI.

This is where we have to look to Merrick Garland to follow through on the promises he made during his confirmation hearings – to investigate the INSURRECTION and the root causes behind it. As I’ve said here, over and over, the TRUTH is going to come out. In my view, it’s incumbent on Mr. Garland to expedite the process as much as he can within the bounds of the law. So far, I’m not that excited about his job performance. He’s appealing a judges ruling about a “memo” from Bill Barr which Judge Amy Berman Jackson said was “disingenuous” (translation: LYING) about Mueller’s report and the OBSTRUCTION allegations (which is likely to prevent any investigation of the OBSTRUCTION allegations against individual 1) AND he’s appealing the ruling which said individual 1 would have to “fend for himself” in the defamation suit filed against him by ONE of the two dozen or so women who accused him of sexual assault. Garland didn’t exactly gain my confidence with EITHER of those choices. (Even if he loses the appeals, another year or two has lapsed – therefore, Barr’s mission “accomplished”) “Looking forward” solves NOTHING!

Keep in mind, the Justice Department is scheduled to PROSECUTE around 500 cases involving the INSURRECTIONISTS – and counting, with a possible number in the 800’s if the FBI can identify all those caught on tape inside the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 – and, we can hope he’s going to be aggressive in these prosecutions. However, he’s showing signs of being timid in the face of a growing number of right wingers OPENLY expressing the desire to attack our government. So far, there’s NO reports he’s investigating individual 1, Rudy Giuliani, individual 1 Jr., Mo Brooks, or any others of those who worked up the crowd prior to the INSURRECTIONISTS invading our Capitol. Let’s just hope Garland doesn’t have the same FEAR of individual 1 shown by the bulk of republicans in Congress. And, is he not wanting to “poke the bear” by going after all the right wingers who are making seditionist threats online – for FEAR of stirring up violence? Here’s the deal: The longer our government ignores those making the online threats the worst the danger of violence will ultimately become.

I pointed this out back when Barack Obama famously said: “We’re going to look forward instead of back.” To republicans, that was like a “green light.” Just more evidence democrats don’t have the stomach to hold them accountable. Therefore, we got the rise of the so-called “alt right” during Obama’s administration and, of course, then the administration of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president to exacerbate things by making white nationalists/supremacists feel as if he was their “fuhrer.” I know that sounds hyperbolic, but check out those who hang out at Stormfront.com if you don’t believe me. Now, if individual 1 is not held accountable for at least SOME of the plethora of CRIMES he committed while in office, well, then it will just get worse the next time. That’s how it works. And, for any republican who happens across this site, NO, the democrats don’t commit CRIMES like the republicans in the White House. (I know what you’re thinking: “What about Bill Clinton?” – he LIED about sex; apparently “no big deal” to republicans after the LIES of individual 1! – Actually, on the Access Hollywood tape he told the TRUTH)

Final Thought: Today (actually last night) it was revealed the Sessions/Barr Justice Department was ILLEGALLY SPYING on democrats in the House Intelligence Community. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell. Not only were both Schiff and Swalwell SPIED on, but so were their associates, their staffs, and EVEN their families – including, at least, one minor – according to published reports. I’m pretty sure Attorney General Garland didn’t anticipate all the ISSUES left over from individual 1’s assault on our “rule of law,” but he REALLY needs to act – and, not in a way which simply puts off the inevitable – as he’s doing with the two (egregious) “appeals” I mentioned above. Not only should he be putting an emphasis on an investigation which won’t take more than a year (like an IG investigation), but he KNOWS who the “culprits” in the Justice Department are who participated in this act of Judicial cowardice and they should either RESIGN immediately or be FIRED. According to the reports, this SPYING was the result of demands coming from our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president – and, if you were paying attention you heard his demands – in real time – he wanted Schiff “arrested” – but, the SPYING had to be ordered by either Sessions or Barr or both and the Justice Department lawyers who participated KNEW better and SHOULD have resigned on the spot. So, based on reports, at least FOUR of them are still there, they SHOULD resign post haste or be FIRED by Mr. Garland. We’ll see how this goes, but, so far, Attorney General Garland hasn’t impressed me.

I will add: Today, Mr. Garland FINALLY announced the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department would begin CHALLENGING the onerous voter SUPPRESSION laws being passed in one right wing controlled state after another. When the Supreme Court GUTTED Sections five and four of the 1965 Voting Right’s Act Chief Justice Roberts claimed “pre-clearance” was not needed any more for states with a history of passing voter SUPPRESSION laws aimed at minorities – as in African Americans. He said, at the time, Section two was sufficient to stop any attempts to disenfranchise voters based on their minority status. Well, let’s hope this is a sign Attorney General Garland is intent on holding Mr. Roberts to his word and that the rest of the Court agrees. The problem is, by the time these onerous bills can be challenged in Court we could be in the 2022 election cycle. I was glad to hear Garland say these laws were going to be challenged today, I’m just wondering what took the Justice Department so long? Stay tuned……

During IMPEACHMENT #2 republicans had the opportunity to put the NONSENSE which has now engulfed their “party” to rest by simply CONVICTING individual 1 for INCITING the INSURRECTION attempt of January 6th, 2021. They could have REMOVED the cloud individual 1 is going to hold over their “party” for good – he’d be, by now, just an afterthought and they COULD have attempted to resurrect their “party” by actually adopting a “platform” which could be part of a “battle of ideas” with democrats. However, as ANYONE who’s been paying attention KNOWS the republicans don’t have a platform. Their “strategy” is to BLAME democrats for “ills” most of which don’t even exist.

MOST of the “accusations” coming from republicans toward, well, anyone NOT a republican (like me) fit the pure definition of PROJECTION. This was one thing individual 1 was actually good at – besides, of course, LYING – that is, projection. If he’s accusing you of it, that means he’s doing it. So, if republicans are accusing democrats of it, it’s most likely because they’re doing it. I say “most likely” because, for example, I wouldn’t call republicans “socialists” – unless, maybe, you’re talking about “socialists” like Joseph Stalin. However, when they refer to democrats as “fascists” I’m immediately harkened back to January 6th, 2021 at our nation’s Capitol Building. There we saw an “up close and personal” view of “fascism” – or, I should say, pseudo fascism – or maybe it would be more accurate to say “wannabe” fascism. You know, “like the sign said” (on one of the shirts) “Camp Auschwitz!”

Democrats, in their dysfunctional way, are attempting to “right” many of the “wrongs” left behind by our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president, but the reality is they’re stuck in a Congress where Mitch McConnell IS going to BLOCK virtually everything (except, maybe, a Defense Appropriation bill) proposed by democrats – because, in his mind and the minds of republicans, the way back to POWER is via OBSTRUCTION. This has been the republican “MO” since the days of Newt Gingrich. Will it continue to work? Well, only if democrats allow it – and, of course, that includes Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema. So, the solution to what is happening in America right now lies with “we the people” – we MUST overcome the OBSTACLES and be focused on VOTING, no matter what – and, Merrick Garland MUST follow through with his promises during his confirmation hearings.

Manchin appears to be really confused. Is he a democrat, I hope so, or is he a democrat who loves the position he’s in where he, in essence, controls as much of what goes on in the Senate as Moscow Mitch. Just the other day he wrote and “Op-ed” in his local newspaper in West Virginia suggesting he doesn’t want to agree to the democrats voting right’s legislation because he doesn’t want to further divide the country. I read that and could only shake my head. What on earth does he think the 360+ VOTER SUPPRESSION bills across the country are doing? Are they not further DIVIDING “we the people?” Either he’s racially insensitive, or racially ignorant, or, well, I’ll let you fill in the blank. His “argument” makes no sense – but, both he and Krysten Sinema seem hell bent on protecting the filibuster – possibly at the expense of Joe Biden’s agenda – honestly, I’m getting the idea Manchin is feeling a bit too full of himself. McConnell couldn’t be happier. So, how will this problem be solved?

It’s true individual 1 is very likely facing indictment from the Manhattan DA AND the Fulton County. Georgia DA – but, if he – and the others who took the stage with him at the Ellipse in Washington DC on January 6th, 2021 – are NOT forced to face legal liability for their role in ENCOURAGING the mob to “attack the Capitol” – “or you won’t have a country anymore” – then our Justice Department is failing maybe it’s greatest test in our nation’s history. The ASSAULT on our Capitol was PLANNED ahead of time, unknown people (to the public) paid for it, the “stooges” who took part were “groomed” by individual 1 since well BEFORE the 2020 election, and FIVE people DIED from the ASSAULT along with two Capitol Police officers who took their own lives days later. There MUST be LEGAL accountability for all of this.

To top it all off, this past weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Michael Flynn, in essence, agreed with a “former Marine” (?) – who couldn’t correctly pronounce “Myanmar” – that America should have a “Myanmar style coup d etat.” That’s the definition of Sedition – here it is:

“18 U.S. Code § 2384 – Seditious conspiracy, If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”

Well, it should be obvious to any REASONABLE American that the invaders of the Capitol have a big problem on their hands – many SHOULD be facing charges of Sedition. And, Flynn and the “Marine” he was talking to at a “QAnon conference” (What the hell is a retired Military “general” doing at a QAnon conference? you might be asking yourself and, well, I’ve got no good answer) and, maybe, all the people there cheering the response SHOULD be facing, well, something – because, in essence, they were proposing the overthrow of our elected government. Apparently, they think they’re following the constitution because, OK, I can’t explain that one either. Now you know why I’ve devolved to using the word STUPID on this site of late.

Getting back to Flynn. He’s collecting a general’s pension and can be called back to active duty at anytime up until – well, years from now. He’s a proven (admitted) LIAR, he’s suggested an overthrow of our government before – he suggested it to individual 1 prior to January 6th, 2021, and he SHOULD be held to account for his words. He COULD be called back to active duty and COURT MARSHALLED for what he said, or Merrick Garland could intervene based on a clear violation of the US Code mentioned above. The “Marine?” I’m not sure, he couldn’t pronounce “Myanmar,” maybe he heard about “Myanmar” on – I’d be guessing. But, the reality is it’s far more serious when a retired “general” is suggesting Sedition than when someone who can’t pronounce what he’s proposing – although, I’d be OK if BOTH of them were held to account. At some point in time our Justice Department is going to ACTUALLY prove we’re “a nation of laws and not men.” Or, else………………….

So, here’s how the “problem” I mentioned above will be resolved. Somehow, democrats will need to motivate their base to make a record turnout once again and, at a minimum, gain more seats in the Senate and, somehow – in the face of partisan gerrymandering which is already underway – retain control of the House. The American people will have to decide if they want a democratic republic and an authoritarian autocracy like what the Russian people have endured since Vladimir Putin took over some 25 years ago. Putin’s still sticking his nose too deeply into America’s “business” and he’ll continue until Biden “cuts it off” – if he’s capable of doing that. I’ve come to like Joe Biden much more than I anticipated, but I’m going to speak my thoughts regardless – just as I pointed out President Obama’s pragmatic foolishness I’ll do the same if Biden appears he’s going to repeat the same mistakes. In my view, not only is it imperative President Biden is agressive with Putin, so must he be agressive at home – especially when dealing with those who’ve been flaunting our laws for all too long – and, I’m talking about republican “leaders.” And, you know which ones!

I’ll add one more than before my actual “final thought” – which, tonight, obviously, will be “thoughts.” I don’t think it’s a “good look” for Biden’s Justice Department to be defending individual 1’s “stuff” in court. First, it was the so-called Barr memo which Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered released and Merrick Garland’s Justice Department is appealing that ruling which will delay the release for at least another year. This memo has to do with the upwards of TEN OBSTRUCTION of Justice charges which Robert Mueller suggested individual 1 COULD face once out of office. Barr tried to “head these off at the pass” and Judge Jackson, in essence, accused Barr of LYING – both to the court and Congress. It appears this will be ANOTHER example of executive malfeasance given a “pass.” And, of course, giving this memo a “pass” will likely allow individual 1 to get ANOTHER “pass.” This is NOT what Garland promised when he was in his confirmation hearings. Now, it appears Garland’s Justice Department is siding with individual 1 in his defamation suit brought by one of his alleged sexual assault victims. “And, the beat goes on……..”

Final Thought: My brother-in-law lives in Pittsburgh, he’s as old as me (that’s pretty old), he operates a small business – which has gotten “smaller” due to the ruthlessness of some of America’s most “famous” corporations – like, for example, Apple – and, he’s worried about “inflation” because of all of “Biden’s spending” – or words to that effect. Sadly, I’m not back there to speak to him in person – I love Pittsburgh, but I hate FLYING (even before the pandemic) – but, I’m sure, there are many more who are thinking the same way. Well, the short answer I’d give him is “not to worry.” “A little inflation is good for the soul” of the country which is coming off the “brink” of another “Great Depression” (Seems as if that’s the routine “handoff” from republican administration to democratic administration these days) and would have been suffering from DEFLATION if not for the democrats “stimulus efforts” since individual 1 chose to ignore the FACT a serious virus was in the “air.”

Republicans were too STUPID to understand the so-called “CARES Act” – the BEST parts for “we the people” – was the work of Nancy Pelosi and the democratic House – which included the SBA loans which were “forgivable” to businesses who retained their employees and ALSO the extra $600 for unemployment benefits for the 20+ MILLION Americans who LOST their jobs because of the pandemic. That “Act” actually was key to reviving the Stock Market – which was the ONLY guage individual 1 had to measure the “health” of the economy and it helped many Americans have money for basic expenses – the weekly “bonus” to the unemployed really rankled republicans to the point they failed to understand it was their “ticket” for success in the 2020 election.

Had republicans been SMART enough to agree to the “HEROES Act” – another gem put forth by Ms. Pelosi, I believe individual 1 would still be in the “White House” because, obviously, Ms. Pelosi cares more about the health of our nation than the “health” of the democratic party. The “HEROES Act” was, in essence, the equivalent of the “weak” stimulus passed in December on a “bi-partisan” basis – which sent out $600 payments to Middle Class Americans (again, to the chagrin of MOST republicans – even though individual 1 actually understood the amount SHOULD have been $2000) – plus the “Covid Relief Bill” passed in the first month or so of Biden’s administration. In essence, these bills have prevented our nation from veering into “deflation” which is much WORSE than a bit of “inflation.”

I’ve read quite a bit of the writings of Paul Krugman, a true Keynesian economist, and he’s quick to point out the dangers of inflation are quite small and that a bit of inflation (above the 2% target) will likely be beneficial until we’ve actually recovered from the economic shock of the pandemic. If you’re worried about inflation get your house re-financed while the interest rates are still at historic lows, or buy the car you’ve been planning to buy. or whatever – because the Fed can shut off a too high rise in inflation by raising rates – but, even the Fed chair (Powell) has suggested a bit of inflation right now would be beneficial – providing it doesn’t get out of control.

For heaven’s sake, in many parts of America the minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour. That, to me, is worse than ridiculous – and, keep in mind, it’s still that low STRICTLY because of republican intransigence. When I first started working back in 1963 (as a “busboy” in a restaurant) the minimum wage was $1.25 per hour. Based on inflation, it SHOULD be AT LEAST the $15 per hour democrats are attempting to get passed through Congress as I’m writing this. It wasn’t a (totally) livable wage back in 1963 but it was FAR closer than the $7.25 today. And, in states like Arizona, if you’re a restaurant worker and getting tips, they don’t even have to pay you the $7.25. In Washington State, where I live, the minimum wage was above $13.50 across the state and, I believe, $15 per hour in Seattle, the largest city. Not only did this not adversely effect Washington’s economy, it apparently helped it because Washington is doing quite well.

“Biden’s spending” SHOULD be viewed as “INVESTING” in the American people. I’ve told anyone willing to listen to me, this is the FIRST time in my LIFETIME where I feel our government is actually INVESTING in “we the people.” (I was born in 1947) Of course, Eisenhower’s Federal Highway project was a great “investment” in the American people and there were others when I was too young to understand (GI Bill, etc.) but since the day Ronald Reagan turned “conservatives” against our own government – a move which has metastasized over the years, leading up to January 6th, 2021 with a bunch of white nationalists who view individual 1 as their “fuhrer” (causing their parents who fought in WW II – like my own – to “turn in their graves”) republicans have done virtually NOTHING but “trickle up” taxpayer dollars to Americans who don’t need the help. Their “theories” have proven BOGUS over and over again, yet the continue to push them because, well, enough Americans have fallen for their “shtick” and believe all their problems are the result of our “socialist” government.

I’ve stated here I haven’t found ONE republican who claims democrats are “socialists” who understand what a “socialist” really is (they almost always confuse it with “communist”). America has been a – I guess I’ll call it – “socialist republic” since the “New Deal” and programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. And, since my “peer group” is a bunch of old people like me, I haven’t found a SINGLE one willing to give up their Social Security or Medicare benefit despite their claims “Biden is a Socialist.” If fact, most have said things like “Keep the government’s “hands” off my Social Security” – and, I’m not kidding. They get offended when you say, “You’re watching too much Fox “news.” Those who aren’t eligible for Social Security believe they’ll NEVER benefit from it – despite the FACT that is absurd – unless they keep voting for republicans! (Of course, they believe THAT because Fox, Newsmax, OANN, etc. say so)

So, what I’d say to anyone worried about “inflation” would be get rid of any variable rate loans you have – I learned that lesson back in the early days of Reagan – make sure ANY loans you have are “fixed rate” loans. Personally, I don’t believe the Fed will allow inflation to “spike” but I do believe the consider “a bit of inflation” helpful at this point in time – because the economy is STILL in the process of recovering from the guy who’s screwed up EVERY “inheritance” he’s ever received. Biden is doing EXACTLY what he should be doing and will likely be FORCED to push through the “infrastructure bill” and the “Families” plan of his agenda via some concocted reconciliation scheme because republicans would NEVER agree to invest in Middle Class Americans. This, by the way, is why Biden has an “approval rating” north of 60% and explains why individual 1’s “approval” always languished in the LOW “forties.”

I’ll end this “final thought” by saying the “kicker” in Biden’s (spending) INVESTMENTS in the American people and our future is, unlike republican “policy” – re tax scams, he’s planning to pay for the INVESTMENT by raising taxes on those Americans earning MORE than $400,000 per year and Corporations – including cracking down on corporations who are paying NOTHING in taxes and “stashing” profits in places like the Cayman Islands. This tax avoidance mentality is one of the many “deplorable” outgrowths of republican “trickle down” policy since Reagan took the oath of office. In fact, just by funding the IRS the calculation I’ve read is close to $1 TRILLION per year can be raised simply from tax CHEATS – rich people refusing to pay taxes or not paying what they actually owe. I’ve read from multiple sources the present IRS “audits” are focused more on people getting the “earned income credit” than on MILLIONAIRES cheating on their returns – if they even send one in – because, “It’s too expensive to fight them due to all their accountants and the IRS has been stripped of funding by republicans in recent years.” Novel idea – actually paying for these INVESTMENTS in America.

Finally, keep in mind, it’s these very wealthy people who don’t want to PAY any taxes if they can get away with it who will be reaping the greatest benefit of rebuilding our infrastructure or educating our people to the modern economy, or investing in child care for working parents, and on and on – ultimately, the revitalized economic benefits actually WILL “trickle up” to those at the top – and, likely, they’ll still be complaining about “socialism” and still be trying to avoid paying taxes. I’d give my idea of “alternate options” for these people, but I’ll save it for another day. Stay tuned…………………

I don’t know if I have the energy to finish this post, but I’ll start off by saying I read an article in the Washington Post (which I’m a subscriber) written by Robert J Walker titled “I’d be a republican if it weren’t for the republicans. So might many other African Americans.” It was a very interesting article and reminded me of my (now deceased) former teaching partner who was “African American,” had served 20 years in the Air Force (carrying a bullet too close to his heart to remove since the Viet Nam days), had his own church and was a phenomenal pastor, and an incredible educator as we worked together teaching 6th graders who came to our classes (mostly) from low socio economic families – many in “generational poverty.”

I always felt the same way about my friend (probably the BEST friend I’ve ever had) in regard to Mr. Walker’s article. He was – I want to say OBVIOUSLY simply because he was a “fire and brimstone” pastor – a devout Christian, but, as a Christian myself, I’ve been struggling as to why so many Christians remained devoted to the republican party once it was apparent it had been “overrun” by the “Tea Party” and then individual 1. The RACISM in the republican party should be OBVIOUS to anyone – for heaven’s sake, individual 1 STILL “rules the roost.” To me, it’s embarrassing watching republican “leaders” who KNOW BETTER kissing up to a TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president who has a KNOWN history of RACISM. And, clearly, the republican party is resorting to what has been referred to as “21st Century Jim Crow” as a strategy to remain in POWER instead of appealing to our nation’s populace with “the battle of ideas” aimed at making life better for MOST of Americans.

I’m not going to go over this article in depth, but you can find it by clicking HERE if you’re interested. Well, right after reading Mr. Walker’s article, I read an article in the Post written by Senator Tim Scott a republican from South Carolina. What caused me to kind of “cringe” as I read Mr. Scott’s article was his repeated reference to “wokeism” or “woke supremacy” in his defense of himself remaining a republican and, in essence, lashing out at anyone who thinks he’s an “uncle tom,” or words to that effect. His article can be found by clicking HERE. Well, I’ve heard republicans using the word “woke” kind of “across the board” as they attempt to define those of us who believe in equality of ALL Americans and divide us from the reality the republican “base” is INFECTED by white nationalists/supremacists. That’s just a FACT. One which I sensed Mr. Scott was attempting to skirt.

The FIRST thing I had to admit, to myself, after reading Mr. Scott’s article was that I had no idea what “wokeism” or “woke supremacy” actually means. I’ve heard people like Ted Cruz using the term and other right wing republicans and I’ve just assumed it was another of their terms they put into the “Big Lie Theory” “hopper.” Meaning, they’re attempting, but using a term OVER and OVER again to “wedge” it into out public persona. So, I had to try to find out what “woke” and “wokeism” actually mean – if anything.

There are many articles on the “web” regarding the meaning of “woke” but I chose to read the “Miriam Webster” definition of “woke.” You can click HERE to read it for yourself if you choose. Here’s what I’ve gathered from reading Webster’s definition and some of the other articles I read including Mr. Scotts. (regrettably) My conclusion is the word “woke” “originated” in the African American community and has been “tied” by conservatives to the “Black Lives Matter” movement along with ALL those who sympathise or outright support that movement. So, what Mr. Scott seems to be referring to when he uses the term “woke supremacy” is “Black supremacy.” I truly hope that’s not the case, I’m just trying to figure out what his point was.

I “get” he’s been demeaned by many for being a Black republican senator – considering he’s had to support a bunch of RACISTS in his own caucus. I have to admit, it’s been hard for me to understand how he’s been able to justify doing so, but what little I’ve seen from him, I have to admit I’ve considered him a republican who MIGHT attempt to work with democrats on issues of significance to “we the people.” So far, MOSTLY disappointed – he couldn’t even bring himself to vote to CONVICT individual 1 in the face of OVERWHELMING evidence of GUILT. I really have struggled to understand why he wasn’t one of the GUILTY votes – but, again, that’s his prerogative.

What he describes as “woke supremacy” would, likely, be ascribed by him as my own struggle to understand how his “ideology matches what ‘i would ascribe’ to match his skin color. He refers to it as the “tolerant left’s intolerance for dissent.” I’ve written about projection before and just because Senator Scott is Black doesn’t excuse him from using the “word salads” which dominate the republican dialect these days. The “tolerant left” isn’t being intolerant to “dissent,” it’s pushing for tolerance for inclusion and fairness for all. This would include Mr. Scott AND all those republicans pushing for the “21st Century Jim Crow laws” which CLEARLY are aimed at discriminating against “people of color.” I really don’t understand how Mr. Scott can NOT be aware of what is happening across this nation and how he can support it, even if by his own silence in it’s wake.

And, drilling the word “woke” into the minds of the right wing Americans who are pushing the “intolerance” Mr. Scott seems to oppose, seems to be a contradiction I couldn’t look away from. The fact Mr. Scott has received what amount to racially biased threats – which are abhorrent and WRONG – just as anyone else, he has the right to his own ideology – as long as it’s NOT negatively impacting others – and if believing that makes me “woke” according to republicans, so be it. However, the term “woke” originated in the African American community and even Mr. Scott can’t cause me to believe it’s becoming part of the racist “dog whistling” of America’s right wing politicians and, to a degree, it grieves me that Mr. Scott is participating in that, in essence, BRAINWASHING of the “republican base.”

Why do I support the Black Lives Matter movement? Because I’m sick and tired of learning about, and in the instance of George Floyd (and a few others), Black Americans being MURDERED by Police Officers who, in most cases, simply “get away with it.” I’m sick of witnessing the discrimination by teaching partner (and many other African American friends) have endured over their lifetimes and CONTINUE to endure – enough ALREADY! Sadly, this country, right now, is experiencing a WAVE of discriminatory LAWS being considered or PASSED in states with republican legislatures aimed DIRECTLY at African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, poor Americans and young Americans with the sole purpose of RIGGING the future elections in this nation. It’s an abomination and I didn’t read anything in Mr. Scott’s article referring to this.

These laws were concocted and written by the Heritage Action group funded by Charles Koch’s Heritage Foundation. Mr. Koch was an early member of the John Birch Society, his father one of the founding members. If you don’t know what they stand for I’ll let you figure it out – but, suffice it to say, these new “laws” are totally aimed at preserving the control of our election system by white people. You don’t have to look very far to see where this republican party is coming from so, I have to say, while I wanted to read Mr. Scott’s article to understand his point of view, it’s almost as if it’s fallen on “deaf ears.” For example, I’ve been following some of the cabinet level appointments of Joe Biden who are African American and profoundly qualified and Mr. Scott has voted AGAINST almost (if not everyone of them) all of them. He voted AGAINST Kristen Clarke, a highly qualified Black woman, to run the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division TWICE!

I guess what I’m saying here is, while I would defend Mr. Scott’s right to believe whatever he wants to believe, I’m failing to understand his reasoning when he refers to “woke supremacy.” Sadly, that feels to me like a Black US Senator sending out “dog whistle” rhetoric to a “base” which really NEEDS to here the TRUTH. And, when I say TRUTH I’m not speaking in spiritual or religious terms. (Disclosure, I’m a “Christian” who struggles to understand people’s “religion” who profess to believe in Christ – but, that’s a thought for another day) The TRUTH I’m talking about is that individual 1 is NOT still the president – even the TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president. He LOST the election (by OVER 7 MILLION votes – a record “landslide”) he LOST over 60 court challenges to the result, in reality, he’s been a LOSER for most of his life – he’s managed by being in incredible BULLY.

The “walls” are closing in on individual 1 and he’s likely to be INDICTED, very possibly from multiple jurisdictions – one which SHOULD be the Justice Department – and he COULD be spending the rest of his days defending himself from legal jeopardy. And, that’s not even taking into account all the civil lawsuits he’s facing. He’s a “wannabe” mob boss who’s skirted the laws for years and it’s finally catching up to him. I wrote early in his regime he’d come to loathe the day he “won” the “White House.” (Of course, with the help of the Russians)

In unison, the caucus of republican Senators continue to “live in fear” of individual 1’s base – which is made up of people like David Duke, Don Black, and many other “leaders” of the white nationalist movement in America. I’m sorry, but Mr. Scott is choosing to be a part of that movement and, I believe, whatever his “ideology” as he refers to it, gets lost in the reality he’s associating himself with a group of Senators who are, at a minimum, supporting a RACIST agenda. It’s pretty much as simple as that. I could go on, but I hope I’ve made my point. (OK, I have to add one more thing. Mr. Scott seemed to call the democrats efforts to provide funding for “non-white farmers” as “reverse racism.” To me, that borders on outrageous! What was he saying when individual 1 was funneling BILLIONS to white farmers? Little of what he says makes sense to me)

Final Thought: Republicans are scrambling to find ways to keep themselves relevant via their attack on voting rights or their using what I referred to above as the “Big Lie Theory” “hopper.” That is, throwing around “word salads” to see what sticks. Phrases like “cancel culture,” or saying “woke supremacy” is as bad as “white supremacy,” or using Mr. Potato Head to make a point among others are all ways to avoid actually having a debate on ideas. All I hear from republicans is the HATE “liberals” and they’re UNIFIED in OBSTRUCTING Biden’s agenda – which, by the way, is POPULAR with OVER 60% of Americans. This is the classical attempt to RULE via the minority. Our system of government was designed to protect the rights of the minority via the “system of checks and balances” – the executive, the legislature, and the courts. It’s worked for over 240 years, yet republicans, including Mr. Scott, are attempting to find ways to prevent Americans from participating in the electoral process because they vote for democrats. To me, that’s simply CHEATING in plain sight!

One last thing: Mr. Scott referred to his “friend” Krysten Sinema who, he said, received “death threats” after voting against what he called the “job killing minimum wage hike” (That’s ANOTHER argument for another day – among many in his article). I don’t condone, in fact I condemn anyone making “death threats” to ANYONE and, I believe, they should be prosecuted for doing so – but, I find Mr. Scott’s mention of Ms. Sinema to be curious – just as I found a quick press briefing she held recently next to the Senior Senator (a republican) from Texas. It appears to me republicans are “grooming” Ms. Sinema to help her “steely” her resolve to continue supporting the arcane Senate procedure, the filibuster, used historically to support racism, among other obstructions. If fact, just as he did when President Obama was inaugurated, Moscow Mitch McConnell has publicly stated his intent to OBSTRUCT everything in the Senate as long as Joe Biden is president.

So, the reality is as long as the filibuster is not “reformed” or removed, Mitch McConnell continues to rule the Senate. And, I guarantee you this, if republicans succeed in SUPPRESSING millions of democratic leaning voters – or succeed in writing LAWS giving them the right to overrule the “will of the people,” depending on the results of elections, and then regain a majority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, at that point will repeal the filibuster. Republicans, in my view, are grooming Ms. Sinema and, likely, Joe Manchin in order to be assured of their ability to OBSTRUCT. In today’s Senate and under today’s circumstances there’s NO chance there will be “bipartisanship” in the Senate.

I keep pointing this out, but, NOW, the 2022 election is the MOST important election in my lifetime. Progressives MUST flock to the polls in record numbers, once again, to vote a more significant democratic MAJORITY in the Senate and increase the democratic majority in the House so that the badly needed reforms this nation needs can be addressed. The needed response to the republicans MASSIVE effort at voter SUPPRESSION is a backlash which wipes as many of these republicans from office as possible. The sad reality is, if democrats can’t get the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill and the “For the People Act” passed this year controlling the House may be near impossible for democrats – due to the potential partisan GERRYMANDERING which will take place later this year without the “For the People Act.” Stay tuned………………

Once again, I’m violating my own (sixth grade) rules by publishing this without re-reading or editing. Call it laziness because that’s what it is! Sorry (if you actually got this far :o)

Merrick Garland, the Attorney General confirmed during the beginning of the Biden Administration comes to the office with widespread respect as an a-political jurist and believer in “we the people” having a “fair” Justice Department. So, he comes to this office at what appears to be possibly the most perilous time in our nation’s history. Today, the US Senate voted against having a “bi-partisan commission” studying what happened on January 6th, 2021, how the INSURRECTION came about, who and what were behind it, who paid for it, why weren’t re-enforcements sent to the Capitol Building for over three hours after the police lines were breached. and what kind of communications were happening before, during and after the siege. One other thing which MUST be made public – who were the members of Congress giving tours of the Capitol Building in the days leading up to the siege – when the Building was supposed to be closed to visitors? I have my guesses, but I’ll wait until the FACTS are made public.

The bottom line here is the republican party has made it clear they want to “move on” from January 6th, 2021 because they KNOW it won’t look good for them – especially, because they’re in the “grip” of individual 1 – conceivably more-so than when he was still our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. The vote was simply a confirmation that Moscow Mitch will continue the OBSTRUCTION of EVERYTHING which is the same thing he did during the Obama administration. The “onus” for what is necessary to FIGHT back against what the republicans are doing since individual 1 lost now rests on – the obvious choice – Joe Manchin, but ALSO right at the feet of Attorney General Garland.

Republicans DON’T want to have any public investigation of January 6th, 2021 so it has to come from other sources – and, to me, the most significant would be the Justice Department holding individual 1 to account for INCITING the INSURRECTION. Of course, republicans wouldn’t like that, but it was none other than Moscow Mitch – in his “impassioned” speech following his cowardly vote to acquit individual 1 right after IMPEACHMENT #2 – who suggested our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president “could” be held accountable in a court of law. Individual 1 SHOULD get the opportunity to defend his actions in a court of law BECAUSE 5 people DIED as a result of him INCITING the crowd into frenzy.

It’s been reported he sat in the “White House” and watched the INSURRECTION with a sense of joy – reportedly saying “These people love me” as they were ransacking our nation’s Capitol Building chanting “Hang Mike Pense” after erecting a gallows with a noose on the Capitol grounds. To show you what pathetic COWARDS the republicans are – both Pense and his brother, who’s a member of the House – have since shown their fealty to the disgraced TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president who sat in his chair as the assault on the Capitol Building was under way and “Tweeting:” “Our Vice President Pense has failed us” or words to that effect. Even that wasn’t enough to get the Pense’s to publicly denounce the “worst person in the world” – individual 1.

So, how have republicans responded to being “hitched to the WORST person in the world?” They’re attempting to change the rules in states across the nation making it more difficult for those who tend to vote for democrats to vote. They even want to be able to change the results if they don’t like the results of how the people vote. Now, keep in mind, EVERY one of their VOTER SUPPRESSION tactics is aimed at “Black and Brown” Americans, young Americans, and others who tend to vote for democrats and, if “Black and Brown” Americans STILL vote for democrats, somehow, despite all the attempts to restrict their access to the polls, the state legislatures want to be able to CHANGE the results to their own liking. Simply put: This is “un-American.”

I know people who voted for individual 1 who have said to me: “I don’t believe in democracy.” And, of course, they’re talking about America’s form of government – which, by the way, is not a (pure) democracy. We’ve had a “democratic republic” since the days of our founding fathers, but right wing Americans have been attacking our system of government since, by my memory, the days of Ronald Reagan. And, of course, there’s an underlying “principle” in all of these attacks on our “democracy” since the day Reagan was elected. It’s all based on RACISM. Every republican I know is repulsed at the idea they’re a RACIST, yet they continue to support a political party which has a BASE embedded in their midst who are the worst kind of racists – white supremacists. This is all FACTUAL – when you look at the (recent) history of America, you see what appears to be a conspiracy made up of RACISTS to move into America’s “mainstream” via the republican party.

In my memory, it all started with Reagan, but, of course, it’s been part of America’s history since the first boatload of slaves arrived over 400 years ago. People like me, based on the reality we have “Black friends,” have been too naïve to realize how serious this issue really is. I remember talking to my teaching partner, a Black man who remains one of my heroes – now from heaven, when Barack Obama was elected and saying, “I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see this happen.” He agreed, but, of course, he KNEW what was likely to happen as a result of Obama’s election. When I saw the movie “42” (about Jackie Robinson) it helped me to understand what President Obama was facing as our FIRST President of “color.”

Reagan made the announcement of his campaign for the “White House” from Philadelphia Mississippi, where three Civil Rights workers were murdered back in 1964, which is when I realized republican politicians spoke in “dog whistles” and I’ve been witnessing this ever since – AND, of course, individual 1 “expertly” turned republican “dog whistles” into “bull horns.” And, now – right in the light of day, the republican party his getting beyond the “dog whistles” and they’re doing their VOTER SUPPRESSION of people of “color” right out in the open. How do they justify all this? Well, of course, it’s via “dog whistles.” Makes me a bit sick to my stomach that I have to write this – America SHOULD have gotten beyond this by now – but the reality is there are MILLIONS of overt RACISTS in this nation.

I’m presently reading “Alt America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump” by David Neiwert, While I understood the issue with the republican party being ruled by RACISTS, Mr. Neiwert gives a factual history of those who have been pushing this “deplorable” epidemic for the past 50+ years. Recognizable (at least to me) names like David Duke and Don Black of the KKK (along with MANY others) are listed in the book (should be required reading for America’s politicians) along with those in the “mainstream media” who’ve worked to perpetuate the RACIST “identity politics” in America – people like Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Alex Jones, and Tucker Carlson among MANY (sadly) others. I’ve always called these people to be willing to LIE for MONEY. Limbaugh is gone, but, for example, Carlson is presently speaking directly to the White Supremacists like Duke and Black and continuously LYING about the 2020 election – keeping the “Big Lie” aflame.

Reagan started all this – meaning the present day group of people who self-proclaim to be “patriots” who are willing to “die” to overturn our national government – apparently, into a totalitarian response to the democratic republic which has given them the “freedom” to be planning their seditious ambitions. Obviously, it’s metastasized since the days of Reagan and the willingness to LIE has been put on “steroids” by individual 1 AND, over this past weekend, none other than Michael Flynn – keep in mind we’re talking about during the Memorial Day weekend when “we the people” are supposed to honor those who’ve given their lives for our freedoms – suggested we should have a “Myanmar type coup” in America. Republicans still believe individual 1 is going to be “re-inaugurated” by the end of summer.

I’ve been calling on the Justice Department to be holding individual 1 accountable for INCITING the INSURRECTION since the day I watched all those IDIOTS charge into the Capitol Building, people who even defecated in the hallways and smeared the “results” on the walls of this cherished building, urinating on the walls, smashing doors and windows, and ransacking the desks and offices of our Congressional leaders – all to demonstrate their disdain for our democratic republic. Clearly, all this happened because of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president’s INCITEMENT. FIVE people DIED during this attack and there MUST be accountability for those who STAGED it, along with those who carried out what they thought were “orders” from individual 1.

Well, now we’re looking to our Military leaders to step up and hold “General” Flynn accountable for calling for a “Myanmar style coup” in America. This wasn’t the first time we’ve heard seditious language coming from Mr. Flynn – there were multiple reports he was calling for this in meetings with individual 1 prior to the attempted INSURRECTION. He’s a retired General and he gets a pension from the Army AND his language SHOULD be intolerable. I’ve read several reports which suggest Flynn SHOULD be called back to active duty and COURT MARSHALLED for SEDITION. I realize our military leaders SHOULD be busy eradicating our military of those who support the right wing SEDITIONISTS in our midst, but Mr. Flynn SHOULD face accountability for his “deplorable” words. Words MATTER! (Especially when you’re a leader with a national standing).

The commentators on outlets like Fox “news” use the “freedoms” Flynn would be suggesting we get rid of via the coup d etat to spew RACIST garbage with impunity. I’ve been listening (via SMALL segments of time, as much as I could stomach) to Hannity, Carlson, and Limbaugh (among others) for years. THEY, in my view, are part of the “basket of deplorables” and they’ve become emboldened by right wingers getting away with CRIMINAL behavior for years. Republicans have been doing so since the days of Reagan – including Reagan himself in the Iran/Contra fiasco), Bush/Cheney regarding authorizing WAR CRIMES, and, of course, individual 1 with a litany of illegal activity which very well could confirm my suggestion he’s nothing more than a cheap mob boss. This is what republicans have been voting for for years.

Unless both Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema relent on their obstinance regarding modifying the FILIBUSTER so the democratic agenda can be passed into law – most importantly Senate Bill-1 which is the “For the People Act” originally passed in the House, “we the people” will be depending on Mr. Garland to save this nation. The “For the People Act” would nationalize voting regulations, would regulate campaign financing, and would require non-partisan redistricting in states all across the nation – among other important benefits for “we the people.” In addition, democrats could pass the “John Lewis Voting Rights Bill” which would restore sections 4 and 5 of the Voting Rights Act which was decimated by the Roberts Court back in around 2013. The national wave of VOTER SUPPRESSION bills began shortly after that “deplorable” Supreme Court decision. Roberts claimed Section 2’s protections were adequate – so, we’ll likely find out this year if Manchin and Sinema don’t relent. Republican assaults on voters since the 2020 election are onerous – there’s no other way to describe what they’re doing.

Attorney General Garland is obligated to intervene to stop our delusional TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president and the others who helped him gin up the thousands of Americans who came to Washington DC on January 6th, 2021 with the express purpose of overthrowing the American government’s ability to complete the “peaceful transition of power” which has gone on in this nation since, well, the beginning of the republic. These are people who claim to believe in the constitution but, apparently, have no idea what’s in it. The process which Mike Pense was overseeing was, in essence, a non critical process which is ceremonial in nature. Of course, republicans, en masse, chose to make a circus of the proceeding – even AFTER the INSURRECTION attempt – by objecting to the elections in various states – Pennsylvania for one.

So, it’s up to Mr. Garland to follow through on his promise during his confirmation hearings to investigate the INSURRECTION and hold those accountable who staged the encounter – so that the 500+ “stooges” who thought they were following the “orders” of their “fuhrer” won’t be the only ones held to account for this “deplorable” attack on the foundation of our government. I’ve written this before, but it all reminds me of the Abu Ghraib scandal of Bush/Cheney. Clearly the TORTURE was authorized by those at the top of their administration – including both Bush and Cheney – but, the only ones who faced legal accountability were the Army “grunts” who thought they were “following directions” as they committed WAR CRIMES on numerous Iraqi citizens. I really hope that scenario is not repeated in the case of January 6th, 2021.

Final Thought: Shelby County v Holder was the Supreme Court decision which “gutted” the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – a law which was re “confirmed” many times prior to this “deplorable” decision by the Roberts Court. The Court gutted Sections 5 and 4 of the Act which has led to ALL the recent egregious VOTER SUPPRESSION bills being pushed by republicans in almost EVERY state in the Union. This is why the John Lewis Voting Rights bill MUST also be passed this year by the Biden administration. And, we know that will be impossible unless both Manchin and Sinema relent on their support of the FILIBUSTER in the Senate as it exists today. Republicans “modified” the filibuster in order to get their judges confirmed and democrats should, at a minimum, modify it to allow a “majority” vote in the Senate (and House) to get voting rights legislation passed. Passing the two Voting Rights bills will go a long way to turn back the republican CORRUPTION which has infected our nation.

I’ll write more about this “infection” soon, but suffice it to say, the “infection” in the republican party began MANY years ago and, like any “infection,” if you fail to address it over time the “infection” just continues to get worse. Well, the “infection” is so bad now it appears to me the solution is “amputation.” When investigators (Like the FBI) report about the dangers of the “right wing extremists – ie white nationalists/supremacists” the republican party immediately takes offense – as if the report is attacking them. We’re talking about reports which NEVER once mention the word “republican” – it’s the republicans who immediately take a defensive stance as if to say they understand outfits like the KKK are part of their base – and, they’re OK with it! Yikes!!! Stay tuned!!!

Occasionally one of the sites which are funneling “FAKE NEWS” – meaning misinformation to people who, apparently, get sucked in to their networks, finds my email address. The latest is “Patriot News Network.” You’d almost expect a “news network” with that name to be made by “patriots.” However, it didn’t take me long to realize this is just another right wing “white nationalist” “network” which is fueling HATE. As usual, I used the “junk email” part of my email program to “block this sender.” Only because I just can’t bring myself to digest the GARBAGE that sites like this put out. However, I’m well aware there are MILLIONS of Americans who either “believe” this GARBAGE or are unsuspecting of its origins and take it for “truth.”

You don’t have to read much (as I tend to do) or “fact check” what they’re spewing out to understand what their agenda is, but, sadly, many Americans don’t fact check anything – or if they “do” it is done with the same “bent” you get from people who put out GARBAGE such as what’s on the “Patriot News Network.” I spent only a few minutes researching what was on their “site” and, of course, the real “racists” in America are the African American leaders or, more specifically, anyone who is a democrat or, like me, an independent who finds himself supporting democrats simply because the right wing (republicans) in this nation are hell bent on destroying our republic – as was evident on January 6th, 2021. Naturally, in the eyes of the “Patriot news Network” the real “patriots” on January 6th, 2021 were the INSURRECTIONISTS. That’s all you need to know.

In my last posting I brought up the word “irony,” a word I made sure my sixth graders understood while I was still teaching. Well, some of these right wing groups choose names which would presuppose those who flock their way (sheep?) don’t understand that word. For example, the “Patriot “news” Network” would suggest if you adhere to their shtick you’re a “patriot,” right? Wouldn’t that seem obvious? Well, whoever is behind this abomination are part of the sycophancy to individual 1 and, therefore, are anything but “patriots.” At least from my perspective, you can’t be considered a “patriot” if you’re supporting someone who’s a sycophant to Vladimir Putin. You can’t be a “patriot” and then engage with the Russians in order to get “elected” (albeit with MILLIONS fewer votes than your opponent).

Individual 1 has proven himself to be an ALL TIME LOSER and, yet, the “republican base” (who believe themselves to be the “real patriots”) continues to demonstrate fealty to someone who cost them the Senate, the House, and, of course, the “White House.” That’s some serious LOSING! So, where are republicans in Congress “betting” the road back to POWER runs? You guessed it! Right through Mar a Lago! Talk about betting on a LOSER! (Not a “patriot” but and organized CRIMINAL)

Years ago I owned a small “herd” of thoroughbred race horses and, out of necessity, found myself training them at the race track. In the process I came across MANY old men who spent the bulk of their free time betting much of their retirement income on the “ponies.” Many of them seemed to just keep betting on horses which were LIKELY to be “losers.” If the odds were 50-1, well, their eyes would light up. I couldn’t help but think of these men as I was listening to Mitch McConnell explain why he was urging republican Senators to vote AGAINST the proposal for an INDEPENDENT commission to study the – “get to the bottom of” – INSURRECTION of January 6th, 2021. By rights, EVERYONE in Congress should have voted for this “bipartisan” commission. They were all there, but…………………

In the case of my FRIENDS at the race track, I always looked up to them as men who had worked hard lives and who ALWAYS told the TRUTH. Many of these men were Black and, in my view, “were profiles in COURAGE” simply to get to this advanced stage of life. (Everyone was, at least, in his 70’s – I was in my late 30’s/early 40’s – I learned a LOT from them) To me, these men were “WINNERS” – they just bet on horses I knew were LIKELY going to LOSE. And, of course, none of them were republicans. They wouldn’t get near someone like individual 1! That just demonstrates the pathetic level of today’s republicanism. They’re “betting” on a politician with worst odds than a 99-1 horse at the racetrack. (Unless, of course, the race is “rigged” which is exactly what republican politicians are attempting to do with our electoral system,)

Well, beginning with Moscow Mitch and going right down the republican line of Senators – and MOST of the republicans in the House – I feel as if I’m looking at a pathetic group of COWARDS every time I take the effort to listen to their – as I said above – shtick. Why on earth would ALL of these members of Congress refuse to endorse a BIPARTISAN commission to STUDY the causes of the INSURRECTION – which had every one of them COWED in a room in the Capitol as the INSURRECTIONISTS were chanting “hang Mike Pense” and searching for Nancy Pelosi? 140 Police Officers were injured DEFENDING, among others, ALL these republicans – three of which (Police Officers) are no longer with us and one who lost an eye among the MOST egregious of the serious injuries.

Well, we all know why republicans are all so COWED, don’t we? They’re AFRAID of individual 1, of all things. They’re afraid of one of the most pathetically sad men in this country. Most republicans will tell you: “I believe in law and order.” However, what they’re really emphasizing as they vote down the BIPARTISAN commission to “get to the bottom of” the January 6th, 2021 is they have no appetite to support “law and order” unless it’s for police officers who’ve MURDERED Black people in various parts of the country. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin claimed the INSURRECTIONISTS were “peaceful” and he wasn’t worried from them (despite COWERING in a Capitol Building room during the INSURRECTION) – but, if it was “Black Lives Matter” protesters, well, he’d have been worried! I’ve heard members of the House claim the INSURRECTIONISTS are the victims and also, from one member, they were like Capitol visitors just taking pictures from “inside the ropes.” Are their voters STUPID enough to believe that stuff?

What do they believe their voters are going to do when individual 1 gets indicted? What are they going to do when they discover the ACTUAL person who’s being held accountable for “sex trafficking” is Matt Gaetz? I’ve called individual 1 a “Mob boss” for years now and, it appears, we’re all about to find out why. Will it be from the Manhattan DA, the Fulton County Georgia DA? The Justice Department: re – the alleged OBSTRUCTION of the Mueller investigation or the INCITING of the INSURRECTION? Or, how about the Southern District of New York and the investigation where individual 1 got his name? Remember, Michael Cohen has already been charged in that investigation and, now that individual 1 no longer has the protection of the OLC memo, is the Southern District of New York going to prove “no one is above the law.”

Individual 1 has been getting away with challenging our legal system since he first got his hands on his father’s MONEY. His in court right now because his niece is SUING him for CHEATING her and her brother out of their inheritance. By all accounts he CHEATS at golf – that’s REALLY bad if you know nothing about golf. We all KNOW he CHEATED to “win” the first election (with 3 MILLION fewer votes than the WOMAN he ran against in 2016) and, we know he’s still CHEATING as he claims he “won” the 2020 election while “grifting” MILLIONS of dollars from the members of his CULT – ie, the republican base. When I listen to the rationale of some of these people who believe individual 1’s LIES, I actually shudder. There’s one driving force behind this CULT and that is the “fear” they’re losing their “white privilege.”

For years republicans have spewed a LIE they believe in “free markets” – while, ALL the time pushing to regulate these markets to the advantage of their benefactors – their donors. This is exactly why you have someone like Charles Koch sitting in the background spending untold MILLIONS to prevent actual progress in this nation. (One of his “think tanks” is behind MOST of the voter suppression laws being proposed/enacted across the country) Those behind the scenes pulling the republican “strings” (I’ll call it the “Koch network”) are very sophisticated and individual 1 is the perfect “stooge” for their GREEDY policies which funnel more and more MONEY into their GREEDY hands. He’s a pathological LIAR, but he knows “where his bread is buttered” so his LIES are aimed at benefiting his wealthy friends – and, of course, himself – therefore, they support him.

There doesn’t seem to ever be enough for these people. Like who’s going to have the most BILLIONS? And, now that we have a president who wants to INVEST in America and the American people via an “infrastructure” bill – which will be paid for by INCREASING taxes on those who’ve been benefiting from the so-called “trickle down” economic policy of republicans since the days of Ronald Reagan – well, these RICH people are now “up in arms.” Biden wants to raise their taxes to what they were before the republican tax “scam” of 2017 along with raising Corporate taxed to a still low 25%, or so. Elizabeth Warren is proposing a “wealth tax” of 2 cents for every dollar ABOVE a net worth of $50 MILLION and something like 3 cents for every dollar of wealth above a BILLION. Trust me, all these people will continue to get RICHER while they LIKELY benefit MORE from the investment of $2 TRILLION into America’s infrastructure and another $2 TRILLION, or so, into the American people.

I’ve actually heard several people, all white and all who’ve been very financially successful during their long lives of white privilege (which they don’t recognize), call Joe Biden a “socialist.” I always wonder if they’ve read Marx’ writings and if they remember what he predicted in regard to Capitalism. If anything, Biden is attempting to restore a balance to America’s economic “landscape” which would “head off” true socialism. In reality, America has been a socialistic republic since the days of FDR. Of course, with the republicans, there goes the rub. And, by the way, here’s another “irony.” Republicans have been brainwashed to believe those who support the democratic party are “elitists.” That’s right, the “Koch Brothers,” the DeVoss family, the Coors family, etc. etc. are NOT elitists??? Barack Obama was referred to as an “elite.” How does the republican base fall for these ridiculous LIES.

Are there wealthy “elite” people in the democratic party? Of course there are. In fact, in the 2020 election Mike Bloomberg (who used to be a republican) was spending a “GOB” of money in an attempt to get individual 1 sent packing out of the “White House.” Bloomberg, supposedly, spent a hundred MILLION just in Florida – which should prove he doesn’t know where to put his money or Floridians are, by and large, part of the STUPID members of individual 1’s CULT. Remember, it’s people in Florida who voted Matt Gaetz into Congress as a republican member of the House. And, they voted Ron DeSantis in as their governor. I guess my point here is “we the people,” by and large, are shielded by the real “elitists” who are “pulling the strings” of too many of our politicians – and, I believe, it’s safe to say MOST OF THEM are republicans. But, as usual, I digress………….

Back to Biden as a “socialist.” Yikes!! I know people who’ve actually got advanced degrees from various universities who’ve suggested this. And, several of them have been collecting Social Security for years. If republicans actually succeeded in undermining Social Security AND Medicare (Reagan predicted Medicare would destroy our nation – we would become “socialists”) I’m guessing at least some members of the CULT would start to take notice. Republicans have been scheming to find ways to stop the “New Deal” since the days when it was enacted. LBJ’s “Great Society” turned the South into a republican “stronghold.” Are you BLIND to the reason why? It’s all been about protecting “white privilege” and subjugating “the other” for as long as I can remember. (Once again, I’ll add, I’ve been interested in politics since the days of Dwight Eisenhower) Republicanism has evolved into full blooded “white nationalism” in what will ultimately be a futile attempt to stop “progress” in America.

They don’t want anything to change. I could go on explaining this, but if you don’t understand what I’m talking about it wouldn’t do any good – and, the explanation puts an ugly face on where America stands right now. Of course, the reality is, the ugliness has been there for, in essence, the entirety of America’s existence as a democratic republic. However, the BEAUTY of America, in my view is the FACT the constitution is a “living document.” It has, over the year evolved and it continues to evolve – although, I do anticipate some “bumps” as we go forward – because of the brazen work of Moscow Mitch ramming right wing judges up and down our court system. You can bet republicans will be attempting to “turn back the clock” by using the courts to block progress in turning America into a “more perfect union.” (Of course, she will NEVER be a “perfect” union)

Right now, as I’m writing this, there are “cells” of right wing activists all across the land who have armed themselves to the “teeth” and are willing to create another “January 6th, 2021” when the opportunity arises. The FACT maybe as many as 1000 of them will become indicted for the January 6th, 2021 attack on our Capitol (Despite republicans’ attempt to “forget” that date, I will NEVER forget it) may deter some, but it’s apparent it has fueled the HATE of many others. Some of the voter SUPPRESSION bills in various states (and, I’ll say it again, most of them were “written” by one of Charles Koch’s “think tanks”) along with attempts to re-“audit” the votes of segments of various states where MANY African Americans voted is simply confirmation of the FACT the republican party has become even MORE racist than it seemed in the past.

These are the people behind outlets like the “Patriot News Network” (Actually, I believe their “name” might be a bit different – I deleted their emails and I’ve got the memory of an old man). People who believe the “real racists” are the African Americans who’ve had the temerity to get elected to office in various parts of the country. (With, of course, the exception of anyone of “color” who is a republican. – And, to me, I struggle to understand how anyone “of color” could find themselves in that organization) The point of all this is the ruthless and sophisticated and OF COURSE, the dishonesty which drives the republican party foments outlets like the “Patriot News” with impunity. And, obviously, there’s plenty of “dark money” to keep this GARBAGE popping up all the time. And, as LIARS go, those behind this GARBAGE likely, in their own minds, have convinced themselves they are the real “patriots.” Yikes! Stay tuned………………

Final Thought: One thing many republicans seem to forget, all the time, is that when they speak publicly what they say is RECORDED. And, still for many, there seems to be no shame. I’m thinking of people like Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Marko Rubio, Paul Ryan, and Moscow Mitch McConnell, to name a few off the top of my head. They ALL spoke truthfully about individual 1 until they realized he CHEATED his way into office – which, almost immediately, turned each one into a sycophant. They’ve demonstrated over the past 4+ years the only thing which matters to them is staying in POWER. McConnell may have put himself at the top of the list by, first, voting to acquit individual 1 in the SECOND impeachment trial and secondly, and almost immediately, lambasting individual 1 and confirming virtually EVERYTHING the House Managers put forth as the evidence requiring a CONVICTION, and, now, wanting to forget January 6th, 2021 EVER happened. It’s disgusting – NO – it’s DEPLORABLE!

And, here’s the rub for republicans who continue to prove their own stupidity. Had they voted to CONVICT individual 1 he’d be completely “out of their hair” by now. He’d be prevented from even thinking about running again – which won’t happen anyway because he’ll be stuck in court. Had they done the “right thing” when they had the chance they would have doused the “fire” of the right wing extremists who’ve infected their party. Apparently, they’re perfectly OK with individual 1 as a CULT leader. Heck, if republicans in the Senate wanted individual 1 to remain in office, all they had to do was listen to Nancy Pelosi and vote in the so-called “HEROES Act” – which, is essentially what the Biden administration got enacted – along with the “weak” bill the republicans passed in December of 2020 – a bill which was “too little and too late.” Essentially, the republican platform is “staying in POWER” – by whatever means necessary. Aligning with a CHEATER like individual 1 works for them. In fact, he’s teaching them the “Art of CHEATING!”

I’m going to have to explain my next sentence right away for the sake of my own sanity. Individual 1 is like the sore on one of my toes, he JUST won’t go away. He lives for being as much in the “public eye” as possible – even if it’s negative reporting. So, I know I write about his DISGRACEFUL attack on the fundamental institutions of America ad nauseum, but I’m pretty sure he never reads what I write, so I don’t feel as if I’m contributing to the problem. What I’m doing is venting my own frustration with the REALITY there are still a large segment of the so-called republican party who believe the LIES of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. For some of these people I believe the characterization, sadly, I have to use is that word I’ve stated I actually hate; Stupid. Sorry! (By the way, the republicans didn’t soil themselves over Mitt Romney after he LOST in 2012 – by a margin much LESS than what individual 1 LOST in 2020)

For a bunch of the others (“republicans” er neo Nazi’s), the issue is they look at individual 1 as, in essence, their “fuhrer.” (look it up) If you do the research you discover the issue of white nationalists/supremacists is much DEEPER than most of us (well, people like me) realize, especially those republicans mentioned above. For example, I know people who, when I give them the truth, who can’t bring themselves to believe Tucker Carlson is a white nationalist. They say to me, despite the FACT they watch his show regularly, “I’m not a racist.” Well, the reality is, there are a bunch of Americans who ARE racists (de facto) and don’t understand it. I actually know a person who raised several children – via adoption – who are “African American.” When you listen to him, for example, denigrate one of them because she needs public support it – well I should say for me – raises the hair on my back. I tried for several years to placate this person, but finally reached the endpoint when he started spewing the so-called “big lie” to me, as if he actually believes it and, apparently, thinks I would as well. (I think he still does – Yikes!)

When I listen to people claim today’s republican party is based on “conservatism and Christianity,” my neck gets sore shaking my head. I don’t have enough fingers to count all the “conservatives” I know who have no idea what “conservatism” actually means. I guess as with all other “factual information” they believe it is whatever they want it to be. And, sadly, the same goes for “Christianity.” I know NUMEROUS “Christians” who, when you dig deep enough, don’t believe very much farther than their opposition to “abortion.” They are willing to make a “deal with the devil” (I’ll let you figure out who the “devil” is) in order to overturn “Roe v Wade.”

Of course, overturning “Roe V Wade” will not stop women from having abortions, therefore, not solving the issue. I’m old enough to know what things were like before Roe. Men were still “getting women pregnant” who didn’t want or were not capable of raising a child and these women were going through a procedure (abortion) which was widely available – I know this because I know “men” – boys at the time, I was in College in the 1960’s – who were paying for abortions. Then, as in now, it was the women – girls back then – who bore the negativity of an unwanted pregnancy. If they chose to have the baby many would be ostracized “back home” and, if they chose to have an abortion, they not only had to deal with the reality of allowing this baby to be killed, it was often done in very dangerous circumstances for their long term health.

Now, the “Christians” who’ve made this “deal with the devil” have little to no sympathy for the women who are left to deal with the responsibility of the unwanted pregnancy, they also seem to have no “appetite” for holding the MEN (boys) who CAUSE the pregnancy to accept responsibility for their actions. (If you remember, in the 2016 campaign it was none other than individual 1 who said, the “women should be punished.”) Here’s the part in all of this which causes the most frustration (OK, at times anger) with this scenario – there is, therefore, a significant portion of Americans who are willing to, in essence, tear up the CONSTITUTION which is the “root” of this nation – a living document which has been “molded” over time and, God willing, will continue to do just that despite all these “patriots” who are willing to subject themselves to authoritarianism – as long as it’s fomented by “their guy,” to turn our democratic republic over to a dictatorial nimwit.” Because of the abortion issue? Yikes!

And, keep in mind, all these “pro lifers” demonstrate a disrespect for LIFE in “oh so many other ways.” Take for example, young children. They vote against health care, food support, education support, and child care support – as a few examples off the top of my head – for America’s LARGE number of children growing up in poverty. Republicans, for that matter, like to pretend there is no poverty Among America’s children – unless, of course, they’re “children of color.” (Which, apparently means they don’t count) Then there’s the other end of the “spectrum:” Republicans have been fighting against Social Security and Medicare since the day each program (the two MOST popular in American history) was passed into law. Of course, individual 1’s incompetence has been considered to have been responsible for something like 400,000 (or more) of the DEATHS caused by Covid-19 – a disproportionate number coming from elderly Americans or Americans of “color.” And, republicans compare wearing masks to the Holocaust. There’s many other examples of republican incompetence, but maybe the MOST egregious is their sycophancy to a multiple, criminal LOSER!

It’s now been 6 months since individual 1 LOST in a LANDSLIDE (over 7 MILLION votes) and he’s still LYING about the result of the election. He is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR so it doesn’t surprise me he’s continuing this charade. However, the “rank and file” republicans have had more than enough time to digest the reality their “fuhrer” has been LYING to them by much longer than the time following his election DEFEAT. If they choose to continue subjecting their brains to entities like Fox “news,” “Newsmax,” “OANN,” Breitbart,” and some of the more egregious white nationalist websites like “The Daily Stormer,” or “Stormfront” they are CHOOSING to be brainwashed by these outlets – who’ve helped create individual 1’s CULT. This is NOT “conservative” or “Christian.” It offends me to listen to anyone claiming otherwise.

For several years now (much longer than the 5 years since individual 1 came on the “scene”) I’ve been pointing out the battle against “today’s republicans” (and, they keep veering farther off the “rails”) is a “war” for the heart and soul of our nation. Of course, in my mind, this “war” will be won or lost at the ballot box. What’s become clear since individual 1 began “grooming” his “stooges” about the so-called “election fraud” – keep in mind, this “grooming” began well before last November 3rd, is his responsibility for the INSURRECTION of January 6th, 2021. All these politicians have pollsters who inform them of reality and individual 1 KNEW well ahead of the election he was going to LOSE. He also KNEW there would be MILLIONS of votes via mail – especially because of the pandemic – and, he pointedly encouraged republicans NOT to send in ballots by mail, but to vote on election day. This way he KNEW early returns would favor him and he planned early on to “declare victory” before MILLIONS of ballots could be counted.

For example, in several of the states, the mail in ballots CAN’T be counted until after the ballots cast on election day. This is why one of my acquaintances assumed individual 1 was “winning” because the election day ballots in Pennsylvania, for example, favored him by around half a MILLION. Unfortunately for our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president there were almost 1.5 MILLION mail in ballots which favored Joe Biden roughly 4 to 1. I KNEW this because I didn’t have my “head in the sand” like individual 1’s supporters. The party affiliation numbers of the mail in ballots were published ahead of time, all though, of course, that doesn’t guarantee who anyone voted for, but it’s a pretty strong “hint.” I texted my acquaintance “don’t get ahead of your skis.” And, sure enough, after the election had been declared for Biden he was spewing the right wing “Big Lie” talking points – on this site even.

Despite the OVER 60 LOSSES in courts across America, all the way up to the Supreme Court (TWICE) these Americans, who do not seem to have the ability to think critically, STILL believe the LIES coming from individual 1 AND the COWARDLY members of Congress, who were barricaded into various rooms in the Capitol as the INSURRECTIONISTS were chanting “Hang Mike Pense.” And, some of the more egregious members of the republican party, like, for example, Ron Johnson, Louie Gohmert, and the dude from Georgia who likened the MOB to “tourists taking pictures as they walked between the ropes,” (Honestly, that guy might be the MOST stupid of them all) now all feel, apparently, that the ISURRECTIONISTS would have ignored them had they got their hands on one of them, because, well, just because.

One of these STUPID republicans, the other day, suggested (I believe it was Paul Gosar, who is a real, well “unique” example of a congress person – I’ll leave it at that) the real “victims” of the “insurrection” are all the “patriots” who are being ARRESTED by the FBI and it’s the members of the FBI who are the “insurrectionists” – or words to that effect. I’m not kidding! There HAVE been almost 500 arrests and “more on the way.” The FBI has video evidence implicating around 800 of these “patriots” who breached the Capitol, who attacked the Capitol Police – injuring over 140 of them, many seriously – and who knows how many now are suffering from PTSD, for example? – who bashed in doors, windows, ransacked Congressional offices and desks in the Senate Chamber, and, yuk, who defecated in the hallways and then smeared it on the walls of the Capitol Building with some urinating on those walls. Yep, to republicans in Congress, we’re talking about real “patriots.” (And, of course, their minions believe them)

As an aside, here’s a real irony – especially for someone living close to Portland, Oregon – after sending unmarked members of his “goon squad” to Portland to quell “George Floyd” instigated demonstrations which, by and large, didn’t exist (they were virtually ended except for about two blocks of the city) – individual 1 re-enacted a law which calls for a mandatory 10 year sentence for anyone damaging a Federal building by anything as minimal as graffiti to more serious physical damage (like bashing in windows and doors and, of course, defecating in the hallway of a Federal Building – if you get my drift) or even illegally entering a Federal Building. Do you see where I’m going with this? Like with all those (800, or so) “patriots” republicans in Congress are referring to, who now, based on individual 1’s edict, EVERY ONE of them is potentially facing a mandatory 10 year sentence if proven guilty of even “illegally entering” the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021 – a date the republican party would LOVE if you’d simply forget it.

So, now the chair of the democratic Homeland Security Committee and the republican ranking member came to an agreement to form a “9/11 type” commission to “get to the bottom” of what actually happened on January 6th, 2021 – that date republican’s would like for you to forget – and Kevin McCarthy, maybe the MOST GUTLESS politician I can think of in my lifetime – and, trust me, there have been MANY – actually told his caucus NOT to vote for the bill creating this commission. His deputy, the ranking republican in the committee, did EXACTLY what McCarthy asked him to do. Of course, individual 1 wants NOTHING to do with any investigation into January 6th, 2021 – he’d ESPECIALLY like you to forget that date – because, well, he KNOWS exactly what it will find. And, it WON’T look good for him and some of the CULT might get wind of the findings. Of course, as I’ve said here many times, the TRUTH is GOING to come out – whether by “drip, drip, drip,” or, well, however, and whenever. (And, remember, there were OTHERS – Mo Brooks, Giuliani, Junior, etc. – who were part of the INCITING)

Individual 1 is in a “world of hurt” from multiple different directions. Like from the “South” – meaning the DA in Fulton County Georgia. That recorded call to Brad Raffensperger was a really DUMB idea and asking him (Raffensperger) to “find 11,780 votes” was even DUMBER than the phone call. And, then LYING about it, prompting one of Raffensperger’s “lieutenants” to release the call, was DUMBER yet. But, really, except for the CULT, not too many have suggested individual 1 is not, well, DUMB, you get my drift, right? Bottom line: There’s trouble ahead in Atlanta for our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president (and LOSER of OVER 60 court cases as well). Then there’s New York. Now, it’s been reported the Attorney General of New York has joined up with the Manhattan DA in a CRIMINAL probe of individual 1’s business which is located in Manhattan. Not only is he in legal jeopardy, but apparently, several others in the organization – including his children and the CFO among others – including the CFO’s children. It’s widely known those involved in real estate development in New York “often” have ties to the mob AND follow “questionable” legal strategies. Individual 1 has simply been able to “dodge” accountability for years (other than several FINES). We’re NOT talking about FINES here, now!

There’s also the Southern District of NY’s US Attorney’s office – who gave our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president (along with over 60 LOSSES in court cases) the moniker “individual 1” as they were accepting the guilty plea of Michael Cohen (rule of thumb: never turn on your “fixer”) who will, I presume, follow through on the prosecution which put Cohen behind bars – simply out of fairness – to prove, “no one is above the law.” And, individual 1 very well COULD be held accountable for INSTIGATING the INSURRECTION on the Capitol Building – in fact, by my calculation, you’d have to be brain dead to not come to the conclusion he was responsible for that attack. Don’t believe me – start reading the court filings of one INDICTED attacker after another – in their court pleadings. Some of them aren’t being very kind to our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president (including OVER 60 LOSSES in court). Many feel betrayed by the man who said he’d “be at the Capitol there with you.” (He NEVER saw a battle he couldn’t worm his way out of – although, on January 6th, 2021 – a day he’d like you to forget – instead of claiming “bone spurs” he simply went to the “White House” to ENJOY the proceedings on all the “White House” TV’s.

Clearly, HE thinks he’s above the law, so, now, it’s up to Merrick Garland to decide if that’s the case. At this point, it appears Mr, Garland may not have the stomach to “pile on” to all these other potential CRIMINAL charges against out TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president (who also LOST over 60 court cases). Sadly, Garland’s Justice Department has chosen to appeal a ruling by Judge Amy Berman Jackson who lambasted William Barr for his “disingenuous” (lying) court filings (and, testimony to Congress) regarding the Mueller report and individual 1’s alleged OBSTRUCTION of Justice – laid out very carefully in about 10 different instances in Mueller’s report. Judge Jackson ordered the “disingenuous” memo released to the public and it will now be about another year until “we the people” get to read this “disingenuous” memo Barr used to justify suggesting individual 1 could not be charged with OBSTRUCTION of Justice.

It’s perplexing to understand why Attorney General Garland’s department would continue this LIE – we can hope the Court of Appeals will agree with Judge Jackson – but, the reality is that now individual 1 very well could now by facing those 10 instances of OBSTRUCTION. I read Mueller’s report from page one to the LAST page and Mueller was very clear in explaining the significance of OBSTRUCTION and that the evidence against individual 1 was “memorialized” so that a future prosecutor could decide on whether or not to indict our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president (who’s LOST over 60 court cases as well as the two elections) now that he’s out of office. The reason Mueller didn’t seek an indictment was based on the OLC memo stating a sitting president can’t (shouldn’t) be indicted. Once out of office, “all bets are off.” Now it’s up to Merrick Garland to decide if “we the people” are going to PROVE that “no one is above the law.” I read Andrew Weissman’s book about his experience on Mueller’s “team” and he made it clear individual 1’s CONSTANT OBSTRUCTION prevented the full investigation of the “Russia thing.” Here’s the bottom line: individual 1’s criminal enterprise appears to be on VERY shaky ground. Stay tuned! If you’re a member of his CULT, my advice is – WAKE UP!

Final Thought: As a former 6th grade teacher I’m often reminded of the word “irony” because it was a word I often used with my students as we were studying literature. I always felt it was a word I wanted my students to fully understand. So, the IRONY I’ve been thinking a lot about lately has to do, surprise surprise, with individual 1. His CULT – republicans – seem to believe he’s “still president.” Reports I’ve read suggest over half of all “republicans” don’t believe Joe Biden is the “legitimate” president. Here’s why I find this such an “irony.” So, I’m sure you remember 2016 and the couple years which followed. Individual 1 “won” the 2016 election with the OBVIOUS help of Vladimir Putin and the Russian cyberwarriors. Above, I mentioned Robert Mueller’s report and the issue with William Barr’s “spin” of Mueller’s report suggested there was “no collusion.”

Well, if you’d read the report (as I did TWICE) you would KNOW there WAS “collusion” and you’d know Mueller even said they didn’t investigate “collusion” because there’s no law about “collusion.” The law prevents “conspiracy” to defraud the United States and Mueller said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to GUARANTEE a guilty verdict if there were charges – presumably against individual 1 Jr. or Jared Kushner – for COLLUDING with Russians in an attempt to get “dirt” on Mrs. Clinton. Mueller suggested they couldn’t prove Jr. and Kushner KNEW they were breaking the law when they took the meeting (June of 2016). Essentially, Mueller’s team suggested individual 1’s campaign was “too stupid” to know they were “colluding.” Of course, they prosecuted Roger Stone for, essentially, LYING about all his “colluding” with the Russians and/or Wikileaks.

Here’s my point: democrats had lots of reasons to claim individual 1 was an “illegitimate president” – but, Hillary Clinton conceded the election right away, Barack Obama met with individual 1 in the “White House,” individual 1’s “team” (as it were), and there were not blocks to the “transition team” (as it were). Democrats had far more reason to question the legitimacy of individual 1’s term in office because, well, he CHEATED to get elected – but, democrats would NEVER do what he’s been doing since November 3rd, 2020 – the date of his SECOND popular vote LOSING election – and, at this point in time, it’s largely up to Merrick Garland to ensure this abuse of our political process stops “right here, right now.” What is he going to do? Is he up for the challenge? The first “step” in this process leaves me with questions I was hoping not to have – when I listened to his testimony before Congress. But, the appeal of Judge Jackson’s decision mentioned above, has caused me to wonder. I really hope and pray Attorney General Garland lives up to the testimony I heard him give before Congress!

I wrote the other day about ALL the potential legal jeopardy our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president (who allegedly COLLUDED with the Russians to get “elected” in the first place) and how it’s baffling to me why republicans would continue to be backing a LOSER – someone who “LOST” not only the 2020 election, helped the GOP LOSE the Senate, helped them LOSE the House in 2018, and LOST over 60 court challenges to the recent election along with EVERY other court case which has been determined since he took office (the ones without William Barr’s criminal intervention) – see Don McGahn – soon to be (finally) testifying to Congress re: individual 1’s OBSTRUCTION of Justice of the Mueller probe.

Well, soon, it appears, the subject will be changing to individual 1 wannabe Matt Gaetz – he who has turned off virtually EVERY non deplorable person he’s come in contact with over the past few years – the man who, apparently, takes videos of his sexual “conquests” and shares them on the floor of the House with the other “moral” republican members. He’s the man who’s been rumored to have kept a “scorecard” of his “conquests” with extra points for “virgins” – with a group of his political peers. (This is why I’m so thankful my daughter interned for Patty Murray over 20 years ago – first of all, Ms. Murray is descent and secondly people like Gaetz weren’t around back then)

So, now it appears the “dalliances” of Mr. Gaetz’ are catching up to him via Joel Greenberg, one of his “good buddies” who is in the process of a “cooperation agreement” with the attorneys of Florida’s Central (I believe) US Attorney’s office. Mr. Greenberg has plead GUILTY to 6 FELONIES, including “sex trafficking” of a minor with the caveat the remaining 27 charges he’s facing will be dropped if he TELLS THE TRUTH (a challenge for ANY republican) and gives up ALL the evidence against the “other men” involved in his schemes of PAYING for sex – including with a minor aged 17. According to the charging document, not only was Greenberg paying this 17 year old (child) for sex (on numerous occasions) but so were “several other men” – and, to top it off, Mr. Greenberg was WATCHING while these “other men” were “doing their thing.” (my characterization – Yikes!)

Much of the speculation running rampant around Washington DC tonight was how long will it be before Mr. Gaetz is going to be indicted. Here’s the way I look at it, regarding Gaetz – who I’ve been forced to listen to way too much over the previous couple of years – he’s a true individual 1 (bootlicker) sycophant – EVERY time you hear him saying “I’ve never paid for sex” just picture in your mind that means “I can’t remember how many times I’ve paid for sex.” And, when he says, “I’ve never had sex with someone under 18” picture in your mind him saying, “who checks someone’s ID before having sex with them.” After all, apparently, the women involved in this alleged sex trafficking ring all came from some escort service website.

Of course, as always with anyone associated with individual 1, there’s got to be more. We’re potentially talking about all sorts of fraudulent behavior – apparently, Greenberg and his associates were creating fake ID’s for their victims and, likely, for themselves and this guy is such a nimwit that he got caught in virtually EVERYTHING. It appears he was even attempting to stick a political opponent with a FALSE sex trafficking charge. Greenberg is the guy who “won” the job as a “tax collector” and was requiring his associates to be “packing heat.” (OK, guns if you’re as ignorant as myself)

Here’s the first thing which came to my mind when I was listening to the reporting on the plea deal which Greenberg entered into today. Who were the other MEN. The agreement didn’t say the other MAN it precisely said the other MEN. Well, rampant speculation is that Gaetz is one of them – so I was left to wonder who else might be involved. I know this will sound even CREEPIER than the above, but is it possible one of the “MEN” could be Roger Stone? Here’s why I ask that question (and, I suppose, posit that as a possibility) – some of the photos published showing Greenberg and Gaetz together – in happier times – also show Stone in the photos. And, of course, it’s been suggested in previous articles I’ve read that Stone and his wife are known to be “swingers.” Look it up!

Wouldn’t that just be the “karma” Mr. Stone deserves after getting bailed out of 7 FELONIES by the combination of William Barr and individual 1 – two people hell bent on proving some Americans ARE above the law. Both Barr and our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president would have you believe they stand for “law and order.” However, as I’ve said here MANY times, the TRUTH will come out, even if it’s “drip, drip, drip.” As we can see with this Gaetz situation it’s happening and individual 1, by my prediction, won’t be far behind. However, if it’s possible, individual 1 will be facing even more SERIOUS charges than Mr. Gaetz. And, that’s keeping in mind, the “child sex trafficking” charge – should Gaetz actually face that charge and be convicted, carries an AUTOMATIC 10 year MANDATORY sentence.

Speaking of 10 year mandatory sentences, picture if you’re one of the OVER 400 INSURRECTIONISTS who stormed the Capitol Building thinking individual 1 had asked them to do so – in fact, telling them he’d be there with them (although, what he meant was he’d be there in spirit while he was watching in glee on “white House” TV’s). Was even ONE of the INSURRECTIONISTS paying attention to our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president last summer as he was sending his “goon squad” to Portland, Oregon in order to quell a “riot” which didn’t exist (I live right across the Columbia River From Portland)? Did even ONE of the INSURRECTIONISTS stop to think of what their fuhrer said would happen to anyone illegally entering or damaging ANY federal building?

Here’s his EXACT “tweet” (Obviously, before he was BANNED from “Twitter”): Anarchists, Agitators or Protestors who vandalize or damage our Federal Courthouse in Portland, or any Federal Buildings in any of our Cities or States, will be prosecuted under our recently re-enacted Statues & Monuments Act. MINIMUM TEN YEARS IN PRISON. Don’t do it! @DHSgov

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2020”

That’s correct, a MINIMUM of TEN years in PRISON for ANYONE who breached the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021. So far, almost 500 INSURRECTIONISTS have been arrested and charged and, if you believe the FORMER (so-called) president, the MINIMUM charge for any of them will be 10 YEARS in PRISON. Now, I’m of the belief those in the Justice Department under a Biden administration will likely be a bit more lenient for, at least, some of the individuals who’ve been arrested – or who are likely to be arrested going forward. Apparently, the FBI has photographic evidence of something like 800 people who COULD be arrested and charged for the siege of the Capitol.

It’s not surprising to me to be seeing MANY of the INSURRECTIONISTS wondering why they’re being charged and individual 1 is NOT. Well, I have to admit, I’m asking myself the same question – but, in my optimistic mind, I’m thinking the Justice Department, under Merrick Garland, will be taking it’s sweet time deciding if the ex president’s INCITEMENT on the 6th (and, I’m guessing, they’re going over the “grooming” he was doing prior to January 6th, 2021 along with EVERY word he spoke on the 6th PLUS what he was doing during the siege while NO reinforcements were authorized (for three hours and, only, after an intervention by Mike Pense), before determining if there’s a “winnable” CRIMINAL case against our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. By the time they make a determination, they may need to “get in line.” (If you know what I mean)

I’m going to end these thoughts tonight by wondering if and/or when both individual 1 AND Matt Gaetz are going to be headed to a court room. Can you just imagine the commotion if and when that happens? And, what if my “speculation” about Roger Stone proves correct – or, who are the “other men?” I’ve been pointing out for years the republican party is CORRUPT to its core and EVERY day more evidence comes out to PROVE this. Well, I’m predicting the next 6 months are going to be historic in the level of republican CORRUPTION which will be exposed! And, then, try to imagine the backlash which will be coming from the nutjobs who have the loudest megaphones in the republican party. (Most republicans are too scared to stand up for what they’re supposed to actually believe – but, that’s a story for another night)

For heaven’s sake, some weird Congressman from Georgia, for example claimed in Congressional Session (that’s official) that the INSURRECTIONISTS could be “confused for any other tourists” except for the “LYING” media. I’m not kidding, he actually said that! Another, this nutjob from Arizona (his siblings actually encouraged to voters to vote AGAINST him) actually suggested the “patriots” who STORMED the Capitol Building chanting “Hang Mike Pense,” were looking for Nancy Pelosi carrying “twist ties,” and had erected a gallows with a noose on the Capitol Grounds are the “victims.” He suggested the ones committing the crimes are the members of the Justice Department arresting and CHARGING these “patriots” with criminal activity – like SEDITION. How are these weirdos going to react when all the trials commence? Stay tuned!

Final Thought: There were suggestions (and questions) that members of Congress were giving “visitors” tours of the Capitol Building on the nights preceding January 6th, 2021 – when the building was closed to visitors. I’ve always presumed there would be video of these “tours” if they actually happened – and, if the “members” were associated with the INSURRECTIONISTS prior to the INSURRECTION they would be “rooted out.” Well, it’s coming to no surprise to me hearing that Marjorie Taylor Greene actually had taken one of the INSURRECTIONISTS to the office of Alexandria O’Casio-Cortez prior to the INSURRECTION. Of course, this would mean this person knew how to get around inside the Capitol. And, if the reports of “tours” prior to the 6th pan out, it could be very problematic for anyone accused of that, especially if anyone in the “tour” participated in the BREECH of the Capitol Building. I’d, personally, love to know who, if anyone, was giving tours prior to Jan. 6th, 2021 to ANYONE who was involved with the INSURRECTION attempt. I’m predicting Marjorie Taylor Greene Will eventually be EXPELLED from the House – it’s just a matter of time.

And, Oh by the way, Lauren Boebert won’t be far behind. There’s STILL much to be learned about the day of and the days surrounding January 6th, 2021 – a day which undoubtedly will “live in infamy.”

Once again, my apologies for publishing without editing!

I’ve been writing exhaustively about what a “DEPLORABLE” person individual 1 is for, well, the past five plus years. Today is the day, on the surface, it appeared individual 1 continues his “stranglehold” on the republican party as Liz Cheney – no friend of ANY progressive on policy – was excommunicated from her position of leadership in the republican caucus for – yep, you guessed it – the mortal sin in the republican party of telling the TRUTH. So, I was thinking as I drove around today that the problem isn’t individual 1 – he’s just the convenient pathological LIAR who has NO moral compass so is the perfect “leader” of the white nationalists who make up a significant section of the republican base. However, it’s clear the problem goes much deeper than individual 1.

For example, take Fox “news” for example. I can only stomach a few seconds of Fox at a time because I understand their LEVEL of DISHONESTY almost the instant I turn it on. Several of the “prime time” hosts on Fox are maybe MORE responsible for the state of America than individual 1 because they’re allowing their “megaphone” to be the “funnel” for the LYING which has become normalized in the republican party. Keep in mind, this LYING has been a key part of the republican party going all the way back to Ronald Reagan. (OK, you’re right, Nixon – although, there were republicans in Congress willing to stand up to Nixon) This LYING as “policy” goes all the way back to Lee Atwater and Newt Gingrich.

You’re correct, democrats fudge on the TRUTH as well, but this issue is like “men against boys.” And, of course, individual 1 is willing to LIE about anything. In fact, as with all pathological LIARS I’ve ever encountered (a few while I was still teaching) “when his lips are moving, he’s LYING.” We’re talking about 35,000 observable, provable LIES during four years in office. That’s likely the “the “mother” of all records which will NEVER be broken.” Move over Joe DiMaggio!

It makes no sense for republicans to continue supporting a LOSER like individual 1 – remember, he’s now LOST two elections (popular vote), his party LOST the House in 2018 and the Senate, House, and “White House” in 2020 along with OVER 60 court cases as our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president proved himself to be the “mother of all poor LOSERS.” Of course, with the help of the aforementioned Fox “news” hosts like Hannity, Carlson, etc., the people at Newsmax, the people at OANN (I have to admit, that’s the one I’ve yet to encounter), Breitbart, and various whacked out conspiracy hotspots – yes, I’m talking about QAnon among others (and, there ARE others) continue to spew the so-called “Big Lie” to the republican base which has proven to have a significant MAJORITY incapable of critical thought. Yikes!

But, keep in mind, the republican party makes up less than a third of America’s voting public – so, this “base” is less and less important as time rolls on. For example, a large part of it is made up of my peers – older white people. Here’s the reality when republicans are making a “bet” for 2022 and 2024. By 2022 there’ll be fewer of us old white people (significantly) and MORE of America’s young people who are REJECTING the RACIST republican party in burgeoning numbers. Yes, republicans are “busy as bees” attempting to restrict access to the voting booth and rigging their districts against those who tend to vote for democrats, but, I don’t even think that will work. (I suspect the democrats will figure out how to get S-1 passed – McConnell’s claim he’s focused on “blocking everything coming from the democrats” maybe just might be what Joe Manchin needs to understand there’s no path to bipartisanship.

Here’s what the republican party has become. (Read “Rising Out of Hatred” by Eli Saslow) Check out Don Black and his web portal “Stormfront.com” where you’ll find his work and that of David Duke – both former “Grand Wizards” of the KKK, who consider Tucker Carlson their hero on the TV. According to Derek Black, the son of Don and the subject of the aforementioned book (I highly recommend it) the white nationalists not only watch Carlson, they record his shows so they can go back and watch them over and over. I have acquaintances who won’t watch Fox because “it’s become too liberal” and they (mostly) watch Newsmax. I’ve only tuned into “Newsmax” a couple times and I lasted only seconds, as what happens with Fox – because the LYING IS profuse.

And, some of the people I know, who are “respectable” members of our local community (and, go to the same church I attend) regurgitate QAnon NONSENSE in such a way I have to be cautious because it’s so absurd I have to guess if they’re joking. Sadly, to this point in time, they’re NEVER joking. I made the mistake with one of them to say, “surely you’re not STUPID enough to believe that nonsense. Well, sadly, the answer was YES, that person IS stupid enough to believe it and DOES believe it. He told me, “Biden’s not president. America is two countries and the Civil War has never been settled.” Then he went on about the “Rothchild’s” money and I had to cut him off. I’ve been listening to anti-Semitic Rothchild “stuff” for MANY years, but never in a way suggesting – well, I’m 73, I can’t remember the details, only that it was, well, STUPID. I’ve been calling these right wing whack jobs STUPID, of late – reluctantly, because I hate that word, but I can’t think of anything else. Take a listen to some of individual 1’s supporters in interviews when they try to explain why they support him. Listen to people like Paul Gosar and Louie Gohmert – a couple dandies!

So, getting back to my original point, the problem in America right now is NOT individual 1 – he’s going to be too busy defending himself in Court within the next few months to be worrying about his political (lack of a) future. The problem is the very significant portion of America who believe in an American version of apartheid – white nationalism – and, they’re desperate to create obstacles to VOTING which might allow them to regain POWER in the next couple of years so they can continue their assault on our constitution. These republicans, who claim to be “for law and order” are doing everything in their power to find a way to create a situation where they can RULE with a minority of – what is likely to be, by 2024, well less than 40% of the voting public. (Their plan: voter SUPPRESSION and partisan GERRYMANDERING)

I use to claim the problem with democrats was they were “spineless” – but, today’s republicans are making the democrats come across as “Genghis Khan.” Take for example, Kevin McCarthy. Here’s a man who believes in absolutely,,,,, “NOTHING.” For example, today he led the purging of Liz Cheney (a true conservative) from the House leadership because she refuses to agree that Joe Biden won the election and individual 1 is LYING about the “election being stolen.” So, right after leading a (secret voice – complete chicken s@#t)) vote to oust Cheney for a woman who was far more “moderate” than Cheney until she saw the opportunity to replace her in the caucus – Elise Stefanik, ugh – McCarthy stood in front of the “White House” and said this, “No one questions that Joe Biden is the legitimately elected President.” OK, ??????? These people are NUTS! (Later, I believe, he reversed himself again – with a “socialist” comment thrown in)

Not only are some (OK, many republicans) continuing to question the outcome of the election, but now I’m hearing a different tact. (Apparently, the last three “Q” predictions of individual 1’s return to power having come and gone they need a new “strategy”) So, I pointed out right from the start after the election it’s just a matter of time until the attacks heat up on Kamala Harris. Why would that surprise anyone? – for heaven’s sake, she’s a woman (that’s obvious), she’s half Black (not as obvious unless, well, you’re “in the know” – that means NOT a republican), and she’s half Asian. Talk about your “three strikes and you’re out” from the republican party point of view. If you read this “Otto” this is the republican party you “call home.”

Well, there has to be some way to bring grief on the Biden administration considering Joe Biden has an approval rating North of 60% and his policies are getting approval ratings above 70%. There you have the perfect legislation republicans can unite to OBSTRUCT. But, apparently, that’s not working for them, so, of late, I’ve been hearing a different approach. Here’s how it goes: Joe Biden couldn’t possibly be coming up with all this progressive legislation which so many people approve – he is so old he has trouble getting out of bed in the morning. If you’re a republican, beware, it’s the “liberal” Kamala Harris behind all this legislation. She’s the actual one doing all the work, Biden is just a convenient figurehead. Wow! (Actually, the kind of reminds me of the tax scam of 2017 for some reason)

Of course, I remember that same scenario back in the early 2000’s with Bush/Cheney. Many were speculating Dick Cheney (father of Liz, of course) was the actual president because he was responsible for MOST of the agenda – like the tax cuts and the LYING us into Iraq. Well, I’ve read about that administration extensively and would suggest that claim was partially correct. Cheney was certainly critically involved in the tax cuts and he was devious about it – in fact, he was devious about how he chose himself to be Vice President (but, You’ll have to read Bart Gelman’s book “Angler” to get the full picture) so there is some truth to the claim about Cheney, at least for the first term of GW Bush. But Harris – I believe Joe Biden is treating her just as Barack Obama treated him – he’s giving her many important responsibilities, but the claims on Fox and other places to the contrary are based in typical republican misogyny and racism. Are you surprised? I’m only surprised it took this long for the attacks to ramp up.

Individual 1 is going to play this out as long as his sycophants (and his cult followers) continue to allow him to get away with it. But, I’m predicting right here and right now, the end is “nigh.” The District Attorney in Fulton County Georgia has that tape of the call asking for just 11,780 votes with the Secretary of State – and, apparently, there were other recorded calls – which violate Georgia State law and, likely, Federal law – this episode could result in a RICO charge because there were others, apparently, involved (Lindsey Graham?). The DA in Manhattan is zeroing in on what appears to be a series of charges – like Bank Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Tax Fraud, etc. and the Southern District of New York still has the infamous “individual 1” case which SHOULD be prosecuted. Then there’s the INSURRECTION – should the “stooges” individual 1 INCITED be the only ones held accountable? (I’ve written this reminds me of Abu Ghraib were the Army grunts went to prison for following what they thought were orders and those who gave the orders: Bush/Cheney, Rumsfeld et al) got off “scott free.” Is that going to continue to remain America’s system of justice? – remember Reagan and HW Bush got off for Iran/Contra – at this point it does appear some are “above the law.”)

And, of course, now it appears the Justice Department may be zeroing in on the TEN plus examples of OBSTRUCTION of Justice in Robert Mueller’s report which individual 1 escaped because of the OLC memo “suggesting” a sitting president SHOULDN’T be indicted (which has become Justice Department policy and Mueller honored it) AND because William Barr LIED about what was in the report. A Federal judge has now admonished Barr, and, essentially, accused him of LYING to her court AND to Congress plus now Don McGahn is planning, after two years of legal “wrangling” to testify to Congress about what he witnessed while in the “White House.” There could be issues with his testimony (individual 1 can still claim “executive privilege”), but it appears just a matter of time until our former TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president could be defending himself against charges of OBSTRUCTION – a charge Mueller said in his report is fundamental to our system of LAWS.

To summarize my point here: individual 1 is the symptom. He’s the “vehicle” which has brought the right wing white nationalist movement into the mainstream of America’s politics. These people have republicans in Congress acting as if they’re afraid of their own shadows. I have to admire, although I vociferously DISAGREE with much of what comes out of Liz Cheney’s mouth in regard to policy, that this LONE woman has the guts to stand up to individual 1. I can guarantee you it will be Liz Cheney who comes out of this on top – NOT Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy has proven himself to be devoid of any belief system and he can’t even figure out if he’s for or against the LIES of individual 1. Today’s “Houdini Act” was almost comical – except it’s really serious business. To me, McCarthy is almost more PATHETIC than individual 1.

It says in the Bible to “love your enemies” (and, I have to say, I don’t consider these people my “enemies” we’re all Americans) so, I’ll say here “I love them.” (OK, that was hard) But, I’ll love it even more if the American people come to their collective senses and vote as many of these TRAITORS to our nation as possible out of office in 2022. There were actually members of Congress today suggesting the INSURRECTIONISTS were “peaceful protesters” and that the victims of January 6th, 2021 was individual 1 and all the “nice” people being “targeted” by the FBI and getting arrested. One member of the House republican caucus actually regurgitated the LIE that the INSURRECTIONISTS were NOT individual 1 supporters. (Have you heard how many of the INSURRECTIONISTS are basing their defense on “individual 1 asked me to do it?”)

America is at a crossroads and the republican party is in a shambles. As Joe Biden, himself, has said, “We need two functioning, responsible parties which can work together to ‘get things done.'” Liz Cheney is dedicating herself to salvaging the republican party by going after individual 1 and “telling it like it is.” I have to admire that and, of course, I hope she succeeds, but not with a party which believes the right wing nonsense she spews – but, if they could work with democrats, well, that’d be OK. I have an acquaintance who lamented republicans are the party of “Christians and conservatives.” Well, I’m a Christian and I don’t recognize much of what is coming from the mouths of the leaders of the republican party to be “Christian.” For example, “Thou shall NOT LIE.” That’s fundamental. I’m always reminded of Jesus’ words, “What you do TO the LEAST of these, you do TO me!” Finally, we have a party which is focused on the “least of these.”

What Joe Biden and the democrats are doing has been long overdue in this nation and I hope they have the GUTS to keep it up. They are enacting policy which provides benefits to the American people from the “bottom up.” Over 80% of Americans are directly benefiting from the “American Rescue Plan” – not even taking into account the benefit we’ll all get from the massive agenda to FIGHT the Covid-19 pandemic (which seems to be working, by the way.) Now they want to push through an INFRASTRUCTURE plan of over $2 TRILLION – which is badly needed – and the “American Families Plan” (a bit less than $2 TRILLION) which is also badly needed – AND, They want to PAY for it be raising taxes on America’s wealthy and American corporations which, in many cases, have been paying ZILCH for the past many years. A LARGE percentage of Americans support ALL of this. Just NO republicans in Congress.

And, something I’ve thought a lot about is Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to tax the WEALTH of America’s “BILLIONAIRES” by charging a “wealth tax” of 2 cents on EVERY dollar over – get this – OVER $50 MILLION and “a bit more on every dollar over $1 BILLION. Think of it, Jeff Bezos would FINALLY be expected to “pay his fair share.” His wealth GREW over $50 BILLION in just the past year. He’s trying to figure out what to do with it, so he’s buying a $500 MILLION boat which, because of the size of it’s masts can’t have a helicopter pad, SO the solution is a smaller boat (OK. yacht) with a “helicopter pad” which he can land his helicopter on and then be transferred to the larger yacht. He’ll STILL be able to do this after paying Ms. Warren’s “wealth tax.” The more I wright about republicans the more I find them “deplorable.” Stay tuned!

Final Thought: Another thing Joe Biden is doing which I like is fully funding the IRS with the mandate they collect the taxes from the tax cheats in America who’ve been getting away with simply not paying their taxes – or CHEATING on their taxes. The IRS has actually been auditing way MORE low end tax filers than the wealthy CHEATERS because they haven’t had the funding to go after the cheaters. This was a clear strategy of republicans which Biden is somehow reversing. I’ve even heard him saying he’s going after those who hide their profits in “tax havens” like the Cayman Islands. Here’s the good news for America’s wealthiest: By focusing on the tax cheaters Biden won’t have to raise taxes on the “wealthy’ as much. Here’s the bad news: It’s America’s wealthiest people who are doing the cheating which would include “stashing” money in “tax havens” in the Cayman Islands and other places where they can get away with it. What ever happened to actual “patriotism?”

And, when I say “patriotism” that doesn’t mean driving around with an America flag and an individual 1 flag flying from your rig – whatever it is you drive. I’m going to use that word I hate, once again: STUPID. That’s just a STUPID “look.” Just the other day I came across a group who “launched” a pop up tent next to the road on a busy street I happened to drive by. They were selling individual 1 2024 flags and, of course, “F Joe Biden” flags. I thought, who would allow these people to do this on their property – what business owns that property was the first thought in my mind. Well, whoever it is, I have to applaud. They turned the sprinklers on which must have worked because when I returned a while later they (and their “deplorable” flags and signs were GONE. I do have to admit, when I drove by, as the sprinklers were coming on, I rolled down my passenger window and yelled “F you guys.” I immediately had to ask God for forgiveness as I should do after my judgmental rants. But, then I think, most of my predictions have come true – so maybe this is prophecy. (This is why I hate it that I’ve come to be using the term “stupid” after listening to so many of individual 1’s supporters. He uses the phrase “uneducated voters” – and, when he says he loves them – do you really believe him?

I’ve been writing about my belief the republican party (as it’s now comported) SHOULD be voted into the history books for around 15 years and, it had to be heading for the right wing “cliff” to get me started. George W Bush/Dick Cheney brought the “deja vu all over again” perspective to my persona when they LIED America into the Iraq FIASCO (which has the Middle East discombobulated to this day) AND they did version two of the republican “trickle down” philosophy (I call it “trickle up”) – which, of course, began during the reign of Ronald Reagan and got progressively worse up to the administration of individual 1. I hit the panic button when America FOOLISHLY entered Iraq and then began TORTURING the so-called “enemy combatants.”

Well, if it’s possible to get worse than the administration of our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president – the (so-called) president who LOST two elections and over 60 court cases fighting the reality of the SECOND defeat in the 2020 election by a record number of votes – over 7 MILLION votes it could be what’s going on in republican “circles” right now. Of course, while the democrats are busy trying to make the lives of America’s working class and Middle class BETTER the republicans are OBSTRUCTING EVERYTHING and attempting to kiss up to the man who caused them to LOSE control of BOTH houses of Congress and the “White House.” Go figure!

The only way to explain what republicans are doing as I’m writing this is they’ve gone “completely off the rails.” In Arizona, they’ve got a “recount” of the votes in the largest county in the state (of course, a county which voted for Biden) being run by a whack job who is a delusional conspiracy theorist and now has control of over 2.1 MILLION ballots (likely illegally). Yikes! Of course, in Arizona and MANY other states around the nation republican state legislators are attempting to pass VOTER SUPPRESSION bills – their typical philosophy to make it so FEWER people may vote – instead of encouraging MORE people to vote and defining policies which appeal to those voters. Their present “policy” is FEARMONGERING. (OK, that’s what they’ve been doing for years)

Their FEARMONGERING seems to work with America’s “uneducated voters” which predominantly would seem to be those Americans who feel as if “white privilege” is “waning” and they are willing to do whatever it takes – including the INSURRECTION of January 6th, 2021 – to prevent democrats – who are supported by a majority of the “people of color” in America – from gaining POWER. For example, Mitch McConnell has publicly stated what is in essence the same thing he said after the election of Barack Obama and that is republicans are unified in OBSTRUCTING everything the democrats are FOR. So, now democrats can focus on convincing Joe Manchin and Kristen Sinema the FILIBUSTER is in the way of the progressive legislation which this nation desperately needs.

Those at the bottom of the “food chain” in America, for example, NEED higher wages, women who’ve been forced out of the workforce because of the lack of child care need HELP with the cost of childcare so they can go back to work, there’s a HUGE issue with food insecurity in America which democrats are addressing, there are issues with public education AND higher education which the democrats are addressing, America’s infrastructure is not only “crumbling” but much of it is falling way “behind the times,” America MUST address the issue of renewable energy – including supporting electrifying our automobiles and putting charging stations strategically along our highways, there are places across the nation which NEED high speed internet, and on and on. “We the people” support the Biden agenda and McConnell and the republicans OPPOSE everything. As is their history, republicans care about POWER and NOT about the health of this nation. (Remember, much of what Biden is proposing will HELP ALL Americans, including those republicans whose representatives are OPPOSING it – and, once passed we’ll hear those same republicans taking credit for the benefits of the legislation!)

Here’s where the republican party has gone. Liz Cheney is one of the most “conservative” members of Congress – frustratingly so, from my perspective. She’s soon to be removed from her position of leadership in the House republican caucus for, naturally, telling the TRUTH about individual 1’s DEFEAT last November and WORST yet for republicans, attempting to hold individual 1 accountable for the INSURRECTION on our nation’s Capitol Building as our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president urged his (ignorant) followers to attack the proceeding in Congress where the Electoral College votes were officially confirmed. This was SEDITION, pure and simple – and, that CHARGE should be aimed at individual 1 as well as MANY of those who chose to BREAK IN to the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021 – a date which will remain in “infamy” in American history.

I was pointing out for over three years individual 1 was headed for a place in American history books right next to Benedict Arnold. Here’s the irony with this. I’ve listened to “republicans” in various parts of America being interviewed regarding, for example, Liz Cheney. One after another (I’ve heard) referred to Ms. Cheney as a “traitor.” THEY are supporting individual 1 which, in my view, makes them the “traitors.” It’s as if they have NO ability to think critically. It’s against the LAW to attempt to OVERTHROW the elected government in America (as in virtually every nation on earth). It’s the republicans in this nation, who are STILL supporting the (awful) person responsible for their LOSS of the House, the Senate, AND the “White House” and who was willing to throw our constitution “under the bus” who are the problem in this nation right now.

Clearly, there’s a significant segment of our population who do NOT believe in our constitution, despite claiming they believe in “law and order.” I believe our nation has been infiltrated by the people who believe in this manner in ways which create significant challenges. For example, the INSURRECTION on January 6th, 2021 included MANY members (or former members) of our military and our police departments. Clear and simple, the issue our nation MUST deal with is “white nationalism” and the “rot” which goes along with it. After reading “Rising out of Hatred,” a book focused on the son of Don Black, former “Grand Wizard” of the KKK and close associate of David Duke (another former “Grand Wizard” – who is the “god father” of Black’s son, Derek, the subject of the book) I got a closer look at the core of the white nationalist movement in America – a group which actually refers to individual 1 as their “fuhrer.” These people viewed individual 1 as their “vehicle” into the mainstream of American politics. Yikes!!

I have friends (some, apparently, former) who have fallen for this shtick. Virtually everytime I point out to ANY of them they’re supporting a RACIST movement they respond by saying, emphatically, “I’m not racist.” I suggested to one of them, the other day, “you’re watching too much Fox “TV,” His response was, “I don’t watch Fox, it’s become too liberal, I watch Newsmax.” I just have to shake my head – there’s no talking to these people. They have no idea they’re supporting a movement which is aimed at overthrowing our way of government – which has stood the test of time for over 240 years. Some of them actually believe individual 1 will be “re-installed” as our president after the Arizona (fake) recount is finished. (As an “aside,” I’m guessing those who are responsible for the Arizona recount will be facing federal charges for mishandling votes which are supposed to be “under lock and key” at all times.)

As the democrats are attempting to meet the needs of the American people it SHOULD be more and more clear the republicans have NO agenda other than OBSTRUCTION. This is what they did for the 8 years of Barack Obama’s administration and, then, they did virtually NOTHING during the reign of individual 1 aside from enacting a $2 TRILLION tax cut (scam) which funneled HUGE amounts of taxpayer dollars to America’s wealthy elite. This is one of the reasons I’ve started referring to those who support these republicans as “stupid” – it took me years to evolve to that word – as they refer to democrats as “elitist.” My God, this nation faces one irony after another!

Speaking of individual 1, I’ve also pointed out numerous times I read Robert Mueller’s report TWICE (it was 800 pages in the small paperback version I got from Barnes and Noble) AND it was clear there WAS “collusion” between individual 1’s campaign and the Russians back in 2016. Mueller simply pointed out there was insufficient evidence to support a “certain” conviction relating to “conspiracy” to bring an indictment against, for example, individual 1 Jr. or Jared Kushner – who, according to Mueller, didn’t understand (were too stupid to understand) they were breaking the law by meeting with Russians to get “dirt” on their political opponent. However, the FACT the Russians interfered on individual 1’s benefit was not in dispute – unless you believe the LIES of our TWICE IMPEACHED two time popular vote LOSING (ex) president. Mueller was able to identify the actual computers in Russia which STOLE information from the DNC and John Podesta. In addition, individual 1’s reluctance to hold the Russians accountable has empowered FURTHER Russian interference in America’s “stuff.”

So, it will be on the “plate” of Joe Biden to respond to the international organized crime sanctioned by the Kremlin in Russia. Just today, in America, there’s a significant attack on the private infrastructure of America via a ransomware attack coming from a group of cyber CRIMINALS located in Russia. Of course, Vladimir Putin will deny responsibility, but everyone who pays attention to what is going on in Russia KNOWS nothing like this happens without Putin’s “blessing.” For those who look at Russia with a clear mind there is no doubt Putin is running the world’s greatest criminal enterprise – maybe in history. In the process, he, along with the so-called “oligarchs,” are robbing the Russian people of much of the natural wealth of their nation.

Sadly, I have to admit, America is also the home of a group of “oligarchs” (we seem to refer to them as the “top 1%”) – they are also pilfering “we the people” of America’s riches. I’m feeling as if Joe Biden is willing to deal with this issue in the United States so, now, we’ll see how he chooses to deal with the FACT the Russians continue to “mess” with our nation. It really is an ATTACK – albeit a cyber ATTACK – but, we’d better get a plan to deal with this in a way which encourages the Russians to “but out” or it will get worse. I’m guessing America has the capability to create a lot of “cyber” issues for the Russians should we decide to respond in a way to “get their attention.” Putin is busy all over the Western world in an attempt to undermine our “open societies” and turn that openness against us.

Individual 1 was/is the vehicle for Putin’s ATTACK on “we the people.” He’s got his “cyber warriors” constantly pushing the real “Fake news” onto “social media” platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Facebook is becoming a behemoth MONOPOLY and until our government responds to this MONOPOLY our nation will continue to be torn across the middle. I read a book about “Cambridge Analytica” and how they STOLE the data of 157 MILLION Americans which they then grouped into “neighborhoods” and, then, filtered “FAKE news” to these people in support of individual 1’s 2016 campaign. Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon were the two members of individual 1’s campaign who were “connected” with Cambridge Analytica. That data, by the way, was shared with the Russians and they are STILL pumping misinformation (“Fake News”) onto America’s Social Media platforms – stuff suggesting democrats are the “racists” and discouraging people from taking the Covid-19 vaccines. Yikes!

The challenges of this time are making it apparent Joe Biden has the opportunity to be one of the great presidents in American history. If he can encourage the entire democratic caucus, especially in the Senate, to vote for the progressive agenda which is presently “on the table” he will end up next to FDR in the history books. Of course, republicans have been working to undo the “New Deal” since the days of the Great Depression (which, of course, they caused – ie see Herber Hoover in the history books) so it shouldn’t be a surprise they’re voting AGAINST the badly needed legislation which democrats have “on the table.” As I stated above, it’s high time “we the people” vote the republicans into the history books!

Final Thought: America has a history with many “dark places” which we’ve been attempting to IGNORE for the entirety of our own history. We like to criticize others around the world why we’re ignoring our own problems. Well, it’s time to face up to our own issues – which includes saying NO to the republican party which can’t seem to shed itself of its RACIST past (and, now present) at the ballot box. As an optimist, I believe the young people in this nation overwhelmingly are (will be) rejecting the party of individual 1. Republicans fully understand their white nationalist agenda is in jeopardy – which is why they are attempting to pass restrictions to VOTING in over 45 states. It’s NOT going to work and the democrats have to power to demonstrate that by passing SR-1 which will reform the process of voting and districting all across the country. Additionally, they have the opportunity to “fix” the Voting Rights Act with the “John Lewis Voting Rights Act” legislation. John Roberts and Sam Alito should be having problems sleeping at night because of their choice to GUT section five of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – making all of this necessary.