OMG! How is Trump destroying America? Let me count the ways! I’ll start with the vision of the leaders of Russia, China, India, and North Korea chumming around with each other as they watch the military parade in China Trump can only wish he could have in America. (I suppose we’ll see the next iteration sometime next summer – maybe on his 80th birthday) Not only did Trump FAIL to end Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on “day one” but he’s managed to push the world’s largest democracy (India) into the “axis of evil” (OK, I borrowed that from Bush/Cheney – out of desperation) leading the leader of India to be laughing it up even with Kim Jung un.

I start with the gathering in Beijing, India and China are thumbing their noses at Trump and telling him to shove his tariffs right up his substantial ass. As the countries around the world realign themselves away from the United States it affects all of us in America – not just the nitwits who chose to vote for him because they couldn’t understand the causes of a couple years of inflation coming out of a once in a century (we hope) pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sadly, the American people continue to prove to our allies they are unreliable – after all, it’s “we the people” who are responsible for all of this. Trust me, when China convinces the rest of the world their economy is more stable than ours the U.S. will get exactly what we have coming. And, it ain’t good!

When the dollar is no longer the major currency in the world and countries around the globe stop funding out deficit spending – especially with Trump at the “helm” for another three years, the interest rates “we the people” pay (I’m not talking about the Fed’s rate for banks, etc.) could rise into double digits. We’re talking about jobs going into the tank and inflation going up – possibly way up. All of this will be the result of Trump’s STUPID tariff policy. And, make no mistake, he’s incapable of admitting a mistake and his sycophants are incapable of telling him he needs to change course. He will take us all down with himself. His decision-making would indicate he’s the one who HATES America. (Not, I must add as he projects, “liberals.”)

Trump (via RFK Jr.) will be responsible for the next pandemic – who knows maybe he can cause another run of COVID-19 – due to the obliteration of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the FDA, and the CDC along with pretty much the rest of the Health and Human Services department (HHS) – which, before Trump was the premiere agency for Public Health in the world. Of course there have been/are ways “we the people” could/should be working to improve our heath – but, I can virtually guarantee you, this ain’t the way.

Before the Congress took a torch to Medicaid and Medicare in Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill” there were (already) approximately 100 MILLION Americans without health care insurance. This is before the ACA (Affordable Care Act) is bludgeoned in 2026 causing rates in the “exchanges” to jump up as much as 20% – do you really believe that won’t have an affect on inflation? This has been a problem in America, in my view, since the 1980’s when insurance companies and hospitals became for profit entities and republicans refused to accept “national health insurance.” It’s as if Trump and his republican sycophants want MORE Americans to have to rely on the Emergency room and bankruptcy courts for their “health care.” Under the “care” of republicans the system will continue making America “more sick” no matter what JFK does.

I believe in doing my part to address the climate crisis even though I know it’s in a minuscule way. For over the past ten years there have been solar panels on our outbuildings (producing around 10,000 KWH of electricity per year) and my wife and I have been driving electric cars. I recently sold the ONE stock I’ve purchased in over 30 years at a loss because it was in a NON – Tesla electric car company – but I just don’t trust the market now that Trump is determined to undermine anything which has to do with clean energy. I will manage to survive this abomination, but I really feel for my children and grandchildren and those of others (no matter the “color” of the state where they reside) because once we get rid of Trump (God help us if it’s past 2028 – and, I’m talking about the whole mess of them – especially his kids, Vance, and the Project 2025 sycophants who are the real push for FASCISM) even then will it likely be too late)

I have to add, Trump seems to believe his “drill baby drill” mantra is something which will be embraced by the rest of the world. As usual, he’s nuts. Take China for example. The Chinese are at the forefront of the EV revolution. We won’t be able to judge this in person – because our government doesn’t believe our companies can compete with the Chinese, but it’s very likely the Chinese EV maker “BYD” is producing the best cars in the world. I drive a Polestar which is, technically – like its “sister” Volvo – a Swedish car maker. However they are owned by a Chinese company and the car I have was produced in China and it’s far and away the best car I’ve ever driven – maybe that I’ve been in. Trump’s tariffs (and those originally placed by Biden) make it impossible for these cars to be sold in America. (I got mine pre-tariff)

But, as usual, with republicans it always gets worse. Trump’s tariffs on autos and auto parts coming from our closest (well, formerly?) trading partners are pushing the cost to produce “American made” cars up, potentially, by double digits. And, do you really believe Ford and GM will just “eat” the tariffs as Trump has suggested. Hell, he doesn’t even seem to understand the money being generated by his tariffs is simply a TAX on “we the people” – first on the importers then un “us.” Not only are these new car prices going through the “roof” but CAR INSURANCE is going up by double digits AGAIN – my car insurance bills nearly doubled after the “end” of the pandemic and now they’re possibly going up by double digits once again. Maybe I need to get another horse!

And, it’s not just cars. I do a lot of my shopping at Costco because, in essence their prices seem to stay pretty stable. So, when I started noticing prices going up there it really caught my attention. I don’t drink coffee but virtually everyone I know does. The price of coffee has gone up over 20% (by my calculation) in the last month or so. The price of hamburger has gone up somewhere close to the same. Energy prices are going to go up – by some accounts – double digits. And, on and on. Of course, Trump will claim they’ve all gone down – about the same level of “truth” as his claim to have ended SEVEN wars since he took office. One of the wars he claimed to have ended was the India Pakistan kurfuffle a while back – with India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi calling Bull S**t on Trump, leading to Trump’s 50% tariffs on India. How dare he? (Modi, that is)

Schools are starting up as I’m writing this and Trump has effed the Department of Education up to the point where it is now “the enemy of the people.” Not only will schools, like the one where I taught, a “Title 1” school, face difficulty due to the percentage of really needy students (those whose parents can’t afford to find them a private school) but the attack on Universities around the nation are beyond my ability to comprehend. Attempting to cut off the funding of research at WORLD CLASS schools like Harvard? Harvard is about 350 (or so) years old and the number of discoveries from their research is staggering – it’s too much to even attempt to list here. But, Trump is attempting to get America’s top universities to “bend the knee” to his fascism and, sadly, a few of them have. Just like other fascist thugs, with Trump, the next “ask” will always be more and any agreement is virtually worthless depending on his mood (or that of his puppet masters). The last “ask” I heard about was for UCL:A to pay the Trump administration $1 BILLION in order to get the research grants already promised. Yikes!!!

For about 8 years of my life I operated a small farm. I discovered during the Reagan years that the government can make decisions which will summarily wipe out thousands of farmers without a second thought. Well, it’s happening again. And, in a myriad of ways. First, the Chinese are canceling orders for things like American Soy Beans – causing the price to drop below the cost of producing them. Of course, it’s harvest time and those Soy Beans have to go somewhere – but, unless you’ve been there it’s hard to imagine how FAST the price of a commodity will drop. And, Soy Beans aren’t the only product farmers are harvesting which are going to be money losers – and, if you have a large farm, we’re talking about a lot of money.

Also, farmers run their equipment hard – for long hours and every few years it’s time to replace the equipment with new things like tractors, harvesting equipment, and lots of other uses (not to mention the need for Trucks, etc.) With the tariffs on the price of parts, many of which are produced in Europe, Canada, Mexico, or China the price of a Tractor, for example, will likely be 10 – 20% higher this year than last. We’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars. And, with the price for the commodities plummeting, well, replacing a worn out tractor will have to wait. The farmers will “get it” on both ends. (Not to mention places like John Deere who make the equipment)

And, of course it’s actually worse than this. Think of all the farmers – especially in California’s San Juaquin Valley or other places where most of our “people” food is raised – having huge crops rotting on the vines. Trump’s assault on (law abiding) immigrants who are farm workers is causing them by the bus loads to fail to show up for work and, trust me, those republicans who are suggesting to repeal child labor laws as the solution for the lack of farm labor have their heads up their collective asses. I’ve had experience with Mexican immigrant laborers. My experience was on the farm, but the work ethic and the appreciation of having a minimum wage job is something which won’t be replicated by Americans looking for work. Maybe Trump is thinking if the job market gets bad enough, well…. (you must know what I was going to say) It’s “poppycock.” And, “I picked strawberries as a kid” isn’t the answer.

Here’s another blessing Trump is attempting to “bestow” on “we the people.” Now, I’m no economist, but as I’ve stated here before, I’m capable of listening to economists who, for example, are Nobel laureates. Virtually EVERY economist – other than Trump’s sycophants – are warning about the disaster which will be the jobs market tanking (it is) while inflation is rising (so is it). This could create a situation which, surprise, surprise, Trump’s economic “team” is unsuitable to (that is incapable of) “fix/fixing.” Before Trump took office I gave him six months to tank the economy. (Technically, I suppose you could say he already has) I admitted I was wrong and pointed out I should have said “one year.” Well, that “prediction” I’m sticking to. And the job “gains” in America are now down to a “trickle” with one month (June) of NEGATIVE job growth (Under Biden there was positive job growth in 48 straight months – that’s every month of his administration) and, it appears MORE negative job growth on the way. (Recession time???)

All of this is the result of his pigheaded stance on tariffs. I’m sure if you’re still reading this you’ve been around narcissistic pathological LIARS before (maybe not one who’s a 34 times convicted FELON, or adjudicated sexual predator, or serial FRAUDSTER or “all of the above” but I digress) and, they just CAN’T admit to being wrong. Therefore, without a SCOTUS growing a pair of “balls” these tariffs could be there until either “the cows come home” or the republicans in Congress decide to give us all a break from this nightmare and do a bit of IMPEACHING.

Let me add a note of caution though. When it becomes time for some IMPEACHING it’s very important that the IMPEACHING would include JD Vance as well. My personal belief is Vance would be worse than Trump. Although, in reality, it’s the Project 2025 fascists who are calling the shots. Trump is a convenient bloviating pathological LYING mouthpiece for them. I doubt Vance would be much different. It’s people like Stephen Miller and Russel Vought – two of Project 2025’s authors – who will remain, likely for the entire four years. (I suppose you could surmise I have no confidence in the Congress to do the “right thing.” I wrote this all at one sitting off the top of my OLD head. That should tell you all you need to know. The s**t has already hit the fan. The only question remaining is how bad is the aftermath. As I watched Putin, Modi, Xi, and Kim Jung un Laughing it up before the Chinese military parade all I could think of was how small they’re making Trump look!

Final Thought: I can’t leave this without mentioning the bludgeoning of American institutions “we the people” have taken for granted for years. The food inspectors have been reduced to the point where it’s going to be an adventure when shopping for food. It’s going to be bad enough with the produce, but just think of the meat Americans consume – much of which will face no inspection process whatever. Water is something I believe “we the people” take for granted – and air. We just assume there’s a government agency that’s job is to make sure the air and water are clean. Trump et al are removing regulations that have been in effect for decades – regulations progressives are constantly attempting to make better.

That’s why a bunch of tech gurus were having dinner at the “White House” this week – encouraging Trump to repeal regulations so they can make even MORE money. And, they know the trick. I could only stomach a small segment of the video of that dinner – listening to Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Sam Altman, and a bunch of others laying (disingenuous) “compliments” on Trump – how can I best say this? – THICKLY! It was almost as disgusting as Trump’s annual three hour cabinet meeting where his minions soil themselves while “praising” dear leader. The number of Americans willing to sell their souls for power or money (or both) is disgusting. “We the people” voted for this – so sadly, we deserve what we’re getting.

America’s great institutions have been hollowed out. The military is being compromised from it’s constitutional duties. The SCOTUS is shameful. America is suffering from likely the greatest “brain drain” in her history. And, there’s 3 1/2 years to go. For those counting on the 2026 mid-terms, more and more Americans are realizing Trump is planning to (actually) RIG that election – he’s working on several “strategies.” As I’ve said here, he has no intention of dealing with another democratic led Congress – even if he has to order Martial Law. Brace yourselves – Trump’s (and his puppet masters’) version of the Third Reich is nearly in tact!

I keep talking about the “flooding the zone” strategy Trump and his Project 2025 puppet masters have been using since the day Trump took (lied about) the oath of office on January 20, 2025 – a day which will go down in infamy. The challenge for people who care enough about our republic is to sift through all the “noise” and focus on the “stuff” Trump and his masters are doing to further their aim at turning America into the fascist country Hitler failed to achieve back in WW II. And, I have to say, as I begin attempting to focus my thoughts on what I consider most important – my mind is “swirling.” I’m not sure I can keep up with it.

But, I’m just a lowly retired school teacher so my goal is usually hoping someone out there who has some standing might find one of my thoughts to be relative (for lack of a better word). My point, usually, is that fundamentally Trump and his Project 2025 masters are systematically plowing through the “guardrails” which were created almost 250 years ago by our “founders.” To Trump and his masters the constitution created back then – and amended over time – demonstrated a “living” document that created the greatest example of “self rule” and the greatest middle class in the history of the world is simply an inconvenience.

The reality is what they’re doing is beyond serious. If we had any other SCOTUS it would be unconstitutional. There are several ways to look at the DAMAGE being inflicted on “we the people.” Of course, the straight on assault on our “rule of law” is “deplorable.” But, of course, there’s a bunch of other “casualties” to what Trump et al are accomplishing. In essence, for example, they’ve completely halted the “first step” in addressing the Climate Crisis that, to me, should have been priority number one to young people in the last election – but, sadly, I don’t think it even made the top ten in the concerns of those under 40 last November.

The issue of the SCOTUS is basically “front and center” almost every day. And, the “permission slip” they’ve given to Trump is, for me, depressing when I consider all the consequences. And, this court will have a 6 – 3 right wing majority for well beyond whatever’s left of my lifetime. They’ve given Trump “absolute immunity” (at least in his mind – I have no idea if they will ever have the guts to say “no” to him), they’ve allowed him to fire people in supposed independent agencies without “cause” (usually because the director of the agency is Black), he’s been busy “clawing back” BILLIONS of dollars of Congressionally mandated funding – leading, in the case of USAID to, by the end of this year, approximately 3 MILLION unnecessary deaths, mostly in Africa (again, Black people), he’s busy appeasing Vladimir Putin leading to an untold number of unnecessary deaths for the Ukrainians, and he’s clearly supporting the Netanyahu genocide in GAZA leading to thousands more unnecessary deaths.

As you can see, the list could go on and on because there’s so much more. Here’s a quick contrast to the difference between President Biden and Trump. President Biden pulled NATO together in an united front helping Ukraine to defend itself and leading the alliance to a better place than it had been in years. In fact, both Finland and Sweden joined NATO after years of independence. They clearly could see the menace of Putin. My only objection to what President Biden was doing as he led the defense of Ukraine, was that Ukraine was restricted in using American weapons to attack inside Russia. To me, it’s well past time for Ukraine to be giving Russia a bit of their own “medicine.” But, Trump has stopped sending aid to Ukraine and now my hope has to be that Europeans will be able to make up the “slack.”

Here’s the scariest part of Trump’s incoherent foreign policy as he leads his “America First” sycophants – who don’t seem to have much of an education on World history – like the history of the Third Reich. Appeasement to Hitler led directly to WW II – or at least made his “agenda” easier when he began his assault on Europe in 1939 when he invaded Poland. So, Trump has given Putin the “red carpet treatment” on American soil – remember the International Criminal Court has a WARRANT for Putin’s arrest and trial as a WAR CRIMINAL – but, of course, that’s meaningless to our president who is a 34 times convicted FELON. Additionally, in Trump’s (illegal and incompetent) trade war via his arbitrary use of tariffs Trump has succeeded in turning India into an alliance with Putin, Xi of China, and Kim Sung un of North Korea. (Two of the four are probably the most ruthless dictators on the Planet). Trump’s appeasement and IGNORANCE very well could be leading to WW III.

Trump has put a huge target on the “back” of the United States of America and if India and China decide to create a new alliance with the goal of bankrupting America it appears to me Trump and the people surrounding him will have no idea how to respond. Trump is attempting to turn the Federal Reserve board of governors into political pawns for him to use as he expresses his economic ignorance. Before his first day in Trump 2.0 I predicted he would tank the economy in his first six months. Of course, I was wrong – but he’s put the necessary “pieces” in place to fracture the entire economic “picture.” Should the SCOTUS allow him to replace Lisa Cook as a Fed governor (with 10 years left on her term) that will be like pulling the “domino” allowing the rest of them to fall.

Can you imaging if it’s Trump who decides what interest rates should be? Do you believe other countries who’ve invested in American “debt” by purchasing Treasury bonds will simply leave these investments ‘standing” when it’s up to Trump to set interest rates? What will happen to the American economy when Treasury bills become considered worthless to investors around the globe? I”m no economist but, like anyone else, I can listen to those economists who’ve, for example, received Nobel prizes. That tells me they know what they’re talking about. Many suggest if Trump succeeds in taking control of the Fed inflation will soon reach well into the double digits. Trump will have succeeded in doing to the American economy what he did to his own business – several times! (Six bankruptcies – this time with no father to bail him out)

There you have it – Last night I just wanted to jot down a few quick thoughts and that was the result so, now, here we are. Here’s what I’ve seen just this morning. Trump is, once again, threatening to invade Chicago and other cities (that don’t want American troops on the streets). 11 people were slaughtered in a boat in the Caribbean, allegedly transporting drugs to the U.S. from Venezuela. (Of course, the American ships in the area could simply have stopped the boat, boarded it, and, if there were drugs on board could have confiscated the drugs and had the smugglers arrested) Do you think there’s any chance the U.S. military under Pete Hegseth made a mistake? Also, more reports coming in of American immigrants being “snatched” as they report for their court dates and shipped off to places they don’t belong with just the clothes on their backs. And, that’s all just by 10:00 Am.

Several of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell have gathered in Washington D.C. to encourage members of the House to vote yes on the discharge petition allowing a vote on the release of the Epstein files. Trump is threatening republicans who support this move and the victims are saying they will start naming names if America’s politicians continue blocking the release of the files. One thing I can assure you – Trump’s name WON’T be part of the files once they are released. I’ve used this word before: SCRUBBING. But, it’s not hard to figure out based on ALL the photos and videos available online to surmise Trump was a close friend of Epstein. How much more was he involved with, if any? Time will tell, but I would be surprised if the DOJ hasn’t been making sure Trump’s name will not show up in any of the files which are ultimately released. But, as they say, “pictures tell a thousand words!”

Already my head is spinning. And, for certain, there will be more. Trump will do whatever it takes to deflect attention of his MAGAts away from the Epstein files. I believe they will believe almost anything other than being deprived of seeing what is in these files. Although, do you really believe more than a sliver of these people will actually read 100,000 pages of “stuff?” Like, maybe, “invading” Chicago!

Final Thought: Isn’t it a bit rich having Trump professing to be all about “law and order.” Aside from the 34 FELONY convictions he’s living with there were another 50 or so allegations, including his attempted coup of January 6th, 2021, of FELONY conduct. He’s an adjudicated sexual predator, and a serial FRAUDSTER. And, when you read about Trump’s life history he’s made a career out of pushing the limits of the law. How many laws has he broken during Trump 2.0? Well, with the help of the SCOTUS he believes there are NO laws he can’t break – he’s got “absolute immunity.” He even got away with close to ten alleged acts of OBSTRUCTION during the so-called Russia investigation back when Robert Mueller said he was “memorializing” the allegations for once Trump was out of office – and, of course, Merrick Garland chose to ignore these allegations like he slow walked the investigation into the January 6th coup.

“We the people” are forced to rely on the democrats to save our republic from Trump and his Project 2025 puppet masters. At times I find that very depressing. However, “we the people” do have power if we’ll realize it. We need to come together with the commitment that Trump 2.0 needs to go. The first step in that is to DEMAND free and fair elections in 2026 and then begin the process of voting republicans in Congress into the history books. Don’t get me wrong, there are several democrats who, I believe, need to head off into the sunset. We simply need to replace them with democrats – and, mind you, I’m no democrat. However, realistically, democrats are the only option of “we the people” if we decide we don’t want to be a FASCIST nation!! Stay tuned…..

While it seems to me to be easy finding really awful stuff Trump (and his Project 2025 puppet masters) is/are doing, it’s more difficult to focus on what can be done about it and who needs to be doing that. Of course, sadly, the second part of that last statement is easy enough – “we the people” are stuck with the democrats if we want to stop Trump in 2026 by flipping the Congress (if there are elections) in 2026 and “Trumpism” in 2028. Of course, if Trump somehow manages to undermine our election system enough to cause “we the people” to look for other ways to express ourselves, then “Katy bar the door.” It could get really ugly. Trump want us to be Russia.

Here’s a reality of “Trumpism.” It started with Trump leading the RACIST “birther movement” during Barack Obama’s first term as president. When Trump was first running for the presidency I remember reading about a young man named Derek Black who’s father, Don Black, was once the Grand Wizard of the KKK. His godfather, David Duke, had also been the head of the KKK. They were raising Derek as the heir apparent to their racist regime when he went to a college in Central Florida and ended up being “changed” from his racist ways. A book, “Rising out of Hatred” was written about his journey from KKK land to the University of Chicago as a top graduate student who had shed his racist history – a great read, by the way. Both Black Sr. and Duke LOVED Trump!

After reading the book I did a bit of research on Don Black and David Duke and their political “leanings.” As it turned out I read an article about the two racist men and they were sharing (I believe with those frequenting Black’s website portal for racists) that Trump was their “vehicle” into the “mainstream of American politics.” (This was prior to the 2016 election) Duke had attempted to run for Congress in Louisiana, but his views were too extreme even there. In an interview of Derek Black subsequent to him being ostracized by his Mom and Dad he shared they would tape Fox “news” programs of Tucker Carlson and then watch them over and over again. Confirms what we already know about Tucker! And, of course, confirms the “racist” part of the definition of fascism, which Trump fits to a tee!

People like me can’t seem to get our minds off how HORRIBLE Trump and his rabid base are, but, for young people like my son (36) the issues that matter are TOTALLY economic issues and the affordability crisis for America’s young people. And, I “get” what he’s trying to tell me. The “baby boomers” are too old to understand the problem facing young Americans who are trying to get started in life. Around where I live a two bedroom apartment costs $2000 per month. PLUS, it takes first and last months rent AND a significant deposit just to get in the door. Estimates are that being able to start a family (including buying a house) requires an income approaching six figures. Yikes!!!

In Seattle (I live in Washington state) it’s even worse. My niece, who graduated from the University of Washington about 30 years ago lives in an old 1940’s type home in a neighborhood where the homes are crammed close together. A couple years ago when I was visiting her the house across the street from them – a similar size and age house – had just sold for $1.2 MILLION. And, these are homes that were “starter homes” back when they were originally purchased. I live in a rural area where there’s often a couple acres with a house which comes up for sale, but it’s almost as bad. Our neighbor listed their house for $700 THOUSAND and, after five days the realtor took “bids.” It sold for $780 THOUSAND. Twenty years ago it would have sold for less than $200 THOUSAND and after a couple months on the market plus seller and buyer negotiations.

Simply put, there’s a serious housing shortage in America. Also, getting back to the rental issue, if someone loses their job for some reason and isn’t able to find one quick enough to avoid being evicted then the issue of homelessness arises. And, the number of homeless people in the city where I live is increasing dramatically. There are wonderful people attempting to mitigate the problem, but it’s tough to get back on your feet once you’ve become homeless. (Full disclosure: I was homeless for a period of time about 40 years ago – but, it was much easier back then to work your way out of the problem.)

This is just a snippet of what is “bugging” the young people of America these days – and, the issue is bad enough for them that they overlooked the issues of, for example, the SCOTUS, or education, or health care, or CLIMATE CHANGE as they allowed the FASCIST Trump to retake the White House – despite 34 guilty FELONY convictions, another 50 or so FELONY charges in three indictments pending, a history of being a pathological LIAR, a history of misogyny, xenophobia, being an adjudicated sexual predator, a serial FRAUDSTER, and A RACIST. That should tell us old people, and the democratic party all we need to know about the “way forward.”

When you look at it, Joe Biden’s economic policies were the BEST policies – well, to me – in my lifetime, for working Americans – BUT, Joe Biden was 82 years old. (Trump is “ONLY” 79) Kamala Harris had proposals to deal with the housing crisis which SHOULD have appealed to young people, but, apparently America is still not ready for a woman as president. (After all, 53% of women voted for Trump) Yes, I understand (f)Elon Musk pumped in nearly $300 MILLION during the last couple of months to get Trump elected. Musk seemed to have appealed to young men in particular – of course Musk also owns Xwitter which gave Trump lots of free advertising.

Here’s the question running through my head at this time. “Are young people turning on Trump yet?” I don’t know the answer to that – I believe they certainly SHOULD be. However, the reality is they are not as invested in politics as people like me – and the republican media machine STILL dwarfs that of the democrats. And, there has to be urgency in standing up to Trump (people like me understand that) because the DAMAGE he’s doing to our republic is being ingrained deeper and deeper by the day. Trump KNOWS that’s his only chance to avoid a democratic Congress in 2027 is to CHEAT. But, of course, he’s also KNOWN for CHEATING – he CHEATS at golf for heaven’s sake. (Trump now is even now making rumblings about “some people want a dictator.” That’s how he lays the groundwork for his next BIG LIE – from the annals of Hitler, of course)

Democrats need to pay attention to what is happening in New York City. Zorhan Mamdani has taken New York City by storm by addressing the issues of young people – in fact, he’s one of them – and the affordability crisis. That’s what democrats need to do – get some of the older (OK, old) members out of leadership roles and turn the “reins” over to people young Americans can identify with. Personally, I see several young “firebrands” in the House of Representatives who “fit the bill.” “AOC” is the first one that comes to my mind. She is sharp and she has no qualms about “telling it like it is.” Jasmine Crockett is another one who I see as a potential national leader. And, there’s several more. Also, there’s likely to be a whole new batch in 2027 if we somehow actually have “free and fair elections.” (Trump would say, “over my dead body” to that)

I believe Gavin Newsome is putting himself out in a place where he could be seeking the leadership position nationally going into the 2028 election (if we’re still having elections in 2028 – without Trump’s brownshirts suffocating voting precincts in Major Cities) He has FINALLY figured out what is actually happening in our country. Others are slowly falling in line. I’m not sure what it’s going to take for some of the democrats to understand what is required of them. It’s been obvious to me – a former Middle School teacher – for more than 20 years. I’ve always been an “independent voter” – but GW Bush/Dick Cheney caused me to start voting AGAINST republicans on a regular basis.

On this site, almost since I started writing back in 2008 I’ve been lamenting that democrats need to grow a spine and realize this is a battle for the heart and soul of America. Since the days of Jimmy Carter I’ve been seeing democrats seem to be afraid of their own shadows and republicans have figured out how to take advantage of that. The eviscerating of President Biden after about a bad 15 minutes of a debate with Trump (where Trump was off the rails for the entire debate) was the latest example. Yes Biden was/is too old. BUT the democratic primary voters knew that and voted for him overwhelmingly. I’ll say it again, the 2024 election should NOT have been about Biden’s age, it SHOULD have been about Trump and Project 2025. I was pointing out Project 2025 was a roadmap to FASCISM for months prior to the election. And, now, here we are!

The American people are pleading for a democratic party that is going to FIGHT Trump’s FASCIST takeover of our government before it’s too late. More and more progressives are realizing what is happening. And, when the prices of food and other commodities necessary for us peons continues to rise – for example, health care and energy costs, are predicted to go up double digits in the next year that will get noticed. When the people see a stripped down FEMA attempt to mitigate the effects of the Hurricanes or the FIRES or the floods which are bound to hit the nation in the next two or three months that SHOULD get people’s attention. (Hell, ICE has already snatched two firefighters from the largest ongoing wildfire in my home state. They actually made the firefighters line up shoulder to shoulder and produce ID to prove they were citizens – all while the fire raged on!)

When the reality of America’s role in the destruction of GAZA and, then, the attempt to steal the Palestinian land from the Palestinian people I hope they will realize the stench this places on all of us. Along with Trump’s appeasement toward the brutal dictator Vladimir Putin as more and more Ukrainians die because Trump refuses to arm them so they can defend themselves brings more SHAME that will accrue to “we the people.” The sub-human treatment of immigrants who simply came to America (like immigrants since the beginning of this nation) is a SHAME we’ll all wear – after all “we the people” voted for this. And, if the climate crisis gets past the “no return zone” because Trump repealed what should have been a small first step in Biden’s “Inflation Reduction Act” that will push Trump further into the darkest holes in American history.

I’ve often said Trump will end up on the same page as Benedict Arnold. But, Trump is a traitor beyond anything imaginable from Mr. Arnold. Trump is purposely doing the best he can to make the Climate Crisis worse. For God’s sake – he’s even STILL trying to revive the coal industry. I’m not kidding. And, of course, he’s following through on his promises to the fossil fuel BILLIONAIRES to make their lives easier provided they would give him something like a “cool” BILLION dollars during the campaign. (Of course, they did!)

And, what about the other billionaires. Musk, Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, and on and on – these people care about one thing – MONEY. And, they can’t seem to get enough of it. They’ve convinced themselves the country is better off the more money they have. I’m not kidding. I mean, it should be obvious. Must spent nearly $300 MILLION to insure Trump’s election – and, naturally, to Musk simply an investment. It’s already been returned exponentially in just eight months – and, he hasn’t even got his tax break yet. (Keeping in mind Musk only pays the Capital gains tax – if he pays any taxes – because he’s only paid in stock options. The latest “award” being for $29 BILLION) Simply put, the democrats have their work cut out for them – Trump’s Silicon sycophants control virtually all of Social Media and Soon all of “AI.” A daunting task indeed!

Final Thought: For years (likely about 8 years) – since I realized Trump is either a fascist or a Mob boss who snuck through the cracks – either way a con man – I’ve been pointing out the foundation of a fascist regime is a government/corporate partnership. We are seeing this phenomenon playing out in real time during Trump 2.0. Musk’s role has been obvious but the entire scheme should be becoming clearer by the day. Trump is actually collecting what seems to amount to “protection money” from corporations – 15% of sales to China for NVIDIA or AMD on their “AI” sales. He’s collected !0% of Intel for them to get the government grants promised them via the Biden Chip’s and Science Act. And, I can guarantee you this is just the start of the overt shakedowns. Who knows what’s going on behind the scenes – but America’s business community seems to care less about whether the U.S. is a fascist state or not.

Trump and his Project 2025 puppet masters fit every aspect of the American Heritage Dictionary’s definition of FASCISM. It’s here, the democrats are beginning to figure it out – possibly too late, and America’s BILLIONAIRES seem to be absolutely OK with it. I don’t know why none of this surprises me. Well, actually, it’s exactly what the authors of Project 2025 promised “we the people.” Slowly, more and more people will begin to “get it” – but, it may already be too late. Republicans have their next several steps planned (and, Trust me, this isn’t Trump – he’s simply the willing bloviator at the top) and, democrats are reacting to their last “steps.” I’ll spare you my thoughts about the so-called “liberal media.” Stay tuned….

I’ve been warning about the DAMAGE Trump is doing to this country for close to ten years now. That DAMAGE is extremely widespread and there seems to be another example on a daily basis. That would be to be expected when a group of people (Trump + Project 2025 authors) are attempting to turn the world’s longest running example of self rule into a FASCIST society. Obviously, there needs to be radical changes to traditional norms (and laws) in order for this FASCIST power grab to succeed.

I’m not going to attempt to list all the examples of what Trump et al are doing because it’s too hard to keep up. Just today there were some examples that should raise the hair on the backs of virtually every American – but, we know that won’t happen because too many Americans are subjected to media which is willing to go along with this “slow moving coup d’etat.” I won’t likely be around but those who have chosen to submit to Trump’s and Project 2025’s FASCIST takeover of this nation will ultimately have a very unwanted page in American History. I usually say “right next to Benedict Arnold.”

So, what are today’s ridiculous moves by the Trump regime? Well, start with Trump’s attempt to fire a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors – which, by all rights, SHOULD be an illegal action. But, once again this will be Trump CHALLENGING our chicken s**t SCOTUS to actually stand up to him. So far, that hasn’t played out very well. Likely, the District Court Judge will put a stop to Trump’s attempt to gain complete control of the Fed, but ultimately, the question is what will the SCOTUS do? They’ve hinted to Trump not to try this (in an unusual way) – as they allowed him to fire the heads of other INDEPENDENT agencies – suggesting the Fed is “different.” We’ll see, but Kudos to Lisa Cook for fighting Trump’s power grab – which, should he succeed is likely to pull the rug out from what’s left of our economy at that point in time.

At the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) RFK Jr. (the SHAMEFUL Kennedy – his father is turning in his grave) is laying waist to what’s left of the professionals there who fight for the health of “we the people” in order to keep us safe. The miraculous work they’ve done in the past is being undermined, most notably to me, in the area of vaccinations. In fact, after I say the top doctors at the CDC were either fired (the Director) or resigned in protest I went out today and got my COVID-19 booster shot. I go to a local community health center which, between RFK Jr. and Trump’s so-called BBB is likely to face challenges to their ability to continue operations. While I could choose to go elsewhere, it’s clear MANY of those being served can’t.

The “icing on the cake” for me came when I discovered something unbelievable that happened with firefighters who are working to contain a LARGE wildfire in my home state Washington. There are a bunch of firefighters who’ve been battling this blaze for weeks, living in the (what looks like) wilderness. These are true hard working people doing what most Americans actually take for granted. So, who shows up at their base camp? Yep, you guessed it, Trump’s thugs from ICE.

They actually lined up the firefighters from this camp – shoulder to shoulder – remember they’re out in the middle of heavy forest – and demanded these men (and women?) show their identification papers to prove they are citizens. I’m not kidding. And, there were several Native American tribal members in the crew. Now, I have no idea who was arrested, but two members of the firefighter crew were detained – right on the spot. And, based on previous actions of Trump’s “brown shirts,” we won’t have any idea where these two people have been taken. Will they be offered an opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law? Based on Trump’s own words – not unless some attorney gets to a judge before they get moved ????? (who knows where)

Here’s one of the things I noticed when I was at the community health center today while sitting in the room waiting for the medical assistant to bring the shot for my right arm. There were instructions on the wall detailing what your “rights” are and how you should be respond if targeted by ICE. The sign was written in English and Spanish and made me feel even better about the health center. I thought maybe there would be ICE agents waiting in the parking lot as I left to go home. Not sure how I would have reacted had I been told to show my identification. So far, I haven’t had that challenge but, of course, I’m an old white haired White man.

As Trump is pushing to turn America into a dictatorship like in his idol Vladimir Putin’s Russia (he’s even taking Putin’s “advice” about “mail in ballots”) he’s also THREATENING to run for a third term in 2028 – a constitutional absurdity – although over half his republican minions believe he could do it. (Will his swollen ankles last that long?) He’s already hinted that he’s going to get rid of our “free and fair” elections (a scheme which I believe he’s working overtime on each and every day) but when he makes those “Trump 2028” hats and sells them to his CULT members I shudder and then I gag. In response to that absurd claim (that Trump can have a third term because only two would be consecutive) I say “It’s time to break out the Obama 2028 hats!” Stay tuned….

Final Thought: Let me give you something to “chew” on removing any question you might have regarding Trump’s motive in making major decisions. Lisa Cook, the member of the Fed Board of Governors Trump wants to remove (illegally) is BLACK. That’s the rub for Trump. There’s a long list of government officials who were fired ostensibly because of the color of their skin. I guess you’d call that the opposite of DEI. Or better yet, you could call it (well, I call it) the type of racism which fits neatly into the American Heritage definition of FASCISM! Enough said!!

Trump, and the Congressional Budget Office, are claiming the (illegal) tariffs imposed by Trump (arbitrarily) will raise $4 TRILLION against the “deficit” over the next 10 years. Well, a couple things; Couldn’t they have just raised taxes on corporations? Or, of course, they don’t want to (out in the open) raise taxes on us peons – that wouldn’t go over very well. So, Trump “outwardly” removed “taxes on tips” for the first $25,000 in income while INCREASING taxes on consumer goods purchased mainly by working class people indirectly via the tariffs. Obviously, it’s a bad “trade-off.” And, if anyone in his administration admits to the rising inflation, well, they’ll be fired on the spot!

What is Trump going to do when the courts, as they should, declare his ILLEGAL tariffs are, well, ILLEGAL? First, of course he will “blow his top,” pull out his phone, and start “twittering” (or whatever you call it) about how the courts have no right to tell him what to do. The question then becomes – will he actually follow the directive of the court? Of course he’ll appeal to the SCOTUS and, likely, they’ll allow him to leave them in place while they slow walk whatever they decide. (See my previous post)

Does anyone actually expect Pam Bondi to participate in a challenge of any sorts to Trump’s continued overreach of our legal system of justice? I mean, now he’s also going after the Federal Reserve Board which the SCOTUS has already ruled “hands off.” That’s after they allowed him to fire the heads of supposedly “independent” agencies. But, the Fed, no way. However, aside from him despising Jerome Powell, Trump has an issue with the Fed which I’m sure he’ll say falls into his anti-DEI directive. Fed member Lisa Cook happens to be Black. So, Trump and his lackeys have come up with maybe the most preposterous excuse for “cause” in his attempt to fire Ms. Cook. Trump is claiming Ms. Cook committed “fraud” on an application for a mortgage! No, really!

Does anyone out their fail to see the irony here? Trump accusing Ms. Cook of committing FRAUD? Trump, of course, was found to have committed SERIAL fraud by a New York Court – preventing him or his sons from doing ANY business in New York. They were found to have committed FRAUD in any number of deceitful ways and are appealing the half BILLION dollar fine attached to the verdict. (Trump might actually get out of paying the fine – not only is our country a mess, but a big reason is because the court system is a mess)

I suppose you could say Trump claiming he’s a “law and order” president would tip the scales in its favor as the all time irony. I mean Trump hasn’t seen a law he doesn’t want to obliterate simply by violating it and daring anyone to do something about it. Our present “Justice” department isn’t going to be the backstop to Trump’s ridiculously hypocritical behavior. He must really be getting his “jollies” sitting in the Oval Office and ordering National Guard Troops into America’s largest cities where, you guessed it, lots of people of color happen to reside. If Trump isn’t a wannabe Mob boss, he sure acts like one! (Just like his idol Vladimir Putin – who believes Trump is a “useful idiot”)

Here’s what I think I’ve learned over the past few months listening to and reading works of actual economists: As soon as Trump gets away with firing Ms. Cook if he manages to do so, the DAMAGE to our economy will be far worse than the effects of the tariffs which I can tell you are beginning to show their ugly faces as I’m typing this. You see, I’m one of the poor saps who spends most of his money paying for things like food. And, I’m seeing spikes in a number of items I regularly purchase. So the inflation rise from the tariffs has begun BUT firing a member of the Fed could lead to an actual collapse of our economic system.

And, do you trust Trump and his republican sycophants in Congress to pull our economy out of a downward spiral? Trump actually seems to believe his tariffs are going to offset the HUGE addition to our national debt his so-called big (ugly) bill created. And, of course, those sly republicans in the House and Senate have set up the Medicaid cuts and SNAP cuts to take full effect after the 2026 mid-term elections – which I believe Trump is planning to be a “Russia like” election with republican pre-ordained to “win” the battle for control of Congress.

I believe what Trump really wants is for some left wing nut job to attack one of these National Guard Troops so he can call it a national emergency and deploy troops in every city in America which is full of democratically inclined voters. I’ve said it before, Trump is going to do whatever it takes to avoid having to deal with a democratically run Congress. Should democrats retake control of the House and somehow gain a significant Senate majority (with some young progressive and courageous members) Trump knows exactly what will happen.

For heaven’s sake, the “good” polls regarding Trump’s “approval rating” puts him at 40% “up” and close to 60% down. That’s on his overall approval rating. In other areas, including his handling of “immigration” is worse and getting “worser” by the day. While Trump comes across as being either stupid or losing it mentally because of some age related issue he’s smart enough to know what lies ahead if democrats control even the House – but, double trouble if they regain control of the Senate with some younger members who are willing to FIGHT to save our democratic republic. The other thing to consider is those pesky Project 2025 puppet masters aren’t losing it mentally – and, if you’ve read their manifesto you know they HATE “democracy.” They’ve made it this far it will be an historic challenge to stop them!

For years I’ve been lamenting – as I watch democrats continually getting out smarted by those republicans with all the money working in the background – that it’s much easier to lose a right (or privilege) than it is to gain it back. We’ve seen this, for example, with a “woman’s right to choose” – ie the abortion issue. (Which by the way, the Project 2025 folks want to make illegal nationwide) In the 2024 election a MAJORITY of women voted for Trump. I honestly found that FACT to be among the most disturbing (along with members of the Hispanic community voting for Trump in increased numbers – not to mention the numbers of young people choosing a Climate denier as THEIR president) in the aftermath of the depressing election. Well, now we’re all going to be experiencing the LOSS of “something” we hold “dear” and have taken for granted by the time we get this 34 times convicted FELON, adjudicated sexual assaulter, and serial FRAUDSTER out of office. The next 3 1/2 year are going to be – well, it’s even depressing to think about it! Stay tuned…..

Final Thought: I personally consider Trump’s sending troops into our cities to be an illegal unconstitutional and “un-American” action. Time will tell how the SCOTUS thinks about this – so far they’ve been totally supportive of Trump’s fascist conduct and, therefore, there’s no holding our collective breath. However, the DAMAGE Trump is causing to this once great nation is undeniably awful and could take a generation or more to “fix.” Is he attempting to push America into a second “civil war?” This I can tell you – there is a large number of KKK types located across our nation who want just that. They don’t only HATE undocumented immigrants, they HATE anyone who’s not WHITE! And, if that and MOST of what Trump is doing doesn’t remind you of the Germans of the 30’s and 40’s then I believe you need to do just a bit of reading about Hitler and the rest of the Germans who embedded fascism into their nation’s government. The parallels are eery!!! Yikes!!!

One more thought: Suggested reading – the biography of Diedrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Mataxas. The actual title is “Bonhoeffer Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” It’s a great read (I couldn’t put it down – I read it several years ago) and it gives you an insiders view of Hitler’s rise to power in Nazi Germany. If you don’t believe it could happen here, in the U.S., you should really read this book. (Of course there are a plethora of other ways you can educate yourself on what is actually happening in this country that is reminiscent of the Nazi takeover of Germany!) Remember, those who choose to ignore HISTORY are doomed to repeat it!

I’ve been pointing out since before Trump took (lied about) the oath of office he would be “flooding the zone” with the (Project 2025) stuff to keep progressives “chasing their tails.” Well, sure enough, I find myself – despite reminding myself of my own prediction – “chasing my tail” when attempting to keep up with the scandal a day president who is increasing the outrageous in order to get “we the people’s” minds off of the Epstein files. If you’ve paid attention to the interview of Ghislaine Maxwell – Epstein’s co-conspirator in sex trafficking of minors – you can understand how Trump and his sycophants think about the mental acuity of the MAGA supporters – as Trump himself has said, they’re “STUPID.”

Well, I myself – as someone who can be pretty “stupid” at times – try to understand the MILLIONS of Americans who are supporting an overt FASCIST as our president – I am trying to find different terms (although, I have to admit, I’ve used that term here before after listening to some of the MAGAts explain their beliefs) in describing them. It has become clear to me that a large majority of Americans don’t pay close attention to politics – in fact they HATE politics – and many, if not most, have no understanding of how our government (is supposed to) function(s) and couldn’t tell you how it’s structured to save their lives. (I’m basing that “fact” on my years of questioning “educated” adults about politics.)

At one time I knew, for example, the makeup of the constitution in detail (I took a constitutional law class in college back in the 1960’s). Now, I can only vaguely remember the details of the document which our nation is built on. (I am, after all, only one year younger than Trump) I was a public school teacher for 23 years and I worked with others who, for the most part, had Master’s Degrees and, I always assumed, were well informed adults. The truth is, I only found a “handful” of teachers who would even talk about politics and several of them didn’t have enough interest to learn about how our government is supposed to work. (Despite our mission statement to help educate future responsible adults)

Now that I’m soon to be 78 years old I’ve grown impatient with my peers who have no idea how the system was designed to work and watch Fox “news” in order to feel “informed.” I’ve learned there is no hope in attempting to reason with these people using factual information when I learn they support Trump. I know a retired dentist who makes racist comments as he defends his support of Trump and when I point out he’s sounding like a racist I get the “I’m not a racist, I know a black person” response. It’s hopeless talking to people who are under that “spell.”

Which is why it’s so unnerving to me as I watch this nation (the United States of America) moving so rapidly into FASCISM. (Slowly but surely members of the mainstream media are beginning to use that term) For years here I’ve pointed out the foundation of a FASCIST state is a government/corporate partnership. (No idea how many people believed me) I’ve shared that all this started back in 1971 when soon to be Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell penned his now infamous “memo” to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce laying out the plan to increase the power of Corporations in America. (This was, of course, during the Nixon years)

So, now we have example after example how this is playing out – and, that’s not including a Supreme Court which has set the stage for how this is all happening with some egregiously “pro-corporate” decisions. To me, the “biggee” of the Roberts Court would be the Citizen’s United decision that unleashed the flood of corporate (and foreign) cash into our political process since about 2010. For heaven’s sake, (f)Elon Musk pored in something like $300 MILLION in the last election. (Talk about buying an election) The SCOTUS has given Trump the impression that “anything goes” in Trump 2.0 and he’s taking full advantage.

The Tariffs were the initial step in Trump’s attempt to “merge” the large U.S. multi-national corporations actually right into the government. This is stuff that is so unbelievable to me I keep waiting for at least one republican to say “what the….?” For example, it’s like Trump is taking “protection” money from large corporations. A 15% cut of the profits of NVIDIA and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) so they can sell products to China was the first “unbelievable” step Trump was taking to grab corporations by the “short hair.” The response from republicans (at least so far): “crickets.”

Yes there was (f)Elon Musk actually getting Trump elected via the (above mentioned) nearly $300 MILLION he pumped into the campaign in the closing months (plus tons of free advertising on Xwitter) with the benefit of being the “co-president” for a few months until he realized the republican budget included a $5 TRILLION increase to the debt ceiling plus Trump’s crippling tariffs for his main business – although Musk got MANY government investigations out of his corporate entities “hair.” Tim Cook bringing a special gift to the Oval Office to get favorable treatment for Iphones. A bunch of CEO’s throwing a MILLION bucks at Trump in order to stand next to him at the inauguration and, NOW, Trump claiming he’s getting 10% of INTEL based on the previously promised incentives from the Chips and Science Act during Biden’s administration – incentives which previously only required setting up shop in America. Apparently, Trump was threatening to pull back the promises granted under President Biden.

I mean, it shouldn’t take the OVERT “partnership” of corporate America into the MAGA movement for people to understand Trump is pulling off coup d’etat #2. Unless and until our mainstream media stops attempting to put ‘lipstick on a pig” and report the reality that Trump/Project 2025 is a FASCIST takeover of America – something Hitler failed in his attempt back in the 30’s and 40’s – it will be difficult to stop. Is the invasion of our largest cities by the military and the turning of the ICE thugs into the major “police force” in our nation not enough to get their (our) attention. MSNBC is still calling Trump an “authoritarian.” Plllleeease! Stop with the euphemisms already.

According to William Kristol here’s last week’s “flooding of the zone:” (my interpretation)

• Military leaders and intelligence professionals were purged.
• A prominent Trump critic’s home was raided.
• The Epstein coverup proceeded apace.
• A major corporation was extorted.
• Universities and the media remained under assault.
• A national museum was ordered to rewrite our history.
• The attempt at mid-decade redistricting in order to keep Republican control of the House of Representatives moved ahead.
• Mass deportation and civic intimidation continued across the nation.
• Presidential control of law enforcement in the nation’s capital intensified, with the promise that it will expand to other places.
• And vanishingly few Republican elected officials objected to any of this. Clear and simple: That’s FASCISM!

“We the people” are responsible for this – because we are the ones who chose to elect a 34 times FELON, adjudicated sexual offender, a serial fraudster, who, when his mouth is moving, he is LYING! What is it going to take? Well, here’s my suggestion (for the umpteenth time) – READ Project 2025. I really get the feeling when I watch/listen to commentators on MSNBC that they have NOT bothered to read the “manifesto.” If they have and they’re still afraid to report this as a FASCIST takeover of our government then “we the people” are in major trouble. OK, we’re in MAJOR trouble!

I’ve been lamenting about how democrats are afraid of their own shadows for close to twenty years. Sadly, for those of us who want a chance to stop this outrageous takeover of our nation the ONLY hope is that the democrats would develop a “spine” and realize what exactly is happening. I keep hearing them placing their hopes on the 2026 mid-terms – which would be all well and good – except, I don’t believe Trump is planning on having a “normal” mid-term election if we have one at all. Democrats had better soon figure out what Trump is doing while we’re all “chasing out tails” because I don’t believe he has any thoughts that he’ll allow another House controlled by democrats who’ll be enacting IMPEACHMENT #3. He’ll do whatever is necessary to avoid that “problem.”

If it hasn’t sunk in, the “invasion” of our cities by the military is absolutely in his plans. He’s already talking about an executive order to ban “mail in ballots” – which clearly would be and unconstitutional action – but who’s worried about “minor” details. He’s busy encouraging “red state” governors to FURTHER gerrymander their congressional districts in an effort to make it impossible for democrats to take the House. And, if that doesn’t work, there is NOTHING he won’t do to prevent democrats from gaining control of either branch of Congress. Doesn’t he have a history of refusing to accept election results he doesn’t like? I believe he (and his Project 2025 puppet masters) are thinking in the long term – no democrats in control of any part of our federal government. EVER!

And, while this is all very unconstitutional just take a quick look back at out SCOTUS – the supposed decider of what’s constitutional. Citizen’s United was a total corporate based decision making corporations “people,” taking aim at the Voting Right’s Act of 1965 was clearly a “permission slip” to “red states” to enact voter suppression legislation. And, just looking back at the last couple of years – the SCOTUS reponded with HASTE to prevent Trump from being banned from the ballots in numerous states because of his violation of the 14th amendment (he IS an INSURRECTIONIST after all) – the language of the constitution is straight forward and the court went out of its way to “carve” a “workaround” preventing Trump from accountability. And, in record time!

But, of course, there’s always more. As Trump was facing indictments in THREE different cases (he was ALREADY a 34 times FELON, adjudicated sexual predator, and serial fraudster) the court took up what appeared to be a “rock solid” decision by the DC Court of Appeals regarding his RIDICULOUS claim he had “absolute immunity” from prosecution in any of these cases. But, not only would we learn his claim WASN’T ridiculous to Trump’s sycophants on the court – they (opposite of the INSURRECTIONIST case) took their sweet time – in fact AS MUCH time as they possibly could in rendering what will someday be regarded as the most egregiously anti constitution ruling in the history of the court. They granted him immunity and they dragged the case out until the very last day of the session. As if they’re MAGAts themselves!

The INSURRECTIONIST case took a few weeks – and, of course, they ruled in Trump’s favor – AGAINST the clear text of the constitution. It took them longer than that to decide to even take the IMMUNITY case, scheduled arguments for the last possible day of the session and, as I stated above, gave their ruling on the LAST possible day of their rulings – making it virtually impossible for Trump to face the charges he instigated a coup on January 6th, 2021 before a jury and before the election. And, with the help of Musk’s MILLIONS Trump was able to pull off what has people all over the Western world shaking their heads at the collective intelligence of the American electorate. It seems every time we’ve elected a republican as president it’s gotten progressively worse. Bush/Cheney: Yuck! Trump 1.0: Double Yuck! And Trump 2.0: It appears the end of our democratic republic as defined by our constitution is looming. Yikes!!!

Final Thought: I’ve been paying attention to American politics since the days of Eisenhower/Stevenson. The Viet Nam War was a disaster, BUT LBJ got some historic legislation passed. Nixon was the prelude to Trump – he almost looks innocent by comparison. Clinton was a naughty boy, but he did pass on a $250 BILLION surplus to Bush/Cheney – who immediately turned it into MASSIVE debt. Obama brought the nation slowly back from the brink usually referred to as the Great Recession (left by Bush/Cheney et al) and, of course, Trump in his two terms will likely be directly connected to more loss of life than what took place in the Holocaust. (Shuttering USAID is said to cause over 3 MILLION deaths by the end of this year – and Trump DIDN’T stop the war in GAZA on “day one” – in fact, he’s been encouraging Netanyahu as the Israeli’s (with the help of the U.S.) are attempting a genocide in plain sight. The world is a mess and “we the people” chose a narcissistic pathological LYING FASCIST as our leader. We deserve what we’re getting BUT the rest of the world (ie Ukraine, GAZA, Eastern Africa, etc. don’t) Shame on us!!!

Just a short (I hope) post to do a little patting of my own back. Oops! I can’t reach my back – when you get into your upper 70’s (Yes, that’s also you Trump) it’s just too hard to be flexible. Well, let’s get down to it. There’s a couple things I’ve been “predicting” for at least a couple months and I think they’re important in the larger scheme of things.

First, I pointed out that it only made sense that the HOURS members of the Justice Department (allegedly 1000 of them) who were “working in 24 hour shifts” to locate Trump’s name in the Epstein files would be doing a bit of “scrubbing.” I said I don’t believe you’ll see Trump’s name show up anywhere in those documents – despite reports Pam Bondi warned Trump his name shows up multiple times. Reportedly, Trump’s name is being “redacted” from the documents so we’ll all still be guessing which redactions are related to him. Will Trump’s base be happy when the House republicans announce Trump’s name shows up nowhere in the files? I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve been writing about republicans for 20 years and this will not surprise people like me. (Will Trump’s base ever be offended that he thinks they’re STUPID? He said it himself)

Second, it’s been several months since I pointed out Trump will do whatever is necessary to prevent “we the people” from having “free and fair elections” come November 2026. While democrats are busy getting candidates together in order to pull off what they believe will be a “blue wave” Trump is busy planning to, at best, make the 2026 mid-terms a “Russia like” “election.” In fact, it’s now been reported that Vladimir Putin, in the DISGUSTING meeting with Trump – on U.S. soil (Putin, an indicted WAR CRIMINAL Trump treated like a true international hero) – where Putin gave Trump advice on how to RIG the next election. Apparently, his advice was “no mail in ballots” and “no voting machines.” Trump is already acting on Putin’s advice – issuing an executive order banning mail in voting. I don’t think he can do that, but will our SCOTUS intervene on behalf of “we the people?” (Don’t hold your breath)

Trump has even more plans designed to make it more difficult to vote and, just as I predicted, the alleged plan is to put his ICE thugs and military troops in the inner cities around the nation attempting to intimidate voters from even showing up. There will be MORE. Trump fully understands if the democrats retake the House there will be IMPEACHMENT #3. He will do whatever he can to avoid that. Not only the Texas debacle where they’re trying to rig FIVE more districts to guarantee republican control of the House. Reports are people like JD Vance are going from one “red” state to another attempting to get them to follow Texas’ lead. Trump is also attempting to force a Census on “we the people” to help redraw more republican gerrymandered districts. It’s all playing out in plain site – will the democrats be up to the task of stopping this power grab? Sadly, that’s all we have. Stay tuned…….

Final Thought: Trump is assuring his place as the WORST president in the history of this great nation. He keeps working at it – AND he somehow thinks he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize to boot. Why:? Apparently, because Obama got one. Trump is proving to be this generation’s Neville Chamberlain. He’s appeasing Putin on a regular basis. It’s disgusting – he has NO idea what he’s doing. He’s not worried about Ukraine OR our NATO allies in Europe. Trump’s view of history includes believing Frederick Douglas is still alive. He’s an embarrassment! Yikes!!!

Vladimir Putin SHOULD be arrested the second he sets foot in Alaska for the so-called “Cease fire” talks with Trump – who is capitulating to Benjamin Netanyahu in the starving of Palestinians in GAZA – two thugs, one who’s been doing this for 25 years and one who is a “child” in comparison. Of course, the “child” would be Trump who is a wannabe dictator similar to Putin. (In his dreams)

Clearly Putin is playing Trump like a cheap fiddle and Trump is too STUPID to realize this. The sad truth is the U.S. is not a “member state” of the ICC (How could they be with, for example, the Bush/Cheney administration openly admitting to authorizing WAR CRIMES. Putin is wanted for the abduction of children from Ukraine and brainwashing them with Russian propaganda. There are a plethora of other potential CRIMINAL charges that Putin could face, but the reality is – after Friday 8/15 he will have been able to set foot in America with no consequence. (Other than to further manipulate Trump) I have to wonder what the American people think about this? Stay tuned!!!

Final Thought: Probably the most brief rant of my close to twenty years doing this. I just had to release a bit of my frustration. Part of what started all this was when President Obama said, “We’re going to look forward instead of back” – essentially giving Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeltd et al a free pass for their use of TORTURE during the ill fated invasion of Iraq in the early 2000’s!

Update: Today I was “forced” to watch Trump smiling, shaking hands with, and walking on the proverbial “red carpet” with the aforementioned WAR CRIMINAL. Makes me sick!!! Doesn’t change a BIT of Trump’s relationship with Epstein. If Epstein was still alive Putin and Epstein would be the two worst people in the world. For some reason that’s Trump’s “type.”

Does anyone else see the irony here. Trump claiming there are “vicious” mobs of “radical left lunatics” roaming the streets of Washington D.C.? Personally, I can remember when a bunch of lunatics WERE roaming the streets of D.C. and the president of the United States watched as they stormed the U.S. Capitol threatening to “hang” the Vice President of the United States. These “lunatics” not only stormed the Capitol but they assaulted over 140 police officers – with several dying during the following days. Plus, several of the Police Officers were injured to the point of not being able to return to their jobs. And, of course, that president who watched on TV for OVER three hours was none other than Trump.

Lest you’ve forgotten, Trump has also been found GUILTY of 34 FELONIES in his CHEATING to win the 2016 election – starting all of this. Additionally, Trump has been adjudicated to have committed sexual assault and defamation (twice – because he can’t help his pathological LYING self) and he’s been adjudicated to have committed what amounts to serial FRAUD. Now he’s extorting universities, law firms, and corporate entities – almost like collecting protection money. And, of course, his COWARDLY republican sycophants just go along with anything.

So, to listen to Trump go on and on about all the “crime” in our nation’s capital – according to FBI data it’s down something like 30% over the previous year – definitely rings “HOLLOW” with me. Trump PARDONED 1600 FELONS of which hundreds of them committed ASSAULT on Police Officers, he, in essence, pardoned a man convicted of THREE brutal MURDERS in Spain who was being held in Venezuela on a 30 year sentence (apparently to give him the excuse of freeing the 252 men wrongly placed in El Salvador’s CECOT gulag) and he’s allowed a female convicted of NUMEROUS sexual assaults on young girls to move to the most MINIMUM security prison there is – she (Ghislaine Maxwell) still has 16 years to serve) – leading many to believe he’s made a deal with her to get pardoned on his last days in office. (Her part, keep silent about Trump?)

So, don’t kid yourself. These excursions into our big cities (so far LA and now DC) have NOTHING to do with “law and order.” Trump doesn’t believe in our laws. They amount to an annoyance to him and he’s got a SCOTUS which has turned him loose on “we the people.” These exercises in the ILLEGAL use of military force in our cities is a precursor to what he’s got planned if he’s unable to get enough House districts gerrymander to make him feel comfortable going into the “mid terms.” Should he be unable to RIG the system in that way prepare yourself for a canceled election. He’ll have military troops stationed in every large city in this country – triggering the civil unrest he wants.

I’m going to end this rant with, once again, a REMINDER to those in our MSM who have any idea what is happening to this nation as Trump and his Project 2025 puppet masters are implanting their FASCIST takeover of America. Today I had to make a drive of about 90 minutes each way to get a minor medical procedure. While driving I listened to MSNBC on my XM radio and, of course, EVERY person who was lamenting what is happening to our country continued using the work (I’ve come to despise) “authoritarianism” in describing Trump’s actions. Trump is, by definition, a FASCIST and his puppet masters are more sophisticated FASCISTS. They are systematically working to end our soon to be 250 year experiment and, unless people start calling it what it is, their chances of success go way up. Once again, it’s FASCISM! (That shouldn’t be hard to say)

Final Thought: More and more people are realizing what is happening. The next step is to get democrats to figure it out and to understand why so many people (like me) are disgusted with their party. It would be great to bring in “new blood” in the Senate – Chuck Schumer is totally a “rule follower.” It’s time for a younger person who won’t compromise basic democratic principles – those which emerged from the Great Depression and WW II. In too many parts of this nation it’s nearly impossible for someone under the age of 40 to purchase a home – or, like around here ti even rent, it’s $2000 a month for a two bedroom apartment each month. (First, Last, plus a substantial deposit to get “in”)

Young people with Masters Degrees who want to begin a career in TEACHING virtually can’t afford to live near where I grew up without two incomes or with roommates. This will NOT be addressed by Trump and the republicans – their so-called “Big (I can’t bring myself to say it) Bill is just making things worse. And, of course, it’s really making things worse for those who are low income and rely on Medicaid and SNAP. I keep wondering if the MAGAts realize their republican leaders slipped a $5 Trillion increase to the Debt limit in their – whatever they called it – bill? Stay tuned….

The last thought running through my aged brain (I’m almost as old as Trump) tonight is I also wonder if the MAGAts realize this military invasion of our nation’s Capital is designed to change the narrative from the “Epstein files?” Of course it is. But, this I can assure you, while all this time is passing after it was “leaked” that Trump’s name is in the HUGE files NOT used in the Grand Jury “multiple times” – that is likely changing. Do you really believe Pam Bondi has a thousand DOJ personnel going through the files to find Trump’s name and just leaving it there? You don’t think Trump would be OK with a little exercise in “scrubbing” do you? (That was supposed to be sarcasm if you didn’t get it)

If the files are EVER released I would expect Trump’s name to have been completely removed. Final question: Are the MAGAts so gullible to believe, after seeing all the photos and videos of Trump and Epstein that Trump – who believes famous people like him get to grab women/girls by the pussy – didn’t partake in Epstein’s sexual assaults on young girls? For heaven’s sake, there’s Trump’s own statement that “Epstein likes beautiful women almost as much as him – and some are on the younger side.” He admitted in a radio interview (on Howard Stern’s show) he’d be OK with young girls – “just not 12 year old’s.” Yikes!!! He also was reported to have barged into the dressing room of naked Teen USA contestants when he “owned” the show. Why? Because he could. Come on MAGAts – when is it going to sink in?

I like to watch Nicole Wallace on MSNBC because you get the perspective of a former republican who can’t stomach Trump and his sycophantic base – the MAGAts. And, she’s not alone – at least on what I watch and/or read. Maybe because it’s a dry read of over 900 pages that few want to “tackle.” Yes, Trump views himself as the epitome of victims – despite the allegations of almost unrestrained criminal conduct. I mean he IS a 34 times found guilty of being a FELON, he’s an adjudicated sexual predator (Musk says he’s in the Epstein files), he’s been adjudicated to have committed serial financial FRAUD, he attempted a coup on the American government on January 6th, 2021, and he’s following the plan of Project 2025 while enriching himself by the BILLIONS and siccing his DOJ against his perceived enemies.

The part where I continue to watch/listen in amazement is how those behind Project 2025 – who are writing the executive orders – are allowed to continue turning this nation into a FASCIST state while hiding in the “shadows.” We all (well those paying attention) know about Stephen Miller – part of the Project 2025 authors – and SHOULD know about Russel Vought who is integral in the administration’s attempt to claw back funds appropriated which they don’t agree with, but there were 170 or so “authors” of the 900 page “roadmap” to FASCISM.

Trump is the perfect front man for the Project 2025 “conservative” manifesto. His main qualification is his prolific pathological LYING. I mean if ever there was someone who qualified for the description “If his lips are moving, he’s LYING” it’s got to be Trump. In fact, he’s taught the rest of his MAGAt sycophants how effective PATHOLOGICAL lying can be. So, now expertise at LYING has become a requirement of MAGA republicans. They are taking LYING to new levels which were unimagineable before Trump. And, keep in mind most people used to say “all politicians are liars.” (Sadly, from my experience, Trump supporters find a way to convince themselves he doesn’t LIE directly to their faces.)

Trump is carrying on the rebirth of the so-called “Lost Cause” of the Confederates after the Civil War and they’re attacking actual HISTORY Americans learn from the beginnings of elementary school up to advanced education at America’s great Universities. They are “scrubbing” virtually anything within the confines of reported American History of ANYTHING which might suggest America has had problems over the years. Like, for example, SLAVERY. The irony is that while Trump and his Project 2025 are attempting to remove America’s “black spots” – like Jim Crow, Viet Nam, Japanese internment, slaughtering Native Americans, and on and on – from written American History they are creating two NEW examples that will “fill in the blanks’ so to speak. What they don’t seem to realize is they can’t rewrite the History books which will continue to be written while looking America’s good and bad directly in the eye – no matter what Trump thinks he can do.

The TWO issues which are happening right before our eyes – actually, in the middle of that sentence I realized I SHOULD include at least THREE ugly actions of Trump’s (and Project 2025’s) regime which will NEVER be forgotten. The one I almost forgot was the shuttering of USAID that by some estimates will lead to over 3 MILLION unnecessary DEATHS among the most desperate and vulnerable of the world’s population – located in what he referred to as “Shit hole” countries. That said, the genocide in Palestine hasn’t reached it’s “climax” yet, but it’s become more apparent that Israel with Trump’s blessing will STARVE the Palestinians until they agree to leave – allowing Trump to create his “Riviera of the Middle East.” This will NEVER be forgotten or forgiven, full stop. Already Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for over 60,000 Palestinian deaths and the U.S. will not be able to hide from its responsibility in this. Especially since Trump took office. (I can’t help but think of all those people who didn’t vote for Biden because of the GAZA conflict.)

Of course, as I always say, with republicans there’s always more. The third “rail” of unforgiveable actions by Trump and his republican led Congress is their creation of a “Brown shirts” like police force in the agents of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) who have INVADED America’s cities looking for Brown and Black people they can arrest without warrants and lock up in what can only be described as CONCENTRATION camps/gulags – massive numbers of PEOPLE crammed into small spaces, sleeping on concrete floors, and, in many cases going without food. The stories about the 250+ Venezuelans sent to the El Salvador’s natorious CECOT prison are beyond anything which would be allowable by our constitution. These ICE thugs go around without any identification, they cover their faces with masks, and they grab people (many innocecnt) in ways reminicient of Hitler’s Brownshirts and/or Himmler’s SS.

The other thing which I write about a lot which really bugs me are all the people like the aforementioned Wallace and other commentators on MSNBC (which is what I watch when I watch) referring to Trump as an authoritarian. Once again I’m pointing out that, to me, that is simply a euphemism for FASCIST because they believe using the correct descriptive term might offend some people. Like what happened in Germany couldn’t possibly happen here. Please, call it what it is!

Well, I’ve got news for the whole bunch of them – it’s (fascism) already here and it’s going to keep getting worse unless there are massive protests aimed at stopping it. I’ve also suggested Trump has NO plan for “mid term” elections in 2026 – what democrats keep consoling themselves as the way out of all this. His calling out the National Guard (and Marines) in Los Angeles and now “taking over” Washington D.C. are just “trial runs.” He’ll keep stoking fear in major cities and the resulting protests will be his justification for calling in the military – and, potentially canceling the election.

He’s encouraging even more egregious (mid term) ILLEGAL gerrymandering in so-called “red states” to add more safe republican districts in case there actually are 2026 elections. you know, keeping his options open. Trust me, he has no plan to be IMPEACHED a third time. Will democrats respond in kind with their own “gerrymandering scheme? I seriously doubt it – although I really hope I’m wrong. California’s governor is at least broaching the subject – you know “tit for tat.”

Trump 2.0 is only 7 months in and he’s already working to obliterate our constitution – and, you can see where his (and Moscow Mitch’s) underhanded PACKING of the SCOTUS is playing into the Project 2025 plan. Remember, Project 2025 is all about turning America into a fascist nation while Trump 2.0 is all about getting even with his perceived enemies. The Project 2025 puppet masters are all for Trump’s reign of retribution because it takes the focus away from what they are quietly succeeding at while “under the radar.” As usual with America – by the time our MSM decides to educate “we the people” on what is really happening, there’s a good chance it will be too late.

Consequently the SCOTUS will ultimately “bend the knee” to Trump in whatever way they deem necessary to stay on his “good” side. (I’m not suggesting he has a “good” side) The CORRUPTION is so DEEP in the republican party at this point if “we the people” are to emerge from this still connected to our constitution (which is up in the air) the entire republican party needs to be voted into the history books. Speaking of the History Books, Trump and all those who are enabling his conduct and the scheme of Project 2025 have a spot reserved right next to Benedict Arnold. Stay tuned!!!

Final Thought: The other day I wrote a post with some of the “stuff” I could think of off of my tired old brain supporting Trump as a FASCIST. Well, sure enough, he added another chapter today – at least one more overt than maybe some of the others. It was announced today that the “AI” chip companies NVIDIA and AMD, two huge American based corporations, which are supposed to be competitors have reached a “deal” with Trump so they can sell their technology to China by giving 15% of their profits back to – well, I guess it’s the U.S. Almost seems like the protection racket – or, is it simply straight forward extortion? It certainly doesn’t appear to me to be a “free market” agreement.

While the tariff policy is likely to be devastating to the economy over the next few months – although we’re surely going to see more of TACO Trump during that time – maybe this extortion of American companies is the objective. And, will the MAGAts care – believing Trump is there to “drain the swamp.” More of Trump trying to be like Putin! Yikes!!!