Yesterday I saw a video of protesters in Boise, Idaho succeeding in blocking a “mask mandate” with one of the protesters waiving a sign which read “99% survivability is not an emergency.” This is the kind of ignorance during this pandemic which just grates on me – especially on the day when I discovered my niece, who works in the University of Washington health care system, has been infected with Covid-19 as she’s been FIGHTING this virus in the hospital she works in for the past 10 months. In fact, “her’ hospital was one of the first to be inundated with patients as Seattle was a “hot spot” at the beginning of this pandemic. Here’s the deal, check out Worldometer.info for the actual statistics.

Of the OVER 17 MILLION Americans who’ve been diagnosed with Covid-19 over 310,000 Americans have DIED. According to the statistics on their site about 3% of those who contract the virus DIE. Of course, many have contracted the virus and not become one of the statistics, but, likewise, MANY Americans have died of Covid this past year and have not been part of those statistics either. Early on, the estimates I read was over 200 people per week in New York DYING in their homes because the hospitals were overflowing. That has happened in Houston and who knows how many other places around the country. If you get the “bad” version of this disease the onset of critical condition can happen in a matter of hours. People waving signs like the one I referenced above are likely paying attention to Fox “news” and the right wing echo chamber.

Plus, I have to add, approximately 20% of people who contract Covid-19 end up with various lasting effects of the disease. At this point in time I don’t believe the medical community understands what those lasting effects are and how long they will persist. I’ve listened to people who were diagnosed with Covid six months ago and are still having negative affects from their battle with the disease, still struggling to breathe. And, there’s more to this as I think about it and calm my anger at people who are willfully ignorant – when they get sick they’ll expect the people in the hospital to take full care of them and if they end up being intubated they’ll find a way to avoid the expense if they can, or they’ll be complaining about high medical costs. The HIGH cost for my niece (and possibly my daughter who is an RN and is exhausted from the past 10 months) is she’s SICK, her husband and her FOUR children are all exposed.

Individual 1 was pushing his “herd mentality” back during the summer and anyone, at the time, who was thinking straight understood he meant he was pursuing a “herd immunity” – ie doing NOTHING to mitigate the spread of the virus, which works for him because he’s been the LAZIEST president in my lifetime – and, of course, it was “his little secret” from those not paying close attention to all of this. The actual reality is our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president has been encouraging people to get infected with the virus! I’m not kidding!

To the people carrying the signs claiming “99% survivability……….” I would point out OVER 3600 Americans DIED from Covid-19 just YESTERDAY and, likely, it will happen again today, or maybe worse. Apparently, the people who gather in the protests against mask wearing will have no idea about all this or they won’t care. This country has a large segment of the population who are susceptible to MISINFORMATION (ie LYING) and grifters like individual 1 are taking full advantage of all this. They’re raising “boatloads” of money from people who have been sucked in by the fear mongering which has permeated the right wing of our politics since the days of the republican plan for their “permanent republican ‘majority.'” People are getting rich by BRAINWASHING the vulnerable Americans who don’t seem to be able to think for themselves.

I grew up in a family with a single Mom, four kids, and I worked almost full time during High School while playing football, basketball, and baseball because my Mom had never worked when my Dad “flew the coop” and she was stuck in minimum wage jobs – at the time paying $1.25 per hour. (Yes, you read that correct) Somehow, thanks to basketball and, later the State Employment office, I made it through college eventually earning a Master’s degree in Teaching. I’m NOT “elite” – yet, on occasion I’ve been accused of being “elitist” because I expect adults in our society to take their obligation to be an informed citizen serious. I expect people who’ve learned to read to actually read something informative when forming important opinions.

So, now we’re at a place where the right wing members of our nation are not only making this virus MUCH worse for the rest of us, but “we the people” are still STAGGERING from the attempt by our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president attempting a “coup d’etat” in the aftermath of the election. Just as we saw 126 members of the House and 17 right wing Attorney Generals around the country expose themselves as out and out fascists I believe we’ll soon (January 6th) see a group of republicans in Congress who will STILL refuse to accept that Joe Biden WON the 2020 election with 306 electoral votes. We need to create the “Wall of Shame” with their names on it in BOLD so “we the people” don’t forget.

People are dying in numbers above 9/11 EVERY day – and, they don’t care. Joe Biden WON the election for president by over 7 MILLION votes and, they don’t care AND don’t accept it. It’s as if Vladimir Putin succeeded beyond his wildest dreams when he directed the ATTACK on our nation during the 2016 election – he not only got individual 1’s incompetence in the “White House” but, he succeeded in disrupting our open society – turning our “freedom” against us in an attempt to overthrow our government. And, at least until individual 1 is gone, we will have NO opportunity to provide Putin with a consequence for his ATTACK on our country. Obviously, our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president is NOT going to do ANYTHING to STOP the Russians. We now know they’ve been hacking into our government affairs for this past year – with no apparent response from the U.S. Who’s fault is that? Wouldn’t that be something for our “Commander in Chief?”

I started this post last week and the statistics continue to be startling. We’ve now come to accept over 200,000 new infections EVERY day as, well, routine. Deceased Americans in number exceeding 9/11 every day? Well, it’s become routine. Is it going to get even worse – despite the reality vaccines are rolling out? Yes and I can give you a good reason why. Today, I was at the Post Office and talked to the lady who has been there (this is a small “local” post office) for many years and I coached her two sons about 20 years ago when they were sixth graders and she said, “I’m not taking the vaccine.” Then she added, “I think the virus is a hoax” then realized I wasn’t in agreement and she then added, “I probably have extreme views.” One of her sons had the virus and has since recovered so, to her, it’s just like the flu.

I reminded her that, in California right now, you can’t get into a hospital unless you’re “lucky” – meaning really sick. This lady was wearing a mask because it’s required, but she started with the “I think the mask is more dangerous than the virus.” I wanted to tell her where she gets her “news” but I chose to just leave our relationship as a positive one because I’ve had too many conversations with Fox “news” viewers in the past. I know it’s better to just smile and say “thanks” and move on. This lady is an individual 1 supporter and I left wondering what she thinks of an IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president who is pondering OVERTHROWING our government – at least attempting to do so. I kind of hope he tries it because he won’t be able to pardon himself from that. I want there to FINALLY be some accountability for corrupt republican presidents. (democrats? If they break the laws as well, yes!) I hope my friend will at least draw the line here. (Even discussing this seditious behavior is ILLEGAL)

Final Thought: Today I was reading a Washington Post article titled, “The inside story of how Trump’s denial, mismanagement and magical thinking led to the pandemic’s dark winter” – and, of course, winter has just begun (Yesterday was another day with OVER 3000 Americans dying from the coronavirus’ Covid-19) and, of course, the authors of the article had to put in a response to their claims of individual 1’s incompetence with a paragraph by one of the sycophants of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president which read:

“President Trump (The only way I could get that word into this document is via copy and paste) has led a historic, whole-of-America coronavirus response – resulting in 100,000 ventilators procured, an abundance of critical PPE sourced for our frontline heroes, the largest testing regime in the world, groundbreaking treatments, and a safe and effective vaccine in record time with another to be approved in the coming days,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews said in a statement. She went on to attribute the success of vaccines to Trump’s “bold and innovative leadership.”

Honestly, I don’t know where to start. To me, none of that, if it was true, is noteworthy. Wouldn’t that be the absolute MINIMUM expected of a “Commander in Chief” in the face of a once in a century pandemic. And, of course, individual 1 didn’t have much to do with the development of ANY of the vaccines, other than to encourage them to be developed as quickly as possible – in his mind, so he could win re-election. I can’t remember a single instance where he’s shown the slightest empathy to all the people suffering because of this pandemic. One of the reasons that person’s “defense” of individual 1 is so galling to me is because of the part of it I KNOW to be untrue.

My niece has been working in one of the University of Washington’s hospitals FIGHTING this virus since its inception and, just recently, she was infected with the virus. She’s been working incredibly LONG hours in the ICU unit of the hospital and when I was talking to her mother (my sister in law) about how she’s doing I learned that of the 30 members of her “team,” right now 10 of them – fully one third – are “sidelined” with the virus. Obviously, the vaccine’s a bit late for them. Here’s the rub – while Ms. Matthews is giving credit to individual 1 for ” the abundance of PPE,” the reason for all the member’s of this hospital (including my niece) getting the virus is because of the LACK of PPE. Face masks designed to be worn in one room and then discarded were forced to be reused over and over during the day. Other things like discardable gowns were being re-used because of the shortage. This EIGHT months into the crisis. To me that is the opposite of a success. Try as they might, I don’t think individual 1’s supporters will EVER be able to paint a believable picture of him as a success in dealing with this virus. He’s been AWOL since early summer and that will be a hard fact to “spin.”

Have you ever wondered why Barack Obama FIRED Michael Flynn and then warned individual 1 not to hire him? Well, if you’ve been paying attention to the news of late you’ve got your answer. Flynn is basically committing sedition in plain sight. We’ve watched for four years as our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president has been breaking LAWS in plain sight – and, it’s worked for him. He’s got about 40% of the American public who don’t care. They don’t care he’s an OVERT racist – well, many of them because they share that affliction – but, obviously, there’s a bunch of them that just don’t care. Personally, I’m not willing to allow those who blindly follow him the “disconnect.” Don’t give your support to a politician who’s obviously a racist and then tell me, “I’m not a racist.” It just doesn’t work that way – you DON’T get it “both ways.”

So, Mr. Flynn has been in the “White House” pushing our IMPEACHED two time popular vote LOSING president to institute “marshal law” and “overturn the election.” Essentially, Flynn is suggesting individual 1 can throw out the results of the election in states he decides he didn’t like the results and have the military oversee another election. This is, essentially, proposing a coup d’etat and is traitorous. Of course, Flynn has been busy doing this stuff since President Obama FIRED him. He’s been seen at the dinner table of Vladimir Putin, he was SECRETLY working as a lobbyist for Erdogan of Turkey while he was the first National Security Advisor to individual 1, he was violating the Logan Act during individual 1’s transition time (a peaceful transition from President Obama), and he was proving himself to be a first rate LIAR prior to being FIRED by individual 1. He’s NOT in prison right now because William Barr intervened (incredibly) in his admitted FELONY – LYING to the FBI and, of course, individual 1 pardoned him – meaning, for the third time he admitted his guilt by accepting the pardon.

Now, along with his “lawyer,” Sidney Powell – she who has been virtually “laughed” out of court in many of individual 1’s FRIVILOUS lawsuits attempting to use the courts to do what they’re not plotting to do with the military? Or, with the Proud Boys? Who knows? Do you really think our military is going to follow an order from individual 1 to declare martial law because he’s unhappy he got VOTED out of office by a MASSIVE landslide (over 7 MILLION votes). Here’s my hope in all of this: Flynn is a retired Army General and my hope is the military will call him back to active duty and COURT MARTIAL him. Can they do this? Yes, they can!

I’ve got to add: My advice to those around individual 1 I’d consider doing what William Barr is doing and that’s leaving a bit early. The reality is if you’re a close associate of this IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president you might want to “get out of dodge” sooner rather than later. For example, if you’re in the room where the discussion of a coup d’etat is being discussed you’re part of the conspiracy. We’re talking about TRAITORS to our nation – which I’ve been suggesting for quite some time would include individual 1 although MOST “White House” aides will be able to simply leave government with the tarnishment which will cover them as people willing to go along with this administration. That is, providing they realize this latest FANTASY is a “bridge too far.”

In the Mueller report there was OBSTRUCTION of Justice which could have included several members of individual 1’s staff had the Mueller “team” been aggressive prosecutors. For example, after the June of 2016 meeting between individual 1 Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort, and a group of Russians (supposedly with “dirt” on Hillary Clinton), while on Air Force One returning from an overseas trip individual 1 wrote a letter which was CLEARLY dishonest in order to throw off investigators to the real purpose of that meeting. Well, EVERY member of individual 1’s staff who were present as that letter was being written were liable to “conspiracy” charges relating to the FACT the letter was giving FALSE information to the public and to investigators. Obviously, members of individual 1’s “team” “owned up” in their interviews with Mueller which took them off the hook, but that’s why it’s serious to “get out of the room” when people are pondering seriously ILLEGAL behavior. (And, the fact individual 1 is still the president, he CAN’T legally attempt to overthrow our election)

There was another case where members of the staff of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president were in serious legal jeopardy. (They ALL needed lawyers as they “worked” for individual 1) When individual 1 FIRED James Comey he LIED about why he did so and sent out his message sycophants to spread that message (which, by the way, included Mike Pense) that he FIRED Comey on the recommendation of Rod Rosenstein. (This was the reason for Mueller’s appointment by Rosenstein) Well, all these sycophants (KellyAnne Conway, Sarah Sanders, Pense, etc.) were in the room when he was dictating the letter and they KNEW why he FIRED Comey – and, of course, he ended up telling Lester Holt in a NBC nationally broadcast interview he fired Comey because of the “Russia thing.”

Of course, that wasn’t good enough for our “stable genius” of a (IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING) president so, within days, he was in the Oval Office with the Russian Ambassador and the Russian Foreign Minister where he claimed by FIRING Comey he took the “Russia thing” off the table (or words to that effect). I’m sure he thought he was safe sharing that with them because there were no American journalists allowed in the room, only journalists from RT (Russian TV). I don’t think he thought that one out fully because the Russian TV network had a lot of fun with that and, naturally, there are people outside of Russia who watch RT – including journalists in America. And, individual 1 couldn’t simply leave it at admitting to OBSTRUCTING the FBI investigation – he felt it necessary to share some highly CLASSIFIED information which allegedly put the life/lives of Israeli intelligence officers in Syria in jeopardy. A twofer for the Russians by our “very stable genius.”

That’s who’s now considering a plan to declare martial law and call in the military to overturn the election he LOST by over 7 MILLION votes. Talk about your average “very stable genius.” Honestly, I have to wonder when the members of his cult are going to thump themselves upside the head and wonder “what have I been thinking?” The guy’s in the throes of the Russians, he blundered Covid so bad we’re going to have about 450,000 Americans DEAD from Covid-19 by the time he leaves office and he’ll likely (in private) still be patting himself on the back for all the infections – getting us closer to “herd mentality.” If you’re not a fan of HISTORY, that’s MORE deaths than what we lost in WW II. Lately, we’ve been losing more Americans than we lost on 9/11 EACH day. I saw one day last week when there were around 3500 DEATHS from the disease caused by the virus.

I hope the people in Georgia are watching all of this. If they want our government to actually have a small chance of functioning going forward they’ll vote in the two democrats in the runoff elections for Senate seats how held by two republicans who appear to be among the sleaziest of a sleazy group of republican in the Senate right now. The make-up of the republicans in Congress is a great example of what the “Citizen’s United” Supreme Court decision has done to our democratic republic. If you’re not familiar with that decision it was “judicial activism” at its foremost – coming from judges who had just railed against just that in their recent confirmation hearings in the Senate. I’m talking about Chief Justice Roberts and Samuel Alito – they overturned, by most accounts, 100 years of attempts at election finance reform. The FLOOD of money, coming from “who knows where” has turned out Congress into a near cess pool regarding some of the factions – mostly the “tea party” group controlling the republican caucus.

Of course, the infamous Koch Brother (now Charles Koch – his brother David has passed away) has put BILLIONS into turning America toward his John Birch Society viewpoint over the previous 40 years and the so-called “conservatives” have been willing supplicants of Mr. Koch’s right wing agenda in order to gain access to his unlimited funding for the republicans who go along with the “plan.” And, “we the people” MUST understand this right wing assault on our nation won’t be over the day individual 1 is being dragged off the “White House” grounds. Charles Koch cares whether or not he’ll be allowed to continue POLLUTING at will so Koch Industries makes MORE money. And, of course, it’s not hard to understand that Koch is benefiting in the BILLIONS from republican policies – because his “donations” are INVESTMENTS!

Just the FACT this discussion is necessary points to how absurd and ridiculous our “very stable genius” has become. I saw his authoritarian instincts right from the start, as did many others, and those instincts, to me, identified our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president as a mob boss – calling people who tell the TRUTH “rats.” So, we know via observation he believes he’s above the law – that he can do anything he wants and anyone suggesting otherwise gets fumed at and FIRED. Well, now it’s all evolved to him, Flynn, Ms. Powell, and apparently Rudy Giuliani (plus other “White House” staffers who are likely getting really nervous and seeking lawyers) planning an actual coup d’etat – something I never thought possible in America. However, I’ve been pointing out for at least 10 years now the “present day” republican party needs to be voted into the history books – right next to Benedict Arnold.

Rumors are rampant individual 1 is planning to pardon Giuliani (who is STILL being investigated by the Southern District of New York), his children and himself, among others. And, he’s already pardoned Flynn and likely is planning to pardon Ms. Powell and anyone else involved in this incredibly STUPID attempt to overturn an election he LOST by OVER 7 MILLION votes. That’s a lot! However, I believe what they’re scheming – ie SEDITION – is beyond the (IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING) president’s pardoning power. I don’t believe you can pre-emptively pardon a group of people you’re conspiring with to commit a CRIME – in this instance SEDITION or in an easier term to understand TREASON. It appears individual 1 may have finally drifted over the “edge.” (There’s only 29 days until Biden becomes president – someone should suggest individual 1 take a vacation for a month or so)

And, it may be too late for all these bungling boobs. Just as planning a bank robbery is illegal even if you don’t pull it off, what they’re doing is CONSPIRING to commit possibly the MOST egregious crime you can commit in America. Stay tuned………………

Final Thought: Today Congress FINALLY passed another coronavirus relief package – one that is arguably WAY too small if you’re one of the 20 MILLION Americans who’ve been upended economically by the Covid-19 effect on our economy. The total “package” is for $900 BILLION as opposed to the $3.4 TRILLION which was proposed by democrats back in May. It appears to me Mitch McConnell was finally forced to do SOMETHING, but by all accounts it is not enough, it’s another case of Congress (sort of) “kicking the can down the road.” This FAILURE to act in a way which will help the people suffering AND the economy which is STILL in recession – possibly in DEPRESSION if democrats don’t win in Georgia’s two runoff elections and McConnell continues his OBSTRUCTIONIST ways.

Here’s the irony which I pointed out back when democrats originally proposed the “HEROES Act,” and that is the democrats were TRYING to do individual 1 a HUGE favor – and, along with McConnell he couldn’t “look a gift horse in the mouth.” Had republicans agreed to the “HEROES Act” I believe the likelihood is our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president would have been re-elected. Not only would that bill have propped up the economy, but there was considerable money intended to, as Nancy Pelosi said at the time, “crush the virus” – which is the MAIN reason individual 1 is now packing his bags. At the time, I understood republicans would likely refuse the “gift,” but as it turns out I believe I was correct in predicting their refusal to consider that bill could mean the end of the political line for our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president.

Again: My apologies for lack of editing, I’ll try to do so later – it’s late and I’m tired – ie it’s bedtime!

I’ve been writing for MANY years about the importance of voting the “present day” republican party into the history books and the attack on our democratic foundation by individual 1 following his DEFEAT at the hands of Joe Biden, with support by 17 republican state attorney generals AND over 120 republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, just makes my point even more emphatic. I’ve also said we NEED two political parties, but we need them to be able to communicate with each other in a way to agree on legislation which helps “we the people” who pay their salaries. (And, we are in desperate need of transparency in our public discourse – more on that below.)

That’s correct, WE pay the salaries of our legislators as opposed to all the lobbyists and the corporate puppet masters who work in the shadows of our government. It seems that for many of the members of Congress their salary isn’t enough. What’s more, I’ve also pointed out the importance of people abandoning Fox “news” and other right wing propaganda spewing organizations who are OK with the authoritarian, fascist tendencies we’ve been witnessing first hand as individual 1’s been giving us a lesson on how to turn this nation into something which is not tethered to our constitution whatsoever. To me, enemy number 1: Facebook!

I believe we need to make sure EVERY one of the members of the House who signed onto the BOGUS lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of the state of Texas (he who is reportedly seeking a pardon from our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president) are made to be publicly disparaged going forward, reminded of that vote at every “turn.” We need to make sure the people in their states understand these members of the House are more obligated to their “party” than to the constitution which they swore an oath to defend when they agreed to be members of our national legislature. (My previous post NAMES every one of these politicians who belong in the “HOUSE of Shame.”) To me, they’re TRAITORS!

While individual 1 and his sycophants have been attempting to overturn the “will of the people” in this election we’ve seen the constitution “win” every step of the way including, today, when the Electoral College voted to CERTIFY Joe Biden’s VICTORY in the 2020 election. Our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president has filed over 55 FRIVOLOUS lawsuits since he LOST the election (with over 7 MILLION less votes than Joe Biden) and the bulk of the republican party has proved to anyone paying attention they don’t believe in “democracy.” Every time I think of the 126 members of the House who signed on to the absurd lawsuit filed by the pardon seeking Attorney General of Texas I get angry. What a bunch of …………. I’ll let you fill in the blank. As I just said, the word TRAITOR comes to my mind.

And, if you’ve been paying attention to all the rallies by individual 1’s supporters you can’t miss all the right wing white supremacist militia types at the rallies. Groups with names like the now infamous “Proud Boys,” another calling themselves the Nazi based name “Atomwaffen,” another called the “3% ers,” and another called “Patriot Prayer.” These are the groups/gangs which come off the top of my head and, of course, there are many more (like various groups identifying as “Boogaloo Bois” – intent on starting a race “civil war”). They brandish confederate flags and Nazi paraphernalia among other right wing “stuff.” Check out the Southern Poverty Law Center and you’ll get a good idea of a large segment of individual 1’s base. If you think this is a “pleasant” group check out the web page of the group calling themselves “Atomwaffen.” If you have a soft spot for the Third Reich you’ll feel right at home. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

Normally, in America, the issue of who won this election would have been a “no brainer” long ago (actually, it was to me) but individual 1 had to prove himself to be the WORST LOSER ever! Today, the vote of the Electoral College SHOULD have calmed down anyone wondering “how do you know who won the election?” Today was the “nail in the coffin” for individual 1. But, I have no doubt he’ll be encouraging republicans to further embarrass themselves between now and January 6 – which is the date when the Electoral College votes are further certified by the Congress. And, naturally, to add a bit of “suspense” (for members of the CULT of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president) Vice President Pense will be presiding over the final certification of the election results.

Do you think individual 1 will order our (lap dog of a) Vice President to refuse stating publicly Joe Biden is the winner of the election. Congress is going to vote to “make it official” and there’s nothing Mr. Pense can do about it – but, it should be interesting watching all this. Today William Barr “resigned” a couple weeks after angering our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president by – hold on, telling the TRUTH. Mr. Barr said, “The Justice Department has found no fraud which could affect the results of the 2020 election. Do you think individual 1 will demand Pense’s resignation if he publicly states Joe Biden WON the election. As I said, this continued delirium should be interesting.

I can tell you one of the main reasons I’m very happy individual 1 has been soundly VOTED out of office is because that insured Mr. Barr would be OUT as well. As it turns out, Barr is leaving “early” to “spend time with his family” – proving, there’s NO way anyone can please individual 1 all the time – even William Barr wasn’t enough of a lackey for our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president although Barr was kissing individual 1’s ……. right up to the finish. Barr will long be remembered as the WORST Attorney General in modern American history, UNLESS, of course, you’re one of the TRAITORS who proved they don’t believe in our constitution and would be happy with individual 1 overturning our democratic republic.

Think of this – individual 1 came closer to turning our nation’s government into a right wing dictatorship and implementing fascism than Hitler did back in WW II. My father was in the Army during WW II and I still remember him and my mother discussing politics back in the 1950’s – he supporting Dwight Eisenhower and she supporting Adlai Stevenson. I bring this up because I’ve always remembered someone (I can’t remember who), when I was very young (I was born in 1947) warning that if America was to be defeated it would come from an “enemy within.” I don’t remember the exact words or who said it, but it’s always stuck in my mind. (Which is something, as I’m at that stage in life where my memory is NOT so good) Regardless, I’ve always remembered that comment as I’ve observed individual 1’s attack on our republic and have wondered, “is this the time?”

Many times over the past four years I have pointed out some of the parallels with individual 1 and the Third Reich. Of course, the republican party has been complicit in virtually every aspect of what he’s been doing since day one. I really don’t know what he has on them, but it doesn’t seem to matter how absurd he gets, they simply go along with what appears to be no thought. I said back in early 2017 our (now) IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president would remain in office as long as the republicans continue to support him – me believing they would abandon him somewhere along the line. Obviously, I miscalculated the republican party – they’re far worse than I had figured – a group of COWARDS and unpatriotic “boobs.”

So, here’s something I find REALLY interesting about all of this. Naturally there’s a lot of “stuff” in the media about individual 1’s actions and people (pundits, reporters) are trying to understand the motive of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president and many are suggesting he’s trying to “delegitimize” Biden’s win and his administration. And, of course, I haven’t heard a single pundit, news person, or commentator turning this absurd attempt by individual 1 into a cogent national debate if they’re right about his motive. To me, their response is absurd by many facets.

First, we SHOULD never forget individual 1 would NEVER have been our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president without the help of the Russians – if anyone was an ILLEGITIMATE president, it was him. And, think about his supporters, those 126 members of Congress who ADMITTED they don’t believe in our constitutional form of government – to me, they should forever more be considered illegitimate members of Congress. And, of course, all the Attorney Generals, from the various states, who joined the lawsuit of the pardon seeking Attorney General of Texas – they should FOREVERMORE be considered illegitimate in their offices. It’s up to the media to turn this HORRIBLE response to LOSING an election back onto the faces of individual 1 and his supporters. How can they call anyone else “illegitimate?”

I mentioned above we need “two political parties” for our system of government to work. Here’s where I believe our so-called “liberal media” has fallen so far short. Over and over, as I try to listen to people “reporting” the “news” I come away feeling as if they’re following some kind of “standard” which prevents them from telling it like it is. Yes, the discussions SHOULD be based on FACTS – and, not “alternative facts” whatever that might be – but, the media outlets need to stop with this “fair and balanced” approach Fox “news” managed to fool “we the people” into believing was good reporting. If democrats, for example, are doing something wrong call it what it is and vice versa. In my view, our “liberal media” has failed us, but not in the same way you might think if you’ve been listening to republicans.

Take the issue with Russia, for example. There can be no doubt about the Russian’s ATTACKING our nation during the 2016 election. Robert Mueller’s “team” identified the perpetrators right up to the computers they were using as they hacked into the DNC and also as they were disseminating their “spoil” to Wikileaks at strategic times during the 2016 campaign. The Russian’s had two goals, number one was to weaken Hillary Clinton’s administration (they assumed she would win just like almost everyone else) and to exacerbate the political “divide” in our country. Secondly, they wanted to help individual 1 “win,” they just didn’t think he could do so. This is all unquestionable FACTS and, yet, I hear pundits on TV get away with suggesting otherwise (usually using Kremlin “talking points”) with little to NO pushback.

“We the people” also allow outlets like Fox “news,” Brietbart.com, etc. to get away with a right wing BRAINWASHING of their audience without the pushback necessary to make sure people understand what these outlets are actually doing. I’ve been writing about Fox and people like Rush Limbaugh (and his second tier of “talkers” willing to say ANYTHING for money) and we SHOULD be pushing back against all the MISINFORMATION much harder. Right now, thanks to these propagandists, about three out of every four republicans believe the 2020 election was “stolen” from our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president when the actual “steal” took place in 2016. This “misinformation” is right out of the Kremlin’s “playbook.” They originally called it “fake news.” Let that sink in, our republican party and their media supporters are using the “playbook” of the Russians to BRAINWASH their cult following. And, the “liberal media” is caught, apparently, “looking the other way.”

This leads me to what I consider the WORST offender of all – and the largest threat to our democratic republic: Facebook. Now, keep in mind, I don’t do Facebook. My wife does and just about everyone I know does (that’s what we call a monopoly – which in the media, is REALLY dangerous) During the 2016 campaign a group called “Cambridge Analytica” – which was stationed in London – managed to “cultivate” the DATA out of Facebook and about 157 MILLION Americans (you read that correctly). They grouped the data into what they called “neighborhoods” (I believe – or a word to that effect) so they could “blast” those “neighborhoods” with targeted misinformation (LIES) these groups would be vulnerable to.

Well, along came the Russians and, sure enough, they got their hands on this data as well. Was it through “coordination” with the individual 1 campaign? Well, I can only guess, but my guess would be “your correct.” However, the end result was the Russians had the information they needed to blast these groups with a never ending flow of “fake news” (I’m sure you’ve been wondering where individual 1 got that term). Sure enough, Vladimir Putin got his wish – individual 1, his own “puppet” in the “White House” – and, we’ve seen the “fabric” of America being torn apart ever since.

And, Facebook continues unabated – getting MORE dangerous by the day – and, the Russians are continuing their ATTACK on America – it’s been ongoing now for well over the four years of individual 1’s disasterous time in the “White House” but the level of DAMAGE they’ve been inflicting on our nation has increased like a second virus since the day individual 1 LIED about his “oath” of office. Not only have the Russian’s been “lingering” in the cyberspace of Most of our Federal Government for the past eight months, or so, but do you remember the recent reporting on Putin putting bounties on the heads of American soldiers in Afghanistan? Do you remember what individual 1 did about it? Just like he dealt with the election ATTACK and the ATTACK on our soldiers in Afghanistan, the ATTACK on our government institutions and American corporate interests received a yawning – NOTHING coming from our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president. And, the republicans? NOTHING as well. (Just think of their response if Barack Obama had ignored things like that)

Some day we’ll find out what the Russian’s had on our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president and, hopefully, we’ll find out the extent of the DAMAGE being caused by Facebook on the fabric of our nation “sooner rather than later.” Thirty three days from when I’m writing this individual 1 will be a “private citizen” (with lots of legal troubles) but Facebook will still be DAMAGING this nation as a conduit for the most VILE information imaginable. At some point Congress is going to intervene – let’s hope it happens before it’s too late. (And, of course, Facebook isn’t the ONLY dangerous “tech monopoly.”)

Joe Biden is taking office facing a MOUNTAIN of problems – starting with the Covid-19 pandemic and, at the very best, he can hope for a 50/50 Senate which might allow for some things to “get done.” However, are the democrats going to vote to get rid of the filibuster with such a “slim majority” should they get a couple “wins” in the Georgia Senate runoffs? It will take courage to face up to many of these challenges and the future of our nation lies in the balance. Do we want another démagogue at the helm in the future? Will our media expose the TRUTH behind individual 1’s base and/or will Biden push back against all the hate groups which flourished under our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president? The next couple of years will continue to be critical ones in the unfolding history of this nation. We’ll either deal with our “original sin” or the right wing backlash coming from the white supremacist groups spread throughout our nation will be allowed to continue without pushback. It really has come to, one or the other! Stay tuned…………

Final Thought: I’m my lifetime I’ve seen no one remotely close to individual 1 when it comes to being vindictive. He depends on people worshiping the ground he walks on and to anyone who might disagree with him, look out! He’s still fuming about the “Russia thing” – which he earned via his “collusion” with the Russians back in 2016 – but, as I just said, he felt it de-legitimized his term in office – so what will he do about that? It’s obvious, he’s doing everything he can to cause as many of his CULT members to believe Joe Biden “stole” the election from him so they won’t consider Biden “legitimate.” Touche’! And, as I’m writing this, there’s likely more. I’ve heard individual 1 wants there to be a special counsel appointed to “investigate” Joe Biden and his son Hunter. I’ll say it again, should be interesting!

The bottom line is our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president is going to do as much DAMAGE to our nation on his “way out the door” as he possibly can. Why should that surprise me? OK, it doesn’t. I’ve been writing about the DAMAGE to America he’s been causing for four years. My greatest hope is whoever Biden chooses as his Attorney General doesn’t shy away from investigating individual 1’s criminal behavior. We KNOW he’s going to “pardon himself” – he’s been telegraphing that “move” for a couple years now – the question is, can he? By my reading of the Constitution, the answer is no (Of course, I’ve had some help coming to that conclusion from people who are actually constitutional experts). Let’s hope he’s challenged if he tries it. I’m not lobbying for individual 1 to be “locked up,” but I do want there to be accountability for him and his sycophants who regularly thumbed their noses at our system of laws – as if the laws didn’t/don’t apply to them. I don’t want Joe Biden to think he could do the same ILLEGAL “stuff.”

I was reading the Washington Post today and Ruth Marcus, a journalist I have high regard for, did something I believe should be happening on all “fronts.” “We the people” can not allow ourselves to forget who the republicans were who signed on to the FRIVOLOUS lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, an UN-AMERICAN attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 election which was HANDILY WON by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I’m no lawyer, but it wasn’t hard to understand how ridiculous this move was – simply designed, at least on the surface, to get Mr. Paxton a pardon from the pardoner in chief, individual 1. And, large swaths of elected republicans in Congress and across the country felt the obligation to sign on to this abhorrent attempt at what amounted to a coup d’etat.

Ms. Marcus pointed out the obvious, “we the people” should not forget who these republicans who don’t have the slightest bit of COURAGE or, for that matter, respect for their OATH to our constitution as they attempt to avoid the nasty “tweet” from our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president. Apparently, even after he was SOUNDLY defeated at the polls they still FEAR him. Hard for me to understand, be easy for me to feel a sense of contempt for them as members of our government who are SUPPOSED to be the DEFENDERS of said constitution. Ms. Marcus listed them all by NAME and I decided I would do the same – hoping that many others would follow suit so these politicians will not be able to run away from the lack of patriotism in the next election. Obviously, they FEAR individual 1 more than their voters, but I have to believe there are voters, even in “red” districts, who are turned off by having a COWARD for a representative. Here they are:

First, the attorneys general, the chief law enforcement officers of their states, who joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in this legal monstrosity: Eric Schmitt, Missouri (he goes first because Missouri filed the brief); Steve Marshall, Alabama; Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas; Ashley Moody, Florida; Curtis Hill, Indiana; Derek Schmidt, Kansas; Jeff Landry, Louisiana; Lynn Fitch, Mississippi; Tim Fox, Montana; Doug Peterson, Nebraska; Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota; Mike Hunter, Oklahoma; Alan Wilson, South Carolina; Jason Ravnsborg, South Dakota; Herbert H. Slatery III, Tennessee; Sean Reyes, Utah; Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia.

Second, the House members, including McCarthy, Whip Steve Scalise (La.); Jim Jordan (Ohio), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee; Kevin Brady (Tex.), ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Gary Palmer (Ala.), head of the Republican Policy Committee; and Mike Johnson (La.), who organized this constitutional abomination.

The rest, listed in order of their home state: Alabama (Robert B. Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Bradley Byrne), Arizona (Andy Biggs, Debbie Lesko), Arkansas (Eric A. “Rick” Crawford, Bruce Westerman), California (Ken Calvert, Doug LaMalfa, Tom McClintock), Colorado (Ken Buck, Doug Lamborn), Florida (Gus M. Bilirakis, Mario Diaz-Balart, Neal Dunn, Matt Gaetz, Bill Posey, John Rutherford, Ross Spano, Michael Waltz, Daniel Webster, Ted Yoho), Georgia (Rick Allen, Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, Douglas A. Collins, Drew Ferguson, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Austin Scott), Idaho (Russ Fulcher, Mike Simpson), Illinois (Mike Bost, Darin LaHood), Indiana (Jim Baird, Jim Banks, Trey Hollingsworth, Greg Pence, Jackie Walorski), Iowa (Steve King), Kansas (Ron Estes, Roger Marshall), Louisiana (Ralph Abraham, Clay Higgins).

Maryland (Andy Harris), Michigan (Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg), Minnesota (Tom Emmer, Jim Hagedorn, Pete Stauber), Mississippi (Michael Guest, Trent Kelly, Steven M. Palazzo), Missouri (Sam Graves, Billy Long, Vicky Hartzler, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Jason T. Smith, Ann Wagner), Montana (Greg Gianforte), Nebraska (Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith), New Jersey (Gregory Steube, Jeff Van Drew), New York (Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin), North Carolina (Dan Bishop, Ted Budd, Virginia Foxx, Richard Hudson, Greg Murphy, David Rouzer, Mark Walker), Ohio (Bob Gibbs, Bill Johnson, Robert E. Latta, Brad Wenstrup), Oklahoma (Kevin Hern, Markwayne Mullin).

Pennsylvania (John Joyce, Frederick B. Keller, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler, Glenn Thompson), South Carolina (Jeff Duncan, Ralph Norman, Tom Rice, William Timmons, Joe Wilson), Tennessee (Tim Burchett, Scott DesJarlais, Charles J. “Chuck” Fleischmann, Mark Green, David Kustoff, John Rose), Texas (Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Michael C. Burgess, Michael Cloud, K. Michael Conaway, Dan Crenshaw, Bill Flores, Louie Gohmert, Lance Gooden, Kenny Marchant, Randy Weber, Roger Williams, Ron Wright), Virginia (Ben Cline, H. Morgan Griffith, Rob Wittman, Ron Wright), Washington (Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dan Newhouse), West Virginia (Carol Miller, Alex Mooney), Wisconsin (Tom Tiffany).

This second group, 126 members of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, all belong, instead, in the “House of Shame.” Let us not forget. The next time, for example, we’re forced to listen to some of the self righteous blather coming from the mouth of Jim Jordan we should remind him of this SHAMEFUL moment and question whether he continues to live in FEAR of individual 1? And, Kevin McCarthy, the House member who bragged about how the Ben Ghazi fiasco in the House was fully for the purpose of tearing down Hillary Clinton’s “approval rating” – well, he should be reminded of this abomination every time he opens his mouth in public. Of course, both him and Jordan are likely to be leading the smear campaign against Kamala Harris I’ve written about in the past few weeks. It’s already started and it will come from these members of Congress who’ve just put their names on this lawsuit which was designed to overthrow our election.

As myself, and any other rational thinking American, predicted the lawsuit would be summarily THROWN out of court – 9 – 0 at the Supreme Court with even individual 1’s “pet” justices voting as anyone who’s made even a basic read of our constitution would have voted – but, apparently, their FEAR of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president was too much for all of these republicans listed above and they put their names on the lawsuit. SHAME ON all of them! Will this have lasting DAMAGE – I’ve been writing about the DAMAGE individual 1 has done to our nation for four years now and it will continue to mount right up till he’s out of the “White House” and, likely, beyond – but, yes, this will be lasting.

The CULT of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president is so ingrained, the republican party is so BRAINWASHED, that these people believe anything they’re “fed” by the right wing “message machine.” And, as I’ve said, these people are all about POWER and they’re not going “anywhere” until we vote them into the history books with a massive response. As much as I’m sick of one election piling on top of the next I can guarantee you the tendency of “progressives” is to kick back, take a deep breath, and feel the job is done because individual 1 has been defeated. But, that’s a “fool’s errand.” If “we the people” want to get anything significant accomplished we need to take full control of the U.S. Senate and strengthen democratic control of the House.

And, I write this as if I’m a “democrat” – which, I’ve NEVER been a “democrat” – always an “independent” voter. However, since the days of Ronald Reagan I’ve found myself voting AGAINST republicans and that tendency hit high gear with the Bush/Cheney regime when they invaded Iraq (of course, based on LIES – that’s the republican “way”) and, worse yet, publicly authorized TORTURE and then, for all intents and purposes, bragged about it. And, their disregard of the FISA laws via surveilling “we the people” without warrants wasn’t a “selling point” for me either. Since I’ve been writing this “blog” (essentially, my personal diary in cyberspace which a few people somehow find each day) I’ve been lobbying for the “present day” republican party to be voted into the history books.

Well, it won’t be easy to do this – and, what I’m talking about is purging the republican party of it’s history of RACISM which was put on “steroids” with the election of Barack Obama, leading to the so-called “tea party” which, essentially has controlled the republican caucus since 2010. And, of course, that was the ultimate “turn to the right” which made it possible for individual 1. Sadly, America’s history with racism is, and has been, much worse than I had allowed myself to believe. I actually thought Obama’s election represented a sign America had moved forward and was ready to heal some of the wounds still existing in relation to our “original sin.” But, obviously, I was wrong, and the opposite has happened.

Now, we’ve evolved to the place where we have right wing white nationalist, neo-Nazi groups filtered all around the country who feel emboldened to take their automatic weapons out into the political “realm” with no fear of retribution. They’re acting empowered to BULLY those of us who STILL believe in our constitution by the reality “we the people” allowed a right wing white nationalist BULLY into the “White House” four years ago. I’ve read in several instances over the past four years, as I was attempting to understand who some of these right wing groups are, where various neo-Nazi groups refer to individual 1 as their “fuhrer.” I’ve read on several occasions where groups referring to themselves as “conservative ‘Christians'” suggest individual 1, who CLEARLY has a rough allegiance to the “Ten Commandments,” as sent to them by “God.”

Honestly, the level of intelligence which comes across from the supporters of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president is embarrassing when I think about how “we the people” are viewed by those around the world (save for the right wing neo-Nazi’s who are part of this movement in Europe). Our allies, despite knowing Joe Biden will be a rational leader for them to deal with as the world, hopefully, will push back on Vladimir Putin – understands “we the people” are just four years away from possibly a “redo.” And, trust me, that’s the plan of all these republicans listed above – they’re NOT in this to “defend our constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic,” they’re in this for the POWER.

So, the fight for the “heart and soul” of our nation Joe Biden referred to is simply at the beginning stage and I worry the “troops” on the “left” (ie “we the people”) will tire, lose focus and, then, “here we go again.” You can see the republicans who have NO moral compass (apparently, a requirement) lining up – ie, Marko Rubio (“little Marko”), Ted Cruz (he with the “ugly wife” and “father who conspired to murder JFK”), and Tom Cotton (totally lives in FEAR of an individual 1 nasty “tweet”) and who knows how many listed above. I applaud Ruth Marcus for LISTING every one of them in the Washington Post and I’m doing whatever I can to help. “We the people” should NEVER forget the SHAMEFUL cowardice of every one of them!

Final (lazy?) thought: I’m posting this without re-reading and editing (as I often do) – my apologies for the foopahs. Remember, I was ONLY a sixth grade teacher. (Although, most of my 6th graders were/are smart enough to see past the MOUNTAIN of LIES “we the people” have had to endure over the previous four years! And, DON’T tell me “all politicians LIE.” Of course, “all” of us have stretched the truth into our own understanding, but out and out LYING to people’s FACES is also SHAMEFUL. As SHAMEFUL as the disregard of their oath’s of office from those mentioned above. God help us!

I wrote back when Barack Obama took the oath of office the importance of holding the lawbreakers in the Bush/Cheney administration accountable so that the history of (mainly) republican administrations acting as if they’re “above the law” might cease. Naturally, then President Obama didn’t agree with me (and millions of other Americans) and chose to “look forward instead of back.” I’ve commented on why I believe that was such a HORRIBLE decision on many occasions which you could find in the archives if you don’t believe me and the administration of individual 1 is PROOF that I was correct. When you study American history you get a clear picture of why I was correct.

So, now, we’re dealing with the same question once again. And, trust me, the issue with Bush/Cheney was not the first time this was important. Take Ronald Reagan for example. He held little regard for the Congress which actually writes the laws of the land and he chose to LEAD what ended up being called the Iran/Contra scandal. ILLEGALLY selling weapons to Iran in order to ILLEGALLY gain funds to transfer to rebels in Central America who were intent on overthrowing the government of Nicaragua. All of this was illegal. Several of Reagans sycophants were charged and convicted in the scheme, but Reagan, himself, was “let off the hook” – maybe because he was already showing signs of Alzheimer’s when he was questioned, who knows – but, further example presidents seem to be “above the law” – despite their claims “no one is above the law.”

And, in the case of Iran/Contra the Vice President at the time, George HW Bush, who also avoided accountability (when obviously he KNEW about all of it – maybe was the actual ringleader as a former CIA operative and head of the CIA under Nixon) pardoned all the “actors” who were convicted in the crimes. So, you’ve got Nixon, then Reagan, then HW Bush, then W Bush, and all of that led to individual 1. Do you get the picture here? America has a history of, on the one hand claiming “no one is above the law” and on the other hand demonstrating if you’re rich and powerful (and, usually, white) you are either “above” the law or you can “avoid” the law via high powered attorneys.

I made it clear virtually the same day President Obama stated he was “looking forward instead of back” that he was insuring another corrupt republican (who knows, maybe a democrat will be as brazen now) running roughshod over our constitution – it was just a matter of time. President Obama (who I greatly admire) virtually assured a future president would authorize TORTURE when, while he was saying “America doesn’t torture,” he was refusing to allow investigations into the TORTURE which his predecessors ADMITTED on national TV they authorized – and worst yet, BOTH (GW Bush AND Dick Cheney) said they’d do it again. Just a quick reminder, authorizing TORTURE is a WAR CRIME!

Well, there’s little doubt individual 1 is the MOST corrupt (IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING) president in history and the question becomes should he be held accountable. I’ve read numerous articles by respected constitutional law experts, people who’ve spent their careers as federal prosecutors, AND political commentators – with strong arguments on both sides – investigate and don’t investigate. Personally, I believe the issue goes well beyond the arguments of those who make cogent arguments to “let bygones be bygones.” To me, that is one of the areas of America which needs a reckoning. We’ve been ignoring our past for far too long and the issue with individual 1 is just another example of why we keep doing this. It’s the easiest way “out.”

I agree if individual 1 is investigated and he’s found to have violated the law in a manner where he needs to be indicted that would “suck the oxygen out of the room” as Joe Biden is trying to “heal” the divisions in this nation. However, ignoring the obvious will NOT allow those divisions to “heal.” I’m old enough to understand if you’ve got a problem you need to deal with, ignoring the problem won’t solve anything – the problem will simply keep showing up – time and again and, usually, worse the next time. And, in this instance the problem is a very serious one. The very future of America as a constitutional republic may lay in the balance. And, I don’t believe that is hyperbole!

In fact, it appears many of the issues which America has been “sweeping under the rug” for decades if not centuries seem to be manifest in the issue of whether or not individual 1 should be investigated and, potentially, indicted for crimes he may have committed. The most prescient to the thoughts running through my head today, of course, have to do with “is the president above the law.” To me, if those who claim individual 1 shouldn’t be investigated because it’s unlikely the courts would convict a president of crimes while in office win the argument, then for all intents and purposes the president IS above the law.

For example, take individual 1’s response to the investigation into the Russians “interfering” in the 2016 election and the question of whether anyone associated with individual 1’s campaign “coordinated” with the Russians? Despite even republicans encouraging our now IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president to just allow the investigation to take its course and, in the words of Trey Gowdy, “If you’re innocent, act like it.” individual 1 couldn’t help himself and committed, according to my reading (twice) of the Mueller report, at least TEN instances of OBSTRUCTION of Justice. This really gets to the heart of the question of whether or not the president is “above the law.” Simply put, if he’s not subject to the laws then why have a Special Counsel regulation in the first place.

Mueller made it clear, at least to me, why OBSTRUCTION is such an egregious crime – it’s often the type of crime prosecutors face when, for example, prosecuting members of organized crime. When you heard individual 1 refer to witnesses who agree to tell the truth as “rats” you should have been able to figure out what kind of (now) IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president we have – as I’ve pointed out, someone who acts like a mob boss. OBSTRUCTION is a law at the foundation of our constitutional form of government – when prosecutors are investigating criminal activity OBSTRUCTION is the act of someone who doesn’t want them to be able to do so trying to block the investigation. It really does seem simple to me – it’s a serious offense.

The question, right from the start here, was can the president BLOCK investigations into his own behavior? And, when you think about it, the original investigations we’re talking about all happened prior to individual 1 becoming our (now IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING) president. The alleged campaign finance violations – ie paying off Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to prevent their “stories” about illicit affairs with individual 1 – while his wife was pregnant with his final son – becoming public AND the alleged “collusion” with the Russians during the 2016 campaign. The OBSTRUCTION, of course, happened while in office.

Speaking of OBSTRUCTION, that’s essentially how all this “trouble” began. When I think about James Comey I will ALWAYS believe he was the reason we were dealing with all this in the first place – on two fronts. First of all, without his brazen disregard for FBI protocols just 11 days prior to the 2016 election, I don’t believe individual 1 would ever have been our (IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING) president. Secondly, his refusal (thankfully) to “pledge loyalty” to individual 1 led to his firing and ultimately to Mueller as the special counsel. (Just try to imagine how someone who spent the early part of his career prosecuting members of organized crime would have reacted to the request for “loyalty” coming from the president – talk about your “red flags”) By firing Comey individual 1 believed he had ended the Russia investigation – and, with most of his decisions, the opposite was true. That was OBSTRUCTION offense #1.

So, the FBI is SUPPOSED to be independent from the executive branch – really independent from all political entities – just think about whether the president can simply fire people in the department if he doesn’t like who they’re investigating – especially if it’s him. Well, despite all that has happened in the past four years, thankfully, on January 20, 2021 the FBI AND the Justice Department will again be independent from the executive branch because we’ll have a president who will be focused on things like “crushing” Covid-19, getting an infrastructure bill through Congress, “fixing” the Affordable Care Act so it can help MILLIONS more Americans get covered with health insurance, dealing with police reform, the CLIMATE CRISIS, and a nation which will likely be teetering on depression (just as back in 2009 – only worse) as a democratic president takes over from a republican disaster. I will be anxious to see who the new Attorney General is.

I started this post several days ago, and, as usual, I got sidetracked with my thinking, but in the interim we’ve seen individual 1 making an even MORE brazen attack on the foundation of our constitutional republic. In the past couple of days the Attorney General of the state of Texas filed a lawsuit (he desperately needs a pardon from individual 1 before January 20) – the “mother of all frivolous lawsuits” attempting to get the Supreme Court to throw out the votes in the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Apparently, because they allow African Americans to vote in those states, or ????? Who knows, this lawsuit is going to get thrown out just like the 50+ lawsuits before it. Basically, this is another attempt to get the highest court in the land to render the constitution moot. Would that make any sense? Is that what individual 1’s three appointments to the high court were expected to do?

Final Thought: I watch the “data” regarding the Covid-19 pandemic pretty much daily by checking the site: “Worldometer.info” which tabulates EVERY positive test in EVERY state (actually, EVERY country worldwide) including EVERY death and other statistics relating to the coronavirus pandemic. For example, there’s a category in the “world” section of their data which keeps track of how many people are in “serious/critical” condition – which I take to mean those who are in the ICU or close to the ICU. (As an aside, about 1 month ago the number of “serious/critical” was about 14,000 and today, it’s over 26,000 – OK, now about 4 days later it’s 27,333) As I watch, I can’t help but remember how individual 1 and his son-in-law, back in the early days of this pandemic, were opposing additional “stimulus” after the “CARES Act” because they didn’t want to help the “blue states” which, apparently, they thought were the worst cases of the crisis. Apparently, in states that didn’t vote for individual 1 they didn’t want to provide federal support for fighting the pandemic. Sooooooooooo…………..

In the “top ten” of the states hit the worst in this pandemic we have: Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio. The second ten consists of Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, Arizona, Missouri, Alabama, and Louisiana. Here’s my point – these are ALL American states and they ALL need help in the form of stimulus. Every state has lots of people who are in danger of economic disaster which could be difficult to recover from – like many people out on the streets – in the MIDDLE of the pandemic, no less. Yet, republicans continue BLOCKING relief to the states and the people who are in desperate need right now. Our economy COULD be headed for depression and republicans are doing NOTHING. (Maybe that is what they want to “hand off” to president elect Biden)

Today, already, (There’s an hour or two of reporting time left) there have been over 222,000 NEWLY diagnosed cases of Covid in America with around 2600 Americans DEAD and, yet, the republican party is AWOL. (I wrote that last week, the previous two days have had over 3000 deaths each day and, before the vaccine can have a significant effect I’ve heard we should be expecting days of over 4000 deaths. Yikes!) I can’t even believe I’m feeling the necessity to write these words. Do the “red” states have to get desperate before Congress is able to act? What will it take for “we the people” to finally understand today’s version of the republican party has got to go? Sadly, there’s a significant segment of the population who no longer respect our system of laws – which was the point of what I wrote above. If the people at the top are above the law then these people at the bottom are asking, “What about us?” And, individual 1 has managed to somehow cause them to believe they’re in the “same boat.” As if, individual 1 has been the victim of anything other than his own illegal behavior.

I have an acquaintance who is a supporter of individual 1 and, essentially, has been regurgitating the propaganda which has come from the “White House” and all the right wing echo chambers since the start of this nightmare. When the Covid-19 crisis began he was spouting the “herd immunity” philosophy of individual 1’s administration (save for a month or so in April/May) and suggesting to me, “It’s just another flu.” At the time, I tried to explain to him this was much more serious than a flu epidemic and the main problem with simply letting it run “wild” in our communities was that our hospitals and our doctors, nurses, and other aspects of our health care system would not be able to handle the numbers. And, that was if you’re OK with all the people who would DIE. Well, obviously, individual 1 and those who continue to support him seem to be OK with the numbers DYING. And, aside from that, many of those who contract Covid-19 and “beat it” end up with side effects of the disease which are long lasting – putting them in the “pre-existing condition” category with their insurance carrier.

And, of course, republicans have been in court just recently, attempting to overturn the Affordable Care Act (hopefully without success, but that still remains to be seen) which would eliminate the protection against insurance companies discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions in their attempt to gain health insurance. I’ll say it again, what causes every day Americans to support these people? To them I have to say, “get your head out of your……………. OK, fill in the blank.

Two days ago I heard individual 1 say this: “I’ve heard 15% of Americans have contracted the virus. That’s great! That’s how we defeat this thing.” (or words to that effect) Of course, that’s the exact words we heard repeatedly from Scott Atlas the former head of the Coronavirus Task Force. It’s so absurd it bugs me I feel the necessity to write about it. Even if this was true (and, it’s likely far from the truth) we would be looking at 2 MILLION Americans dying before this pandemic would be “over.” The reality is we KNOW of just over 15 MILLION Americans being diagnosed as being Covid-19 positive. That would be less than 5% of our population and we’ve still lost over 300,000 Americans. “Herd immunity,” if it was possible without relying on vaccines, could lead to as many as 6 MILLION Americans dying. It’s offensive to me so many republicans are OK with this. Heck, republicans in the Senate continue to refuse agreeing to a Covid relief package prior to Christmas unless McConnell gets his “get out of court free card” for his corporate cronies. God help us!

I wrote yesterday about my belief that the idea republicans and democrats would EVER “come together” for the benefit of “we the people” is a fools errand (OK, I didn’t use that exact phraseology) because the republican message machine will be in high gear by the time Joe Biden takes office. So, today, as I usually do, I logged onto “Yahoo Finance” to check out the market and, sure enough, there was an article by someone at the Wall Street Journal suggesting there should be no more stimulus until Joe Biden takes office “and the floodgates of spending open up.” Here we go!

Whoever it is who wrote the article (I checked, his name is Mark Adams and I’m not subscribing to the WSJ so I can only read the first part of the article) was suggesting the economy has “thrived” for the past eight months so why would Moscow Mitch agree to a stimulus package now. And, he referenced the $1.8 TRILLION package which democrats refused to go along with – without, of course, explaining why – as usual it was full of tax breaks for rich people and insurance for companies to avoid liability when they put their workers’ health in jeopardy by pressuring them to work in unsafe conditions. (ie “poison pills”) Now, of course, most people who read the WSJ haven’t worked in a meat packing plant so they don’t understand why democrats would say that kind of protection is unnecessary – there are already OSHA rules which would protect an employer from liability as long as they follow the rules. Is the republican position they don’t want employers to have to follow the rules?

Here’s the long and short of it: republicans care about the corporate bigwigs and democrats care about the workers. Additionally, democrats care about ALL those workers who aren’t working – because of no fault of their own. They’ve been furloughed because of Covid-19 or worst, they’ve permanently lost their job. And, unless you’re a “tech” person, the job market is a bit slim right now. Yes, places like Amazon have been hiring, but there are roughly 20 MILLION Americans out of work right now. Mr. Adams was, as per usual, and as I predicted, using terms like “red state” and “blue state” – with his focus on “blue states” as the ones which have been mismanaged. I’m guessing he lives in one of the “blue states” and he’s doing just fine. But, whatever? Realistically, the suffering workers are located in both blue and red states and both blue and red states are in financial trouble.

But, here’s the deal, just as the virus is RAGING in “blue” and “red” states and people are out of work pretty much across the country facing evictions and standing in line at food banks how can someone like Mr. Adams claim the economy is “thriving.” I’m always reminded of a saying I heard when I was young and someone was trying to describe what a “depression” is – he said, “a recession is when you’re out of work, a depression is when I’M out of work.” Well, Mr. Adams is doing OK so it must appear to him the economy is thriving. This is exactly what I talk about when I’m trying to articulate how “we the people” have been BRAINWASHED into believing the “market” is the economy. The reality is, in my view, there’s a HUGE difference between “Wall Street” and “Main Street.” Democrats are focused on Main Street and republicans on “Wall Street.”

And, when Mr. Adams makes the comment about the “floodgates of money going to open up” when Biden takes over I just start reflexively shaking my head. This has happened so many times in my lifetime it’s simply predictable – in fact, I’ve already predicted just this type of rhetoric coming from republicans. And, our so-called “liberal media” (Which, of course, the WSJ is not part of) will let them get away with this as they “both sides” virtually every issue. Let me explain something to Mr. Adams – the $3 TRILLION spent this past year from the “CARES Act” is the reason the economy is “flourishing.” Individual 1 will be leaving office with a record deficit this year of more likely $4 TRILLION – of which, in my view, MOST of it was justified.

When 20 MILLION Americans are out of work and standing in food lines and worrying about losing their homes and taking care of their families it’s time for the government to step in with relief – period, full stop. It was, in fact, the $600 in addition to unemployment benefits which is the reason the economy is “thriving.” However, that money has mostly been funneled back into the economy because those receiving the aid, in most cases, needed to spend it to “get by.” That was the purpose and, despite the fact republicans don’t seem to understand what a gift that was to individual 1 (and, at the time, his chances for re-election – which he blundered away with his incompetent response to the pandemic itself) so their precious stock market could recover by November what it had lost in March and April.

Mr. Adams wants to wait on the desperately needed aid – needed RIGHT now – so that democrats can’t blame the spending on individual 1 – I’m not kidding you. Doesn’t that demonstrate he could care less about all the people who need the money right NOW?! Sometimes I wonder how people like this sleep at night – you know, with the attitude “I’ve got mine, screw you.” He’s more worried about who’ll get “blamed” for the spending – in fact willing to let all the people in need suffer for a couple months so that individual 1 isn’t “blamed” for even more spending. God help us!

Of course, he’s not the only republican who thinks this way. Virtually all of them I know either think this way or they’ll believe whatever “spin” republicans come up with to avoid anyone thinking there was MASSIVE deficit spending under “their watch.” They’ve been doing this since the days of Ronald Reagan. Under their administrations the deficits blow up and, at the same time, they convince “we the people” the democrats are the “spenders.” It’s a sophisticated propaganda scheme which has been going on for well over 40 years, it comes right out of the strategy book of the Nazi’s back in the Third Reich, and, of course, it works. Tell the LIES over and over until people believe they’re true. It’s been going on for years and it won’t stop now.

It’s so effective that we just prevented a right wing fascist – essentially – takeover of our government. And, trust me, individual 1 is busy on his “way out” doing as much LONG TERM DAMAGE to our fundamental institutions as he can by January 20th. Maybe that’s the republican scheme here. Leave office with so much attention being (necessarily) given to providing aid to those suffering through the unemployment crisis that much of that DAMAGE will go unnoticed and remain entrenched in our bureaucracy. Additionally, by messing things up as much as they can, setting up their BLAMING of democrats for the problems, so that in four years we can go through all this once again.

OK, another thing Mr. Adams said which rankled the hair on my back just a bit was references to “lockdowns preferred by democrats.” Honestly, I don’t think ANYONE wanted a lockdown. I don’t think ANYONE wanted the virus to be devastating their communities. I’m guessing Mr. Adams might be living in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area of the country. What they went through in March and April was HORRIBLE. Why would you NOT lock down your community when you need temporary hospitals with THOUSANDS of beds and the bodies are being stored in refrigerated trucks? And, by the way, it’s like that in “red states” right now, like El Paso and Houston in Texas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Florida, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama, etc. etc. Looking back, the “missing 70 days” which will forever define individual 1’s response to the virus could have prevented much of the need for “lockdowns.” Just sayin………

In some of the “red states” the governors simply order their health department officials to LIE about how the virus is affecting their states and, yet, it still looks really bad. There are cities where officials are begging to be able to initiate even a mask mandate and their “red state” governor is refusing to allow it. How did we get to this place? It’s mostly old people and people of color bearing the greatest “brunt” of the pandemic so there are officials who believe that’s a reasonable trade-off to keep the “market up.” I’m actually shaking my head as I’m writing this. By now, most people have seen the clip of the Lt. Governor of Texas essentially saying just that. And, of course, most of the people in this “red state” “camp” will tell you they’re “pro life.” The hypocrisy is so thick you could “cut it with a knife.”

Here’s the other thing about this which is such a “rub” for me. Now, I’m just an ordinary middle class American. I pay my taxes and I’m thankful to be paying them – I’ve experienced homelessness in my life and I’m thankful to have overcome it. In fact, it appears I pay a significantly larger amount of INCOME taxes than our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president – which, according to him, apparently means I’m not as smart as him. I’ll give him that – but only grudgingly – as I believe had my father bequeathed me a half a BILLION dollars I could have become a BILLIONAIRE – but, I digress. What was my point? Oh yes, red states vs. blue states.

I live in Washington State – the home of Microsoft, Adobe, Amazon, etc. etc. and, I’m certain, Washington state residents put well MORE into the federal “coffers” than they take out. The same goes for California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other “blue states.” I have no doubt some of the leaders in these states have made mistakes – for example – this is a perilous time to be a governor – when people are dying in large numbers it’s got to weigh on you – if you have compassion at all. (Yes, I’m suggesting individual 1 and some of the “reg state” governors seem to be adrift when it comes to compassion) To me, it’s ridiculous to think “blue state” or “red state” when there’s a crisis going on – in reality there’s the United States and, as the saying goes, we’re stronger together than we are apart. People in my state, as far as I’ve been able to tell, don’t complain when federal aid is given to people in Florida after one of the terrible Hurricanes (which, by the way, will continue far after the Covid crisis has been resolved – just sayin……. Oops, Didn’t I just say that?)

So, republicans are enlisting people like Mr. Adams to begin the propaganda campaign already (just as I had predicted) and they’ll all be “deficit hawks” again on January 20th. Actually, some of them are leaning that way right now – like Mr. Adams – where they don’t want any relief for all the American people who are desperately needing the Covid relief until Biden is in office so they can BLAME the spending on democrats. This would just confirm the republican party is more about scheming how to maintain POWER at the expense of our PEOPLE. Every day now more people are dying of Covid than who died on 9/11. I’m almost heartbroken as the reality of where our country has evolved has FINALLY fully sunk in. When I make these predictions – which almost always come true – I, internally, hope I’m wrong.

The evolution of the republican party where they’ve come to value Wall Street more than Main Street has been what has been tearing our nation apart and their approach has been so sophisticated most of us have missed it. (Me, for a very long time) For years I always felt the democrats were afraid to defend their basic values (ie New Deal, Great Society, etc.) and that has simply allowed this rightward trajectory of the republicans to succeed. Now, individual 1 has been stopped, but not the republican party. And, democrats will be attacked by the republicans in the “same old way,” and I’m anxious to see if they revert to their previous historical reticence or if they continue to FIGHT like we’ve seen from some of the young members of the House in the previous two years.

Yes, the republicans, while LOSING the “White House,” gained seats in the House – unexpectedly. I believe because they were so focused on getting individual 1 out of office they lost focus in many of the places where House members had “flipped” republican districts in 2018. I read a couple examples where republicans put phony candidates in House elections causing the democrat to unexpectedly to lose. The republicans have been the experts at “dirty tricks” since the days of Nixon and success in the future, for democrats, will require understanding this and combating it. As we’ve all watched individual 1 attempt what amounts to a coup d’etat since he LOST the 2020 election, Congressional republicans have shown themselves to be cowards. They KNOW what individual 1 is doing is TOTALLY wrong, but they’re afraid to say so in public. The only way to describe their actions is COWARDICE!

Final Thought: I still clearly remember individual 1 back in the campaign of 2016 saying to his supporters, “You’re going to get tired of all the winning.” Of course, during his four years at the helm there hasn’t been much “winning” other than a HUGE tax cut mainly for the top “1%” of Americans, which his supporters apparently haven’t noticed – because most of them are not part of the “top 1%.” So, now that our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president has LOST to Joe Biden (by OVER 7 MILLION votes) he’s initiating lawsuit after lawsuit in an attempt to overthrow “the will of the people.” (Technically, again, because he LOST in 2016, as well, in the so-called “popular vote” – or, as I put it, the “vote”) So far, by my last count, the score was 1 (minor “victory” – over about 9,000 votes in Pennsylvania which weren’t counted in the first place and won’t be counted because of minor issues with the envelope in which the ballot was sent in – and there’ve been over 53 lawsuits essentially THROWN out of court – as frivolous. I have to wonder, when will individual 1’s supporters get tired of ALL the LOSING?

For heaven’s sake, the result in Georgia was certified THREE times – after repeated recounts giving the same result. In Wisconsin individual 1 spent $3 MILLION to recount the votes in two counties (the counties with significant numbers of African Americans, surprise, surprise) and, after the conclusion of the recount, Joe Biden had 87 more votes. So, of course, then individual 1’s “lawyers” tried to get ALL the votes in those two counties thrown out because……..? Well, maybe because those were the counties which went heavily for Biden? Can you imagine what would lie ahead in America if our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president would succeed in this coup d’etat? Our “democracy” (actually, we have a constitutionally defined democratic republic) would be finished. And, when you read the web pages of some of individual 1’s most fervent supporters it’s easy to understand they’d be fully OK with that. Think that’s hyperbole???

Check out the website of the group calling itself “Atomwaffen.” Or the website of the “Proud Boys” – and there’s many more. From my vantage point the least radical of these groups would be called “neo-Nazi’s.” I’ll let you characterize the more zealous. My father and “the greatest generation” fought this stuff off coming from Germany back in the 1940’s and now the question is becoming are “we the people” capable of fighting it off when it’s coming from within? How many members of the republican party are “cool” (in the words of my son) with all this? I’m not sure, but it’s time we find out. It’s time we quit acting like these people are under their rocks. This right wing RACIST “wound” in America was opened with the election of Barack Obama and it’s time to face up to the reality this exists in our nation – AND, are “we the people” OK with it? Just read the words on the “home page” of Atomwaffen. It could have come from the bowels of the Third Reich. It’s real, it’s here, and ignoring it won’t make it go away.

How BAD is our worst EVER IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president? Well, there’s a lot of answers to that question which would make it seem to be a “stupid question” – but, let’s start with the Covid-19 pandemic because Americans are DYING in 9/11 numbers EVERY day now – and, it’s only going to get worse. If you remember, individual 1, prior to LOSING the November election was constantly saying the pandemic is a “democrat hoax” and, “just watch, on November 4th it goes away.” Well, it’s now December 4th, it hasn’t “gone away,” and, in fact, it’s getting unbelievably worse and individual 1 and his supporters are able to continue ignoring what is now almost 3000 deaths per day. By the first of next year the death totals very likely will exceed 4000 per day. I shudder to even predict the numbers because 4000 is abhorrible and knowing there’s so many Americans ignoring this grieves my heart. This doesn’t feel like the country I grew up in.

Sadly, many of the Americans supporting our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president are in my peer group – “baby boomers” who’ve benefited from the wealth of this nation for most of their 70+ years on this planet. Yes, many of them are in the interior of the nation which seems to get its “news” from “Fox,” Rush Limbaugh, and other right wing propaganda outlets – and, they’re not sophisticated enough to challenge what they’re seeing and hearing. However, the DATA of the pandemic should be enough to get their attention – 3000 Americans DYING per day and accelerating rather quickly. The hospitals are overflowing and the doctors and nurses FIGHTING this battle must be reaching or at total burnout – when they go home every day realizing 35% of Americans believe the pandemic is a “hoax” must cause them fits of anger!

For the past year I was often saying “November 3rd can’t come soon enough for me.” Well, now it’s January 20th, 2021 can’t come soon enough. Get this thug out of the “White House” and all of his sad enablers before he does something even more horrific. I read Rick Wilson’s book (he of the “Lincoln Project”) a couple years ago, and while I felt uneasy reading a book by one of the chief architects of the evolution of today’s republican party – obviously, he recognized things have gone too far with individual 1 – and, he correctly pointed out in the title of the book “Everything (individual 1 – he used the surname) touches dies.” OK, those who associate with individual 1 don’t “die” but, it’s quite possible their careers will. Personally, I don’t want anything to do with anyone who has chosen to be associated with this “deplorable” person. For example, yesterday I read an article about the husband of the White House Press Secretary, Sean Gilmartin, a baseball relief pitcher. My instantaneous reaction was, as a baseball fan, I hope he doesn’t get a contract for next year.

Of course, Gilmartin is not the only professional baseball player who is associated with individual 1, it just bothered me the reason the article was written in the first place. Gilmartin took in one of his wife’s RARE press briefings and he chose to do so without a mask. EVERYONE in the press room is expected to wear a mask to protect each person there from the virus. The press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, was one of the White House staffers to contract the virus recently and those around her, at the briefing, were not wearing masks either. But, Mr. Gilmartin refused to put one on and had to be escorted from the room and, for me, that’s enough to cause me to boo him if I show up a game where he might be pitching. (More likely, I’ll be booing my TV screen).

Just in the past day or two another staffer in the White House press office has contracted the virus and, clearly, those in that building are still not taking this virus seriously. (Now, Rudy Giuliani has it) I, personally, know a few people who’ve contracted the virus and they’ve reported back to me they, fortunately, didn’t get the bad version. The last one I talked to said both he and his wife got it. He said it was like having a four or five day hangover. (I don’t drink, so I’ll let those who do interpret that statement) He did say his wife got a more serious dose, but he said he’s had the flu which hit him harder. Here’s the difference – from the flu: About 20% of those who get Covid get a more serious “version.” About 6% of those who contract the virus require hospitalization and, about 3% of those who we know have contracted it, have died. (Check out Worldometer.info) Of course, that number goes up if you’re old, like me, or if you happen to be of African American or Latinx descent. Apparently, that’s one of the main reasons individual 1 and his sycophants were/are OK with their no response response which is a national disgrace.

Of course, the list of actions of individual 1 falling into the category of “national disgrace” is a long one – but, it’s hard to get attention off the pandemic when the numbers of Covid related deaths are exceeding 9/11 EVERY DAY! And, of course, knowing it’s going to continue getting worse for, at least, the next couple of months. The first vaccine which has been submitted for emergency approval will get a result from the FDA in about a week or so. Then the challenge will be getting to the people who need it most – for starters. And, this is the vaccine which requires refrigeration at almost MINUS 100 degrees Celsius. Remember, our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president, on several occasions, GUARANTEED to his supporters “Just wait, on November 4th the Covid crisis will go away.” Of course, it’s NOT going away, out hospitals are at the breaking points, and he’s still LYING about the election and doing NOTHING to help mitigate the crisis. I don’t think either he or his supporters understand, this is what he’s going to be remembered for – HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of American deaths – and, who knows, at this point in time, what the ultimate DAMAGE will have been inflicted on our Health Care system.

For MANY decades republicans have been trying to make it harder for “we the people” to get access to affordable health care. Now, of course, they’re attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act – which, if successful, will make this DISASTER much much worse, but I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined a president who would take an issue like a pandemic and virtually IGNORE it – all because he was worried the “numbers” (remember the Cruise ship at the beginning of all this) would make him look bad. He’ll likely never understand all he had to do to gain re-election would have been take a serious science guided approach to mitigating the effects of Covid – demonstrate to “we the people” he could put our interests ahead of his own and, I believe, he would have won the election resoundingly. Every step of the way he makes the WRONG decision because his NARCISSISM just won’t allow him to think of others ahead of himself.

Individual 1 continues to demonstrate he’s completely detached from reality and, when you consider the entire world is watching all this play out, it really is rather embarrassing. How could “we the people” choose someone of this “ilk” to have the keys to the nuclear codes? How could “we the people” put someone who is a proven business LOSER in charge of the greatest economy in the history of the world? How could America’s evangelical Christian “community” (I’m a Christian and count me out on this one) suggest someone who’s LIED approximately 25,000 times since taking the oath of office was “sent by God” – as I’ve heard too many of them say? I keep forcing myself to listen to people in my peer group (baby boomers) who support individual 1 and, in almost every case, I come away shaking my head about the ignorance I just listened to. (Go ahead, all me an “elitist” – but that would just be stupid on top of stupid) When I was young – in high school – I clearly remember students could drop out of school after the 8th grade and find a job which paid good enough to support a family.

Well, those people are doing OK now financially, (Thanks to “socialist programs” like Social Security and Medicare) but, at least the ones I know, don’t read and they watch, as I mentioned earlier, Fox and other right wing media. You can tell someone’s been BRAINWASHED when the first thing they say when you question their opinion on a political topic is “You’re not going to change my mind.” Of course, this is in instances where I was NOT trying to change their mind, simply trying to understand why they believed whatever we were talking about – usually, something regarding “individual 1.” For example, I might ask someone (I’m thinking of one person in particular now) who tells me individual 1 is the last chance we have to have a “conservative” president, what is it about him which causes you to believe he’s “conservative.” I have yet to meet ONE person who supports individual 1 who can give actual factual “data” to support their “contentions” about why they support him. It’s ALWAYS regurgitating right wing propaganda – and, almost always they get MAD when I point out why their contentions aren’t supported by the facts.

Soon, these people will be blaming Joe Biden for the deficit – along with the republicans in Congress and it will be impossible to have a cogent discussion about where the deficit actually has come from – and why NOW is a critical time not to worry about the deficit. I’ve read as much as I can find coming from Paul Krugman – the economist who makes the most sense to me – and, he can explain why now is not the time to worry about deficits much better than I (duh!) and, I encourage anyone who wants to understand this to read his writings. He’s been writing Op-Ed’s for the NY Times for over 20 years, he’s written several really good books, and he’s even “taught” one of the so-called “Master Classes” online (I actually signed up for and “took” his “Master Class”) and he’s a great source if you want to understand economics.

And, when it comes to the deficit and individual 1 I will only blame PART of the HUGE increase in the deficit which has happened on his “watch,” The tax scam was entirely unnecessary and was passed, in my view, as a “payback” for all the wealthy republican donors who wanted a “return on their investment” in the 2016 election. However, this year’s deficit exceeds THREE trillion dollars with much of it resulting from the “CARES Act” – where, in one instance, people claiming unemployment benefits got an additional $600 per week on top of their unemployment check. That money, in most instances, was desperately needed (still is, by the way), most of it went right back into the economy, it prevented many Americans from losing their homes (at least temporarily – unfortunately, another stimulus bill is needed and is being blocked – as usual – by the republicans in the Senate – and, in my view, that $600 per week is what has prevented America from being in an economic depression right now.

If another stimulus bill is not passed SOON we may actually end up being in an economic depression – a situation which will be hard to get out of if the Senate remains in the control of Moscow Mitch and the republicans. And, honestly, based on their past actions, I’m not certain that’s not what they want – to leave Joe Biden’s administration in an economic calamity – apparently believing the American people are so ignorant, they’ll actually blame Biden and not individual 1. If you remember, when individual 1 took office he inherited an economy which was in the 7th year of a steady recovery from the “Great Recession” – what Bush/Cheney left for Obama and Biden. This could be much worse – in fact, the level of unemployment, as I’m writing this, is worse than at any time during the “Great Recession.” Get ready for the right wing “message machine” to kick into high gear focusing the “minds” of their CULT following to believe all their DEFLECTING of the TRUTH.

Am I happy Joe Biden WON the 2020 election (by OVER 7 MILLION votes)? Absolutely! Do I believe that’s going to solve “what ails us?” Absolutely NOT! I don’t trust all these republicans who claim to “love this country” to come along side Biden in an attempt to “crush the virus” and save the economy. It’s as if any success attributed to Biden will come across as a loss to republicans – they do see America as “red and blue.” (Of course, with a heavy dose of “white” – I’ll let you figure out that comment)

I’ve pointed this out in previous posts – that is, the MAIN reason why the republican message machine will be kicking into “overdrive” almost immediately – and, sadly, many in the CULT base aren’t sophisticated enough to understand this – but, I’m willing to make this prediction today, 12/6/2020: We all know Joe Biden is going to be 78 years old the day he takes the oath of office. There’s TWO things republicans REALLY can’t stand when it comes to politics and democrats in high office. First, and we saw this in 2016 and the years leading up to 2016: the idea of a WOMAN in power just makes their skin curl. Secondly, and we saw this for EIGHT years with Barack Obama as president: The idea of a person of African descent in the “White House” doesn’t work for republicans. President Obama was how we got the so-called “Tea Party” and, of course, ultimately, it led to individual 1 as our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president. So, how do you think republicans are going to respond to Kamala Harris as the likely “front runner” for the democratic nomination in 2024? It’s already getting ugly!

For heaven’s sake, a plethora of republicans are lining up already to take aim on the republican nomination for 2024 – which I find a bit hilarious considering individual 1 supposedly is going to lay claim to the nomination as he goes out the door. Wouldn’t that just be just rewards for people like Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and a bunch of others who see themselves as going from loyal sycophant to individual 1 to the Oval Office. All I can say is OMG – what has this country – and, of course, the republican party come to? Personally, I hope individual 1 keeps his spell on the party for the next four years – while he’s battling in court over all his legal transgressions and while him and his family continue grifting HUNDREDS of MILLIONS from his unsuspecting followers. Should be quite the show. My belief is CORRUPTION of this magnitude will ultimately cave in on itself – and, at some point, the CULT will realize what has happened to them. In my dreams that leads to the demise of the republican party AND Fox “news.”

Here’s what I hope, as I mention the republicans who are thinking about their 2024 chances when THEY SHOULD be working to provide the assistance needed by those out of work thanks to this pandemic – the workers and the small business owners who are losing their businesses because of “no fault of their own.” I hope “we the people” don’t allow ourselves to forget what these republicans have NOT done during this pandemic. They’ve refused to act when MILLIONS of Americans are in desperate need of assistance. MILLIONS of our fellow citizens who’ve worked their entire working lives are now in food lines. I hope “we the people” don’t forget. I hope we don’t forget their (republicans) refusal to pass the HEROES Act. I hope we don’t forget they’ve refused to stand up to individual 1 for ANYTHING! He’s LOST the election and they still quiver in fear of his “Twitter finger.”

I just hope we don’t forget. These people (Rubio, Cruz, Cotton, and the others) are disgusting – and, almost all of them think they’re qualified to be the next president of the United States. If “we the people” forget, and allow that to happen, I guarantee you who won’t have forgotten – it will be the rest of the world! Individual 1 has proven to the world America has a large section of “uneducated voters” (in the words of individual 1 himself – when I heard him say that I had no idea what he actually meant) and “we the people” have proven we have a short attention span. That’s what republicans have thrived on and that’s what they depend on. This SHOULD be part of our “self reflection” – unless we want to be going through this again – sooner rather than later!

Final Thought: It was reported today Rudy Giuliani is the latest of the “White House” grifters to contract Covid 19. Who knows how long that will sideline him (and how many he’s spread it to?) but I do have to say I hope he gets a good dose of it. I’m not wishing him to die, but some get it worse than others and I’d like him to come out on the other side with a willingness to admit this is serious. I mean, they’re all acting as if it doesn’t exist while doctors and nurses ALL across the country are BEGGING people to follow the scientific guidelines designed to protect them from getting it. It’s the docs and nurses – and other health care providers – ie ambulance personnel, support people at hospitals, ER personnel, etc. who are working double time in the FIGHT against this while so many Americans act as if it’s a “hoax.” Heck, when I go to the store, I’m also careful to THANK all the people working there who are constantly exposed, potentially, to the virus, while working for a minimum wage – likely with little to no health insurance.

And, lastly, speaking of grifters – OMG individual 1 has raised over $200 MILLION from his CULT since the elections – I’ll say it again, SINCE the election. He LOST! So, why would he be soliciting all this money? OK, unless you’re in the CULT you know the answer. He’s grabbing as much and doing as much DAMAGE as he can on the way out the door. He’s angry America could have some how rejected him and he’s getting even. That’s what he does. And, I GUARANTEE you, he’s expecting NO one to check where all that money’s going – and, trust me, much of it will be going into his own pockets. Yikes! And his suckers, er supporters are likely to keep sending it. It really does give new meaning to grift! (OK, here’s the definition: “obtaining money by swindle”) Before you send any money, trust me, read the “fine print.”

Under the heading “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” sadly, we’re going to be seeing his children doing the same thing. I believe individual 1 Jr. is already at it – evidently planning for his own “run” sometime in the future after his daddy is through scamming “we the people.” And, trust me on this one as well – they have plans Ivanka is going to be running that “White House” before Kamala takes over. Should be interesting – stay tuned……………

It’s interesting to me listening to so many pundits talking about how individual 1 is and has been such a threat to “American democracy” and I couldn’t agree more. However, as I listen to their reasoning – all valid reasons – the one part I find missing which, I believe, MUST be exposed “sooner rather than later” is the burgeoning number of right wing para military “militia” groups all around the country who consider our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president as their “fuhrer.” These are EXTREME white nationalists who consider “democracy” to be repugnant. They will continue to believe individual 1 actually “won” the 2020 election for a reason many “observers” haven’t totally considered up to this point in time. (Hopefully, that will change) Of course, the number of Americans who can’t bring themselves to believe individual 1 actually LOST the election is far greater than these neo-Nazi’s – but, these are the ones which concern me the most.

Those in these groups, the latest one I’ve been “introduced to” (via “The Daily Kos”) refers to themselves as “Atomwaffen” and they regularly end their “meetings/training exercises” with a Nazi salute. This kind of “s@#t” is going on all around the country and these people are planning various seditious actions designed to – in the eyes of many of them – create a racial “civil war.” Here’s the reasoning they share with our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president regarding the just finished election. They don’t believe the votes of African Americans – or anyone who’s NOT white – should count. These groups are violent by their nature – but, you have to understand there are many people like Rudy Giuliani, Jim Jordan, Mitch McConnell, Matt Gaetz, Lindsey Graham, etc., etc., who are going along with all of this. Essentially, the bulk of the republican party has “bought the Kool-Aid.” They’re a bunch of unpatriotic COWARDS!

I’ve seen reports about death cults in my lifetime, over the years, (full disclosure, I’m old) but nothing in America which compares to what is going on in republican circles as I’m writing this. Yes, it’s true, there are people associating themselves with the republican cult who don’t understand what they’ve become involved with, but, as I’ve stated in previous posts, I’m evolving to the point of placing the BLAME on their involvement to STUPIDITY. There’s too much obvious evidence out there to make it clear the republican party has tipped over the cliff of right wing idiocy.

For example, when in our recent history (the past 50 years) have there been republicans kissing up to the Russians? When would the republicans have been associating themselves with a “wack job” (AKA individual 1) who was associating with the world’s dictators as opposed to the world’s democracies? (ie Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Erdogan, etc.) Looking the other way from the mounting DEATHS of over a quarter MILLION Americans with no attempt to even mitigate a global pandemic? I know I’ve been hard on republicans since the days of Reagan, but individual 1 took things beyond imagination. And, then to refuse to honor the results of a “free and fair” election? Even for republicans this is new and over the edge.

We haven’t seen much of a response to all the right wing militia’s which are planning some really untoward “stuff” coming from William Barr’s Justice Department but that MUST change come January 20, 2021. When these groups are recruiting vulnerable young white guys who believe the system isn’t working in their favor and then threaten violence against our elected government they need to be neutered. As I’ve said before, I’m hoping Joe Biden’s administration really is based on “law and order.”

Individual 1 should be the first to experience this. He (individual 1) says he believes in “law and order” – after all he said he wanted to be the “law and order” president – so, it should be no surprise when his legal transgressions become targeted by the new Attorney General and the Justice Department. In fact, it’s imperative our soon to be out of office IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president would be facing consequences for his illegal behavior. For example, the attempts to pressure people to throw out or change legitimate votes is clearly ILLEGAL. I’ve said this before (along with MILLIONS of other Americans) we have a “system of laws and not men.” No one is “above the law.” Individual 1’s list of transgressions is a long one!

I know you’ve been watching/reading the “news” so you know it’s been widely reported individual 1 is planning a plethora of PARDONS on his way out of office. The main recipients of these PARDONS are the family members of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president PLUS individual 1 is reportedly planning to PARDON himself. Wait a minute! Can he do that? PARDON himself? Well, there’s a lot of conversation on this, but the reality is NO ONE has ever done this before so we don’t know. Those constitutional law experts I’ve listened to suggest it’s unlikely this would be “constitutional” but, maybe this is why individual 1 was so concerned with getting Amy Barrett confirmed to the Supreme Court.

And, why would our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president PARDON his children and his son-in-law? Here’s the interesting part of that possibility to me: What have they done which requires a pardon? Can you simply PARDON someone for any possibility? A “blanket” PARDON? Wouldn’t there HAVE to be a CRIME in order for a PARDON to be necessary? Is individual 1 suggesting his children are CRIMINALS? If our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president needs a PARDON as does his children would that confirm my allegation he’s a MOB boss? Would this suggest there’s a RICO investigation on the horizon? Today, individual 1 said he’s the “cleanest person in this country” when it comes to legal jeopardy. I have to say, which is it? If you’re so “clean” why do you need a pardon?

Yesterday, in a Washington DC courtroom a case was unsealed which suggests SOMEONE was attempting to BRIBE their way into getting a PARDON. Well, we don’t know who that person is, it was redacted – as were ALL the names – but, we do know the BRIBE- EE has to be individual 1. He’s the ONLY one with the power to “GRANT” a pardon. In fact, by the way, that’s the constitutional wording for “pardon’s” – the president has the right to “grant” pardons, which according to most scholars means you’re “giving” a pardon to someone else – you can’t “grant” one to yourself – but, I digress. We don’t know if individual 1 knew for sure about this offer of a BRIBE but it seems probable. How far did this go? We’re not going to find out for some time, but maybe this is one reason our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president believes he needs a pardon. It’s not likely this “issue” will be resolved by January 20th, 2021 at 12 PM. Stay tuned…………..

I continue hoping, at some point, “we the people” will learn what it is Vladimir Putin has/had on individual 1 causing all the pro Russian policy coming from the “White House” over the past four years. Just the other day Putin was quoted, essentially, regurgitating individual 1’s claims about our election being “rigged.” Putin suggested Joe Biden isn’t actually the President-elect and lambasted America for all the accusations, administrations previous to individual 1’s, have made toward emerging democracies which mirror the accusations of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president is making against our own election – which, according to his own officials, was maybe the “cleanest” election EVER – thereby, once again, making the Russian support of individual 1 a rousing success. Putin’s main goal back in 2015 – 2016 with their “active measures” was to turn Americans against each other (ie create division) and cause “we the people” to question our own democratic process. Well, with the help of individual 1, Putin has a smile on his face. (Likely a smirk) Makes my stomach queezy just thinking and writing about this.

Final Thought: It’s really interesting watching the upcoming elections in Georgia, runoffs for Georgia’s two Senate seats, as both of Georgia’s present Senators – who ALSO both used their positions to trade stocks at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic making MILLIONS – are attacking Georgia’s republican Secretary of State simply because the people of Georgia voted for Joe Biden in the presidential election. Apparently both Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue – the Senators in question – expected Secretary of State (for Georgia) Brad Raffensperger to actually “rig” the election in individual 1’s favor. Looks to me as if both Loeffler and Perdue have to adopt individual 1’s ABSURD accusations of “fraud” in the recent election in order to avoid facing his wrath.

Because these two corrupt Senators are regurgitating the nonsense coming from our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president I’m guessing they’re expecting him to make a trip to Georgia in order to rally the base. This really should be interesting because if the republican voters actually believe individual 1’s – and by extension Loeffler’s and Perdue’s – accusations about the votes being rigged, then why vote? I can guarantee you Stacy Abrams and the democrats are going to be working tirelessly to turn out as many voters as they can by January 5th. Many democrats are already requesting absentee ballots – which republicans have been convinced are fraudulent – so, those republicans who will vote are likely to do so in person on election day.

Here’s my question: Is all this republican back biting and nonsensical accusations toward our election process going to come back to “haunt” them? If Joe Biden winning the state of Georgia isn’t enough to tell you Mr. Raffensperger is HONEST you’re not thinking straight. While he’s getting death threats from the “basket of deplorables” Hillary Clinton prophetically pointed out back in 2016 he SHOULD be HONORED by the rest of us. Yes, while he’s publicly said he’s a supporter of individual 1 and voted for him TWICE – his courageous stand in the face of all the right wing vitriol SHOULD be appreciated by all of us – including those of us who don’t understand how ANYONE could support someone as CORRUPT as individual 1.

Today there was a rally in Georgia where a couple real “wack jobs” were ginning up one of individual 1’s crowds of cult members – one of them was Sidney Powell who’s been doing this all across the so-called “swing states” – the guy speaking claimed individual 1 actually “won” over 400 electoral college votes – including winning CALIFORNIA! These people are nuts – yet the crowd “was going wild.” It really is embarrassing knowing this stuff is being broadcast internationally – perfect for Vladimir Putin. The speakers challenged both of Georgia’s republican Senate candidates to provide their support OR the republicans in Georgia should refuse to vote for them. Honestly, I wish them the best. Maybe Jon Ossoff and Rafael Warnock will squeak out victories to give these people more to get riled up about. They’re having a hard time, apparently, accepting so many Americans believe they’re NUTS!

I have to add: I finally decided to look up “narcissist” and what I found was interesting!

From the Journal of Personality and Individual Difference: (Personality and Individual Differences is primarily devoted to the publication of articles (experimental, correlational, theoretical, expository/review) which enhance our understanding of the structure of personality and other forms of individual differences, the processes which cause these individual differences to emerge, and their practical applications. )

Abstract

A substantial body of research has documented that grandiose narcissists are characterized by high self-esteem, a sense of personal superiority and entitlement, overconfidence, a willingness to exploit others for self-gain, and hostility and aggression when challenged. We report two studies (N = 452) that explore how these dispositions affect their decision making. We show that grandiose narcissists’ overconfidence, impulsivity, and a willingness to ignore expert advice results in a higher likelihood of making a bad decision. In addition, after getting the wrong answer, grandiose narcissists are more likely to blame others and remain self-confident in their judgment.

Finally, more current examples of these effects can be seen in the current political sphere. Several studies have noted that President Donald Trump scores very high on narcissism (Malkin, 2017; Nai and Maier, 2018; Visser et al., 2017). Two New York Times journalists who cover the President and the White House commented on why the U.S government was unprepared for the COVID-19 outbreak. They noted that Trump’s “profound need for personal praise, the propensity to blame others, the penchant for rewriting history, the lack of human empathy, the disregard for expertise, the distortion of facts, the impatience with scrutiny or criticism” were at the root of the problem (Baker & Haberman, 2020). The issue was not a lack of information but his overconfidence in his own abilities, his unwillingness to listen to experts, and to his impulsive decision making.

I wrote that (well, actually, I simply copied it into this rant) because I’m very concerned about the DAMAGE individual 1 can inflict on America as he’s ushered out of the “White House.” When you read, carefully, the definition of a “grandiose narcissist,” it should provide you with some thoughts about the “possibilities” individual 1 is still capable of which might make it harder to sleep at night. He’s certainly in the “blaming others” stage and has shown a propensity to “ignore expert advice.” Remember he’s walking around with the nuclear codes and he, apparently, is going to do as much as he can to make Joe Biden’s administration be “hamstrung.” Just as Senate republicans have shown they value POWER over COUNTRY and, clearly, individual 1 is confirming what those of us who have claimed he cares not for this country, but only about himself, what we’ve been saying for almost the entire four years. As I’m writing this there’s 49 days left until this nightmare ends – what will he do to “get even” with all us Americans who voted AGAINST him. I believe he’s mentally deranged. Read above again and see if you agree?

I’ve been pointing out for three plus years individual 1 comes across to me as a “mob boss.” So, his antics on the way out of office should surprise no one. The question, to me, is whether or now the incoming Attorney General, whoever he or she may be, is going to thoroughly investigate the wrongdoing of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president for crimes committed while in office and prior to taking office. For example, the Mueller investigation was very much “hamstrung” by individual 1’s constant OBSTRUCTION of Justice and there remains many questions regarding the Russian “interference” in the 2016 election (and beyond) which were never fully investigated by Mueller’s team. (Read “Where Law Ends” by Andrew Weismann)

Anyone who’s paid attention to individual 1’s behavior over the previous four years must be wondering “what is it Putin has on our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president?” There’s got to be something – and, it’s imperative investigators find out. There’s still MILLIONS of Americans who believe individual 1 has been “telling the truth” for the past four years, despite the data suggesting his LIES will soon total over 25,000. The “throwing our intelligence community under the bus” in Helsinki – while the whole world was watching, the attacks on our NATO allies, the issues with Ukraine, the regurgitating Russian talking points and “fake news,” the refusal to confront Putin on the bounties placed on American troops in Afghanistan, and the Russian money filtered into republican campaign coffers – and, likely, much more – is all this OK with his America “loving” cult? “We the people” need to – and deserve to – KNOW what it is the Russians have on individual 1. And, his cult needs to understand they’ve been duped by a traitor.

My previous posting was a response to a NY Times Op-Ed posted by the brother of Maureen Dowd, an opinion columnist for the Times, her brother a supporter of individual 1, and he made the claim his 74 MILLION voters “love America.” The more I’ve thought about that claim, the more I question it. If you love America so much why are you trying to undo our government? Why are you working in concert with Vladimir Putin? Why are so many of individual 1’s supporters threatening violence in the streets because they LOST the election? Is that what you call “love?” The more I think of all the individual 1 supporters I’ve seen packing automatic weapons as they complain about not getting their way, the more I see the confederate flags and the Nazi flags and symbols, the more I question whether Ms. Dowd’s brother knows what he’s talking about. (I was going to write “what the hell he’s” – but, I generally don’t talk like that)

It was not hard to argue with his reasoning for why so many Americans are supporting our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president – arguments which you would NOT hear if you’re a regular on Fox “news” or – new to me but not to them – the OAN Network – which, I believe, was just banned from YouTube (Full disclosure – I didn’t know it was there and I’ve never listened/watched it) for spreading false s@#t – but emphasizing they “Love America” just isn’t working for me. What I’ve been thinking about lately is what are all these American “loving” people going to do if individual 1 is actually held accountable for his continual refusal to act within the bounds of the law – despite his claims to be a “law and order” president.

To me, that claim was maybe the most ABSURD claim he made to his supporters who, apparently, check out NOTHING factually which comes from his mouth – they just BLINDLY go along with whatever their LYING fuhrer puts out in the public domain. (Of course, there was a plethora of other ABSURD statements over the four years – many which I’ve documented in the archives) That’s like him calling himself a “stable genius” – they probably actually believe that. He called himself the “greatest president in the history of the country” and they likely believe that – although, the historians will undoubtedly call him the WORST. He wasn’t going to benefit from the tax scam according to his speeches at rallies – the scam which was pilfering TRILLIONS from “we the people” (actual taxpayers) into HIS and his rich FRIENDS pockets – they likely believed that. And, “draining the swamp?” You’ve got to be delirious to have fallen for that one – he, and the cohorts he put in charge of our institutions ARE the “swamp.”

But calling himself the “law and order” president was just way too much for me. My greatest hope is his “followers” will take that into account when he’s standing before judgeS (emphasizing the plural) and not, out of hand, suggest the prosecutions are being “political.” For heavens sake, he breaks the laws right out in the open – does that make it OK to his followers? As he was trying to justify EXTORTING Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden he made a plea to China, while he was standing on the South lawn of the “White House,” to do the same ILLEGAL thing. Those are crimes – do we overlook them because he proclaimed himself the “law and order” president? And, these attempts to get the votes of MILLIONS of voters thrown out – votes cast in largely African American communities – are violations of, likely several laws – federal and state – but, certainly, the Voting Rights Act – does he get a “pass” because he’s doing it in the open and is the “law and order” president? These “lovers of America,” in my view, are not thinking straight. And, if you confront them on any of this they start throwing things!

I took the time to read the Mueller report (twice), and, trust me, it was time consuming and “dry” reading – but, I felt it was my obligation as a citizen (who LOVES this country) to read it. You can’t read that document and not come away believing our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president is corrupt up to his ears. Anyone who was innocent of the potential wrongdoing which predicated that investigation would have encouraged it to go on unimpeded in order to exonerate him/herself. Obviously, individual 1 was OBSTRUCTING the investigation at “every turn” which wouldn’t suggest “innocence” – would it? His OBSTRUCTION, along with the LYING of William Barr, helped him to avoid any kind of real accountability for what happened in that 2016 campaign but the reality is there are NUMEROUS questions which SHOULD still be answered. Individual 1 will continue his bloviating as long as he’s allowed to do so – and, it’s our Justice Department – once it has been “fixed” from the DAMAGE inflicted by Mr. Barr – which will be the necessary antithesis to his, what will surely be, ongoing LYING, cheating, and lawbreaking.

And, now you’ve got a bunch of republican Senators who see themselves as the next wave of this right wing assault on America’s fundamental values lining up to “take the reins.” I just about gagged the other day listening to Marko Rubio, for example, already starting the right wing baseless attacks on Joe Biden. And, as I’ve already predicted, the attacks on Kamala Harris are going to be disgusting and ruthless with no regard for anything resembling the TRUTH. The fearmongering republican party will not go away until “we the people” make them go away and they’ve only been emboldened by the increased numbers of voters who were/are willing to endure more of the chaos and LYING “we the people” have dealt with now for the past four years. And, with followers like Ms. Dowd’s brother totally snakebitten by the right wing “message” it will be incombent on the rest of us to stay vigilant and prepare for the continued battle for the soul of this nation.

We MUST do whatever it takes to ensure we DON’T allow right wing fascists to take over America – all while telling “we the people” they “love” this country. We’re talking about groups with monikers like “The Proud Boys,” “Atomwaffen,” “Boogaloo bois,” and others who are all right wing neo-Nazi gangs and self identified “militias.” Individual 1 is a bully and he, apparently, attracts bullies. And, these right wing gangsters are intellectually deficient so they load up on automatic weapons, lots of ammunition, and right wing websites where they can fire each other up into a frenzy and recruit young people as if they’re Islamic terrorists – they’re using the identical tactics. We saw the results of this during individual 1’s term in office with the scattered mass shootings, so I have to wonder if that’s the “plan” going forward now that their fuhrer is no longer at the “head of the table.” I’ve been writing about this possibility for over a year now.

One of my friends, who is a supporter of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president, for many months, was predicting individual 1 would win the election in a landslide and “liberals” would flock to the streets and riot. I always said, and, it appears – at least for the first part – I was correct, he had it 180 degrees from reality. I predicted Joe Biden would win the election and it would be the neo-Nazi’s in the streets – and I hope I’m wrong on this part – with their weapons. My greatest concern, of course, was/is that William Barr is in charge of the Justice Department – which includes the FBI – so, what kind of response can we expect when it’s no secret how individual 1 responds to people who like/support him? So, for example, is Barr going to stop the “Proud Boys” from doing something really “naughty?” How about the group calling themselves “Atomwaffen?” (I’m sure you know where they got that moniker – or, at least I hope you do) My prediction: Any damage caused by any of these right wing groups will be blamed by individual 1 and Barr on “Antifa” – whoever they are.

My point here is when someone shows you who they are, believe them. And, individual 1 is acting like a mob boss, so I’m guessing that’s one of the main reasons he’s fighting so hard to overturn the “will of the people.” He knows what’s waiting for him on January 21’st, 2021 and he’s attempting to do what he always does – and that is BULLY his way out of trouble. When you look at his bankruptcies, for example, it was never him who took the brunt of the losses. He actually sued the bank which held the mortgage on one of his failed sky scrapers (this one in Chicago) while HE was in default and “won.” (Although, according to public records he’s on the “hook” for close to half a BILLION dollars in the next few years which may be hard to “wiggle” out of. And, the Scots are investigating where he got the money (Russia?) to purchase the iconic Turnberry golf links (money laundering?). Let’s hope we get an Attorney General who is determined to “finish” the Mueller investigation. RICO anyone?

Final Thought: I find it a bit beyond IRONIC listening to individual 1 claiming democrats CHEATED in ALL the “battleground states” where he LOST – in every instance. They apparently, according to our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president, cheated in every one of those six states in coordination with each other. Even the republican officials in those states participated in the cheating. While I was pointing out long before the election the ONLY way individual 1 could possibly win was by CHEATING (which, of course, he was attempting to do) and, now, he’s claiming the only way he could possibly have lost is by both democratic AND republican election officials cheating. He must think the officials in the various states conspired! Holy Cow!!!

Here’s what we KNOW. Individual 1 CHEATED to “win” the 2016 election (with 3 MILLION less votes than Hillary Clinton) and he has repeatedly tried to CHEAT since then as the 2020 election approached. He probably did in ways we may never know – but, we do KNOW, he tried to get the president of Ukraine to help him (That’s not only CHEATING but it’s also ILLEGAL) AND, of course, he also asked the Chinese to help him dig up “dirt” on Joe Biden – that’s also CHEATING and it’s also ILLEGAL. (As I’ve pointed out, our “law and order” IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president does this stuff in plain sight so I guess his cult feels it’s OK) In the election he “won” he solicited help (CHEATING) from the Russians, also in plain sight AND his campaign “COLLUDED” with the Russians throughout the campaign – which was “white washed” by the antics of Attorney General Barr – and, of course, that’s CHEATING!

And, by the way, if you think individual 1 wasn’t notified about the ILLEGAL meeting in individual 1 Tower (Sorry, I can’t bring myself to write the word) in June of 2016 between Junior, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort, well, I’ve got a bridge………….. you know the rest. The reason Junior and Kushner weren’t indicted for that ILLEGAL attempt to get FOREIGN (illegal) assistance against Hillary Clinton was because the Mueller team, essentially concluded Junior was “too dumb to cheat.” OK, that was my paraphrasing, what Mueller really said was he couldn’t prove Junior KNEW his CHEATING was ILLEGAL. Of course, Junior’s refusal to be interviewed, his father’s refusal to be interviewed, and all the OBSTRUCTION caused an overly cautious Mueller to reach that conclusion. The bottom line here is individual 1 making all these baseless allegations of CHEATING is like someone throwing rocks from a cellophane house.

That reminds me – to me, Robert Mueller is no hero – and, not for the reasons individual 1’s supporters would suggest. In fact, they SHOULD be honoring BOTH Mueller and James Comey. Without Comey’s astonishing decision to intervene in the 2016 election 11 days prior to election day we wouldn’t be having this conversation – clearly, that was the final “straw” which “broke” Hillary Clinton’s “back.” Of course, we’ll never know what effect, ultimately, the Russians had (although it was and continues to be significant) – but, I watched the poll numbers crater about 2 – 3 points after Comey’s announcement – just enough to swing Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to individual 1. And, Mueller, he was timid throughout his investigation – which I suspected – operating in the fear of our IMPEACHED so-called (now) two time popular vote LOSING president firing him and his team – therefore, refusing to subpoena individual 1 or his son for interviews and refusing to clearly state, in his report, the team’s findings on OBSTRUCTION. (As I suggested above read Andrew Weismann’s “Where Law Ends”)

The actions of Mueller and Comey make it that much MORE imperative that individual 1 face accountability for his ILLEGAL actions both before and while in the “White House.” Paying off the two women prior to the election was ILLEGAL (Ask Michael Cohen) not to mention some of the stuff being investigated by the New York authorities regarding individual 1’s trail of “illegalities” prior to running for office. It’s all in the public record for anyone who cares to do a bit of reading – but, the connection to various mobsters is no secret in New York “circles.” Yes, members of his cult will go “bananas” if he’s held to account – you know, the “law and order” president being expected to follow the law himself – and, of course, his most fervent followers who’ve armed themselves to the hilt and are threatening “civil war” on their internet platforms also being expected to follow the law. Yikes!!!

All I can say to the rest of the cult is WAKE up! Don’t continue supporting this creep and then tell me things like “you love America” or “I’m (you) not a racist,” or that you believe “America is a country of laws and not men.” The STUPIDITY coming from the cult these days is just too much! (Looking inward I, too, like to think “I’m not a racist” – but, when I take an honest look at the “white privilege” I’ve enjoyed my entire lifetime and think about the “stories” my Black friends have shared with me I’m just not sure I could have endured what they have/did. I’m also not sure how that addresses the topic other than to admit my part in the Civil Rights movement has been nothing more than peripheral. Do I believe there’s “systemic racism in America?” Of course I do. What am I willing to do to help diffuse it? I suppose that remains to be seen.)

It’s late, I really want to go to bed, but I just finished reading an Op-Ed in the NY Times by Maureen Dowd’s brother – apparently, Ms. Dowd comes from a family of “individual 1 lovers” – of course, they use the name I called him by before he was given this name by the Southern District of New York for CHEATING to “win” the election for president of the United States, with the help of Vladimir Putin and James B Comey, back in 2016. You know, illegally paying off a porn star to hide his illicit affair from the voters. Ms. Dowd’s brother, of course, is lamenting the defeat of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president as some kind of – as he said, the historians in the future will recognize as – a great president.

I almost gagged. But, the sad reality is almost 74 MILLION Americans decided they wanted more of the chaos and incompetence we’ve endured for the previous 4 years and what really struck me was Mr. Dowd actually believed the stuff he heard coming from individual 1’s mouth over these terribly LONG and TAXING four years. I thought I’d share some of his “kudos” for a so-called president who is the THIRD in our history to be IMPEACHED and who has, during his two elections, LOST by OVER 9 – ALMOST 10 MILLION votes!

Here we go: First he referred to the democrats (“the left”) as being hypocrites for their “resistance” and brought up the “confrontation at their homes and restaurants” of officials in individual 1’s administration. I’m sure he’s referring to Sarah Sanders being asked to leave a restaurant because the people in the restaurant had had enough of the president’s press secretary (should be plural) standing at what was considered a somewhat sacred podium and bold faced LYING to the American people – repeatedly. Individual 1 supporters, I know, always respond by saying either individual 1 and his sycophants aren’t LYING or “everybody LIES.” Clearly, that’s not a majority view in America – thankfully!

The whoppers were coming “hot and heavy” – as you would expect from someone defending individual 1’s record. He next suggested our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president “gave us a strong economy, achieved the lowest unemployment in 50 years, fortified the border and guaranteed the integrity of the judicial system by appointing over 200 judges, including three Supreme Court justices.”

Where to start? OK, right at the top. The “strong economy” was INHERITED (just like all the money he’s LOST over the years) and he did little to enhance it. The trajectory of the economic recovery from what Obama/Biden INHERITED from the previous republican debacle (the last recession before this one) started in 2009 and was steady until this past spring when individual 1’s bumbling, incompetent, narcissistic response to the coronavirus pandemic caused historically high unemployment, and, by the time he leaves office, by the way, likely a similar number of American deaths as in WW II (Most which could have been avoided). The “lowest unemployment in 50 years” was simply a continuation of what he inherited – he had little to nothing to do with it. His ONLY “achievement,” legislatively was a tax cut (scam) which funneled 2 TRILLION dollars to those in America who didn’t need it and DIDN’T provide the promised stimulus. And, after LYING straight to the faces of his crowds at rallies – “I’ll receive none of the benefit – my friends will be mad at me” – his next visit to Mar a Lago, after passage of the bill, included this message to his patrons (rich people) – “I just made you all a lot of money.” Of course, that included him.

Fortify the border? Are you kidding me. That would be the suggestion of someone who’s still believing this nation of IMMIGRANTS should be banning immigration (He’s a second generation IMMIGRANT and his wife a first). Of course, what they’re really saying is immigration should be banned for people who aren’t white. And, anyone making that claim, to me, is either totally ignorant OR simply willing to accept the horrific treatment of people coming from South of our border – taking children, some nursing infants, from their parents – and, then worst still, losing track of the parents so that, as I’m writing this, there are over 600 children (in cages, still) at our Southern border who will NEVER likely see their parents again. And, these are just the children under 12 years old – who knows how many others there are? Ms. Dowd’s brother talks about the historians a few years hence – and I believe this will be one of the MAJOR “stains” on our nation FOREVER!

And, the wall? Mr. Dowd didn’t mention anything about the “Mexicans paying for it, guaranteed.” In fact, there’s virtually NO “wall,” only some refurbished “fencing” along, maybe a couple hundred miles of an 1800 mile border. Which is GOOD, because building a wall is STUPID. Yes, it makes the white supremacists, apparently, feel better – but it would do little to stop “illegal immigration” – which is only a major problem in right wing (ie white supremacist) circles. Sorry, Mr. Dowd – no offense, but, well, “come on man!”

And, the judges – OK, I’ll give you that. For four years Moscow Mitch has been focused on putting as many right wing, young, and in many cases totally unqualified, judges in various parts of the judiciary. It remains to be seen what DAMAGE that does to this republic, but that will be the lasting result of the “marriage” between individual 1 and McConnell. Suggesting that will lead to the “integrity” of our Judicial system is certainly a point of contention – considering the number of unqualified judges now with LIFETIME appointments. McConnell sees the “writing on the wall” that the republican party is about to become irrelevant unless it dramatically changes and, with supporters like Mr. Dowd, it’s not likely to change. This is why the Senate has been approving judges and ignoring those suffering from the Covid pandemic. Sadly, from my point of view, my peer group – white “baby boomers” – are the “backbone of the republican party and I’m 73. We’re going to be dying off in droves and the younger voters aren’t fooled by the republican shtick in large enough numbers to keep the party a float.

Then Mr. Dowd said, ” He was labeled a racist but funded historically black colleges and created opportunity zones with Senator Tim Scott. He was able to sign meaningful prison reform legislation.” That’s like saying “I have a Black friend so I’m no racist.” To suggest individual 1 is not a racist is to suggest you have something over your eyes when you’re looking at the FACTS or cotton in your ears when you listen to the “dog whistles” spewing from his mouth. There’s a reason why almost 90% of African Americans voted for Joe Biden. In fact, it was the African American “community” which is the reason Biden is now president. Without getting into all the other details (I’m thinking of the “birther” stuff right now) individual 1 has already started the slurring of Kamala Harris because he knows she’s a rising star in the democratic party – likely the next nominee in 2024 (Biden will be 82). Along with the 74 MILLION who voted for our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president, she’s having her citizenship questioned because her parents are immigrants, PLUS republicans are referring to her as a “ho.” Not racist? Give me a break! (Yes, we’ve got to add misogynist)

Next, from Mr. Dowd: ” He had foreign policy successes as well, renegotiating NAFTA and abandoning the disastrous Iranian nuclear deal (which took a $400 million cash bribe to close). He aggressively confronted China for its egregious behavior, brokered Middle East peace deals and was the greatest friend in the White House that Israel ever had.” The NAFTA treaty was “tweaked” and I haven’t seen evidence it’s brought a single manufacturing job back to America. In fact, our “manufacturing sector” was in recession BEFORE the Covid-19 pandemic arrived. The $400 million which went BACK to Iran was IRANIAN money which had been frozen. It was part of the deal designed to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon – and, by the way, they were in compliance – and EVERYONE knew that. China? He’s been kissing the behind of Xi for most of the 4 years he has been in office – seemingly another dictator he admires – and the tariffs? What did that do beside cause farmers to go broke and others to lose their jobs. Mr. Dowd, you probably believe the Chinese were paying the tariffs, don’t you? Yikes! (I’m guessing you’re not one of the “uneducated voters” individual 1 “loves” so what’s the excuse?)

And, Israel? Well, he (and Jared Kushner) definitely are “in” with Netanyahu, who seems to be as corrupt as individual 1 himself – except in Israel, the leaders are not exempt from indictment which, of course, has happened to their Prime Minister. Will the moving of our Embassy prove to help solve the issue with the Palestinians? Remains to be seen, but doesn’t look good to me. I will say, there’s a possibility individual 1 ends up with one success in his four years if it all works out in Israel – I just don’t know enough about the details to make a comment at this point in time. The connection with MBS, to me, is corrupt and, until the issue with the Palestinians is solved, to me, nothing has changed. From much of what I’ve read, moving the Embassy took away a negotiating tool to help solve that problem – but I didn’t get the feeling that individual 1’s administration cared much about the Palestinians – so, short term benefit – likely. Long term, as with pretty much everything else, not so much.

I’m only going to answer a couple more of his points – I’ll put a link to the article at the end of this post should you want to read it – next he said this: “Mark down the levels of the Dow Jones and your 401(k)s. If Biden reimposes President Barack Obama’s regulations, the economy will shortly be back to where it was under Obama.” Here’s what will happen if Biden is successful in doing exactly that. The stock market will continue to go wherever it’s going to go – likely up if Biden can get us back to where it “was under Obama.” I do have to add, under individual 1, as I’ve said here many times, the market has become like a house built on sand. It likely is going to crater – especially if Moscow Mitch decides to OBSTRUCT as he did during Obama’s two terms. Republicans are refusing to enact a “worker oriented” stimulus to the Covid crisis (Yes, they’ve offered a stimulus package, but as you would expect, it’s focus is on “tax cuts for the wealthy” not people who are suffering and out of work – or small businesses which are shuttering by the droves – surprise, surprise!)

Individual 1 is leaving office with a budget deficit which is historic ($3.3 TRILLION for this year and Trillions per year going forward, unless Biden CAN get us back to where the economy was under Obama) – greater than the largest annual deficit since records started being kept after WW II in relation to GDP. I’ve already spent a couple “rants” predicting republicans will be BLAMING Biden for the deficits and the impending crash, if it happens almost immediately after he takes the oath. In fact, they very well may facilitate a “crash” if they retain control of the Senate. That’s just what they do. Obama/Biden reduced the deficit by around 70% during their time in office (From $1.5 TRILLION – the record until individual 1 came along – to around $400 BILLION when they left office) and it didn’t take individual 1 and his republican “deficit hawks” even one year to more than double it. But, if somehow Biden gets things back to the way they were when our IMPEAHCED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president took office, things will be “swell.” For the last four years “deficits didn’t matter.” Do you think that will change?

The last point of Mr. Dowd’s I will take issue with – I could take issue with almost all of what he wrote – not sure why Maureen Dowd gave him the platform – is: ” The Democrats remain mystified by the loyalty of Trump’s base. It is rock solid because half the country was tired of being patronized and lied to and worse, taken for granted. Trump was unique because he was only interested in results.” Well, I’m not mystified. First of all, I believe much of the loyalty to individual 1 (I thought about changing the name above, but I copied and pasted it so…….) comes from the white supremacists who, apparently, encompass a larger swath of America than people like me understood. I was, peripherally, part of the Civil Rights movement back in the 60’s in that I graduated from High School in 1965 as the Voting Rights Act was being enacted, I watched in horror as the Civil Rights marchers were virtually slaughtered on the Edmond Pettis bridge and have been trying to cleanse myself of my racist upbringing ever since. Yes, I have Black friends, yes I was raised in a racist household which leaves “scars,” and, yes I’ve benefited from “white privilege” my entire life. For years, I failed to fully understand this.

The hardest part of this for me to accept, even though I understand that evangelical Christians make up a significant portion of that 74 MILLION individual 1 supporters, is what that does to our Christian “witness.” I know enough of them, as a Christian myself who regularly attends church when there’s no pandemic, to understand there are MILLIONS of one issue voters in America – the issue is, obviously, abortion (which, I keep saying, at some point I’ll write a post on that topic) and they’re happy with the judges and could care less about the rest of it. The classic “deal with the devil,” in my view. Don’t waste you’re time trying to convince me individual 1 is a Christian – or that he’s spiritually connected in any way. Just as republicans have been doing for 40 years, they’ve been using their fake concern for the abortion issue to keep the “flock” in line. (Read Frank Shaeffer’s “Crazy for God”) Oh yes, if they succeed in overturning “Roe” the “pro life” issue will NOT be solved – in fact, it will likely be worse.

Individual 1 has been credibly accused of sexually assaulting over two DOZEN women, he regularly denigrates women he doesn’t like, he’s a pathological LIAR, he CHEATS to get what he wants, and I could go on and on why I struggle to accept that it’s OK for a Christian to support this man. Please don’t tell me it’s his policies. It’s the judges and that’s about it. It’s people willing to accept a fascist in return for their one issue – at the expense of so many others. (The kids at the border, etc. etc.) The parallels with individual 1 and the Third Reich are stark – our “liberal media” doesn’t like to bring up the topic. Check out the groups like the Proud Boys and the other “right wing militias” and/or Neo-Nazi groups who are threatening violence with seditious internet postings and that should give you a good idea why MANY of those 74 MILLION are such strong supporters. They actually refer to our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president as their fuhrer. Visit places like Stormfront.com for an eye opener. God Bless Joe Biden for believing he can bring about unity!

OK, I have to add one more: According to Mr. Dowd: ” Democrats have been quick to dismiss any Trump supporter as a racist, homophobe or redneck, but they all shared a common trait with him, an unapologetic love of America.” This statement may be the most offensive, to me, of all of what Mr. Dowd wrote. Does this assume the 80 MILLION Americans (and counting) who voted for Joe Biden don’t “love America?” Again, give me a break! I started this post last night and couldn’t help but think, I’m not sure those 74 MILLION supporters of our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president actually do “love America.” If so, why are so many of his supporters threatening sedition? Why do all the so-called “boogaloo bois” want to start a race war? Why does so much HATE come from their mouths? I think Mr. Dowd may be a bit confused. If these people are willing to turn America into a fascist state – that doesn’t feel like “love” to me.

And, in fact, a large segment of individual 1’s supporters, as I just wrote, ARE RACISTS. If you don’t believe the “Proud Boys,” or “Atomwaffen,” or the “boogaloo bois,” or the people at Stormfront, or the other right wing militias spread throughout this country are not racists you’re just deluding yourself. If you’re passionately supporting someone who’s a “homophobe” doesn’t that kind of point a finger back at you? Redneck, I know a lot of “rednecks” who think just as I do about our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president. And, trust me, many of those 80 MILLION Americans who voted AGAINST individual 1 had to overcome voter suppression tactics which would suggest to me they REALLY do love America – enough to do whatever it took to make their vote count. Most believed, I’m sure, as I did that STOPPING individual 1 was IMPERATIVE!

For the people I know who support individual 1 the common thread is they (everyone of them) watch Fox “news,” they don’t read basically (except their Bibles), and they don’t understand “white privilege.” When I talk to them I sense they are motivated by fear mongering, which makes them ideal targets for a démagogue such as individual 1. To me, he’s created a “death cult” and, apparently, Mr. Dowd is a happy member of it. Mr. Dowd goes on to make further statements which come across to me as hate filled, but, I have to add, a couple of my friends who are individual 1 supporters have suggested I “hate” our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president and, trust me, I understand many of my postings might leave that impression. I have to say, however, I do not “hate” him. But when I search my heart, it’s clear I despise him. When I think about the racist dog whistles, the LYING (likely 25,000 documented LIES by the time he leaves office), the children at the border, the women he’s sexually violated, the fast approaching number of 300 THOUSAND dead Americans from the pandemic likely to be over 400,000 by the time he leaves office, and the apparent lack of a conscience for any of it, I just shudder. At times I’ve prayed for him but often I just feel a sense of anger at the DAMAGE he’s doing/done to our country – the one which I LOVE.

I’ve written ad nauseum about all the DAMAGE – and, I firmly believe it will be continually uncovered over the next decade – we’ll learn more and more as time goes by why individual 1 has earned a place in the history books next to Benedict Arnold – along with many of his enablers (I’m mainly right now thinking of William Barr and Moscow Mitch). One thing I’m always puzzled about by republicans – who often remark about how much they hate government – and, individual 1 has been busy undermining virtually every facet of our government institutions – so, if they hate it so, why are they so adamant about wanting to control it? Is their way of showing how much the “love” America destroying our government institutions? Or is there another reason?

Of course, the answer to that question is easy: They’ve been pilfering taxpayer dollars by the truck loads since the days of Ronald Reagan (via “trickle down” economics – ie “trickle up”) and, individual 1, we may find out, was the master at funneling taxpayer dollars into his own bank account. Of course, the benefactors of all the tax cuts are the very people individual 1’s supporters SHOULD be angry with, the so-called “swamp,” but they’ve been hoodwinked by Fox “news” and other right wing propaganda outlets into believing it’s the “liberals” who’ve been the culprits. It’s been a masterful “snow job” perpetrated by what I call the “puppet masters” – people like the “Koch brothers.” I’m not sure how Mr. Dowd got “sucked in,” but clearly he did. I’m certain he would claim his fealty to our IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING president doesn’t carry with it suggestions of his own racism, or ignorance, or misogyny etc. That wouldn’t appear to be the case to me.

Final Thought: I mentioned the “Koch Brothers” above and, if you don’t “follow” them, only Charles Koch is left – his brother, David, died about a year or so ago from his battle with cancer. I’ve seen a couple interviews of late which Charles has granted where it appears he’s trying to repair his right wing divisive image a bit. Claiming he believes in things which certainly were a surprise to me – that is, suggesting he’s come around a bit in regard to issues which are important to the so-called “liberals.” Personally, I’m not buying it. Shortly after I listened to the last interview I read where he had donated $440,000 to the republicans in the runoff election in Georgia – which wouldn’t have surprised me before I listened to the interview. But, clearly, republicans want to win those elections so that Moscow Mitch can remain the majority leader in the Senate. Mr, Koch is not too interested in “bridging the divide” causing division in this nation if it would threaten his bottom line and, apparently, he remains willing to support more of the OBSTRUCTION which will come from McConnell.

And, don’t give me the “both sides” argument when it comes to OBSTRUCTION, by the way. That would simply suggest you don’t pay attention to FACTS. Individual 1 had a republican controlled House and Senate for the first two years of his term and, other than a tax scam and attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act – virtually nothing (except judges) was done. Here’s the reality, most Americans (apparently at least 80 MILLION) expect something other than judges from their government. During the pandemic the ONLY success was the democratic sponsored “CARES Act” which is the reason our economy has recovered somewhat since last March – but, as MILLIONS of Americans are hungry (for food), are losing their homes and cars, and maybe have lost their jobs permanently, instead of even voting on the next democratic bill to help actual working people, what did we get from Mitch McConnell? More judges! Republicans know how to CHEAT to “win” elections, they DON’T know how to govern. (Obviously, based on Mr. Dowd’s article, republicans are good at “pulling the wool” over the eyes of Millions of Americans) Democrats tried to help individual 1 “tackle” the coronavirus, he just wouldn’t listen.

If you want to read Mr. Dowd’s entire article click HERE.