I’ve been “railing” against where the republican party has been going since I started this “blog” (if that’s what it is).  As a “baby boomer” who’s committed to the blue collar “middle class” created after WW II by the “New Deal” of FDR and followed by – ultimately – LBJ’s so-called “Great Society” where the Civil Rights movement made great “inroads” for African Americans and ultimately many people who check “other” when filling out forms, I’ve been watching a progressively decaying republican party since Ronald Reagan managed to win the “White House.”  Well, the “topper” was when Trump, with the help of the voter suppression tactics of republicans in key states AND the Russians – who to this day are BOASTING they put Trump into the “White House” – we got the ultimate consequence of republicans watching Fox “news” en masse, listening to Limbaugh and the other blowhards on right wing “talk radio” as they drive around, and their tolerance of the white supremacist movement in America.

Republicans claim to be the “party of family values,” they all walk around with copies of the Constitution in their lapel pockets, you have to have an American Flag on your lapel to be a republican, and they constantly preach their moral superiority to all us “liberals.”  And, they support an admitted serial women’s predator as their leader, a man who’s committed over 1300 provable LIES since taking office, a man who demands his surrogates LIE for him (and, unfortunately, many of them are willing – including a four star General), a man with NO moral clarity who’s pretending to be a Christian – to get votes (to me, that might be the worst part of all of this), AND a man who is destroying America’s standing in the world and threatening the health of not only America but the entire world.  Many consider him psychologically unhinged.  Yet, his republican colleagues in Congress continue to support him.

Well, NOT all of them.  On this site, I long ago pointed out it will have to be courageous republicans who get rid of Trump.  The democrats don’t have the power to do so until AT LEAST 2018 and that might be too long to wait.  I’ve pointed out numerous times that I have a right wing friend, who actually supports Trump, that I can talk to and share our different philosophies to the point where we each grow.  We lament that Congress seems unwilling to do so.  My friend disagrees with my take that it’s the republicans who’ve created this problem of divisiveness – I believe the “philosophy” was put on “steroids” by Newt Gingrich back when republicans had been in the minority for a generation (due to the very reasons they’re headed back to the minority)  Yesterday, someone much WISER than me pointed out why this is so.  This is someone who I’d love to sit down with and discuss our “differences.”  – I believe they’d be small and there’d be room to grow for each of us.  I admire this man and will probably buy his book “The Conscience of a Conservative.”

Of course, the original of that book was written by Barry Goldwater back in my formative years and he was also a Senator from Arizona.  It was one of the first books relating to politics I ever read – a few years back I purchased another copy of it to re-read.  It seemed less prescient in today’s world, but, back in the day it was a profound book.  Jeff Flake is the heir to Goldwater’s “Conservative Conscience” and I’ve been waiting all year to hear his words coming from a republican.  Sadly, it was in a speech that announced he was not running for re-election because he would have to compromise his values to win a primary in Arizona – which he’s unwilling to do.  Of course, his words were trashed by the right wing “blowhards,” Sean Hannity on Fox, and it gave Breitbart’s Steve Bannon the feeling of victory as he’s going around the country attacking “establishment republicans.”  Essentially, we have a president attacking members of his own party!

Personally, as a LIBERAL (I once considered myself a conservative, but the meaning of the terms have changed, apparently, a lot over the years) I was inspired by Flake’s speech.  Sooooo, I thought the appropriate way to appreciate it was to publish it here for anyone who’s not heard (or read) it in its entirety.  In my mind, despite the FACT he’s a republican and I don’t like many of his votes, it’s a shame he’s leaving the Senate.  I find him the type of honorable person I can look up to even though I see things differently than he does.  Here’s his speech:

JEFF FLAKE, Senator from Arizona: At a moment when it seems that our democracy is more defined by our discord and our dysfunction than by our own values and principles, let me begin by noting the somewhat obvious point that these offices that we hold are not ours indefinitely. We are not here simply to mark time. Sustained incumbency is certainly not the point of seeking office and there are times when we must risk our careers in favor of our principles. Now is such a time.

It must also be said that I rise today with no small measure of regret. Regret because of the state of our disunion. Regret because of the disrepair and destructiveness of our politics. Regret because of the indecency of our discourse. Regret because of the coarseness of our leadership.

Regret for the compromise of our moral authority, and by our, I mean all of our complicity in this alarming and dangerous state of affairs. It is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end. In this century, a new phrase has entered the language to describe the accommodation of a new and undesirable order, that phrase being the new normal.

But we must never adjust to the present coarseness of our national dialogue with the tone set up at the top. We must never regard as normal the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country. The personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms and institution, the flagrant disregard for truth and decency.

The reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have been elected to serve. None of these appalling features of our current politics should ever be regarded as normal. We must never allow ourselves to lapse into thinking that that is just the way things are now.

If we simply become inured to this condition, thinking that it is just politics as usual, then heaven help us. Without fear of the consequences and without consideration of the rules of what is politically safe or palatable, we must stop pretending that the degradation of our politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal. They are not normal. Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified.

And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy. Such behavior does not project strength because our strength comes from our values. It instead projects a corruption of the spirit and weakness. It is often said that children are watching. Well, they are. And what are we going to do about that? When the next generation asks us, ‘Why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you speak up?’ What are we going to say?

Mr. President, I rise today to say: enough. We must dedicate ourselves to making sure that the anomalous never becomes the normal. With respect and humility, I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it.

We know better than that. By now, we all know better than that. Here today I stand to say that we would be better served — we would better serve the country — by better fulfilling our obligations under the Constitution by adhering to our Article 1 — “old normal,” Mr. Madison’s doctrine of separation of powers. This genius innovation which affirms Madison’s status as a true visionary — and for which Madison argued in Federalist 51 — held that the equal branches of our government would balance and counteract with each other, if necessary.

“Ambition counteracts ambition,” he wrote. But what happens if ambition fails to counteract ambition? What happens if stability fails to assert itself in the face of chaos and instability? If decency fails to call out indecency? Were the shoe on the other foot, we Republicans — would we Republicans meekly accept such behavior on display from dominant Democrats?

Of course, we wouldn’t, and we would be wrong if we did. When we remain silent and fail to act, when we know that silence and inaction is the wrong thing to do because of political considerations, because we might make enemies, because we might alienate the base, because we might provoke a primary challenge, because ad infinitum, ad nauseam, when we succumb to those considerations in spite of what should be greater considerations and imperatives in defense of our institutions and our liberty, we dishonor our principles and forsake our obligations. Those things are far more important than politics.

Now, I’m aware that more politically savvy people than I will caution against such talk. I’m aware that there’s a segment of my party that believes that anything short of complete and unquestioning loyalty to a president who belongs to my party is unacceptable and suspect. If I have been critical, it is not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the president of the United States.

If I have been critical, it is because I believe it is my obligation to do so. And as a matter and duty of conscience, the notion that one should stay silent — and as the norms and values that keep America strong are undermined and as the alliances and agreements that ensure the stability of the entire world are routinely threatened by the level of thought that goes into 140 characters — the notion that we should say or do nothing in the face of such mercurial behavior is ahistoric and, I believe, profoundly misguided.

A president, a Republican president named Roosevelt, had this to say about the president and a citizen’s relationship to the office: “The president is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able and disinterested service to the nation as a whole.”

He continued: “Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that there should be — that there should be a full liberty to tell the truth about his acts and this means that it is exactly as necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile.” President Roosevelt continued, “To announce that there must be no criticism of the president or that we are to stand by a president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

Acting on conscience and principle in a manner — is the manner — in which we express our moral selves and as such, loyalty to conscience and principle should supersede loyalty to any man or party. We can all be forgiven for failing in that measure from time to time. I certainly put myself at the top of the list of those who fall short in this regard. I am holier than none.

But too often we rush to salvage principle — not to salvage principle, but to forgive and excuse our failures so that we might accommodate them and go right on failing until the accommodation itself becomes our principle. In that way and over time, we can justify almost any behavior and sacrifice any principle. I am afraid that this is where we now find ourselves.

When a leader correctly identifies real hurt and insecurity in our country, and instead of addressing it, goes to look for someone to blame, there is perhaps nothing more devastating to a pluralistic society. Leadership knows that most often a good place to start in assigning blame is to look somewhat closer to home. Leadership knows where the buck stops.

Humility helps, character counts. Leadership does not knowingly encourage or feed ugly or debased appetites in us. Leadership lives by the American creed, “E pluribus unum.” From many one. American leadership looks to the world and just as Lincoln did, sees the family of man. Humanity is not a zero sum game. When we have been at our most prosperous, we have been at our most principled, and when we do well, the rest of the world does well.

These articles of civic faith have been critical to the American identity for as long as we have been alive. They are our birthright and our obligation. We must guard them jealously and pass them on for as long as the calendar has days. To betray them or to be unserious in their defense is a betrayal of the fundamental obligations of American leadership and to behave as if they don’t matter is simply not who we are.

Now the efficacy of American leadership around the globe has come into question. When the United States emerged from World War II, we contributed about half of the world’s economic activity. It would have been easy to secure our dominance keeping those countries who had been defeated or greatly weakened during the war in their place. We didn’t do that. It would have been easy to focus inward.

We resisted those impulses. Instead, we financed reconstruction of shattered countries and created international organizations and institutions that have helped provide security and foster prosperity around the world for more than 70 years.

Now it seems that we, the architects of this visionary rules-based world order that has brought so much freedom and prosperity, are the ones most eager to abandon it. The implications of this abandonment are profound and the beneficiaries of this rather radical departure in the American approach to the world are the ideological enemies of our values. Despotism loves a vacuum and our allies are now looking elsewhere for leadership. Why are they doing this? None of this is normal.

And what do we, as United States senators, have to say about it? The principles that underlie our politics, the values of our founding, are too vital to our identity and to our survival to allow them to be compromised by the requirements of politics because politics can make us silent when we should speak and silence can equal complicity. I have children and grandchildren to answer to.

And so, Mr. President, I will not be complicit or silent. I’ve decided that I would be better able to represent the people of Arizona and to better serve my country and my conscience by freeing myself of the political consideration that consumed far too much bandwidth and would cause me to compromise far too many principles.

To that end, I’m announcing today that my service in the Senate will conclude at the end of my term in early January 2019. It is clear at this moment that a traditional conservative, who believes in limited government and free markets, who is devoted to free trade, who is pro-immigration, has a narrower and narrower path to nomination in the Republican Party, the party that has so long defined itself by its belief in those things.

It is also clear to me for the moment that we have given in or given up on the core principles in favor of a more viscerally satisfying anger and resentment. To be clear, the anger and resentment that the people feel at the royal mess that we’ve created are justified. But anger and resentment are not a governing philosophy.

There is an undeniable potency to a populist appeal by mischaracterizing or misunderstanding our problems and giving in to the impulse to scapegoat and belittle — the impulse to scapegoat and belittle threatens to turn us into a fearful, backward-looking people. In the case of the Republican Party, those things also threaten to turn us into a fearful, backward-looking minority party.

We were not made great as a country by indulging in or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorifying in the things that divide us, and calling fake things true and true things fake. And we did not become the beacon of freedom in the darkest corners of the world by flouting our institutions and failing to understand just how hard-won and vulnerable they are.

This spell will eventually break. That is my belief. We will return to ourselves once more, and I say the sooner the better. Because we have a healthy government, we must also have healthy and functioning parties. We must respect each other again in an atmosphere of shared facts and shared values, comity and good faith. We must argue our positions fervently and never be afraid to compromise. We must assume the best of our fellow man, and always look for the good.

Until that day comes, we must be unafraid to stand up and speak out as if our country depends on it, because it does. I plan to spend the remaining 14 months of my Senate term doing just that.

Mr. President, the graveyard is full of indispensable men and women. None of us here is indispensable nor were even the great figures of history who toiled at these very desks, in this very chamber, to shape the country that we have inherited. What is indispensable are the values that they consecrated in Philadelphia and in this place, values which have endured and will endure for so long as men and women wish to remain free.

What is indispensable is what we do here in defense of those values. A political career does not mean much if we are complicit in undermining these values. I thank my colleagues for indulging me here today.

I will close by borrowing the words of President Lincoln, who knew more about healthy enmity and preserving our founding values than any other American who has ever lived. His words from his first inaugural were a prayer in his time and are now no less in ours.

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break the bonds of our affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely as they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Attention Republicans: Next MAN up!

The other day I wrote a post regarding the impassioned “speech” given at the “White House” press secretary’s podium by General John Kelly, Trump’s chief of staff.  In the post, I did my best to give Kelly the benefit of the doubt – with the conclusion being he should allow others to do the talking at the podium and just stay in the background (or words to that effect).  Well, after hearing ALL the words of the congress person he was sent out to attack, I’m glad he gave his speech – because, I’ve been listening to people “from both sides of the isle” giving Kelly the highest of praise since he took over as Trump’s chief of staff.  Well, obviously, there’s many in Washington DC who don’t/didn’t know Kelly very well.  We do now – and, personally, I don’t like what I see.

Kelly stood on that podium, which, until Trump came along, was noted for the HONESTY of the person speaking to “we the people.”  Kelly, himself, lamented about things he considered “sacred.”  Well, most of us have considered “sacred” the words coming from the president’s spokesperson – who speaks from the podium to reporters who keep “we the people” informed.  (at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work)  Since Trump became president we’ve seen Sean Spicer violate that “sacred” honor MANY times and, since he was unceremoniously FIRED, Sarah Huckabee Sanders has made one thing perfectly clear – she’s the daughter of Mike Huckabee.  That should tell you all you need to know.  You’d think the daughter of a minister of the faith would TELL THE TRUTH, but, noooooo – the lies keep coming.  (Of course, Huckabee has proven to be another person who deals in “alternative facts” – seemingly, whatever works to extend his “15 minutes of fame”)

Kelly started off his “laments” by saying “at one time, women were sacred.”  Now, I wasn’t sure how to take that one because, well, you know who he’s working for.  (women have NEVER been sacred to his boss – maybe Kelly missed the “Access Hollywood tape”)  I was guessing, he was making a veiled reference to the Weinstein situation that is, finally, causing people to – at least temporarily – take notice to the issue of sexual abuse of women.  You’d think, by the way, Trump would be feeling a bit uneasy as this “story” unfolds.  But, I digress…….  However, later in Kelly’s remarks it became clear what his real purpose was – and, it kind of reminded me of the Weinstein situation.  Kelly went after the Congress person from Florida – I believe her name is Frederica Wilson – with “both barrels.”  In fact, he called her an “empty barrel, whatever that’s supposed to mean (I took it to mean she wasn’t very smart.)

Kelly accused Congress person Wilson of taking the opportunity to dedicate a building in Florida, which was being named for two slain FBI agents, to aggrandize herself – kind of what Kelly’s boss does on a routine basis – when she gave remarks dedicating the building.  Kelly claimed Ms Wilson BRAGGED about gaining “$20 MILLION dollars from Obama” to get the building constructed and, basically he was suggesting her remarks were all about herself and how she was the reason the building was there in the first place (It’s an FBI building).  The two officers the building was named for died in a “shootout” in Miami back in 1986.

Keep in mind, Congress person Wilson is the member of Congress who was riding in the car with the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson who was killed in Niger recently – they were on their way to the airport to receive the casket – which couldn’t be opened due to the FACT his body was not found for two days after he was killed.  Trump managed to call the widow as they were driving to the airport and Ms Wilson was in the car along with the widow’s parents – she put the phone on “speakerphone.”  The resulting words of Trump, who was apparently being coached on how to do this by Kelly, himself, were taken as insulting by the family.  Trump consoled the widow by saying, “He knew what he was getting into, but I guess it still hurts.”  Well, those words apparently made it hurt worse.  (I pointed out in my last post that when I joined the Marines in 1967 I, nor my friends, did so with the idea we would be killed – the more I’ve thought about it, we were all so young, we didn’t know what to think)  Ms Wilson couldn’t help but over hear the conversation along with Sgt. Johnson’s widow’s parents.  Suggesting she was “listening in” to the conversation, by Kelly, was a bit bizarre.

So, the Congress person relayed that Trump’s words were not taken well and the family felt insulted by what he said,  True to form, instead of calling them back and apologizing (I don’t think Trump is capable of doing that) and demonstrating some actual heart felt empathy Trump went after Congress person Wilson.  If you’ve watched Trump at all, this is no surprise.  Anyone who does not “bow” to him, gets it with “both barrels.”  Well, Trump’s attack on Ms Wilson wasn’t getting the intended result, so out comes General Kelly – the person EVERYONE admires and a “gold star” father himself – in fact, Trump brought Kelly into this bru ha ha by injecting Kelly’s son who was killed in Afghanistan (“I don’t think Obama called Kelly – you’ll have to ask him” – and, honestly, I believe that’s the last thing General Kelly wanted people asking him about)

Well, now we all know General Kelly much better.  Yesterday, the ENTIRE speech Frederica Wilson gave to dedicate the FBI building in Miami in 2015 was published – likely in many places.  Of course, like what happens to Trump all the time, now Kelly is initiated, there’s TV cameras everywhere when stuff like this happens.  And, those who record stuff like this have archives.  So, it was not hard to get Ms Wilson’s actual words so we could all hear here bragging about getting the money to build this FBI building instead of honoring the two fallen agents and their brethren.  Well, here’s the problem for General Kelly:  Ms Wilson didn’t say one word about the money. She didn’t mention President Obama’s name once as far as I could tell.  After listening to her words I had a much better idea of why Kelly is working for Trump.  (If you read my previous post I had to wonder, after all his reminiscing and lamenting about honor, why would he work for someone who is the opposite of his supposed “ideals?”)

I’ll make this simple.  Kelly was LYING.  There you have it – just like the rest of the people associated with Trump and his administration – he’s a LIAR.  Ms Wilson’s speech was actually a bit inspiring.  It was nice to hear a democrat giving effusive praise to republicans – two I can remember for sure were John Boehner and Marco Rubio – as being instrumental in the efforts to name the building for the two fallen agents.  That’s actually what most of her remarks were about – the process of getting the building named for these two agents in a short period of time.  She gave credit to the republicans for PUSHING it quickly through Congress.  She also gave praise to the FBI agents that was inspiring – at least to me.  It was not AT ALL about herself.  In fact, it was a wonderful speech and she was giving it because the building happened to be in her district.

Furthermore, yesterday I heard more about Ms Wilson’s history.  This is a very honorable woman – NOT an “empty barrel” – again, trying to figure out what that means – Ms Wilson took it as racist – certainly it was the demeaning type of words that characterize what women are fighting about in regards to the Weinstein situation – at a minimum.  And, based on the FACT Kelly is willingly working for Trump, I would be unwilling to suggest it’s NOT racist – Trump’s “White House” is there because of his support from the “White Nationalist” movement in this country.  Ms  Wilson was a teacher, a principal, a state representative, a state senator, and now an honorable representative in the House of Representatives.  She’s spent her live serving others!

Kelly, based on his words, had been carrying these thoughts about Ms Wilson for over two years.  How he interpreted her words in the way he did speaks volumes about his own prejudices – that he needs to revisit.  The bottom line is his speaking about how women, at one time, were “sacred” causes me to wonder how he could be so insensitive as to agree to give this speech – and, how he could have interpreted her words in the way he did.  I’ve heard many commentaries regarding how many “generals” didn’t like having a “Black person” as their commander in chief.  Apparently, Kelly is one of them, because invoking Obama’s name into this controversy as he did was strange.  I didn’t hear President Obama’s name mentioned once in Ms Wilson’s remarks.  Honestly, this leads me to believe Kelly is part of the group of crusty old white men who can’t give up their “white privilege.”  I really don’t know what else to say.

Although, to me, if I was giving his original speech, I would have added that “at one time, TELLING THE TRUTH was ‘sacred.'”  Of course, Kelly was not telling the truth and he works for someone who rarely, if ever, tells the truth and he was at a podium that has been STAINED by Spicer and, now, Sanders being willing to stand before the American people and, obviously, LIE.  Yesterday, Ms Sanders was still standing before “we the people” and answering questions from reporters, one day after Kelly’s remarks, reporters who had actually heard ALL of Ms Wilson’s remarks.  Ms Sanders “doubled down” and, to make matters worse, suggested that disagreeing with a “four star Marine General” is …………………………  I can’t remember the exact word – but almost like she was saying it’s unpatriotic to question someone who’s a general – despite the FACT he’s LYING.  We have to remember the Trump “White House” lives in a world of “alternative facts.”  (and, Trump’s authoritarian personality)

Sanders went even further.  After pointing out “we the people” have an obligation to believe whatever a “Marine four star General” says she was asked if she had seen the entire tape of Ms Wilson’s remarks and she replied she had.  Then, she said, inexplicably (and, I might add, very “Trumpian”)  “she made other remarks off camera that General Kelly heard.”  Of course, then we get into a “he said she said” situation that apparently Ms Sanders felt would get Kelly off the hook.  Well, I don’t think it will work and, what it really does, is further soils Ms Sanders in the eyes of those of us in the group I call “we the people” who don’t like being LIED to and who actually check things out to figure out if someone’s LYING.  Ms Sanders was LYING – trying to make Kelly look better.

I said, yesterday, General Kelly would be better served staying in the background.  However, now that we know more about him, to me, he’s got two HONORABLE options.  He could return to that podium and apologize to representative Wilson and “own” that he remembered things incorrectly.  (of course, as someone associated with Trump, that’s probably impossible)  The other option is to RESIGN.  Let’s assume his original remarks were actually from his heart – then he’s being CORRUPTED by his time in the “White House” and, whatever he’s accomplishing there is not worth that.  If he’s the honorable man he tried to portray himself as, he should RESIGN immediately.  I doubt that he will, I doubt that he’ll apologize, and, my guess is, he’ll continue to delude himself into believing he heard words that were NEVER spoken.

What’s interesting is this building, apparently, was constructed prior to Ms Wilson becoming the representative for that area – at least the funding was approved prior to her service.  That’s why it was so strange that Kelly invoked the money and President Obama into his LIE.  Kind of makes me think he’s got issues with Black people in high places.  Again, that also makes it clearer to me why he’s willing to work in the “White House” for a man who has openly violated the very principles Kelly feels are sacred.  There’s a sad reality for both of these men, Kelly and Trump (and, I should add, Ms Sanders) – they should apologize.  Can you imagine what the public reaction would be if both Kelly and Trump apologized? (Trump should simply apologize to the widow of Sgt. Johnson)  It would be a simple solution to this most recent Trump created scandal (which has successfully taken the public attention away from a budget deal that apparently cuts over a TRILLION dollars from Medicaid and Medicare).  But, Trump NEVER apologizes – for ANYTHING – and, I’m guessing, neither will Kelly.  And, quite possibly, this “scandal” serves their purposes!

Final thought: Again, I’m publishing this piece without re-reading and editing.  Apologies for the “foo pahs.”

I listened this morning to General John Kelly give an impassioned “speech” at the podium of the White House press secretary where he lamented that, in his mind, pretty much nothing is sacred in America anymore.  As I listened to him I had to wonder “how can you be working for Donald Trump with those feelings?”  Does he not see that the issues which prompted him being brought to the podium to castigate the Florida representative who was in the limo with the wife and parents of one of the fallen soldiers who died recently in Niger were the result of Trump’s own precocity to LIE – virtually, ALL the time?

According to Kelly, he was the one who coached Trump into saying, “Well, he knew what he was getting into (or what he signed up for – I can’t remember), but it still must hurt.”  Of course, the family members and the representative didn’t take that as an empathetic comment while they were receiving the coffin of their loved one in a casket that could not be opened.  (The soldier’s body was found two days after the troops were attacked – in a circumstance which is still not totally clear).  And, General Kelly had pent up disrespect for this congress person – evidently, resulting in her actions during the dedication of an FBI building in Florida back in 2015.  Apparently, she did something akin, from the perspective of those in the military and FBI, to Trump’s fiasco in front of the sacred wall of the CIA shortly after he was sworn in as our so-called president.  (Although, there are multiple reports suggesting Kelly’s allegations were unfounded – honestly, Kelly’s remarks show why it’s a rare occurrence for a General to be president – or even a president’s chief of staff)

General Kelly was very sincere in his remarks and came across, at least to me, as someone who’s frustrated with the direction of America – over the past many years.  And, I have to add, I have no problem with suggesting that members of Congress do despicable things – Kelly suggested it was terrible for the congress person to listen in on this call from Trump – but, the reality is she was in the limo when the call was made and the soldier’s wife put the phone on “speaker.”  I’m not sure how she could avoid listening in.  Maybe Kelly is suggesting the wife of the fallen soldier should have taken the call at another time?  That doesn’t seem plausible to me.

I gathered that Kelly was trying to “calm the storm” that was created when his boss, as he has a tendency to do, used Barack Obama to get himself out of what, apparently, he feels is a “pickle.”  Keep in mind, Trump is the type of person who will NEVER admit to making a mistake – he’s constantly looking for positive feedback about his own performance – AND if he doesn’t get it from those around him, he’ll give it to himself.  He LIED about how Obama dealt with those who died in action.  Keep in mind, Obama inherited a REAL mess (if you remember, Trump claimed he inherited a “mess” – more on that LIE in a bit) and over two thousand troops died during his two terms in office.  It would be impractical to think that President Obama would call the families of each soldier.  There’s a protocol about how all of the notifications and who makes the calls that General Kelly outlined this morning.  Obama didn’t call Kelly when his own son was killed and Kelly was quick to say, that was not a negative.

So, all Trump had to do on Monday when he was asked about the four soldiers killed in Niger was to tell the truth.  Like, there’s a protocol on how to deal with this and he’s in the midst of taking care of it.  I really don’t know what he SHOULD have said, but another unfounded attack on his predecessor – and, I think it REALLY bothers Trump that President Obama is much more popular than he is and MOST people consider Obama a MUCH better president – was the absolute wrong way to answer the question.  (Of course, there’s many republicans who despise Obama – Trump included – and, I’ve always maintained many of them do so because of the color of his skin – but, I digress….)  So, what I’m saying here is – despite General Kelly’s impassioned speech to the contrary – this ENTIRE episode was self inflicted by Trump.

And, as Kelly was going through things that SHOULD be sacred and lamented that the death of a soldier should NEVER be politicized (that’s me trying to paraphrase the gist of his remarks – apologies for any error) – and, I have to say, I agree with him – however, his boss ignited the controversy.  It sounded as if Kelly was trying to coach Trump through the process of calling the families of these four “heroes” and he, himself, gave Trump the words that ended up being so controversial.  Those words, in my mind, would sound much different coming from a soldier’s commanding officer than the president who NEVER served and found ways to avoid serving during Viet Nam.

And, I have to say that technically – at least in my mind, I’ve never served – BUT, in 1967 I did enlist in the Marines – what was then called the PLC or “Platoon Leader Corp” – during my junior year in college.  I had been brainwashed into believing the Viet Nam war was necessary to save us all from “communism.”  I was allowed to complete my junior year of college and then reported, I thought, to head to “boot camp” in Quantico, Virginia.  However, the Marine doctor took one look at the scar on my left knee (football injury from high school), had it x-rayed and said to me, “Son, if the Red Chinese were marching down Broadway in Portland, we wouldn’t take you” and, I was given a medical discharge.  I’m only saying this because I tried to serve and then witnessed 13 of my high school classmates die from action in Viet Nam.  (and, we had a very small high school)

I don’t believe ANY of us enlisted (or, back then, in some cases were drafted) with the idea of dying for our country.  Yes, you knew it was a possibility, but what was in our heads (or at least mine) was to FIGHT for my country and it’s values.  (which, by the way, I feel I’m doing on occasion as I vent my frustration – which obviously comes in a different form than Kelly’s – with the direction of the country I love)  So, I can totally understand why a grieving wife would take offense to someone like Trump saying “He knew what he signed up for” under these terrible circumstances.  Just the FACT that General Kelly was sent out to “clarify” all this just further confirms Trumps inability to “own” mistakes and an unwillingness to NEVER admit he’s wrong.

General Kelly came across to me as a fine man – someone who has genuinely committed his life to serving America – he called those in the military the finest 1%.  I’d love to be able to have breakfast with him and have an extended conversation about his frustrations and then have him explain to me why he’s enabling Donald Trump.  I “get” that his sense of duty is strong, but in his remarks, for example, he lamented how “at one time women were sacred.”  Of course, my interpretation of those remarks may be different than the meaning he was intending, but the first thought that went through my head was, “have you heard the Access Hollywood tapes?”

And, when he lamented that “at one time ‘Religion’ was sacred in America” – as a Christian myself, I just didn’t understand how to interpret that comment.  To me what has ALWAYS been sacred in America is the “Freedom of religion” – or, from the standpoint of many – the “freedom FROM religion.”  To me, one of the main reasons I continue to write my frustrations on this blog stems from the reality that “Christians” are the base of the republican party and, just as in Nazi Germany back in the 30’s when it was the “conservative Christians” who were Hitler’s base, it’s almost like deja vu all over again in America with Trump.  And, to me, Trump’s attempts to show he’s a believer almost make me sick to my stomach.  It’s possible, maybe since his “2 Corinthians” fiasco at, of all places, Liberty University – maybe he’s become a believer – but, as they say, the “proof is in the pudding” and I’ve seen none of Trump’s actions to cause me to believe that’s true.

And, for those who are offended by any comparison to the Third Reich – check your history.  Hitler’s campaign slogan was “Make Germany Great Again.”  The “Big Lie Theory” that republicans and their media enablers like Fox “news” and Rush Limbaugh have been “married to” for years is the work of Joseph Goebbels, the chief propagandist of the Third Reich.  Additionally, if you didn’t notice, many of those “fine people” – as Trump referred to the protesters carrying Tiki Torches in Charlottesville – were wearing Nazi armbands and carrying Nazi flags.  Do you need more?  Well, how about this – in one of Trump’s campaign stops he had the audience giving the “heil” salute to get their promise of loyalty to his campaign.  Is that not enough?  Recently Milo Yiannopoulus, a Breitbart associate of Steve Bannon, and a group of his “friends” – including Richard Spencer who’s the “money” behind much of the “White Nationalist” movement in America and a strong financial backer of Trump – were kicked out of a bar because, while Yiannopoulus was apparently “lip singing” Spencer and the rest were giving the “heil Hitler” salute.  Maybe they were joking.  Personally, I don’t find any of this funny.

I’ve heard that Kelly and General Mattis and Rex Tillerson (and, maybe others) are committed to protecting the rest of us from any irrational foreign policy decisions Trump may or may not make.  Most people who bring this up do so in a way to suggest “we the people” should be comforted by this.  Personally, it’s not that comforting.  When we have a president who’s an unbelievable NARCISSIST, who’s inept at the job he has, and who has a CLEAR authoritarian personality (I mean, those around the world he admires are the DICTATORS – like Vladimir Putin) I get no comfort in thinking the “check” to Trump is a group of Generals.  While listening to Kelly today made me admire him in the sense that he’s a genuinely good man, I don’t have a lot of confidence in his political IQ – or his ability to understand the world as it exists today.  Sounded to me as if he was longing for years gone by.  My advice to him would be “stay out of politics.”  And, making the kinds of characterizations of the Congress person from Florida – while serving as Trump’s chief of staff – would be better kept personal and private.  The part I didn’t like about Kelly’s remarks was that he appeared to be politically inept and ill informed – or, maybe just trying to live in the past.  Either way, he better serves his position by not allowing himself to be used in the way he was used in this instance.

Final Thought:  I said above I’d elaborate on Trump’s comments that he “inherited a mess.”  Like just about EVERYTHING he says, he’s a LIAR.  And, in this instance, you can use his own words to clarify.  If you remember, during the campaign he blasted the economic jobs reports and the reports about the unemployment numbers consistently IMPROVING during the last 7 years of Obama’s term.  The MESS was what Bush/Cheney left for Obama to clean up – which happened thanks to the “stimulus” package which was passed shortly after President Obama took the oath of office.  Additionally, Obama used some of the TARP “bailout” money that Bush/Cheney intended for Wall Street and SAVED the auto industry – SAVING over a MILLION jobs in the process – these were REAL jobs saved – not imaginary jobs saved as Trump has claimed numerous times since taking office.  In fact, Trump has claimed credit for several jobs saving measures that were in place well before he took office.  Once in office, the jobs reports and employment statistics – which continued almost EXACTLY as Obama left them – became something Trump willingly took credit for.

As I’ve said numerous times on this site, in the first year in office a president is “saddled” with the policy of the previous administration.  So, all Trump’s bragging so far this year about the jobs and Wall Street, etc. are the results of the economy President Obama left for him.  It all has LITTLE to do with Trump – although, most people suggest Wall Street surged in anticipation of HUGE tax cuts for the wealthy and reduced environmental and economic restrictions.  Anyone who’s paying attention knows that Wall Street is a HUGE gambling casino and it’s all about the MONEY and NOT about what’s best for “Main Street.”  Apparently, republicans are able to pass their budget which will cut almost $2 TRILLION from Medicare and Medicaid in order to fund their HUGE tax cuts for the rich.  (Months ago I told anyone visiting this site that “tax reform” would be HUGE tax cuts for the top 1% and that’s EXACTLY what’s happening – Democrats SHOULD be raising Holy Hell over this)

The actual “Trump effect” on the economy will be known by this time next year – if history is any indication and republicans succeed in this tax cut – they’ll be again saying “Ronald Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”  (they won’t matter until there’s a democrat in the “White House” again – which will likely be in 2020)

As far as “foreign policy” – by the time Trump took office, the Obama administration (and, of course the military) had ISIL on the run.  Mosul was close to being re-taken by the Iraqi’s along with their American “advisers.”  The program of using special forces around the globe to fight the terrorists along with Drone technology was well advanced.  I’ve seen nothing to indicate that Trump is doing anything but following the lead of Obama with whatever “tweaks” to the policy that General Mattis has put in place.  Maybe they’ve made gains.  Mattis is well respected.  But, the reality is there’s FAR fewer Americans in “harms way” than when President Obama inherited two unwinnable and poorly thought out occupations.  It’s true he didn’t get all the troops home “on his watch” – but, the TRUTH is it was President Obama who inherited a MESS.  To me, as I’ve watched Trump in action I would say he’s CREATING a MESS!  I’ve often lamented about the “damage” he might do as our so-called president and, it’s in the area of foreign policy where the DAMAGE may end up being the most difficult to recover from once he’s out of office – especially if he makes it to the end of his first term.

It’s like the “stuff” is never ending with the Trump “White House” and it’s looking clearer and clearer that Bob Mueller is going to get through the “stuff” and Trump is going to be in a “world of hurt” when Mueller’s investigation is made public AND these cowering republicans are really going to be on the spot.  Do they follow their oath and do what’s right or do they try to placate Steve Bannon to avoid a “primary challenge?” (From a “White Nationalist for that matter – what has this country come to???)  Today’s “drama:”  Trump’s battle with the “gold star” families and his LIES about President Obama and Obama’s predecessors AND Jeff Sessions testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Let’s start with Sessions.  His testimony SHOULD have been routine – because, after all, it’s the Senate Judiciary Committee which has the obligation for “oversight” of the Justice Department of which Sessions is the “head” – as Attorney General.  Well, of course, Sessions’ testimony was anything but routine.  From my perspective Sessions did the very same thing he did during his confirmation hearings – he LIED to Congress.  His answers to questions relating to the “Russia thing” and his involvement made little sense.  (Trump was “tweeting” in “real time” during the testimony so I have a feeling it was orchestrated as well as these inept Russian dupes – Trump and Sessions – are capable)  And, his own characterization of his own testimony was confusing at best.

Sessions repeatedly refused to answer questions relating to his conversations with Trump despite no claim of “executive privilege” – which, from the lawyers I’ve listened to, would be easily challenged in court if the Committee had the will to do so.  Of course, the chairman of the committee is Chuck Grassley who’s doing everything he can to BLOCK the Russia investigation as if their attack on our most fundamental values means nothing.  In fact, Sessions himself stated there’s NO Justice Department investigation into what the Russians did and there’s NO plan to STOP them from doing it again.  (Evidently, republicans are counting on the Russians to help them keep control of Congress in 2018 – which, considering the stupidity of so many American voters, just may be possible.) (And, go ahead Lars Larsen, call me an “elite liberal” again – as you’re one of the “water carriers” that keep so many Americans in ignorant bliss)

Sessions came across himself as a bit short “upstairs” as he was fumbling through any of the pointed questions designed to get “straight answers.”  The thought of him at the helm of the Justice Department makes me a bit queezy in the stomach AND knowing they’re doing NOTHING to prevent this type of ATTACK in the future is UNACCEPTABLE.  All Americans should be angry when they hear this stuff – republican, democrat, and independent.  Can you hear the republican uproar if President Obama had been elected because of outside interference – no matter where it came from?

The Russians were helping Trump – and, apparently there were Americans helping the Russians help Trump (do you think they were affiliated with the campaign?).  The Russians, as reported more than once by people who follow Russia’s media, think they actually swung the election Trump’s way.  Of course, there was also a plethora of “voter suppression” scams that affected key battleground states – states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin that could have, by themselves, made the difference in those states – all decided by small to “razor thin” margins.  I heard in one report that Wisconsin republicans succeeded in disenfranchising over 350,000 potential voters – with the target being democratic leaning demographics.  And, I have to add, democrats oblivious to it all because “Hillary was going to win.”

So, why isn’t the Justice Department, the foundation of American liberty, FIGHTING to make sure that foreigners CAN’T affect our elections and EVERY American who wants to vote has the RIGHT to vote?  Well, as republicans have famously said, “The fewer people who vote, the better we do.”  Maybe their new “mantra” will be “the more Russian influence in the election the better we do.”  I have to believe the ultimate person who will determine who did what and who needs to be held accountable for their words and actions will be Bob Mueller.  And, from what I can tell, he means business and he’s not going to be intimidated by ANYONE including our so-called president – Donald Trump.

Sessions testimony and his alleged LYING to Congress (again – or so it appeared to me and others) SHOULD have “ruled the day.”  But, NO, Trump just won’t have that.  As he’s done so many times he finds a way to change the subject and get just about everyone arguing about something else to get the topic off of Russia.  Trump’s diversion?  Well, yesterday, as I wrote just last night, Trump insulted the wife of one of the soldiers who was killed in Niger when he FINALLY called her – more than likely as a result of a question at a Rose Garden impromptu news conference on Monday – where he accused President Obama (always Trump’s fallback target when he has to make up a story – remember: “Obama wiretapped Trump Tower, Sad”) of not calling the families of “fallen soldiers.”

Trump was challenged on that assertion in real time – he was “outed” – so he went to his “secondary” story telling strategy (that he always uses – remember the “Birther movement?”  Trump would say, “I don’t know if he was born here, I’ve just heard that.  Why doesn’t he show his birth certificate?”) when he then said, “well I don’t know, it’s just what I’ve been told” as if that would make his LYING true.  Of course, Trump is never satisfied with his LIES (reminds me of a sign we had at my school – I was a sixth grade teacher – at the Principal’s office – “Tell the truth, there’s less to remember”) and he just gets deeper and deeper.  Why?  Because he’s INCAPABLE of admitting a mistake – which would have been the honest answer to the initial question.  In this instance he then, inexplicably, referenced the son of his chief of staff General Kelly who died in Afghanistan and said, “ask General Kelly if Obama called him.”  As if, General Kelly wants to re-open that terrible wound.

This approach is similar to sixth grade behavior – when a student would clearly do something that required some form of discipline or accountability – we’d call it a “teaching moment” – many would invariably defend their abhorrent behavior by saying, “but ‘so and so’ did this, or did that” as if “so and so’s” behavior – whatever it may or may not have been, made their misbehavior OK.  In my 23 years of teaching I could only estimate the number of times I had to deal with that type of thinking.  With sixth graders you feel you can teach them the “error of their ways” and help them change their behavior going forward (and, many times we did) – but with Trump?  The man is 71 years old, he’s the MOST narcissistic person I’ve EVER seen, AND, he appears to lack any moral compass or sense of compassion or empathy – I don’t think he will be changing anytime soon.

Today, we heard verification that Trump did insult the family of the soldier in Florida who were at the airport for the return of his remains – there was his grieving wife and his and her parents – the parents, along with the Congress person – who had a lifelong relationship with this very fine young man and was in the limo – all confirmed Trump said, “He knew what he was signing up for, but, I guess it still hurts.”  He said this to the fallen soldier’s wife in earshot of his parents (the phone was on “speakerphone”) and the Congress person.  According to the wife, Trump couldn’t remember the soldier’s name.  As Trump might end a “tweet,” SAD!  But wait, this is Trump, so of course, there’s more.

A “gold star” mom came forward (I heard her gut wrenching interview on “The Beat” with Ari Melber on MSNBC) and pointed out her son was killed last May and she has received no letter or phone call from Trump in the ensuing five months – neither of which, as she so emotionally stated, would bring her son back – she just wanted to KNOW that these soldiers – the ones who give their lives and those with injuries – she mentioned PTSD – would be remembered and they and their families would be taken care of.  This would not have been an issue for Trump had he simply said, on Monday, “you’re right, I should have said something about these fine soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Niger.  I’ve got to do better in the future.”  (Can you imagine how, if he actually did something like that, it would be received?)  No Chance, you say.  But, you’re correct: there’s even more.

Another young soldier was killed (I believe) in June and Trump DID call his father to give his condolences.  IN FACT Trump promised the Dad he would “write a check for $25,000” out of his own funds and send it to him.  That was in June.  Well, as of today, NO CHECK.  Trump, or his press secretary, was asked about the check and true to Trump form “it’s going out in today’s mail.”  Evidently, that’s another in a long line of Trump coincidences – just like the letters to the four soldiers who died in Niger:  “The letter was written this past weekend and it’s going out either today or tomorrow.”  If you actually believe that, I’ve got a bridge I’d like to sell…………..

Actually, that Trump promised the father of a fallen soldier a check for $25,000 seems to me a “good thing” – especially, because I didn’t hear him bragging about doing it.  Well, apparently he wasn’t bragging about doing it because he DIDN’T actually do it.  Of course, that nasty media found out and now Trump or his spokesperson has to say, “The check’s in the mail.”  I guess, maybe it is – so far, the Dad hasn’t received it – and, I hope he does.  (Do you remember Trump promising a MILLION dollars to veterans during the campaign and then NOT delivering until it was reported that he had “stiffed” the vets.  I’m assuming he’s since made the donation, but, again, it took the media to uncover the FACT he wasn’t following through on his promise.)  Trump has a long history of “stiffing” contractors and workers and lawyers and companies during his business career.  What’s the saying? “Bad habits are hard to break.”  (I know, I’ve got some)

So, there’s constant chaos at the “White House” and most of us think it’s the result of an amazing incompetency.  But, what if we’re all wrong?  What if all of this Trump chaos is an attempt to throw off (probably futilely) Mueller’s investigation or, at the minimum, “we the people’s attention to the “Russia thing” along with a constant “nurturing” of the 25 to 30 percent of Americans who are going to erupt when Trump is impeached?  That, to me, is why there’s no action by Sessions and the Justice Department (Trump has BULLIED Sessions into being a submissive surrogate) to make any attempt at PREVENTION against this “Russia thing” happening again.  It’s why Trump continues to call it a “hoax.”

Sessions unwillingness to answer questions today in front of the Judiciary Committee is further evidence that the “White House” is covering up whatever it was/is they’re trying to prevent “we the people” from learning.  It appears Sessions – and SURELY Trump – are trying to protect their own “skins” and that republicans in Congress care more about staying in power than defending this country against the most dangerous of attacks – the surreptitious cyber-attack that MILLIONS of Americans remain clueless about aimed at the fabric of our republic.  If our country is to survive as we’ve known it for the past 80 years, at least, it’s apparent Trump, Sessions, Pense, and many  republicans in Congress need to “go.”  Either via impeachment (Trump, Pense, Sessions) or at the ballot box – any republicans up for re-election in 2018 who defend this attack on our nation and it’s perpetrators.  I believe there’s a “method to Trump’s madness.”  He’s CONSTANTLY trying to divert the attention of “we the people” from the “Russia thing.”  Let’s hope he fails!

Today Trump gave a press briefing on the “White House” lawn and shortly after he had finished explaining about the “made up story” of the democrats – you know, the “Russia thing” – he was asked about his response to the families of the four American soldiers killed recently (about two weeks ago) in Niger, Africa.  Well, what do you do when someone asks you a question which may make you look bad?  You’re correct!  You make up a story!

So, our “so called” president, first of all, LIED (what else is new) about his own response – which was apparently NOTHING – “last weekend I wrote some letters and, I believe, they’re going out today – maybe this evening (RIGHT)” – then, to top it off he HAD to reaffirm he is an institutionally MAGNANIMOUS Narcissist (I thought I made up the word “magnanimous,” but, thanks to “spell checker” it’s a word, I’ll let you guess the meaning) by claiming he’s the only president who “calls” the victims of war and “Obama and most of our previous presidents never did this (meaning calling the families of the fallen soldiers).  Of course, this is a LIE on two fronts: first, President Obama not only CALLED the families of the fallen soldiers, he met their caskets at Dover Delaware or the other places receiving them as they were returned from the battlefield.  Trump, OF COURSE, failed on both those accounts for our fallen troupes from Niger – he neither called the families NOR met the caskets.  What did Trump do?  He played GOLF on the day it was announced the boys died.

That was yesterday, today, as usual, Trump made a bad situation worse.  Why?  Because, first of all, the most NARCISSISTIC person EVER could never own a mistake and secondly, because Trump is, essentially, a terrible person.  When all you do is LIE, you’re constantly needing to make up stories to “cover your tracks” – AND, as the saying goes, “one LIE leads to another.”  So, today Trump invoked the son of his chief of staff General Kelly who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 while Barack Obama was president.  On a radio interview Trump just couldn’t help himself – I think it was the typical Fox “softball” interview – and he questioned whether or not Barack Obama “called General Kelly when his son was killed.”  Well, I still don’t know the answer to that question because the members of the news media I listen to apparently know General Kelly doesn’t want his son’s death to be politicized under any circumstances.  Other than lambasting Trump for bringing this up, they didn’t get into any other details (I’m sure they didn’t want to call General Kelly and ask him to get into this political diatribe).

The reality is that Obama, Bush 1, Bush 2, Clinton, Carter, (and, I’m sure Reagan) all managed to do what they claim is the hardest part of their job – because, in essence they are the ones sending our troops into “harms way.”  I personally, during Obama’s term, saw several instances where he was honoring the returning remains of fallen soldiers with NO fanfare.  No one had to ask him if he was consoling “gold star” families – because it was routine.  Someone, in the media, obviously got wind that Trump wasn’t doing this – hence the question which caused him to make up (another) story.  Then, Trump compounded his folly by actually, tonight, calling the grieving widow of one of the soldiers killed in Niger as she was in the car heading to meet the casket at the airport (unbeknownst to Trump, her congress person was riding in the car and the phone was on speakerphone).

Trump, showing his INCREDIBLE lack of empathy (or class or fill in the blank) said to this young widow – mother of two with a third child two months from delivery – “Well, he knew what he was getting into.”  When I heard that I almost damaged my neck as I was shaking my head in disbelief.  Even Trump should know better than that – was my first thought – and then my mind reminded myself of his mimicking the disabled reporter, his attacks on John McCain for “getting captured,” his degrading comments about virtually every republican running against him in the campaign, his recent tweet referring to Bob Corker as “liddle,” (the spell checker doesn’t like that one), and – of course – the Access Hollywood tapes.

Then, of course, as I’m attempting to come to my senses my mind reminds me that Trump’s “base” is the so-called “Christian right.”  As a Christian myself (I guess I’m part of the Christian “left” if there is such a thing) I shudder each time I’m reminded of that reality.  How could we get to this place and it’s not hard to wonder why so many “Christians” have children who are rejecting anything that has anything to do with “religion.”  And republicans – where are they?  They have control of Congress – are they going to allow this to continue until the 2018 mid terms?  And, if democrats take control of Congress in 2018 will republicans block the inevitable impeachment of this man (and, hopefully, his “running mate” – and, believe me, I’m no fan of Paul Ryan – but, he looks better to me than either of the alternatives!

The reality is that “we the people” will have to wait until at least 2020 to FIX this problem – AND if 92 MILLION of us stay home and don’t vote – as what happened in 2016 – or they vote for some ridiculous third party candidate in protest – then we deserve what we get.  That’s the beauty of our system – we GET to choose our leaders.  If our people are going to continue to believe the garbage coming from FOX and/or the blowhards on the radio airwaves like Rush Limbaugh then we deserve to continue the plummet to third world status.  And, all these MILLIONAIRES and BILLIONAIRES who can’t get enough tax cuts and are more than willing to buy our corrupt CONGRESS to get them – well, it won’t take much more of “Trumpism” to totally turn the world off (with the exception, of course, of places like Russia, Turkey, the Philippines – if that’s what we want to rest on) and our great Wall Street “rally” will be heading south.  Will that be enough to get their attention?

Honestly, I’m not even sure another financial meltdown will be enough to get the attention of all the “white” disenchanted Fox viewers who are the most ill-informed people in America (that’s a fact) who will believe anything they’re told by Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh.  They’ve been brainwashed to believe their troubles are the fault of those who check “other” on their application forms and not on the real problem which is the fast changing technologically driven international economy.  While we’re all arguing about abortion, White nationalism, gay rights, etc. etc. the Chinese and Indians are developing alternative energy technology.  Germany already is way ahead of us in the ways of the future as Trump and his “cronies” (ie – the real inhabitants of the “swamp”) are pushing “clean coal” and “drill baby drill.”

So, here’s the question as we’re facing disaster from EVERY direction with Trump at the “helm:”  Will LYING about and insulting MORE gold star families be enough to get the attention of the republican enablers of this deplorable person?  (If you remember, he insulted a gold star family in the campaign with NO blow back from republicans – evidently, because it was a Muslim family – ugh!)  The constant LYING doesn’t seem to bother our republican Congress, the clear ineptitude doesn’t seem to bother them, the destruction of our image around the world doesn’t seem to bother them, the COLLUDING with the Russians doesn’t seem to bother them – or Trump’s unwillingness to even admit Russia attacked us and his unwillingness to do anything to PREVENT them from doing so again – especially the House, who’s Intel committee “chairman” is about as half baked as Trump – NONE of this seems to bother our republican Congress.  How bad does it have to get?

I’m even worried the republicans will cower even after Mueller completes his investigation – which clearly is NOT going to be a positive for Trump.  During the campaign, Trump said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and his supporters would still be there.  If he committed TREASON will they still be there.  If he OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE will they be there?  Obviously, the list of my objections is a long one – but today and yesterday as he LIED about his own response to our fallen soldiers and then attacked his predecessors for allegedly doing what he was LYING about regarding himself – that was too much.  Actually, my mind just reminded me of the accusation about President Obama wiretapping him.  He just can’t help himself!  Deluded is too kind a word for Trump – our “so-called” president.  Please republicans, live up to your oaths!  IMPEACH!

Final thought: I’m publishing this post without re-reading it and editing out the “foopahs.”  Yes, even after editing some of my writing would be given back to me by my sixth grade teacher – so, I apologize for that – maybe in a day or two I’ll fix the mistakes – but, in the meantime, “I hope you get my drift.”

I’m going to try to make this short.  Over the past few years I’ve watched fewer and fewer football games.  I’m not sure it that’s because I’m getting old or just tiring of watching grown men trying to mash each other.  And, it could be all the “fans” screaming at the tops of their lungs as one player “drills” another player into the turf.  Then there’s the millions of us who play “fantasy football” where winning means nothing and statistics means everything.  I still remember back when I actually played sports and my coaches reminded me that “statistics are for losers.”  I often think of those words when I’m putting “my” fantasy roster together.

That all being said, yesterday I happened to be watching the first part of the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings football game when the Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers got pile driven into the turf with the result was a broken collarbone in his throwing shoulder.  This, presumably, precludes Rodgers from playing anymore football this year (depending, I guess, on the severity of the fracture).  So, after the game, Green  Bay’s coach was quoted as saying they would rely on Brett Hundley and Joe Callahan to man the quarterback position for the rest of the year.  Hundley is someone I’ve heard of – he played at UCLA while in college, Callahan????

So, most people are saying, “Green Bay’s season is done.”  Well, as stated above, I’ve had a diminishing interest in all of this over the years and this year watching NFL owners squirm as their players continue the protest started by Colin Kaepernick last year designed to bring attention to the racism in America – especially regarding the murder of African Americans by police officers.  To me, watching Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys kneel arm and arm with his players PRIOR to the national anthem and then tell them if any of them don’t stand during the anthem they “will not play” was the height of hypocrisy.  The NFL owners “fraternity” are a significant part of the BILLIONAIRES who are responsible for the election of Donald Trump.  I seriously believe, like Trump, any of them served to protect that flag they’re so concerned about.

And, Trump of course, has found the issue with these players kneeling during the anthem (virtually ALL of them are Black) as a way to further gin up his base of white nationalists who march in places like Charlottesville carrying Tiki Torches and wearing Nazi arm bands.  Of course, the avid NFL “fan” cares not about this issue unless they are the phony “patriot” like Trump who never spent one day fighting for that flag.  In fact, Trump’s expertise, when it comes to our military, is getting deferments.  He had five deferments including a PHONY one suggesting he had “bone spurs” in his heal – enough to make him 4-F.

Of course, there are many who would support Kaepernick’s protest but just wish he’d find another way to make it.  But, when you think about it, NOTHING else was able to get people’s attention.  People like Trump ridicule Kaepernick as someone who should be thankful for all the money BLACK athletes make and they should just stand at attention and do what they’re told by the BILLIONAIRE owners who are making even more BILLIONS from all these Black athletes entertaining people who love to see those huge “hits” in football.  Trump, himself, lamented the game of football for actually trying to protect the health of its players.

Well, here’s why I TOTALLY respect Kaepernick (and, if you’ve been on this site you know I have NO respect for Trump) – he gave up his MILLIONS per year of income over this issue. (Trump wouldn’t even give up his millions to be president) Now, I don’t know why he “opted out” of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but – obviously – NO ONE in the NFL has offered him a job this year DESPITE the FACT he’s MUCH better than many of the quarterbacks on NFL rosters.  Now, you have the Green Bay Packers – with a good team that has a solid chance to make the playoffs (every teams’ first goal) – and their backup quarterback is Joe Callahan.  Kaepernick has taken a team to the Super Bowl.  The rumor is that the NFL is “blacklisting” Kaepernick.  Well, that’s a hard thing to prove.  But, after Rodger’s injury, If the Green Bay Packers don’t sign Colin Kaepernick that tells you all you need to know about the NFL!

On many occasions I’ve pointed out that the right wing republicans and their agenda are like a bad dream that just continues coming back time and again.  These people, led by the now infamous “Koch brothers” have emerged from being marginal 40 years ago (and, actually, before that – I’m just going off my own memory) to controlling the Congress of the United States as I’m writing this.  They’ve been “hell bent” on repealing every part of the “New Deal” and the “Great Society” – which they consider “socialist” since the days Social Security and Medicare – as the main “targets” – were passed.  Time and again, they’ve been defeated AND the programs have been improved.  But, here we go again!

First we had the repeated attempts to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) – since Trump’s “election” to become our “so-called” president there have been several attempts at repealing “Obamacare” with a “tax cut disguised as health care.”  Make no mistake – the focus of the legislation wasn’t “health care” it was TAX CUTS – for the wealthiest Americans – those people who continue BUYING our republicans in Congress.  Well, now it’s time for Trump’s budget (along with Paul Ryan) and “here we go again.”  If this budget passes republicans will have succeeded in their attempts to bludgeon Medicare – people will be waiting until they’re 67 to be eligible for Medicare and Ryan will have FINALLY turned it into a “voucher” program that will undoubtedly put MILLIONS of seniors into debt or health decisions.

These people are, to me, almost unbelievable.  And, they’re such good LIARS that they get enough people to vote for them so that – people like Ryan – are “safely” re-elected year after year – despite their draconian beliefs.  Coming from someone who watched Martin Luther King get shot (on TV) and Robert Kennedy come to the same end (also on TV) I can’t believe what we in this country have come to.  That this is even “on the table” is shameful in my eyes.  Instead of attempting to make these programs stronger these right wing politicians continue in their long standing efforts to undermine them.  When is the backlash from “we the people” going to purge these right wing “thugs” from our political scene?  In my mind, you don’t have to be republican or democrat – conservative or liberal – to see how WRONG this mindset is.

I understood back in the days of Ronald Reagan the push to turn America into a “me” society instead of the “we” society I felt I grew up in.  I’ve witnessed the continual batch of LIES supporting this type of thinking – the “I’ve got mine – too bad for you” type of thinking that is tearing this country apart and it’s hard for me to understand why so many “working class” Americans are falling for this.  These TAX CUTS won’t benefit them – the so-called “trickle down” philosophy is the HOAX of the century (not the “Russia thing”) – this won’t be the first time they’ve pulled it on “we the people.”

The reason Ryan and Trump are proposing over a TRILLION dollars in cuts to Social Security and Medicare (and who knows what else – at this point in time) is because the “budget hawks” are going to DEMAND these cuts before they vote for Trump’s TAX CUTS for the wealthiest Americans.  They’re trying to gain what they lost in the “Obamacare” fight through the “back door.”  It’s deplorable – in the words of Hillary Clinton.  Trump is making her sound prophetic in so many ways.  Although, I don’t think Trump understands what’s in ANY proposed legislation.  He just wants to sign something – ANYTHING!

If there’s anyone out there at this point who fails to understand our (so-called) “president” is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR then he or she has not been paying attention.  (or, possibly has been watching Fox “news”)  In the campaign, on many occasions, I heard Trump say if he was president there would be no cuts to “Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.”  And, we often hear his surrogates say – after some executive order which is deplorable – he’s fulfilling a campaign promise.  So, how is he going to “spin” a cut of $500 BILLION to Medicare and $1.5 TRILLION to Medicaid after PROMISING to defend both?  Not sure how he’ll pull that one off – it should be interesting to see if he’ll claim he’s fulfilling a different “campaign promise.”

If you’re reading a post on my site for the first time you might get the idea that I’m “anti Trump.”  Well, you’d be CORRECT!  As a Christian (and a husband, and a father of two daughters and two granddaughters), it made my stomach churn when I watched the “Access Hollywood” tape – and, I’m guessing (and hoping) you wouldn’t need to be a Christian to find that tape disgusting. The issue of powerful men taking advantage of women seems never ending in the United States.  Just today I heard of Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood producer and donor to democrats getting fired for essentially the same reason Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes were fired from Fox “news” AND Bill Clinton was impeached in the 90’s AND Trump SHOULD be impeached.  In America, sexual harassment is “bipartisan” and is tolerated.  Trump was correct when he said, “I get away with this because I’m famous.”  Well, to me, Trump’s behavior is no less disgusting than Weinstein’s, Clinton’s, O’Reilly’s, or Ailes’, and he should get the same consequence – FIRED!

I look back on that day (the Access Hollywood tapes) and it makes the Russian intrusion into our election even clearer.  Less than an hour after that tape was made public, the emails Russian “hackers” had stolen from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, were published on “Wiki Leaks.”  It was as if Julian Assange of “Wiki Leaks” was ordered to release this “stuff” at just the “right” time – and, it worked.  The release of those emails – many of which had been “doctored” by the Russians to make Ms. Clinton look even worse – took the focus off of the reality that republicans had nominated a sexual predator to represent their party in the presidential election.

This, in itself, tells me how far DOWN the nation I love has fallen since the Reagan years when the “trickle down” HOAX was first imposed on “we the people” and the republican party has creeped farther and farther to the “right.” (Do you remember their claims to be the “party of family values?”)  I still remember the BACKLASH from those on the “right” who clearly fall in the racist category in relation to Barack Obama’s election in 2008.  This caused the so-called “Tea Party” that was CLEARLY racist and put the right wing takeover of the republican party “on steroids.”  It’s true, the “Tea Party” is a minority in the republican party, but the reality is they have enough clout to block ANYTHING they don’t like – and, their mantra is that “compromise” is a dirty word.  And, many are connected to Richard Spencer and those marching on Charlottesville with the Tiki Torches.  Enough said!

Republicans, at the time, were in as much disarray as present day democrats – who, since Obama’s election, lost a lot of ground due to a lack of willingness to defend their own fundamental beliefs.  In 2010 republicans welcomed, wholeheartedly, the Tea Party into their caucus – and, with that, they gained a direct connection to the White Supremacist movement that clearly is the “base” of Trump and his supporters like Steve Bannon.  If you look deeper than what you’ll see on the “surface” of media coverage you’ll see the TRUTH behind this movement.  The similarities to the 1930’s Germans should get the attention of any American who believes in our constitution and the fundamental values that actually made this country great in the first place.

The other day I read where a bartender somewhere in America kicked a bunch of Trump supporters out of her bar when Milo  Yiannopoulos was singing his own version of “America the Beautiful” while his “alt right” buddies, including Richard Spencer – one of Trump’s major donors – were giving the “heil Hitler” salute.  There’s a trove of both obvious and subtle evidence to connect Trump and these “alt right” supporters to Nazism.  If you remember the protests in Charlottesville, where Trump ended up trying to defend those carrying the “Tiki Torches” and shouting anti-Jewish slogans – many of those he was defending had Nazi armbands on and many were carrying the Nazi Flag.  I don’t understand why this is so hard to “get” in today’s America.  Are people just so illiterate regarding 20th Century history that they’re willing to look the other way on this.

To me, the sexual deviancy should be enough for any voter to turn away from Trump.  When you add the “Russia thing” – which, when you put together all the “dots” – that we now know – shows COLLUSION and OBSTRUCTION of justice,  that should be enough to say “no mas” in regard to Trump’s days in the “White House.”  Add to that the connections with the so-called “alt right” and the Nazi sympathizers among them and you’ve got a “trifecta” that really confuses me why people are still defending Trump.

There’s two ways this “nightmare” can end – from how I see it.  First, republicans could do the “right thing” and IMPEACH Trump (and, Pense as well – who’s been a willing LIAR in the cover up to the “Russia thing” – more than likely making himself a co-conspirator in the obstruction of justice) or we wait for the mid term elections in 2018.  It’s unlikely Democrats can retake the Senate, but taking control of the House of Representatives could, at the minimum, block Trump’s agenda (although, I am expecting him to turn to “Chuck and Nancy” because republicans likely will be unable to pass their TERRIBLE legislation – aimed at the top 1% – without help from democrats). Trump’s “tax reform” is actually another attempt at a HUGE “Tax cut” for the top 1% and one more Paul Ryan attack on Social Security and Medicare – hopefully, “that ship has sailed” as far as sneaking it past “we the people.” Democrats in control of the House hopefully would lead to IMPEACHMENT.  Although, democrats don’t have a strong track record of political courage (and, I’m thinking Trump is thinking ahead as he cozies up to “Chuck and Nancy” to garner democratic support in any Impeachment trial – can you imagine what would happen to the democratic party if they were the ones who blocked impeachment?).

To me, the most important thing “progressives” (liberals) should be doing – now, and going forward – is embarking on an information tour of the rust belt and the South FIGHTING the propaganda that’s been unchallenged for the past 35+ years.  To do this, the first thing democrats need to do is to understand they can co-exist with people who believe abortion is the taking of a human life – because, it is.  Undoubtedly, that is a very complicated issue and one that’s been allowed to turn many working class people away from their democratic roots.  It’s NOT a cut and dried issue, as “both sides” seem to present it, and if those in the democratic party would welcome those who say they believe in “life” – an important dialogue could take place.  Republicans have been cynically using this issue for years to keep a one issue voting block while democrats have essentially blocked those people from their party.  I say, BOTH sides are wrong – and “we the people” are the losers.

Those who believe in “life” believe in and depend on Social Security and Medicare (and Medicaid) every bit as much as those on the so-called “left.” (And, I could say that on a lot of issues)  Before we end up with a fascist government that will be progressively more difficult to stop as time goes by, we need to come to our senses.  Trump and the republicans are continuing the fleecing of America’s taxpayers while “we the people” are arguing about abortion and other “wedge issues.”  The sensible way forward is to purge this right wing assault by agreeing on the ideals and institutions MOST of us hold dear – and, in the process begin a dialogue aimed at healing the wounds that have ripped our society apart (and, that people like Trump are essentially “salting”).  Democratic leaders (if they exist) need to demonstrate the courage of their convictions and head into “red” states with the purpose of pulling people together – and, I can guarantee you, the issue that will allow a breakthrough is an open dialogue on the abortion issue.  Invite so-called “pro lifers” into your party, democrats.  Encourage a dialogue.  Listen to their concerns and share yours.  The issue really does have two sides!

Final thought: I realize there are members of the democratic party who are Christians and believe in “life” just as there are members of the republican party who are “pro choice.”  To me, the problem is the persona of each party that’s been propagated via the media and the political leadership of each party as well.  Women were having abortions before Roe v Wade and they will continue to do so should it be over turned.  What should happen is a dialogue designed to reduce the demand for abortions and improve the access to health care for low income (and especially single) parents for their children (and themselves).  What shouldn’t happen is people voting for cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, school lunches, meals on wheels, children’s health care, education, environmental issues, and much more because they oppose abortion.  It makes no sense, but that’s what’s happening with MILLIONS of republican voters.  The republicans AREN’T going to “fix” this, so – if it’s going to get fixed, it’s up to the democrats to “make it happen!”

If you haven’t read the so-called “dossier” on the Russian interference into the 2016 election you might want to do so before reading this post.  I read the “dossier” shortly after it was published by “Buzzfeed” which is an internet site I’ve visited only that one time.  Based on what I had learned from public information at the time, the “dossier” made a lot of sense to me as a credible document.  It was a document that makes Trump look really bad and should lead to his impeachment.  Many people wonder why Trump, to this day, NEVER says anything negative about Vladimir Putin and/or Russia.  Well, I believe it’s because the “dossier” is true and the Russians are holding the real evidence over Trump’s head as per his potential to be blackmailed.

To MOST Americans the Russians attempting (and possibly succeeding) in determining the outcome of an American election is fundamentally SERIOUS.  To Trump it’s apparently an issue of no interest and, therefore, we’re NOT seeing any effort on behalf of “we the people” by Trump’s administration to protect us from this happening again.  So, now we have investigations in various parts of Congress with MOST members of Congress realizing the serious nature of a foreign government attempting (and possibly succeeding) in determining the outcome of an American election and a president referring to the investigations as a “hoax.”

Additionally, there’s a very detailed investigation of all this by the FBI led by Robert Mueller – a “special counsel” appointed after the firing of James Comey in Trump’s attempt to BLOCK the investigation he refers to as a “hoax.”  Obviously, this “Russia thing” is not a “hoax” and the only thing left to discover is how bad is what happened.  I mean, what we’re really talking about here is TREASON – and, Trump, despite being called a MORON by his own Secretary of State, is smart enough to know what being accused of TREASON will mean to his administration – which would include him, his son, his son in law, and possibly his daughter – yikes!

Well, last night it was reported that Mueller has met with the author of the “dossier,” Christopher Steele, on more than one occasion.  While much in the “dossier” has proven true in the days since “Buzzfeed” published it, the members of the Congressional investigations continue to seem skeptical of its contents without actually meeting with Steele.  What I find interesting about their claims is the committee members claiming they’re unable to “connect” with Mr. Steele while his lawyer says he’s willing to meet with them.  Congress is less popular than the dog catcher and it’s not going to help their public image if it turns out they’re trying to protect Trump and blocking “we the people” from the TRUTH.

We all know Trump has a serious (pathological) issue with the Truth and we know that members of Congress are essentially “bought” by moneyed interests – BUT if it turns out those in Congress FAIL to protect us from Russia ATTACKING our most fundamental value (privilege) there had better be “hell to pay” for them the next time they face  an election.  Yes, there’s HUGE divisions in this nation – much of it provoked by the ACTUAL “fake news” that the Russians are strategically placing in places where many people are susceptible to their LIES.  But there should be NO disagreement among “we the people” that our elections SHOULD be free from foreign intervention.

I’ve listened to Chuck Grassley, the republican head of the Senate Finance Committee, on several occasions attempt to block parts of the investigation into the “Russia thing” and  try to block use of the “dossier” as part of the investigations.  Well, here’s the TRUTH.  If the members of Congress LIE to “we the people” about the availability of Mr. Steele we will know that the republicans in Congress are attempting to do the same thing Trump was trying to do when he fired Comey – and, that’s to block the investigation. (ie, “obstruct justice” – a serious felony)

Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the section of the “dossier” describing the “golden showers” (you’ll have to read the dossier to know what that means – if you want to read it click here) is true and the rumors there’s a video of this would have to scare Trump into just about anything the Russians would want from him.  (It would also prove the severity of Trump’s racist nature)  Apparently, they’ve been collecting “compromising” material on Trump for a period of years.  This is how the Russians work as far as creating “patsies” they can use for their own purposes.  I have to believe Trump as president has exceeded their wildest dreams (other than we now understand what Russia did – which makes Trump a compromised “tool”).

Unfortunately, many republicans continue to delude themselves into thinking Trump can be a reliable leader of their party.  It’s apparently going to take confirmation of the most egregious allegations to bring the republicans to their senses so that they do what they should – which is IMPEACH him.  In the MEAN TIME it’s likely NOTHING will get done in Congress (at least we can hope) but, Trump will continue to cause “DAMAGE” in ways where he can bypass Congress via executive orders.  In the process the rights of people he targets, the environment, and potentially the nation’s health care system – and, who knows what else he might target – could suffer very consequential damage.

I’ve written MANY TIMES the outcomes resulting from the Trump administration are completely on republicans.  However, the bottom line is it’s up to “we the people,” ultimately, to fix this problem.  If progressive Americans continue to be complacent when it’s time to vote, when it’s time to take the effort to educate themselves on the issues, and when it’s time to stand up for their fundamental beliefs in conversations with those around them we could continue to be subjected to this right wing assault on our nation’s government.  There was a HUGE “protest” to Trump’s election on the day following his taking the “oath” – republicans in Congress are going to make us wait until the elections of 2018 to find out if that “resistance” is real.  We can hope!

From what I can tell, here’s the dilemma of those republicans in Congress that have no moral compass aside from their own reelection.  They have to decide if they’re going to continue holding their noses and attempting to push through Trump’s (and, in the case of HUGE tax cuts for their donors their) agenda in the face of OVERWHELMING public OPPOSITION or actually STOP all the LYING and attempt to actually do what a large majority of Americans would like to see them accomplish.  If you even have a short term memory (I say that because, at 70, I’m wondering about my own) you know the one week where Trump’s approval ratings rose was after the agreement with “Chuck and Nancy” which kicked the debt crisis “down the road” for three months.

Now, I fully understand that the LYING will NOT stop and the push for the draconian legislation will continue – and, most likely (I can hope) will continue to FAIL – unless Mitch McConnell, in an act of desperation, actually does end the filibuster in the Senate – because of one important reason.  The republican members of Congress DEPEND on huge checks coming in regularly from their so-called “donor class.”  These are the people who have so much money they don’t know what to do with it all, so they’ve developed the habit of giving it to republicans in return for constant attempts to LOWER their taxes.  Right now, they’re not happy.  With Trump as president and republicans in control of Congress virtually NOTHING of consequence has been accomplished.

I’ve read reports from multiple sources that the “donors” are starting to refuse to “donate.”  They don’t like what they’re seeing in Washington DC for an entirely different reason people like me don’t like what we’re seeing.  And, the battle goes on.  If the people in the “rust belt” actually understood where the corruption in Congress was coming from and who the major benefactors are I believe they’d be more inclined to “get” that republicans are not their friends.  The reality, however, is those with the money are PUSHING their “puppets” to get them a return on their “investment.”  At some point, the ACTUAL battle in America will be PUBLICLY defined.  It almost seems to me it’s simply the wealthy “class” against the rest of us – they believe those with the MONEY should rule.  It’s a form of fascism!  As I’ve said many times on this site – the saddest part in all this is their “base” is the “Christian right.”

So, if you’re at all like-minded with me, get ready for another in the “never ending” fight to save the ideals put forth in the “New Deal” and “Great Society” – the ideals that actually did MAKE AMERICA GREAT.  Reports of the republican budget proposal (I believe it was actually passed in the House) call for cuts of $500 BILLION to Medicare – including increasing the eligibility date to a person’s 67th birthday – AND $1.5 TRILLION in cuts to Medicaid.  These are the cuts they couldn’t get through in their “health care” proposal – so, it’s in their budget.  And, the cuts are necessary to offset the HUGE tax cuts they have aimed directly at people like our president.  Like I’ve said, they NEVER take “no” for an answer.  The ONLY solution to this attack on the ideals that made America great is to vote out republicans FOREVER!

While republicans SHOULD be impeaching Trump for his many transgressions – including obstructing the investigation into Russia’s ATTACK on our prized fundamental right – voting – they’re, instead, continuing to use the FACT Trump will sign anything they can manage to put in front of him as a way to achieve cuts to social services that will be life threatening to many Americans.  It’s actually hard for me to believe we’ve fallen to this point.  Just as, as a Christian, I have a sense of obligation to share the “good news” of Christ, as an American I feel an obligation to share the BAD NEWS of Trump and the republicans.

Final Thought:  Republicans have been “laughing all the way to the bank” since the days of Ronald Reagan.  They’ve evolved to the point where their agenda can simply be defined as “greed run amok.”  There’s no end to how much money they feel they can STEAL from “we the people” and they’ve adopted “the Big Lie Theory” of the Nazi’s to pull this off.  If you’re a republican reading this – look closely at Trump and his surrogates.  You’ll see many many similarities to Nazi behavior. (Trump actually had supporters giving the “heil” salute at one of his campaign rallies just as his campaign “motto” was a copy of Hitler’s “Make Germany Great Again” motto)  If Trump and the republicans are not STOPPED America may never recover.

To the democratic leaders – It’s time to get your “butts” into middle America – like the rust belt – and educate voters there why they’re getting “jobbed” by republicans and give them a reason to “come home” to the democratic party.  (disclaimer: I’m not a democrat or republican – I just “get” we have a two party system, so we’ve got to do the best with it that we can)  Your message can’t always be “anti Trump” or “anti republican” – DEFEND what you’re for!  And, while people like Roy Moore are winning elections in the South – I believe “progressives” should be actively convincing those people why republicans are screwing them over.  This would require the democratic party to accept – willingly – people who oppose abortions.

Has the United States evolved to a national Peyton Place?  The “drama” seems to never end and it’s becoming very embarrassing.  So, what’s the topic for today?  Well, as I was driving around I tuned into MSNBC (on my XM radio) as I often do and Trump was about to speak in Las Vegas regarding the horrific shooting which took place this past weekend.  I regret to say I immediately changed the channel because I can no longer even stand the sound of Trump’s voice.  Just yesterday he was in Puerto Rico bemoaning their debt and what they’re doing to our “budget” (that Trump is BLOWING up with another HUGE tax cut for himself and the others in the so-called 1% – although they’ll likely try to find ways to “pay for it” via cutting more social programs – ie look out Medicare and Social Security) while throwing rolls of paper towels to those in attendance.  I guess the thought was they could wipe up the rivers of water in their towns with these Brawny “picker uppers.”  Bad optics – I’m just sayin…….

Then today, when I tuned back in – after giving the time necessary to where I wouldn’t be forced to listen to Trump’s actual voice – the commentators were saying Trump did a good job of reading from the teleprompter and, apparently, hadn’t pulled ANOTHER major BLUNDER. (the “bar” is really low for this president)  Soon, the topic changed to “politics” – which is what MSNBC is usually about.  And, sure enough, here come’s another in the never ending barrage of “stories” which happen almost EVERY day in “Trump world!”  If you’ve wondered, as have I, why Rex Tillerson remains as Secretary of State despite Trump undercutting his message on almost every occasion, you’re not alone.  (not to mention Tillerson’s apparent incompetence at the job from an administrative standpoint) At the minimum, I’m right there with you.

Now, first of all, I need to be clear. last year I read Steve Coll’s book “Private Empire” which was a detailed expose’ on Exxon Mobile and their incredible power around the world.  It’s almost as if they’re a sovereign nation unto themselves – certainly a corporation at the “head of the class” – at the very least.  I NEVER viewed Rex Tillerson as someone who was qualified to be Secretary of State.  My cynical mind believed Tillerson was chosen for this post to facilitate the REMOVAL of sanctions ON Russia which are preventing the development of a HUGE oil reserve in northern Russia.  A situation which requires Exxon’s expertise to advance Russia’s oil empire.  A “win win” for Russia and Exxon that was stymied by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.

So, I’m trying to make clear I’m not the person to be applauding or defending Tillerson in the inevitable conflict he was bound to have with Trump from the beginning – especially when it became clear removing those sanctions was a “non- starter” because of Trump’s campaign colluding with Russia as they ATTACKED our nation in the most fundamental place – the voting booth.  Yet, today it was reported that Tillerson and I have one thing clearly in common!

NBC reported today, with certainty, that Tillerson – sometime during the past few months – referred to Trump as a MORON!  OK, now I realize Tillerson is Secretary of State and is likely on the job only until Trump can find someone willing to work for him, and he shouldn’t (probably) be referring to his “boss” in this manner.  But, the reality, to me, is that FINALLY I’ve got something I can totally AGREE on with Tillerson.  It’s a sad day in American “history” when the president of the United States is called a MORON by his Secretary of State and people all across the country want to see a poll which checks to see how many Americans agree.

Of course, Trump’s first words when asked about Tillerson’s comment was “NBC is fake news” – isn’t that kind of his signature response?  Then Trump said, “I have full confidence in Rex.”  Well, that’s definitely the kiss of death for Tillerson as far as his job is concerned – and, if he would tell the truth (Tillerson, that is – we KNOW Trump is incapable of telling the TRUTH) he will be relieved when he’s no longer saying one thing and almost immediately being undercut by Trump.  Again, Tillerson was not made to be Secretary of State.  He’s likely to go down as the WORST Secretary of State in modern times no matter how much longer he’s on the job.  His memoir should be very interesting!  I do have to give Tillerson credit in that I’ve seen signs he prefers negotiation to bluster in regard to foreign policy.  That’s always a bit of relief – until the Trump “tweets” confirming Tillerson’s insignificance.

Just a few days ago, almost as if there was going to be signs of actual “adults in the room” regarding the issue with North Korea Tillerson suggested we have “back channels of Communication with North Korean officials – asking them if they’d like to talk?”  Seemingly within minutes (but, more likely the next day) Trump was undercutting his Secretary of State (again) by “tweeting”, “Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man.”  Would it surprise you to find out those in North Korea who might be able to help diffuse the situation with the U.S. are a bit confused?  Would it surprise you to think leaders around the world may agree with Tillerson’s characterization of Trump above?  In America, this is now the daily routine.  (I did here a reporter state that the term “moron” IS being used by leaders around the world in describing Trump)

I listened to an interview with Mike Pense’s former press secretary (I believe) and his attempts to defend Trump were almost as astonishing as listening to Trump himself.  (I have to add that I’m one who believes Pense is at least “knee deep” in the obstruction of justice related to the “Russia Thing”)  The MSNBC commentator (I believe it was Nicole Wallace) asked Pense’s former spokesman what has Trump accomplished.  Just as Trump would do, he listed a littany of “stuff” that’s simply an extension of what President Obama was “accomplishing” as he left office.

For example, the economy (and jobs numbers) continue on a “straight line” that was continued under Obama’s leadership – numbers Trump himself ridiculed while running for office and quickly taking credit for once elected.  Trump’s administration has done NOTHING to change the direction of the economy he inherited.  And, they always refer to the stock market’s record closings.  Well, after the meltdown of 2008 the Dow Industrial Average dropped to around 6500 and by the time Obama left office it was nearing 20,000.  Clearly, there was a “Trump affect” after his “election” which, by most accounts is Wall Street’s excitement over the possibility of HUGE tax cuts for the rich and a reduction in regulations aimed at the environment and the protection of every day consumers.

Wall Street would like nothing better than to get rid of the Consumer Protection Agency which is a watch dog on the predatory behavior which got us into the 2008 mess in the first place.  Obviously, Wall Street felt little pain after they almost brought us into another Great Depression during the term of Bush/Cheney because of the TARP bailouts by our previous republican administration (you know, the conservatives who “believe” in a “free market”).  In my mind, those bailouts were quickly forgotten due to “we the people” electing an “other” in 2008 leading to the “Tea Party” and ultimately to Trump.  Those giving credit to Trump for a gain in the Dow of a couple thousand points are the same people who were BLASTING Obama as he oversaw a gain of something like 300% on the DOW.  These record closings (since Trump’s election) are based on the anticipation that Trump can deliver on pro Wall Street legislation AND the continuation of the SLOW recovery Obama orchestrated after 2008 which was continuing to gain “steam” as President Obama left office.  Make no mistake though – Trump inherited a “bull market” – Obama inherited a near DEPRESSION.

In my mind, it will take about another 6 months for Trump to lead us in the opposite direction economically (and, when this happens, he’ll probably still be blaming Obama) IF he can get his “agenda” passed – which, at this point, appears less than certain.  I keep wondering how republicans will respond when Robert Mueller reports on his investigation and, at the minimum, suggests their WAS collusion (we KNOW this from the June 9, 2016 meeting between Trump Jr., Manafort, Kushner, and a bunch of Russians connected to Putin – what hasn’t been talked about much is Trump’s comments right after that meeting suggesting the next Monday he would have incriminating “stuff” on Mrs. Clinton) and OBSTRUCTION of justice.  How will they be able to get huge tax cuts for the rich through while dealing with that reality?

After hearing about Tillerson’s characterization of Trump today, I couldn’t help but think back to all the times when Trump did stuff that I feel fits that word – MORON.  The first that comes to mind is Trump meeting with Lester Holt shortly after firing James Comey and having his surrogates – led by the Vice President – out en force telling virtually EVERY media outlet he was fired because of the recommendation of Rob Rosenstein – the newly confirmed Assistant Attorney General who was over seeing the “Russia Thing” due to Jeff Sessions’ recusal.  In that interview, Trump famously (and stupidly) confessed to why he fired Comey – it was the “Russia thing” – a “made up story by the democrats.”  Then a day or two later, Trump met with the Russians in the oval office with ONLY media from Russia where he confirmed why he fired Comey – to reduce the pressure of the Russia investigation.  This really is the work of a MORON!

All the LIES and the willingness to publicly defend the LIES is MORONIC – and, in the case of Sean Spicer and, now, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is likely ruining the careers of this surrogates – the ones who will not get caught up in the illegal “stuff” regarding Russia and the cover up.  I don’t think Spicer will ever purge the STUPIDITY of his first press conference where he defended Trump’s claim that his audience was the LARGEST ever, PERIOD!  Now that he’s left office he seems to be willing to parody himself on that one – but, the reality is that kind of stuff is not funny when you think of the importance of the office and those who speak to the American people for the office holder.  In my mind, the honorable thing to do would be to resign instead of LYING for Trump just to save your job.  I believe Ms. Sanders will be somewhat toxic by the time she’s looking for work after Trump – unless, of course, she lands at Fox “news.”  She’d probably fit in nicely there.

Finally, there’s a thought I can’t seem to get out of my mind as I’m writing about our “Peyton Place” in Washington DC.  Two things happened almost simultaneously and I believe they leave a picture that pretty much says it all.  As the reports were coming out about the Secretary of State calling Trump a MORON there were pictures of Trump throwing (actually “shooting” as if he had basketballs) paper towels to the desperate people of Puerto Rico.  Sometimes we don’t have to prod very far to find out the truth behind a story.  As I said above, Rex Tillerson and myself FINALLY have something on which we can agree!