Have you ever heard of the phrase; “The tail is wagging the dog?”  Well, in reference to that and America’s present state of disequilibrium politically, I’m not sure who I blame more: the republican “candidates” for their presidential nomination (If you’re not thinking yet today, I put the word candidates in quotes because, to me, there isn’t ONE capable of actually handling the job of president) or the media which is giving these wack jobs a platform to spew their (mostly hateful) rhetoric.  And, for the sake of defending my own hypocrisy, I don’t hate any of them, I just can’t stand to listen to their inflammatory words which, every day, seem to make Osama bin Laden look like a prophet.

I mean, as I stated in one of my more recent rants, we’ve (Americans) been warned by previous (actual) statesmen (like JFK, FDR, Eisenhower, and others) that the only way we (America) can be “destroyed” (politically, and I suppose, economically) is if we destroy ourselves.  When you listen to people like Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and the others I don’t see how you can’t understand that what they’re proposing is to “dump” our constitution, our history, and the Bill of Rights in order to save ourselves from the so-called terrorists.  If my point is not getting through to you, think of it this way:  They are suggesting that the American solution to terrorism is TERROR!  Like, “be afraid, be very afraid.”

It’s like a cancer.  By my thinking the cancer started 35+ years ago when somehow the American people were fooled into believing Ronald Reagan’s promise that he could “cut taxes and balance the budget.”  It sounded great to enough people for Reagan to gain the White House.  And, Reagan was so congenial that the American people fell in love with him (well, for at least a few years anyway) allowing his surrogates to do untold damage to the foundation of our government – which Reagan portrayed as the enemy.  (and, a quick poly sci 101 reminder; WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT) In 2001 along came GW Bush and Dick Cheney (and others – many from the Reagan surrogates) and the cancer started spreading to the point where it got out of control by the time they left Washington DC “with their tales between their legs.” (Say what you will about Bill Clinton – and, I could say a lot – but, during his two terms in the White House it was like the cancer started to be controlled with the possibility of being cured – and, I’m talking about the economy and America’s “standing” in the world)

Not only did Bush/Cheney put the Reagan “trickle down” (I call it trickle up for obvious reasons) theory on steroids, but George W imagined himself as the tough guy “war president.”  Yikes!!!  And, we’ve (not only the American people, but the rest of the world) been suffering the consequences ever since.  (Just the thought of what Bush/Cheney did should cause anyone even thinking of voting for one of these republican “candidates” to shudder)  I suppose you could lay the blame for the “Bush Doctrine” – which led to the invasion of Iraq – and, subsequently to the destabilizing of the Middle East – at the “feet” of the Project for a New American Century.  (you can “google” the name or find info by clicking here or here)  However, any way you look at it, to me, the idea that we should trust anyone who thinks even REMOTELY as Bush/Cheney did is insanity.  (I know you’ve heard the definition of insanity – doing the same thing and expecting different results)  Today, as I listened to the commentary of the situation in Europe (France) and North Africa (Mali) I just kept getting the image in my mind of the dog chasing its tail.  I guess you could call it a “catch 22” or a vicious cycle.  It’s like we’re expending MORE and MORE energy and getting NOWHERE!

When George W Bush was chosen by the Supreme Court as president (remember, he was never officially elected – both elections were achieved via rigged voting practices and voting machines – Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004), once I recovered from Al Gore’s decision to not fight for the MILLIONS of people who had voted him into the office of the president, I chose to support President Bush (albeit reluctantly).  I’m not one to want my president to FAIL.  That’s because I love this country and I’ve always wanted it to succeed – despite the MANY issues that require repentance that could be laid at the feet of the U.S. Government.  When Bush decided to invade a sovereign nation (which had not attacked us – the first time in our history any president had the audacity to do so) I felt he had gone too far and I started speaking out against the policies of my own president.  I never lost sight of the fact that my hope was he would change the policy – although, I’m realizing more and more, once the Bush/Cheney regime removed Saddam Hussein with no idea of what to do next (do you remember Cheney predicting we would be received as “liberators?”) was when the “cancer” started to metastasize.

It was the de-Baathafication of Iraq which laid the groundwork for the present day group calling itself “The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” or, as referred to by others either as ISIS or ISIL.  Essentially, ISIL is part of the Sunni vs Shia “battle” that’s been raging for thousands of years.  (and, if you believe the Bible, will continue until the return of Christ)  The more I read about this area of the world the more I realize the Bush Doctrine (via the Project for a New American Century – made up of the leaders of America’s conservative movement) was founded on ignorance.  Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz and all the others (whose “thirst” for oil superseded whatever common sense they may have had), I believe, failed to even consider the “side-effects” of their invasion of Iraq.  And, now we’ve got the same people attacking President Obama as he tries to figure a way out of this mess without making it even worse.

When I listen to the rhetoric of today’s republican “leaders” I’m reminded of GW Bush when he used the phrase “Bring it on” in reference to the Iraqi insurgents (who, by the way, today make up the majority of ISIS) – like we’re going to somehow kill them all.  Donald Trump would “bomb the hell out of them and then get a general like Patton to go in and take all their oil.”  (sound familiar?) Ben Carson said, …… well, I don’t understand what he said, it makes no sense – the only thing I got from reading what he said (and, listening a couple times) is that he’s more clueless than most of the republican “candidates.”  He did agree, however, with Trump that we simply take their oil from them!  (he makes it sound so easy – isn’t that what Bush/Cheney originally planned to do?)  Ted Cruz suggests we “bomb Iraq and Syria back to the Stone Age” and, of course, that we “fix the border.”  Marco Rubio essentially says the same thing as Cruz but adds that he would put ground forces into Iraq and Syria and enforce a “no fly” zone in Syria.  (by the way, as I was listening to one of Rubio’s speeches I couldn’t help but think of the old saying; “You’re so full of s@#t your eyes are brown.”  I’m not sure that he doesn’t repulse me more than the others)  I’ll let you find Jeb Bush’s “plan” – suffice it to say that he’s a Bush and he was a signatory to “The Project for a New American Century.”

So, we have a president (who’ll be president for another year) trying to find a way to stem the tide in Iraq/Syria (and, now other places as well) and, we’ve got a bunch of “wing-nut” republican wannabe presidential candidates (I’m presuming several are simply the Sarah Palin type who saw how she cashed in on her 15 minutes of fame and are attempting to do likewise – prepare yourself for more ghost written books) spewing anti Muslim hate speech as if no one’s listening.  And, we’ve got a media that (probably actually) believes it is “fair and balanced” allowing these people to broadcast their hate world wide as if it’s really what America thinks.  And, we the people have to wait until next November to have a chance to TOTALLY repudiate this type of thinking. And, trust me on this one, the “liberal media” will get sucked in by these people in their attempt to continue causing Americans to “tune in.”  When I can stomach TV I watch MSNBC (supposedly the “liberal” station) and they seem to be falling all over themselves trying to make these republican “hopefuls” look reputable – evidently, to make the 2016 campaign more exciting.

In the meantime, it’s like these republican candidates are “throwing gas on the fire” in regards to ginning up what appears to me to be two bases.  First is their own right wing base of religious zealots here in America and secondly the right wing religious zealots in Iraq and Syria (ie ISIS).  So, who knows, with the help of our 24 hour media cycle we could encourage 2016 to be a record year of terrorist attacks. (and, by the way, Jeb Bush, in his interview where he suggested only Christian refugees be admitted to the United States claimed there are no Christian terrorists – I honestly have to say, I wish he was correct on that piece of ignorance – does anyone remember Tim McVeigh?, for starters)

I guess I’ll end this by reminding you that the number one agenda for republicans is (and has been for 7 long years) that President Obama FAILS.  So, of course, I wouldn’t expect them to follow the great American tradition of supporting our leaders in times of international crisis – but I totally agree with our president when he reminds these wing nuts – “The world is watching” and their words are damaging our nation in the eyes of the rest of the world.  A quick reminder:  the “global” world – ie economy, etc. – we find ourselves in is largely the result of the “conservative” movement and their push for “free trade,” globalization, etc.  As our republican “leaders” are attempting to block our borders from Syrian refugees (fleeing the conflict resulting from our invasion of Iraq) Germany is taking in one MILLION. (we’re balking at ten thousand)  As the mess in Iraq and Syria (exacerbated in the first place by Bush/Cheney placing American troops “on the ground” in Iraq) gets worse, it should be no surprise that republicans are pushing for more troops “on the ground.”

As an afterword: First, as I’ve stated many times on this site, I’m a (liberal) Christian – but, I have to add one more thing (and, I’m not making this up).  Jeb Bush was (apparently) asked to comment on Donald Trump’s plan to round up 11 million “illegals” and deport them to who knows where.  He commented that he was in agreement, “except for the Christians.”  I don’t even know what to say!

I recently finished reading “Who Stole the American Dream” by Hedrick Smith (in my view, a “must” read for anyone struggling to understand why America is headed toward second class status) which motivated me to read “The Power Game” by the same author another great book that I’ve nearly finished.  One of the main points I’ve pulled from these books is the role the so-called “liberal media” is playing in the demise of our nation – or, maybe a better way to put it is how the (mostly) republican party has learned to PLAY the media in order to manipulate public opinion.  If you’ve read many of my posts on this site it won’t be “news” to you when I talk about the propaganda scheme of the republican party – which, to me, dangerously resembles the “Big Lie Theory” of Joseph Goebbels in Nazi Germany during the rise of the Third Reich.  It just adds a bit to my frustration, watching this nation spiral in a downward direction, as I read confirmation of the focus the republican party has been putting on manipulating the media since the days of Ronald Reagan (and before).  And, I guess, I have to add that the democrats just don’t seem to be very good at this and still don’t seem to “get it,” regarding the implications of this media manipulation.

What caused me today to think even more about how the media is getting “jobbed” in America, I was listening on the radio to MSNBC on my way home from work today and realized that the terrorist group “ISIL” (or ISIS or The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or whatever they’re called) have learned how this works and they’re doing essentially the same thing.  Their focus is to spread “terror” and our media is almost like a willing partner, from what I can tell.  What has evolved into a 24 hour “news cycle” requires “news” – well – or whatever whoever’s “running the show” decides is “news.”  If there’s not “real” news, it must, evidently, be created – at all hours of the day.  So, for example, ISIL has been publishing “propaganda videos” which I would have little to no interest in, except our media outlets are falling all over themselves trying to be the “first” to report on the latest one.  Today, what I remember about the broadcast I was listening to, they said there have been videos published for 8 straight days.  Well, that will ensure that who knows how many people will attempt to find them.  And, it will apparently assure that “we the people” are “very afraid.”  Because, at the same time, MSNBC has repeatedly pointed out that over 80% of us are expecting a “major terrorist attack” at any moment.  It seems to me, the “terrorists” have “we the people” figured out really well.  They’re spreading “terror” and we seem to be “willing buyers.”  Yikes!!!!

I find all sorts of ironies in all of this.  Let’s start with all the right wing zealots in America who’ve been railing against our government for the past – well – as many years as I can remember.  OK, I guess I am “beating a dead horse,” but the lord of these people, the aforementioned Ronald Reagan began the scenario where “government is the problem not the solution.”  I’ve been watching from the sidelines for years as people in America with this “bent” have been pushing for “less government,” “lower taxes,” (especially on the well off) and, they’ve been ceaselessly attacking President Obama since before he took the oath of office – having agreed to the unenviable job of trying to un-mess the MESS created by GW Bush/Dick Cheney (Bush/Cheney lowered taxes and BORROWED Trillions to ignite this mess). Of course, now their (republicans) complaint is that “government” (presumably meaning President Obama) isn’t doing enough to fight ISIL.  It’s called the “I want it both ways” syndrome!

These people ignore ALL the accomplishments of the Obama administration (many, directly benefiting them) while BLAMING EVERYTHING they can think of that may or may not be going well on our President.  Even if it’s going well, they will tell you it isn’t.  If it isn’t going well, Yikes! here comes another congressional investigation!  They are able to create crisis out of thin air – and, of course, once President Obama has successfully “solved” a problem, we never hear about it again.  Need an example?  Do you remember the Ebola scare?  President Obama was aggressive in addressing the issue and was constantly assuring the American public it was not a problem we should fear.  He sent troops and others to Africa to help the people there combat the crisis.

And, now the crisis has been essentially removed from people’s minds.  Yet, I haven’t heard ONE republican giving President Obama credit for the “adult in the room” manner in which he showed leadership during that crisis.  We had republican governors (yes, Mr. Christie, you’re one of them) doing incredibly STUPID stuff in reaction to the “crisis” and escalating the situation with their normal manner of doing “business;” FEAR!  Now that (internal) terrorists have hit France, the FEAR MONGERS are out in force again – and, who would you think would be leading the “charge?”  Well, let’s let the republican “leaders” form a line. (and, I have to add, having pointed out often how many democrats are totally spineless, you’ll see a fair number of them, fearful of the very media I’m writing about, falling in line – and, as usual, they’re ALWAYS at the end of the line)  It’s like the leaders of ISIL couldn’t ask for more.

Yet with candidates like Donald Trump, Christie, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and the others, our republicans are constantly giving them “more.”  The racist rhetoric that comes out of these people seems to be endless.  Evidently, they’re not paying attention to the reports which indicate they are like a walking recruiting team for the terrorists.  Trump (I honestly wake up every day thinking the reality of his political success is simply a bad dream) probably creates a new terrorist every time he broaches the subject of Muslims.  You see, the people around the world are actually paying attention to our political process.

I believe years ago some of the egregious acts of our government – ie, the invasion of Iraq, for one – were considered as being in opposition to the will of the American people.  However, people around the world are seeing that someone spewing racist hate like Donald Trump is actually the front-runner – in the republican nomination for President for God’s sake!  Trust me, this doesn’t make us look good.  Trump has pointedly belittled Mexicans, Muslims, and today he suggested that something like 80% of all whites who are murdered in America are killed by Blacks!  I’m not making this up (Maybe MSNBC is, but I’m pretty sure I heard “The Donald” verify it in his own voice).  He also said he saw, with his own eyes – on TV – “Thousands and thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering as the World Trade Center came down.”  Trump has been credited with something on the order of 15 or 16 “Pants on Fire” LIES by some media outlet that actually fact checks these people, but that doesn’t seem to bother the republican brethren who are lining up to support him. (I remind you again of Joseph Goebbels – just take a quick tour of 1930’s history when you’re looking at the Trump “movement.”)

Here’s the American reality for people of the Muslim faith.  When they see an attack like the one in Paris they know the recriminations are coming.  They know they’re going to have to listen to the race baiting on our “news” media and they know they’re going to be stereotyped.  Honestly, I don’t remember the same reaction when Tim McVeigh killed more Americans in Oklahoma City a few years back than were killed in Paris and McVeigh was acting as an anti-government right wing Christian terrorist.  He (and his cohorts in crime) were labeled criminals – as well they should have been.  They didn’t represent me (I’m a Christian) just like the criminals who killed the people in Paris don’t represent all the Muslims around the world.  For anyone who’s paying attention, ISIL is killing far more Arabs than they are people in the “West.”  Seriously, they don’t need the encouragement they’re getting from people like Trump and the others running for the republican nomination for president (or anyone else with a national “platform” for that matter).

So, getting back to my earlier point that the people leading the charge to support Trump or Carson or Rubio or “fill in the blank” (I even heard today, the so-called Republican “establishment” is longing for Mitt Romney) actually hate government – yet, at the same time they are expecting the government they hate to “keep them safe.” (Although, it seems to me there are people in the republican party who are longing for us to get “hit” again, kind of as a counterbalance to the FACT that Bush/Cheney were in charge during 9/11)  They want to cut government spending to the bone, they’re constantly railing against the deficit, yet they’re willing to spend “whatever” in the fight against “terror” by encouraging another all out war.  (First, how do you fight “terror?” Certainly not by encouraging FEAR wouldn’t you think?  And, secondly, how did the all out war work out last time?  OK, that was rhetorical – we created ISIL) None of this makes any sense!

Here’s another point that seems a bit ironic (or scary or disgusting – I’m searching for the right word) to me.  There’s a list kept by the FBI and other law enforcement personnel across America – I believe it’s called the “Terrorist Watch List” – where law enforcement is following the actions of (I think) around 2000 suspected (possible) home grown “terrorists.”  Americans who may have been “radicalized” and are considered possible “lone wolf” – I’ll use my term – criminals.  What’s interesting (and disgusting – I decided I now know the word I was searching for above) is that there’s NO RESTRICTION on the ability of ANY of these people to purchase weapons in America.  They can cross state lines and purchase, presumably, assault weapons indiscriminately with no background check, no anything.  This, of course, is the result of the right wing’s REFUSAL to consider any restrictions on “gun laws” in America as a violation of our (phantom) 2nd Amendment rights.  Everyone knows, republican politicians live in fear of retribution from the NRA should they cast ONE vote contrary to their absurd FIGHT against ANY restrictions on people’s right to purchase weapons.  Yet, these same people will be at the front of the line blaming President Obama (and, most certainly Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders – depending on which one is the likely democratic nominee) should one of these “homegrown terrorists” attempt to become famous.

And, believe me when I say, that (becoming famous) could be a motivator for one of these people who may be thinking of committing some horrible act of violence.  Back to our “liberal media” that, in my view, is getting played by the republicans (even on MSNBC it’s a rare day when you hear anything from the mouths of Clinton or Sanders – Trump is correct when he says he doesn’t need to advertise – our media is giving him all the advertising he needs – and FREE OF CHARGE!) and the terrorists running the propaganda campaign for ISIL.  They (the media) have focused so much on the one “terrorist” who escaped in Paris, naming him, and calling him “the number 1 fugitive in the world” – that I don’t think they’re taking the time to ponder what might be the unintended consequences of trying to keep us informed 24 hours per day to his whereabouts – as if that, in itself, would make us feel safer.  I think it makes the reporters feel important – but, I really don’t see where it makes anyone safer. (and, it probably makes it even more difficult for the authorities to actually catch the man) Personally, I can imagine someone committing a horrific crime simply for the notoriety.

I could go on, but I’m sure by now you catch my “drift.”  I just keep wondering when (and if) “we the people” will be able to be served by a media that is truly focused on responsibly reporting “news” and not allowing itself to be “played” by either of the political parties  or others, like ISIL. Today’s reality is that the experts at this are the republicans with ISIL’s “media experts” close behind.  Obviously, people around the world are paying attention To what’s happening in America (our right wing “leaders” are even afraid to allow the Syrian refugees – which we are largely responsible for creating – into our country after an extremely intense “vetting” process) and now we don’t even seem to need the government to issue “terror alerts.”  With the “liberal media’s” help, the American people have learned to be afraid, be “very afraid.”  I could give you the statistics of all the ways THOUSANDS more Americans are killed EVERY year than via terrorist attacks – despite how tragically awful those attacks are/were – but, that wouldn’t calm the American public down – because the FEAR MONGERS are winning, and therefore, the terrorists are accomplishing their goal.

There’s an old saying: “Be careful what you wish for.”  Well, Republicans, after the Mitt Romney fiasco of 2012, came to the conclusion they were not “conservative enough.”  In the meantime you’ve had Fox “news” and people like Rush Limbaugh ginning up their base of government haters (and, liberal haters, immigrant haters, LBGT haters, women haters, minority haters, etc. etc.) and now you have a group of candidates commonly referred to (by those in the “mainstream” of American politics) as the “clown car.”  There isn’t one of their candidates who will be able to make a credible candidate for president.  However, that minor detail hasn’t derailed them in the past – I will explain.

Then there’s the saying: “Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.”  Enter: the Democrats.  A reminder: Ronald Reagan was a fringe candidate in 1980 who had failed in bids for the Republican nomination for a decade and a half prior to gaining the nomination in 1980.  Reagan was imminently unqualified to be President – although he was a great spokesperson for what I’ve been referring to as the “invisible cabal” for years – that is, the wealthy benefactors of republican candidates who choose to stay in the background.  Then, in 2000, we got George W Bush, another republican who was like a figure head – being manipulated by this cabal and their surrogates like Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld – the group calling themselves the “project for a new American century.”  This group was connected at the wallet with the above mentioned cabal (that, I believe, history will at some point identify).

Reagan won the election in 1980 by taking advantage of a democratic party in disunity and by promoting John Anderson, a liberal republican, to head off the independent voters and democrats who couldn’t vote for Reagan, but who also were disenchanted with Jimmy Carter.  (Of course, Reagan’s surrogates were busy making sure the hostages being held in Tehran Iran were not released until after the election.  Someday, that “dirty trick” – in the words of republican operatives circa Richard Nixon – will also be on the historical record).  Additionally, anyone who’s paid attention knows that George W Bush commandeered the election from Al Gore by “stealing” the electoral votes in Florida with the help of his brother (I still can’t believe he got away with that one) and the Secretary of State (Kathleen Harris) in Florida.  Rigged voting machines and using the Supreme Court to prevent a recount of all the defective paper ballots allowed GW to gain the White House.  (I still am disappointed that Gore didn’t put up more of a FIGHT to gain the Presidency that “we the people” elected him to – the only saving grace is that Joseph Lieberman never became Vice President).

One more thing, GW Bush defeated John Kerry in 2004 via rigged voting machines – this time in Ohio – again with the help of a republican Secretary of State who was also acting as Bush’s campaign manager for that state.  Kerry, like Gore before him, failed miserably in FIGHTING for the election that he almost certainly won.

I’m giving this little history lesson to caution democrats who are using terms like “clown car” to describe the republican hopefuls. (although, I totally understand where that comes from – these people are – well, let me put it this way, I can’t imagine ANY of them becoming president of the United States – and, having their “finger on the trigger.”  Yikes – is the best word that comes to my mind.  However, back to my earlier thoughts:  democrats had better not underestimate the so-called “clown car” – because that invisible “cabal” I often write about has BILLIONS of dollars aimed at the next election and the perfect candidate for them is a blundering idiot who can’t make a complete sentence (AKA GW Bush) who will be easily manipulated.  Considering the amount of money these people have AND the FACT that they have laid out a “ground game” I’m not even sure the democrats understand which is designed to WIN no matter what (ie, “the end justifies the means.”) it would behoove democrats to take this next election VERY seriously!

Let me explain: look back at the past few years; first the Supreme Court named a president and then gave us the Citizens United decision which opened the flood gates to money flowing into politics from who knows where.  To me, there’s little doubt that foreign money is having a HUGE influence on our political scene. Then there’s the obvious reality that, with the help of the Supreme Court, republicans have eviscerated the Voting Rights Act and are employing voter suppression strategies all across America (yes, that means not just in the South).  The “covert” reality has to do with the electronic voting machines which, from what I’ve heard will generate something in the neighborhood of 80% of the vote in 2016.  These machines are manufactured from corporations run (and owned) by republican operatives (some are even owned in part, so I’ve heard, by Mitt Romney) and they are easily “hacked.”  The reports of machines “lighting up” the wrong name have been “out there” since the GW Bush “robbery” of 2000, yet we hear little about this.  It would not surprise me to hear stories of people pressing the button for Sanders or Clinton and seeing Trump or Cruz on the screen (actually, it could happen more surreptitiously, like where you wouldn’t even see the switch – does anyone besides me wonder how, in the recent gubernatorial election in Kentucky the candidate who polled well below his rival won in a landslide??  Virtually, all votes on electric voting machines with NO “paper trail?”)

And, given the FACT, that neither Al Gore nor John Kerry chose to FIGHT this reality, you can see that the democrats are potential “sitting ducks” for another stolen election.  Many will sit back and call stuff like I’m writing tonight “conspiracy theory” and go to the polls in 2016 thinking that in America we have free and fair elections.  The possible end result will be the completion of Karl Rove’s dream of “The permanent republican ‘majority.'”

Every day I spend most of my time, when checking my email, deleting a plethora of emails coming from candidates constantly asking me for money.  I read as many as I have the stomach for and the conclusion I come up with is that the leadership of the democratic party is no match for the “invisible cabal” guiding the republican “ship.”  If democrats get too full of themselves due to the dearth of qualified republican candidates, we could end up with a Donald Trump or a Ted Cruz or one of the other “wack jobs” on the republican stage as president.  Honestly, I couldn’t believe the democrats held their last debate on a Saturday night.  To me, that’s enough to FIRE whoever is in charge of their campaign strategy.

I feel a bit awkward pushing for democrats – I grew up as an independent – but the thought of one of these republicans as president makes me sick to my stomach.  What would that mean to those of us who are moderates to liberals?  I’ll tell you, if this next year isn’t enough to motivate you to get involved in the process I don’t think it will ever happen.  My son may be correct when he says that we need to elect Donald Trump to fast forward us to a disaster large enough to get our full attention.  I’m just worried as to the size of the disaster.  Will it take another Great Depression to get “we the people” to understand where these republicans want to take us?  I’m afraid it could be worse than that.  When I hear candidates suggest we bomb Syria “back to the Stone Age” I honestly get a bit on edge.

I’m a semi-retired sixth grade teacher and some of the reasoning of my sixth graders reminds me of the level of discourse when I listen to people like Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, or Marco Rubio (plus most of the others) present their solutions to problems in speeches and the republican “debates.”  Donald Trump will defeat China (and, presumably Russia and every other adversary on the planet) by “negotiating.”  Seriously!  When asked to elaborate, Trump thoughtfully explains, “I’m good at negotiating.”  He’s proud to let us all know he’s “smart” and our leaders are “stupid.”  I guess that’s good enough for 40% of the republican “base.”  I don’t even know how to present what Ben Carson says – his political reasoning is evidently pre-sixth grade thinking. Ted Cruz is the sixth grade bully who’s going to bomb Syria “back to the Stone Age” – but fearful of allowing Syrian refugees into this country.  Mario Rubio is the student who has an answer for everything – it’s just that the answer is different depending on who is his audience.  I wouldn’t want any of these people as the principal of my school, let alone president of the United States.

Well, this idea among republicans (I believe it’s major proponent was Rush Limbaugh – I’m just sayin) that they lost in 2012 because they weren’t conservative enough has a bunch of politicians running as if they’re going to jump off the right wing cliff!  I believe the worst part out of all of this is that our media is fomenting these people because it’s good entertainment – and, the rest of the world is watching.  I’m sure people around the world are wondering, what the hell has happened to America?  Since 9/11 we’ve been getting eaten alive – from the inside out – by FEAR.  And, the right wing politicians have been pushing an agenda of fear successfully since that tragic date.  Bush/Cheney had their fear colors – ie “terror alerts” which they could heighten right before election day – and, it worked.  I stated back then, it’s much easier for “we the people” to give up our liberties than to get them back.  Based on what I’m hearing as I listen to my satellite radio while driving around and watching what I can stomach of TV “news,” it won’t be long and a majority of Americans will be encouraging the NSA to be spying on our phone calls and emails.  Piece by piece we’ll be surrendering our bill of rights in order to “keep us safe” – just like Bush/Cheney invaded Iraq to “keep us safe.”  And, while all this right wing bloviating is going on democrats are “debating” on a Saturday night.

It will be our entertainment based media that will ultimately be what takes down our nation as those of us old enough to be called “baby boomers” knew it.  I go to work every day and notice that most people are busy just living out their lives.  By presenting Donald Trump constantly on one channel after another, the media is making him into what many who are simply noticing the sound bites or the headlines as a credible candidate.  (Trump is correct when he says he doesn’t have to make adds, the media is constantly giving him free add time) The same for Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Rubio, and the rest of them.  I’m sure that somewhere in the republican party there is actually someone with qualifications that would be traditionally acceptable for the presidency – but, in today’s conservative world, that in itself would automatically disqualify that person.  I don’t consider the republican candidates “conservatives” – to me, they are right wing zealots – giving them something in common with the leaders of ISIL.  I guess my final question would be:  Are right wing zealots “conservative” enough for the invisible leaders of today’s republican party? (people like Limbaugh and his ilk)

I’ll say it again, be careful what you wish for!

Today, I listened to an interview (on Fox “news”) with Jeb Bush (I really shouldn’t expose myself to Fox – I’m a grown adult and know what to expect – I guess I just want to keep up on their propaganda scheme) where Bush had the AUDACITY to accuse our president Barack Obama of getting us “bogged down” in the Middle East.  In addition, he pandered to the Fox “hosts” who were leading him on in their quest to ensure that the United States closes its doors to the Syrian refugees (that, essentially, are the long term result of his brother’s STUPIDITY in invading Iraq some 12+ years ago).  Honestly, I’m getting beyond sick of listening to these people, but as the “stakes” are increasing and the need for the American public to stand behind our leadership increases, I guess all I can hope for is that Fox gets their satellite projectors (or whatever it is they use to spread their venom) hit by lightning.

I’ve said many times on this site that Dick Cheney (or anyone closely involved with the Bush/Cheney regime) should not be allowed a platform on national TV to spew their toxic obstructive criticism of the president who’s got the un-enviable task of cleaning up the mess left behind by Bush/Cheney et al.  It really doesn’t matter what President Obama does or says, anyone affiliated with the republican party (yes, the same group that accused people like me who cautioned against invading Iraq as “un-patriotic”) will take the other side.  While I “get” that’s part of the American “landscape” I just find it almost unbelievable that any “news” outlet could let a Bush accuse anyone of (other than GW Bush/Dick Cheney et al) getting us “bogged down” in the Middle East!  Have these people not been paying attention???? It was George W Bush and Dick Cheney who got us STUCK in this terrible situation!  We’ve been in this “spot” since Bush/Cheney invaded Afghanistan and shortly thereafter took their eyes off the “prize” (Osama bin Laden) and shifted their focus to the oil fields of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

The other day I heard Donald Trump (the apparent “front runner” for these same republicans regarding the 2016 presidential nomination) accuse the American public of being “STUPID.” Well, if Jeb Bush gets away with this latest absurd accusation toward President Obama, then I guess I’m going to have to agree with Mr. Trump on something (which, in itself, is hard for me to stomach).  OMG – does this man (Jeb Bush) really believe he’s qualified to get us out of the quagmire his brother (with the likely manipulation of Dick Cheney) got us into?  Keep in mind, he’s got the same advisers (to an extent) that were responsible for much of the damage done to America and the rest of the world by his brother.  PPPPPPPLEASE, give me a break!!  If you’re reading this, do something – call your congress person or something – the local republican office and tell them to get this guy to SHUT UP!  The actual terrorists are listening!

The reality is (it should be obvious to just about anyone right now) that the problem is getting worse instead of better.  The policies of the United States of America have been a disaster for the past 15 years (probably longer – but, I’ll leave that argument for another day).  I’ve written about my view of the failings of President Obama many times – he SHOULD have allowed the investigations (and likely prosecutions) of the Bush administration regarding the WAR CRIMES committed in ALL OF OUR names during the Iraq (and Afghanistan) fiascos!  The world would have breathed a sigh of relief had “we the people” made a public repudiation of the invasion of a sovereign nation under false pretenses along with the TORTURE and war profiteering and on and on.  That didn’t happen, but it is ridiculous to accuse President Obama of getting us “bogged down” in this civil war.  I would suggest that President Obama has failed to completely remove himself from the so-called “Bush doctrine” which has led to the unrest in Libya and now Syria.  I don’t understand where we have the right to determine (or maybe a better term is dictate) the make-up of the countries in the Middle East.  But it wasn’t Obama who got us into this mess!

Obviously, it is their oil that makes the region so important to America (and many others) – but, in my view, our leaders have continually shown a lack of understanding of the age old “rift” between the different sects in the region.  And, the impression the Americans left in the region when you study what the American tactics were after the over throw of Hussein were, well, let me put it this way – I don’t think we befriended many Iraqi’s – as our troops were barging into their homes and hauling away suspected “enemy combatants” to Abu Ghraib – to be TORTURED for “actionable intelligence” that didn’t exist.  The harsh reality is that the group ISIS (or ISIL as President Obama and others refer to them – or the Islamic State which is how they refer to themselves) was created by the Bush/Cheney regime.  In fact, I believe the founding of ISIS was the day Paul Bremer “debaathified” Iraq by FIRING all the government employees under Saddam Hussein along with his military.  Bush/Cheney showed an incredible ignorance regarding the Sunni Shia rivalry and I’m not sure we’ve learned much since. (In fact, brother Jeb suggested we “rehire” the Arabs we “hired” during the infamous “surge” to help solve the present problem.  I’m no expert – OK, quit laughing, but I believe you’ll find most of those people as members of ISIS)

Obviously, I’ll say it again, just in case you haven’t been listening, I’m not an expert myself, but I have to believe the problems in the region won’t be solved by killing everyone.  If you listen to our republican brethren, you might believe otherwise.  Just like Donald Trump believes (OK, do you really think he’s sincere?) he can somehow round up 11 or 12 MILLION immigrants in America and ship them back to who knows where, when I listen to some of these republican front runners it almost sounds as if they see the solution to the present day problem (and, again, it’s the problem created by themselves) is to somehow “eliminate” all the Muslims.  Well, maybe today one of them said it’s OK to let the “Christian” Muslims – wait, that can’t be possible can it?  They must have said, the Christians in the area are OK, we just need to kill all the Muslims.

OK, I know what you’re thinking.  And, you’re correct.  They were talking about taking in refugees (when referencing Christians) who are fleeing the area because ISIS is brutally killing – well, it must be Muslims, because many of the refugees fleeing to Europe are definitely Muslims.  Of course, many of America’s leaders are balking at us taking ANY of these refugees because one of them might be a terrorist.  But, then I thought I heard Mr. Bush (the aforementioned Jeb) say that if the refugees are Christians than we can take them in.  I took that to mean that Christians can’t be terrorists.  I guess we can all rest easy now. (by the way, I’m not knocking Christians, I am one myself, I just have a hard time stomaching this republican rhetoric)

Isn’t this just the “new America” – the melting pot nation that has been built on immigrants to create a disastrous situation (ie the Syrian conflict in the Middle East ie ISIS) and then turn our backs on the resulting FLOOD of people fleeing the situation in fear of their lives.  I have to believe that we have been acting almost EXACTLY as Osama bin Laden imagined when he schemed up 9/11.  I still remember as a child (a LONG time ago) hearing recordings of FDR as he said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.”  Evidently, bin Laden understood American history better than most of us – like when Abraham Lincoln (the first republican president) said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”  Well, it appears to me that fear is ruling the day in Washington DC among many of our “leaders.”  And, while President Obama seems to be, at least, “the adult in the room” when it comes to our leadership in dealing with the recurrent crises that seem to be “ruling the day,” one thing “we the people” can seemingly count on is a media that specializes in fear mongering and “leaders” who willingly take the “bait,” with the result being we are “destroying ourselves.”

Republicans (and, again, I remind you they, via Bush/Cheney et al, gave us the present mess) are falling all over themselves proclaiming that we should not allow Syrian refugees into our country (unless, of course, as stated above, they are Christians) despite the FACT these refugees are fleeing the very forces created by our government (circa Bush/Cheney – I have to keep reminding of that, just in case you are one of the Americans referenced by Donald Trump above – I’ll let you figure that one out for yourself).  Politicians like Jeb Bush are patronizing the republican “base” that has proven over the past seven years that EVERYTHING is (including, believe it or not, the TARP bailouts, the deficit handed down by Bush/Cheney, obviously these “wars,” etc. – all pre Obama’s inauguration) President Obama’s fault.  It’s impossible to have an adult conversation across party lines in America because the republicans ONLY want President Obama to FAIL.  They, apparently, could care less about America and Americans.  OK, I “get” that – I mean it’s been the “order of the day” for 7 long years now.  But, honestly, it’s beyond the pail when I have to listen to Jeb Bush accuse Obama of getting us “bogged down” in the Middle East.  How can any serious media outlet allow him to make that claim? (You don’t have to remind me, I know that Fox is not a serious media outlet – but in a time of war, wouldn’t you think even they could get beyond wanting our president to FAIL?)

I truly believe in the constitution and the 1st amendment that gives us the freedom of speech.  But can’t we just make a law for the Bush family?  That no one in that family can accuse the president of this?  He’s spent 7 years trying to undo an apparently undo-able mess created by GW and Dick (sounds like a comedy duo – would be funny except think of all they did) – at the very least he should be expected to SHUT UP on this particular subject until or if the American people are, as Donald Trump implied, STUPID – and, put another Bush in the White House.  Can you really imagine Jeb Bush trying to get us out of this mess???  He’d probably hire a Cheney to help him. What a depressing thought!  (I’ll end by saying: think of all the republican “hopefuls” on their “debate” stage – who would you trust with this problem?  Yikes!!!)

If you’ve spent much time on this site it would not surprise you to hear me say that the present “makeup” of the republican party pretty much repulses me.  The United States is spiraling toward second class status and the republicans are doing everything they can to impede the workings of our government in a way that allows themselves to cement POWER via a constant ATTACK on anyone in leadership who represents the democratic party.  They clearly stated their number one goal as President Obama was inaugurated; and it was his FAILURE.  They’ve done everything they possibly can to OBSTRUCT every initiative Obama would support.  That is, if he’s “for it” they are automatically “against it.”

Take for example the Affordable Care Act, popularly referred to as “Obamacare.”  The basic structure of this legislation comes right out of the Heritage Foundation (a right wing “think tank”) and mirrors the plan put forth in Massachusetts by none other than Mitt Romney when he was the governor there.  Of course, even Romney – when he was running against President Obama in 2012 – bought into repealing “Obamacare” despite him being the proponent of a similar plan in Massachusetts.  The Reason?: Of course, the reason is that no republican can succeed without pandering to the puppet masters (ie Koch Brothers, Rush Limbaugh, Fox “news,”).  As I’ve stated many times here, the republicans are following the propaganda scheme of Joseph Goebbels – “The Big Lie Theory” – that if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it’s true.  This theory has proven so successful in America that, apparently, the American people accept that their politicians are partisan liars without the slightest bit of impunity.  Yuck!!!

(For the record, I’m not a great fan of “Obamacare” myself.  I would definitely support “Medicare for all” – you know, the Medicare republicans are busy trying to destroy – so, I’m not holding my breath in anticipation.  Even if they would work with the other side to “fix” Obamacare, I would consider a miracle had happened.  Do you remember the “public option?” Republicans – along with Joseph Lieberman – made sure the private insurance companies didn’t have to compete with “that” – you know, a government program that actually works)

So, the reason for these thoughts today is that, on my way home from work, I listened in to the republican prosecution of Hillary Clinton regarding the attack on the American State Department compound in Benghazi, Libya in 2012 where Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed by Libyan terrorists.  This charade reminds me of the endless Whitewater hearings during the Clinton administration when Mrs. Clinton’s husband was president.  Obviously, the republicans fear Mrs. Clinton regarding her candidacy for president in 2016 and they’ve been on the attack for at least two years now.  This partisan WASTE of taxpayer money makes me sick to my stomach.  As the representative from my home state (Washington) pointed out, accurately, there wasn’t close to this level of scrutiny on the 9/11 terrorist  attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. (Dick Cheney was too busy “convincing” GW Bush to destabilize the world by invading the sovereign nation of Iraq)

Again, if you’ve been around here much lately, you know that I’m a fan (I’ve sent him money) of Bernie Sanders.  I believe the New Deal of the Roosevelt administration planted the “seeds” for the greatest middle class in the history of the world.  It’s the same middle class which has been constantly “pruned” by the right wing republicans who’ve been (masterfully) gaining more and more of a stranglehold on this government they supposedly hate since the 1970’s.  To me, Hillary Clinton is not the person I would get excited to support for president.  However, as I watch these hearings I’m gaining more respect for her and I get the sense that if the republicans are going to this extent to defeat her, I need to reconsider supporting her.  Clearly, it’s the republicans – in the present make-up of the party (there was a day when I could respect many republicans – like Eisenhower, Dirksen, Rockefeller, Javits, and others) – that have to go if “we the people” are going to reclaim the fundamental values of this nation that so many, today, take for granted (and, don’t have a clue as to what happened to create them.  For example, the 40 hour work week, child labor laws, Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, minimum wages, workplace safety, food safety, environmental safety, etc. etc.).

The reality of what the republicans are doing is virtually guaranteeing that Hillary Clinton will be the democratic nominee for president in 2016.  I’ve been thinking, are they doing this on purpose?  Are they afraid of Bernie Sanders? (I would think they’d be trying to help him get the nomination so they could lambaste a “communist.”)  Are these guys so stupid that in their zealous attempt to discredit Mrs. Clinton they turn her into a national hero?  Obviously, she showed a complex understanding of the workings of our government as this committee forced her to explain some reality to them that someone like me thought they would be aware of themselves based on their standing in government.  Obviously, for example, several of the members of the republican side of the committee had little expertise on the workings of the State Department and other important aspects of government.

As I’m pondering all this, I can’t keep the thoughts of republican reality from my head – not only are they propping up Mrs. Clinton their “base” is propping up Donald Trump and Ben Carson.  My thoughts on that “reality:” Are you kidding me?  Donald Trump as President?  Ben Carson as President?  Yikes!!!  Do these people really think that America is so “great” that the rest of the world doesn’t see what is happening here?  Maybe the republicans WANT another “Great Depression” – I keep thinking that the “invisible puppet masters” would probably be able to profit even more off a great disaster like that.  Maybe they are so angry with President Obama because he managed somehow to “head off” that type of disaster following the debacle of the Bush/Cheney regime that they’re attempting to push someone worst than Bush/Cheney on us.  George W Bush was so incompetent as President you would think they’d try to find someone who could actually govern – at least that’s my thinking.  (apologies to my good friend who continues to believe GW to be a good man who was blindsided – my term – by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld – which, to an extent, I agree with) However, I, myself, might be totally caught up in the “trap” they’ve been setting for all of us – all along.

Could it be that those pulling the strings behind the scene have been wishing an economic national disaster on the rest of us all along.  (ie – Trump or Carson for President????)  Clearly, they’re targeting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, the minimum wage, environmental protections, worker safety laws, food safety laws, and, I’m sure, many other aspects of the New Deal “thinkers.” I do find it odd that they argue for their “tax cuts for the wealthy” by claiming that “entitlements” are “out of control.”  (for example, claiming Social Security is the cause of the burgeoning deficit problem)  You NEVER hear them arguing that our defense department – which receives a budget that surpasses the defense budgets of the rest of the world COMBINED – is the budget issue that is out of control and, the more we spend on it, the less “safe” we get.  ‘

Of course, you wouldn’t hear them making that argument, because the plundering of our taxpayers is largely connected to the largess of the defense department’s seemingly unlimited budget.  When’s the last time you heard our congress complaining about money intended for WAR?  Food stamps are causing us to go broke and our HUGE cost overruns on military equipment that is outdated and not even wanted by the military has nothing to do with the problem, if you listen to these people.  Should “things” continue on the present course the American economy will be bankrupted and “we the people” will still be arguing whether it was caused by abortion, LGBT rights, Social Security, Medicare, President Obama, Hillary (and Bill) Clinton, democrats, gun laws, – I’ll be arguing it’s the republicans – and who knows who or what other “wedgies” will be blamed.  All the while those who have “bought” people like the Representatives who created the charade of the Benghazi inquisition are “laughing all the way to the bank.” (I’m not even convinced that the recipients of the money doled out by the invisible “cabal” I often refer to, even know what the REAL agenda is or who the real perpetrators are)

I have a good friend who is a lifelong voting republican with libertarian philosophical views who I have breakfast with most weekends.  He’s a “right wing” Christian and I’m a “liberal” Christian.  We have some interesting discussions and we see things from almost polar opposite directions (except for Jesus).  However, we always have a great dialogue and we learn from each others different perspective.  In fact, this morning I’m pretty sure I heard him say he may have to vote for Bernie Sanders (:o).  In our discussion we talked about the frustration that our “leaders” are unable to have constructive dialogue (similar to our own – it is, we believe, therefore possible) resulting in positive leadership – that would include COMPROMISE.  Both of us are deeply concerned about the nation we are leaving to our children and grandchildren.

I believe it took the emergence of Donald Trump as the republican “front runner” to get my friend to understand why I’ve been calling for the repeal of the present day republican party for years now.  When you consider that reality (Trump – or Carson for that matter – or, really, any of their candidates) with things like the Benghazi fiasco, the present state of WAR in the Middle East (and beyond – thanks to Cheney/Rumsfeld and the “neo-cons”), and the CONSTANT obstruction and dismantling of government by the “right wing,” it’s easy to see why republicans like my friend are reconsidering their allegiance. I have to add here that there’s no way my friend would vote for Hillary Clinton, so it was interesting how he reacted when I claimed that it could be that the Benghazi committee will be responsible for electing Hillary Clinton as president.  (From what I have been able to tell, since that hearing her poll numbers have gone way up – instead of their stated goal of knocking them down)

As I’ve tried to point out numerously on this website, I “get” what the republicans are up to and why they’re doing it.  They are obstructing EVERYTHING that might make President Obama look good and, conversely, make the government work better for “we the people” as they’ve been doing since, at least as far as I can remember, back when Newt Gingrich laid out “obstruction” as the strategy necessary for republicans to gain power in the congress during the 1980’s.  Obviously, there’s a large segment of the American public who either haven’t figured this out or who actually look at it differently than those that think as I.  The reality, from my eyes, is that “stuff” (using the words of Jeb Bush) is “happening” that has never been a part of the political “landscape” until the recent emergence of the so-called “Tea Party” – which is nothing more than the extension – via surrogates – of the well funded agenda put forth by people like the infamous Koch brothers (Charles and David Koch) and others who believe in a twisted form of “free market” philosophy which allows unfettered plundering of our national wealth by a select few – commonly referred to as the “top 1%.” (although this group consists of significantly less than 1% of our population)  To me, the “Tea Party” is just a natural “extension” of those who helped Gingrich “back in the day” – it’s just that this group keeps merging closer and closer to the absolute extreme right.

Essentially, all of this would (and, I think the proponents view it this way) make for good political theater if it wasn’t such a dangerous self-serving strategy.  And, their strategy is very effective – especially since they have a network of business interests which have permeated the political scene right down to the neighborhood precincts.  In a lot of ways I have to admire the political skill of this group despite my TOTAL belief that they are undermining the basic premise that America was founded on and are dead set on destroying our government as those of us commonly referred to as “baby boomers” know it.  When I think about how all this is “going down” I often get to a place where I just accept that in America we get what we deserve, and if “we the people” continue to allow this obstruction to happen without rebelling against it (at the ballot box) then we deserve the consequences.  In fact, we’re well into experiencing the consequences.  For example, the middle (or working) class of America has been stagnant economically since the days of Ronald Reagan.  We’ve seen the budget deficit soar EVERY time they (the republicans) impose another “tax cut” on the wealthiest among us – while waiting anxiously for that boost to the economy (from the “trickle down” effect) that NEVER comes.  Then, with the significant help of the very middle class that’s getting destroyed, “we the people” (inexplicably from my standpoint) vote the “bums” back in.

Again, all this would simply be just good political theater if not for the “unintended consequences” – which are never considered, seemingly, by anyone who’s got access to the “bully pulpit” or the “mainstream media.”  Here’s the thought bugging me today.  I’m listening to how we’ve got international issues with China making aggressive actions in the South China Sea and Russia pushing their “weight” around in Syria – seemingly daring the U.S. to make some kind of bold move that would threaten an even larger WAR footprint around the globe for America.  I started pointing out the inevitability of all this all the way back when President Bush lied us into Iraq while continuing an endless and ill defined “war” in Afghanistan.  That is, Bush/Cheney pushed our military to the limits and President Obama has been unable to “reel” it in.  And, with both Russia and China being fully aware of the republicans in our country violating the long standing tradition that the political obstruction stops at the nation’s borders, these two nations are sensing an opportunity to “test” America’s will for more conflict.  One thing you can be sure of is that before any decisions will be made by the Obama administration the republicans in power will make it clear that they oppose WHATEVER our president chooses to do and they will publicly make sure both the Chinese and the Russians are reminded that our nation is not even capable, no matter the circumstances, of unity.

To me, these people (the republican leaders who are foisting this political obstruction on “we the people”) are borderline treasonous.  Just as many of them would have been totally comfortable with pushing America into default, economically, I believe they have no qualms about pushing us into an extension of what has become “permanent war” resulting from the actions of the Bush/Cheney regime against, well, whoever.  I listened to a member of the so-called “freedom caucus” in the House of Representatives (this is the Tea Party extremists) complain that, evidently, John Boehner negotiated an extension of the debt limit prior to his leaving the House and I’m certain this person was disappointed that they were unable to drive this country into default as a ransom for their right wing political and economic demands – the rest of us be dammed if we disagree with them (and, keep in mind, this is a minority wing of the republican party that has power because people like the Koch’s are providing them unlimited funding – the rest of the republican party is TOTALLY in fear of this caucus – it’s both incredible and disgusting). And this same caucus, while creating a scenario that emboldens the Chinese and the Russians will be the first in line to encourage some kind of (crazy) military conflict with them.  Honestly, the rest of us had better wake up before it’s too late.  Even my “conservative” friends who vote republican in their sleep have children and grandchildren they should be thinking about.

This will go on until WE THE PEOPLE put an end to it – and, the only way to do this (peacefully) is at the ballot box.  In America we have that great privilege – but, unfortunately, most of our people refuse to practice it.  The last midterm election had a turnout south of 35%.  That is shameful.  It’s also part of the republican “plan.”  I’ve heard many republican leaders pointing out that the fewer the number of voters the better their chances.  And, if you haven’t been paying attention, republicans have been busy across the nation making it more difficult for people who would be likely to vote democratic to actually go to the polls.  Republicans complain about “voter fraud” when the only voter fraud is their organized plan to exclude people from voting – or having their votes counted.  George W Bush “won” the presidency two times via fraudulent voting practices.  In 2000 he clearly won the election because his brother (who’s now running for president) was the governor of Florida and managed to purge an untold number of ballots (do you remember the “hanging chad?”) along with a Supreme Court which essentially refused to allow all the votes to be counted.  In 2004 Bush “won” with the help of an Ohio Secretary of State who was also his state campaign manager and, not only rigged the voting machines, but made it exceedingly difficult for minority voters (and others tending democratic) to be able to get to the polls.

The worst part for me is that you have to dig under the surface of the “news” to find out something even close to what actually happened.  Republicans have pushed through legislation that has effectively reduced competition in America (despite all the “free market” claims) to the point where our choices are increasingly limited.  For example, I’ve got ONE choice if I want to have internet in my home (maybe two if I considered satellite), I’ve got two choices for TV, and – to my main point – the “mainstream media” has been “consolidated” down to information coming from a very few sources – dwindling more and more as time goes by.  I believe there are about 9 (right wing) corporations that control over 95% of our “liberal” media.  Is it any wonder “we the people” have no idea what’s going on?  And, this media empire is expert at creating “news” that turns well meaning Americans against each other.  As long as we’re arguing about issues like “gay marriage” the (under the surface) plundering of our economy by this wealthy cabal will continue.  I’m just bracing myself because I’m beginning to realize that the republicans in the so-called “freedom caucus” will stop at nothing to get their way.  They have proven that the default of our national economy means no more to them than a “bargaining chip.”  (those reading this who are “conservative, just think how that will affect you – is totally tanking our economy worth it to you to get your “wedge issue” that a majority of Americans disagree with you on?)  I have to wonder: Is the “freedom caucus” willing to undermine our foreign policy to the point of encouraging war with China and/or Russia?  As I said before, I really hope “we the people” wake up.

(Last night I finally heard a republican speaking some kind of language I could understand.  John Kasich of Ohio – the governor – stood in front of a microphone and called the republican party out.  I’ve been waiting for someone like him to do this for, well let me just say a long time, to “tell it (somewhat) like it is! BUT, make no mistake, Mr. Kasich has played his part in the republicans screwing up America – I’m certainly not suggesting he be the next president!!!  He’s as anti-union and anti-women as they come.  Maybe this will be the start of the republican party defeating itself from within) Update: If you saw the “debate” it was clear Kasich made his rant simply to separate himself from the rest of the wackos and garner some attention.  I could only stomach so much of their bantering back and forth – and, of course blaming all their ills on either the media and/or Hillary Clinton.  No one even approached what has been termed in the past as “presidential.”

On my way to work today I happened to be listening to MSNBC (which is apparently the new destination of Brian Williams) as they were patching in to a news conference being held by House Republicans – really, no idea what the intention was – as, starting with John Boehner and then a line of representatives I only know are part of the republican caucus, they one by one hammered on President Obama (what else is new???) for his threatened veto of a defense appropriations bill that was initially, at least by Boehner, represented as a boost in funding for our troops – those in “harms way” and those at home, including veterans in need of health care at VA hospitals.  Honestly, it sounded so bad that one would think President Obama just has it out for our troops.

However, when one of the members (of the House) said, what I’m sure they were later told was too much to say in public, that among the reasons they were pleading with President Obama to actually sign the bill, was because it would defund Planned Parenthood AND “Obamacare” while, at the same time, accusing Obama of, for the first time in American history, vetoing a defense authorization bill for “political reasons.”  As I listened, all I could manage to think was – first, are these people serious? and second, they must actually believe the American people are completely stupid.  Then, as I did a mind reality check, I was reminded (in my mind) that our “liberal media” has been letting these people get away with this kind of disingenuous dishonesty for the past 30+ years.  And, sure enough, not a word of criticism from Williams or his “guest” pundits about the absurdity of this “press conference.”

America has been on a downward spiral that has been fueled by an organized effort from the business community to destroy the power of the middle class since before the days of Ronald Reagan (although, I’ve been contending for years that Reagan’s election was the “tipping point” in showing the right wing “conservatives” how to turn good hard working Americans against each other through the masterful use of wedge issues and a willingness to adopt the “end justifies the means” strategy used by power brokers throughout human history.  The scariest (and most offensive) part of all this, to me, is how “we the people” have allowed our media to be hijacked by multi-national “conservative” corporate interests who have convinced enough unsuspecting Americans that our media is “liberal” while they’re using it to brainwash a large segment of the population so that corrupt congressional “members” can “get away” with what Boehner and his minions did today.  You could tell by the sound of their voices that several of them were simply repeating “the company line” as they stammered through their part of the charade.

If you haven’t picked up on my “drift” yet, well think of what the chances are that President Obama will agree to defund “Obamacare” (or Planned Parenthood, for that matter) as the ransom for getting republicans to pass a “bipartisan” defense appropriation bill.  This is exactly why I’ve been saying for years now that this republican party – as presently constituted – needs to go.  I realized they have gerrymandered many districts to the point that Donald Duck could run and get elected as long as he quacks republican when asked for his party affiliation – but, there are enough opportunities for Democrats to re-take the House (and the Senate – and, by the way, I’m no Democrat – I’m only acting like one because these republicans are doing everything they can to destroy our government – and, in the process turn this great nation into something resembling a third world country) and begin the process of reshaping this nation in a way that resembles what those of us who are “baby boomers” were privileged to enjoy in our formative years – the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.  If we don’t figure this out SOON and turn the so-called “pendulum” toward the left, what we leave to our children and grandchildren will be shameful.

Those my age – I’m approaching 70 – have spent our lifetimes benefiting from the fight for workers rights, the fight for civil rights, the fight for basic human rights, not to mention all the infrastructure that was the result of the New Deal, the Eisenhower years, and the Great Society – roads, dams, schools, the post office network, plus an easily affordable education with college accessibility, and I could go on and on.  In 1970 approximately 33% of America’s workforce was unionized and blue collar workers could raise a family and send their kids to college.  The tradition in America was that the “elders” were leaving a better place for their children and grandchildren.  Not so much anymore.  Unfortunately, in my view, many of those who are standing in the way of much needed rebuilding and reform are my peers who’ve benefited so much from what transpired in the 30’s and 40’s.  In their defense, they have been the victims of a sophisticated propaganda scheme (right out of the “rule book” of Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda chief in Nazi Germany) that has been brainwashing them most of their lives, but certainly with a focused intensity  from this right wing “push” since the days of President Reagan.

Things that were part of the fringe extreme when I was younger are pushing their way toward the “mainstream” with the help of people like Rush Limbaugh and organizations like Fox “news.”  Of course, in neither instance do you receive anything that resembles “news” – but the reality is that this morning I was listening to what many consider the “hedge” to Fox, MSNBC, and I see them as essentially doing the same thing with a little bit different “bent.”  The reality this morning was that anyone listening (or watching) Williams could easily come away with the idea that President Obama is “against our troops” by vetoing (which I’m sure he will and I certainly hope he does) the defense authorization bill.  Not a single word was mentioned by any of the “pundits” about the absurdity being presented.  And, at least while I was listening, not a single “reporter” at the scene questioned the republicans on that point.  You would think there’d be at least one who would ask a question something along the lines of “how many times and how many ways have you attempted to defund “Obamacare?”

I recently finished reading “Who Stole the American Dream?” by Hedrick Smith (I HIGHLY recommend this book) that lays out in great detail how we got to this dangerous place in our history.  I’ll be writing more on that book soon, but suffice it to say that what we’re seeing today is the culmination of a strategy that was initiated in 1972 by a future Supreme Court Justice (Lewis Powell) when he wrote a memo to the Chamber of Commerce giving a pathway for business interests to overtake the labor movement and gain a stranglehold on political power in the United States.  Essentially, since that memo was written, we’ve seen what has morphed into today’s dangerous spread between those at the “top” and those at the bottom.  As predicted by Marx when he was analyzing the natural demise of capitalism, the numbers at the top is continually getting smaller while the numbers at the bottom continue to grow – in the last few years almost exponentially.  And, of course, that would explain the shrinking middle class that seems to be the topic on more and more people’s minds of late when there’s a discussion about American politics.

Here’s the almost depressing reality of what I listened to today.  “We the people” have no other choice but to rely on our media to act as the “fourth estate” – as outlined by the founders of our nation.  By allowing the corporate conglomerates to gain a stranglehold on the information presented to “we the people” (and, make no mistake, President Clinton is the one who signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which allowed this to happen) the American people are losing their ability to make cogent well thought out decisions as we decide who will govern us.  I look forward to the day when America’s leaders represent Main Street instead of Wall Street.  Unfortunately, I believe the first step in this process is a clear repudiation of the republican party.  I “get” that so many Americans are turned off by the democratic party who don’t seem to have the spines to defend their own fundamental policies.  In 2014 democrats acted as if President Obama was their opposition.  Obviously, they should have run defending his record and their fundamental beliefs.  Once voters send the needed message to republicans, they need to turn their frustration directly at the democrats.  America’s political folly is creating a generation of young people who actually believe government can’t work and who are so turned off by the whole mess that they won’t participate.  Trust me, they are smart enough to understand how STUPID today’s “press conference” was – that is, those who are still paying any attention to how our country functions politically.

I was driving home the other day listening to MSNBC on my satellite radio when there was a discussion (one of many) about the candidacy of Donald Trump.  Of course, EVERYONE seems to be trying to predict when Trump will finally self-destruct, but, in this instance, they were referring to Trump’s on again off again “feud” with Fox “news.”  What struck me was the comment made by Michael Steele (former republican chairman, now a pundit on MSNBC) referring to his claim that Fox is in the business of “creating news” (a comment I wholeheartedly agree with) followed by the half statement that went something like “we all are in the business of crea…….” at which point he collected himself and rephrased whatever he was going to say.  My point is that Steele came as close as anyone I’ve listened to who is involved in our “news” to saying what many of us believe to be the truth.  They are in the business of creating news and not reporting news.

This is not much different from the recent comments of Kevin McCarthy,  who was the presumptive “heir apparent” to John Boehner as Speaker of the House but can’t get past “the tea party,” as he admitted (what any sane person who pays attention to American politics already knew) that the “endless” Benghazi hearings have succeeded in bringing down Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers.  Of course, the hearings are “disguised” to be some kind of “investigation” of a tragedy that the republican house members just can’t get enough of.  You have to wonder, what will they think of next when faced with the potential reality that “we the people” prefer Bernie Sanders to Secretary Clinton.  Put on your seat belts for all the “socialist” comments along with the socialism FEAR mongering.

Somehow, against my will – but due to my technological ignorance, I installed a program that I can’t figure out how to get off of my computer that opens up to “news” coming from Fox “news.”  So, every time I open an internet browser on my computer I’m reminded that today’s “news” media is more about creating news than reporting it.  It’s almost as if the National Enquirer has morphed into being “mainstream” media.  And, those involved are finding more and more ways to intrude on the privacy of “we the people.” (I finally figured out how to remove the “Fox” intrusion off of my computer)

I’m pointing this all out (again) because I almost get sick to my stomach when I choose to watch (or listen) to what is considered the “mainstream media.”  Actually, at one point, I thought MSNBC would provide a “counter balance” to Fox and those who are their “minions,” but the reality is that the cable news business is a business first and news organization – well, I want to say “later,” but I even have a hard time typing that word.  MSNBC is purging those who would be “liberal” from their ranks, the “talk radio” world is and has been controlled by the right wing for decades (example: After Mitt Romney’s defeat in 2012 Clear Channel – owned by Bain Capital – Romney’s company – shuttered the local “liberal” talk station for a Fox “sports” station that generated about 1/8th the listener-ship).  MSNBC recently (I think, I’ve actually stopped listening for the most part) replaced Ed Schultz with Chuck Todd – the same guy who allowed himself to be totally “played” by Mitch McConnell in the last election.  These people are so obsessed with being “fair and balanced” that they are constantly “played” by political operatives who “get” that the worst thing that happens when they lie is a few “Pinocchio’s” from website fact checkers.  The “news” won’t call them out for fear of being labeled “biased.”

Tonight, after the first democratic debate I couldn’t help myself from tuning into MSNBC to hear the comments and there was Chris Matthews essentially blasting Bernie Sanders and promoting Hillary Clinton – of course, while sitting in his pundits chair right along side Clinton’s campaign manager. Do these people (like Matthews) just assume that “we the people” are so stupid we won’t notice the impropriety of this type of “reporting?”  Honestly, I hope others in more significant places than me noticed this and actually report it.  How can someone give an unbiased view of a debate when pandering to the manager of one of the “combatants?”  Clearly, those in places to matter will be doing what they can to prevent Sanders from gaining the nomination.  I’m sure that Matthews believes Bernie is unelectable, but that does not excuse this clear conflict of interest.

In the debate, Sanders was correct in saying we need a “revolution” of people who are educated to what is ACTUALLY happening in this nation which is allowing a select few to continue a MASSIVE redistribution of our nation’s wealth from the middle class to the so-called 1% at the top.  I’m sure people will line up to twist his use of that word (revolution) in such a way as to scare voters who are unfamiliar with him from considering his message.  For those of us who believe in the New Deal of FDR and what it did to create the greatest middle class in the history of the world Bernie Sanders is a refreshing voice.  I’m sure those who “create the news” will do everything they can to ensure Sanders is a “flash in the pan.”

On a related note, today I read that Rupert Murdoch has succeeded in purchasing the National Geographic magazine (and what goes with it).  Most people won’t even notice – but, this is another step in the process of the right wing’s propaganda scheme to continue the bludgeoning of our middle class – in this instance, at the expense of the fight against “climate change.” It won’t be long and you won’t hear a whimper from National Geographic in an area where they’ve been one of the loudest voices.  That’s how the “golden rule” was explained to me years ago when I was taking an economics class in my early college days:  “Them that have the gold, makes the rules.”

When MSNBC is finally purged of all liberal voices (I suppose Rachel Maddow is next) all that will be left will be a conglomerate owned by Murdoch (he, of course, owns Fox “news,” the Wall Street Journal, and many other “news” outlets) and other right wing zealots (MSNBC, I believe, is owned by GE or Comcast – either way, not good) who deny climate change and encourage “trickle up” economics.  These people will continue sucking the wealth from America’s middle class until there is nothing left to suck – and, then they’ll be off to the Riviera or some other exotic place. (Murdoch, for example, is an Australian and the leading outside stock holder in his Fox “empire” is a Saudi Prince)  While doing so they’ll continue “creating news” so that the minions who’ve “bought” their shtick will go to their economic graves thinking the democrats caused the deficit (and every other bad thing you can think of).  (Have you ever had a political “conversation” with a Fox “news” “expert?”  The best way I can explain it is “enlightening” – and, if you don’t get my drift, I mean that TOTALLY sarcastically)

This assault by those who are busy “creating” the news – in a way that benefits their insatiable desire for more wealth – seems endless.  Yet, a true liberal is gaining momentum.  As I listen to Bernie Sanders, I have a hard time disagreeing with much of what he says.  Of course, there is not a candidate out there who’s going to hit the “spot” on everything – let’s face it – each one of the millions of voters are different as are the candidates – but, his focus on the middle class and working class of people, in my view, is where the government should have their focus.  Yes, we need business, we need entrepreneurs, we need investors, and on and on – but, at this point in time, it is the middle class, the working poor, the infrastructure of our nation, the inner cities, the rural areas which have been isolated by the job loss from globalization, our education system, our health care system, and the list goes on, that needs the focus of our government leaders.  EVERYONE will benefit from addressing these needs.  And, if this has any chance of ever happening, we need our media to return to reporting the news instead of creating it!  What will it take?  Well, on this I also agree with Bernie – it will take a “revolution” of people taking ownership of their privilege to be voters in this great nation and taking the time to educate themselves on the true issues of the day without the brainwashing of Fox “news” and their minions.

I’ve been writing on this site since my frustration with the Bush/Cheney administration (beginning with the invasion of Iraq) boiled over to the point I had to find a place to vent.  It turned out that cyberspace was the place – I didn’t know much about it and felt my writing could be my personal journal – no one would be the “wiser” – because I didn’t anticipate anyone finding it.  As it’s turned out, MANY people have found this place and that reality has further motivated me to continue writing (or should I say “venting”) in this “blog.” (honestly, I didn’t know what a blog was when I started – this Word Press format was simply available to me from 1and1.com with whom I had purchased a domain so that I could have my own email address.

That all being said, over the course of time – if you’ve read many of my posts – I’ve been pretty consistent in my “bashing” of the republican party (in particular) and the surge to the “right” in America (generally).  My biggest problem with the republican party (despite my almost complete disagreement with their agenda) has been what I perceive to be their “base.”  That is, my impression is that the leadership of the republican party has, for many years now, been able to count on a block of voters “come hell or high water” to support their agenda almost exclusively due to the issue of abortion.  This group, of course, is often referred to as the “Religious right.”  On many occasions, I’ve referred to myself as part of the religious “left.”  I’ve stated many times that I can’t understand how any Christian would be able to support a party that openly supports corporate welfare while “bashing” those Jesus would refer to as “the least of these” in what often ends up being perceived as a racist agenda. (among many other issues as well)

For example, many on the “right” scoff at the issue of “Climate change,” while their financiers continue to encourage republican legislators to support deregulation when it comes to the environment.  The leaders of the republican party have been almost, it seems, obsessed with somehow abolishing what they refer to as “Obamacare” (The Affordable Care Act which has made medical insurance available to almost 20 MILLION people as I’m writing this) without a single proposal (that I’ve seen) for a better alternative (like “Medicare for all” – for instance).  They have supported policies that make it harder and more expensive for those who want higher education to achieve those goals and, at the same time, policies that have almost encouraged our manufacturing base to moved overseas.  Additionally, they’ve made it almost routine for corporate interests and the ultra wealthy to “stash” huge amounts of their wealth in tax free “havens” in places like the Cayman Islands while, at the same time, CONSTANTLY trying to reduce the taxes of the “top 1%” who they consider the “job creators.”  The result of this one issue, in my mind, is that the “middle class” in America is shrinking and the “working class” – what I call the “blue collar” worker – is being (and has been) under valued.  Since the days of Ronald Reagan (if you’ve been around this site you know I’m not a fan of Reagan) shareholders and executives have been over valued and workers are unimportant (in the larger scheme of the “free market” right wingers).

Then there’s issues such as abortion.  I don’t disagree with those in the “pro life” movement that life begins at conception.  To me that is an un arguable FACT.  I would NEVER encourage anyone to get an abortion (unless, of course, the mother’s life was in danger).  However, to me, the issue is MUCH more complicated than it’s presented in right wing political circles.  How can I be pro-life and not support free pre-natal health care for women who are in poverty?  How can I support “pro-life” and not support health care for the mother and the child after the child is born?  How can I not support early childhood education for children born in poverty?  How can I support cuts to programs like food stamps and low income housing and expect moms who have unwanted pregnancies to be able to care for their child?  And, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango, why are there a lack of consequences for the father of the children in unwanted pregnancies.  I find it interesting (and, disgusting) that most of the people who I’ve heard ranting about abortion – and, sometimes in the most bizarre fashion – are right wing republican MALE politicians.  It bothers me deeply when right wing MALE politicians use this issue to “gin up” their conservative “base” who have no idea what else they get when they vote for these people.

The reason I’m bringing this all up is because I managed to listen to about 30 minutes of Pope Francis’ address to the joint “meeting” of congress on 9/24/15.  With the exception of the Pope’s kind of veiled references to “life” and “the family” (I was presuming – “reading between the lines” – he was referring to “gay marriage”) I thought I could have been listening to Bernie Sanders!  My first thought was, “I’ll bet Fox “news” will be apoplectic over the Pope’s speech and then Rush Limbaugh came to mind and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of attack the Pope would receive from the lead “Ditto head” of America.  Well, thanks to either Media Matters or the Daily Kos I was able to get footage of the response of both Fox and Limbaugh along with some other people that I didn’t quite recognize.  And, the response was HARSH.  Now, keep in mind this response was coming from the very people who’ve been USING the Christian community since the early eighties to get FILTHY RICH and undermine our government to the point where they have almost “free reign” on their abuses of our economy EVERY DAY.  They didn’t care at all for the actual GOSPEL of Jesus being presented pure and simple by the Pope.

And, I think what really scares them the most is that MILLIONS (probably BILLIONS) of people on this planet LOVE this Pope.  I’ve been trying to tell my republican friends (Christians) that the republican party is turning off more people to the Gospel of Jesus than those of us who are believers can encourage to get “turned on” by His teachings.  It kind of humored me listening to Limbaugh and various Fox “news” hosts calling the Pope names that have recently been aimed at our sitting President.  The most common name I heard was “Socialist.”  Well, as that is their major “talking point” of attack toward Bernie Sanders, maybe this address from the Pope will really have a positive transforming affect on this nation.  If people could just watch the video of Limbaugh as he almost fiies out of his chair ranting against the Pope maybe more would get the picture of what a disgusting person he really is.  In fact, I decided I should let you watch this – so, if you want to see the response of all these people who’ve been using Jesus to get rich over the past 35 years and what they think of the actual Gospel of Christ – click HERE.

I’m going to end this here – my point tonight is that I loved what I heard from Pope Francis – he reads the Bible similarly to me and I hope the “conservatives” in America will FINALLY wake up to the reality that the republican party has been using you for many years to pilfer the taxpayers of this nation out of TRILLIONS of dollars of wealth.  And, as the saying goes, “greed has no bounds” and they will not stop until “we the people” stop them.  In America, the “traditional” way to stop them would be at the ballot box.  We (progressives and conservatives alike) will be much better off when people like Rush Limbaugh and corporate interests that align with Fox “news” no longer have an audience large enough to support them on the mass media.  The closest thing to Pope Francis in American politics is Bernie Sanders!  Does anyone besides me find that ironic?

The final irony – it was announced today that John Boehner, America’s Speaker of the House, – who presumably was the one who invited the Pope to speak (I believe Boehner is a Catholic) resigned his position in the House (not just as speaker) the day after listening “up close and personal” to the Pope’s remarks.  I have to wonder if Mr. Boehner had a tough night sleeping trying to reconcile his own record with the remarks of the leader of his faith.  The thought went through my head that maybe Boehner is really a devout Catholic, as I’ve heard him referred on occasion, and he does actually have a conscience.  Who knows, one member of the republican party, knowing in his heart the wrongs he’s inflicted on this nation, repenting – that one thing in itself could end up ensuring that the Pope’s message has a monumental and enduring legacy on this nation. (I’m not holding my breath – but, we can always hope!)

I’m just about finished with my second time through “Angler” by Bart Gellman about the Vice Presidency of Dick Cheney.  I guess I have to read books twice to really get an idea of what I think – I also just finished “The Family” by Jeff Sharlett a second time.  The result of all this is that I’m more convinced than EVER that the present day republican party needs to come to an unceremonious end.  The EXTREME right influence on this party is beyond the “pale” and the simple fact that Cheney is still allowed to even speak publicly tells me either the rank and file republicans have no idea what Cheney did as Vice President, or they still support him and, like him, have no conscience.  Either way, America needs to purge Cheney, those in the “Family,” and people who think like these guys from the “mainstream” of politics.  These people believe in authoritarian government that has a foundation built on fear and despises (secretly, of course) our representative democracy.

Even tonight, I happened to watch a show on MSNBC and there was Cheney, in a little blurp pulled from CNN (I think) showing Dick Cheney being asked his view as to whether Joe Biden should challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president.  First of all, of course he would encourage that, because the last thing Cheney or any republican wants to see is Hillary Clinton running as the Democratic nominee for president in 2016.  Secondly, why would what Dick Cheney thinks be important to anyone.  The man should, by all measures, (reinforced as I read through “Angler”) be in JAIL!  The list of his CRIMES is long and, as I’ve stated on this site many times, President Obama’s refusal to allow accountability to fall on Cheney (and others in the GW Bush administration) was a paramount BLUNDER.  I’m guessing that Cheney is smart enough to avoid travel in places like France, Spain, and other European countries who actually respect the rule of law when it comes to “leaders.”  According to the Geneva Conventions (not to mention our own laws and international laws) Dick Cheney is clearly a WAR CRIMINAL.  (And, I suppose, you’d have to include GW Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, David Addington, and others in that category)  This does not even consider the UNLIMITED felonies committed as Bush/Cheney PURPOSELY violated the FISA law – each violation being a FELONY.  Really, for my republican friends out there who say, “prove it” – read this book, among others.  There’s a boatload of evidence supporting just these two areas of criminality – the authorizing of TORTURE, and the illegal wiretapping of UNTOLD millions of American citizens.  (and, to that I say, if you think I’m wrong, let’s have the investigations that should have taken place shortly after President Obama moved into the White House and took the oath of office to FAITHFULLY UPHOLD THE LAWS!)

As I’m reading “Angler” I do get more of a sense of sympathy for “the decider” – ie GW Bush.  Although, as he himself was quoted as saying, “The buck stops here.”  The reality is that Dick Cheney was DEFINITELY working on the “Dark Side” – with much of his misbehavior done behind Bush’s back – Cheney was quoted as saying he didn’t want to burden Bush with some of the decisions (that Bush evidently didn’t care to be involved in – YIKES!).  When you read this book and realize that Cheney, after vetting almost every important republican in the country – telling each one they were on “The short list” of 3 or 4 in consideration of the Vice Presidency he would soon claim himself – then “threw” Governor Keating of Nebraska “under the buss” in effect ENDING the governor’s political career – and, at the same time, sending an unwritten message to all the other “candidates” that “I’ve got your deepest secrets” as a way to gain unanimous backing of the Bush/Cheney agenda – well, you get the point (I hope).  The man is RUTHLESS (and, that’s the nicest way I can put it).

Cheney was not only dishonest with the republican leaders who he “vetted” for the VP job, dishonest with the American people as he strong-armed this nation into Iraq, dishonest in issues like the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame, (and I could go on, but you get the point) but Cheney (most deviously – and disgustingly) was TOTALLY dishonest with George W Bush.  I’ve NEVER been a “fan” of Bush, but, as I’ve stated many times on this site, (despite the republican creed of wanting our present president to “FAIL”) I truly wanted President Bush to succeed.  When they left the White House I believed (and still do) that George W Bush was the WORST president, certainly in my lifetime, and very likely ever.  I believed then, and believe today (and, history is regrettably proving me correct) that the invasion of Iraq was the most disastrous decision made by a president in the history of this nation.  Who knows what the final toll of the damage caused by that decision, and the number of people killed, uprooted, and who had their lives totally destroyed – in so many almost incalculable ways.  Additionally, Hurricane Katrina has left a legacy of lives destroyed that could have been possibly saved that will probably never be fully calculated; the lax regulation that led to the financial meltdown in the final days of Bush/Cheney also has left damage that, while somewhat correctable, will probably never be measurable as far as the true number of people who had their lives completely turned “upside down” due to that fiasco.  During Bush/Cheney there was one “fiasco” after another.

As I read “Angler” it’s easy to see why so many people were assuming it was “De-fact o” President Cheney as that administration “unfurled.”  George W Bush really did consider himself “the decider” and he relied on a hierarchy of “underlings” that was pretty much the brainchild of Dick Cheney himself.  Incredibly, we had a Vice President “stocking” all the important positions of government with his own “cronies.”  Once the Bush/Cheney regime was “up and running,” there wasn’t much to get in the way of what Cheney wanted.  Incredibly, even in instances where President Bush was not in agreement with Cheney (ie, the second tax cut), Cheney slyly went behind the President’s back, and through his connections in the House, manipulated the process so that in the end he got what he wanted and President Bush had no idea he’d been “snookered” by his own Vice President.  As I’m reading this book again, I keep saying to myself, “incredible” that there would be someone so self serving and arrogant that he could manage to get himself to such a position.  And, it’s even more incredible to me NOW that, with all the evidence out there (for anyone willing to find it) that actual “news” outlets would give this guy ANY kind of platform to spew his venom.  Seriously, the “media” is supposed to be “The fourth estate” – meaning, the final “check” for “we the people” in our constitution’s plan of “checks and balances” to prevent people like Cheney from gaming the system.  The idea that we should be a WAR MONGERING nation is a view held be a few Americans (clearly Cheney is one of them), but “we the people” should be informed as to the reality of people like him before we’re asked to take his word as something that has ANY credibility.  I’m actually guessing that, by now, George W Bush is aware of what Cheney was doing (I’m pretty sure he can read – he should read “Angler”) and I would be surprised if they are still even on speaking terms.

I’m convinced that the TORTURE, the illegal wiretapping, the outing of a CIA agent, the obscene tax cuts (aimed at the wealthiest among us), the politicizing of the Justice Department, just to name a few of the places Bush/Cheney et al went over the legal “lines,” were essentially due to the “leadership” of Dick Cheney and his lawyer David Addington.  I believe they felt that “if the president does it (or authorizes it – even if he doesn’t know what he’s authorizing) it must be legal.”  Those are the famous words of Richard Nixon that were proved UNTRUE during the Watergate era – and, Barack Obama, by blocking the investigations into the illegal activity of Bush/Cheney et al, set the groundwork for future presidents who are as arrogant as Cheney to believe in the “unitary executive” to the point of some form of authoritarian government that is anathema to the way MOST of us every day Americans think.  I mentioned the book “The Family” above, and I can assure you there is a small and very RICH and POWERFUL faction in America who believe almost exactly as Cheney and, to me, they are even scarier because they make their claims in the name of Jesus Christ.  As I read about Cheney and the “Family” I’m reminded of a book I read about Dietrich Bonhoffer, a great German who gave his life trying to rid Germany of Hitler during WW II.  In the early part of the “Socialist Democratic” takeover of Germany (The Third Reich) it was the conservative Christian community that provided the “blind” support of the Nazi movement.  Many think it couldn’t happen here.  Personally, I’m not so sure.

That is the very reason, I believe, that I’m so passionate about encouraging my Christian brethren to abandon their “blind” loyalty to a republican party which is anything but Christian.  I’m now re-reading “Chain of Command” by Seymore Hersch which pretty much corroborates what Gellman wrote in “Angler.”  It simply throws in Donald Rumsfeld and some of the Generals who were involved early on at Gitmo into the “TORTURE” picture.  I’ve read several books that have focused on the American’s treatment of “enemy combatants” (many simply people in the wrong place at the wrong time) since 9/11, and it’s clear that the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Addington et al “regime” chose to ignore the laws of human rights as they led our nation into TWO “open ended” conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Most people know by now that the invasion of Iraq was simply a manifestation of the desires of those involved in the so-called “Project for a New American Century.”  This group of right wing “conservatives” was pressing for an invasion into Iraq during the Clinton years.  9/11 was used as the “excuse” (the “Shock” in the words of Naomi Klein) allowing them to proceed in their quest for Iraq’s oil (and, whatever else they had in mind).

The end result of all of this is a much more unstable world and a United States that is more divided than, certainly, any time in my lifetime (and I’m a WW II “baby”).  Today is the 14th anniversary of 9/11 and I remember George W Bush having a united nation behind him as he sent our forces into Afghanistan to eliminate (one way or the other) Osama bin Laden and his cohorts in Al Qaeda.  I even remember nations around the world standing behind us and offering support (including Iran).  Bush/Cheney chose to throw all that good will away and take a disastrous course (into Iraq) that has turned Americans against each other even more-so than, in my view, during the Viet Nam era.  Regrettably, as mentioned above, untold PEOPLE around the globe suffered, have suffered, or are suffering because of this disastrous decision and the United States “image” has suffered possibly irreparably.  (Certainly, if “we the people” elect another “right winger” in 2016 the damage could be permanent – and, remember in today’s world the economy is global)  It should be clear that I don’t believe we need anyone affiliated with the Bush/Cheney administration involved with present day decision making, but, the last thing we need is Dick Cheney giving his voice on national TV regarding today’s foreign policy issues.  The only time Dick Cheney, the “Angler,” should be publicly defending his record is before a judge.