In my last post I went off on Chris Matthews of MSNBC for his ill informed rant attacking President Obama and Eric Shinseki because of a VA Hospital which was lying about the wait time for its patients – and, apparently other medical issues for our service personnel which became public.  I pointed out that, first of all, anyone paying attention for any length of time KNOWS that our Vets have been getting SCREWED since the Viet Nam war, and secondly, if anyone in America cares deeply about our troops its Eric Shinseki.  It’s the “same old same old” with people like Matthews; “shooting from the hip” to get the headlines and thinking later (that is, if there’s ever any thinking later).  I listen to MSNBC on my car radio and it’s really discouraging to hear people who should know better going off like Matthews.  This attempt at making the news instead of reporting it is, in my view, one of the reasons America finds itself in this perennial political circus – almost as if those in the media are simply there to stimulate “scandals” because of the HUGE amount of money it generates for their corporate interests.

Well, today I thought Matthews did himself one better, as he lamented the Obama administration’s decision to negotiate the release of Bowe Bergdahl, an American Army Sergeant who has been held in captivity by the Taliban in Afghanistan (or Pakistan) for the past 5 years.  There are NO clear facts about the circumstances relating to Bergdahl’s capture – although, if you listen to those on the “right” he’s being portrayed almost as a traitor.  Of course, no one knows exactly what happened to our soldier, but I’ve heard only a few (these are actual people in the military) who are speaking positively about “getting him back.”  To get him back, the Obama administration enacted a prisoner exchange with 5 prisoners (Taliban leaders) who’ve been incarcerated at Gitmo for the past TWELVE years with NO charges being filed against them.  Keep in mind, there’s NEVER been a WAR declared in Afghanistan – we supposedly went there to get Osama bin Laden and members of al Qaeda who were responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001.

Except for the most HAWKISH of Americans people in the United States have wanted Gitmo CLOSED for many years.  Most Americans don’t believe in randomly capturing people (which is exactly what happened in Afghanistan in the early part of the “war on terror”) and even more believe that people shouldn’t be incarcerated indefinitely without charges being filed.  Essentially, in the case of Gitmo (and other “black holes” created during the Bush/Cheney regime) America threw out her constitution and her belief in human rights in exchange for torturing “enemy combatants” (and, remember, if the president considered someone an enemy combatant – they essentially lost all normal human rights most of us take for granted) and keeping people locked up for over a decade with no plan for what to do with them.  Gitmo – along with Abu Ghraib and the other places the Bush/Cheney crowd sent “prisoners” to be tortured or, in some instances, murdered – have left a stain on the United States of America that will take a LONG TIME to remove.  And, with people like Matthews in important places in our “media world” we may never shed the disgrace that, I’m sure, is how we’re considered by most civilized people around the world.

President Obama, to his credit, pointed out that it’s really IRRELEVANT the circumstances in which Bergdahl was captured.  If he deserted, as some have claimed, then he will be held accountable upon his return to the states.  At this point it’s no more than pure speculation as to what REALLY happened five years ago in Afghanistan.  What’s important is that our military code of honor says that we DON’T ABANDON any soldier, no matter what!  If a soldier is captured, we are obligated to remember them and try to get them back.  That’s exactly what our president just did.

Matthews is all up in arms because we “gave up” the five members of the Taliban (remember, it was al Qaeda who attacked us) who he claims could “kill Americans.”  The fact they’ve been held for over 12 YEARS with no charges being filed doesn’t seem to resonate with him.  Additionally, as I listened to him, I got the feeling he was suggesting we keep these people for the rest of their lives – of course, we are scheduled to bring home ALL “combat” troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, and it would create an even GREATER firestorm of international condemnation if we choose to keep these “enemy combatants” after there’s no enemy!  That is, these five and any others who have been held for all these years with no charges need to go back to their homelands.  I not only “get” that they might be dangerous, I believe they are probably way more dangerous than when they were captured because we’ve taken twelve years of their lives because our president at the time decided that they had NO RIGHTS!  What’s gone on at Gitmo has been shameful.  How could anyone who’s been put through that NOT be angry?

Several years ago there was a report that lasted about one news cycle about either two or three “enemy combatants” at Gitmo who managed to hang themselves – with their hands tied behind their backs, their feet tied, and a wad of cloth crammed down their throats so far that no human could survive for more than a minute or two.  I didn’t hear Matthews complaining then – that was still during the Bush/Cheney era.  There are multiple reports of “enemy combatants” MURDERED during “enhanced interrogation.”  Is that what he thinks should be done with these “prisoners?”  Bush/Cheney were paying people to identify “enemy combatants” and the large majority of them should NEVER have been in any captivity!  Where has Matthews been on all of this.

Worst of all, the last comment I heard Matthews make tonight as I was driving home was preposterous – although, I’m sure the right wing chicken hawks were cheering in the isles.  He suggested the solution to his concern that the prisoners released might “kill Americans” was to get them with drones!  I’m not kidding!  This guy’s got a screw loose upstairs!  It’s precisely the type of thinking he’s putting out which has blackened the reputation of this great nation and is turning us into military pariah!   Matthews has even had sensible guests to interview who’ve tried to talk some sense into him, and he lashes back out at them – irrationally.  I have no idea what is motivating this man, but as far as I’m concerned he needs to have a vacation from his show called “Hardball.”  (Remember, Matthews and most of the politicians who created this fiasco – Iraq and Afghanistan – never served a day in the military – or in the case of GW Bush, had his daddy get him into a “rich boys” Air Force reserve squad where there’s NO EVIDENCE that he even attended many of the meetings)

Matthews’ arguments are intellectually lacking and lazy – it’s like he’s too lazy to actually research the issue so that he has information which is accurate.  Instead, it’s as if he’s trying “gin up” the masses as if he was a member of Fox “news.”  Seriously, we only need one outlet doing that ( I say that facetiously because, if it was up to me, Fox “news” – and people like Matthews – would be a thing of the past – maybe it’s ratings time???).  I can guarantee you that once there’s FACTS to go by, the only way you’ll hear a whimper out of Matthews is if he can find some little shred of evidence that Bergdahl actually deserted his post.  Short of that, should the FACTS prove him to be the buffoon he appears to be, he’ll move on to other topics and we’ll never hear a retraction.

For some reason Matthews has joined the people who seem to be looking for any reason to attack our sitting president.  As I’ve stated many times on this site, I have my own issues with Obama, but when it comes to foreign policy decisions, the tradition in America is for Americans to stand together.  It took several years of folly in Iraq before the public turned on President Bush, and President Obama was left a mess that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.  In this case, and in the case of General Shinseki, I believe America would be much better served by waiting to find the FACTS – in both “scandals” – and pulling together regarding the solution.  I certainly believe that those who are essentially proponents of abandoning our soldier who was a prisoner in Afghanistan, would be setting a precedent that would be a much WORSE scenario than what will be the case – NO MATTER – what the circumstances of Sergeant Bergdahl’s capture.  For six months in 1967 (until I was medically discharged due to a bum knee) I was a member of the United States Marine Corp.  I was going to be what were called at the time “90 day wonders” and was destined for duty in Viet Nam.  I can tell you that had I thought my country would even consider abandoning me had I been captured by ANY enemy for ANY reason, I would not have been interested in volunteering.

I believe Americans should be thankful that one of our troops who was in “enemy hands” is now free and on the way home.  Let the “cards” play out as they may regarding what he did or didn’t do while serving his country in Afghanistan (I don’t even know how many times he was deployed there – there’s a lot most of us – including Matthews – DON’T KNOW)  What I do know is that America will be a better place when media people like Chris Matthews start reporting news instead of creating it!  This guy is out of control and his diatribes of the past few days are making me sick to my stomach!

Personally, I look forward to the day when there is no more Gitmo and all the “prisoners” have either been released or had the opportunity to answer to charges  If they’re guilty of some provable offense, then so be it – but, the idea of holding people captive for a lifetime because someone labels them an “enemy combatant” is dangerous territory for a “free” society to tread!  When was it OK to hold someone indefinitely because someone – like Matthews – thinks they MIGHT commit a crime?

Nothing surprises me any more as I watch the political disaster in America continue to unfold.  The latest fiasco has been the PUBLICITY that our veterans have been getting short shrift when it comes to health care and their access to the VA system.  In fact, I believe that today Eric Shinseki stepped down as Secretary of Veteran Affairs in the traditional Washington DC charade that the way to solve problems is to blame someone and hope the “scandal” cures itself.  I can no longer stomach listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or Fox “news” or pretty much anyone on the “right” in America, but I have to say that as I listened to Chris Matthews of MSNBC (I have a Satellite radio in my car) ranting about how someone’s “head needs to roll” I just had to shake my head.  We don’t have REPORTERS who report news anymore – what we have are entertainers who pose as reporters –  who attempt to MAKE the news.

Honestly, I don’t see how anyone who’s been paying attention to America’s Veterans and their plight could have possibly been surprised by the news that Vets are waiting up to four months for health care appointments.  And, of course, it’s the republican “scandal hawks” who are right at the front of this “SCANDAL” (that they are largely responsible for creating) probably suggesting President Obama be impeached – I’m sure it’s HIS fault!  And, really, I guess the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, McConnell, McCain, and the others aren’t enough – for the “shoot from the hip I want a headline” approach to politics – we have to put up with people like Matthews trying to be some kind of “breaking news” reporter pushing out a good man (Shinseki) who should be given the resources to attempt to FIX a problem that has been going on for as long as I can remember.

Here’s what I remember about how republicans address the issue of Veterans.  They send them (MULTIPLE TIMES) into “harms way” and then complain about budget deficits when it’s time to actually FUND the VA and provide the resources for our VETS to get the treatment they deserve.  I seem to remember, just a few months ago being asked to support (through an online petition)  a bill put forth by Bernie Sanders which would have provided significant additional funding for the VA and it was BLOCKED by the FILIBUSTER KING Mitch McConnell and his republican sheep.  If I remember correctly, at that time, the republicans were more concerned with our national debt (largely produced by them) than our Veterans.  I mean VA problems have been MAJOR since the days of Viet Nam.  (I don’t have much money, but I’m regularly donating small amounts [$20 -$25] to Vet groups around the country who are CONSTANTLY making me aware that our veterans are DESPERATE for more public support – this has been going on for years!)

In fact, it’s my understanding that part of the “problem” is that President Obama has found ways to increase the availability of the VA health care system to over a MILLION more Vets than were able to access it before he took office. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong – I’m old and operating on memory)  Obviously, the funding has not increased with the additional numbers of Vets seeking services.  It only stands to reason that the system would be breaking at the seems!  They need more doctors, nurses, and support personel – PLUS, I’m sure, MORE FACILITIES and, in general, MORE MONEY.  I still remember seeing articles on Vets sitting in rat infested rooms at Walter Reed when GW Bush/Dick Cheney were sending them into harms way TIME AND TIME again!  And, these wars have been ongoing for more than a decade.  Why would anyone – especially someone like Chris Matthews – express such outrage when the problem becomes public.  And, of course, the knee jerk reaction is to get rid of Shinseki.  I guess, my question then: who’s going to replace him?  It seems to me that you couldn’t get a more committed advocate to the plight of Veterans – and, probably, the REAL issue – that the republicans that sent all these good young Americans into Iraq and Afghanistan have refused to provide the financial resources to provide them with the best of care that they deserve once they’re home – will be swept under the rug – with the help of democrats and people like Matthews who throw out this disingenuous self righteous knee jerk blame game with NO thought to the problem – or, a willingness to ADMIT that they should have been ON THIS for the past several years – certainly, since the plight of the Vets at Walter Reed became public info 10 years ago.  My guess is we’ll get the same “under the rug” solution this time – it’ll just be someone else besides Shinseki at the helm!

In today’s America, it doesn’t matter what the problem is – you’re going to get irrational, unrealistic attacks against our president from the “right” (republicans) – and, in this case – true to form – spineless inaction or complacency from the democrats.  Personally, I’m sick of it!  The other day I read an excerpt from a speech Elizabeth Warren gave in Oregon at a fund raiser for Jeff Merkley and her message was similar to mine – FIGHT BACK!  I’ve been saying this since the day President Obama BLUNDERED by pardoning the Bush/Cheney regime in the name of “preventing the distraction” – this is a WAR for the heart and soul of this nation.  We are NOT a nation (or at least we weren’t until Bush/Cheney arrived) that openly tolerates TORTURE (OK, I know our CIA has been tolerating torture – or regimes that practice it – since the Korean War – in various places around the world.  What we in America don’t know about our own government is disgusting.

I have to believe that there are MANY Americans who are part of the so-called 99% that understand that our Veterans have been getting screwed since (at least) the days of Viet Nam.  For some reason, we can’t get the government (which is us – isn’t it?) to pony up for those who return from our (needless) wars with every possible injury one can think of.  I mean the statistics on homeless veterans is staggering and disgraceful, yet we rarely hear it mentioned in the news – yet people like Matthews seem surprised when a report comes out critical of the VA.  Now, I understand that where people working for the VA were falsifying documents – they should be fired and/or prosecuted.  Evidently, they’ve been watching our Congress and came to the conclusion that, in America, it’s OK to LIE!  I’m OK with holding every person who was “cooking the books” accountable for their actions.

What bothers me is that so many people IMMEDIATELY came to the conclusion that General Shinseki had to “go.”  The vets I’ve listened to think the world of him.  They seemed to be saying the same thing I’m thinking.  Give General Shinseki the resources to fix the problem.  That would require our Congress to quit arguing about the debt when it comes to our Veterans and their after care – mainly health care and mental health care – plus, to me, addressing the homeless problem.  I can tell you that it was clear to me that the Bush/Cheney administration didn’t make one complaint about what the Iraq fiasco and the Afghanistan disaster did to our budget and our national debt.

So, the only conclusion one can make from all of that is that republicans don’t worry about the debt when sending troops to war, only when they come home wounded and need expensive health care.  Isn’t it time that the American public bands together and says “enough already” to the republican party as it exists today.  General Shinseki was given the blame for the breakdown in the system when it was the republicans who refused to give him the necessary resources to expand it in the face of the HUGE influx of veterans created by the Iraq and Afghanistan “wars.”  To me, this is just more of the “Deja Vu all over again” syndrome that I felt the day George W Bush let Osama bin Laden go in Tora Bora shortly after the American invasion of Afghanistan so that he could LIE the American public into supporting his ill-advised invasion of Iraq.  Shinseki was the General who tried to talk sense to Bush/Cheney before the above referenced invasion of Iraq.  If anyone was a supporter of our troops it was Eric Shinseki.  He was unceremoniously “retired” by Bush/Cheney for disagreeing with their prewar assessment (and, he was proved right over time) prior to the Iraq invasion and now he’s the victim of the numerous casualties that made it back home from that war.  (Click here if you want to read more) If you want to place blame – put it where it belongs!

I’m presently reading a book by Seymour Hersch, “The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House,” which is focused on Henry Kissinger and his years in the Nixon administration.  Just another attempt on my part to grasp a better understanding of “how we got here” in relation to this America I love which seems to be self-destructing.  I still remember JFK warning us about the “enemy within” and that is precisely what will undo our standing as the “leader of the free world” if “we the people” don’t soon come to our senses and reverse the “tilting” to the “right” which began under Nixon but hit “full throttle” with the election of Ronald Reagan.  Studying the Nixon administration is VERY interesting and Hersch does a great (and thorough – over 1000 e pages) job laying out all the details that went into the Nixon White House.  As I’m reading the book (I’m about half way through at this point) I can’t help but feel that everything I’ve read in the past suggesting it was the CIA that “did Nixon in” is true.  Nixon AND Kissinger were motivated by “self” and they both appear to me, as I’m reading this, as  being paranoid to the “nth” degree.

In fact, Kissinger’s self-serving manipulation of people REALLY reminds me of what I’ve read about Dick Cheney.  It’s really a bit scary the more I find out about some of the people who’ve been “in charge” of our nation in the past 40 years.  I can see clearly why the “founders” were so adamant about putting “checks and balances” into the constitution and it worries me more as I wonder how many Americans really understand that the present day republican strategy is to circumvent those checks and balances any way they can.  Their beliefs will NEVER garner a majority without somehow “jobbing” the system – and, the expertise in doing that seems to have gained serious momentum during the Nixon years.  In the Nixon White House both the President and Kissinger were not only terribly disingenuous with “we the people” but, also with their own cabinet members.  It’s really much easier for me to see where Nixon could have received the mantra “Tricky Dick” from his own team members!

Take for example Viet Nam.  Now, for the sake of full disclosure, I have to admit that by the time Nixon took the oath of office I was officially part of the “anti-war” group that he so despised.  I had actually enlisted in the Marines in 1967 only to be discharged after the doctor took a second look at my shattered knee during the final physical.  It took me about another year to realize that the United States was lying about every part of this “fiasco” and, as my high school classmates began to die in Nam I became a member of the protesting students of the “day.”  As I read this book and see the evidence of how Nixon and Kissinger manipulated the media, their own associates, and anyone else interested into thinking they were extracting us from the ill-advised “war” all the while as they were ordering expansion into Cambodia and Laos which only accomplished accelerating the number of human victims to their quest for a political saving grace I feel a return of the anger which engulfed me in the late sixties and early seventies.  Despite the fact I was medically discharged from the Marines without participating in the war, Vietnam had a profound impact on my life.  It angers me to this day that Kissinger and Nixon were not only lying to the American public, they were lying to a large portion of their own cabinet.  The hundreds of thousands of lives lost were nothing more to them than “collateral damage.”

Nixon was so paranoid that he was wiretapping EVERYONE including HIMSELF!  Of course, it was the public’s learning of the “White House tapes” that ultimately did Nixon in – regarding his legal confrontation over the Watergate break-in and ensuing coverup – but, based on all I’ve read over the past few years, it’s reasonable to me to conclude that the CIA (in cahoots with the elite Eastern “oil” establishment) were at the very least “anxious” to get Nixon out of the White House.  Nixon had his close inner circle while important members of his cabinet – Secretary’s of Defense and State, for example – were reduced to superficial roles that included periodic humiliation at the hands of Nixon and Kissinger during any type of significant negotiation – it seems as if both Nixon and Kissinger were more worried about making sure they got credit for any successes than the successes themselves.  Neither man was shy about taking credit for someone else’s idea and they weren’t shy about finding out what others were thinking.  Not only was Nixon wiretapping his own cabinet members and their assistants, but he was wiretapping news reporters and Kissinger suspected Nixon was wiretapping him as well.

Additionally, as has seemingly become American custom, members of Nixon’s cabinet (and Nixon himself) considered political survival and expediency over principal in virtually every tough situation they faced.  For example, it’s hard to estimate how many human beings died as the result of Nixon and Kissinger’s attempt to “save face” in Viet Nam – in a war they were obligated to end (based on their own “promises” and the voters “wishes”).  (Remind you of anything??? ie Iraq and Afghanistan?)  Nixon and Kissinger were involved with the SALT 1 negotiations which were attempting to curb the spread of nuclear weapons – where they ended up accelerating the “arms race” instead of curbing it, they were involved in actually blocking Soviet Union and Egyptian attempts to create peace in the Middle East (anything that The Soviet Union was involved with was “taboo” – again, sound familiar?), they were actively pursuing the overthrow of democratically elected governments around the world (ie Salvador Allende in Chile – this seems like a broken American “record” – as today we are apparently doing the same thing in Ukraine – that is, supporting a tyrant in order to block a democratically elected government that is unresponsive to “our” wishes – some estimates suggest our CIA undermining as many as 50 elected governments since WW II), and, at home, they were doing everything in their power to curb the rights of protestors to freely assemble and express their frustration with the “Military Industrial Complex.”

Many of the “operatives” who were getting their “feet wet” in the Nixon White House are among the right wing extremists who are taking America further “down the drain” as I write this piece tonight.  One of the most powerful is Roger Ailes who has become the head of GOP TV – sometimes referred to as Fox “news.”  I guess it will be up to History to determine the damage this one member of Nixon’s “dirty tricks” team has been able to cause over the years.  Fox is, as far as I can tell, (as a leader of the republican “sound machine) a proponent of the Joseph Goebbels’ “Big Lie Theory” which was the propaganda scheme which propelled the Third Reich into power in 1930’s Germany.  The philosophy: if you repeat a LIE over and over enough times, people will believe it’s the truth – is clearly the basis of Fox’s “reporting” and, unfortunately, the American public STILL has too many unsuspecting dupes to cause a backlash that will (I believe eventually it will happen) put Fox, and those associated with it, out of business.

In Nixon’s quest for a “second term” – it seems reelection was the motivation behind almost every decision (and, yes, I “get” that our system is “infected” by acceptance of that “strategy”)- led to fiasco’s around the world that were almost as disgusting as the Nixon/Kissinger actions re Viet Nam.  For example the Nixon/Kissinger fear of the Soviet Union led them to make terrible decisions regarding the Middle East (Jordan) and Africa leading to many unnecessary casualties and turning many people against America (needlessly).  Then there was Pakistan and the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Bengali’s in the early 1070’s as Nixon and Kissinger turned a “blind eye” to what the Pakistani leader Aghar Khan was doing because he was their “conduit” into China – which Nixon and Kissinger felt was critical to winning the 1972 election.  One decision after another led to massive casualties in places most Americans would never even imagine being, and it was all based on political expediency.  I’m sure many in America today would argue that this was simply “politics as usual.”  I would argue that the Nixon/Kissinger belief that the “end justifies the means” is morally bankrupt and the very image of America around the world, as other “leaders” have followed the same “strategy,”  has been undermined regarding our standing as the “leader of the free world.”

It was during the Nixon/Kissinger years – I believe – that the expertise in manipulating the press became routine in American politics.  It was the attempt to control “leaks” which led to much of the illegal wiretapping that was ordered out of the White House and carried out by our FBI and, unfortunately, I believe The Bush/Cheney regime took up where Nixon/Kissinger left off and we’re seeing remnants of that same policy today under the presidency of Barack Obama – as “whistleblowers” are attacked by our Justice department.  This is the Justice Department that was clearly targeted during the George W Bush/Dick Cheney regime (again, many of the Nixon “holdovers” were in that administration) as a potential political “ally” instead of being the non-partisan source of impartial justice it was designed to be – and, I haven’t seen much evidence that the department has been “fixed” under Obama/Holder.  It doesn’t seem to matter what party controls the White House, but the word “transparency” seems to be nothing more than the hope of us naive liberals.  It’s almost as if a willingness to accept DISHONESTY is a requirement for participation in America’s government.  (what the people don’t know can’t hurt them – right?)

So, in the quest for a second term President Nixon pissed off just about everyone (including Kissinger, based on his memoirs).  Both Nixon and Kissinger were busy trying to take credit for all the “great” decisions that led to the 1972 electoral landslide win for Nixon.  In fact, it was Kissinger’s enormous ambition that led Nixon to “turn” on him as they “sparred” over who should get credit for their “foreign policy successes.”  Of course, when all the “you know what” hit the fan after Watergate, neither Nixon nor Kissinger were so eager to take credit for many of the REAL decisions as they became public.  (like the wiretapping) All the taping exposed what was REALLY going on in their White House, and it wasn’t “pretty.”

“Conservatives” were unhappy with the rapprochement with China because they felt we “gave away” Taiwan, the SALT 1 treaty with The Soviet Union actually accelerated the arms race, they (Nixon/Kissinger) blew a chance for an Egyptian/Israeli peace accord because of their paranoia re The Soviet Union,  hundreds of thousands of people around the world lost their lives because of Nixon and Kissinger’s willingness to support tyrants, and, as all the wiretapping evidence emerged, even members of their own party had a hard time supporting them.  Sadly, the “Nixon tapes” showed Nixon to be a racist, anti-Semitic, and alcoholic, and seemingly a paranoid “madman.”  It’s really kind of scary reading about some of the possible scenarios that were considered in the meetings with his closest advisers.  I guess ambition is a required “quality” of people who reach the highest levels of our government – but, what I’m most tired of is the lack of moral principal from people who publicly profess their self righteousness as the reason people should support them.  (I “get” that this is truly a bipartisan issue)

We need more reporters like Seymour Hersch who meticulously investigate and report what they find – accurately.  I checked on other books he’s written (I’ve read “Chain of Command” and heartily recommend it) and see there is one that delves into the private life of President Kennedy – apparently not so complimentary.  It will soon be in the pile of books next to my bed on the  “to read list.”  If you’ve been around my blog much, you know that I have been a strong ANTI-REPUBLICAN proponent since the day George W Bush ordered troops into Iraq.  However, you won’t find me arguing in favor of many democrats either. I’m coming to grips with the reality that my main motivation to argue against the republican party is that its “base” seems to be the “Christian ‘Right'” which really gives me pause.  I have a hard time understanding how anyone who calls themselves a Christian can support a political party that stands for what the republican party stands for – I believe most of the “rank and file” Christians have no idea what republican “leaders” are really up to.  (I’ve got to emphasize again, I’m not arguing in favor of the democratic party!)

To me, Iraq was Deja Vu all over again regarding Viet Nam.  In fact, as it’s turned out Bush initiated TWO Viet Nam type fiasco’s that are taking MANY years to get out of (the old “peace with honor” routine America seems to think is a “right” and was the driving force behind the Nixon/Kissinger “strategy” in Viet Nam) – as I’m writing this, we (America) have been MIRED in Afghanistan for 13 LONG years – and counting.  The “leading characters” in the Bush war “machine” were men who got their “feet wet” in the Nixon White House – Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney (among others).  It’s almost as if they learned NOTHING.  Not only did the Iraq and Afghanistan wars bring back bad memories for me, but they (the Bush/Cheney regime) included the wiretapping and the attacks on the press (and the war protestors) as well.   Amid all the lawbreaking, Nixon famously said, “If the President does it, it MUST be legal.”  It took a major effort to prove him wrong, but Cheney and Rumsfeld didn’t seem to “get the message.”  The Bush/Cheney administration took the lawbreaking to new heights and, of course, (with the infamous words, “we’re looking forward instead of back”)  Barack Obama set “we the people” back 40+ years in our attempt to hold our leaders to the same standard that we hold ourselves.  (do you find it as ironic as I do that republicans are complaining that Obama’s not enforcing the laws?  That’s one issue where I can certainly agree with them!)

The bottom line here, to me, is that the “dirty tricks” of the Nixon administration (I didn’t even write about the “Plumbers” – the operatives hired to secretly break into places they shouldn’t be) have become routine in American politics.  The philosophy of “The end justifies the means” is simply normal republican operating procedure.  Since the days of Nixon/Kissinger the illegal activity of the republican party has mushroomed.  From Iran/Contra to outing a CIA agent to authorizing TORTURE to MULTIPLE examples of LYING to Congress (Kissinger was not shy about that one) the Nixon administration set the tone for a party that seems almost Mafioso to me.

Again, I’m finally gaining some clarity in my own thinking;  How can someone who believes in Jesus support an organization with those credentials (republicans)? However, Barack Obama’s first “Chief of Staff,” Rahm Emanuel, referred to LIBERALS as “f@#*ing retards.”  Those of us who think in terms of Jesus have a struggle to find a political philosophy – in today’s America – that is inspirational.  Personally, I refer back to the days of the “New Deal” and see a nation whose government was working from the “bottom up.”  That would be a very welcome sight to me after enduring almost 45 years of the (top down) “Trickle Down” philosophy of government.  People like Elizabeth Warren,  Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, and Alan Grayson are out there (and they’re democrats) but they are even fighting the leaders of their own party who are basically (at least in my eyes) a little bit less “corporatist” than their republican brethren.  If that doesn’t change, I fear for our (my) nation!

I’ve spent a lot of time recently thinking about how I could write something that reflects why I seem to be so “against” the republican party.  Right now I’m reading a book by Seymour Hersch about Henry Kissinger and his role in the Nixon administration – which simply confirms again that I believe republicans have continually been WORSE than democrats for our nation.  I’m also in a Bible study on the book of Romans which has helped me to understand that my biggest concern about the republican party is that the so-called “Christian right” is the “base” of the party.  Paul’s words in Romans confirms (at least to me) that the actions of the “Christian right” is turning more and more people off to the message of Jesus, which, Christians we’re supposed to support.  That all being said, the words of the Los Angeles Clipper’s owner Donald Sterling this past week – allegedly racist comments to his girlfriend suggesting that she not “bring blacks to my games” – and, the overwhelming reaction to them has really given me “pause.”

While I TOTALLY agree that Sterling’s words were “abhorrent” as many in the National Basketball Association characterized them – I just have to wonder where everyone’s been as we’ve watched the emergence of the “Tea Party” during the years of Barack Obama’s Presidency.  Where was all the “media attention” when people like Jim DeMint (then a sitting U.S. Senator) were speaking to a “Tea Party” crowd in Washington D.C. where there was a seemingly plethora of signs depicting Barack Obama in a wide range of racially derogatory manners?  Why didn’t anyone notice, in the Presidential debates of 2008, John McCain refer to then Senator Obama as “That one.”  I could go on and on, I’ve heard anywhere from outright racist comments to an unending flow of “code words” as I’ve listened to people like Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, not to mention the many REPUBLICAN politicians who have been unable to hide their HATE of this president.

The now infamous “Koch brothers” – who were busily hiding “under the radar” until President Obama was elected – have been totally UNABLE to hide how they “really feel” about a Black president in the “White House.”  Despite the FACT that their net worth has essentially DOUBLED during Obama’s presidency (from $50 BILLION to over $100 BILLION!) they continue to push the message that Obama is a “socialist” or a “fascist” or a “communist” or he’s “bad for business” or etc. etc.  From my perspective, I’ve got some complaints myself about President Obama, but you would think that virtually EVERY where I’ve been disappointed, people like the Koch’s would be cheering our president.

However, the sad REALITY is that the Koch brothers and (presumably) many of their “brethren” who are helping to supply the endless supply of “Super Pac” money (enabled by our right wing Supreme Court via the “Citizens United” debacle of a decision) to right wing republicans are directly “out of” the remnants of the John Birch society.  Charles and David Koch’s Dad was a founding member of the John Birch Society which called President Eisenhower a “communist.”  I hope you can see how far we’ve come as a nation – today’s republican agenda is pretty much answerable to these two brothers.  When one of the Kochs was on a Libertarian ticket for the presidency back many years ago (I believe it was David Koch) their “philosophy” rang “true” with maybe 1 or 2 percent of Americans.  They’ve been “pressing” their agenda ever since.

And, anyone who doesn’t understand that the Kochs are dangerously smart, in my opinion, are fooling themselves.  They’ve managed to “fund” several “think tanks” that spend their time promoting the Koch’s right wing libertarian philosophy, they’re busy doling out HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars to right wing “Tea Party” candidates as  they continue to push the republican party farther to the “right,” and – probably worse – they’ve funded a group which goes by the moniker ALEC which has infiltrated state and local legislative bodies across America to “provide” pre-written legislation to legislators who (presumably) are unable to write their own stuff.  For example, ALEC is the “force” behind the “Stand your ground” laws passed in something like half of America’s states which allowed George Zimmerman to get away with murdering Trayvon Martin.  They are firmly behind the ANTI- WORKER initiatives which are taking away worker’s rights in one state after another (see, Scott Walker in Wisconsin).  They are funding politicians from the local levels all the way to the national level.  In my mind, they are without peer in the area of political power grabbers.

The other thing I have to mention about the Kochs and their affiliation with the John Birch Society is that “Birchers” are famously part of the white supremacy movement in America.  I subscribe to a group called the Southern Poverty Law Center which is the most significant force against the “white supremacist” movement I’m aware of in America and they point out some glaringly scary statistics since the election of our first Black President.  The “white supremacist” groups have grown at an alarming rate.  (I would suggest you check them out, and if you feel the same way I do, give them your financial support)  So, getting back to my main point – the Koch brothers are much more significant to the future of this nation than Donald Sterling and, yet, you rarely hear anyone in the so-called “liberal media” pointing out the racist nature of their actions against Obama.

In reality, most people knew what kind of person Sterling was long before his jilted girl friend (who must be 40 – 50 years younger than him) decided to make public his ranting during a “lover’s quarrel.”  I can only imagine that he chose not to respond to some kind of blackmail threat on her part and now he’s a piranha in the world of professional basketball.  I “get that” and I’m in no way attempting to defend Sterling (I thought he should have been “gone” long ago) – but where’s the uproar over the racist remarks of Rush Limbaugh, for example?  In my mind, he’s much more OVERT and dangerous than Sterling.  Limbaugh has an audience of millions and Sterling is an owner of a basketball team.  I agree that the NBA has done the “right thing” in banning Sterling, I just don’t understand why the silence against all the other “personalities” who are making racist comments?

Until “we the people” understand that that assault on our fundamental values goes much deeper than one ignorant sports BILLIONAIRE this kind of stuff will continue.  Again, Sterling is “small potatoes” compared to the Kochs!  Why is their racism tolerated?  Why is Rush Limbaugh tolerated?  Why is Sean Hannity tolerated?  Why is Bill O’Reilly tolerated?  Why is Mitch McConnell (republican senate minority leader) tolerated?  and John Boehner and John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and on and on?  Why is the assault on average American workers tolerated?  I think I know the answer – because “we the people” are so fragmented by irrelevant issues that we continue to tolerate a political process that is TOTALLY corrupted by money to the point where our “liberal media” is participating in our own demise.  Isn’t it time for “we the people” to STAND UP and return to the general attitude that America is a “we” nation?  I believe there will soon be a time, either voluntarily or through necessity, that “we the people” will be demanding a return to the principles of the “New Deal.”  (That’s exactly what the Kochs and their compatriots HATE)  A big part of that process will be the result of America deciding that for us to grow as a nation we MUST acknowledge that the battle against racism is not OVER and it goes way DEEPER than the words of Donald Sterling!

Since the days of Richard Nixon republicans have been busily cramming a “secret” agenda down the throats of the American people.  (I believe both Ronald Reagan and George W Bush were much more damaging to America than Nixon, but that’s a story for another time)  And, the Christian movement was commandeered by the false promises regarding the abortion issue.  So, many Christians are supporting a political party in which they have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes.  (to my republican friends, I’m not lobbying for democrats)  This racism in the republican party is NO SECRET to anyone paying attention.  I’ll end my rant tonight by asking again – why such a “stir” for the words of Donald Sterling when the words of Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, and the rest of the republican “front,” (which includes the actions of the Kochs and their brethren) which are much more racially damaging, continue to go unchallenged?

Well, as most people  (I listen to) who are tuned into the political scene have been predicting, the McCutcheon v Federal Elections Commission decision has been rendered by our Supreme Court in a way that may take our focus off of the HORRIBLE Citizens United decision of a few years ago (maybe the debate will be which is worse?).  I can still see in my mind Samuel Alito shaking his head as if to say “no way” as President Obama shared with the nation in his first inaugural address the disaster which was Citizens United.  Here was one of the two “I don’t believe in judicial activism” judges appointed by George W Bush – the other was Chief Justice Roberts  – rendering a decision that made other “judicial activism” decisions of the court seem insignificant.  At the time, I was thinking that Citizens United could be the key component of the right wing republicans succeeding in achieving their “permanent republican majority.”  The dearth of republican candidates for president has stalled their plan – but, the court has been busy doing its part to make sure that America becomes some sort of oligarchy – and, the really sad part of all this is that “we the people” are liable to vote this on to ourselves!  Yikes!

Since Citizens United we’ve seen the court join the right wing fight to suppress the vote by GUTTING the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  The right wing state governments were on the edge of their seats waiting for that decision and they had their suppression tactics “in play” within days of the court’s action.  So, at that time, the “plan” evidently was a MOUNTAIN of money funneled into “non-profit” SUPER PACS by the likes of David and Charles Koch and their group of peers (billionaires) along with an OBVIOUS plan to STIFLE the vote in areas where voters are likely to vote for democrats (all of this with a very subtle support coming from our “liberal media”).  It’s a very sophisticated strategy.  And, now to add to the “party” (from the republican perspective) comes the McCutcheon decision which will allow RICH PEOPLE to spend something like $3.6 MILLION per election “cycle.”  (still not sure what that means?  Every two years? or every 4 years???)

As I understand this decision, it will allow wealthy people to influence MORE of our politicians.  I realize Justice Roberts argued that there is no connection to this ruling and more corruption in our political process.  That makes about as much sense to me as Alito claiming that Citizens United would not open our election process up to foreign money – FLOODS of foreign money.  What is even scarier to me is that Justice Clarence Thomas (who rarely says ANYTHING) argued there should be NO restrictions whatsoever on campaign finances (evidently, they left in place some limits on the amount you can “invest” in one individual politician).  That leaves me the impression that what he (and Roberts) are thinking is that, because there’s more of us (the so-called 99%) than “them,” the only way to “level the playing field” is for the “1%” to be able to spend their way to victory and suppress the vote – so the wealthy can continue to compete in our elections!  They (the court) apparently see NO connections with allowing the unleashing of unlimited funding to politicians and the resulting corruption which disgusts most Americans.  (a couple years ago, I wrote a post suggesting [thanks to my brother in law] that members of Congress should be REQUIRED to wear clothing similar to race car drivers with PATCHES identifying ALL their “SPONSORS” – the larger the “donation” the larger the patch!)

So, let me remind you of the “plan” coming from the likes of Karl Rove and others of his “ilk” who talk about the “permanent republican majority.”  They have a scheme to circumvent the system of “checks and balances” set up so brilliantly by our founders.  This (McCutcheon) decision clearly shows their strategy is working and that the corporate interests (usually referred to as “The Koch brothers” or “billionaires” or the “1%”) are TOTALLY represented by our Supreme Court.  And, keep in mind, all these RIGHT WING justices are on the court FOR LIFE!  I guarantee you, they will keep making these types of suffocating decisions (in regards to us peons and our “democracy”) for a generation – kind of a lasting legacy of the Bush/Cheney regime.

They (“conservatives”) also have a stranglehold on our so-called “liberal media.”  In fact, so much so, that I’m sure a majority of Americans (possibly even a majority of people who read my posts) actually believe our media is LIBERAL (after all, don’t they – the media – keep pointing this out to us?  Doesn’t that make you wonder?).  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I’m finally hearing a bit of “blow-back” from Chris Matthews and others on MSNBC (he’s at least figured out and gained the nerve to call out the racists and their sophisticated use of “code words” on his show “Hardball” as the Obama assault “marches on”) – but, by and large, most in the media accept the ridiculous claims of “fair and balanced” by Fox and some of their surrogates as “mainstream.”  What was once the “main stream media” seems paralyzed by the power of the right wing owners of the media conglomerates.  (do you remember CBS reflexively FIRING Dan Rather because he (correctly) challenged George W Bush’s bogus military record? What message did that send to other reporters?)

Then there’s the control of the House of Representatives (essentially, by the radical “tea party” whack jobs) – possibly in republican “hands” for the foreseeable future thanks to a brilliant scheme of gaining control of state houses in 201o and GERRYMANDERING enough House districts to make it extremely difficult for democrats to retake control of the House.  For example, in 2012 the democratic House candidates garnered something on the order of 1.7 MILLION more votes than republicans, yet still had a significant minority in the “people’s” part of congress.  It will take a MAJOR backlash to republican obstruction to reverse control of the House.  And, I guarantee you that Citizens United, McCutcheon, and the gutting of the Voting Rights Act are all part of the scheme to make that MORE difficult – if not impossible.

Let’s regroup here:  The Courts are in republican control, the “liberal media” isn’t liberal at all, there’s a TON of MONEY coming from wealthy individuals who believe in government by the few that can now be INVESTED in a plethora of politicians who are “for sale,” and by all accounts in 2014 republicans have a reasonable chance to regain control of the Senate.  (The Kochs have already spent over $7 MILLION attacking the democratic senator in North Carolina and evidently there isn’t even a republican candidate yet to oppose her – that says it all)  Should republicans succeed in gaining a majority in the Senate, then the only missing link to their strategy is the White House.  And, they are already (it’s not even close to the 2014 midterm yet) spending MILLIONS to attack Hillary Clinton on the assumption that she will run for president as a democrat in 2016.  These people (republicans like Charles and David Koch) don’t seem to even pause to take a breath.  They have HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS, they are getting up in years, and they seem to be willing to spend whatever it takes to gain their “dream”

Speaking of Hillary Clinton, are you getting the picture as to their “plan.”  With the Court giving them free reign with their money, the media afraid to call them on their despicable behavior, with the House willing to do the bidding of the monied elite who are going to be funneling even more money into their campaign “coffers,” and – should they “pull it off” – with control of the senate, all they need is one win of the White House and “we the people” could be STUCK with republican DAMAGE to our system of government for the foreseeable future. They (republicans) would have – in their minds – rendered “checks and balances” as a moot point.  They would control EVERYTHING!

Their plan would be that we (liberals) would be unable to mobilize enough support to stop their “permanent republican majority” through a combination of their control of “all of the above.”  I can’t even get my mind to understand what part of their scheme is the scariest.  My first thought is that the control of the media – and the willingness of our media outlets to allow complete falsehoods to be broadcast repeatedly as what I can only surmise as a sophisticated propaganda scheme – might be the biggest threat to stopping them should they gain control of every aspect of our government ( I want to add here, Thank God for the internet – but, it won’t surprise me when they exert control over the messaging there – for example, it would be easy for them to “shut up” people like me).  But, when you combine that thought with the idea that the “1%” can spend almost unlimited sums – in different ways – to influence our political process and their plan for VOTER SUPPRESSION is working – ALL of it (their “scheme”) makes me a bit nervous.

I keep telling myself that the republicans don’t have a candidate for office that isn’t so weird that they could NEVER win a national election – so, if democrats continue to win the White House – eventually, the majority of the Supreme Court could be changed to something more resembling the “will of the people.”  However, for some reason, I keep thinking that republicans with all their money might just believe they could cram another Bush down our collective throats and they might talk Jeb Bush into running in 2016.  I keep having this nightmare that a Bush v Clinton presidential race in 2016 could possibly turn off enough LIBERALS to actually – with all these other issues considered – give the republicans a chance to regain the White House (the thought of another Bush as president makes my stomach queezy – probably somewhat similar to republicans looking at the possibility of another Clinton).

Which brings up the thought with which I will close.  I’m convinced all the obstruction (and everything republicans do) has a very specific “stealth” objective.  That is, along with the voter suppression moves they’re making around the nation, I believe they think (and, they’re probably correct) that by “muddying” the political “waters” to the point where “we the people” believe our government is incapable of functioning, even more people will be turned off and will withdraw from actively participating in the process.  For those of you who remember Paul Weyrich (famous republican strategist), he famously said, “As a matter of fact our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.”  He was talking about how republicans should want LESS VOTERS!  Their present “plan” clearly follows Weyrich’s “advice.”  Overtly, they are trying to restrict access to the polls for MILLIONS – covertly, they are trying to turn people OFF by the MILLIONS.  In the end, they are working “overtime” to reduce the number of Americans voting and if liberals don’t vote the republican strategy which includes McCutcheon, Citizens United, and a gutted Voting Rights act will lead to their success!  If you’re reading this and you don’t want multinational corporations running America’s government, participate somehow in the process of voting the present day republican party into the history books!

As an afterthought – if you want a perspective that is not beholden to corporate interests (remember, even MSNBC is owned by GE) check out Free Speech TV.  It’s definitely NOT part of the “liberal media” that sucks up to Fox “news” and America’s corporate oligarchs.

So much to say, so little time (and energy) to say it!  Honestly, that’s how I sometimes feel as I watch the political “landscape” in America.  I have a friend (an interpreter) from Russia who, quite naturally, is very concerned with the “flare up” in Ukraine.  One of her parents is from Ukraine, the other from Russia – and she’s been in America for at least the past 20 years.  Watching the reaction of America’s politicians to this “crisis” is much more difficult for her than it is for me – although, it’s REALLY difficult for me.  If you’ve read my previous post you know how I feel about the republicans who are continuing the ENDLESS assault on our sitting president.  As far as I’m concerned, the republicans wore out their OBSTRUCTIONIST “welcome” long ago.  But, when there’s a world crisis like this – for the McCain’s and the Graham’s and the others to be – essentially – propping up Vladimir Putin as the picture of a “leader” and calling President Obama names that can only be described as “red meat” for their IGNORANT base – we’ve all got much to worry about that these people (republicans) even have an audience.  (My apologies to my republican friends – but, it’s just not “American” to do this – I don’t care who the president is)

Keep in mind that the republicans who are relentlessly attacking Obama are minions to America’s “military industrial complex.”  As we’ve witnessed in Iraq and Afghanistan, there’s not a WAR that doesn’t thrill them – (and their benefactors)  If John McCain would have had his way America would have “Bomb, bomb, bomb”ed Iran and probably North Korea as well.  Of course, they are very selective in who they want to “bomb” – do you remember Bush/Cheney funneling tens of BILLIONS of dollars to Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan so that we could become bogged down in Afghanistan for the past 13 years?  That’s the same Musharraf who was funneling portions of that money to the very people we were supposedly fighting.  Of course, you didn’t hear ANY complaints from the likes of McCain, Graham, and the rest of the republicans back then.

Seriously, despite my reservations about President Obama and his decision to allow Bush/Cheney a “pass” from their transgressions while in office (and, believe me, the rest of the world will be bringing up Iraq to Obama as he attempts to bring sanity back to the Ukraine crisis) as I listen to him in contrast to the McCain, Graham, Rand Paul, etc. etc. crowd, it’s as if President Obama is the “adult in the room.”  He’s going about addressing this Russian misadventure in a measured and thoughtful manner – as opposed to the “shoot from the hip” republicans.  I hope the American people notice this – I really can’t imagine that a MAJORITY of Americans would side with the likes of John McCain or Lindsey Graham.  I’ve been a teacher for 20 years and as a teacher you learn to read people’s eyes – and both McCain and Graham, when spouting the so-called “talking points” of the republican propaganda “machine,” appear to be totally aware of their own lies.  As the saying goes, if you repeat the lie often enough, even the liar starts to believe it’s true. (although, they appear to be cognizant of EXACTLY what they’re doing)

This relentless attack on our president from the “right” is turning so many people off to the political process that it might just succeed at its goal – which is to gain a stranglehold on America’s government by any means possible.  As absurd as many of the attacks are, they are succeeding in TURNING OFF a huge portion of America’s electorate and just might win another election because the “liberals” stay home.  I just finished reading the second part of Blanche Cook’s biography of Eleanor Roosevelt which is focused on the 1930’s in America.  The parallel to today’s challenges are startling.  This lying, greedy, selfish, business oriented group – called back then by historians the “Robber Barons” – is nothing new.  Some of the same battles we’re having or are going to be having today, were part of the routine during Roosevelt’s years in the White House.

While I’m hopeful that President Obama will succeed in calming the international “waters” (actually, I always hope our president succeeds – I even wanted George W Bush to succeed) I’m concerned that the parallels of his approach to government is leading to the same mistakes FDR made prior to WW II.  I’ll try to explain.

While Eleanor Roosevelt was pushing a LIBERAL agenda in the 1930’s, her husband (FDR) was terribly pragmatic on MANY issues of importance to those people who were looking for progressive change (sound familiar?).  In fact, FDR led America right back into recession in 1937 because he became focused on balancing the budget at the expense of expanded JOBS programs and investment in America’s PEOPLE!  Up until 1940 FDR refused to support “anti-lynching” laws, he refused to condemn Hitler as Hitler ramped up the Third Reich, he tried to cut spending in order to “balance the budget,” and he was “landing” way too close to “conservatives” for the likes of people such as his wife.  The end result was FDR turned off his “base” (liberals) and in the mid-term elections of 1938 his party (the democrats) were “slaughtered.”  Does any of this sound familiar?

Well, what many democrats are worried about is an impending republican “takeover” of the Senate in 2014’s election (similar to the 1938 mid-term elections) which will allow them even more room to ensure that our sitting president “fails.”  Of course, my fear is that should this scenario “play out” President Obama will continue his agonizingly frustrating attempts to “placate” the very republicans who won’t rest until he’s considered a worst president than Bush/Cheney.  (Of course, knowing that history will have somewhat of a data driven sense of accountability, that seems impossible – with the exception of books written by republican apologists)  Unfortunately, it is Obama’s attempts at bridging the “gap” between the right wing of the republican party and his own base that is turning off LIBERAL voters and could lead to another disaster this coming November.

Many besides myself predicted what happened in 2010 (the republicans gained a stranglehold on the House of Representatives along with many state governorships and legislatures) because of Obama’s attempts to be a centrist.  This is where I so identified with Eleanor Roosevelt – and, I believe a majority of “every day” Americans do as well – we DON’T want to placate the right wing republicans.  We want to DEFEAT them.  We want them to crawl back under their rocks.  The problem, as I see it, is that with the help of a Supreme Court which somehow declared “Corporations are people my friend” and unleashed the corporate bank accounts on our electoral process, along with Obama’s continued attempts to stand in the “middle,” (which, I have to add, under normal circumstances would, at least by me, be considered admirable)  has led to a circumstance where, despite the democrats advantage in NUMBERS, (I feel) the republicans have the advantage in money and strategy.  The ONLY way democrats will “hold serve” in the Senate and continue to make gains in the House, is if they understand this is a WAR for the heart and soul of this nation.

President Obama needs to, along with democrats, draw a clear distinction – with no compromise – between the republican agenda and their own.  Democrats need to define their positions CLEARLY and push for popular support – they need to make the upcoming election meaningful.  Too many times I’ve felt as if the line between who I was “for” and who I was “against” was razor thin.  That MUST change if the democrats wish to defeat this right wing assault on our nation.  The republicans (with the help of the “liberal” media) have pushed the debate so far to the RIGHT that people like me don’t see much benefit in many of the democratic positions.  For example, I’m refusing to send ANY money (I don’t have much) to President Obama or many other “liberals” until the final decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline and the “Trans Pacific Partnership” (TPP) have been made.

The truth is, I don’t trust the democrats to have the GUTS to block these propositions.  I’ve read enough about the Keystone pipeline to realize their is NO significant benefit to “we the people” for this pipeline being completed, but there is SIGNIFICANT probability that it will create environmental problems that COULD border on catastrophic.  And, the trade agreement, TPP, is just further “recipe” for fewer jobs for our middle class workers and higher trade deficits for our nation.  More than likely, HIGHER profits for American “multinational” corporations which they will “invest” in places like the Cayman Islands in their seemingly unending effort to avoid paying American taxes.

All of this is the natural progression of a political system that allowed Ronald Reagan into the White House almost 35 years ago, and for some reason, despite all the national debt problems, trade deficit problems, jobs problems, social safety net problems, (and more) “we the people” still have failed to recognize that we MUST REJECT this “me me” philosophy and return to the “we” philosophy that created the greatest middle class in the history of the world following WW II.  For 30 years after the end of the second WW there was a strong degree of bipartisan agreement in America that we were obligated to “pull together” in an attempt to support the Civil Rights movement, end poverty, provide education to all, “fix” the environment, and support our people from “the bottom up.”  It was Reagan who pioneered the “Top down” approach (at the time they called it “trickle down” economics – I’ve always called it “trickle up”) to government and it was his administration which began the assault on the “New Deal” which pulled America out of the Great Depression.

Bush/Cheney ALMOST put us into another Great Depression and I’m beginning to think that until that happens again people might be willing to continue voting in republicans.  I hope I’m wrong on that last sentence – but, I believe we need a STRONG leader in the White House who relishes the challenge of fighting off the big money coming from the Koch brothers, Wall Street, and many in America’s so-called 1%. (I realize that many members of America’s financial elite are not affiliated with the republicans – or, at least today’s right wing version)  I get why President Obama wants to bridge the gap between “right” and “left,” but until he remembers that he was voted in to implement “The change we can believe in” and, if it’s not too late, lead the FIGHT against this right wing juggernaut, liberals will continue to be turned off.

Republicans are publicly claiming President Obama is “weak” because of his unwillingness to send troops to fight the Russians (unbelievably as that seems) – but, in my mind, the real reason they believe he’s weak is because he’s allowed them to walk all over him – and, he keeps “reaching out” for that elusive “grand bargain.”  If they are right, he’ll cave on Keystone XL. he’ll continue his support of the TPP, and he’ll ultimately keep trying to reach an agreement (any agreement) on the budget that will turn democrats off.  (like agreeing to cuts in Social Security and Medicare)  If he wants democrats (and independents) to support him he needs to take the FIGHT right at the republicans.  Hit the road and lead a populist assault on the republican ideas!  When it’s clear that President Obama is against Keystone and the TPP and for increases in Social Security and Medicare his supporters will mobilize.  Take those FIGHTS along with fighting for JOBS, INVESTMENT in infrastructure and people and BARNSTORM America – I believe he still has time to be considered a STRONG president and set the precedent for a generation of progressive ideas as America (and my children and grandchildren) progress into the 21st century.

I’m going to try to catch a thought tonight and finish it in the next few days.  I was reading on the front page of the newspaper I buy my wife every Sunday (for the ads :o) about how the Russians have “invaded” Ukraine and our fearless American leaders are “up in arms” over this violation of Ukraine’s “sovereignty.”  Honestly, it almost makes me gag listening to the likes of John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, and the other republicans pandering to our war machine.  I can only imagine what every civilized person around the world – outside of the United States – would be thinking of our “holier than thou” righteous indignation at the Russians.  Seriously, the American voters proved to me what a short attention span they have when they returned republicans to control of the House of Representatives only two years after Bush/Cheney “high tailed” it out of Washington DC.  That’s the same Bush/Cheney who INVADED Iraq and TOTALLY destabilized the Middle East while AT THE SAME time keeping America’s military stuck in Afghanistan with NO apparent “plan” for the last SEVEN years of their regime.

It’s true that Iraq and Afghanistan were foisted on President Barack Obama like a bad dream, but the reality is that Obama seemed in no hurry to get America out of Iraq (he basically followed the prearranged schedule negotiated by the Bush crew) AND  we’re STILL in Afghanistan as I’m writing this – with some reports suggesting we could remain there for another TEN years! (ugh)  So, where do you think America’s leaders stand in the world community influentially as they criticize the Russians?  I can tell you the first thought that came to my mind was – who outside of America’s borders even care what 0ur leaders think on this subject?  By now, EVERYONE who can read a book knows how ridiculous American foreign policy has been since the day Bush/Cheney took office.

Now, I will say that I consider the actions of President Obama a step in the right direction from Bush/Cheney, but it appears to me that he’s beholden to the same “liberal media” that seems to be in the “pocket” of America’s “military industrial complex.”  Let’s face it, America’s media conglomerates (like GE and News Corp) don’t have a history of promoting peace.  And, the people who are actively BUYING America’s politicians don’t seem to have a tendency to encourage reducing America’s “war machine.”  While we’re busy cutting things like food stamps, unemployment insurance, Social Security (so far, they’ve failed at this one), Medicaid, Medicare, taxes for the rich, etc. we seem to have an UNLIMITED budget for WAR.  Yet, we also seem to be the first in line to dictate to the rest of the world to “do as I say, not as I do.”  Do you really think “foreigners” are that stupid?

The truth is that by all measures that ordinary people should use to evaluate a society America is on a downward spiral.  Our education system is losing ground (and, as a teacher, I believe the “fixes” being proposed will ensure we continue in the wrong direction), our health care system is embarrassingly bad compared to the wealth of our nation, our middle class is losing ground to the so-called 1% every year (and, yet there seems to be enough voters to keep “trickle up” economics “in play”), we clearly have MAJOR racial issues in America along with an increasing percentage of people living in poverty (again, despite being the “wealthiest” nation on earth), and EVERYONE knows that our national legislature and political system is CORRUPTED to the core.  We have a CIA that has a history of TORTURE and assassination – in order to provide governments (dictatorships) friendly to American corporate interests, and, presumably, Americans wonder why the international community could care less and less what we think.

As I looked at the headlines regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, naturally there was John McCain and Lindsey Graham at the forefront of BLAMING Barack Obama for America’s role in “allowing” this to happen.  As if Obama could do anything to stop it – just as the Russians had to sit by and watch America invade Iraq in 2003.  Today, I even had to listen to some of the republican “talking heads” call Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, a “leader.”  Seriously, listening to Rudy Giuliani calling Putin a “leader” while attacking our own president during a time of crisis is to me, well almost treasonous! Are these republican “leaders” so STUPID to actually think that attacking our president (of course, they attack Obama reflexively – the issue is irrelevant)  and lauding Putin is helping ANYTHING???  Tonight on TV I saw John McCain doing a fairly good impression of Rush Limbaugh (when Limbaugh stood before the CPAC convention bouncing up and down urging his propaganda on the “conservative” minions) as he almost came our of his suit claiming that this Russian action is the result of our “feckless” foreign policy.

All I can say is that if our foreign policy is “feckless” it’s the result of the difficulty of recovering from the damage caused by the invasion of Iraq, the quagmire in Afghanistan, and the near endless attacks on President Obama since he accepted the unenviable job of reversing the ILLS of the Bush/Cheney regime.  It seems to me that whatever the United States SHOULD be doing in this situation will get lost in the CONTINUED partisan rancor that the republicans have thrust toward Obama since the day he was elected.  They announced before President Obama took the oath of office that their one goal was that he would FAIL.  To me, if they continue this rancor, they should be THROWN out of office.  Honestly, anymore, when I’m forced to listen to republican “leaders” I get sick to my stomach!

It’s true, in my mind, that if Obama had done things differently, America would be in a better position to criticize the Russians.  However, my reasoning – which I’ll get to – is FAR different than McCain’s, Graham’s, Giuliani’s, or the other republicans spouting off with their illicit rhetoric.  If you’ve read many of my previous posts, you know what I’m going to say.  Obama SCREWED up when he allowed the Bush/Cheney administration to walk away from Washington with no consequences.  The natural conclusion to that action would be that Obama was planning to continue enough of the policies of his predecessors that he gave them a “free pass” on some serious illegalities.

I will only bore you with a few of the examples:  Let’s start with TORTURE.  Everyone in the world, as of now, understands that America, the beacon of “Human Rights” in the “Free World” allowed the overt commission of TORTURE in violation of her own laws and international laws – including the Geneva Conventions.  Then there was the outing of a CIA agent, almost certainly by Dick Cheney.  We’ve prosecuted others for leaking “classified” information related to the CIA, but it seems Dick Cheney was considered “above the law” by the incoming Obama administration.  Do you think this is where they began to see Obama with the “weak” label? (he apparently didn’t want the “distraction” of all the investigations) Of course, in relation to all the above, what about LYING America into the Iraq “war?”  Shouldn’t that have been thoroughly INVESTIGATED? (along with all the other misdeeds of Bush/Cheney)  There was the politicizing of the Justice Department (they’re still cracking down on the “little guys” and letting the “big fish” go), the plundering of our economy (TARP), and I could go on.  Obama BLOCKED investigations into all of the above – and more!

And, by doing so, Obama brought all this republican intransigence on himself.  They really do remind me of the sixth graders I teach.  They need clear – “black and white” – boundaries.  President Obama essentially INVITED the republicans to attack him relentlessly – to fill the VOID of what SHOULD have been a PROLONGED series of INVESTIGATIONS of Bush/Cheney which would have exposed the republicans for what they really are (I’m talking here of the inner circle of republicans which was behind the Iraq invasion and the right wing assault on the very fabric of our nation – the people who HATE what’s left of the New Deal)

In conclusion, however, LET ME BE CLEAR, the words of people like John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Rudy Giuliani, Rand Paul, among others I heard today, in a concerted effort to ATTACK a sitting president during a national foreign policy crisis is UN AMERICAN!  The American VOTERS need to put these people out of office.  They are so obsessed with making sure we never have another Black president that they could care less about the well being of this nation.  They’ve assaulted our workers (by refusing any kind of “jobs” legislation), our economically disadvantaged (by reducing our social safety net), our public employees (as they attempt to eliminate every union in the country), and NOW THIS!  When are the American people – republican, democratic, and independent – going to WAKE UP, and see these people for what they are?  I’ll say it again, listening to them today calling Putin a “leader” and attacking our president – made me SICK TO MY STOMACH!

I was driving around today and listening to Ed Schultz (liberal radio “talker”) ranting about how the workers in a Volkswagen Plant in Tennessee voted down an opportunity to join the United Auto Workers Union.  While I’m in total support for the workers’ right to join a union and while I “get” Schultz’ outrage at the influence the governor of Tennessee and their Senator Bob Corker played, along with local politicians who used extreme “scare tactics” to influence the vote, there was one main point Schultz made with which I would have to disagree.  Schultz was contending that the actions of Corker and the other republican (of course) politicians succeeding in blocking this attempt at worker’s organizing would be used as a “blueprint” in future situations and that this action (on their part) was unprecedented.  All I could think of as Schultz was saying all this was: “Don’t you remember Ronald Reagan?”  (This is probably the main reason he’s still considered “holy” by today’s republicans)

In 1981 Reagan, very publicly, BROKE the Public Air Traffic Controllers union (PATCO) and that, according to many (including this from an article on Alternet) has been the blueprint of the anti-union movement in America to this day.  If you don’t want to read the entire article, here’s a blurb: “the PATCO strike has become the pivotal event—both symbolically and substantively—in almost everyone’s understanding of the massive realignment of class power in the United States in the last few decades.”  Joseph McCartin’s book, “Collision Course: Ronald Reagan, The Air Traffic Controllers, and the Strike that Changed America,” makes my point: “No strike in American history unfolded more visibly before the eyes of the American people or impressed itself more quickly and more deeply into the public consciousness of its time than the PATCO strike. No strike proved more costly to break. And no strike since the advent of the New Deal damaged the U.S. labor movement more.”

Again, I’m not disagreeing with where Schultz’ heart is – I’m right there with him – it’s just that the work of people like Bob Corker and the other republicans in Tennessee is just a carryover of what Reagan set in motion more than three decades ago.  This was the turning point in the BATTLE to reverse the gains of workers and middle class Americans who had benefited from the progressive legislation of the New Deal since the days of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.  Yes, there was a time in my lifetime when workers were valued more than stockholders – where there were clear dis-incentives to GREED among the “leaders” of America.  Reagan’s election is what set in motion the slow steady emergence of those who HATE the New Deal and what it stood for.

Lately, we’ve been hearing (or, at least, I’ve been hearing) an increased amount of dialogue centered on the disparity in wealth that has evolved in America to the point where you’re hearing references to the Marx/Engels theories on the inevitable self-destruction of capitalism.  Of course, any time anyone takes issue with republicans over the REALITY that America’s wealth is getting MORE and MORE concentrated at the top (the so-called 1%) and proposing solutions to the problem, we hear words like “socialist” or “communist” or some other irrational terms.  There are many in the republican party who, it seems, will not be happy until there is no social “SAFETY NET” left in America.  They want an end to every government program that benefits middle class Americans including Social Security and Medicare.  (Of course, they have no issue with the BILLIONS taxpayers put out on “corporate welfare” – including, for example, BILLIONS annually to the oil industry – as one example – not to mention [OK, I’m mentioning it] there’s a long list of multinational corporations which don’t pay a DIME in taxes while making HUGE profits)

So, since the day Reagan took office, workers have been losing ground with their wages and America’s middle class has been slowly voting in republicans (and corporate democrats) who’ve been chipping away at the gains made during the 1930’s through the 1960’s.  There was a lot of sacrifice made by LIBERALS over the years to gain things we take for granted today, things like: the 40 hour work week, overtime pay, child labor laws, Social Security, Medicare, environmental protections, food stamps, unemployment insurance, early childhood education, welfare, vacation pay, livable wages, workplace safety regulations, and I could go on and on.  From what I gathered, the issue in Tennessee that has Schultz so riled up wasn’t even being contested by the employer, Volkswagen.  In fact, from what I gathered, they were fine with this and were looking forward to a “council” with the workers and management that would be intended to make the plant more efficient – just like their union plants elsewhere around the world.  (In fact, the only other Volkswagen plant that isn’t a union shop besides in Tennessee is in China – it’s not hard to get the picture here)

The outrage at the interference by the politicians in Tennessee which violated the neutrality of the vote on whether the workers would join the United Auto Workers is warranted, but I just think it needs to be kept in the proper perspective.  The “blueprint” for undermining collective bargaining and labor unions was established in 1981.  When Reagan BUSTED the PATCO union, there was something approaching 35% of America’s workforce being represented by unions.  Today, the total is something like 10% and it’s the lowest total since the beginnings of the Great Depression.  Do you see a parallel here?  Honestly, there’s so much in America today that is similar to the days before the Great Depression that it’s – well (I’ve got children and grandchildren)……..depressing!  I’ve talked on this site at length about the sophistication of the republican propaganda scheme and the sad (to me) reality is that they’ve succeeded in turning the word “liberal” into something that’s rarely spoken in public these days.  To those of us who call ourselves “progressive,”  changing the perception of that word would be a good place to start.  I’ve read MANY books on American history that confirm (OVER and OVER again) that the gains which have benefited the “working class” in this nation (and other nations as well) have come from LIBERALS!  Trust me, it wasn’t “conservatives” putting their lives on the line in the 30’s to gain those “rights” we all seem to take for granted.

It’s true that “we the people” vote these politicians into office who are convincing us to give up these hard fought for rights.  How do they do it?  Well, like I’ve said, the “liberal media” in America is virtually owned by a group of conservative corporations and the journalism in the so-called “main stream” of America’s media is so focused on being “fair and balanced” (to steal the thunder of none other than GOP TV – er, Fox “news”) that you have to look for people like Jeremy Scahill  and Naomi Klein of the Nation, or Greg Palast (I believe who reports for BBC – he can’t survive in America because he reports what’s actually happening) in alternative places in order to have any chance of having “real” information.  And, while I’ve been ranting against republicans (and will continue, it appears, for the foreseeable future) I’m not that thrilled with the alternative – the democrats.  While I hate to “pile on” President Obama (the republicans have been unbelievable in their attacks – they don’t need my help) he’s not the “change I believe in.”

In fact, one place I totally agreed with Schultz was; WHERE were the DEMOCRATS while the republican politicians in Tennessee were BASHING the union and using classic SCARE TACTICS and FEAR MONGERING to make sure any union “revival” didn’t happen on their “watch?” I’ll tel you where I think they were;  I believe the democrats are almost as scared of the republican controlled “liberal media” as the republicans.  If you’ve been paying attention you know that republicans vote in a “UNIFIED” block based on instructions from whomever (people like the Koch brothers and their cronies) is funneling them the HUGE supply of dollars made available thanks to the Supreme Court and “Citizens United.”  If, as a republican, you vote against the “block” according to your conscience, the result is a well funded “tea party” primary opponent – and, an empty campaign “coffer” – not to mention the tongue lashing from the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, and the rest of right wing punditry.  They have an audience of MILLIONS of “low information voters” and, as a republican, “you can’t win without them.”  Democrats, I’m afraid, fear the same message machine – albeit to a lessor extent.  If you’re really outspoken like a Dennis Kucinich or an Alan Grayson or a Jeff Merkley or Sherrod Brown or Elizabeth Warren – you can expect the same forces to funnel UNLIMITED funds into a ruthless attempt to smear you into political oblivion!

I read somewhere today where many “liberals” feel that President Obama is “weak.”  I fully understand why they believe that, and I will leave that one to “history” to determine – there’s plenty he’s disappointed me on – but, I think the WEAK moniker DEFINITELY fits MOST of the democrats in Congress.  There’s too many of them “feeding from the same trough” as the republicans.  The main reason, it appears to me, that republicans have been bludgeoning one union shop after another since the day in 1981 when Reagan took the FIRST step is because most union members evidently tended to vote democratic (and, unfortunately, democrats have allowed them (republicans) to get away with it).  So, instead of attempting to address the issues in a way to draw workers to their point of view, the republicans used the destroy and conquer method.  Worse than this, to me, is the apparent FACT that democrats have pretty much given up the fight to restore America’s workforce to a status where collective bargaining is a considered and accepted right.  I’ve said this before, and the assault on unions bears it out well, it’s MUCH EASIER to give up rights than to get them back!  Republicans want to “stamp out” EVERY union in America.  The  recent “vote” in Tennessee clearly demonstrates, reversing the “trend” will not be easy.

According to economist Joseph Stiglitz, “The decline in unionization since World War II in the United States has been associated with a pronounced rise in income and wealth inequality.”  America’s middle class needs to quit arguing over issues like abortion and gay rights and focus on restoring the protections gained by our fathers and grandfathers during the Great Depression that gave us our great middle class.  The union vote in Tennessee was defeated through the traditional fear mongering and scare tactics routinely used by republicans to “get their way.”  It’s time for leaders (somewhere in America) to stand up for workers and say “enough already” to this kind of bullying.

I managed to stomach “Meet the Press” with David Gregory for about 15 minutes today and it just reminded me about how “low” we’ve gone as a nation in the past 35 or so years.  Our “liberal media” seems to be nothing more than entertainment.   Gregory was moderating a “discussion” on “Obamacare” (The Affordable Care Act) with Rob Portman, a republican senator from Ohio who sounded as if he came right out of the republican “sound machine,” and Chuck Schumer, the democratic senator from New York (I really wanted to say “from Wall Street”) – a corporatist democrat.  As I watched the show (and, it was difficult to keep from turning it off) I kept thinking that the political debate in America has been pushed so far to the “right” since the election of Ronald Reagan that people like Schumer are considered “liberals.”  While I’m no fan of the Affordable Care Act – in reality, it’s the Heritage Foundation’s answer to the health care crisis in America – I struggle to listen to our present day politicians “debating” this issue.  Republicans apparently against helping America’s working poor gain health care and democrats defending “Obamacare” out of instinct.  (Neither talking about the “single payer” solution that makes so much sense)

Because “Obamacare” is the “best we could get” after President Obama’s initial election victory, it seems as if we should be trying to make it work.  Republicans are doing everything they can to undermine the Affordable Care Act – even though it’s their brainchild – because their NUMBER ONE GOAL is for President Obama to FAIL!  While they could be debating the program and trying to work out solutions that make it better and easier for people to access, they are doing just the opposite.  I believe more and more people (I’m talking about media pundits) are (finally) coming to the realization that the idea of a Black person in the “White House” is the motivation that drives EVERYTHING the republican party does. (I truly hope this issue – race – is honestly discussed as we approach the 2014 elections) If I need to clarify;  I believe they (republicans) are attempting to make sure this (a person of color in the “White House”) doesn’t happen again!  (and, I wish the “liberal media” would quit tiptoeing around this reality)  Honestly, they (republicans) remind me of my sixth grade students who continue to refuse to do anything in class and seemingly expect me, as their teacher, to eventually quit expecting anything from them.  Well, I can tell you that the solution to this republican intransigence, as I see it, is not to ignore them, but to vote as many of them out of office as possible.

It’s true that with the help of people like the Koch brothers (who’ve finally been exposed for what the really are) the republicans have a very sophisticated plan to regain power in Washington.  They’ve gerrymandered many congressional districts across America (during the 2010 census) to ensure they keep a block of extreme right wing members of Congress with “safe seats.”  However, when it comes to numbers, as the saying goes, “there’s more of us than there are of them.”  By that, I mean if progressives and progressive leaning independents (like me) go to the polls in numbers, the republicans could easily become an afterthought within a few election cycles.

Of course, they’ve had a long term plan in place for many years that has somewhat come to fruition.  They had the makings of their “permanent republican ‘majority'” in 2000 when the Supreme Court overturned the “will of the people” and, with the help of Jeb Bush being the governor of Florida, anointed George W Bush as president.  I’ve said many times on this site that Bush screwed up their plan with one blunder after another, but what he accomplished was to put John Roberts and Samuel Alito onto the Supreme Court which furthered the Koch led scheme immeasurably.  Many Americans have come to realize the devastation caused by “Citizens United” – The Supreme Court’s undoing of 100+ years of campaign finance regulation and enabling of the uber rich, people like Charles and David Koch – two brothers right out of the John Birch Society heritage, to have an unlimited influence on our present and future elections.  And, anyone who doesn’t understand that Citizens United opened the doors for foreign influence on our electoral process is either totally naive or stupid.  (unfortunately, many Americans STILL don’t have any idea what Citizens United is)

As I listened to Portman this morning, it was as if Charles or David Koch could have been the guest.  These two brothers have “invested” HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in buying our congressional “leaders” (I’m sure Portman is one of the recipients of their largess) and the reality is that if one republican votes against their interests, they can expect to be “primaried.”  The Kochs are the funding behind the so-called “Tea Party” – which is nothing more than a bunch of right wing corporatists, with overt racist tendencies, funding what they orchestrate as a “populist” movement.  The Kochs are in the same mold as “The Family,” which I’ve written about on this site and the Dominionist Christians – all of who believe in rule by the elite – the wealthy and powerful.  These are the people, by and large, who gave us “Trickle down economics,” in the 1980’s (I’ve always called it “Trickle up economics”) and have been able to continually gain strength – despite the failure of their ideas – through a sophisticated propaganda scheme.

This propaganda scheme was taken right from the philosophy of Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister of the Third Reich, and has been extremely effective.  If you take the time to listen to a variety of republican pundits, you will see clear evidence that they are practicing what Goebbels called the “Big lie theory.”  That is, if you repeat a lie often enough people will begin to believe it’s true.  Periodically, I’ll put my own beliefs to the test and force myself to tune into several different sources of what Fox “news” calls “free and balanced” reporting.  What you hear is a variety of different “pundits” pushing the same lie with the same “code words.”  While democrats seemingly attempt to counteract this, they are terribly less efficient liars.

Anyone who believes, for example, that Fox “news” is anything but a propaganda arm of the right wing of the republican party is simply fooling themselves.  Fox has managed to ingrain their propaganda so deeply into people’s heads that it’s almost impossible to reason with any “devotee.”  Today, David Gregory had the audacity to challenge Senator Portman’s claims (falsely, by the way) that the Affordable Care Act will cause millions of lost jobs by asking, why then did he recently vote against extended unemployment benefits.  Gregory pointed out there were something in excess of 50,000 Ohioans who lost benefits when the extended benefits expired.  Portman paused, as if to say – “how could you throw that question in” – and then tried to avoid any kind of sensible answer as he attempted (and successfully) to swing the argument back to the health care law.

The issue of immigration reform came up and Portman, true to being a republican, spewed – carefully – the republican position that there can’t be reform while President Obama is in office because “he can’t be trusted to enforce the law.”  OK, that argument is absurd on its face (and I refer you to my previous post for more on that) but, the point is these people are like a bunch of sheep and they all say exactly the same thing – it’s like they’re pre-programmed before every public appearance – and, people like the Koch brothers and their network of wealthy donors are the shepherds.  (many call them the “puppet masters”)  Almost as absurd, was Schumer’s suggestion that republicans vote to pass the law and stipulate that it won’t become law until after Obama is out of office.  Just further evidence that there’s not much FIGHT in the so-called leaders of the democratic party.  I thought, with friends like that, who needs ………….. you know the rest.

The Kochs have reportedly already “invested” around $30 MILLION into the upcoming 2014 midterm (and, I use the term “investing” literally, because it’s a known fact they don’t “donate”) and they’re orchestrating the “investing” of many other MILLIONAIRES and BILLIONAIRES who believe that government shouldn’t exist (except for the military), they believe polluters should be governed by the “free market,” they don’t believe in taxes or any government regulation of business, and they will seemingly spend their entire fortune attempting to ensure we never have another person of color in the “White House.”  Can you imagine what they’re going to do in 2016 if Hillary Clinton runs for president?  If you haven’t noticed, they’ve already started their attempt to make sure that she never makes it back to the White House.  (or any other woman makes it there, either, for that matter)

What’s so hard for me to understand is that it’s still only 5 years since the Bush/Cheney regime hi-tailed it out of Washington DC with their “tails between their legs.”  With the help of this “liberal media” America’s voting public has a very short memory.  Of course, President Obama is not helping as he continues WAY TOO MANY of the Bush/Cheney policies for my liking (and, many other progressives) and, as I’ve stated here ad nauseum, he blocked the NEEDED investigations into Bush/Cheney misdeeds.  But, let’s, for the sake of brevity, just talk about health care.  I still clearly remember, in the 2008 primary season, Dennis Kucinich lobbying for a single payer health system, to the ridicule of his fellow democrats who considered that (totally practical) idea WAY TOO “liberal.”  Looking back, I think Kucinich seems like he was the “adult in the room.”

I’m re-reading “Chain of Command” by Seymour Hersch and I really don’t understand how any American could “long” for the days of the republicans who brought us endless war in Afghanistan and a “Viet Nam all over again” experience in Iraq.  Of course, the republicans who gave us this policy were the same ones who used deferments or connections to avoid the aforementioned Viet Nam fiasco – but, for some reason felt compelled to create a fiasco of their own.  Our “liberal media” has so much influence (and beholden) from the “military industrial complex” that I seriously doubt we’re anywhere near the point where anyone who might gain the “White House” would be able to have the courage to “call off” the “war machine.”  What would we do with the BILLIONS that would be saved by pulling the plug on that “vacuum” that is sucking the heart out of our taxpayers.  (I read a proposal the other day that Congress pass a law making college tuition FREE – to republicans, a truly educated society must be a scary thing)  We have so many other issues we could be focused on besides the military, but to listen to our politicians that would be total heresy – and, this goes for both of our major political parties.  Kucinich, with his message of universal health care and peace was the MAJOR target of the right wing in 2012 – and, they succeeded.  This year, my guess is that Alan Grayson of Florida, a true liberal, will have to fight MILLIONS of Koch money in order to hold his seat.  (if you’re reading this and have a job, think about sending him some money – I send it in $10 – $25 increments as I have it)

I could give you a long list of “progressive” issues I believe “we the people” should be focused on, but with a media led by the likes of Gregory, it appears the “road is long.”  I would challenge any “right winger” who might happen this way to look at the statistics regarding most of their fundamental complaints from a “prism” beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan.  Things like the deficit and the national debt – look at the statistics from 1980 until the present.  Look at the tax burden and how “we the people” have fared versus Reagan’s “friends.”  Look at the military and what’s happened since Reagan’s election (I know, you’re going to claim Reagan defeated the Soviet Union – that’s an argument for another day).  Look at education, regulations (especially with the financial sector), environmental issues, poverty, look at the middle class in general – compare it from then to now.

I’m not opposed to business, I’m not opposed to ingenuity and progress, I believe entrepreneurs should be rewarded for their success – it’s just the general accepted “mindset” that’s been allowed to permeate our society since 1980 that is so troubling to me.  Anytime you hear a “leader” reminding us of our history (from the “New Deal” through the 70’s) as a “we” society that created the greatest middle class the  world has “known” that “leader” is vilified by our “liberal media” with monikers such as “socialist.”  I believe the evidence is overwhelming that if “we the people” allow people like the Koch brothers and their “ilk” to succeed America will be on the way to second rate status.  Bush/Cheney did immeasurable damage to our “standing” in the world community and, it seems, the only ones who don’t understand what’s happening to our nation is US.  I know there’s a lot of people pushing back, but the truth is that without courageous leaders who will “just say no” to the corporatist interests America will continue to decline.  We definitely need innovative corporations, it’s just that we also need to return to the days when the workers are more important than the stockholders and the corporate executives are not rewarded for greed and self interest.  My point tonight is, with a “liberal media” featuring the likes of David Gregory, “don’t hold your breath.”

I was driving home yesterday and I heard a very strange “sound bite” from John Boehner.  In essence Boehner was saying that the House of Representatives would not likely be voting on immigration reform because they “didn’t trust President Obama to enforce the law.”  OK, if you’re a practically thinking person who has any idea of how our government works, the statement was absurd on its face.  However, once I’ve explained why it’s absurd, I have to include my own reasoning to support Mr. Boehner.

Of course, anyone who’s been paying a “lick” of attention to American politics for the past 5 years knows that if President Obama is for it, the republicans (in unison) are AGAINST it!  I still remember when Arlen Specter, the republican senator from Pennsylvania, voted for the watered down stimulus package in Obama’s first year and Specter was “run out” of the republican party.  (republicans were supposed to make sure our Black president FAILS)  So, we wouldn’t expect any republicans to vote for immigration reform (even though they’ve been pushing for it ostensibly for years) if it would give any credit to President Obama.  Remember, the republican agenda isn’t for America – it’s all about making President Obama a “one term president” – er (it’s too late for that) making him FAIL!  The interesting part of Boehner’s argument is that during the Bush/Cheney reign the immigration problem hit its “peak.”  Much to the chagrin of many of President Obama’s “base” our president is doing a much better (and more efficient) job of enforcing the existing immigration laws than any republican in my memory has done with the result being a HUGE increase in the number of illegal aliens deported.  Does that give you “pause” as you ponder Boehner’s logic? (seems there must be a different reason, doesn’t there?)

We could discuss jobs, unemployment insurance, health insurance, food stamps, help for the needy in general – but, the reality is that republicans will NOT support any legislation which might move America forward because someone might interpret that as a success for our president.  I recently finished Bill Press’s book “The Obama Hate Machine” which does a thorough accounting of how President Obama has endured more scurrilous attacks than any other president (in a country famous for scurrilous attacks on presidents).  Therefore, it comes as no surprise that, along with every other needed legislation facing our nation, expecting republicans to agree to any worthwhile immigration reform qualifies as MAJOR wishful thinking.

By now you might be asking yourself, “How, then, could David be claiming to support John Boehner’s contention?”  Well, Boehner said, “I don’t trust President Obama to enforce the law.”  Well, (aside from the absurdity of that – as hopefully the above supports) I have a very real issue with President Obama’s enforcement of the laws.  Once I finished Press’s book, I started reading (for the third time – I seem to be re-reading many books lately) Seymour Hersh’s great book, “Chain of Command.”  If you haven’t read this book (I believe you should) it follows the Bush administration from their onset (actually, with tidbits from before Bush was “elected”) through much of 2004 with a focus on the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Bush/Cheney administration left a trail of illegal behavior “a mile wide” that, for some unexplainable reason, President Obama chose to make sure NEVER will be investigated with NO accountability for serious CRIMES!  That is why I don’t trust President Obama to enforce the law – I’m sure you can see that my reasoning differs from Mr. Boehner – and, I’ll try to explain to the extent that you can see that my point has validity where I’ve tried to show you Boehner’s claim does not.

Take for example TORTURE! (Yah, let’s start right at the top)  TORTURE is a WAR CRIME.  It’s not only a crime by virtue of international law it’s a crime by our own laws and, in addition, it’s a violation of the Geneva Conventions which the United States was instrumental in getting established over the years.  George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and their “legal counsel’ went to great lengths to establish their “right” to bypass the Geneva protocols and ignore American and international law as they instituted their “enhanced interrogation” during the American invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq.  Hersh is apparently one of the last of the “breed” of “investigative reporter” left in the United States, but he does a great job of laying out the reality that America’s troops (and “intelligence” officers) were routinely committing torture (by accepted standards) and, only the totally naive would fail to realize the authorization came from the Bush White House.

That George W Bush and Dick Cheney are guilty of WAR CRIMES is indisputable because BOTH admitted to authorizing WATERBOARDING on national TV.  (and, they both claimed, falsely, that it led to “actionable intelligence”)  Allowing this grievous violation of law to go unpunished is not only a blight on President Obama (and his legacy) but, it has been instrumental in America’s reduced moral standing in the world.  Here’s the point of view of Manfred Nowak, the “United Nations Rapporteur responsible for torture:”   on 20 January 2009, (Nowak) remarked on German television that, following the inauguration of Barack Obama as new President, George W. Bush has lost his head of state immunity and under international law the U.S. is now mandated to start criminal proceeding against all those involved in violations of the UN Convention Against Torture.  Law professor Dietmar Herz added to Novak’s comments by saying that under U.S. and international law former President Bush is criminally responsible for adopting torture as an interrogation tool.

“The evidence is sitting on the table,” Nowak stated. “There is no avoiding the fact that this was torture.” He pointed to the U.S. undertakings under the Convention Against Torture in which the country committed that it would criminally prosecute anyone who tortured, or extradite the person to a state that would prosecute him. “The government of the United States is required to take all necessary steps to bring George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld before a court,” Nowak said. (These statements are parts of THIS article)

Attorney Wolfgang Kaleck, who brought charges against Rumsfeld before German prosecutors stated that the Obama administration was “off to a good beginning” with its explicit renunciation of torture, but it has not shown how it will hold Bush, Rumsfeld, and others to account for their crimes, nor has it demonstrated its legally obligated duty to provide compensation to torture victims.  In fact, the only thing the Obama administration has demonstrated is that – as per Richard Nixon – “if the President does it, it MUST be legal!”  If you’ve been on this site much, you know that I’ve been lamenting that decision since the day Obama was inaugurated.  (Well, it took a few weeks before I realized that he was going to “look forward instead of back”)

Personally, I would never have voted for President Obama in 2008 had I any indication he was going to violate his oath of office and allow these egregious violations of our laws and international laws to go – not only unpunished – but, not even investigated!  And, look where it’s gotten our president.  Honestly, I don’t think Boehner would have a leg to stand on – in fact, I don’t think he would ever have been Speaker of the House had Obama done his duty.  You could feel a collective upheaval of “liberal” support for the president as he allowed Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld “off the hook.” (hence, the 2010 liberal abandonment of the polls – not saying it’s right, just saying…)

The “Change (most of us) could believe in” was holding those at the top accountable for their misbehavior.  The “pardoning’ of Bush/Cheney was followed by the continuation of the Wall Street Bailouts with nary a financial “wiz kid” prosecuted for gambling away the retirement accounts of countless Americans.  Obama’s refusal to “look back” was like pouring gas onto a fire as far as the right wing in America was concerned – and, the push-back on the president, as stated above, has no parallel in American history.

There’s also the lying our nation into a war, there’s an outing of a CIA agent, there’s the bludgeoning of one government agency after another, there’s the total politicizing of the Justice Department along with “loyalty oaths” (to the republican party) for new hires as Justice (That’s grossly illegal) and on and on.  So, I do agree with John Boehner about my lack of trust that President Obama will follow the law.  It’s just that he’s following the immigration laws to a tee!  I wonder if Boehner wants President Obama to “follow the law” regarding Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and TORTURE?  I would suggest to the president that it’s not too late and maybe allowing the investigations of Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld would get Mr. Boehner’s attention!  (I’d love to hear him complain the Obama WAS following the law!)