I haven’t been writing much lately, but I still spend much of each day thinking about the potential devastation facing America. And, as I study the “moves” of Vladimir Putin and I continue reading about American history I hold out hope “we the people” in sufficient numbers will BLOCK the so-called “MAGA” movement by an overwhelming vote this coming November. However, I don’t have a sense of certainty in something that SHOUD be “certain.” I’m seeing the moves of Putin to seem perilously similar to the rise of Adolf Hitler back in the 1930’s plus those in the “MAGA” movement, and, of course, in particular, Trump mirroring those in the “America First” movement (actual American Nazi’s) back in the lead up to WW II. It’s all actually SHOCKING!

I’m presently reading “Prequel” by Rachel Maddow which, to put it mildly, is an eye opening book. If you haven’t read it, I heartily recommend it. I’m about two thirds through the book (I just read a chapter or so at bed time) and the detail of the Nazi movement during the thirties in the United States is sobering, to say the least. Thousands of men, women, and children were radicalized into a pro-Hitler movement that pretty much spanned the nation in “cells” with an oversized element in New York. The goal of these American Nazi’s was to topple our democratic republic and turn America into a Nazi dictatorship. For those who, in today’s world, believe it “can’t happen here” I would recommend they would read this book.

In addition, as I was watching a YouTube video relating to the music I still continue to frustrate myself in learning I noticed a clip from PBS regarding “Nazi Town USA.” I clicked on the link (You can see it HERE) and, very similar to Ms.Maddow’s book this video was mind opening. I wrote a while back – after I had just started Maddow’s book -that I thought I had read a lot about American History at that time (1930’s) but, I was sorely mistaken. I knew Charles Lindbergh and Henry Ford were, in essence, Nazi traitors. But, the depth of the Nazi reach into America went so much further. In fact, the video of “Nazi Town USA” was mind boggling. This ALL should have been part of American history studies since the end of WW II.

Here’s one of the things I couldn’t help but “ponder” even though there’s nothing in Maddow’s book, at least to this point (or in the video) to confirm my suspicions, but I couldn’t help but think many who were being brainwashed into the Nazi movement were the children of the adults marching in lock step with swastika armbands, carrying Nazi flags, and saluting their leaders with the “heil” salute. This “infection” of America reached well into the halls of Congress and was virtually ignored by the FBI (under J Edgar Hoover) because Hoover was so “anti-communist.” I point this out because those children would be in their eighties today and THEIR children would be, potentially, many of the adults in America who make up Trump’s so-called “MAGA base.”

Keeping in mind, as MY mind can’t stop pondering the possibilities, that Trump is a second generation GERMAN immigrant to this nation. Their is documentation of Fred Trump, Donald’s father, participating in rallies of the KKK back in the 1920’s. The KKK and the American Nazi’s were, in essence, “cut from the same cloth.” I have a hard time believing back when ten’s of thousands of American Nazi’s filled Madison Square Garden for a Nazi rally that Fred Trump wasn’t there – either in person or in spirit. It was a rally populated by German immigrants who were simpathetic to Hitler. There were American flags and German flags bearing huge swastikas as a backdrop to the stage.

I point this out because when you consider what Vladimir Putin is doing in his attempt to create division in America and draw what amounts to, from my viewpoint, Nazi sympathizers into the “Russian fold.” As I read more about the time leading up to WW II I see “characters” on today’s American scene who remind me of the “appeasers” to Hitler back in “the day.” (And, of course, Putin seems to be following Hitler’s “playbook” almost to a “T”) Members of Congress like Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona, Ted Cruz of Texas, Matt Gaetz of Florida, and on and on – members of Congress who some have termed as the “Russian Wing” of our national legislature seem willing to sacrifice Ukraine to Putin, as if that’s all he’s after.

For example, the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson has been refusing to bring a Senate passed bill which provides aid to Ukraine (along with aid to Israel, Taiwan, and the Palestinian people in GAZA) to the House floor for a vote. Ms. Greene has threatened to call her “motion to vacate” up for a vote if Mr. Johnson allows the House to pass the aid for Ukraine – which would pass with a HUGE bipartisan majority if only it would be brought to the “floor” for a vote. Instead, the House schedule calls for votes regarding, and I’m not kidding, various acts related to “we the people’s” appliances – like kitchen and laundry appliances. I kid you not! If Ukraine ultimately falls to Russia it will be largely the result of Speaker Johnson’s failure to act.

So far, since the beginning of this Congress the ONLY things passed have been bills to keep the government running – which required bipartisan majorities to pass each time a government shutdown was “looming.” Former speaker Kevin McCarthy was “axed” because of his willingness to work with democrats to avoid, in one case, a government default and in the other “kicking the can down the road” to prevent a “shutdown.” The right wing members of the House would gladly cause a government default on the national debt because, well, as I’m trying to point out they are not friendly to our form of government and they’re out to destroy it. Again, they remind me of the Nazi sympathizers infecting America leading up to WW II.

Putin, for example, is spreading right wing propaganda designed to undermine America’s “open society” – pitting Americans against each other with the one side thinking it would be OK to side with Russia in it’s attempted land grab in Ukraine. Our “liberal media” seems incapable of accurately reporting on what Putin is “up to” and thier focus on Trump’s legal issues, to me, is what is allowing this MAGA disaster to spread to the point where Trump actually has the possibility to “Make America like Russia.” This “Make (fill in the blank) Great Again) mantra is nothing new – in fact, Hitler’s Germany was saying “Make Germany Great Again.” (Nothing Trump does or says is “original”)

The most sobering part in all of this, as I spend a lot of time thinking about America’s present dilemma, is that Trump’s base will still be there, for example, if he’s convicted of a series of FELONIES causing enough republicans to refuse to vote for him allowing President Biden a second term. As I study the history of this nation the willingness of so many Americans to profess what amounts to right wing Nazi propaganda causes me to believe the “battle” for the soul of this nation, as President Biden puts it, will go on long after the results of the November 2024 election.

To me, the heart of the problem is that so many Americans have no idea what transpired in the country leading up to WW II and I have to believe they don’t even realize they’re potentially supporting a fascist movement in America simply by voting for Trump. I know some people vote that way (republican) because, well, their parents voted that way. But, there are others who SHOULD know better who have pledged to vote for Trump, regardless of whether or not he’s convicted of one of the 88 FELONIES he’s presently been charged with. The latest, and I have to say from my perspective one of the most disappointing example, is the governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sanunu. He said he will vote for Trump whether or not he’s convicted of a CRIME. Yikes!!! Another republican 180 degree “flip flop.”

Sanunu was a strong supporter of Trump’s final opponent – who’s still getting close to 20% of the republican primary votes even though she’s dropped out of the “race,” former South Caroina governor Nikki Haley. How Sanunu could go from supporting the “long shot” candidate who remained in the “race” to fealty to Trump is hard for me to understand. But, keep in mind, the republican party is the home of ALL the names I mentioned above as the “Russia wing” of Congress, plus people like (Moscow) Mitch McConnell and (whimpy) Lindsay Graham who clearly KNOW how BAD Trump is and the threat he poses to our republic yet they continue to “kiss the ring.” Honestly, it’s as embarrassing as it is disturbing to watch/listen to people like this because I know people all around the globe are listening/watching as well.

To our alliances this all must be both shocking and terrifying. For example, what if the U.S. dumped it’s connection to NATO for an alliance with Russia. To me, this would mean that what my father fought against in WW II will become a lost cause. In other words, I believe Trump represents a more serious danger to the experiment of American self rule than Hitler ever did. I have long understood that the threat to America continuing to evolve toward the ideals of our “living” constitution is real. Putin and Trump are using our openness against us. Their surrogates were/are FLOODING “Social Media” with propaganda which would make Joseph Goebbels proud.

Final Thought: Since I first started putting my thoughts to writing on this “blog” (I think a more accurate description would be “diary in cyberspace”) I’ve been pointing out what seems too obvious to me – LOSING “rights” is much easier than getting them back. In our society with a Congress designed to move slowly and protect the “rights” of the minority we’re seeing this “up close and personal.” Take for example the issue of “women’s health” – referred to by republicans as the “pro-life movement.” Well, I’ve come to believe it’s anything but “pro-life” over the years.

I say that as someone who thought he’d NEVER pay for an abortion until it dawned on me that I actually did back in the early 1970’s. My wife (at the time) was pregnant with what we thought would be our first child. After about 15 – 20 weeks she had a miscarriage and I rushed her to the hospital and the doctors performed what was, in essence, an abortion (This may have been shortly after the passage of Roe v Wade but, at the time, it was never a thought). Fast forward to today’s world post “Dobbs” (where the SCOTUS overturned Roe v Wade) “we the people” are seeing one horror story after another of women in similar circumstances being denied similar HEALTH CARE until they’ve reached the point where their lives are in danger. This is happening in roughly half of American states.

I believe it will be years before the rights of women to “control their own bodies” is restored – as one example of how difficult it is to regain a lost “right.” Well, picture if Trump somehow manages to CHEAT his way back into the “White House” (And, trust me, the CHEATING is well under way as I’m writing this) and is successful at even some of the “retribution” he’s promising. He’s openly said he wants to do away with our constitution – which would be scary should he pull it off – but, even if he’s “only” successful in “knee capping” the federal agencies he dislikes the most (FBI, DOJ, Intelligence Community) turning them into personal assets – just try to picture the long, and possibly impossible, road back from that disastrous outcome.

Picture the U.S., Russia, and China in some kind of “accord” to “control the world” and you might see where this could go. (That “accord” very likely could include Iran, North Korea, Hungary, and Turkey – for starters) And, with a republican party which has openly (if not in secret) and COWARDLY joined forces with Trump and I hope you can see the IMMENSE possibilities. There will likely be more and more (disgusting) Americans doing what Chris Sanunu did this past weekend and that’s putting their self interest in front of our countries’ self interest.

As I said earlier, the CHEATING is well under way. I end this by giving one example. If, for some reason, you’re planning to vote for JFK Jr. as a protest vote because you don’t like that President Biden is 81 years old you are, in essence, voting for Trump. Remember, one of Trump’s major donors is the largest donor to JFK Jr.’s campaign and one of JFK Jr.’s spokespersons just recently said “the quiet part out loud.” Their (The JFK Jr.’s campaign) goal is to defeat President Biden. If you’re a young voter remember, it will be either President Biden or Trump who will win the next election and you have the MOST to lose if somehow Trump regains the “White House.” The solution to what threatens us is VOTING and if you value this republic that means voting for President Biden even if you don’t care for him simply because he’s so old. (And OBTW JFK Jr. is 70)

The other day I watched one of the lowest American politicians I can think of, John Bolton, being interviewed on MSNBC and he reminded me of why he so turns me off. After pointing out all the DANGERS Trump represents to America should he somehow CHEAT his way back into the “White House” he said he would vote for “neither Biden nor Trump.” That is what boggles my mind about some of these republicans who CLEARLY understand the threat Trump poses. I’m sure Bolton, like most republicans, disagrees with Biden’s “Build Back Better” philosophy – despite the resounding economic successes since Biden took office – but, as I just said – if you’re going to vote for a third party candidate in 2024 you’re falling into Trump’s trap. That’s how Trump “won” in 2016 (Jill Stein) and that’s how he’s planning to “win” in 2024 (RFK Jr.).

White Rural Rage: The Secret Political Force Shaping America’s Future

by thomhartmann

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Rural white voters have, in many cases, far more political power than suburban or urban voters, and they’re using that outsized power to push our nation toward disaster. While they’re only 20 percent of the country, for example, because of gerrymandering they control fully 42 percent of seats in the House of Representatives.

The authors of new book, White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy point out that rural whites are measurably more bigoted and xenophobic than suburban or urban voters, 13 points more likely to hate on queer people, 15 points more likely to support Trump’s Muslim ban.

They’re also far more likely to agree that setting democracy aside for a strongman like Trump or another Putin wannabee will “fix the mess and drain the swamp.” And fully 74% of the members of Congress who voted to overturn the 2020 election represented rural districts.

The majority of rural white voters disagree with the statement (or have no opinion) that “diversity makes America stronger.” And while only 22 percent of city dwellers believe Trump won the 2020 election and Biden and Democrats “stole” it, a mind-boggling 47 percent of rural whites are certain Biden is illegitimately occupying the White House.

The astonishing paradox, though, is how Republican politicians regularly crap on their own voters in rural America. Instead of offering help or solutions to rural problems, the GOP and conservative media instead feed them a steady diet of xenophobic and racist fear and hate.

And they eat it up! The racist buffoons among them are one and a half times more likely to be QAnon followers than people who live in cities or suburbs.

Democrats created — and Republicans opposed — virtually all the programs that are keeping rural America from sinking even farther into poverty and despair. Social Security, unemployment insurance, SS Disability, Medicare, Medicaid, over 60 farm subsidy programs that funnel billions in taxpayer dollars into rural communities, food stamps, the Women and Infant Children (WIC) program, anti-addiction programs, etc.

The only real accomplishment of the Trump presidency was passing a massive $2 trillion dollar tax cut for the morbidly rich that had virtually no effect on rural voters. Nonetheless, 71 percent of rural voters cast a ballot for Trump in 2020.

There are still 11 mostly rural states where hospitals are closing and people are dying younger than necessary because Republicans in those states have refused to expand Medicaid.

Republicans in Congress fought against legislation to expand rural broadband access. They constantly try to cut or gut rural health and nutrition programs, and fought against expanding Obamacare in a way that would help rural people.

Most of the Red State Republican politicians in America know their seats will never be in danger, so they take millions from special interest groups to write loopholes into the tax code, vote for larger fossil fuel subsidies, and vote against efforts to lower prescription drug prices or do anything about global warming.

They get rich while the people who put them into office struggle to get by. Ted Cruz escapes to Cancun with the $600,000+ in cash he just got for his podcast, laughing at Texas voters all the way. JD Vance, a multimillionaire Wall Street guy, lives in an elite townhouse and travels by first class while people in Ohio watch Republican politicians gut their public schools and try to outlaw abortion and birth control.

Republican members of Congress representing rural states went all the way to the Supreme Court to successfully block President Biden’s first attempt at reducing student debt while rural students carry 60% more student debt than urban students by age 25.

One of the most chilling quotes from the book is about how rural voters are willing to both abandon democracy and embrace a violent rightwing coup:

“[R]ural Americans are more likely to believe that ‘it may be necessary at some point soon for citizens to take up arms against the government.’ Indeed, more than one out of four rural residents agree that Trump should be returned to office by force if necessary.”

White rural voters are more likely than any other demographic group — Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans — to be willing to overturn our democracy, and the people who represent them are in the majority of legislators who voted to overturn the 2020 election the day after the January 6th attack on our capitol.

If, say, Black people held that view, rightwing media would be trumpeting it every day from coast to coast. But because it’s rural white people, the so-called “heartland Americans,” it gets largely ignored by American media.

After all, most mainstream outlets treat rural people as if they’re an exotic species who must be listened to: going to rural diners to interview people is so common it’s become a cliché. In the past month I’ve seen dozens of such interviews played on MSNBC and CNN, but not once have I seen those same reporters go into a city and ask why people are voting for Biden.

The Biden administration has done more for rural America than any president since Lyndon Johnson rolled out Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps. Biden’s American Rescue Plan provided specific tax breaks and credits targeted at rural poverty, subsidized mortgage payments, and provided rent assistance to tens of thousands of rural residents:

— Rural Americans are nine times more likely to lack access to affordable child care, so Biden’s program allocated $39 billion for subsidies for child care providers, with the money disproportionately going to rural communities. There was also $350 billion specifically allocated for small towns in rural areas to help them run basic government functions and upgrade their infrastructure. He even put up $198 million in funding for rural colleges and universities.

— Biden and Democrats delivered a 15% increase in SNAP (food stamp) benefits that have a huge impact in rural areas, reaching “2.9 million people in rural areas, including 800,000 children, reducing rural poverty by 11 percent and rural child poverty by 20 percent.” Biden’s USDA, over Republican objections, also put a billion dollars into rural food banks.

— Biden and Democrats “invested a historic $3 billion in the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) to build local [rural] economies that are resilient to future economic shocks, including a $300 million Coal Communities Commitment.”

— Biden and Democrats — over GOP objections — expanded hunting and fishing opportunities on 2.1 million acres of public lands, the largest such expansion in U.S. history, and provided $1.5 billion in annual funding for wildlife and habitat conservation efforts. Another $2 billion went “for funding communities in the Rural Partners Network to spur job creation and build infrastructure.”

— They put $5 billion in “investments to help rural areas update infrastructure, boost high-speed internet access, and aid agricultural producers and small businesses in implementing climate-focused practices” and “$1.7 billion in funding to assist farmers, ranchers and foresters in adopting techniques to adapt to the changing climate, such as cover crops, nutrient management, and carbon storage.”

And that’s just the beginning: for a full list of the ways the Biden administration, over the objection of Republicans in Congress, has helped rural people click here.

Not one single Republican in either the House or the Senate voted for any of the things listed above: in fact, almost all voted against these helps to rural America.

Instead of concerning themselves with the well-being of rural people, they’re trying to block clean air standards that prevent rural communities from being poisoned, block clean water standards in rivers that supply water to rural communities, cut taxes on billionaires, and increase subsidies to the fossil fuel and banking industries.

All while taking huge campaign contributions, private jet rides, taxpayer funded junkets overseas, and the promise of million-dollar-a-year jobs when they leave Congress if only they vote the right way.

Because Republican politicians are more interested in feathering their own nests than helping out the people they were elected to represent, rural Red states are massively subsidized by urban Blue states just to keep their heads above water. As the Associated Press recently reported:

“Mississippi received $2.13 for every tax dollar the state sent to Washington in 2015, according to the Rockefeller study. West Virginia received $2.07, Kentucky got $1.90 and South Carolina got $1.71.

“Meanwhile, New Jersey received 74 cents in federal spending for every tax dollar the state sent to Washington. New York received 81 cents, Connecticut received 82 cents and Massachusetts received 83 cents.”

It’s undeniably true (and documented with each hotlink below) that Republican-controlled “Red” states, almost across the board, have higher rates of:

— Spousal abuse
— Obesity
— Smoking
— Teen pregnancy
— Sexually transmitted diseases
— Abortion (at least before Dobbs; now it would be “forced births”)
— Bankruptcies and poverty
— Homicide and suicide
— Infant mortality
— Maternal mortality
— Forcible rape
— Robbery and aggravated assault
— Dropouts from high school
— Divorce
— Contaminated air and water
— Opiate addiction and deaths
— Unskilled workers
— Parasitic infections
— Income and wealth inequality
— Covid deaths and unvaccinated people
— Federal subsidies to states (“Red State Welfare”)
— People on welfare
— Child poverty
— Homelessness
— Spousal murder
— Unemployment
— Deaths from auto accidents
— People living on disability
— Gun deaths

So, why do Red state voters tolerate being conned and ripped off by their own elected representatives? Are they just stupid?

One theory is that “they hate the same people we hate.” And, indeed, for a significant and measurable cohort of rural white voters, racial fear and hatred is a primary motivating factor in their embrace of the GOP, although that’s only, according to this new book, about 20% of rural people.

Others vote Republican because the party has been so effective at branding itself with county fairs, NASCAR, country music, and the overall rural lifestyle including a faux paean to rugged individuality and independence.

Having over 1500 radio stations daily broadcasting a rightwing Republican message to literally every nook and cranny of rural America is another large factor. As is the dominance of Australian billionaire Lachlan Murdoch’s Fox “News.”

Will rural voters ever wake up to how badly they’re being screwed now and have been screwed by Republicans ever since Reagan started the whole neoliberal austerity and free trade movement that shipped over 60,000 factories and 20 million jobs overseas?

Or is the GOP’s cynical manipulation of religion, gender, and race enough to keep them voting to hurt themselves and further enrich Republican fat-cats?

So far, all indications seem like that’s the case and will stay that way for at least the next election cycle.

While the media struggles with trying to “understand” the rural white voter every election cycle, instead they should be running stories on how the very real problems and crises of rural America are daily made worse by Republicans in Congress and at the helm of their Red States.

How to break through?

Democrats need to get smart and start using the “negative partisanship” strategies Rachel Bitecofer recommends in her new book Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game. They can do this by pointing out, with ad buys and media appearances, just how bad Red state Republicans politicians have been for rural people and their communities.

And they need to do it soon. As the authors of White Rural Rage point out:

“By 2040, 70% of Americans will reside in the 15 most populous states and choose 30 of the 100 US senators. Concentrated in smaller and more rural states, the remaining 30% of the population will elect 70 senators. No matter how distorted these population ratios become, each state is guaranteed its two senators — past, present, and forever.”

Our mainstream media have made it clear, for over 40 years, that they won’t expose the damage Republicans are doing to rural areas because their TV programs will fail if Republican politicians boycott them.

So, the job falls to us and the Democrats. Can we do it? I believe so; we just need to get started.

Pass it along…

Today, as I’m writing this is Good Friday, the day Christians commemorate as the day Jesus was hung from a cross. I, as usual, went to the Good Friday service at the church I attend on a regular basis. It was a powerful service and I spent a good amount of the time in deep thought regarding my history of attempting to point out what a disgusting person Donald Trump is and questioning why so many Christians make up his so-called base. I have to look inward at my own beliefs as I seem to be so obsessed with wanting to make sure Trump, in the words of Liz Cheney, never gets close to the “Oval Office” ever again.

My previous post was motivated by my disgust as I watched Trump being Trump – which is always dishonest, and this part of his schtick was him – on a (un)Truth Social video hawking bibles. It was the “God Bless The U.S.A.” Bible – “The only Bible recommended by Trump.” He said, “I have many Bibles in my home” – undoubtedly another in his LONG line of LIES he spews to his minions. I find myself unable to “love my neighbor” if that means it could be Trump. To me, based on my searches (which I gave some examples of in my previous post), Trump is no Christian. But, then I thought, what if?????

I mean, Trump, himself, has clearly said he NEVER admits to doing anything wrong. He calls EVERY phone call which has either got him IMPEACHED or INDICTED (Georgia) “a perfect phone call.” When he was asked if he felt any responsibility to all the people DYING from COVID 19 due to his ineptitude, he responded “no, I don’t.” He’s facing FOUR indictments with (now) 88 FELONY charges and, in each case – contrary to what is public evidence already – he says, “I did nothing wrong.” He’s denied he ever knew E. Jean Carroll, despite EVIDENCE to the contrary, and couldn’t stop DEFAMING her until a unanimous jury decided he owed Ms. Carroll OVER $83 MILLION in a judgement. He was found to have sexually assaulted her aside from the defamation. To me, not the actions of a Christian. But, what if????

As he was hawking the Bibles on his (un)Truth Social website he made all kinds of claims about his belief in “God.” Of course, the claims rang TOTALLY hollow to me – leading to my previous posts. But, let’s just, for example, take a look at the Ten Commandments to get a more complete picture of what I’m getting at in this posting. And, keep in mind, there’s no one who’s capable of living up to the “law” as it was written in the time of Moses. That’s exactly why Jesus appeared and ultimately was crucified on the cross for all of us SINNERS who just can’t manage to live perfect lives. But, there’s one thing those of us who are Christians have done which I’m confident is near impossible for Trump. However, what if?????

How about the first Commandment, “Thou shall have no other Gods before me.” I can’t help but think of that one when Trump suggests he’s the modern example of Jesus – because, in effect, he’s suggesting (apparently) due to ALL the CRIMINAL indictments that he’s being “crucified.” I always think he can’t make me more disgusted, and then, well, he does – every time. Violating that commandment would make it difficult for me to believe Trump is actually a “Christian” by itself. But, what if????

Remembering the Sabath day to keep it “holy” does not mean that’s the day for playing golf. (full disclosure – I’m not so good on this one myself, but I digress) As I pointed out in my previous post, when I did a bit of searching, I could find no example of Trump even getting near a “house of worship” on the Sabath. I know many Christians who don’t go to church, but they’ve all done one thing I can’t picture Trump doing. But, what if????

Thou shall NOT commit adultery. I’m listing the commandments I can easily remember here – and, this one is easy to point out Trump has a huge problem with. For heaven’ s sake (pun intended) the FIRST of Trump’s FOUR criminal trials has to do with at least TWO instances of Trump committing adultery – one with a Playboy model and the other with a “porn star.” These alleged adulterous affairs happened while his present wife was either pregnant with Trump’s final son or shortly after his birth. Plus, his failed marriages were the result of alduterous relationships – at least in part.

I’m not squeaky clean (based on my early years) in regard to my relationships with women but, there’s a huge difference between me and Trump. (And, I point out my own issues, which seem minute to me in comparison to Trump, but I believe God doesn’t differentiate) It says in the Bible “don’t look at the spec in the other person’s eye until you take care of the log in your own.” But, I just can’t help myself. Once again, I say, what if????

Along these lines Trump was caught on Tape BRAGGING about being a sexual predator and, his BRAGGING was followed by something like 25 women coming forward claiming Trump sexually abused them. Of course, Trump denied everything and accused every one of these women of LYING. This was during his first run for the “White House” and, in the one case where he was taken to court over his denials he was found by, as I said earlier, a unanimous jury to not only have defamed Ms. Carroll but to have, in the words of the judge, to have “raped her.” (What about all the others?) That makes it hard for me to believe Trump is a “Christian.” But, as I’ve been saying, what if????

How about this commandment: “Thou Shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” In every day language that means DON’T LIE. Well, during Trump’s four years as our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two time popular vote LOSING four times indicted (ex) president he was credibly found to have committed over 30,000 LIES! Whenever I can stomach listening to him in a public venue it doesn’t take long before his constant LYING makes me a bit sick to my stomach as I have to wonder why Christians would allow someone to LIE to their faces and still support him. Obviously, the pathological LYING makes it difficult for me to consider him a “Christian.” But, what if????

There’s another commandment which states “Thou shall not covet…..” (actually, there’s – I believe – maybe three commandments regarding “don’t be covetous.” (Don’t covet you “neighbor’s” wife, his house, or – in essence – your neighbor’s “stuff.”) As I watch/listen to Trump basically idolizing, for example, Vladimir Putin as he commit’s murder and war crimes I have a hard time bringing myself to believe Trump to be a Christian. (Actually, well before his “White House” years I heard him on the radio being covetous about his own daughter! Eewwwe! But, you’re correct, what if????

The final commandment I’ll include in this rant says, “Don’t steal.” Of course, one of Trump’s CRIMINAL trials (well, now that I think of it, you could say two of them) is the result of him STEALING sensitive government documents, then LYING about it to federal authorities, and even LYING to his own attorneys in an attempt to hide some of the documents from the FBI. (And, I actually believe he succeeded in that with documents we may never know where they ended up) The other thing I thought of was his impending trial regarding January 6th, 2021 is due to him attempting to STEAL the 2020 election. Neither of these examples would be the work of someone considering themselves a “Christian.” But, what if???

People who do “stuff” like Trump, or support people who do “stuff” like Trump, meaning MAGA minions, don’t seem to me to be actual “Christians.” It is, based on my small amount of research, a really bad “witness” in regard to how others view “Christians.” (This reminds me of a story I heard about Nick Saban, the longtime football coach at the University of Alabama when he chided some of his players for actively “taking a knee for God” during their games’ warmups during the day and then, that night, going out drinking and chasing women)

In fact, my own mother was unable to consider Christianity because she was convinced she would have to become a republican. She passed away long before Trump was on the political scene, but I know many other people who are turned off to Christianity based on their viewing the actions of those of us who proclaim to be Christians. I can’t tell you how many people I know from my own church (I’m in the old person category) who say “my son/daughter/children is/are not “walking with the Lord.”

I try to tell them there’s a good reason why – but, the conversation never goes much further because they don’t want to hear what they know I’m going to say. But, the fact I consider Trump the epitome of a pagan (and many of these church members are part of his cult), there is one aspect of Christianity that I’ve learned from speakers who are devout Christians which they express frustrations with. It’s as if they don’t want to believe some of the realities of the “Teachings of Jesus.”

I’ll give a quick example: I once listened to a speaker who was the head of a large Christian organization who’s father-in-law was constantly criticizing both him and his wife – this person’s daughter – for their devout Christian beliefs. This went on for years. Then, about three days before this man died he changed his tune, asked for forgiveness, and expressed repentance for his life of sin. In the eyes of Jesus, just like the criminal on the cross next to him who did the same, AND the eyes of Christians, this man was “saved” – a couple days prior to his death. According to his son-in-law, at the time, it didn’t seem “fair.” It seemed as if he got away with creating a lot of grief for the family of the speaker while ultimately “going to heaven.” Well, what if????

Of course, I’m referencing Trump here, every time I say “what if????” While I don’t believe it’s happened and I don’t believe it’s going to happen – and, I SHOULD be praying for it to happen – I can’t bring myself to believe Trump has repented nor will he. But, based on my reading of the Bible – I’ve read it through twice along with parts of it many times (my wife says I SHOULD read it more regularly) if Trump were to somehow bring himself to repent, ask for forgiveness, and commit to living according to the teachings of Jesus, he WOULD be forgiven and destined for heaven. Instead of hawking Bibles, he would need to be reading one. I don’t see that happening and I’m not sure how I’d react if it did. (I would have to see the change in conduct before I could believe it had happened – and, sadly, I don’t think I would be able to forgive him)

If Trump actually committed his life to Jesus would I consider that a cause for celebration? I honestly can’t say I would be able to respond that way, but it actually would be a cause for celebration. We would see it in his behavior. However, I wouldn’t be one to excuse his previous behavior, should he actually become a “believer” but, if his future behavior indicated he had actually admitted to his life of SIN and started living a life progressively getting closer to Jesus’ teachings that would be, in my view, an actual MIRACLE we could all see. But, I have to say once more, I don’t believe that will happen. In my view, Trump is incapable of publicly admitting he’s ever done ANYTHING wrong.

I say, regarding his present campaign to get back behind the resolute desk in the “Oval Office,” God help us. And, this Easter weekend my prayer is that those sucked into Trump’s CULT would come to their senses and realize they’re following what amounts to – in Ten Commandments “lingo” – a “graven image.” The dichotomy for me is, I know I’m not supposed to “judge” but, when it comes to Trump I can’t seem to help myself. And, it seems almost impossible for me to stop wishing to see him behind bars. The reality, for me – as it says in the Bible and I said earlier – “stop worrying about the spec in the other person’s eye until you take care of the log in your own.” I’m going to work on my own conduct, but, I thought it would be worthwhile to think about “what if” Trump actually fully accepted Christ? Stay tuned………..

I have to add: Trump’s followers who claim to be all about Christ while they’re packing an AR-15 and making threats to FBI officials, Judges, and members of Congress with whom they disagree come across as totally disingenuous tp me. “Chrsitians” ???

Final Thought: What motivated this post and MY previous one (I put one of Thom Hartman’s in between the two) was watching Trump hawking a Bible on his Social Media platform – during “Holy week.” So, it has taken me a few days to post this (Easter was last Sunday) and, as always seems to be the case, the “stuff” just keeps happening. And, this time, the news today regards the Israeli’s using “precision munitions” to take out three vehicles of aid workers in GAZA from “World Central Kitchen” (I just sent money to them last week) killing SEVEN aid workers. This debacle just keeps getting worse and worse and it’s high tide President Biden make a public stand against Bibi Netanyahu – a WAR CRIMINAL similar to Vladimir Putin.

As I was taking in the info regarding this attack on these aid workers I saw the statistics where the number of AID workers killed in GAZA is nearing 200 with something like 175 coming from the United Nations. I started writing before Israel had actually physically entered GAZA that Netanyahu would keep this “war” going indefinitely because he knows the day after it ends he will be out of office and forced to face his OWN corruption charges. Netanyahu will NEVER be a supporter of President Biden and Biden seems to be a bit slow to figure this out. (And, I’m a strong Biden supporter) Well, he’d BETTER figure it out and act decisively sooner rather than later as the slaughter of Palestinians MUST stop.

Not only do “we the people” have a responsibility to help make the slaughter STOP, but we will then be required to help rebuild GAZA which the Israeli’s have turned into a pile of shattered concrete. To me, this is a moral IMPERATIVE and Biden is helping to re-elect Trump by giving a policy of mixed messages while civilians are DYING by the THOUSANDS – mostly women and children. And, here’s something I believe with all my heart. Israel will NOT “extinguish” HAMAS – there are likely to be MORE members of HAMAS when the “smoke clears” than when this all started.

One more Thing: Now, Israel has attacked the Iranian Embassy in Syria – killing a few Iranian leaders – with more precision weapons coming from the U.S. Here’s the thing, while I “get” why the Israeli’s want to go after Iran, Embassies are universally considered “off limits.” It will be interesting to see if the only support Israel gets from this action continues to be from the U.S. Here we go! Stay tuned………..

How Franklin D. Roosevelt Called Out the Big Lie

Here the fascists are again, this time calling themselves MAGA. And they’re using the classic fascist tactic of the Big Lie, just like Hitler and Mussolini did…

THOM HARTMANN

APR 01, 2024

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Donald Trump has made good use of the propaganda technique known as the Big Lie, but he didn’t invent or popularize it. While the strategy has been around as long as humanity’s had psychopaths trying to seize power over others, the Big Lie was really brought into pop consciousness in the 1930s.

I was going through my old audio library yesterday afternoon and found this short clip from President Franklin D. Roosevelt talking specifically about the Big Lie.

FDR, of course, was the man who saved America from the Republican Great Depression (what they used to call it), created Social Security, the right to unionize, the minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and fought and won against the Nazis in World War II even as he was so disabled by polio that he hadn’t walked in decades.

As you’ll hear, it was as if FDR could see Trump using the Big Lie today. Which makes perfect sense, because FDR fought with his own Nazis and fascists in America in the 1930s and 1940s. They even tried to assassinate or kidnap him, but were stopped by a brave Marine general, Smedley Butler.

Roosevelt knew them, knew who and what they were, and in this clip is also warning us — knowing his words would be recorded for posterity (as every president knows and keeps in mind at most times) — that they would never go away. That America would always face corruption by the morbidly rich and their factotums, embracing fascist rhetoric, the Big Lie, and even the destruction of the American government to keep their taxes low and their political power and profits high.

In fact, America has almost always been under attack by fascists; the Confederacy became, in 1859, a full-blown fascist state with meaningless “elections” and a handful of super-rich families controlling virtually every aspect of life. It was a police state that wanted to end democracy in the North, and it took the death of over 600,000 Americans in a vicious Civil War to finally stop them.

After that, the failure of Reconstruction in the 1870s, and the 20th century’s renewed rise of the Klan when President Wilson invited them into the White House and screened Birth of a Nation (the Klan recruiting film), there were other, more recent eruptions of fascism in this country. In the 1950s, Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn took their shot at creating a fascist America, but the real and most dangerous fascist movement didn’t emerge until Donald Trump took over the GOP in 2015.

Much as Hitler, Mussolini, Putin, Pinochet, etc. did, Trump has mobilized a violent and well-armed grassroots movement, cowed mainstream politicians and the media, and is working to impose minority rule on the majority of Americans.

He’s even running a campaign now that’s supposedly all about attacking the judge in his criminal election interference (porn star payoff) case, but is really designed to deliver a vivid and unmistakable message to potential witnesses and jurors:

“See what I can do? I can even send my Brownshirts against a federal judge and his daughter with complete impunity. Imagine the kind of damage I can do to you and members of your family if you testify against me or, as a juror, hold me guilty for the crimes I’m accused of.”

To punctuate his threat, America is periodically reminded of Roy Den Hollander, the Trump follower who wrote to Trump complaining that, because of Democrats, he can’t “wear my red ‘Make America Great Again’ hat in the streets of NYC.” Hollander volunteered to help out with Trump’s 2016 campaign, writing that he’d been doing phone banking from Trump Tower.

Four years later, in the summer of 2020, federal Judge Esther Salas was assigned the trial of Jeffrey Epstein and Deutsche Bank, a case that could have turned up dirt on Trump, who had extensive connections to both. A few days after Judge Salas accepted the case, Hollander wrote that she was a “lazy and incompetent Latina judge appointed by Obama.”

A day later, Hollander went to the front door of the home of Judge Salas. When her son, 20-year-old Daniel Anderl, answered the door, the Trump devotee shot Anderl in the chest, killing him.

As Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wrote in his request to the court to clarify the gag order against Trump:

“[P]otential trial witnesses and prospective jurors who are not currently the subject of defendant’s invective will likely fear having themselves and their family members be subject to similar attacks. This fear is not hypothetical: in the course of preparing for trial, multiple potential witnesses have already expressed grave concerns to the People about their own safety and that of their family members should they appear as witnesses against defendant.”

Every judge sitting on a Trump case knows all about Salas and Hollander. Trump wants to make sure they do, and repeats his threats as often as he can. It’s a warning to anybody who may think of holding Trump or his friends to account, one that gets far too little press coverage.

The success of the Big Lie about the stolen election has been so substantial for Republicans that, like Trump, they are now falling into the routine of telling other, smaller lies. The most recent was the lie that Joe Biden chose Easter to be the day to honor trans people when, in fact, March 31 has been the date for that for years.

Thus, here the fascists are again, still relying on monstrous lies, this time calling themselves MAGA instead of the Confederacy, Klan, or the America First Committee. And they’re using the classic fascist tactic of the Big Lie, just like Hitler and Mussolini did. Trump’s even succeeded in getting most elected Republicans to repeat his Big Lie on demand, an amazing accomplishment since they all know it’s just a lie.

Here’s FDR’s take on it all, as he shared in 1944 with a group of UAW auto workers, complete with his suggestion about how to confront Big Lies:

Unfortunately, Mr. Hartman’s recording of FDR did not copy. Please go here if you want to listen to it.

Hopefully, President Biden will begin talking like this soon…

Thank you for reading The Hartmann Report. This post is public so feel free to share it.

I’ve pointed out here MANY times I’m a Christian (a believer in Jesus Christ) and many times I’ve pointed out how it’s been difficult for me to watch the so-called “evangelical Christian” community as the base for the most disgusting “politician” I’ve witnessed in the MANY years I’ve been following politics – and, of course, I’m talking about Donald Trump. (I’ve been following politics since the days of Dwight Eisenhower v Adlai Stevenson back in the 1950’s – listening to my Mom and Dad arguing over the two people nominated to the presidency TWICE in those days) Well, today, Trump took his pathological LYING to a place I didn’t even expect from him.

I turned on the TV this morning as I was planning to check Yahoo Finance, the page I’ve been frequenting since the 1990’s – despite the fact I’m not much of a stock investor. There was Trump hawking the “God Bless America Bible.” I’m not kidding. And, I actually forced myself to listen to his pitch. It was beyond disgusting. First of all, he’s holding a bible in his hands as he continues his PATHOLOGICAL lying to – apparently- those he’s bee grifting for money over the past 8 years. But, that’s not all.

It was the nature of the LYING which really got to me. Now, I’m going on my feeble memory – about the best I can do these days is “Person, man, woman, camera, TV” but I’ll do the best I can as I try to share the jaw dropping response I had to Trump LYING about God. And, keep in mind, I’ve done a bit of “Google” research in an attempt – over the past eight years – to find how often Trump goes to church. Well, the answer is almost NEVER. Plus, there are reports he belittles the “Christians” who have ventured into the “White House” (while his reign continued) or Mar-a-Lago to place hands on him and pray – You can read about it HERE.

Today Trump actually said he has “many bibles” in his house – “It’s my favorite book.” Well, if you’ve been paying attention you know that Trump doesn’t read and, if there are “many bibles” at Mar-a-Lago (I seriously doubt this – unless he’s got copies of the one he’s hawking) it would be Gideion Bibles in the various rooms – because it’s kind of like a hotel. I can virtually guarantee you if there are ANY bibles in Trump’s actual residence it’s because Melania has decided to read one. Trump can’t name a “favorite verse” and the thinks 2nd Corinthians is “Two Corinthians.”

The second most DISGUSTING thing Trump has done with a bible in his hands was when he stood in front of the church across from the “White House” holding a bible upside down for a photo shoot. The man has NO shame when it comes to what he’ll do in order to “get what he wants.” If success requires LYING to a bunch of “Christians” then he’s willing to do it. And, sadly, the “Christians” are willfully STUPID (sorry – as I’ve said before, I can’t think of a better term) as they somehow “marry” their “Christian” beliefs with a man who comes across as an organized crime boss. To me, there’s no plausible excuse for this.

Trump has threatened the foundation of our government – via the coup d’etat attempt on January 6th, 2021 and the “slow moving coup” that has transpired over the following 3 plus years. It shouldn’t take someone “educated” to understand when a presidential candidate is threatening to end our constitution (the initial coup was live on TV) – which has governed this nation for nearly 250 years (granted it’s got it’s faults, but until we got Trump’s right wing Supreme Court, the document was clearly a “living document” which has evolved “forward” over time), he’s threatening to undermine one department of our government after another, he’s threatening to “defund our police” (IE, the FBI and Justice Department), he’s threatening (for about the fiftieth time) to throw out the Affordable Care Act, he’s threatening to pull the U.S. out of NATO and he’s been lobbying his “sheep” in the House to block additional aid to Ukraine. He idolizes Vladimir Putin – a murderous thug.

It is Trump who brags about being responsible for the overturning of Roe v Wade – although, now that he fully understands the backlash to that ruling he’s trying to figure a way to make “both sides” happy. I can guarantee you, he will be unable to make the women in America who believe they should have control over their own bodies happy. Does he really believe proposing a 15 week abortion ban will make women in America happy? They will continue to vote AGAINST him and the republicans who support him in record numbers. Does this mean he can’t possibly win? No, because, one thing we can be guaranteed is he will CHEAT. (And, his republican sycophants will cheat as well)

Another thing I’ve pointed out on this site many times is how republicans have ways of “winning” the “White House” despite LOSING the “popular vote” – meaning with MORE people voting for the democratic opponent than, well, voting for the “winner.” Our TWICE IMPEACHED two time popular vote LOSING four times indicted Civil Trial LOSING, alleged sexual abusing (ex) president is a prime example of that. He “lost” to Hillary Clinton by THREE MILLION votes and to Joe Biden by SEVEN MILLION votes. George W Bush lost to Al Gore by about 500 THOUSAND votes and needed the Supreme Court to install him and Dick Cheney into the “White House.”

The “trick” is always third party candidates. In 2000 Ralph Nader led to GW Bush, and, ultimately, the invasion of Iraq (possibly even 9/11 as Bush/Cheney IGNORED the warning signs). Jill Stein led to the first term of Trump (of course, along with the Russians, the Saudi’s, the Emerati’s, the Egyptions, and, of course, Bibi Netanyahu (via a couple Israeli intelligence operatives – working in concert with Cambridge Analytica). Now, we’ve got RFK Jr. bound and determined to help Trump gain a second term. And Trump’s major donors are also, get this, RFK’s major donors. Surprise, surprise. This really grieves me for sentimental reasons.

The first year I voted was in 1968 (you had to be 21 back then) and the candidate who got me really involved in the election was Robert F Kenedy – RFK’s father who very well may be “turning in his grave.” I was devastated when RFK Senior was murdered! His son has his sights set on the young Americans who Biden will be depending on if he is to win again this November. Talk about your “fool’s errand.” I hope America’s young voters have a clear enough view of recent American history to remember how we got to this place with the Supreme Court, the environment, the gun violence, the assault on health care, Climate denialism, attacks on voting rights, attacks on public education, and much more. Kennedy should be looked upon as the pariah he really has become.

As much as I was supporting his father back in 1968, you could say I’m much more focused in wanting RFK Jr.’s campaign to fizzle. Our republic may depend on it. There is NO chance for him to do anything but become the most egregious “spoiler” in this nation’s 250 year history. He has chosen a “former” democratic supporter from the Silicon Valley who was once married to one of the founders of Google (and has plenty of money to fund their campaign along with social media knowledge) as his “running mate” and, to me, they are the most significant “hurdle” which could “derail” Biden’s campaign. (She gave RFK Jr. $4 MILLION to help fund his Super Bowl ad – along with $7 MILLION from Timothy Mellon a prominent financial supporter of Trump)

I’ve been saying for a couple years now – since Biden convinced me he understands what legislation is required to move this nation “forward” – it’s America’s young people who SHOULD be supporting the OLDEST president in our history because he’s the one who – despite a Congress which has been virtually 50/50 – has managed to get historic legislation passed over his first few years in office – legislation no other president in recent American history has managed to get passed. The list of reasons young Americans SHOULD be supporting Biden is a long one. I’m just not convinced they fully understand what he’s accomplished. (Apparently they get their “news” on Tiktok)

I’ve become convinced there’s not much room to “convince” the MAGA faithful they’re being LIED to (today, another example of Trump with a bible in his hand – more on that later) over and over again – classic Nazi propaganda strategy and they willingly go along with it. I know people (I go to church almost every weekend and, when I don’t, I watch it on the computer) who actually refer to Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson as “Sean” and “Tucker” as if they are their long lost buddies. These are people who actually DO read the bible. You can’t talk to them about politics – I’ve tried. (Not even trying to convince them of my beliefs just wanting to understand theirs) They get angry and defensive – at least the ones I’ve tried to talk to. Stuff they say to me I’ve been unable to find in the bible.

That said, I believe young Americans can be reached – at least I hope they can. I’m also, as are they, upset about the “war” on GAZA and the suffering of the Palestinians. I wish President Biden could simply tell Bibi Netanyahu to stop and he would listen. But, that’s totally naive. Netanyahu and Trump are like a couple bullies at school who align with each other for “strategic” reasons. They’re BOTH under indictment and BOTH attempting to solve their legal issues via political power. I’ve been saying this since before Israel entered GAZA – “Netanyahu will keep this war going indefinitely because his survival depends on it.

I believe the Israeli’s will remove Netanyahu from his perch at the head of their country soon after this invasion ends. And, Netanyahu is, while most people have their attention elsewhere, further “cementing” his strategy to BLOCK any attempt at the so-called “two state solution” by encouraging MORE (illegal) settlements on the “West Bank” and arming the settlers there which encourages more violence against Palestinians. I hope the people of Israel understand what Netanyahu is doing to their image around the world with people who are Israeli supporters (like myself). This can’t be the reason why America’s young people allow Trump to return to the “Oval Office” and I hope the Biden administration is able to put “conditions” on any more aid to Israel. The U.S. can’t abide the further slaughter of Palestinians! Stay tuned……

Final Thought: In case you don’t know how to use Google (or you’re just tired from reading all of this – congrats, by the way, you read more than Trump) you can click HERE and HERE to get a couple quick views of what a great “Christian” Trump really is. As someone who golfs – but, not on Sundays – I thought the second article was very interesting. (Most of my close acquaintances – ie golfing buddies – ridicule my Christian beliefs because of “Christians” like Trump. I tell them, “I believe in Jesus, NOT Trump” – so far that hasn’t seemed like much of a witness)

I have to add: For those who study the history of the previous 100, or so, years in America – the parallels between Trump’s MAGA movement and that of the Third Reich in 1930’s Germany is, well, sobering. Read the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer if you want an interesting read which clearly memorializes the dangers of right wing movements like that of Hitler’s Nazi’s. The book I’m reading right now, “Prequel” by Rachel Maddow, really brings the 1930’s Nazi movement in America into a bright light. History “swept under the rug.”

For those who believe “It can’t happen here” – I would respectfully disagree. That would be true if our voting public was not so susceptible to a Con artist like Trump. But, the reality is there is a significant portion of America’s public who’ve “inherited” the racist, bigoted views of their parents and grand parents – who participated in the Jim Crow era of American history – and who are genuinely susceptible to Trump’s schtick. It’s almost as if America’s Southern states are hell bent on reliving the so-called “lost cause.” Yikes!

Today, while watching the “liberal” (?) MSNBC I saw/heard a plethora of LIES coming from Donald Trump AND his right wing minions on segments from Fox “news” and “Newsmax” regarding all the “crime” (including “MURDER, rape, and other violent crimes”) committed by “illegal immigrants.” This has been going on since Trump came down the escalator back in 2015. And, to this day, I keep watching TV hosts/pundits acting puzzled by all the LYING. Not once, yet, have I heard one host/pundit point out the reason they keep doing it and the reason it keeps working which is because this scheme comes straight out of Mein Kampf by none other than Hitler himself – and it does work. As the saying goes, the ONLY way to stop it is with “sunlight.”

What’s it going to take for these TV anchors who are speaking to MILLIONS of Americans each day to actually tell “we the people” what’s happening. The INSURRECTION is continuing and, as we’ve witnessed in the previous couple of weeks, the accomplices are deeply embedded in the republican party as it exists today. Of course, it’s Trump in the spotlight, but, the depth of the depravity, when you look at defending our constitution comes from the “puppet masters” who are funding Trump and his sycophants. I’ve been following Charles Koch for YEARS (Read: “Sons of Witchita”) and he’s been funneling MILLIONS (likely BILLIONS) from his fortune to build his vision of a right wing “libertarian” society since the days back in the 80’s when his brother was the VP candidate on the libertarian “ticket.”

It’s not just the “Koch brothers” (David Koch has died so it’s just Charles now), but also a bevy of American Oligarchs who feel their right to unlimited fortunes at the expense of our tax system and the rights of “we the people” continues to, well, amaze me. I honestly NEVER thought this nation would devolve to this level, but as I Iisten to the Trump supporters, for example, saying they’re fine with Russia annexing Ukraine or saying they believe what Trump, or Tuckre Carlson, or Fox “news,” or “Newsmax,” or ???? (in the right wing “blogosphere”) is telling them is the truth just boggles my mind. I taught my sixth graders to be smarter than that.

18 MILLION migrants “coming from places with languages no one knows” flowing into America because of Joe Biden is so ludicrous it bothers me so many people take it “hook, line, and sinker.” Do they understand President Biden actually agreed to immigration legislation fashioned by one of the MOST conservative members of the Senate with “Moscow” Mitch participating in the negotiations – legislation which DIDN’T include key “progressive” objectives (ie Dreamers, etc.) and Trump torpedoed it because he wanted to have the “issue” for November and “red meat” for his cult followers? Of course not. That would require a bit of critical thinking.

I’ve repeatedly of late referred to these MAGA faithful as “willfully STUPID” and I really do wish I could come up with a better term, but they are the result of the misinformation campaign launched by Vladimir Putin (and others) along with our right wing media and Trump’s willingness to embrace all of it because – at present – Trump’s focus is staying out of jail due to his serial CRIMINAL conduct FINALLY catching up with him. Apparently, his minions don’t care. Where they go on the internet makes me shudder.

The rest of the world is watching as this incredible scene plays out where MILLIONS of so-called “conservative Christians” are backing someone who, if he hasn’t violated all of the “Ten Commandments” (they all want in our schools) it’s fewer than the ones he has violated – with impunity. Here’s the easy ones for me, Don’t LIE, Don’t CHEAT, Don’t commit ADULTERY, Don’t “covet” (covers several things Trumps seems to covet), and I’ll leave it at that. Personally, it was Jesus who convinced me to believe in Christianity and the best I can say is these (from my view, of course) “conservative Christians” have made a “deal with the devil.” (I won’t repeat Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew, but, go ahead, look it up) (OK, I know I’m not supposed to “judge” and I struggle with that one and “loving my neighbor” when my “neighbor” makes my skin crawl – I’m trying to work on it)

I’m not suggesting America is a “Christian nation,” because nothing could be further from the truth. America was designed to be a secular nation right from the start. It was clearly the wish of our “founders” that there would be “separation of Church and State.” Freedom of Religion is what this nation was founded on – the other way to look at that is “freedom from Religion” if that’s your choice. Sadly, there’s a group of “Christian nationalists” who think they can force their beliefs on “we the people.” To me, this is the opposite of the Christianity I believe in – where “we the people” actually have “free will” to determine our own beliefs on our own. And, it doesn’t take much imagination to understand their view is, well, un-American. (Is it any wonder the number of Americans who are turned off to Christianity continues to rise because of this?)

I’ve predicted this several other times on this site, but when Trump loses in November (how many LOSSES would that make?) and the indictments he’s facing become more real to him, I expect him to fire up his plane and head for somewhere which doesn’t have an extradiction treaty with the U.S. (The first thought which comes to mind is, of course, Russia – maybe in the same building as Edward Snowden.) I did read today that it would be New York law he be remanded into custody – as a “flight risk” should he be found guilty of the election interference case there – sometimes referred to as the “hush money” case. (He’s accused of paying more than just “Stormy Daniels” hush money)

Here’s my number one hope at this point in time (although, it does make me a bit sad Trump’s coup d’etat trial isn’t starting today) and that is, somehow, the House of Representatives manages to overcome the OBSTRUCTION of “Moscow Mike” (is it fair to give that moniker to two republicans?) and PASS the legislation giving military AID to Ukraine. The bill also includes aid to Israel which I hope can be extended with conditions requiring the Israeli’s to agree to a CEASE FIRE allowing humanitarian aid into GAZA for the Palestinians who are facing FAMINE – with children facing long lasting/permanent damage from their lack of food and water. It’s time for President Biden to internalize Bibi Netanyahu could give a s@#t what he thinks. Netanyahu is going to be working for Trump’s return to the “White House” period – full stop! Just like in 2016 and 2020. (Allowing Putin to take Ukraine will put Mike Johnson in the history books next to Neville Chamberlain.)

America has one foot in the “pool” of autocracy already. Our corporations have too much power – many have “lost their way” (they really do/should have responsibility to the “commons” – after all, that’s where they get their “charter”) For example, just recently Elon Musk was “stripped” of his $56 BILLION dollar “payday” by a Delaware Court (where Tesla is “chartered”) because, well, the judge agreed with a shareholder finding $56 BILLION as a bit excessive. America’s oligarchs like Musk can’t seem to have enough money. (President Biden favors taxing BILLIONAIRES “fairly” prompting Musk – and others – to meet with Trump, presumably seeking even MORE tax breaks should “we the people” be STUPID enough vote Trump back into the Oval Office once again.)

We criticize Russia for all their “oligarchs” while America is littered with them – something like 4000 BILLIONAIRES – and, they funnel BILLIONS into politics (thanks to the SCOTUS) via the Citizens United decision of 2010 which is the epitome (or was) of legislating from the bench. I say “was” because the Roberts Court – full of judges who, in their confirmation hearings railed against “legislating from the bench” – have turned it into common practice. They claim to be “textualists” and/or “originalists” EXCEPT in cases where that doesn’t meet their pre-ordained beliefs or those of the BILLIONAIRES who are responsible for their place on the court. (Or, in the case of Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, their “sugar daddies” paying for their “summer vacations.”)

It’s no wonder so many Americans are turned off by the realities of our political system – and, I include the SCOTUS in that – especially younger Americans. Here’s the reality, if there’s going to be a CHANGE it will be up to these younger Americans to VOTE in record numbers to make it happen. And, the cruel IRONY in all this is if they want to VOTE for a candidate who stands for what SHOULD be important to them, they’ll have to VOTE for the oldest candidate for president in our history. Additionally, they’ll VOTE for democrats up and down the ticket even if they don’t particularly feel compelled to do so – because they’ll be voting AGAINST republicans. Biden needs a Congress with MORE democrats – both in the Senate AND in the House to be able to accomplish “stuff” that’s in the interest of these young Americans.

As I usually do, I’m going to “tick off” (off the top of my memory deficient head) a few of the reasons Biden SHOULD appeal to these young Americans. The first one, to me, would be the CLIMATE crisis. Trump and republicans believe that is a “hoax.” (kind of like all of Trump’s criminal conduct) The major Hurricanes, the earthquakes, the flooding, the tornadoes, the wildfires – all of which keep getting more severe – don’t register with republicans. One of Trumps’ first actions – as “Day 1 dictator” – according to his claims, will be to eliminate the clean energy incentives in the “Inflation Reduction Act.” I need to get my next electric car before next November – just in case.

If you’re a woman I find it hard to believe you’ll vote for a republican – where (mostly) republican MEN are threatening FURTHER attacks on women’s health care. A national abortion ban, a ban on birth control, a ban on IVF (In vitro fertilization) and who knows what else. I’ve always said, “if you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one.” (I paid for an “abortion” about 50 years ago because my wife was having a miscarriage – devastating at the time – but it allowed her to have two healthy daughters later on. In Texas she would have had to go into Sepsis to get medical healthcare today – and, very possibly at the cost of future pregnancies – assuming she survived)

I taught Middle School for 25 years and never had an occasion to experience a shooting in my school – although our students were constantly trained what to do if there was an “intruder alert” in the school. There were a few instances where we were “locked down” because of issues in the neighborhood, but never a shooting in the school. That said, today’s children are fully aware of the dangers of gun violence and many of them suffer from anxiety preventing them from even go to school – wondering if “today will be the day.” I say all this because Joe Biden is lobbying Congress for an assault weapons ban (He was involved in passing one years ago which was allowed to expire by GW Bush) and I have to believe a large majority of young people would agree with him on that PLUS other sensible “gun safety” laws. It’s true, you can’t put “toothpaste back in the tube” but you have to start somewhere.

President Biden is attempting to “forgive” BILLIONS in student loan debt, but republicans are doing everything they can to block his efforts. A good example of the republican hypocrisy would be Marjorie Taylor Greene objecting to ANY forgiveness of student loan debt while she ACCEPTED a couple hundred thousand dollars in PPP loans during the pandemic – loans which were not required to be paid back. The amounts President Biden wants to “forgive” in student loan debt is between $10,000 and $20,000 depending on the student’s circumstances. The Biden administration wants to make “higher education” more affordable and fully support K-12 education. In addition, they understand the importance of “early education.” It’s painfully clear a large segment of our electorate is uneducated.

I believe I wrote enough above (or hope I did) to convince ANY young person who reads this to understand the importance of the Supreme Court. If – God help us – Trump would somehow find a way to CHEAT his way back into the “White House” he will replace Thomas and Alito on the Court with younger more radical Justices who will have lifetime appointments. That would be a national disaster more devastating than the one we’re presently experiencing. Just picture, for example, Aileen Cannon as a Supreme Court justice. Yikes!!! Hillary Clinton “lost” (with 3 MILLION more votes than Trump) back in 2016 because of “progressives” who either didn’t vote or who voted for a third party candidate. (The same “trick” republicans used to get GW Bush elected back in 2000) Trump financiers are also financing the candidacy of RFK Jr. and, once again, Jill Stein. Please don’t fall for it. A vote for either of them is like a vote for Trump. This election is President Biden or Trump. That’s it – full stop!

Final Thought: I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s and clearly remember the attempts to desegregate schools in America. (The schools I went to had NO persons of color until I was in eighth grade and I remember only one African American student at that school and my High School was “lilly white.” I say this because I remember the fight by African Americans – led by MLK – for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act back in the 1960’s. The Voting Rights Act was approved when I was a senior in High School (1965). I remember seeing “Bloody Sunday” on the CBS news and not really understanding why it was happening – just that it was “shocking.” And, I wasn’t attuned to politics enough to understand the fight for Voting Rights. (It never dawned on me there were people who were denied the right to vote – back then the voting age was 21)

I was never around a “person of color” until I began playing basketball in college. I was embarrassed at my first reaction to having “Black” teammates. I’m thankful to say over the years I’ve had MANY African American friends – one of whom I consider the BEST friend I ever had (he’s now in heaven). I say all this because, to me, the issues of CIVIL RIGHTS and VOTING RIGHTS are paramount reasons why “we the people” SHOULD be voting against republicans. They clearly believe in “white supremacy” – beliefs which make my skin crawl thinking they could succeed unless young people VOTE against them in massive numbers. For heaven’s sake, the republican nominee for governor in North Carolina is a Holocaust denier AND believes women shouldn’t have the right to vote! I’m not kidding!

Obviously, the corruption goes way beyond Trump – I almost believe his sycophants are worse – but, it’s CRITICAL Trump gets to face juries of his peers in the four INDICTMENTS he’s facing with the 91 FELONY “counts.” It’s looking like he will have to LOSE in November to have that “opportunity.” Just imagine the message we would be sending to the rest of the world if “we the people” fall for his schtick once again. The world will become unrecognizable. Republicans fear him. It appears to me Merrick Garland fears him. He uses our “open society” against us as he’s consolidating POWER. (Just as Putin uses it against us as he spreads mis/disinformation – i.e. “active measures”)

If you’re reading this far, make sure you’re registered to VOTE (remember republicans are purging voters in every state – especially “swing states”) and talk to your friends and family. If Americans want to keep their republic it will require them to participate in the VOTING process – Benjamin Franklin famously said, we “have a republic, if we can keep it.” America’s young people have the POWER to change this country for the better! I’m praying they choose to do so! Stay tuned……

Well, the CORRUPT justices on the SCOTUS have left nothing for the imagination regarding where they stand on the issue of JUSTICE in America. Today, they agreed to “hear” the arguments in the ABSURD claim by Donald Trump that he is “absolutely immune” from prosecution as President. Making matters worse, they will hear “arguments” on April 22nd. I pointed out recently if they decide to “slow walk” this ABSURD claim it will likely push Trump’s trial in the “January 6th” case back to after the election – EXACTLY what Trump is hoping.

Now, compare this “decision” by the court, to the speed in which they heard the Section 3 of the 14th amendment case originating in Colorado in a matter of a couple weeks. The “arguments” were heard shortly thereafter. When they will make a decision is “up in the air” – my guess is they’re “slow walking” this issue as well. They, likely, don’t want to make a decision on that one because it will require them to violate their own professions of being “texualists” and “originalists.” This court is CORRUPT beyond imagination – and, the corruption falls entirely on the “republicans” on the court.

Trump is showing his bona fides as an organized crime figure. He’s turned the Georgia investigation/indictments into somewhat (hopefully temporarily) a, in the words of Andrew Weissman, “hot mess.” The Judge in that case is “new” as is the judge in the Florida “Espionage” case, who, in addition, appears to be MAGA all the way. Trump is showing his masterful ability to push these CRIMINAL trials off as far into the future as he can. My guess is Trump either wins re-election or heads out of the country to someplace (Russia?) which doesn’t have an extradition agreement with America.

He won’t be able to put off the election interference case in Manhattan where he’s been charged with 34 FELONIES and I have to wonder if the judge in that case will follow the law as he would with anyone else should Trump be found guilty. I’ve heard reports, should that be the outcome, the sentence would be something in the neighborhood of FOUR years in prison. Trump’s “fixer,” Michael Cohen, got THREE years for his part in the scheme so, to me, it’s only FAIR Trump would get MORE jail time. He’ll likely put off any jail time via the appeal process, so I’m likely going to have to live much longer to fulfill the place on my bucket list of seeing Trump going to jail. (Where he belongs)

I’ve been writing for years comparing Trump to Benedict Arnold – regarding his place in the history books – and, just earlier today, I posted an article by Thom Hartman, which gives a “plethora” of evidence to why Trump is a TRAITOR – in Hartman’s view, worse than Arnold. I’ve also wondered where the documents are that were MISSING from the folders labeled “Top Secret SCI” and Mr. Hartman gave detailed evidence on what is actually missing which I had not learned previously – and, when you think about it, well, it’s between sobering and frightening.

Of course, I’m not one of the spies or CIA agents who’ve been murdered and who may have been outed by the information found in the documents which are missing. NARA and Jack Smith KNOW exactly which documents have not been returned and what is in them. Much of it has to do with the “Russia investigation” and includes sources and methods used to gain intelligence from Russia and China. Mr. Hartman posed the question of how much would that information be worth to Russia and China? And, of course, at the present time, Trump is desperately in need of MONEY to pay for his fraudulent business practices and his serial defamation of E. Jean Carroll. (After all the Saudi’s gave $2 BILLION to Jared Kushner for a plan he was unqualified for, Hunter Biden be damned!)

NONE of this information will “ring a bell” to those who’ve been sucked into the MAGA cult. Yesterday, as Michiganders went to the polls for the Michigan primary many of them were interviewed regarding their views on Trump. I heard several people from Michigan say they support Vladimir Putin and call Volodymyr Zelensky ugly names. They said they support Putin’s aims of “claiming” Ukraine as Russian territory and they could care less about Putin’s aims on the former Soviet Republics. I’ve called these people “willfully STUPID” on several occasions and nothing I heard from these MAGA voters caused me to think differently.

I’m constantly amazed at how ignorant so many Americans seem to be virtually anytime you hear the actual words of someone in Trump’s cult. I started making comparisons of Trump to Hitler while he was still the (TWICE IMPEACHED so-called two times popular vote LOSING) president. That, of course, was before the FOUR indictments comprising of 91 separate FELONY charges. Trump has convinced MILLIONS of Americans he’s telling them the truth when, in reality, he’s a pathological LIAR. Think I’m exaggerating, here’s the definition of “pathological LIAR.

“Pathological lying, also known as mythomania and pseudologia fantastica, is a chronic behavior characterized by the habitual or compulsive tendency to lie. It involves a pervasive pattern of intentionally making false statements with the aim of deceiving others, sometimes without a clear or apparent reason.”

We do have to consider the possibility of Trump actually purposefully using the “Big Lie Theory” of the Nazi’s. I mean, it’s hard to look the other way regarding the effectiveness of his LYING (along with his republican sycophants) and his use of another NAZI “strategy” – projection. Trump, and his republican sycophants, are constantly claiming their opponents have violated the very “norms/laws” they are trampling. I will say it again, to me, Trump is a TRAITOR. He’s all about Trump.

As much as I dislike Trump I have to give him credit for his ability to manipulate our legal system to push off his “day of reckoning” with, obviously, hoping to be able to make it all go away should “we the people” be STUPID enough to allow him back into the “White House.” He’s proving, with a “chesire cat smile” on his face, that “justice delayed is Justice denied.” Of course, he’s got the support of at least 4 right wing judges on the Supreme Court who seem to want to clear as much of a path for Trump’s re-election as they possibly can. Payback to democrats for such probing questions in their confirmation hearings?

In my mind, I can’t believe these judges can possibly be planning to approve Trump’s RIDICULOUS appeal, therefore ending the January 6th case and, likely, the Georgia RICO case. They must realize what doing so would do to their own power, unless they’re full in on the fascist takeover of America. Even if they manage to put this off until after the November election, I don’t think they’ve thought through their decision today. If this appeal is not resolved prior to the election it’s been widely understood Trump’s AG would simply make this case go away, thereby giving Trump the impression he IS “absolutely immune” from prosecution.

It’s a blackmark on the American voting public that someone this flawed has gotten to this point in the first place. He’s soon to go on trial, in a case he can’t delay, in the Manhattan election interference case where he allegedly paid off a couple women ahead of the 2016 election so “we the people” wouldn’t get confirmation of his sexual “prowess” prior to the election. (Other than the Access Hollywood tape where he admitted to being a sexual predator which didn’t seem to “move the needle” with republicans.)

The SCOTUS appears ready to “legislate from the bench” on this ABSURD claim on “absolute immunity” similar to their Citizen’s United decision back in 2010, their gutting of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and, most recently, the “Dobbs” decision where they overturned 50 years of precedent by overturning Roe v Wade. As I said above, it appears the court will slow walk this case as a favor for Trump. At this point it wouldn’t surprise me if they decide to send it back to the appeals court on some kind of technicality. (I believe they’re going to argue over what is an “official act”)

Since the day the court crowned Bush/Cheney back in 2000 I’ve believed the Court has been strategically overtaken by the republican “puppet masters” who work behind the scenes (Charles Koch, Leonard Leo, Timothy Mellon, etc. etc.) to create a stranglehold on our republic enabling “minority rule.” Mitch McConnell (more on him shortly) managed to create this right wing “super majority” on the court via the epitome of unethical behavior – why? because he could – and that has led to an oversized reality of Trump judges in our judiciary – and, McConnell made it a point to appoint YOUNG judges to these lifetime appointments. One of the three branches of our government is going to be making stunningly shocking decisions to the vast majority of Americans – who, likely won’t know “what hit them,” because most Americans don’t pay attention to the court (other than Dobbs).

That is the MAIN reason why I’ve said “we the people” MUST go to the polls in MASSIVE numbers this November to repudiate TRUMP and hopefully several republicans in Congress who’ve become supplicants of Trump. (Plus protect “we the people” from and even worse situation with the Courts) At a bare minimum, democrats MUST retain control of the House and re-elect Biden as president. If that doesn’t happen Trump will be filling at least two seats on the court (yes, it will be Thomas and Alito, probably the two worst) and Trump has promised even more radical judges. If, somehow democrats can retain control of the Senate – maybe relying on Ted Cruz being defeated in Texas – any potential Trump appointees could be blocked. Republican members of Congress have proven they’re no match for Trump and his MAGA base. Yikes!!!

Final Thought: Today, Mitch McConnell, ie “Moscow Mitch” announced in November he will step down as the republican leader in the Senate. He’s been the longest serving leader of either caucus in Senate History (18 years?) and, of course, probably the worst leader in the Senate from the standpoint of “getting things done.” He has a long list of “accomplishments” you’d have to be part of the right wing attempting to take down our republic to appreciate. And, it appears, there are enough members of his caucus who DON’T appreciate his OBSTRUCTION of the legislative process to imply his replacement will be worse. As I’ve been saying for over 20 years, this version of the republican party needs to be voted into the history books right next to Benedict Arnold. (see above)

Just looking at this issue with the court. It’s not a reach to say that BOTH Judge Gorsuch and Judge Barrett were illegitimately put on the court. McConnell is responsible in both cases. Although you could put the BLAME on “we the people” who, along with the Russians, Saudi’s, Emerati’s, Egyptians, and members of Israeli intelligence (see Seth Abramson’s “Proof of Conspiracy”) “elected” Trump back in 2016 (exactly what he’s going to be on trial for starting March 25th.) But, make no mistake, neither Gorsush OR Barrett would be on this court except for McConnell’s brazen, shameless, well, I can’t think of a better word than immorality.

McConnell got the monniker “Moscow Mitch” after it was reported he “torpedoed” sanctions against a Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, because Deripaska was planning to build a large factory in Kentucky – I believe an Aluminum plant. Of course, McConnell denied the two situations were connected but there was only enough support for the sanctions in the Senate to get a 57-43 vote majority, lacking the three votes needed to overtake another of McConnell’s unending uses of the filibuster to get his way.

Speaking of the filibuster, that may end up being, other than packing the courts, McConnell’s lasting damage to our republic. During President Obama’s eight years in office McConnell used the filibuster MORE than it had been invoked in the entire history of the Senate. Now days, it’s just a routine part of the Senate’s “business” when there’s a democrat in the “White House” where ANYTHING, say, for example, President Biden and the democrats want passed will require 60 votes before it can even be brought up for a vote on the actual issue.

There’s a long list of DAMAGE McConnell has managed to accomplish over his 18 years in charge of the Senate republicans that will take at least a GENERATION of Americans committed to defending our republic from authoritarian rule as each and every election going forward will be CRITICAL. Likely the worst was refusing to vote to convict Trump after the INSURRECTION of January 6th, 2021. This issue of Trump running again would have become moot and the timing issue of the federal prosecutions wouldn’t be a key issue in the upcoming election. (If, somehow Trump prevails in November this issue will move right to the top of his dark “legacy”)

These MAGA(t) republicans will not go away on their own – they specialize in obtaining power and being unable to govern. Somehow, “we the people” MUST understand the importance of being politically aware and participating in elections (if we can keep them – meaning elections). Trump has proven he’ll CHEAT to get what he wants and McConnell proved himself to be incapable of showing COURAGE in the face of Trump’s verbal attacks. McConnell’s place in the history books will be on the same page as Trump’s!

McConnell’s list of “trespasses” against the will of the American people is much longer (Oh yes, I just remembered he tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act ie Obamacare) and I can’t bring many of them to mind, but my guess is within a few days it won’t be hard to find a LONG list of his “accomplishment” on the internet. Personally, I say “good riddance” to McConnell and pray that somehow democrats can keep control of the Senate. (I’ve sent money to Jon Tester in Montana and to Sherrod Brown in Ohio two critical races and, when I can I’ll send money to Jackie Rosen in Nevada – those will likely be three of the most challenging seats for democrats to retain) Stay tuned…..

Just as I suspected, the list of articles taking a “hard look” at McConnell’s record are coming out fast and furious. Here’s one from one of my heroes, Robert Reich.

OK, it’s true President Biden has MANY positive accomplishments to “crow” about – but, here’s my take: Democrats will LOSE if they choose to make this election about their accomplishments.

Why Won’t Our Media Say Donald Trump is America’s Modern-Day Benedict Arnold?

How much more damage are we willing to take? Garland and the DOJ need to get some answers and share them with the American people soon…

Thom Hartmann Feb 28

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“When you see Trump with Putin, as I have on a few occasions, he’s like the 12-year old boy that goes to high school and meets the captain of the football team. ‘My hero!’ It’s really creepy.”
—Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia

Donald Trump needs money. Apparently, many of the documents Trump stole from the White House are still missing. Including the binder with raw intelligence about American spies in Moscow.

Are they his “get out of jail free” card?

It’s as if the media doesn’t want to confront the possibility that a former president and current candidate is actually a traitor. But consider the facts.

We are right now in the midst of the third presidential election featuring massive interference from Russian intelligence. Most recently, we found that they sent an agent to the FBI to claim that Biden had taken a bribe in Ukraine: James Comer and Jim Jordan have been running with it, trying to use this Russian disinformation to damage Biden in his run against Trump this fall.

Similarly, the 2020 and 2016 elections featured substantial and persistent interventions by Russian intelligence to help get and keep Trump elected. One of the first things Trump did when he became president in 2017 was to invite the Russian Foreign Minister and their ambassador to the US for a secret meeting in the White House, where he gave them a spy we and Israel ran in Syria.

He had dozens of private phone conversations with Putin while in the White House, for which no meaningful records exist, and at Helsinki took Putin’s side against American intelligence to lie about Russian involvement in the 2016 election.

He stole thousands of top-secret (and above) classified documents from the White House, transported them to Florida, and stored them in publicly-accessible locations at Mar-a-Lago. It’s the perfect way to hand off intelligence to agents of foreign governments without getting caught.

He lied to both the National Archives, the FBI, and the American people about them. And now apparently many are missing.

Did Trump sell them already? Does he now have an overseas account with the hundreds of millions he’ll need to pay off his judgements? Or is he planning to sell documents that the FBI hasn’t yet found?

Prosecutors say that roughly 48,000 people visited Mar-a-Lago between the time in 2021 when Trump brought those documents from Washington to Florida and May 2022, when the FBI finally recovered as many as they could find. Of those people, only 2,200 had any sort of identity verification done, and only 2,900 passed through magnetometers that may have detected spying or photographing equipment.

For example, a female Chinese national, Yujing Zhang, flew into the US and went to Mar-a-Lago.

When she was finally caught by the Secret Service (after having her photo taken with Trump the day before on his golf course), they discovered on her person four mobile phones, a laptop, an external hard drive, and a thumb drive that was later discovered to contain spyware. There were, back in her hotel room, an additional 9 USB drives, five SIM cards for burner phones, and a bug-tracking device that could identify hidden cameras and microphones.

She claims she’s just a tourist and is now back in China; nobody knows how much time she spent in any of the many publicly-available rooms where Trump had stored our nation’s most sensitive and secret documents, including those involving nuclear war and spying on Russia and China.

And there was the notorious Russian-speaking Ukrainian woman, Inna Yashchyshyn, who went by the pseudonym Anna de Rothschild (complete with fake passport) to gain entrance to Mar-a-Lago. She was photographed on the golf course with Trump and Lindsay Graham, before spending hours wandering around Mar-a-Lago doing nobody-knows-what.

As former CIA director John Brennan said:

“I’m sure Mar-a-Lago was being targeted by Russian intelligence and other intelligence services over the course of the last 18 or 20 months, and if they were able to get individuals into that facility, and access those rooms where those documents were and made copies of those documents, that’s what they would do.”

Most likely “Anna” and Yujing Zhang were among the least competent of the spies who visited Mar-a-Lago. The good ones we’ll probably never know about.

For example, because Trump thinks it’s “upper class” to have people working at his resort who have “European” accents, the bug-infested resort hired scores of young people from European countries, typically paying them between $11 and $12 an hour.

That would present another great opportunity for foreign governments to get their people installed there in ways that would give them plenty of time to peruse the secret documents Trump was keeping out in the open.

Most concerning, though, is a 10-inch-thick binder of raw intelligence and assessments of Russia’s efforts to help Trump become president in 2016, which included reports and details from American spies in Moscow. The binder is missing, and multiple American spies and people working for US intelligence have been murdered. CNN reported about six weeks ago:

“The binder contained raw intelligence the US and its NATO allies collected on Russians and Russian agents, including sources and methods that informed the US government’s assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to help Trump win the 2016 election, sources tell CNN.

“The intelligence was so sensitive that lawmakers and congressional aides with top secret security clearances were able to review the material only at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where their work scrutinizing it was itself kept in a locked safe.”

How much would Putin pay for it? Or might Trump have sold it to the Saudis, who would then launder it to the Russians, in exchange for their giving $2 billion to Jared and $1 billion to Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin? How much went to Trump, but was unreported and is sitting in an overseas account?

And what were the secret documents that Senator Rand Paul took from Trump, then hopped in a first-class seat to Moscow to hand deliver to Putin’s intelligence officers? Paul, when nailed by reporters, tried to spin it as a “private letter” of some sort, but something very, very wrong is apparently going on here.

Although Trump has been charged in Florida with multiple violations of the Espionage Act, the American press insists on referring to that as the “documents case,” a nice, anodyne sounding euphemism, instead of calling it, correctly, the “espionage case.”

From his days as a teenager screening out Black rental applicants for his father’s property until today, Trump has lived his life on the edge of the law. A New York State Supreme Court justice just ruled that he’s repeatedly enriched himself through fraud.

He’s a serial criminal and a traitor to the ideals of this nation.

As Trump continues to make a mockery of our criminal justice system with his repeated appeals based on BS arguments — intended purely to delay his reckoning until he’s back in the White House and can have his tormentors arrested and imprisoned in one of the concentration camps he and Stephen Miller have planned — America’s security continues to be compromised.

At the same time, Trump is forcing Republicans like “Moscow Mike Johnson” to do Putin’s bidding: his latest project has been to block US aid to Ukraine for 13 months now, and to kneecap the US economy to hurt both America and Joe Biden.

And just the threat of a government shutdown will further degrade our nation’s credit rating and thus damage the economy, while a complete shutdown might cripple America all the way to the election this November (apparently what Trump and Putin are counting on).

Donald Trump is the antitheses of a patriot: even Benedict Arnold never tried anything as audacious as he did. As Jack Smith wrote in last week’s filings with Judge Aileen Cannon:

“[T]here has never been a case in American history in which a former official has engaged in conduct remotely similar to Trump’s. He intentionally took possession of a vast trove of some of the nation’s most sensitive documents—documents so sensitive that they were presented to the President—and stored them in unsecured locations at his heavily trafficked social club.

“When the National Archives and Records Administration (“NARA”) initially sought their return (before learning that they contained classified national defense information), Trump delayed, obfuscated, and dissembled. Faced with the possibility of legal action, he ostensibly agreed to comply with NARA’s requests but in fact engaged in additional deception, returning only a fraction of the documents in his possession while claiming that his production was complete.

“Then, when presented with a grand jury subpoena demanding the return of the remaining documents bearing classification markings, Trump attempted to enlist his own attorney in the corrupt endeavor, suggesting that he falsely tell the FBI and grand jury that Trump did not have any documents, and suggesting that his attorney hide or destroy documents rather than produce them to the government.

“Failing in his effort to corrupt the attorney, Trump enlisted his trusted body man, codefendant Waltine Nauta, in a scheme to deceive the attorney by moving boxes to conceal his (Trump’s) continued possession of classified documents. As a result, Trump, through his attorney, again returned only a portion of the classified documents in his possession while falsely claiming that his production was complete.

“The obstructive conduct even persisted from there. In June 2022, knowing that he had arranged for Nauta to move boxes to conceal them from Trump’s attorney, and knowing that the government had subpoenaed the security video footage that would reveal that surreptitious box movement, Trump, now joined by not only Nauta but also codefendant Carlos De Oliveira, attempted to have the information-technology manager at Mar-a-Lago delete the video footage that would show the movement of boxes.

“The defendants have not identified anyone who has engaged in a remotely similar suite of willful and deceitful criminal conduct and not been prosecuted. Nor could they.”

This corrupt agent of a foreign power has already killed over a half-million Americans with his incompetent or malicious handling of the Covid crisis and damaged the reputation of our nation all over the world.

He has the democracies of Europe terrified that Putin, with Trump’s enthusiastic “do whatever the hell you want” assent, will next turn his guns and missiles on them.

And he’s radicalized millions of our people, convincing them that elections don’t matter and democracy is so corrupt it should be replaced with a Putin-style strongman authoritarian oligarchy run by Trump himself.

How much more damage are we willing to take?

Merrick Garland and his DOJ need to get some answers and share them with the American people soon. And the media should start telling the truth about Trump’s betrayal of our nation.

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I grabbed a bite to eat today and decided to then watch a bit of “Deadline White House” on MSNBC and a clip from a Fox “town hall” from last night almost made me gag. There was Laura Ingraham questioning Trump about the $450 BILLION judgement and the $80,000 per day of interest until he pays up – or until the decision is reversed on appeal. In regard to the appeal, Trump’s lawyers are, what appears to me – a non lawyer – to be incompetent. I believe the reason Judge Engoron took so long to file his decision was to make it appeal proof. I’ve read the same thing regarding the $88.8 MILLION he owes E. Jean Carroll. Alina Hobba – yikes!!! Regarding my reference to gagging – In response to Ingraham’s question Trump first compared himself to Alexei Navalny and then said “this is communism, fascism.”

It appears obvious to me Trump doesn’t understand the meaning of the words “communist and fascism.” To me, the latter reference to fascism comes across as pure projection – but, maybe he really doesn’t understand what he’s proposing for America is to turn this nation into a fascist state. He idolized people like Putin, Kim Jong Un, Viktor Orban, MBS, and other dictators who could be described as fascists. Focusing on America I’ve been pointing out the obvious push from the “right” to turn America into a fascist state for years. This did not begin with Trump, but when you look at our history he appears to be the closest to actually pulling this off.

I always thought I had a (fairly) good idea of American history pre WW II and the Americans who were sucking up to Adolph Hitler and who were “smacked down” by FDR including members of the family of GW Bush. But, last night I began reading Rachel Maddow’s “Prequel” and I quickly realized how little I know – and, I’m anxious to learn from Rachel’s expert scholarly research. I’m only through the prologue and feel I’ve already learned a lot.

I did know Adolf Hitler had a photo of Henry Ford in his office prior to WW II and I knew Ford was part of the pre-war fascist movement in America along with people like Charles Lindbergh. But, just in the first few pages I’ve already learned about several more “traitors” and I’m questioning why some of them were allowed to, well, keep “traitoring.” I also knew the Nazi’s researched the American policy of “dealing with” African Americans as they decided how they would “deal with” the Jews who ended up in the German gas chambers. (In America, African Americans were routinely being “lynched” in the 1920’s.) I’ve also known about the Nazi’s use of propaganda and have constantly been surprised/dismayed at our “liberal media’s” failure to make the connection between the constant LYING of republicans and the Nazi’s “Big Lie Theory.”

I say all that because whether it’s on his mind and he understands he’s using “projection” when he accuses President Biden, the DOJ, the State of New York, and anyone else in the democratic party or what he refers to as RHINOS as being “fascists” the reality is what Trump is proposing for his second term, out loud, can be referred to as nothing less. I’ve given the definition before of fascism here, but here it is again:

1. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, a capitalist economy subject to stringent governmental controls, violent suppression of the opposition, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
2. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
3. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

If you haven’t been paying attention, just open “door #1” (OK, the first sentence in the definition) and you can apply it almost totally to today’s republican party and their “wish list” for the rest of us. I’ve been saying for years we are half way there (maybe not using those exact words) because of the corporate control of our nation which has been “intensified” by the Supreme Court and rulings over the years which culminated after Barack Obama was elected president with the Citizens United v FEC decision – opening an even LARGER floodgate of corporate MONEY into the political system followed by the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which opened the floodgate to voter suppression legislation across the nation with republicans trying to block democratic leaning constituencies from using their most basic right. (That was a “mouthful”)

But, as usual, it gets worse and it could get MUCH worse depending on what “we the people” choose to do come November 2024. Right now we’re dealing with a Congress which is purposely tying up the legislative process in “knots” in order to cause more people to throw up their arms and say it doesn’t matter who wins so “I’m not voting.” Republican members of the House openly BRAG about what their SHAM impeachment “investigation” into Joe Biden is doing to his “poll numbers.” (An investigation, by the way, which originated in the Kremlin) If you remember, a SHAM congressional investigation was how republicans torpedoed Hillary Clinton’s “numbers” during their SHAM Benghazi “investigation.” (Fool me once…………)

The new, and seemingly incompetent, Speaker of the House holds the future of Ukraine – and maybe Europe, and by extension America – in his Trump loving “hands.” I fear if the House of Representatives doesn’t pass the bipartisan legislative package which was miraculously passed by the Senate providing aid to Ukraine, Israel (more on that shortly), along with Humanitarian aid for Gaza right after returning from a questionable “vacation” maybe even THOUSANDS of Ukrainians will be killed unnecessarily. If the House follows Trump’s wishes and blocks further aid to Ukraine the devastation will be Mike Johnson’s legacy – as he will sit next to his idol, Trump, next to Benedict Arnold in the History books. That section is getting crowded!

I have to add, speaking of “thousands killed unnecessarily” – I, personally, believe any future aid to Israel SHOULD be conditioned on, at a minimum, a CEASE FIRE in Gaza with the focus going forward to save as many PALESTINIAN lives as possible via humanitarian aid. Netanyahu has GOT to go! I fully understand the importance of supporting Israel, but NOT on Netanyahu’s conditions. The Israeli’s have ventured, in my opinion, well into WAR CRIMES territory and the Biden administration needs to draw the line regarding “unconditional support.” But, I digress………..

Here’s the deal. The House returns on February 28th and, without a budget, parts of the government will shut down on March 1st. (That gives them 2 days to do what they’ve been unable to do in 13 months) I personally don’t think the House republicans are capable of creating a budget which will be acceptable to a bipartisan group of legislators without right wing House members (Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, etc.) voting to “oust” Johnson as Speaker and then the “circus” begins anew. I honestly don’t believe these republicans care about how this looks to the nation because most, if not all, of the whack jobs are in totally “safe” republican districts. They’re going to get their 15 minutes of fame this year no matter the cost. Of course, what they’re counting on is the voting public blaming democrats for the lack of a budget. It could get really ugly. (OK, it’s already really ugly)

I can list a plethora of reasons why I believe any sane thinking American, especially younger Americans, should be rejecting this republican malfeasance but I’m going to start with the one which may register more with younger, and especially younger women, about why they should, despite his “age,” vote for Joe Biden, no matter what. The issue is the SUPREME COURT. The court got the attention of America’s women when they chose to go back on what they “promised” in their confirmation hearings and decided to overturn 50 years of precedent and repeal the Roe v Wade decision from back in 1973. That decision has opened the “door” to more decisions to follow which have justices Thomas and Alito almost salivating. These decisions to come will relate to “same sex marriage,” contraception/birth control, inter marriage (although, I don’t think even they have the guts to overrule that one: see Clarence Thomas) and other individual rights which will be very difficult to get back once they’re “gone.” The fights for those rights took years and it could take the court just a few months to turn back the clock decades as they did with Roe.

The judges on this court, with the exception of Thomas and Alito, are very young, considering they have “lifetime appointments.” Trump has already promised to appoint judges more extreme than during his last reign of terror on America and I believe it’s likely both Alito and Thomas will retire if Trump wins in 2024. The chances the Senate goes back into control by republicans in 2025 is extremely likely – from what I can tell by looking at the electoral “map.” There are 23 democrats up for re-election in 2024 – with three or four “toss up” races and one “for sure” loss (West Virginia) and only 11 republican held seats up for re-election. I believe the best democrats can hope for in 2024 is a 50/50 split in the Senate – and, that will require a massive mobilization of young and progressive voters.

So, if you’re thinking you’re going to vote for someone like RFK Jr. or Jill Stein, or any other “third party” candidate to register your complaint for whatever reason toward President Biden you’re falling into the traditional republican trap. Keep in mind, it’s republicans funding their campaigns – and, I’m talking about republicans who are Trump lackies. The Court already is doing MASSIVE damage to our republic – in places many of us aren’t even noticing – and, there’s some key decisions coming this year – including the 14th amendment case against Trump which I predict the SCOTUS won’t use the text of the constitution to decide, but instead they’ll “chicken” out by finding a convenient “off ramp” AND there’s the Trump claim of “absolute immunity” which is so absurd I can’t imagine the Court will even take the case – but, of course, I never thought they’d crown GW Bush president back in 2000. With this Court, nothing surprises me.

That SHOULD be enough to convince any sane (young) American about the importance of re-electing President Biden, but as I said above, there’s a lot more. The Court has already turned becoming pregnant in America into a dangerous medical condition for America’s women depending on where they live (and, of course, how much money they have). Roe will NOT be codified into law until there are enough members of Congress to overcome right wing opposition in both Houses – and, keep in mind, that would require 60 votes in the Senate unless the filibuster would somehow get repealed. (Not likely, at least in the next few years) The issue of abortion SHOULD be enough to get a massive turnout in November by the largest voting block in America – women.

I have to repeat myself because, there’s more, there’s always more – much more. If you’re a younger voter thinking of voting third party or not voting, think about the issue of Climate Change. Trump and the republicans deny it’s even an issue. President Biden miraculously, with only a 50/50 Senate and a thin House majority with only 5 votes to spare, passed the most significant Climate legislation of my lifetime and now Trump is threatening to “repeal it” once he’s back in the “White House.” (yuck, that just can’t happen!) Trump has also said on “day one” he’s going to “drill baby drill.” (And, he’ll repeal Obamacare) I don’t think he understands he can’t just “repeal Obamacare” AND America is already the leading oil and natural gas producer in the world, but I digress. To me, for young people the Climate issue is enough by itself to motivate one to go to the polls and vote democratic up and down the ticket.

I’ve stated here I’ve always considered myself an “independent” voter, but since GW Bush and DICK Cheney LIED “we the people” into Iraq back in 2002-2003 I’ve voted AGAINST republicans and will likely do so in the future not knowing how many elections I’ve got in this tired old body. Denying the Climate crisis is, to me, bonkers. But how about Civil Rights and Voting Rights. It will require Congress to overcome some of the overreach of the Supreme Court and that will be an issue for as far into the future as I can see. The Court is about to, from what I can tell, continue their assault on “progressive” Civil Rights and, they’ve already “unleashed the hounds” regarding those who wish to suppress the votes of certain groups regarding Voting Rights. Plus, they’re likely to cram THEIR “God” down the throats of the rest of us. (I say that as a Christian)

How about education. President Biden attempted to “forgive” the student loan debt of MILLIONS of Americans and was blocked by republicans who took the issue to the courts and, of course, the courts agreed he didn’t have that executive “power.” He managed to get a “chisled down” version in place, but with enough democrats in Congress BILLIONS in student debt could be forgiven PLUS (and I say this hopefully) state universities could possibly become tuition FREE. My first trip through the “college” system came from 1965 until 1969. I loved the game of basketball and played it a bit in college but wasn’t good enough to go to a school which provided athletic scholarships back then. However, as I remember it, the tuition was somewhere near (maybe a bit over) $100 per quarter and living expenses were REALLY cheap (I remember five guys sharing a house and paying $15 each per month in rent. Yes, those were the days of a $1.25/hour minimum wage, but I got out of school in 1969 owing $3000 in student loan debt which I was able to pay back. (I didn’t have a family capable of supporting me in school)

So, I’m in favor of tuition free universities (state funded universities) and any other measure which would open up “higher” education to ANY student capable of succeeding with the desire to do so. (I’m, obviously, not in favor of “book banning,” and “subject banning” like what is going on in Florida and other so-called “red states.”) How about environmental regulations and other regulations designed to make things better for the “commons.” I fear the SCOTUS is about to “knee cap” many of the regulatory agencies – why? because, when you look “under the hood” there are enough judges on this court who “owe” their position to big business that they will do what is expected of them.

There’s a prior case referred to as “Chevron” (I don’t fully understand it) which is likely to be overturned (just as Roe was overturned) taking the regulatory decision making process away from the experts in the various agencies and, apparently, giving it to judges (who have NO expertise). These are issues which will be hard to overcome once “Chevron” is overturned, if it happens – without a strong democratic Congress or a different composition on the Court – which, likely won’t happen for maybe another decade. (God help us if one of the “liberal” women on the Court retires during a republican administration)

What started this “rant” was me listening to Trump compare himself to Alexei Navalny (just writing that makes me feel like I’m going to throw up in my mouth) and then complaining that America has become a “communist, fascist” country. Why? Because the legal system he’s been “thumbing his nose at” for years has FINALLY caught up to him. I once wrote Trump would “rue the day” he decided to make a run for the presidency – and, I’m sure that day has arrived. His penchant for LYING and CHEATING (not to mention his admission to being a sexual predator in the Access Hollywood tape) led to CRIMINAL charges from before he “won” the 2016 election (The Manhattan election interference case – ie “hush money”), during his administration (he WOULD have been charged with OBSTRUCTION of Justice in the Mueller investigation but for a Justice Department policy of not indicting a sitting president), toward the end of his term – the INSURRECTION (ie coup d’etat) and AFTER his term – the Espionage case – ie STOLEN Classified documents case.

And, Oh by the way, I still wonder where the documents are that were missing from the SEVERAL empty folders found at Mar a Lago when the FBI executed the search warrant finding the over 100 CLASSIFIED documents (that were missing) and that Trump attempted to HIDE from the bureau and NARA. The FBI was called into the situation because of Trump’s REFUSAL to cooperate with the National Archives (NARA) where ALL presidential records belong (based on the Presidential Records Act which Trump routinely LIES about saying: “I had the right to keep those documents.” He just assumes his supporters are STUPID enough to believe this s@#t).

The issue with defamation regarding E. Jean Carroll is the result of Trump’s MOUTH and apparent inability to stop defaming Ms. Carroll on social media or in TV interviews until, well, he got hit with an $83 MILLION judgement. (It seems as if that was enough to get him to STOP). And, the $450 MILLION judgement in New York only came about because he couldn’t help himself from attacking Michael Cohen after his arrest – for, essentially, doing Trump’s “bidding” and then not providing Mr. Cohen help with his legal bills. The New York fraud case originated in the House of Representatives during Cohen’s testimony to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after he’d been sent to prison for something Trump initiated. Cohen explained it all and yes, you’re correct, the “Trump fraud case” began with Trump’s inability to NOT CHEAT! Trump is STUPID in so many ways.

The bottom line here is that Trump is desperate to stay out of jail, although I’ve heard enough reports suggesting, if convicted of any of these alleged CRIMES, he’ll be spared jail time. Like, for example, in New York a couple years at Rikers Island probably ain’t happening. I sadly believe he’ll get something like “home confinement” or they’ll find a prison for rich people and, avoiding even that is really the fuel to his re-election campaign.

There is a significant portion of America who would gladly trade our constitution for some kind of fascist “Christian nationalism” which requires a massive progressive voter turnout to put this rendition of American fascism to “bed.” Trump is desperate – but, so am I. I watched the return of John Stewart on “Comedy Central” and was stunned by his “ageism” attack on Joe Biden. And, then yesterday, and almost worse, in the substack I subscribe to written by Robert Reich, he (or someone he was quoting) was making the case for Biden to drop out of the race. At this point that won’t/can’t happen. Progressives need to put on their “big boy” pants and buckle down to get the anti-Trump voters to the polls. And, don’t be fooled by JFK Jr., for example, who’s major funding source, Timothy Mellon, is ALSO a major funding source for Trump! Sadly, Mellon is from one of my favorite places, Pittsburgh.

That kind of stuff (Biden and ageism) from supposed “progressives” is what has “irked” me about democrats over the years. It’s almost as if they’re afraid of their own shadows. I’ve been writing about the COWARDICE of republicans for almost eight years now – regarding Trump – and, I can’t believe all these people holding Joe Biden’s age against him when he’s been one of/maybe the best progressive president(s) in my lifetime. Apparently, it’s no longer “the economy stupid” when it comes to elections.

This post pandemic economy, so far, has been historic. Progressives should be attempting to get as many young Americans registered to vote and should be giving them the reasons why to, if nothing else, vote AGAINST Trump. The next few decades will depend on it – and, maybe more. It grieved my heart to read Professor Reich’s comments about Biden’s age. (Apparently, Dr. Reich was quoting Ezra Klein) Biden is the MOST qualified person in this nation to run our government, period full stop!

Final Thought: Yesterday, in Alabama, their Supreme Court ruled that embryos are “people” (ie children). This is the logical extension of the Dobbs SCOTUS decision overturning Roe (abortion or as the women I know – “women’s health care”). In the decision “God” was referenced repeatedly as if they don’t understand the notion “God” is not mentioned in our constitution and the founding fathers clearly wrote the constitution to embed the principle of “separation of church and state.” The Chief Justice of the Alabama Surpreme Court referred to “God” repeatedly in his opinion as if his interpretation of “God’s law” is suited for all Alabamians, like it or not – despite our Nations’ constitution prohibiting such blasphemy. They ruled that discarding an embryo (which routinely happens in “IVF”) is akin to MURDER.

There’s a bunch of right wing Christians (and I say that as, apparently, a liberal Christian) who just never got the message that America was founded on the principle of the separation of church and state. Or accepted it. In essence, that decision, in Alabama, has ended what I just referred to as “IVF” (In Vetro Fertilization) in that state which allows couples with fertility issues to have children. So, on the one hand they support forced birth (in many grave situations for women) while, on the other hand, they support preventing couples who WANT to have children but are unable to “naturally” from becoming parents – in the name of “God.” Yikes!!! Stay tuned….

My biggest mistake when I first started realizing the danger Donald Trump posed to America was believing, at some point, REPUBLICANS would understand the danger he addled to, not only America, but also to them, would cause REPUBLICANS to turn on Trump and, well, that would be the end of it. While much of the things I predicted were correct, in this regard, I couldn’t have been more wrong. My frustration with democrats used to be they seemed afraid to defend their own policies – highlighted by their running away from “Obamacare,” for example, the midterm after it was passed, leading to a solid “thrashing” at the polls, but the “kings of cowardice” has to belong to republicans in Congress as they cower from doing anything which would be considered “right” to avoid getting the nasty “tweet” (or is it now a “truth”) from Trump.

When you look back at how they really felt about Trump, prior to him “winning” the election in 2016 to what they said about him, even after he won the republican nomination, their malfeasance is almost nauseating. If you took the time to read Robert Mueller’s report after the “Russia investigation,” you realize it was Vladimir Putin who was behind the “active measusres” aimed at helping Trump “win” the election, but more importantly to Putin, was to create a divide in America helping him claim his “fevor dream” of bringing Russia back to world dominance. When you read a bit further, in other well documented books, it becomes clear Trump was targeted by Putin years before he claimed the “White House” and has become Putin’s “useful idiot.”

And, not only was Putin involved in the “active measures” (via, mostly, Facebook – sorry Mr. Zuckerberg, but maybe you should be referred to as “Suckerberg”) but so were the Saudi’s, the Emerati’s, the Egyptians, and the Israeli’s in the conspiracy to get Trump elected. (Read: Seth Abramson’s “Proof of Conspiracy: How Trump’s International Collusion is threatening American Democracy”) If you’ve read about Cambridge Analytica, the work of Steve Bannon and Robert Mercer, they (Cambridge Analytica) were not only key in providing “data” leading to “Brexit” (Great Britain exiting the EU) but their “data harvesting” from Facebook was shared with represtentatives of the Russians, the Saudi’s, the Emerati’s, and members of Israeli Intelligence, according to Abramson’s book – and Abramson has the “receipts” to back up his claims.

If you think I’m using hyperbole here, Facebook has paid OVER $5 BILLION in fines and settlements (I believe it’s approaching $6 BILLION now) for it’s reckless policies which have allowed user data to be almost routinely “harvested” from their platform. In 2016 it was reported by former Cambridge Analytica employee, Christopher Wylie, that Facebook pilfered the info of approximately 87 MILLION Americans prior to the 2016 election and that info was used to “feed” unsuspecting Americans mis/disinformation designed to destabIlize the American election in Trump’s favor. (Click HERE if you want to further check out what I’m saying)

The Trump Campaign used this information, as did the Russians and the others I mentioned above in a conspiracy to – Mr. Wylie used the term “Mindf*cked” in a book he wrote confessing his “sins” – sway the American electorate into, on the one hand, supporting Trump and, on the other, opposing Mrs. Clinton. And, of course, it worked. Plus, don’t be fooled, Mr. Bannon is at it again – pushing his neo-Nazi agenda across the right wing blogosphere and, you can be assured the other countries which are all controlled by fascist dictators are right there with him. Bannon has his “fingers” in right wing fascist movements all across Europe and, once he “pays his debt” (four months in prison for Contempt of Congress) he’ll likely be back in the next Trump administration if all these “bad actors” succeed once again. (Bannon does have a “minor” date with the authorities in New York this coming May for his phony “We Build the Wall” campaign to siphon money from MAGA faithful)

As for the American voters, I keep thinking of the saying “fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Are they going to fall for this once again. Despite the “booming” economy President Biden is “sitting” with historically low “approval ratings.” His foreign policy challenges are beyond what any president in my lifetime has faced – and, to me, he’s doing an incredible job – although, the issue in Gaza is a challenge he MUST face head on or his chances of re-election are going to shrink. Benjamin Netanyahu is no friend of Biden’s – period, full stop. Personally, I don’t consider him a “friend” of Israel. He’s corrupt just like Trump is corrupt and he understands as soon as the war against Hamas ends, his reign over Israel will end.

President Biden simply can not supply military support to Israel without conditions on Netanyahu – the demand being backing off the slaughter of Palestinians – mostly women and children. Israel moved into War Crimes territory, in my view, long ago. President Biden warned them about the potential fall out if they were unable to control their rage over what happened on October 7th. The ANGER was justified. The damage caused to Palestinians in Gaza, in my view, was WAY over the top. Netanyahu actually referred to Abimelech who is referred to by some Bible scholars as “conniving and evil” as he planned out the invasion of Gaza. Abimeleche was responsible for the slaughter of “thousands” which, apparently, is how Netanyahu wants to be remembered.

President Biden has to find a way to show his support of ISRAEL but, at the same time, withdrawing support, if necessary, from Netanyahu. I was happy to hear President Biden, while in Israel shortly after October 7th, point out the ONLY solution to this conflict is the so-called “two state” solution. Netanyahu doesn’t want that and, neither does Hamas nor Iran – the funding behind Hamas. (Actually, there have been reports Netanyahu has supported Hamas in his disdain for any “two state” solution.) I have to believe Biden’s patience toward Netanyahu has become “paper thin” – but, I also believe Netanyahu could care less what President Biden thinks. Netanyahu would like nothing better than Trump back in the “White House.”

Stop and think about the Saudi’s funneling $2 BILLION to Jared Kushner shortly after Trump left office back in 2020 to set up an investment firm, “Affinity partners” – to which he had NO experience. Do you really believe that was done out of the goodness of Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) heart? – personally I don’t think there’s ANY “goodness” in MBS’s heart. However, one thing you can say about MBS is that he’s ambitious. He has a “2030 plan” to develop his nation and it’s getting mixed reviews. And, it involves the U.S. and Israel. Kushner is investing much of the “stake” coming from MBS in Israel which is interesting to say the least. Reports were that Iran “pushed” the events of October 7th out of fear the Saudi’s and Israeli’s were nearing some kind of diplomatic settlement. Bottom line: None of, Netanyahu, Iran, or Hamas wants/wanted anything to do with the “two state solution.”

While republicans are focused on “investigating” Hunter Biden for ???? we know they’re not interested in finding out about Kushner’s $2 BILLION (of which, Kushner pulls out a “cool” $25 MILLION annually for himself). Yes, Kushner’s firm was started almost the next day after he left the “White House,” and, yes, it didn’t take even long enough to “squeeze” the money out of the Saudi’s Private Investment Fund to, well, make it look like it was on the up and up – but, why would we expect republicans to investigate someone in Trump’s family – a family which apparently was pilfering MONEY throughout the four years in office from foreign governments. Remember, they’re inventing the “Biden Crime Family” out of pure projection! Just sayin…….

Trump recently BRAGGED about blocking the “bipartisan immigration bill,” he’s blocking the House from providing aid to Ukraine – shamelessly, he’s bragged about doing NOTHING to address gun violence in America at a recent NRA convention, he’s BRAGGED he was the president who got Roe v Wade overturned, and he’s promising, once again, to repealing “Obamacare” – which will, if he’s successful, take health insurance from roughly 30 MILLION Americans. What could possibly go wrong? Stay tuned……

Final Thought: Will Americans flock to the polls to FINALLY put Trump into the History books right where he belongs next to Benedict Arnold? Or will they “sit on their hands” or, just as badly, vote for one of the third party candidates who are being propped up by major Trump donors? Will those donors be publicly “outed?” We do KNOW that the Super Bowl add for Robert Kennedy Jr. was funded via a (something like) $7 MILLION “donation” coming from Timothy Mellon, one of the heirs to the Mellon Banking fortune. The Mellon family has been integral republican donors for generations. Timothy Mellon is a multi-billionaire so $7 MILLION is a drop in the bucket, but he’s been an integral Trump supporter, but is funding RFK Jr.’s campaign. Do I need to explain this for you?

This past weekend, once again – this time in Tennessee – we got another dose of right wing politics. It was reported as a “neo-Nazi” group marching down the streets in Nashville with hoods over their faces (jobs related?) and carrying NAZI flags emblazoned with swastikas. To me, not “neo-Nazi’s” but full blown NAZI’S. Of course, republicans immediately came out accusing Joe Biden supporters as being the culprits. I’m not kidding. Check it out HERE. Trump and his sycophants are counting on “we the people” becoming so disoriented by the constant swirl of UNBELIEVABLE crap which just keeps piling up causing voters to loose their minds between now and November – finally giving in to the crazy. I really hope they’re wrong! Yikes!!!

Oh yes! (Sorry Uncle Tony ;o) Too many paragraphs!

I heard someone refer to this photo as “The Speaker of the House and Mike Johnson.”