Honestly, I can’t keep up with all the “stuff” happening regarding Trump and republicans.  I’ve got three other posts “in the works” and now this.  Yikes!  Here’s what’s really bothering me as I’m trying to watch “news” shows to wrap my head around everything being presented.  There’s Roy Moore AND Roy Moore AND Roy Moore (hopefully, you get the idea) – then’s there’s Trump’s response or lack thereof and there’ Kushner, the “dossier,” Trump and the “Russia thing” AND more Roy Moore. Almost makes my head “swim.”  Unfortunately, there’s something very important missing from most of the discussions – something that will affect MOST of us for years to come.

While all this Moore, Moore, Moore stuff is going on and dominating the “news” republicans are – almost surreptitiously – cramming a TAX CUT through Congress in lightning speed.  Undoubtedly, MOST members of even the republican party have no idea what’s in the details (I can almost assure you “the devil’s in the details”)  What’s on the “surface” should be enough to cause ANY member of Congress who actually cares about the Middle Class to GAG.  Republicans are planning to begin “slicing and dicing” Medicare and Medicaid almost as I’m writing this and Social Security isn’t far behind.  Other programs connected to health insurance and the needs of “the least of these” in the words of Christ are on the “chopping block.”

Republicans have already allowed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expire putting the health insurance of 9 MILLION children at risk, they’ve proposed cutting school lunches and programs like meals on wheels.  You have to understand the people Trump put in the “swamp.”  Steve Mnuchin, the “so called” Treasury Secretary,  is a MULTI MILLIONAIRE who’s showing himself to have not even a drop of compassion for those in need in this country (and, the number is growing).  He stands to gain MILLIONS from this tax cut.  The Senate even embedded another “shot” at undermining “Obamacare” in their version of the “tax cut” targeting insurance for an estimated 13 MILLION Americans.  Of course, many of these are either young or poor, so “who cares?” Right?  Well, if it’s not obvious, I do!

The so-called “Middle Class tax cut” actually gives 75% of the cuts to corporations which don’t need tax cuts.  The economy is BOOMING right now.  Yes, there’s a real issue with income inequality, but these tax cuts are NOT going to address that issue.  And, the claim they will create jobs is ABSURD on its face.  Unemployment is around 4%.  That’s FULL employment – actually better than what I’ve always read is “full employment” which is 5%.  Suggesting the corporations receiving the bulk of the tax cuts will miraculously give raises to their workers is just as absurd.  We’ve been through this over and over again since Reagan “fooled” us.  (Well, he fooled enough people to get it through, and republicans have been “fooling” us over and over again ever since)  I hope I can remember this saying better than George W Bush did, “back in the day,” – “fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.”  When are “we the people” going to say ENOUGH ALREADY?!

Then, about 80% of the other 25% of the cuts are going to the top 1% – with estimates ranging from around $125,000 per year if you’re at the bottom of the 1% (as Trump would say, “sad”) to well over $1 MILLION per year if you’re one of the many BILLIONAIRES in America who DEFINITELY don’t need ANY more than you already have.  OK, I know what you’re saying. Tell that to them.  They’re investing MILLIONS into the political arena and they’re expecting a tidy return on their “investment.”  In fact, it’s been reported the MAIN reason republicans are cramming this monstrosity through with the swiftness of superman is their “investors” (donors) have informed them – get the tax cut through or the checks will STOP.  I mean, can you remember a time when members of Congress have shown such urgency?  Trump’s own supporters won’t know what “hit” them until well after it’s too late – and Trump and Fox “news” – where they get their misinformation – will find a way to blame the ensuing disaster on either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or Both.  When will “we the people” wake up? (Trump, himself, is in line to gain a BILLION dollars from this scam.  What’s the saying? “Nice work, if you can get it!)

Well, here’s the good news. Around 5% of this “Middle Class tax cut” will actually go to the Middle Class – at least for a few years.  Of course, there’s a hitch to even that.  While Your (and my) taxes could possibly go down a small amount (maybe three or four hundred dollars per year) it’s MORE than likely that your expense for health care will rise significantly higher than any tax cut you might be in line for.  Of course, NOT ALL members of the Middle Class will even receive a tax cut – about 30% are in line for a TAX INCREASE!  And, that’s before we figure in the hike in your health care costs. (The last estimate I heard was that those making between $10,000 and $75,000 will get a tax increase.  You read that correctly, if you’re making minimum wage you’re going to get SCREWED by Trump!)

This is such a great game for the rich people in America who’ve been pulling this scam (heist) off over and over since Reagan originally pulled off the “trickle down” LIE.  Yet, here we are – and, it’s happening as I’m writing this.  And, republicans are using the “shield” of sexual harassment (again, a worthy topic to be discussing) and whether Roy Moore is “fit to serve” in the Senate.  (I do have to point out, he’s still been accused by significantly fewer women than Trump)  I’m sure there are many republicans who’d be happy to be discussing Moore every day until this tax cut can be sent to Trump for his signature.  (Since I began this post it’s been reported Al Franken committed sexual harassment – women are coming forward in droves – which I encourage – BUT if we take our focus off these tax cuts there’s NO WAY to stop them)

The issue of sexual harassment SHOULD be discussed and it’s good that women are FINALLY feeling comfortable in coming forward.  I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s and, as I look back on my own life, I feel boys were almost trained to see women as “sex objects.”  I certainly am not someone who can “throw the first stone” when it comes to saying I’ve always treated women with total respect.  It’s a serious issue and, in my mind, much more serious when careers and power are at stake.  I encourage the discussion and dialogue.  However, it appears to me, at this time, it’s causing “we the people” to get our focus off of these tax cuts which could have devastating effects on America’s Middle Class for years.  “We the people” should be doing everything we can to get them stopped – and, it will be MOST difficult.

And, of course, another part of these egregious tax cuts is they will increase the DEFICIT by Trillions.  Trump and the rest of the republicans will claim the economy is going to take some outrageous “boost” which will actually bring in more revenue and the “books will be balanced.”  Seriously, as stated above, we’ve been through this time and again.  Here’s another prediction (and, sadly, most of my “predictions” have proven true):  The deficit is going to go up an additional $200 BILLION to $500 BILLION per year and, true to form, republicans will gladly raise the debt ceiling until there’s a democrat in the “White House.”  Then, the BLAME GAME will start all over again and we’ll have all the threats posed to President Obama as he struggled to stimulate the economy over constant republican obstruction.

Republicans are cramming this tax cut through by claiming they’re going to “pay for it” by cutting Medicare and Medicaid to the tune of almost 2 TRILLION dollars.  Yep, that’s TRILLION with a T.  It shouldn’t be hard for you to figure out republicans want to old people and poor people to pay for this tax cut.  And, their arrogance of raising taxes on people making $10,000 per year almost makes me want to puke as I’m writing this.  I’m wondering what they’ll do when it becomes apparent a couple TRILLION from Medicare and Medicaid isn’t enough to pay for it.  Will they then go after Paul Ryan’s pet peeve, Social Security?  I guess the FACT the top 1%  of Americans own more wealth than the bottom 90%.  Yet, they want MORE!  This is so disgusting I’m out of words!  (Except for)

My Final Thought:  My representative is a republican who I actually admire.  She’s much younger (to me that’s good) and she’s an honorable person (which, to me, is also good).  However, being a republican causes her to do many things that I feel she only does because she has to because she’s a republican.  I may be wrong, but I believe she voted for these tax cuts because she would be “primaried” AND the financial support would STOP if she didn’t.  I called about a week ago and her “spokesperson” told me she was “struggling” with how she would vote.  Of course, she voted “yeah.”  She had to if she wanted to remain a member of the House.  That’s how and why many of them are voting for this abomination – out of self preservation for them – unfortunately, not so much for “we the people.”  And, as stated above, I don’t believe my representative nor many (probably MOST) of the others have a good idea of what’s actually in the bill.

Well, if it’s not obvious, I’m having trouble keeping up with Trump.  It’s still hard for me to believe “we the people” would elect someone so incredibly STUPID when it comes to foreign affairs.  And, his own defense of his legitimacy as the actual president defies description.  This is the man who spent five LONG years claiming President Obama was not a legitimate president because he wasn’t born in the U.S. – the so-called “birther” movement that Trump led.  Well, the evidence is mounting that it was the Russians who surprisingly pushed Trump over the top in 2016 – all the pundits continue to wonder how Trump managed to win despite all the polls showing almost certain defeat.  More and more it’s becoming clear – it was the Russians.

They (the Russians) MUST have something good on Trump for him to continue playing “dumb” about the reality of the Russian “interference” into the election.  Or he just IS DUMB.  It’s almost unexplainable at this point in time.  I believe it’s entirely possible the Russians were able to HACK the actual electronic voting machines – turning Clinton votes to Trump.  We’ll likely never know – even if the “experts” discover the truth.  Just as the “experts” hid the Truth about the Florida vote in 2000 I believe they’ll do the same here – preventing even more of an “uprising” by “we the people.”  Of course, based on the recent results in Virginia and around the country the uprising is simply in its “infant” stages.

So, during Trump’s “historic” trip to Asia – where it’s obvious the countries around the world have figured out they can “play” him by giving him grandiose treatment – Trump sided with Vladimir Putin in the “Russia thing.” He continued his assault on the American Intelligence community by impugning the character of John Brennan and James Clapper – two distinguished members of the Intelligence Community past – AND continuing his character assassination of James Comey – who he accused of being a “LIAR and LEAKER.”

Of course, Comey publicly acknowledged he gave information from his notes to a friend to pass on to the press defending his own character after the original Trump assault levied at him after he was unceremoniously fired.  I guess that does make him a “leaker” in Trump’s eyes, but most “leakers” don’t admit to giving the information to the press AND Comey was a private citizen at the time, the information was not “classified,” and therefore, from my perspective at least, Comey WASN’T “leaking.”  In America, at least as of today, private citizens still have freedom of speech.  Additionally, Trump calling Comey a LIAR would be laughable if all this weren’t so serious.  Later, I’ll give you a link to the scorecard on Trump’s LIES – it’s almost overwhelming!

It’s further depressing to me to have an American president (“so-called” president) on “foreign soil” making these kinds of attacks AND then saying he agrees with Putin that the Russians didn’t interfere in the election (STUPID comments that he later POORLY attempted to “walk back”) while we all here at home continue trying to figure out what is the “kompromat” the Russians have on Trump.  While on this trip Trump also reiterated to the countries in Southeast Asia that their future, economically, is tied to China because of our “America First” philosophy.  (I say “our” because, unfortunately “we the people” are tied to this man’s decisions until he can be removed from office)

President Obama had the courage to negotiate the so-called TPP trade agreement, despite opposition from some in his own party, which would have given the United States a strong position via trade with the countries in this region but Trump, in all his “wisdom,” pulled America out of the agreement shortly after taking office.  From what I can tell, this will be a more damaging decision, long term, than pulling America out of the Paris Climate Accords – although, in BOTH cases Trump is giving China a green light to assume world leadership in key areas tied to future economic growth world wide. (Here’s an interesting side note to Trump’s “America first” philosophy – in his own company he’s bringing in multitudes of foreign workers under various programs that grant temporary visas INSTEAD of hiring Americans)

Full disclosure: politicians on the “other side of the isle” – including Hillary Clinton – expressed opposition to the TPP “partnership.”  I’m certainly not the expert here, but from what I’m reading and hearing Trump’s decision has resulted in a HUGE grin on the face of the economists in China.  The purpose of President Obama’s push for this agreement – I do remember him claiming this – was to give America “standing” with trade “partners” in an extremely important part of the world going forward with the expressed purpose of combating the Chinese.  I’ve often referred to my concern about the DAMAGE to our nation Trump is CAUSING (meaning, as the result of his decisions) and his pulling out of TPP and the Paris Accords could set us back for decades.  While Trump (and company) is pushing coal and oil in the U.S., the rest of the world is looking forward.  This is SERIOUS!

Every time Trump gets out on his own – where his mouth is left to unscripted words – we end up with these types of discussions.  And, the republican party just continues to enable this.  I heard someone the other day, on the radio while I was driving around, asking: “What would republicans be doing and saying if Barack Obama was cozying up to people like Putin and Duterte of the Philippines?  Would republicans stand idly by had Obama, while on a foreign trip, criticized the leaders of the intelligence community – calling them “hacks” and attacking the head of the FBI and calling him a LIAR? (while under investigation by the same people) The real irony here to me, is Trump calling anyone a LIAR.  Trump is DEFINITELY the LIAR in chief!  Click here for a list of his lies since taking office.  According to the Washington Post the number of LIES went over 1000 around August first.

Obviously, MOST Americans are disappointed, discouraged, embarrassed, angry, disgusted……… fill in the blank – about the Trump presidency.  They’re looking forward to the day he can be voted out of office or IMPEACHED.  Apparently, Democrats will need to take control of Congress for this to happen, but I remind you of 2006.  “We the people” voted Democrats back into control of Congress to be a “check” on the Bush/Cheney administration which had not only pushed us into an ILLEGAL war based on LIES, but were TORTURING Iraqi civilians (and others) by the droves and claiming the right to designate ANYONE, including Americans, to be “enemy combatants” and, therefore, not subject to traditional guarantees of human rights.

And, what did “we the people” get?  We got the so-called “surge” in Iraq and a bunch of Democrats who lacked the courage to IMPEACH both Bush and Cheney.  I personally confronted my representative (a democrat) about this issue and asked him, in a town hall, to explain why nothing was happening.  His response to my question (which, by the way, brought a loud response from the standing room only crowd – in support of the question) was “The Senate likely would not convict, so why waste the time?”  Well, that was the wrong answer as far as I was concerned, and our district has had a republican representative ever since.  To this day, I’m not sure if democrats understand why they’ve become the “minority” party.

I’m hoping democrats begin to realize that one thing the America people will not tolerate is politicians who appear “weak.”  Ever since President Obama’s election democrats have been losing power because so many of them have failed to defend their own fundamental values.  The Affordable Care Act had a poor “approval rating” for several years because the democrats who voted it in failed to support it and fight for the improvements necessary to make it better.  I’ve watched, in frustration, over the past few years, democrats trying to avoid being labeled a “liberal” and running away from the fundamental values of their party.  This is why white middle class voters in the “rust belt” ended up voting for Trump in way too many numbers.  This is why so many voters were susceptible to the Russian propaganda that changed an undetermined number of voters in 2016.

Let’s face it, Trump ADMITTED on the Access Hollywood tape to being a sexual predator.  Over a dozen women came forward and confirmed his comments in the video.  Young girls (I believe around 15 years old) claimed he walked into the dressing room during the “Miss Teen USA” Pageant while the YOUNG girls were naked.  When I “fact checked” this accusation Trump’s response evidently set the precedent for Roy Moore in Alabama, who’s defending accusations about his own inappropriate behavior with a minor almost EXACTLY as Trump did prior to the 2016 election.  Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, “They’re all LIARS.”  Isn’t that why so many women say in private they’ve got stories about inappropriate memories that range from harassment to sexual assaults.  The men, like Trump and Moore, simply warn women to keep silent because no one will believe them.  And, if anyone speaks out, they face a backlash that most of the women are in no position to fight back against.

The republican voters – including women – were apparently OK with Trump and his bragging and the evidence his bragging wasn’t actually bragging – it was stuff that actually happened.  Republicans fear Alabama voters will do the same with Roy Moore and they will then be forced to deal with all his other crazy ideas.  Like LGBT people aren’t really, well………. people.  So this is what 40 some percent of America’s voters have given us.  It appears that Trump is in cahoots with Putin to divide the American public and diminish America’s standing in the world.  I’m not sure what is the most shocking to me – that republican voters don’t care about that OR they don’t care about electing sexual predators to high (or any) public office! Yikes!!!

What we’re all watching in America is the pathetic demise of one of the two parties in our two party system of government.  The republican party, as many more than just myself have observed over the past few years, is geared up to win elections AT ALL COST, but has put itself in a position where it can’t govern.  And, of course, having Donald Trump at the “head of the class” just makes everything worse.  He’s got no idea of how to govern and lead – his expertise is in bloviating and blaming others for his own shortcomings.

We saw this in the so-called “repeal and replace” of the Affordable Care Act.  Instead of doing the sensible thing that would have given republicans “standing” with the American people and “fixing” the Affordable Care Act they were unable to do anything (their “Trumpcare” was nothing more than a tax cut for the wealthy disguised as “healthcare”) except watch Trump do everything he could to undermine the existing law – despite the damage that does to “we the people.”  Evidently, the reasoning behind their unwillingness to fix “Obamacare” is because of the moniker they, themselves, put on the law 7 years ago.  If President Obama has anything to do with it, they are against it.  At some point republicans will figure out that’s a losing strategy as far as “governing” is concerned.

And, they’re doing it again with their “tax reform” – which is just another in their “trickle down” (trickle up) tax scam they’ve been putting on “we the people” since the days of Reagan.  Everyone knows it’s going to balloon the deficit and enrich the top 1%, but, “here we go again.”  Here’s what’s really interesting about their “tax reform.”  They claim the purpose is to “create jobs and get our economy moving again.”  There’s an obvious problem with that “boast” that I’m not hearing a single “pundit” point out.

The problem is that the economy is booming.  Unemployment is at its lowest level in decades.  Corporations are SWIMMING in profits and CASH.  The idea that giving them a tax break will lead to more jobs is LUDICROUS – but, that’s the argument.  Of course, the problem – which NO ONE apparently wants to talk about is that the real issue is income inequality.  You don’t get that?  Let me be more specific – there’s too few people making the bulk of the money.  The people who are about to get a HUGE tax cut, are already FILTHY rich.  Then there’s us working stiffs (well, I’m now retired, but I WAS a “working stiff”) who have had stagnant wages for – well, pretty much since the days Reagan first enacted what George HW Bush rightly referred to as “Voodoo Economics” – the first “trickle down” tax cuts.

Since those days – as I just said, workers wages have been near stagnant when adjusted for inflation, while corporate profits have gone “through the roof.”  And, the “top 1%” – well, they now control an inordinate amount of America’s wealth but, you guessed it, they want even more.  They’ve been buying off the republican Congress for years and they want an even greater return than the windfall that’s come their way as part of America’s wealthy elite.  Wall Street is soaring, yet the corporate interests are complaining that their taxes are too high.  Many pay NO taxes and many are stashing BILLIONS in places like the Cayman Islands because they just don’t want to pay taxes to their own country.  Think about that – and, then they accuse NFL players as being “unpatriotic” for kneeling during the national anthem.  This is hypocrisy 101.

And, it’s republicans and their benefactors – that is, those who are doing amazingly well – who are at the head of the line when there’s a democratic president COMPLAINING about the DEFICIT.  Yet, sure enough, give us a republican in the “White House” and “here we go again.”  These republicans have concluded that “we the people” are so STUPID they can get away with this scam seemingly FOREVER.  Here’s the rub on that thought.

Last night, in many places around the country, there were signs that the so-called “resistance” has awoken the “masses” in America.  Trust me, many of those who voted for Trump are beginning to realize what a loser he really is.  And, Steve Bannon, – well, what’s that saying? “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  Trump and Bannon are like “blood brothers.”  Both of them can LIE with a totally straight face because it’s “what they do.”  The election in Virginia gave us a glaring example of how arrogant their LYING really is.  If you go back and listen to each of their remarks regarding the governors’ election in Virginia – first a couple days before their guy got gob smacked – and, then one day after – you realize they’re just making it up as they go.  It really is pathetic and more and more Americans are coming to their senses.  Ed Gillespie was going to win because he embraced Trump (that’s before the election). Ed Gillespie LOST because he DIDN’T embrace Trump – that’s a day AFTER the election.  And, republicans fall for all this.

Well, actually, there’s always been plenty of Americans who can’t stand Trump and his “ilk” but the question has always been “will they show up and vote?”  Yesterday, they did – and, they sent a resounding message to the country – and, maybe to the republican party – although I doubt it.  Because, keep in mind, the republicans are not “connected” to the voters – they’re “connected” to the fat cats they’re now trying to repay for the MILLIONS in campaign donations.  It’s actually pretty ugly, but, as they say, “it is what it is.”

Essentially, democrats can’t stop this robbery of the treasury by our richest neighbors because republicans control the Congress – but, maybe in the Senate there will be at least three members who actually oppose DEFICITS even when a republican (if you can call Trump a republican) occupies the “White House” – or three who are as offended as many of us out in the heartland that the only way republicans can sneak this through without democratic support is by plundering Medicare and Medicaid to the tune of nearly $2 TRILLION!  That’s correct, it’s TRILLION  with a “T.”  Clearly, these republicans have no SHAME.

I’ve said since day one of Trump’s “administration” that he will survive until the jobs of the republicans in Congress are in jeopardy because of his ineptitude – and we’re nearing that point.  Additionally, I pointed out that the damage Trump could do in the meantime could be catastrophic.  And, we’re getting there as well.  Trump approved the two pipelines which will threaten America’s greatest aquifer soon after taking office.  He pulled America out of the Paris Climate Accords in an act of stupidity (although, that move may be fixable if he’s out of office sooner rather than later).  We’re finding out that pulling America out of the TPP trade agreement has had the effect President Obama warned about – and, that is emboldening China economically in the Asian marketplace – and, potentially shutting America out of HUGE amounts of trade in that region.

Trump wants to open the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to mining and oil exploration while he denies “climate change” – as we all watch the ice melting in the polar regions.  I suppose when the level of the ocean invades Mar a Lago he’ll find a way to blame President Obama.  As I pointed out above, Trump has been busily trying to undermine “Obamacare” apparently so he can say “I told you so” while MILLIONS  of lower income Americans are back in the “I have no health insurance” category – and, return to using the emergency room (which they can’t pay for) to get their “health care.”  Trump and republicans are even letting the CHIP program expire – putting the health care of 9 MILLION American children at risk.  And, I could go on – but, I hope you get the drift.  It appears a significant MAJORITY of last night’s votes do “get the drift.”

Obviously, the writing SHOULD be “on the wall” for republicans – but, I seriously doubt it.  And, of course, democrats of late have a tendency to celebrate before the “fat lady sings.”  Democrats need an agenda that’s more than just anti-Trump.  Trump and his republican cohorts won’t even give a hint that they’re in “trouble.”  As I mentioned above regarding the before and after of Trump AND Bannon regarding the Virginia governors race – after Ed Gillespie lost it was because he didn’t support Trump enough.  (Of course, when it looked like he might win, right before the election, they were saying it was because he had adopted a “Trumpian” campaign – and, of course, they were BOTH right there campaigning for him)  They will find a way to spin everything – just as they’re doing with the “Russia thing” – which I’m forcing myself to leave out of this rant.

Prediction:  Trump and the republicans will almost immediately, after seeing the results of last night’s election, DOUBLE down on their efforts to SUPPRESS the upcoming mid term election voter rolls.  This effort has been under way since the Supreme Court GUTTED section five of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – that so many African Americans shed their blood to get passed – and, now people of color, elderly people, and young people – essentially, any group that tends to vote for democrats – are going to be targeted in some kind of way to make it harder for them to cast a vote in 2018.  All the republican “dirty tricks” will be in full force as Trump and company try to hold onto power.  So, democrats had better stop the victory dance immediately, and kick their “plan” for 2018 into high gear.

America is in the process of rejecting Trump AND the right wing republicans in the Congress.  It appears to me that the environment in D.C. is so toxic that the only republicans “we the people” would consider voting for are all “retiring.”  Trump and Bannon have accomplished one thing – and, that is turn the republican party into an almost totally racist, homophobic, climate denying, environmental denying, regulation denying, and white nationalist accepting party.  In essence, they’ve made a “pact with the devil” and it’s going to be their undoing.  My main hope is that there’s enough good Americans in the republican party to stop this tax ripoff that could have major lasting damage to this nation.  I’ll end this by saying, Dick Cheney was wrong when he said, “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”  And, I guarantee you, the increased deficit from the present republican “tax reform” will be at least double what they predict (and probably closer to triple).  I keep wondering it they’ll still be able to blame the deficit on President Obama?????

For the past week, after the Mueller investigation indicted Paul Manafort and one of his associates for a plethora of money issues and failure to register as a foreign agent charges I couldn’t help but think the silence regarding the situation with Michael Flynn is deafening.  Well, sure enough, yesterday, it was reported that Mueller “has enough evidence to charge Flynn with a crime” (and his son).  Well, to me, it’s been OBVIOUS for months there’s enough evidence to charge Flynn with a crime.  In fact, MANY crimes.  (Every time I think about this I get a picture in my mind of Flynn telling the crowd at the Republican convention in 2016 that “If I did one tenth of what Mrs. Clinton did I would face…………” and, then leading them in the “Lock her up” chant.)

First, we all – well, anyone not watching Fox “news” or listening to Limbaugh or relying on outlets like Breitbart and (apparently now) the Wall Street Journal – know that we’re dealing with a gaggle of LIARS in the “White House.”  So, the FACT Michael Flynn “allegedly” LIED to the FBI shouldn’t surprise anyone.  However, suggesting he “LIED” to the Vice President – as the reason for him being fired – is almost laughable.  To suggest neither Mike Pense nor Trump knew Flynn was meeting with the “Russian Ambassador” is ridiculous.  What’s not ridiculous is that the “White House” would LIE about this to cover their own asses.  And, Flynn, the “good soldier” is apparently going along with it – although, the prospect of maybe 15 to 20 years behind bars – plus a maybe a bit lessor sentence for his son – may be enough for Flynn to “cooperate.”

Of course, there’s not a shadow of DOUBT in my mind that Trump has been in communication with Flynn more than his “stay strong” admonition that was publicized letting him know that pardons are in the offing if he’s convicted of a crime or multitude of crimes – although, I’m certain Mueller is trying to find a way around Trump’s pardoning powers.  Of course, once Trump pardon’s Flynn – then he can be questioned with no ability to “take the fifth” and would be compelled to tell what he knows about the “highers up” in the “White House.”  There’s no question in my mind that Trump is the real target of the investigation despite all his proclamations that “I’m not under investigation.”

Here’s just what I know of why Flynn is “up a creek without a paddle.”  First, he apparently LIED to the FBI.  Check with George Papadopoulus on that one – five years for every LIE.  And, Flynn’s son is apparently right there with him on some of this – although I’m only guessing he’s been LYING as well.  You know the saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  Additionally, Flynn had some serious memory issues with the security forms he filled out – with 5 years for every instance of “memory loss.”  (Flynn’s filled these forms out many times over the years and “forgetting” he’s taking money from Russia AND Turkey doesn’t pass the proverbial “smell test.”  So now we’re surmising, at a minimum, 10 years for Mr. Flynn.  But it gets better (or worse, depending on your perspective).

If you remember, back in January, the former head of the CIA James Woolsey, claimed he was in a meeting where Flynn and some of his associates discussed, essentially, kidnapping a Turkish cleric and sending him back to the dictator of Turkey,  Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  Of course, Flynn denies this and I’m not sure if it can be proved, but the reality is that Flynn was lobbying for the Turkish government while serving as National Security advisor to Trump.  Can you imagine the republican uproar had this been President Obama’s National Security advisor?

Can you imaging the uproar from republicans with any of the “Russia thing” had it been President Obama or a President Clinton on the receiving end of their support during an election?  For heaven’s sake, the Benghazi hearings went on for years (I only hope they’re over).  Do you think republicans will investigate the murders of the four U.S. soldiers in Niger any where near what they did after Benghazi?  Probably not, because I seriously doubt you could realistically accuse either Obama or Clinton for that fiasco – but, with republicans I “never say never.”  (As I write, they’re trying to connect Mueller with the so-called “uranium scandal” to force him to “recuse” himself from the Russia scandal.  Republicans are creative and they have no boundaries on their lack of honor)

The FACT Russia ATTACKED our nation during the 2016 election is irrelevant to most members of the republican party in Congress.  This is SHAMEFUL above and beyond all the stuff I’ve written about over the years about republicans that is shameful – but, nothing to this level.  This is showing a willingness to look the other way to an ATTACK on our nation to prevent the possibility of discovering their president COLLUDED with the Russians or OBSTRUCTED the investigation.  I know people who watch Fox and they honestly believe the real scandal is the 2010 sale of a Canadian company that controlled between 10 and 20 percent of America’s uranium to a Russian company.  This was a nondescript, inconsequential transaction that never made the highest levels of government during the approval process.

However, with republicans, they search the archives for something they can twist into a scandal – originally, this was aimed at Mrs. Clinton (ie she was the real person colluding with Russia) and now, I believe, they’re (republicans) trying to connect this in a devious way to Mueller in a desperate attempt to protect Trump from the inevitable.  Apparently republicans are as sure as I am that Trump is going to be facing serious charges and they’re already in serious deflection mode.  Trump (and the disgusting part of the republican party) will have those thugs carrying Tiki Torches at Charlottesville (and ALL their supporters) believing Trump is the victim here.  Of course, the likelihood of these right wing “white nationalists” EVER succeeding in getting another supporter elected to the “White House” will be very “dim” after Trump and Pense are “retired” so they want Trump in the “White House” as long as possible.  The damage, to the rest of us, is mounting FAST.

As this investigation has proceeded we’ve seen the republican response progress right along with it – as Trump’s liability has become more apparent.  First, it was “nothing to worry about” as EVERY intelligence official stated categorically the Russians tried to intervene in the election to help Trump win.  As the evidence became clearer I remember a big push on Fox (it’s really hard for me to watch them for even two minutes) to point out “there’s no law against collusion.”  I think, once they realized there’s laws preventing things like conspiracy, espionage, treason, and there’s election laws that were obviously violated they switched to the deflection strategy – which is their (and Trump’s) normal way of fighting back against an obvious problem.

Of course, as president, Trump is SUPPOSED to refrain from interfering with the Justice Department – in Russia, Vladimir Putin gets to jail his political opponents and squelch any investigations into his illegal actions and in Turkey, Erdogan’s thugs simply take out the political opponents – maybe this is why Trump so admires men like them – the norms of the past 200 years mean nothing to Trump.  And, thus, Trump has clearly attempted, in numerous ways, to stop the investigation into his campaign’s COLLUDING with the Russians.  As the evidence mounts the deflection intensifies.  It’s all predictable, it’s all disgusting, and it all is a TEST of whether or not the “checks and balances” of our constitution will stand up to the Trump forces.  As I’ve said many times on this site – unfortunately, we’re at the whim of the republican Congress and not many are showing the courage to stand up against Trump and his thug (Steve Bannon) outside the “White House” who’s ginning up primary opponents for any member of the republican caucus who does what’s right in the “Russia thing.”

I hope I’m wrong, but – as I’ve predicted numerous times on this site – I believe Trump is relying on his right wing thugs to attempt to defend him via violence should he be impeached for his “high crimes and misdemeanors.”  The constitution is only valuable to many republicans when they can twist it to allow for a deranged interpretation of the 2nd Amendment.  For example, it’s ludicrous to think the 2nd Amendment was intended to allow things like the AK-47 which was used to murder at least 26 people in a small Texas church this past weekend.  We’re likely to see some serious “deflecting” on that issue as well.  Until “we the people” understand how republicans are getting away with their LYING we’re destined to continue living in this divided society.  This isn’t a “bipartisan” problem.  It’s been going on in the republican party for as long as I can remember (I’m 70).  If republicans in Congress won’t put a stop to Trump when Mueller gives his final report then it’s up to “we the people” to massively vote in 2018 to rid this Congress of republicans willing to enable Trump AND Pense.

Final Thought:  I’m almost as disgusted with Pense as I am with Trump.  Maybe it’s best to wait until after the 2018 election for the impeachment.  Both Trump and Pense SHOULD be impeached – the “next in line” is the Speaker of the House.  I’m not that excited about Paul Ryan, although, I’d prefer him to either Trump or Pense.  (Of course, one of Ryan’s pet “targets” is Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  As I’m writing this, he’s pushing for almost two TRILLION dollars in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.  All this so he can provide the huge tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans – the ones who fill his campaign “coffers” with lots of moolah!  Ryan is another republican who has no problem with looking straight into the camera (facing “we the people”) and LYING.

Oh yes, one more thing.  The ATTACKS by the Russians – that republicans seem to believe don’t matter (again, can you imagine if the roles were reversed what they’d be saying?) are continuing as I write.  The FACT Trump and republicans seem oblivious to this is more alarming to me than the attacks themselves.  Apparently, the republicans’ “the end justifies the means” strategy to retain power includes help from foreign governments.  Yikes!!!

I’ve written several times since Trump, our “so-called” president, took office that the big question in my mind is how much damage will he be allowed to do before he’s removed from office – either by republicans (unlikely) or “we the people” at the ballot box in 2020 (likely).  The answer to that question may determine if the republican party survives this deplorable president.  And, of course, those in leadership of the republican party are drooling all over themselves having someone in the “White House” who will sign virtually ANY piece of legislation they can get to him so that both Trump and Fox “news” can claim “victory” – at the clear expense of “we the people.”

Well, so far, republicans been unable to come up with a replacement for the Affordable Care Act – which MOST people believe, at the minimum, needs to be improved.  If the ACA wasn’t providing health insurance to so many Americans this would not be a problem for the republicans – they’d just repeal it – as they voted to do something like 60 times while President Obama was still in office.  However, Trump or some other unsuspecting republican caused the phrase “repeal and replace” to be accepted as “politically correct” so republicans were screwed.  They were the experts at the repeal part of that, but when it came to “replace” they were lost.  They attempted to “replace” the ACA (aka “Obamacare”) in the only way they know how to do anything – via TAX CUTS for the wealthiest Americans – the ones who’ve bought them off at an unbelievable amount since “Citizens United” – and, curiously, there were three republicans who didn’t go along with the scam.

So, now – kind of like a “mulligan” in golf – they’re on “plan B.”  As I’m writing this Trump is LYING to the American people about the impending TAX CUT which will balloon the deficit (you know, the thing republicans blamed on President Obama) by probably $3 TRILLION (at least – more if we go into recession due to Trump’s policies which will be “on the table” as 2018 draws near – he’ll no longer be “coasting” on Obama’s “coattails”).  This is the republicans “back door” way of repealing “Obamacare” by CUTTING over $1.5 TRILLION from Medicare and Medicaid to mitigate the HUGE deficits caused by their TAX CUTS for the wealthy.  The question now becomes – will ALL the republicans go along with this – which is a boon to Trump and a boondoggle to people like me.

Of course, history has proven over and over again that welfare for the richest Americans does NOT boost the economy – they don’t rush out and raise wages for their workers or hire people off the street as a way to spend the MILLIONS they save on their taxes (keep in mind, we’re talking about BILLIONAIRES here).  Dick Cheney claimed “Ronald Reagan proved deficits don’t matter” – but, he actually proved cutting taxes AND regulations for business puts the economy at risk.  President Obama and the democrats bailed the republicans out of the “Great Recession” with a modest stimulus package – but, here we are again – deja vu all over again – with the HUGE tax cuts, deregulating the banks and big business, and a Wall Street that is over heated.  You get three guesses and the first two don’t count as to where we’re headed.  (somehow, Trump will blame it on Obama)

For those of us like me who do believe that deficits DO matter, we can only hope there’s at least three senators who agree and will vote this thing down.  You’d think this constant propaganda that tax cuts for the rich is good for the economy (of course, the philosophy is put forth by the – you know – the rich) would be getting old after almost 40 years of “busting the budget” so rich people can have more money to spend.  (trust me, the extra money won’t be spent at the grocery store)  The WORST part of all this, to me, are the continued LIES of the republicans – it’s not hard to figure out what they’re saying is akin to HOGWASH!

For example, today I listened to the supreme tax cutter of them all, Grover Norquist, claim that Trump’s proposed tax cuts will “create jobs and stimulate the economy.”  Well, despite the FACT the economy’s 85 STRAIGHT months of job creation at a “steady pace” – the result of Obama’s administration – and record low unemployment numbers – again, the result of Obama’s policies – Norquist and every other republican “pundit” – who seem to be programmed by the same organ grinder – are claiming these tax cuts are aimed at the middle class and will created jobs (in an economy at full employment, that is).  What it’s really designed to do is give the republican benefactors – all those MILLIONAIRES and BILLIONAIRES who’ve been funneling their money into the coffers of republicans in Congress – a return on their investment.  LITTLE or NONE of these tax cuts will filter to “we the people.”  But, the LYING will continue. (By the way, Wall Street and America’s corporations DON’T need any more help – their profits are at ALL TIME highs and their “cash on hand’ is bordering on obscene.  They’ve got PLENTY of money, and it’s NOT trickling down – at least in the form of higher wages.

I’ve only seen the framework of their proposal, and, by my calculations those Americans who have two members of their family working and making at least $50 thousand per year each are in for an unpleasant surprise.  Their taxes are going up.  There’s a plethora of reasons why middle class Americans should be gagging at what Trump is trying to cram through in about the next two weeks – we can only hope there’s a few republicans who will block it.  Just like “repeal and replace” republicans are putting this legislation together in the “back rooms” and there’s going to be no discussion with any democrats to get it passed.  They have to do it this way because if “we the people” get a chance to actually digest what’s being proposed, then Trump would still have NOTHING to show for his first year in office.  (which very well could be his last)

Tax cuts are an issue that republicans will have no problem pushing through despite the FACT their president is likely going to be indicted for, at a minimum, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.  Whether that gives them the backbone to remove him from office, we’ll have to wait and see, but they’ve been drooling to FURTHER cut taxes for their wealthy benefactors since the last time they pulled this off.  There’s just NEVER enough “dough” for those at the top in America.  I’m not sure Trump even understands that the proposed tax cuts raise taxes on those in the “upper” middle class – like, for example (because I’m familiar with this scenario), families with two working teachers.  By the time they figure out the reality of this proposal, it will be too late and it will be years until the problem is fixed.  (And, trust me, those at the top will fight any changes “tooth and nail” down the road)

Here’s the main rub for me.  Why would members of Congress vote through anything while Trump is still the president.  He’s damaging this nation in far worst ways than these tax cuts – although, they will be bad if they get through.  For example, while Trump is promoting the coal industry, China is at the head of the class developing clean energy technology that the WORLD – and that would include the United States – will be more dependent on as time goes by.  The Climate change deniers – like Trump, and MOST in his cabinet – are going to be public pariahs before long.  Trump, and, to be fair, MOST other politicians – including democrats – opposed the TPP trade agreement negotiated by President Obama, one of Trump’s first acts in office was to pull the U.S. out of that agreement – which will come back to haunt us, again, as China takes the place of America as the world’s leading economy.

Trump is pushing American troops into places like Niger – likely because he’s ignorant of “the world” and he’s given too much “power” to “his” generals – instead of thinking “outside the box” and attempting to help countries in Africa create jobs for their people which might discourage them from joining groups like ISIL.  Of course, militarism seems to be somewhat a “bipartisan”issue in America – but, I give us ZERO chance to change course under Trump.

Trump is attacking the Justice Department as if he believes it should cater to his every beckoning.  This is scary right along with his attack on the “media” (although, I guess, “Fox and friends,” Sean Hannity, and anyone else who’s learned that by “kissing his ass” they can get the president of the United States on their programs on a regular basis – so they can participate in LYING to the America people right along with Trump), the intelligence community, and the FBI (which, of course, is part of the Justice Department).  Trump, in fact, has taken LYING to almost astronomical levels – and, evidently, in orderf to work for him you must be willing to do the same.

Trump is preparing “we the people” for when Robert Mueller’s “shoe” drops – and, it’s likely to drop right on Trump’s head.  The way I see it, Trump is already ginning up the 30% of America that’s going to follow him right into the impeachment shed – and, some of them are likely to REVOLT.  Trump is defiant – and, will remain so even in the face of what likely will be the MOST serious charges EVER leveled at an American president.  And, his surrogates are right there with him.

I’m sure Trump sees Sarah Huckabee Sanders as a strong supporter.  Personally, I see her as a pathetic spokesperson who’s as willing to LIE right off the top of her head as her boss.  I believe she is damaging her career EVERY day she steps up to that podium and LIES to the American people – provable, pathetic LIES.  (As I’ve said before, there’s always Fox as far as jobs for Ms. Sanders post Trump – that is, until the America people wake up to what a treasonous outfit Fox “news” really is)  Then there’s John Kelly.  I’m having a hard time placing his former rank in front of his name because it really grieves me to have to understand his true character.  That after he chose to lament all the things about American society the “used to be sacred.”

Well, I was only in the U.S. Marine Corp for about six months – NEVER on active duty due to failing my physical at induction (in 1967 when just about anyone who could walk was inducted – my knee was worst than I thought – I CAN say, I DIDN’T have bone spurs) – one thing that was “sacred” in the Marine Corp back during the Viet Nam years was HONOR.  A true Marine would NEVER purposely LIE about ANYTHING – at least, that was my understanding.  Even though I was given a medical discharge I’ve felt, over the years, a sense to honor that which I had enlisted for – the Marine Corp sense of HONOR.

Well, after I heard the actual speech given by Frederica Wilson, the Congress woman Kelly referred to as an “empty barrel” (more than once), and I relistened to Kelly’s remarks which accused her of things she DID NOT do AND made false accusations about President Obama I was, to use Kelly’s own words, SHOCKED!  What I learned from that – and Kelly’s subsequent refusal to set the record straight and APOLOGIZE (Something else held “sacred” in “my day”) – is that Trump’s chief of staff is not in the uncomfortable position the “media” is attempting to suggest.  He’s, apparently – like his boss – a LIAR and, based on his comments one would have to suggest he’s also a racist.  Right at home in the Trump “White House.”  He’s encouraging a “draft dodger” to disrespect the Constitution – they both gave an OATH to protect.  Yikes!

Potentially, the worst damage Trump will cause this great nation will occur when Mueller’s investigation concludes – I’m guessing it will conclude right at the top layer of the “White House.”  At a minimum, there’s little disagreement from “experts” that Trump’s already committed OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.  I believe there’s more.  There’s a reason why Trump has such a “bromance” with Vladimir Putin.  It’s called “Kompromat.”  Until someone disproves ANY of the so-called “dossier” – I’ll believe it’s completely true.  So, by turning his followers against the press, against the FBI (and Mueller – they’re attacking him as I’m writing this), against the CIA, the Justice Department, and the Congress – Trump is setting the stage for a violent protest by his followers.  This is all CRIMINAL behavior.

I’ve said this before, those people carrying Tiki Torches at Charlottesville are not the type of people who oppose caches of weapons.  I’m certain MOST are armed to the hilt.  And, I believe there’s cohorts (cells) all around this nation who will “explode” when Trump is impeached if the republicans have the stones to do so.  This is going to get ugly and “we the people” will be depending on a Justice Department with Jeff Sessions at the top to stop any pro Trump revolt.  The fringe element behind the Trump movement has been encouraged to despise the “government” since the days of Reagan.  The republican party has prostituted itself to get the support of Trump and this fringe element – all in the name of “power.”  It could come back to haunt us all!  The “damage” is mounting FAST!

I believe it’s the responsibility of the news media to report the actual news to “we the people” – accepting that every person and every entity have biases that are undeniable.  What we now have in America are a few entities attempting to do just that – and, to discover the TRUTH about the FACT our nation was ATTACKED by Russian cyber-criminals in an obvious attempt to sway the 2016 election to Donald Trump – plus, we have entities that are PURE PROPAGANDA like Fox “news” which, to me, are like TRAITORS to the constitution we’re all supposed to hold so dear.  And, then there are the fringe “Wing nut” outlets like the Enquirer that are specializing in inflammatory conspiracy theories which, apparently, enough Americans fall for that keeps them in business.  I see copies of their “garbage” – and, that of other similar publications – every time I check out at the grocery store. (Donald Trump calls the Enquirer “respectable media” – that should tell you all you need to know about our so-called “president”)

Of course, there are also many outlets such as Breitbart that specialize in a specific type of propaganda, and some are gaining “steam” because they proved to be significant in the “election” (with, of course, three MILLION less votes than his opponent) of Trump.  Breitbart, Fox, and we’re learning of others who either purposely or inadvertently  were the proponents of what is now referred to by Trump as “fake news.”  Of course, Trump is NEVER referring to the REAL “fake news” – that which was produced and pushed by Fox, Breitbart, other American entities AND most significantly Russian interests attempting to, at a minimum, destabilize American politics (a resounding success) and ultimately get Trump in the “White House” OR severely damage Hillary Clinton.

Well, republicans have been FOCUSED on damaging Hillary Clinton for 25 years, so the Russians were simply “helping out.”  How much they were working together remains to be seen, but we now know the Russian ATTACK on America was very sophisticated – and, with Trump in the “White House” and taking no apparent notice of this with the result being virtually NO American plan to PREVENT further attacks (which are likely happening as I’m writing this piece) I find it EXTREMELY interesting that republicans in Congress are sitting idly by while this is all happening.  Do they actually FEAR Trump to that extreme – that they’re willing to allow this ASSAULT on America to continue?  Would they be acting this way if  it was Clinton who COLLUDED with the Russians to win the election?  Yes, republicans in Congress almost unanimously agreed to the sanctions Congress directed Trump to place on Russia – which was supposed to be completed by October 1 of this year – and, Trump is refusing to put those sanctions in place.  Have you heard of the word “Kompromat?”  This is what I believe is causing Trump’s reluctance to say ANYTHING negative about Russia or Vladimir Putin AND why he’s refusing to enforce these sanctions.

“Kompromat” is the “stuff” the Russians have on Trump that they are – or likely could – BLACKMAIL him with.  For example, MUCH of what was written in the so-called “dossier” of Christopher Steele (former British Intelligence agent) is proving to be TRUE.  And, I’m hearing MORE reports that the “selatious” sexual innuendo – and, the reports there’s video of the incident – is also TRUE.  I suppose it’s NOT illegal for Trump to hire prostitutes in Russia to perform a “golden shower” on the bed President Obama slept in while in Moscow during his presidency – but, I’m imagining Trump doesn’t want video of that coming out at this point in time.  You know, might give added meaning to his words after Charlottesville – if you get my “drift.”

That all being said, the focus of my thoughts right now is how Trump is the master at “projection.”  I usually call it “political projection” because, it seems to me, it’s regarding political issues when I see people using this deplorable technique the most.  Projection is the foundation behind PROPAGANDA.  It’s the work of pathological LIARS.  Right now, we’re seeing a masterful attempt to DEFLECT (which is the PURPOSE of projection) the, apparently, IMPENDING results of Robert Mueller’s investigation which will UNCOVER much of the CORRUPTION that follows Trump wherever he goes.  Of course, this investigation will snag much more than Trump himself, and true to form Trump is already fighting back with his friends at Fox, Breitbart, and elsewhere lending their “hands.”

Trump, republicans in Congress, Fox, Breitbart, and, I suppose, many others I don’t pay attention to, are pushing a story that the real “Russia thing” is the sale of a Canadian Company involved in mining uranium in America to a Russian Company – that, like virtually all Russian companies – has ties to Vladimir Putin.  Trump seems to know what’s coming from Mueller, so he – and his “cronies” – are PROJECTING with “both barrels” – to kind of steal a phrase from another LIAR in the “White House” – General Kelly.  This is classic PROJECTION.  Blaming someone else – in this case Hillary Clinton as “colluding with the Russians” – on your “enemies.”

The Trump “supporters” are accusing virtually EVERY democrat – or “opponent” – they can think of.  Of course, their MAIN TARGETS are not Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, BUT James Comey and Robert Mueller.  If you’ve been around and you’re NOT dumbed down by Fox “news,” the right wing “talkers,” or republicans who FEAR Trump enough to do his bidding instead of DEFEND this nation against Russian ATTACKS, then you maybe understand how people like Trump ALWAYS attack the MESSENGER in order to get people’s attention off of the MESSAGE.

In this case, the MESSAGE is likely that Trump and members of his campaign committed TREASON in the last election by working with the Russians to target specific portions of our nation with real FAKE NEWS.  (Of course, this is why Trump has been accusing the actual media of giving “fake news” as a classic example of this same strategy – this is NOT an accident)  Sadly, it worked, although, I’m kind of thinking it’s better that it did and that Mrs. Clinton is not president, because we’d be in impeachment territory already from this republican Congress – which can’t seem to do anything constructive even with control of both houses of Congress.  (It seems like republicans feel they were cheated from the chance to impeach Mrs. Clinton, so they’re attempting to do so “defacto.”

Additionally, unless you’re listening to a republican biased lawyer, Trump will likely be indicted for OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE – charges which led to the impeachment of both Nixon and Clinton.  Of course, it will likely take the election of 2018 to remove Trump from office because these present day republicans FEAR him to the point I don’t believe they’ll move to impeach even after the charges are presented.  And, those in Trump’s sphere will receive pardons probably before they are convicted in court.  The question will become, are republicans correct in their “bet” that progressives (liberals) stay home from the polls in 2018, or that they can purge enough through their voter suppression antics to continue their hold on POWER.

Here are the people who I believe are liable to exposed to criminal charges.  Everyone knows about Paul Manafort and Mike Flynn – but, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr., and Flynn’s son are clearly vulnerable.  Additionally, in my mind and from what I’ve gathered listening to legal experts – EVERY member of the “White House” staff who were read into both the letter where Trump outlined that he was firing Comey to stop the “Russia thing” AND the misleading explanation of the June 9, 2016 meeting with Russians who were giving “dirt” on Hillary Clinton – and THEN  went out and gave FALSE information to the public are vulnerable to “conspiracy to obstruct justice.”  This would include the Vice President and the press secretary and likely key advisers in the “White House.”  In short: There’s a lot of legal vulnerability in Trump’s “White House.”

Reportedly, Trump’s got the pardon pen on high alert and Mueller is trying to figure out how to bypass Trump’s inclination to use his pardon pen at will.  I want to say this should be interesting, but the Russians have succeeded in helping to DIVIDE this nation to the point where, no matter how this turns out, there’s likely to be unrest.  And, keep in mind, most of those people carrying Tiki Torches in Charlottesville and shouting “Jews will not replace us” are armed to the hilt.  And, there’s cells of their supporters all across America.  Additionally, if violence breaks out should Trump face criminal charges and Congress do their duty (impeachment) we have a Justice Department being run by Jeff Sessions.  I don’t know if you have confidence that he’s apolitical and will defend the law and the constitution in this matter, but not so much as for me.

I started this post ONE DAY before Robert Mueller issued his first indictments – which was Friday the 27th of October, 2017.  As people like me would have predicted, based on “leaks” that have managed to hit the news prior to last Friday, Paul Manafort was one of those indicted.  Additionally, a Manafort associate I was not aware of, Rick Gates, was also indicted.  It appears Mr. Gates may have been involved with Trump much longer than Manafort himself.  The really interesting part of the announcement was that a young man named George Papadopoulos was arrested last July and has pleaded guilty to LYING to the FBI and is now a “cooperating witness” to what was going on between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Papadopoulos is around 30 years old and was a “foreign policy adviser” to the Trump campaign.  Apparently, on occasion, he was the “go between” for the campaign and their connection to the Russians as they were getting “dirt” on Hillary Clinton.  It’s, at this time, unknown how much Papadopoulos knows, but there’s got to be some of the “higher’s up” in the campaign a bit nervous as I’m writing this.  As I looked at how Papadopoulos was connected to the  campaign, what he was doing, and then ALL the “counts” against Manafort and Gates, and it feels as if Mueller has his sights set much higher.

It appears to me that Mike Flynn (and his son), Donald Trump Jr., and Jared Kushner are all in serious legal trouble based on what I read today and what’s been published previously – and, this in above and  beyond what I referred to above.  I have no idea how complete a “house cleaning” Mueller has in mind, but if he’s one to take the constitution and our legal system literal, there’s a lot of those in the “White House” who should be nervous and spending time with their attorneys.  Clearly, I believe the “target” is Donald Trump himself.  If you remember, James Comey, in his last testimony to Congress actually said, “It makes me nauseous to think my actions could have swayed the election.”  Of course, those words were the last “straw” for Trump and he fired Comey – surely thinking that would end the “Russia thing.”  (another example of Trump’s stupidity – which included the meeting with Lester Holt and subsequently, in the Oval Office with the Russian Ambassador and Foreign Minister where he doubled down by proclaiming getting rid of Comey – which included derogatory characterizations of Comey – “took the pressure off from the Russia Investigation”)

Our media remembers all these things for a few days, but Mueller catalogues everything and it’s all going to come back to haunt the president.  I personally will find it the ultimate irony if Trump is finally IMPEACHED as he SHOULD be by the very entity which was responsible for his election.  It was Comey’s announcement 12 days prior to the election which swung the results Trump’s way  (along with the voter suppression in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin PLUS the Russian involvement in numerous surreptitious ways) and Trump was lauding Comey and the FBI for their “help” – at the time.  Not so much now.  I believe the results of Mueller’s investigation will cast Trump in a “light” that will place him in a DARK place in American History.  The question will become, at that point, is Congress willing to put themselves in that same place in the History books?  I really hope not!  There are members of the republican Congress right now who are reminding me of the McCarthy era of the 1950’s.  You’d think they wouldn’t want to go there!

Final Thought:  The Russians have succeeded, along with members of the right wing republican party, in dividing this nation to the point where we’re more likely to be arguing neighbor to neighbor than uniting in defending the basic principles this country was founded on – which begin with our RIGHT to VOTE.  I can only hope that the energy in the so-called “resistance” will last well beyond the 2016 election and that LIBERALS will not argue amongst themselves to the detriment of the country as a whole. They have the power to vote out this republican Congress and remove Trump from office if that becomes necessary.  To be honest, I hope it doesn’t.  The first line of defense against the Trump presidency is the republican Congress.  So far, they’re failing to do their job and adhere to their oath of office.  So, their removal may be necessary.

However, I’m not an advocate of the complete other alternative – which would be a die hard “liberal” Congress that was acting in a totally partisan manner as with this present group of republicans.   There’s an old saying, “Don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good” and my hope is that those who are “progressive,” “moderate,” and “conservative” and can place this country ahead of their partisan beliefs can come together and purge our nation of this administration which has a closer identity to a mafia organization than a governing one AND members of Congress who are unable to work with their cohorts no matter their party affiliation.  I don’t think I’m alone in believing, on most issues, the best solution lies somewhere between the “left and the right.”

I wrote the other day about the inspiring speech Jeff Flake gave on the floor of the Senate announcing his retirement from the Senate because he could not envision “winning the primary without compromising his conservative principles” – or words to that affect.  In the post, I pointed out how much I appreciated a republican speaking out about the bizarre behavior of the president who is a member of his own party.  He and his cohort Bob Corker of Tennessee are the two most outspoken critics of Trump, who are republicans (and, in Congress – there’s MANY outside of Congress)  In the post I mentioned I’d love to “have breakfast with Flake and discuss our differences, maybe we’d both grow.”

Both Flake and Corker will be in Congress for another year and a half – here’s the rub.  Despite their criticism of Trump (well founded, and accurate) the reality is they vote for Trump’s “stuff” almost 100% of the time.  So, while they are leaving Congress, apparently they’re not willing to help BLOCK his terrible agenda.  Just yesterday, both Flake and Corker voted to repeal a regulation from the Consumer Financial Protection Agency that prohibits large banks from blocking consumers from suing them when they commit consumer fraud.  These republicans are FORCING consumers to accept “forced arbitration” the next time they’re ripped off by a financial institution.  I believe both Flake and Corker voted for the budget that cuts $1.5 TRILLION from Medicare and Medicaid in order to pave the way for another HUGE tax cut for the rich (that will be called “tax reform”) that republicans will claim will “balance the budget” – BUT, in reality, will increase the deficit by TRILLIONS.  This happens EVERY time a republican makes it to the “White House.”

Recently, the House voted to repeal a large portion of the so-called “Dodd-Frank” legislation that was put in place after the financial meltdown of 2008-2009.  Fortunately, I believe the Senate will be required to have 60 votes to get this one through.  However, it’s appearing to me they’ve figured out a way to get their “tax reform” through with only 50 votes – which means, for people like me – MIDDLE CLASS – we’re going to be paying MORE while the republican benefactors will be paying MUCH less.  The deficit will balloon and, in 2020, when some, at this time, unknown democrat retakes the White House republicans will be  BLAMING that president and the democrats for the deficit and the national debt they’ve so masterfully given us since the days of Reagan.  How many times will “we the people” repeat this stupid step before the TRUTH sinks in.

I’ve mentioned many times that there’s a plethora of “low information voters” in America and outlets like Fox “news,” Breitbart, the right wing radio talkers, etc. target them – just as the Russians targeted them in the 2016 election.  The plan is to keep “we the people” arguing about stuff that is irrelevant to the administration of the country – which should focus on the economy, the infrastructure, education, public safety, the judicial system, and the military to name some of the stuff which is relevant.  While “we the people” are arguing about “wedge issues” like abortion, gay rights, and “drill baby drill” the republicans are continually FLEECING us out of TRILLIONS of dollars.  Their GREED is never ending.  And, they ALWAYS couch it in words like – these rich people, or these rich corporations will reward all us minions with better jobs and higher salaries!  Yikes, when will we learn?!

This time, Trump is claiming his tax cuts are aimed at the Middle Class.  Well, from what I can tell, there is some truth to that.  We in the middle class will be paying MORE.  The percentage of our income going to federal taxes will stay about the same – but, especially, for those who live in states where there’s high sales taxes and property taxes – we’ll be paying federal tax on those taxes because that’s one of the “deductions” they want to eliminate.  I’m still wondering if they have the nerve to eliminate the deduction for home mortgage interest charges???  When the smoke clears, republicans will own all this and Trump will claim “victory.”  The question then will become, how soon till Trump’s own voters recognized what he’s doing to them?  Unfortunately, many of them watch Fox – which, I’ve predicted will at some point be part of the dregs of American History.

Fox, along with the republicans, as I’ve stated many times, are strong proponents of the “Big Lie Theory” – where, if you tell a LIE over and over, eventually people will believe it’s true.  (This theory was the work of Joseph Goebbels of the Nazi Third Reich) They’re in the process right now of a WHOPPER!  I forced myself to listen to a couple minutes of Sean Hannity the other night – it was like TORTURE and a couple minutes was all I could handle – and he was proclaiming, essentially, the “greatest scandal of the century.”  I’m not kidding when I say he was talking about the so-called “uranium deal.”  Referring, of course, to a 2010 deal which was approved by the Obama administration while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State and involved a Russian company buying a Canadian company that controlled approximately 10 – 20% of America’s uranium – which they could NOT sell outside the country.

As far as I’m concerned let the republicans investigate Hillary Clinton, Jim Comey, Eric Holder, and Robert Mueller (to name a few of their supposed “targets”) till the cows come home.  I’m just hoping that, at some point, “we the people” wake up.  Around the world the STUPIDITY of the American public is becoming well known – and disturbing to our allies.  Of course, to the Russians, they’re all smiles.  This latest effort by Fox and republicans to DEFLECT the attention of “we the people” from the REALITY that Russia  ATTACKED the U.S. during the last election with the purpose of either helping Trump or damaging Mrs. Clinton – AND, for sure dividing “we the people”  SHOULD be alarming to EVERY American – no matter their “politics.”  The Russians are laughing at “we the people” – and, we continue to give them fodder!

They believe they succeeded in getting Trump elected – and, I’m certainly not one to doubt they’re correct.  “We the people” still don’t know MUCH of what they were “up to” during the election – it’s coming out “drip, drip, drip” just as the COLLUSION with Trump and his campaign.  Reports from people who actually stream Russian TV report something entirely different from what we in America see and hear on our media outlets – including the so-called “liberal” outlets like MSNBC and CNN.  (I don’t know anything about CNN – I’m just going on hearsay that they have a “liberal bent” – personally, I doubt it)  Here’s something I saw recently from a website that is clearly “anti-Trump” – but, claiming to be streaming Russian TV (and, I’ve heard this same “stuff” from others)

From: “The Resistance at “lockhimupnow.org”

Last month Vyacheslav Nikonov, a member of the Duma (the Russian Parliament), said on national TV that “Russian Intelligence stole the President of the United States.”  He asked how the United States can claim to be a world power when it can’t even get elections right.

And last week, a Russian who worked for a government agency known as the “Internet Research Agency” (a/k/a the “troll factory”) said that he and his colleagues watch Netflix’s “House of Cards” TV series to learn how to corrupt the electoral system, and “set the Americans against their own government.”

Here, there are still some Americans who aren’t sure whether Donald Trump and his Russian allies stole the election.   But in Russia, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doubts it.

So, Fox and the republicans – to a degree, at least indirectly, including both Flake and Corker – are attempting to DEFLECT the attention of the American people from the likelihood that Trump conspired with Russians to win the election to the sale by a Canadian company that controlled a small percentage of America’s uranium mines – their interest to a Russian corporation (that, is undoubtedly indirectly connected to Putin – isn’t everything in Russia?)  This happened about 6 years before “we the people” were concerned that the Russians were meddling in our elections.  Trump and the republicans along with all the blowhards that spew right wing garbage on the airwaves will do whatever it takes to ALLOW the Russians to get away with this.  Why wouldn’t they?  There’s another election on the horizon in 2018 and many republicans will get a “vacation” from Congress UNLESS they can continue receiving this support from Putin.

What’s really scary is that the Russians are teaching republicans, who already were in the “end justifies the means” mentality how they did this.  It’s called “divide and conquer.”  I’m concerned that media outlets that are trying to figure out what’s going on will continually be one step behind due to their unwillingness to think outside the box or to really PUSH to investigate not only what happened, BUT what’s happening!  I personally believe the Russians are STILL busy finding ways to intrude into our government – and, obviously, the Trump administration is and WILL do NOTHING to stop them.  Why would they?  Come on people, wake up!

So, while I do appreciate republicans like Corker and Flake speaking out, their continual support of the Trump agenda will just allow this NIGHTMARE to continue.  Why would we allow ANYTHING Trump was “for” to pass – until it’s CLEAR whether or not he COLLUDED with the Russians.  (of course, the meeting of June 9, 2016 answered that question didn’t it?)  Flake’s speech was very well written and, as I said before, inspirational – but, his ACTIONS in the Senate, just like Corker’s, leave MUCH to be desired.  In fact, Corker is supposed to be a “deficit hawk.”  So, why – now that he doesn’t have to run for re-election – would he be voting for HUGE deficits?  Courage in Congress comes in strange ways!  I’m reminded of the saying, quite often these days, “Actions speak louder than words!”

Final thought:  The Russians are laughing at us.  Most Americans are unaware of that.  I have to wonder how that will reflect on our media outlets as History is written?  God HELP the United States of America!

OMG, the “stuff” just keeps coming.  Almost every day I have something to write about Trump and another unbelievable act or comment or LIE.  Here’s the bottom line as I’m absorbing this continuing fiasco – the republicans in Congress are bordering on pathetic.  And, Trump’s surrogates at the “White House” – maybe worse. (If that’s possible)  I’m having trouble getting the picture of Mitch McConnell sucking up to Trump the other day in the Rose Garden as Trump initiated the latest public relations DISASTER when he accused President Obama “and many other presidents” of not calling the families of fallen troops.  Of course, the SAD picture of McConnell standing next to Trump has been completely overshadowed by the ensuing controversy as Trump (and his chief of staff John Kelly and his press secretary Sarah Sanders) continued the verbal assault on the family of Sargent La David Johnson who was killed in Niger on October 4.

Then I’m reminded of the “round table” in the “White House” as Trump’s surrogates, a few months ago – one by one, with Reince Priebus the most pathetic – expressed their blubbering gratitude that Trump would allow them to ruin their personal reputations via their association with him and his “lying ways.”  At the time, I almost gagged.  Now we’re to the place where  EVERYONE who’s paying attention – and NOT watching Fox “news” – knows that Trump is a SERIAL LIAR along with being an incompetent president.  He’s a DISASTER and we all know it – including the republicans on Capital Hill.  Apparently, they’re afraid of him – despite knowing he’s a LIAR AND he’s violating the Emoluments clause of the constitution virtually DAILY, AND he’s creating a gulf between America and her traditional allies, AND he, or his campaign (or both) COLLUDED with the Russians to get elected, AND he’s OBSTRUCTED justice in the investigation of the “Russia thing” – all of this is not enough to get the attention of more than a handful of republicans in Congress.

Now, today, I saw a “presser” by Devon Nunez – the head of the House Intelligence Committee – yes, he who’s recused himself and then apparently “sort of” “unrecused” himself (“unrecused” is not a real word, because NO ONE’S ever done this before) from the Russia investigation – is now opening a NEW investigation of Hillary Clinton and the infamous sale of uranium interests from a Canadian company to a Russian company back in 2010.  Hillary Clinton’s State Department, at some level below Mrs. Clinton, along with 7 other agencies of the government approved the sale.  So, now in an apparent effort to take the focus of the media off of Trump’s COLLUSION with the Russians, the Russian ATTACK on our most basic fundamental value – voting – and whether or not they actually succeeded in flipping the 2016 elections (which the Russians believe they did) we’re going to have ANOTHER republican assault on Hillary Clinton.  Someone needs to tell them she’s not running for president again, it’s time for them to back off.

Somehow, these people continue to get elected.  They have no idea how to govern – they’re only good at using dirty lying tactics to win elections and they have the MONEY from people like Charles and David Koch – who care ONLY for more TAX CUTS and fewer environmental regulations – and, they have willing recipients of all their money – both Charles and David are worth MORE than $50 BILLION and their company, Koch Industries, generates OVER $100 BILLION annually – and, it’s a private family owned business.  Obviously, they’ve got a LOT of MONEY and they’re willing to spend it.  When Steve Bannon is threatening “moderate” republicans with “primary opponents who are well funded” you know who’s supplying the MONEY.  The Kochs have a network of rich people who participate in their buying of our government – and, interestingly (and, not surprisingly) some of them have ended up working for Trump.  For example, I have little doubt that the family (probably on both sides) of Betsy DeVoss – who’s busy trying to destroy public education in America – is an integral part of the Koch network.

So, I guess, if we’re all wondering why these republicans are looking so pathetic as they watch Donald Trump taking our nation down notch by notch day by day with his deplorable behavior, his incompetent actions, and his authoritarian tendencies and policy decisions that mirror a certain German Chancellor back in the thirties we can look at the money.  These republicans seem to be volunteering for a dark place in the American History books.  And, our media, including the so-called “liberal” media seems to be “tip toeing” around all this – with a few exceptions in a way that causes me to think Fox has more power than just on their own audience.  Our media doesn’t have an obligation to be “fair and balanced” – it’s got an obligation to be TRUTHFUL.  Many of them are working hard at finding out the TRUTH behind Trump’s unlikely election triumph – now that much of the Russian interference is becoming apparent.  But, many still are seemingly reluctant to call a Trump LIE a LIE.  Honestly, I’m really getting tired of comments using terms like “that was an untruth” or maybe “he misremembered” or “maybe he forgot.”

The other day when General John Kelly got in front of “we the people” and he spewed out a series of LIES about an African American Congress person who had essentially told the TRUTH about how Trump’s phone call to a grieving widow of a slain American soldier was received he showed his time next to Trump had created a stain on his own character.  Instead of Trump realizing he had offended this person – more than likely unintentional – this is another area where Trump has NO IDEA what to do and he was apparently coached by Kelly, who also has no idea what to do based on this episode – and calling this widow again and apologizing that his words were taken the wrong way from what he intended and this issue would have been resolved – plus, people would have been amazed that Trump could be compassionate – he chose to do his usual response to ANY criticism – launch a counter ATTACK! To me, just like those blubbering around the table in the “White House” their gratitude that Trump would allow them to work for him, this is ANOTHER episode which shows the degree he’s pathetic.  He’s GOT TO GO! (The most disappointing part of this episode, to me, was General Kelly’s behavior.  I had been fooled into believing the press reports of his integrity.  He not only came across as a LIAR, but also a racist)

Unfortunately, “we the people” are depending on republicans to IMPEACH  Trump and they’re either afraid of him OR they believe he’ll sign anything they can muster as a legislative victory no matter what the cost will be to “we the people.”  Right now, as I’m writing this there’s a group of Republican Senators speaking to the media and defending their “tax cut” legislation as something that will create jobs and stimulate the economy.  We’ve been hearing this same CRAP since the days of Ronald Reagan and it’s NEVER worked.  George HW Bush called it “Voodoo Economics” and he was the one republican who got it right.  In fact, HW Bush actually worked with Democrats to raise taxes in 1990 due to the high deficits and the Desert Storm war, ultimately costing himself his re-election in 1992.  There’s a lot to question about George HW Bush, but, in this instance he was a republican with the courage to do the right thing working with democrats.  These type of republicans are few and far between these days.

Here’s how deep the LYING goes in the republican party – Yes, no one compares to Trump – but, this group of republican senators trying to convince us all they can cut TRILLIONS of taxes from the top 1% which will create jobs for all us “minions” and will not further balloon the deficit are – well – a bunch of LIARS.  One of them stood there and actually said this, “We (meaning republicans) have created 1.7 MILLION jobs since last November’s election.  Of course, if he was telling the truth he’d be talking about the present budget deal and how it would improve the economy they inherited from Barack Obama.  That is, because virtually EVERY ONE of those 1.7 MILLION jobs (or, at a minimum –  a HUGE majority of them) are the results of the Obama administration.s economic policy which Trump inherited.  As I’ve said many times here, ANY new president is subject to the previous administration in regard to the economy for the FIRST YEAR.  Trump, and the republicans, are just getting around to passing their FIRST budget deal – if they can manage to actually do it – and, “we the people” can judge it based on the resulting job creation around this time next year.

Trump inherited an economy that was creating about 200,000 jobs per month and it’s continued to do so – despite the FACT Trump and the republicans have been UNABLE to do virtually ANYTHING so far in his administration (except continually taking credit for what President Obama’s administration left him).  They’re taking credit for Obama’s success is “par for the course” with republicans.  And, they BLAME democrats for ANYTHING that seems wrond or goes wrong.  If you remember, when President Obama took office, the economy was shedding jobs at the rate of almost 1 MILLION per month – due to the financial meltdown resulting from the Bush/Cheney decisions (which mirror some of what Trump is now trying to do) on the economy  – and, republicans were inexplicably blaming Obama for these jobs losses BEFORE he took the oath of office.  It took President Obama’s administration about one year to turn the disastrous job losses around.  And, more jobs were created than lost in EVERY month for the last 7 years of Obama’s administration – and still going strong!  (Sadly, it’s seems apparent Trump and the republicans are trying to outdo the Bush/Cheney DISASTROUS tax cuts which led to the last economic disaster and the HUGE budget deficits)

For President Obama’s entire two terms in office republicans were CONSTANTLY blaming him for the huge budget deficits.  Well, the reality is that during his two terms in the White House the deficits were cut by approximately two thirds.  The sad reality is that Obama inherited deficits in the neighborhood of $1.5 TRILLION per year and when he left office the deficit was somewhere close to $400 BILLION.  Republicans OBSTRUCTED every initiative Obama proposed to get the deficits down even more (ie an infrastructure program of over  $1 TRILLION in investments to our roads, bridges, railways, and more)  Republicans will continue LYING about all this and when their proposed tax cuts (aimed at the top 1% as usual) pick up “steam” the LYING will pick up steam right with it.  If they succeed, they’ll once again say “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter” and they’ll save their “deficit hawk” critiques for the next democratic president.  As I said above, this is all PATHETIC.

In a sinister way to dampen the effect on the deficit of the HUGE tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans – the “top 1%” – republicans are proposing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in the neighborhood of $1.5 TRILLION and, trust me, Social Security will be next.  Paul Ryan’s had his eyes on these “socialist” programs since he entered the House of Representatives.  They attempted to make these cuts in their “health care” legislation which they couldn’t get the votes for in the Senate – mainly because there are still republican senators who understand the importance of these programs to “we the people.”  Despite Trump’s CLEAR promises in the campaign that “Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will not be touched” I guarantee you he’ll WILLINGLY sign anything republicans can put on his desk that he can claim as a “victory.”  In the campaign he said, “we’ll have so many victories it will make your heads spin.” (or something to that affect)  The rich right wingers who don’t need the benefits of these programs NEVER STOP trying to destroy them – this has been going on since the days of FDR – although, for many years from the 50’s until the 80’s they were in the so-called fringe of American politics.

I’ve been writing for years about the need to purge this republican party as it presently exists.  Now, we’ve got Steve Bannon on the same bandwagon – the problem, as I see it, is he’s on the opposite side of the wagon than myself.  He’s wanting to push the entire party closer to the so-called “tea party” while I’d love to see the party headed back to the days of people like Mark Hatfield, Jacob Javitz, Bob Dole, Everett Dirksen, and others who, I’m imagining, would be disbelieving of what’s happened to the “party of Lincoln.”  Honestly, it turns my stomach every time I hear one of these present day republicans use that phrase.

Final thought:  In my next post, if you read it, you’ll find the words of a republican who “used those words” relating to the “party of Lincoln” who didn’t turn my stomach.  In fact, I found his words prescient and inspiring.  I hope you’ll read them, I published them in their entirety.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attention Republicans: Next MAN up!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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