The “swamp” in Washington DC, as Trump proclaimed it during the campaign, is getting deeper.  Observing how this is all playing out is, at best, discouraging, at worst, alarming.  Many Americans were relieved the other day when the republican attempts to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act went down in “flames,” due to republicans’ insistence on disguising their tax cut agenda as a health care plan.  Even republicans couldn’t get a unanimous vote on a bill that would reduce the insured in America by anything from 16 to 32 MILLION mostly lower socioeconomic class Americans.  The bill would have been especially cruel to women from what I could tell – but, of course, just like the members of the Senate, I was not able to read the bill so I’m basing my thoughts on commentary from those who had access to it (plus, the Congressional Budget Office which “scored” the bill)

Here’s the sad reality of that “hollow victory.”  Trump hates anything with President Obama’s name on it and he’ll do what he can to MAKE SURE that the Affordable Care Act implodes.  From what I understand, Trump can order the funds used to support the health exchanges to be withheld causing insurance companies to abandon the market place, thus causing “Obamacare’s” implosion.  The FACT doing so would essentially cause the loss of insurance for numbers of Americans in the neighborhood of the republican’s proposed legislation, apparently, is meaningless to Trump.  I’m sure what we’ll hear from his lips will be “I told you so” – and, he’ll be counting on “we the people” failing to understand why the markets are imploding and he’ll attempt to place the “BLAME” on democrats.  This will be another challenge to the intellectual capacity of the American public.

Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the democratic party in America – I’m not going to go into all the details why – but, let me just say that’s the other option to Trump and the republicans. Right now, aside from my concerns about them, they have basically  no power in Congress.   I keep hoping there will be republicans who will have the courage to “step up” and lead the fight against Trump, but apparently it will take a national disaster to get their attention.  The brazen disregard for our constitution and our laws, the issue with the obstruction of the “Russian thing,” and the demonstrated lack of knowledge about how our government functions – not to mention our history – has not been enough to get republicans’ attention.  Trump continues to “gin up” the “base” who voted for him, as shown through his reliance on campaign type appearances in “friendly country” – like West Virginia where his claims to be revitalizing the coal industry are a big hit.

What is really happening, from what I can find out, is that coal companies can now dump their sludge in local streams (overturning a regulation passed during President Obama’s term) and, with Trump’s blessing, there’s been something like 800 jobs created in the coal industry since he took office.  If you’re any good at math you know that’s a fraction of 1% of the jobs created this year.  And, worse than that, the coal being mined is apparently headed over seas to other countries who will turn it into steel.  Obviously, I’m no expert on the steel industry or the coal industry – other than to have observed what burning coal does to the environment.  If we don’t need to burn it, we shouldn’t be burning it.  And, there clearly are MUCH better options!

Last night I watched a segment on MSNBC by Richard Engel which showed how the Chinese are, in the words of an American executive working in Beijing, “killing” us – meaning the United States – in the advancement of clean energy technologies.  As a person who invested in solar panels on my own home (3 years ago) it’s apparent that MUCH energy can be produced via “clean energy.”  Clean energy is the FUTURE and Trump is encouraging people to live in the past.  My guess is that Trump, himself, has investments that would lead him to encourage more use of fossil fuels as opposed to the “clean energy” alternative.  India and China are working toward a future where there are NO gas powered vehicles on their highways in the next 10-15 years.  Under Trump’s leadership, the United States is falling farther and farther behind.

Of course, the real reason Trump is out “ginning up” the base is because he knows what we don’t about what Robert Mueller is bound to uncover in his investigation of the “Russia thing.”  In Trump’s West Virginia speech he, again, referred to the “Russia thing” as a HOAX.  He’s busy convincing these willing audiences – that apparently rely on Fox “news” for their information (or people like Rush Limbaugh) – that the “media” is “fake” and that there were “no Russians involved in his campaign.”  By now, we all know that Trump is a pathological LIAR, but that statement could have been a sly “truth.”  (I have no idea if there were any “Russians” as official parts of his campaign)

What we do KNOW is that Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort (at the time, Trump’s campaign manager), and Jared Kushner (Trump’s son in law – and, apparently his senior adviser) ALL met with a group of Russians representing the Kremlin with information about Hillary Clinton that would help Trump’s campaign for president.  No matter what they say – THAT IS COLLUSION – just attending  that meeting with the intent to gather what is being referred to as “dirt” on his opponent.  This is no longer deniable.  Soon after the details of that meeting were made public (and, of course, the “details” evolved as Trump Jr. was FORCED to tell more because the NY Times had the info – although he still continued LYING) the right wing water carriers – ie Fox “news,” etc. – began a public campaign proclaiming: “Collusion is not illegal” or something like what’s wrong with colluding?  Yikes!  (Apparently, Trump, himself, dictated the original LIE about what took place at that meeting)

So, members of Trump’s campaign are in serious legal jeopardy as are his son, Donald Jr. and his son in law Jared Kushner.  Just attending the June 9 meeting under the circumstances made apparent by the series of emails leading up to the meeting was a violation of American election laws.  As I’ve said before, “I’m not a lawyer” but, that meeting has “conspiracy” written all over it.  (not to mention the other “C” word – COLLUSION)  The sad reality here is that Trump’s most fervent supporters are somehow OK with this COLLUSION evidently because it’s Trump doing it.  Can you imagine what all these people would have been saying if Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama had colluded with the Russians (or any other country) to gain an advantage in an election???? (just to be clear, another word for “collusion” is TREASON)

As is the usual with Trump, he’s attempting to “deflect” the information aimed at him and his surrogates regarding Russia by making baseless claims about Hillary Clinton and her “ties” to Russia.  All you have to do is “google” his claims to find out they are not based in fact.  Actually, this situation is making the relationship with the United States and Russia more tenuous than it was prior to Trump – meaning, the Russians’ attempt to influence the election in Trump’s favor – while succeeding in helping to get him elected – has caused a larger rift in U.S./Russian relations.  There are many in America – including, thankfully, many in Congress – including republicans – who don’t like the idea of foreign countries invading our elections.  This is a larger problem than the “Russia thing” – which I’ll touch on in a bit – but the Russians essentially attempting to create a “puppet” for them is more than even most republicans can stomach.

Except for those who are ardently supporting Trump “no matter what.”  I have a Christian friend who actually believes Trump is “conservative” (he watches Hannity on Fox) and said he supports Trump for “moral” reasons.  When I bring up the “Access Hollywood” tapes all he can do is say something like, “but, what about Bill Clinton” – evidently assuming I support Clinton’s misbehavior while in the White House.  When I ask him about the LYING he just says, “you can’t change my mind.”  I point this out because Trump, Fox, Breitbart, and others on the “right” are preparing Trump supporters for what appears to be the inevitable reality there will be indictments of some in the Trump sphere (we already know about much LYING both verbally (to “we the people” and maybe the FBI?) and on security documents that clearly require an “oath” when you fill them out) which could include impeachable offenses by Trump himself.  (Many respected lawyers already believe Trump has committed “obstruction of justice” among a plethora of other issues)

Not only Trump, but many of his supporters who have roles on Fox “news” and other right wing outlets are almost encouraging the most ardent of his supporters to revolt if he’s impeached or indicted – or any of his family members are indicted. These people, who, in the past, have been preaching the “constitution” as they attack anything they consider “liberal” and have based many of their positions on “law and order” seem to be suffering from selective amnesia.  It appears that, in the case of Trump, there’s no expectation he would follow the law – or that his surrogates would follow the law.  The numerous LIES on the security clearance forms, for example, are being excused as “forgetfulness.”  Despite the clear directions that false statements are PERJURY.

What we’re seeing is that Donald Jr. appears to have inherited the LYING gene from his father and he’s on shaky legal ground regarding his meeting with Russians on June 9, 2016 (and, who knows about any other meetings – if they happened, they won’t come out until the “media” finds out about them).  Jared Kushner is probably on more “shaky ground” – because he filled out at least three Security clearance forms – which require an oath to the truth on the consequence of perjury for LYING – because he ONLY disclosed various meetings with Russians after the “media” found out about them.  Personally, I don’t find the “I forgot” excuse very convincing.  And, Kushner’s defense of his attendance in the June 9, 2016 meeting defied common sense – to me, it was like Swiss cheese – full of holes. (I’ve written about this in a previous post)

So, if we truly do live in a country that is bound by a constitution and the rule of law, there is soon to be what many are calling a “constitutional crisis.”  Will Congress uphold its solemn duty to defend the constitution – in this instance from a person who thinks like a dictator, is a pathological LIAR, has no idea how to do the job he’s been elected to do, who may have committed treason – but, regardless, is apparently attempting to block “we the people” from finding out the truth?  As I mentioned above, I’ve been waiting for a republican, or republicans to “step up” and do the right thing in regard to Trump and stop the DAMAGE he’s doing to this nation sooner rather than later.  Until the republicans decide to act, nothing will change – because they have the control on whether or not Trump is impeached.  I don’t believe Trump will resign – as Nixon did.  If he goes down, it will be in flames – and, he’ll be encouraging a revolt in the process.  (remember Cliven Bundy?  His followers are Trump’s “base”)

And, maybe in this regard there’s a “light at the end of the tunnel.”  Just the other day I listened to a senator from Arizona, Jeff Flake talk about how Trump is no conservative.  He just published a book with the same title as one of the first political books I ever read – “Conscience of a Conservative.”  Evidently, Flake is a “mentee” of Barry Goldwater, the author of the original book (which I still have – and, still disagree with much of).  I was totally encouraged by Flakes’ COURAGE to publicly express his frustration with Trump and his administration – enough that I will purchase and read his book.  Additionally, republicans created a situation that prevents Trump from making a “recess appointment” – should he still be trying to replace Jeff Sessions as Attorney General – in his attempt to stop the Mueller investigation, during the August recess.  To me, this is encouraging.

There’s more – I’m no fan of John McCain, but I have to say that I was further encouraged when I listened to him make a plea for a return to “regular order” in the Senate.  Now, I have to admit I don’t understand what “regular order” truly means, but in my naive mind I’m thinking maybe that means republicans and democrats working together to solve problems.  I realize that is idealistic thinking – but, I can hope.  Of course, to make this work, there would have to be a mechanism to stop the FLOOD of money going to members of Congress from lobbyists and special interests – for example, Citizens United would have to be repealed – but, anyone who can get the money out and get Congress to solve problems on a bipartisan basis will be the hero/hero’s we’re all looking for.  And, personally, I don’t care what party they “belong” to.

I’ll end this by saying MOST Americans understand Trump is a disaster as president.  Unfortunately, I don’t think most of us understand fully how much DAMAGE he’s doing to this country – both domestically and internationally.  We just know it’s BAD, and MOST of us are sickened at the thought a foreign country may have influenced the outcome of our most BASIC principle – the right to decide our own leaders.  I’ve been lamenting the republican’s drift to the right since the Bush/Cheney regime (motivated by the invasion of Iraq) but, the reality is the place we find ourselves REQUIRES republicans to have the COURAGE to do the right thing and SAVE us from Trump’s agenda (whatever it might be).  I give credit to Jeff Flake (I really am going to read his book – I’ll probably disagree with much of it – but, he’s clearly putting his beliefs ahead of his political future – he will undoubtedly get “primaried” – and, I have to respect that) and, I’m looking for more republicans to step up and do the right thing in regard to Trump.  Here’s the ultimate irony:  If the “swamp” in Washington DC is to be drained, Trump has got to go!

OMG – sometimes I just want to scream at republicans: WAKE UP!  Your president, (and, make no mistake, he’s YOUR president – republicans will be attached at the chord if they allow this man to continue in office) Donald Trump is either a BUFFOON or a TRAITOR!  During the campaign he repeatedly claimed how smart he is (the “deal maker”) – which (especially for all his “Christian” supporters) always reminds me of the Bible verse: “The man who thinks he knows is the fool, the wise man knows he doesn’t know.”  And, I have to admit, I’m thankful for the STUPID part of what Trump is showing us because a more sophisticated BULLY would possibly be able to “get away” with “the Russia thing.”  It’s almost to the point where it no longer matters whether Trump “did or didn’t” collude with the Russians (it appears he did based on his actions), the investigation is bringing out his BULLYING tendency to the point where it appears to me, and – of course – “I’m not a lawyer” (how often are we hearing that disclaimer these days?) that, just like Watergate, the coverup could  be worse than the crime.  (Although, the “colluding,” to me, is treasonous – and, that’s REALLY bad!)

Trump continues to be either brazenly arrogant or incredibly STUPID as this scenario unfolds.  I just wrote the other day how STUPID it was for Trump to give an interview to Lester Holt of NBC a day or two after firing James Comey, the head of the FBI who was leading the investigation into the “Russia thing,” and then undermine ALL of his surrogates who were busy “spinning” Comey’s firing in a way to pass the blame to Rod Rosenstein only to have Trump ADMIT he fired Comey because of the “Russia thing.”  Then a day or two later he, again, ARROGANTLY, met with the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador (he of all the controversial meetings prior to that date) and, in the process, gave out top-secret classified info and reiterated he “got rid” of Comey to take pressure off the “Russian investigation.”  (he added a few disrespectful derogative comments which prompted Comey’s leak leading to the special counsel)  All I can say is, who would want to be Trump’s legal counsel?

In the post I was working on I just assumed that someone had talked sense into Trump’s head and he would no longer grant these types of interviews – when he’s talking “off the cuff” things don’t go well – I’ve written my prior posts which would explain why – yet, last night I saw “breaking news” that Trump sat down with three reporters from the “Failing” NY Times, as he usually refers to them, and gave an even more incredible STUPID interview.  I have no idea what it’s going to take for the republicans in Congress to realize the gravity of Trump as president, but I can only hope that “we the people” are paying attention so that we can begin the process of correcting this problem in 2018 if they fail to act.  Right now, that’s looking like a really long time to have to endure this man in the “White House” – and, as I’ve repeatedly said here, the potential damage he can inflict on “we the people” is historic.  Clearly, he’s attempting to turn this nation in a direction that more closely mirrors his good buddy Vladimir Putin and Russia.  The same Russia where the “administrative state” has already been “deconstructed.” (in the words of Steve Bannon.)

How long are republicans going to put their power, and their party ahead of the nation?  Clearly, they exposed themselves during the Obama administration as their focus was on President Obama’s “failure” instead of America’s success.  But, this is getting ridiculous.  With Trump, the possibility of MASSIVE damage always exists. especially when I think about the previous republicans who “played” the “war card” during times of political crisis at home.  They seem to believe the way to jack up approval ratings is to put our troops in “harms way.”  Let’s hope these fears are not well grounded!

Yet, we see hints the republicans in Congress actually realize the gravity of the situation – evidently, they’re just waiting for the “right moment” to move toward removing Trump from office.  For example, there’s a bill going through Congress to put additional sanctions on Russia (and Iran and North Korea) that Trump opposes.  My understanding of the bill is that Trump won’t be able to remove these (or other) sanctions without meeting preconditions placed on the sanctions by Congress.  It appears republicans in Congress are daring Trump to veto the bill.  That would certainly make his association with Vladimir Putin even clearer.  (not that most of us need any more evidence)  This shows that even the republicans in Congress don’t trust Trump!

Trump has proven himself to be a LIAR beyond the imagination of most American political observers – we’re not talking about “spin,” it’s just REAL out and out LIES.  And, in the process, he’s shown himself to be pathological.  Much of what comes out of Trump’s mouth, and the surrogates who bow down to him (and, I mean that literally – if you’ve ever seen the video of the cabinet meeting where, one by one, his surrogates expressed their blubbering allegiance to him, you know what I mean), falls into the category of delusional.  The other day, Sean Spicer resigned his post as Press Secretary, and it should be interesting how much damage he did to his career by LYING, pretty much EVERY day, for Trump.  Some of Spicer’s LYING will go down in the history of press secretaries as classic.

At this point Spicer seems like a kind of pathetic victim of having worked for Trump without the guts to quit when he should have.  Some of Spicer’s press conferences will be replayed for years as history uses Trump’s presidency as a how NOT to do American politics – and, to demonstrate to those who work for any politician that your oath is to the constitution.  As kids we’re (well, at least I was) taught to be respectful and obedient to those in authority over us, UNLESS, we’re asked to something untoward – like, for example, LYING to the American people.  Trump’s next “victim,” apparently will be Sarah Sanders – again, showing a willingness to LIE for her “audience of one.”  What his surrogates understand, is that if they want to keep their jobs, they will continue the LYING – and, it appears, Trump watches – in real time – every time one of them gets in front of a mike and a camera.  In a certain way I feel a sense of compassion for them – but, it’s their careers and their character they are personally responsible for – and, if they continue to cow down, then so be it.

In Trump’s meeting with the “failing” NY Times reporters he made it clear he’s, at some point, going after Jeff Sessions (the first Senator to support him), Rob Rosenstein who Trump, himself appointed as assistant attorney general, and ultimately Robert Mueller in his attempt to stop the “Russia thing.”  His own son essentially CONFIRMED that his campaign COLLUDED with the Russians in the recently exposed meeting (of Last June) where Don Jr., Paul Mannafort, and Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner met with a group of Russians offering “dirt” (as many have characterized it) on Hillary Clinton directly from the Russian government designed to help Trump win the election.  The “mystery” – for those having trouble with OVERWHELMING circumstantial evidence – is OVER regarding the “did he or didn’t he) regarding COLLUSION.  Now the new “wave” of rationalizing has begun in the latest attempt to justify (or deflect) that our president is potentially a traitor.

It’s no secret that Donald Trump believes in “winning at any cost,” and that was how he approached the election in 2016.  No one actually thought he’d pull it off (well, almost no one – full disclosure, I lost a bet with a friend who predicted Trump would win), least of all Trump.  And, at this point, I’m guessing there are many in Trump’s “circle” who wish he hadn’t won.  Not only is the “Russia thing” getting “hotter and hotter,” but I’m pretty sure Mueller is either already perusing Trump’s taxes of the past ten years or so – or will be soon.  In the NY Times interview, it was fairly apparent that possibility has Trump very uneasy.  For anyone who’s not thinking straight, there MUST have been a very good reason Trump refused to show his taxes prior to the election – and, I’m certain, he was planning for the “audit,” preventing their disclosure, to last for at least EIGHT years!  There’s something in there he doesn’t want to see the light of day and my guess is it not only has to do with Russia, but who knows what else?  For example, how do you spell money laundering?.

The bottom line here is that if Trump was truly invested in “we the people” and is innocent of any wrongdoing this “drip, drip, drip” of secret – LIED about – meetings with Russians would have been acknowledged from day one of his administration (for example, Kushner wouldn’t have had to redo his security clearance form three or four times).  The focus would be on solving the problems of our nation instead of EVERY DAY another chapter in the Donald Trump soap opera.  Not only was the actions of Trump’s campaign incredibly stupid, but Trump’s actions since this all started coming out have been beyond STUPID.  And, this latest interview may “take the cake.”  Clearly, Trump has his “sights” set on Mueller (since the interview I’ve heard surrogates attacking Mueller’s character, for example, claiming he has “conflicts of interest”) and, if he makes a move to fire Mueller, this republican congress will be at a historic crossroads.  As much as I don’t trust hardly any of them, I believe even they would not stand for Mueller being fired.

Trump is arrogantly profiting from being president which is a violation of the emoluments clause in the constitution – and, many of his supporters don’t care.  In fact, the people I know who voted for Trump don’t care about the “Russia thing.”  All I would say to them is that this constitution has worked for well over 200 years and it should be considered a privilege to live in a country which relies on the rule of law – and, not of men/women.  It seems we’ve gotten to the point where if it doesn’t negatively affect me then I don’t care what’s happening in our government – and, REMEMBER, we are the government.  Personally, I know that I will do whatever I can to make sure The United States doesn’t  become a satellite of Russia or any other country – and, I believe our leaders are subject to the laws of the land just as “we the people.”  (If you’ve been on this site much, you know my biggest complaint about Barack Obama was his “looking forward instead of back” regarding the war crimes of the Bush/Cheney regime)  The allegations aimed at Trump et al are VERY serious – possibly, in my view, the most despicable of crimes.

Trump, clearly, is not going to “come clean” – so, it’s up to republicans in Congress to solve this problem which seems to be heading toward impeachment.  I don’t think Trump will resign – as Nixon did – and, he’s already talking about “pardoning himself” – which should catch everyone’s attention.  I’m guessing he’ll start the pardoning with Michael Flynn in an attempt to keep him from “telling his story” (do you really believe Flynn’s contact with the Russians was without Trump’s knowledge?) and will include his son, his son in law, and anyone else who might have the “goods” on him.  Obviously, if the investigation gets all the way to him he’ prepared to pardon himself.  Well, at least, we’ll be able to clear up whether or not a president can do that – it seems to be “uncharted” territory.  No matter what happens, the political future in America should be interesting to say the least.  And, the investigations should not stop until we fully understand what happened and have a plan to prevent it from EVER happening again!

Anymore, it’s really hard for me to focus my thoughts in a way to fully express my frustration with the FACT that Donald Trump remains in the “White House,” and the republican party continues allowing him to do MEGA damage to this nation I love.  Yes, I’ve come to terms that “we the people” have been subjected to BRAINWASHING from the earliest days I can remember – I’m part of the “baby boom” following WW II.  However, the level and sophistication of the BRAINWASHING has gotten to the point where the future of our nation, as I see it, is at MAJOR risk.  The reality is that in the face of overwhelming evidence that our sitting president is, at best, completely incompetent or, at worst, a TRAITOR I continue to sit in amazement waiting for republicans to come to their senses.  Obviously, I’m not real confident it will happen any time soon.

I’ve been writing for years – since GW Bush/Dick Cheney LIED America into the Iraq FIASCO that essentially destabilized the world leading  to MILLIONS of people DYING (including thousands of Americans) and America’s leaders committing unquestionable WAR CRIMES – about my frustration with the republican enablers and, less often, about the democrats who have seemed to lack the spine to actually do what many Americans are doing today – RESIST – and now things have gotten to the point where it appears to me REALLY serious.  Again, not understanding whether Trump’s issue is total incompetence or he actually believes he can turn this nation into an authoritarian state isn’t totally clear to me.  I continue to hope for the former and fear the latter.

After the latest “drip” in the “drip, drip, drip” of information being uncovered regarding the Trump campaign’s COLLUSION with the Russians during the 2016 election the question of did they or didn’t they no longer exists.  THEY DID!  The UNDENIABLE meeting that took place on June 9, 2016 between Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jarrod Kushner for the purpose of getting “dirt” on Hillary Clinton directly from the Kremlin leaves no questions as to what took place during the election.  The only unanswered questions at this point is to what degree?  Just the thought of what these people were willing to do sickens me.  And, yet, just yesterday while at a press briefing in France I heard Donald Trump praise his son (who’s likely in legal jeopardy along with his son in law) and say something like, “just about anyone would have done this.”

All I can say about that last statement is, let’s just hope he’s completely wrong.  Clearly, Trump Jr., Manafort, and Kushner were in violation of Federal Election laws simply by attending a meeting under the circumstances made apparent in the email exchange that was made public.  To me, that act of working with the Russians to impact the election goes WAY beyond the Election laws.  To me, that’s “aiding and abetting the enemy.”  I get that Trump doesn’t feel as if Vladimir Putin’s Russia is the “enemy,” but his lack of concern for what happened suggests at least two really bad things.  First – and this is really bad – he’s not concerned that Russia essentially ATTACKED America at the most basic part of our republic.  Second – and, to me, this is MUCH WORSE – he and his campaign were complicit in the attack.  Over the long haul – especially if this is not STOPPED – this attack will be worse for our nation than 9/11.

Just think of some things coming from Trump since he was elected in reference to the reality of the Russians attacking the fundamental difference between our two nations – the right to vote.  The first thing that comes to my mind was something Trump, apparently, in his meeting with Putin at the G-20 Summit put in “motion.”  He agreed to some kind of “Cyber security unit” agreement with the Russians to prevent election hacking.  My first thought when I heard that was another “are you kidding me?”  As sayings like “The fox guarding the hen-house” were going through my head I was right back to “incompetent or treasonous?” thoughts.  I’m pretty sure most of his republican enablers were able to see past that one.

Trump’s been constantly attacking the press as “fake news” since the day he took office – which is a clear trait of an authoritarian personality.  He’s convinced his “base” that all these “stories” coming out showing that he and his family AND his campaign officials were intertwined with the Russian government (which, by most accounts is akin to the mafia) are “fake news.”  The “real news,” according to Trump, comes from places like Fox “news” (what I call GOP “news” – the propaganda arm of the right wing of the republican party), Breitbart.com – which gave us Steve Bannon and Steven Miller and is the home of the “white nationalist” movement in America, and super market tabloids like the Enquirer – not to mention all the right wing “talkers” on the radio airwaves.  I’ve said many times here that Trump laid claim to the “uneducated voters” after the Iowa primary and they are sticking with him.  (Of course, the real issue of “fake news,” like just about everything else Trump “claims” is 180 degrees from his words.  It was the Russian’s who instigated “fake news” into the 2016 campaign in ways “we the people” will probably never fully understand.)

It’s hard to talk to someone who gets their information from places like Fox, Breitbart, and the other right wing websites.  I’ve read several studies that show the most ill-informed Americans are the audience of Fox “news” and the right wing talkers on the radio airwaves such as Rush Limbaugh. (they refer to his audience as “ditto heads” for a reason)  The LYING is so commonplace coming from those outlets that I’m guessing Trump’s base actually believes he’s a “truth teller.”  And, it really doesn’t take much effort in “fact checking” to realize our president is likely a pathological LIAR – not, just someone who LIES.  He LIES all the time.  As the saying goes, if his lips are moving he’s LYING.

This is all bad, but it gets worse.  In addition to the COLLUSION (which outlets like Fox are now attempting to rationalize as OK) and the suggestion of doing “Cyber security” with Vladimir Putin (Putin’s got to be laughing at the stupidity and the naivete of Trump), Trump is also pushing some kind of voter intimidation plan (evidently in his attempt to prove 3 – 5 MILLION illegals voted for Hillary thus robbing him of his “popular vote” victory) designed to do what traditional right wing republicans have been doing since the days of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – and that is prevent as many persons of color, students, old people, or others who might vote for democrats from being able to vote.  Trump, along with Kris Kobach of Kansas is attempting to get enough voter ID information – from EVERY state in the Union – to scare people away from the polls.  And, evidently it’s working – because reports are out that many people are rescinding their voter registrations because they don’t want the “government” to have all this information.

The republicans have long called their plan the “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  Of course, they’ll never have a true majority – but, even Trump claims that 40% is enough for him to remain in power.  By intimidating MILLIONS to refrain from voting, by turning MILLIONS more off via the dysfunction that now permeates Washington DC, and by working with the Russians to publish “fake news” in strategic places they may succeed.  This has been a long term plan (arguably led by and pushed for years by Charles and David Koch) and they have control of all three branches of government – plus, the FAKE news.  “We the people” are relying on what republicans call the “liberal media” to give us actual information as to what happened in the election so that one by one we might have a chance to educate some of Trump’s “uneducated voters” as to this attack on our nations foundation.

As I stated above – it’s hard to even talk about this stuff with someone who watches Fox, or is into the right wing internet sights like Breitbart because they’re convinced Sean Hannity, or Rush Limbaugh, or the others are giving them facts.  They don’t believe Trump is LYING all the time.  And, apparently, the republicans in Congress are not going to act to save this nation from any further damage until more of the Trump “base” understands their “leader” is potentially a TRAITOR.  Trump, himself, said “anyone would have taken that meeting” referring to an offer of “dirt” on Ms. Clinton from the Russian government.  I’d like to think he’s COMPLETELY wrong about that – but, regardless, it was illegal and we still have a constitution and a set of LAWS. (When I see statistics that suggest a significant portion of the republican “base” is OK with the Russian intrusion into our election it’s disappointing to say the least.  In my heart I think, this would be one area where we would be “bipartisan.”)

Over the past 30+ years we’ve all become numb to the reality that those at the top are able to violate the laws that “we the people” would be held accountable to with impunity.  Reagan and George HW Bush were able to skirt serious legal jeopardy regarding the Iran/Contra affair – despite clear evidence they participated.  (HW Bush has a long history of skirting the law – read “Family of Secrets” by Russ Baker)  George W Bush and Dick Cheney BOTH admitted to authorizing WAR CRIMES in national TV interviews (both said, “I’d do it again) regarding TORTURE in Iraq and Afghanistan and President Obama chose to “look forward instead of back.”  (I still maintain a blunder of MAJOR proportions by Obama)  And, those in Wall Street responsible for the “Great Recession” and the subsequent tax payer BAILOUT of almost a TRILLION (and, probably more) got bonuses instead of accountability for their reckless use of working people’s money.  (many Americans lost HUGE chunks of their retirement accounts or lost their homes or their jobs – but, the “culprits” got bonuses – go figure)

However, to me, what happened in 2016 is more dangerous than anything else I’ve seen in my lifetime.  Are “we the people” going to allow Vladimir Putin (or any other foreign person or nation) to define our leadership?  We were granted privileges no other people ever had about 240 (or so) years ago by our “founding fathers.”  Are we going to blindly give these privileges away because we’ve become so complacent that we’re unwilling to give our obligation to participate in the process of free elections the time and energy it deserves?  I “get” that many people voted for Trump due to their dissatisfaction with Washington DC and their dissatisfaction with the alternative choice.  I’ve got NO problem with that.  But, the information that continues to FLOW out – “drip by drip” and the UNDENIABLE reality that our president is a LIAR requires, to me, that people pay attention and reevaluate the TRUTH.  And, it’s time for Fox viewers to start FACT checking the LIES coming from that place – I believe Fox is going to have a very negative place in American history.

I keep trying to figure out why the republicans in Congress continue to put up with Trump knowing that he’s taking their party “over the cliff” in American politics.  It’s just a matter of time until they pay the price at the polls for supporting this person who acts more like a mafia boss than a president.  My guess is they know a lot more about Trump’s “base” than “we the people” do – and, it’s probably pretty scary.  What we do know is that it includes the “white nationalist” movement in America – which includes groups like the skinheads, the KKK, etc. and the people in these groups are largely those who are armed to the hilt and have been storing military “rations” for years.  I still remember Chuck Norris – who was one of the people very “out front” in his disappointment that we elected a Black president in 2008 – claiming there were armed “cells” throughout the country ready to “take our country back.”  These types of people were a large part of the “base” that got Trump into the “White” house.

So, as we continue to watch the “drip, drip, drip” of information which ties Trump to Vladimir Putin and the Russian mafia (government) it’s becoming clear that it’s just a matter of time before the “hammer” drops on Trump.  If Trump chooses to wait until the final results of Robert Mueller’s investigations into the Russian collusion – and, more than likely, many other issues – then, it’s likely it will be at least 2018 until we start seeing the results of republicans’ refusal to end the Trump presidency.  Something “new” seems to come out every day connecting the “dots” suggesting there was “collusion” between the Russians and the Trump campaign and, interestingly, the right wing media outlets in America (the true “fake news”) are already pushing a campaign designed to BRAINWASH their audience into believing there’s nothing wrong with “collusion.”  I’ve heard more than one, of late, claim that “collusion is not a crime.”  As if to say, working with the Russians to win the election is the “new normal.”  Yikes!

Unfortunately, many who believe they’re getting the “straight scoop” from places like Fox “news” or Breitbart, or any of the other right wing outlets will end up believing this collusion was OK.  Despite the FACT, it’s essentially TREASON.  What you won’t hear now from Fox or Breitbart or any of the other minions who are supporting Trump is the TRUTH about Vladimir Putin and the Russian mafia – I use the word “mafia” instead of government, because that’s how, by all accounts I can find, the Russian government functions.  I have to believe that one of the reasons Trump envies Putin (and other dictators around the world) is because of how they are able to deal with annoying journalists – I say “annoying” because, true investigative journalists dig for the TRUTH and people like Putin (and Trump) would prefer to live in a world of “alternative facts” – in the words of Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump’s “advisers.”

During the campaign one thing I learned for certain was that Donald Trump is the master at manipulating the media.  I tend to watch/listen to MSNBC and Trump played them like a master musician.  I don’t believe they’ll ever admit it, but they helped “legitimize” Trump’s campaign by over and over again playing entire speeches he gave – giving him MILLIONS in FREE air time.  And, the soft ball questioning almost made me puke.  I wrote a few posts at the time expressing my concern that MSNBC was trying to make sure the election was “close” to keep people’s interest up so MSNBC would be able to cash in on the advertising and increased ratings.  It wasn’t until the reality of a Trump presidency settled in that I noticed MSNBC realizing the DANGER of Trump in the White House.

However, from day one that Trump became president his incompetence has been center stage along with the continued – as mentioned above – “drip, drip, drip” of information suggesting collusion with the Russians and more.  Trump has exposed himself to impeachment in more than one obvious way and he seems to make matters worse every day.  The damage he’s doing to our nation is mounting fast and the silence of the republicans in Congress is, to me, deafening.  I keep waiting for someone in the republican congress to take the leadership role in ending this “nightmare,” but every day – nothing.  The obvious interpretation of that is they believe Trump will sign anything they can push through both houses of Congress – a mean spirited agenda they’ve been espousing for years which was blocked by President Obama  – so far, it’s been NOTHING (thank God) – but, I’m beginning to think there’s more.  The reality is that many of the republican members of Congress are going to have to defend their “defense” of Trump come 2018 and I have to believe many are feeling a bit uneasy about that scenario at this point.

So, why the silence?  If you look at how Putin (and other dictators Trump admires) operates it might make you think Trump will stop at nothing to preserve his position as president.  Clearly, he lashes out at anyone who’s in a position of importance that criticized him.  I’ve heard he’s committed $10 MILLION of his own funds to help “primary” any republican in Congress who doesn’t support him.  He especially dislikes people who are in the media that criticize him.  I have to believe there’s method to his “madness” as he “tweets” about members of the media – especially women who criticize him – “tweeting” in rather crude manners and he posted a video of himself throwing down a person who’s got the CNN logo “attached” to his head and “pounding” him.  (Interestingly, just like the “fake news” of Trump’s followers, that video came from a “fake” episode at a wrestling match years ago)

It seems as if Trump is encouraging those in his base – and, I’ve pointed out above where some of them are coming from – that the press is attacking him with false information and encouraging them to “defend him.”  We’ve already seen one Trump supporter – who was running for office in Montana – and WON – body slam a reporter who asked a probing question related to Trump.  Are we about to see other Trump supporters taking actions against members of the press who might have the audacity to report the TRUTH about Trump’s dealings with the Russians and who knows who else – I believe Trump’s legal vulnerability goes way beyond the “Russian thing” as Trump characterized it while explaining to Lestor Holt why he fired James Comey.

Trump is certainly laying the groundwork for some kind of uprising from his base when the final results of the FBI investigation becomes public if Trump is exposed for violating the law.  (obviously, I believe he’s violated more than one law)  Unfortunately, it will still be up to a republican Congress to rid us of this plague on our nation – even if Democrats retake the House in 2018 and impeach him.  The reality is that no matter what happens in 2018 it will require republican support to “convict” Trump if the House somehow impeaches him because a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required for “conviction.”  If you can’t tell, I’m uneasy relying on republicans for anything.

Then, should all that come about (Trump being impeached) how will our government deal with the likely backlash from the right wing militia types who more than likely honestly believe the BRAINWASHING they’ve been getting from Fox “news,” Rush Limbaugh (and the other right wing talkers who permeate the radio airwaves), and sites like Breitbart or “Patriot news,” etc.  If you remember when Cliven Bundy challenged the federal government over his refusal to pay grazing fees for his cattle on government land, many of the very people who make up Trump’s “base” took up arms against our government.  These people are “out there” in numbers most of us can’t comprehend and they believe Trump is telling the truth and anyone who says otherwise is “fake news.”

I’m pointing this out in my attempt to understand why the republicans continue to put up with Trump.  Just last week in a speech in Poland (which his “supporters” said, “went well”) Trump trashed America’s intelligence agencies – essentially to the world – he continued his unbelievable (believe it, it keeps happening) continuation of BLAMING former President Obama for, essentially, everything he sees as bad (including the “Russia thing”), and further exposed himself as being ill informed.  To me, what I saw of the speech was embarrassing knowing he’s representing me (and you) in front of the world.  Trump met with Vladimir Putin and, undoubtedly, got played.  In the process he elevated Putin (at least in the eyes of the Russians) and he, himself, came across as a fool.  When I listened to Rex Tillerson give his account of the meeting it was clear that, at least from the perspective of the United States, nothing good was accomplished  (Tillerson also appears “in way over his head”).  It’s clear Trump really does admire Vladimir Putin – he’s probably envious of Putin’s ability to control Russia’s opposition leaders and their “free press.”

The damage Trump is doing to America – both at home and around the world – is growing, seemingly exponentially, every day.  It’s just a matter of time until this turns into something MAJOR if republicans don’t intervene.  Take for example, our economy and the dollar as the world’s major currency.  What if the Europeans really do choose to “go their own way” as they’ve been suggesting?  Do you really think this “America first” plan of Trump (and Steve Bannon and Steven Miller) is going to “bring back American jobs?”  To me, that’s as foolish as believing “trickle down” economics will lead to a balanced budget.

I feel the republicans in Congress feel they’re in a lose/lose dilemma.  Over the years, they’ve showed a strong tendency toward cowardice.  They’ve consistently refused to accept their responsibility to curb the “perpetual war” policy put forth by Bush/Cheney where Congress has willingly abrogated their responsibility to “declare wars.”  Since the passing of the “Affordable Care Act” they’ve been voting to repeal it, all the while knowing President Obama would veto their legislation.  Now that they’re “in power” they seem unable to come up with a reasonable solution to the problem – short of working with Democrats, which, apparently in republican “circles,” is taboo.  And, regarding Trump – they have to be smart enough to read “the writing on the wall,” but, for whatever reason, they’re afraid to act.  (Some of them are actually still openly supporting Trump)  I believe one of the main problems is their fear of the backlash if/when Trump is impeached.  It seems, just about every thing in the republican party is motivated by fear – one way or the other.

As I’ve said many times since Trump took the oath of office, the damage is mounting fast and the longer he’s president the more difficult it will be to “regroup.”  Trump will be president until the republicans decide to put their country ahead of their party – the question is what will it take to get them to act.  As stated above, even democrats retaking control of Congress in 2018 won’t be enough to get rid of Trump.  For a conviction in the Senate, it will require republican votes.  My suggestion to the republicans is get this over sooner rather than later.  As someone who’s always been an independent voter (lately, I vote AGAINST republicans) I’m looking for courageous republicans who will step up and lead the fight to remove Trump from office.  Maybe that would lead us to a place where our government actually FINALLY would work in a bipartisan manner – with the purpose of putting the will of “we the people” ahead of their corporate masters.  (I can dream can’t I?)

I wrote in my last post about how I’m tiring of feeling the need to write about the terrible situation “we the people” find ourselves in – well, at least a pretty significant majority of us – as Donald Trump continues to show himself to be essentially unhinged, and certainly incapable of fulfilling the duties of being our president.  I’ve said many times it would be laughable if it weren’t so serious.  And, one thing that’s clear to me is that many of Trump’s diehard supporters have no idea how serious this situation really is.  If republicans in Congress continue to allow Trump to “do his thing” – as I’ve said before, “we the people” are depending on them to end this nightmare – the damage done could be catastrophic – to America and to the world.

By now, everyone knows that the Russians were involved in manipulating the 2016 election in a way that was designed to get Trump elected – even though most people believe they, themselves, didn’t believe they would succeed.  Their “plan B” was to damage Hillary Clinton to the point where she would be less of a threat to Vladimir Putin’s plan to “rebuild” the old “Soviet Union.”  Obviously, the starting point is in Ukraine – with the annexing of Crimea and only time will tell what Putin’s total objective is.  With Trump as our president, Putin has a much greater chance of achieving his objectives, whatever they are.  In fact, at the republican convention Trump’s “team” started the process of making it easier for Putin to achieve his goal in Ukraine.

That brings me to the thoughts that I can’t seem to get out of my head lately.  Trump is planning to meet with Putin at the upcoming G-20 summit in Europe.  As I was thinking about that meeting my mind kept reminding me of the old saying when I was much younger and still playing basketball.  When my team went up against a far superior team I still remember the prognosticators using the phrase – it’s “men against boys.” (we were the “boys”)  That’s exactly how I view Donald Trump meeting with Putin.  (and, believe me, I don’t see Trump as the “man”)

Vladimir Putin will know exactly how to play Trump to the fullest.  He’ll be prepared and he’ll flatter Trump to the point where Trump will give him exactly what he wants.  That’s presuming there’s nothing Putin has “over” Trump which could be the reason Trump has been heaping his praises on Putin since the beginning of his campaign for president.  (that would make it easier for Putin)  I clearly remember Trump’s admiration of Putin as he was bad mouthing President Obama during (and before) the campaign.  (I have to think it must really “rankle” Trump every time he sees the polling about how popular Obama is and how UNPOPULAR he is)  It’s my belief that Trump has financial ties to Russia which “we the people” don’t know about – probably the MAIN reason Trump refuses to release his tax returns – that make him even more vulnerable in any interaction with Putin than the simple truth that Putin is much smarter than Trump and will take full advantage of that.

My hope is that the meeting will be short and sweet and there will be nothing involved that will resemble any kind of negotiation.  I’ve already heard one of Trump’s surrogates say that Trump “will say whatever he feels like” in his meeting with Putin.  When I heard that, it only confirmed in my mind what I was already thinking – Putin will go into this meeting with a well planned agenda and Trump will be “winging it.”  The end result is likely to be a bad one for “we the people” – and, maybe for others around the world.

The reality is that there are many in the world who depend on the United States to prevent Russia from getting too bold.  And, those people are not stupid.  We’ve already seen the Saudi’s – who sent us MOST of the 9/11 terrorists and who are leading funders of terrorist groups around the world playing Trump – with Trump coming away thinking he had made an “historic” trip – in the words of Sean Spicer, Trump’s liar in chief.  (although KellyAnne Conway and Sarah Huckabee Sanders are very adept at LYING for Trump)  Of course, while on the subject of LYING – Trump is pretty much in a class by himself.  People all over the world are losing confidence in America because of Trump.  There are places in Europe where leaders want to ban Trump from even visiting their countries.

Watching Trump in action pretty much tells it all about why he admires people like Putin and the other dictators around the world he seems to have a fascination with – like Duterte of the Philippines and Erdogan of Turkey.  I’m sure Trump’s “war” with the American media (less Fox “news,” Breitbart, and other right wing outlets) is due to his frustration that they’re watching what he does and reporting to “we the people” about things he’d just as soon we never heard.  Putin, Erdogan, and Duterte don’t have that bother.  Like, for example, the constant reporting of the collusion with the Russians in the last election.  (in Russia, Putin simply poisons journalists who don’t “cooperate”)  He doesn’t want us to know about this and, he doesn’t want us to know about his financial ties with the countries around the world where he’s either vulnerable to blackmail OR where he’s virtually DAILY violating the emoluments clause in the constitution.  I’m sure Trump would rather the republicans would simply remove that clause to solve the problem.

Speaking of the constitution.  It appears to me that Trump would love to just “repeal and replace” the constitution itself.  He really doesn’t like that he can’t just wish legislation into existence.  (of course, he’s so inept at even understanding the legislative process that he’d come across as bumbling even if he didn’t have “checks and balances” to deal with.)  The other day Trump made a series of demeaning “tweets” about a journalist who works at MSNBC – works with (and, I believe, is married to) Joe Scarborough – a republican.  Her name is Mika Brzezinski whose father was a foreign policy adviser to President Carter – if my memory serves me correctly.  (I know, I could look it up :o)  I don’t watch their program – I believe it’s called “Morning Joe” – but, evidently they’ve been critical of Trump (pretty much like most observers who aren’t beholden to the right wing talkers)  I heard Ms. Huckabee Sanders, one of Trump’s surrogates willing to LIE for him, defend Trump by claiming that if the media is going to be critical of him he will “fight back.”  (I don’t do “Twitter” but apparently Trump used the “blood” metaphor in referring to Ms. Brzezinski – as he’s done with other women who don’t “bow down” to him)

Can you imagine what it would have been like in America if Barack Obama had that same philosophy?  I get that some of the “stuff” coming at Trump is getting “personal,” but it’s not even in the same league as what people – Trump at the “head of the pack” – “threw” at President Obama.  The RACISTS were out in full force – again, Trump right at the front – for pretty much the entire eight years Obama was president.  He, Obama, simply “turned the other cheek” and did his job.  The vile stuff coming at Obama was far worse than what Trump should be enduring – but, Trump makes EVERYTHING worse by the way he reacts.  His “tweets” are getting him in trouble and will, eventually, get us all (meaning “we the people”) in trouble – because, “the world is watching.”  Apparently, Trump gets mad simply because of the Russian investigation – so, he tries to make it “go away,” and matters just get worse.  He brings this all on himself!  He takes it personal when reporters point out NOTHING he’s proposed has made it through Congress – and, they then compare his “progress” (or lack thereof) with Obama’s.  That must really make him mad.  He’s not as smart as a “Black” man.

Yes, Trump’s “base” is made up largely of a group of “White Nationalists” – but, the reality is they represent only a small fraction of the American public.  They do not understand how we need the “world” as much (if not more so) than the world needs us.  I’m obviously not an economic expert, but I’ve read several book dealing with economics (mostly, related to the “great recession”) and, it appears to me, our country could suffer greatly if countries around the world lose faith in our fundamental economic stability.  For example, if they decide to turn away from the dollar as the world’s standard currency all those people complaining about “no jobs” in our “rust belt” (who were responsible for Trump being president) could end up in even a worse situation.  And, I have to say, I don’t trust Trump or the people who are his base to know how to protect our economic standing in the world.  This upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin could be the first step in America’s “undoing” – which would suit Vladimir Putin just fine.

I’m trying not to be thinking such negative thoughts all the time, but, it seems, every day Trump does something else that confirms he’s either an idiot or he really is planning some kind of authoritarian coup de tat from the inside in America.  (the recent “order” by his election commission for EVERY Secretary of State in the country to essentially provide TOTAL information about EVERY voter in the nation should get people’s attention – fortunately, most of the Secretary’s of State are saying no – or, in one instance, one said, “go jump in the Gulf of Mexico”)  Controlling the media (I heard today that Trump, essentially, encouraged violence against journalists – with another ill-advised “tweet”) and voter suppression are normal in places like Russia.  Maybe Trump would be better off moving to Russia.  Their system seems more in tune with his thinking.  Come to think of it, maybe that’s his plan as he meets with Putin at the G-20 summit!

I’m really struggling to motivate myself to write these days.  I mean, it’s like the topic in my head never changes.  I turn on the TV and tune to MSNBC and, more than likely, there’s Trump speaking (which causes me to either turn it off or leave the room – I really don’t understand why it’s so difficult for his “supporters” to understand the constant stream of LIES that flows from his mouth, seemingly whenever it’s moving) either speaking or being “analyzed.”  I “get” the analyzing and I truly hope the “media” continues to not only “vet” Trump regarding the “Russia thing,” but to be watching what he’s doing “behind closed doors.”  As I’ve said many times here, the amount of DAMAGE he’s going to do to this nation could be monumental – and, unfortunately, at this point in time (at least until 2018) the ONLY ones who can stop him are the republicans in Congress – and, they don’t appear to be “willing.”

One reason Trump’s in the position he’s in is the opposition party is the Democrats.  I’ve stated many times on this site that I’m a lifelong independent voter – but, over the past many years – certainly since the days of the Bush dynasty – (and, probably since Reagan) the republican party has drifted so far to the “right” that I can’t bring myself to vote for any of them.  I watched Mitch McConnell the other day as he was announcing there weren’t enough votes – at this time – to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, and I found myself nearly as close to the “gagging” place I get when listening to Trump.  I know these people are voted in by – in most cases – good, hardworking Americans – who appear to me to cast their votes based on what they’ve always done, what their parents did, or who knows if they’re thinking at all.  Trump actually bragged about appealing to the “uneducated voters.”  That’s one of the rare things I can agree with him on.  So, I often find myself doing what other “progressives” seem to be doing these days which is complaining about Trump and republicans.

This brings me to my thoughts for today.  As I’ve said many times, the main reason Trump and the republicans are controlling our government (and, many state governments around the nation) is that the opposition are the democrats.  I kind of see democrats as the party that’s better at governing, but lousy at winning elections and SPINELESS in defending their basic fundamental beliefs.  For example, in 2014 – during the mid-term elections – I witnessed one democrat after another apparently AFRAID to defend the agenda President Obama had been pursuing – at that point – for six years.  One reason “Obamacare” (The Affordable Care Act) was a liability for democrats was because they seemed AFRAID to defend it, fight for it, AND PUSH for the needed improvements.  Sadly, when the law was enacted, democrats abandoned the fight for the so-called “public option” which they SHOULD still be FIGHTING for today.  Additionally, I haven’t heard more than a “peep” from democrats for a push to REPEAL the Bush era law that prevents Medicare from negotiating drug prices – leading to “big pharma” hauling in BILLIONS upon BILLIONS of dollars from “we the people” that would be a great place to start in controlling the cost of medicine in America.

It appears – I’ve said this for years – that democrats are “feeding from the same trough” as the republicans – it’s just that they get the leftovers – and, by this, I’m talking about taking money from the wealthy elite in this country that has guaranteed we have a corrupt congress which does the bidding of the corporate masters at the expense of “we the people.”  When you listen to one republican congressman/woman after another say that “health care is not a right” – implying that if you can’t pay for it – too bad – you’d think that in itself would be a campaign issue allowing democrats to take back control of Congress.  But, what I hear is a constant barrage of email messages telling me I should support democrats because republicans are so bad.  It’s not hard to find people who believe Trump is a terrible president – but, it’s almost as easy to find people who believe democrats are spineless.  In the 2016 election Bernie Sanders demonstrated there’s a willing audience for candidates who have convictions they will defend and fight for.  Many of the people I knew who liked Bernie were republicans – they admired him despite their total disdain for “socialism.”  (A topic, I might add, that has been so “muddled” by our “liberal press” that it’s just another example of how “we the people” are among the least educated in the advanced nations of the western world.

Yes, I want democrats (and republicans) to continue PUSHING the investigations into the Russian meddling in our election and the apparent collusion from some in Trump’s campaign – with the likely possibility that Trump himself was involved (do you remember him publicly encouraging the Russians to find Hillary Clinton’s “missing emails?”)  It is curious that Trump still has not said a disparaging word about Vladimir Putin, there’s absolutely ZERO evidence that his administration is doing ANYTHING to combat the Russian intrusion – to me, not only into our election, but apparently our functioning government, the evidence that Trump has attempted to impede the investigation of, at least, Michael Flynn – and, based on the reports of his meeting with the Russian “ambassador” shortly after firing Jim Comey, he’s trying to impede the entire investigation (which is ultimately going to be uncovering his financial ties to Russia), and he’s violating the emoluments clause of the constitution virtually every day – according to reports I’ve read or heard.

Any of those “discretions” should be enough for an impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives – but, ALL of that – whether people such as me like it or not – is on the republicans in Congress.  As I watch them I seriously doubt they’ll act even if it’s proven there was collusion (which would be TREASON) with the Russians or obstruction of justice regarding the impeding of the investigations.  We’ve already seen a lack of interest in enforcing the emoluments clause of the constitution (they all pledged to uphold) and, of late, there’s a total lack of willingness to hold Trump accountable for his childish, bullying, misogynist, racist, and disgusting LYING and twitter attacks that are a regular part of his shtick.  His latest vile “tweets” about a female member of the media – which bring back memories of the “Access Hollywood” tape – gets a temporary “naughty boy” response from republicans – and, then it’s back to “business as usual” as they all “look the other way.”

People (and leaders) around the world are just shaking their heads one after the other saying things like – well, we’ve got to forge ahead on our own because we can no longer trust America to be the “leader of the free world.”  (I’ve heard recently Trump is planning to impose a 20% tariff on goods imported into America that will further exacerbate the situation – unless you’re one of the white nationalists who are the basis of his support.)  In fact, Trump is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin shortly at the G-20 summit meeting which will undoubtedly end up being another embarrassment for the United States in foreign affairs – AND, I have no doubt that Trump is like a “sitting duck” for a man like Putin.  Putin will play Trump like a vintage fiddle.  Undoubtedly, it will be good for Russia and bad for the U.S.  The Russian “meddling,” I’m sure, is yielding results above the Russian’s wildest dreams.  The scary part for the rest of us is that this is the area that could be the greatest DAMAGE Trump causes prior to when his term in office comes to a merciless end.  Again, that’s going to be up to the republicans in Congress, and every day they allow this man to continue in office, the more he stamps his “brand” on their party.

Getting back to the democrats.  My point is there’s not much benefit in the constant barrage of emails telling “we the people” that Donald Trump is a bad person and a lousy president.  Most of us are smart enough to figure that out.  What I want to here is what do you want to do about it?  What are your plans to improve the Affordable Care Act (if it survives the republican assault)?  What are your ideas regarding rebuilding the infrastructure of this nation and how to pay for it?  What are your plans, if you have them, to reduce our military spending and our seemingly endless participation in un-winnable WARS?  How would you go about rebuilding our inner cities and helping to improve the lives of the unfortunate and neglected people of this country?  (If you’re a Christian, I refer to the words of Jesus: “The least of these”)  What would be your plan to help create more jobs in America – especially, for the age group in the 50ish range that was so hard hit by the Bush/Cheney “great recession?”

I could go on, but my point is to the democrats – stop complaining about Trump 24/7 and lay out a plan that will guarantee retaking Congress in 2018!  Focus on what needs to be done to actually improve the lives of the people who voted for Trump – many, in my view, out of desperation and frustration at the lack of conviction they were hearing from the mouths of democrats all over America.  As mentioned above, in 2014 democrats ran away from their own president and the policies they, themselves, had put in place.  The Affordable Care Act was just a starting point in dealing with the health care crisis in America – but, without democrats willing to defend it and FIGHT to improve it – we’re going to end up going backward instead of forward.  One thing Americans won’t tolerate is TIMID politicians.  Democrats need to start PUSHING a progressive agenda SOONER rather than LATER – and, quit making decisions based on the latest poll and begin focusing on what is RIGHT!  America is thirsting for a true populist leader and political party that actually stands tall for “we the people.”  The opportunity is there for democrats – republicans put it there as if on a “silver platter:” and, that’s electing Donald Trump.

To the democrats:  Let the republicans solve the “Trump problem,” and allow them to continue to “own” Trump if that’s what they choose.  Get out of the “swamp” he’s lured you into – yes, it’s OK to make comments about things like his misogynist or racist tweets – but, FOCUS on a progressive agenda that makes people want to vote for democrats again.  Allow the republicans to be the “party of Trump” – and, make plans for 2018.  (and, if you pull it off, please remember 2006 when “we the people” voted democrats into control of Congress to stop the madness in Iraq – and, what did the democrats do?  NOTHING!  Please, a repeat of that should be “off the table” – job #1 in January of 2019 – if Trump is still in office – IMPEACHMENT!)

One thing “we the people” have to understand is those around the world are not stupid as we are often brainwashed into thinking.  In fact, as a retired teacher, I often noticed during my career that “new” instructional methods would come from other countries – especially regarding literacy.  The sad truth is that the number of American’s who drop out of the education process is startling.  The reality is there are many “uneducated voters” in America that Trump so famously embraced during the previous election and, with the help of the Russians’ “fake news” (the real fake news – which was supplemented by  the republican congress along with media outlets like Brietbart, Fox, and social media sites like Facebook), managed to smear Hillary Clinton to the point where “we the people” elected the MOST unprepared president in our history.  Everyone who’s paying attention knows that Donald Trump is in way over his head – he’s unable to understand how our country operates let alone what a foreign policy might be.  (That doesn’t even take into account his personal corruption)  As I see it, those foreigners who don’t like America will be pushing harder and harder in an attempt to get Trump to further expose his incompetence.  Unfortunately, this could be a very dangerous scenario – for us AND for our adversaries.

Trump is the second republican “elected” president via the Electoral College.  That is, both he and president Bush failed to carry the most votes – in Bush’s case it took the Supreme Court to block the true counting of the votes in Florida that SHOULD have swung the election to Al Gore.  In Trump’s case – he LOST by a record number of votes for a “winner” (3 MILLION) – and he had the help of the Russians, the congressional republicans (Benghazi), the FBI and Jim Comey’s blunderous announcement 11 days prior to the election, AND all the voter suppression tactics emanating from the Supreme Court’s “gutting” of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to overturn the actual will of the people.  We all know what happened with Bush – the “endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – and, now we’ve got the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans – to name a few – who are gearing up to push Trump into some kind of stupid military move that could result in disastrous consequences.

This is all really hard for me to watch – I’ve been observing politics in America since the days of Eisenhower v Stephenson.  I “get” the frustration many people in America’s “heartland” feel about the dysfunction in our nation’s capital.  The biggest problem, as I see it, is that they don’t understand the role the republicans have played in bringing us to this point.  Yes, the democrats leave a lot to be desired, but it’s the republicans who’ve practiced the strategy of obstruction since – I want to say since the days of Newt Gingrich and the “Contract for (on) America” republicans ran on in the early 1990’s – but, I believe it really started with the now infamous “memo” of then soon to be Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell to the Chamber of Commerce back in 1972 which started the organized push to turn America into a “corporatocracy.”  During President Obama’s two terms, for example, Mitch McConnell – in a brazen attempt to make sure Obama “failed” – filibustered around 700 (that’s HUNDRED) democratic attempts to push through a progressive agenda aimed at improving the lives of the middle class.  Just their blocking any infrastructure legislation drastically hurt many of the areas of the country which went for Trump – and, their strategy worked – because, either via republican propaganda or the inability of democrats to defend their own message – many blue collar Americans are voting republican – which would have been unthinkable before Powell initiated the corporate strategy to put the working class “in their place.”

During this time republicans have proven over and over again they are much better at winning elections than democrats – AND, they’ve proven over and over that they are incompetent at governing.  Bush/Cheney managed to push through some horrific tax cuts that pushed our annual deficit to historic heights and our national debt into scary territory (at least from my perspective) – but, they proved incompetent at almost every other aspect of governing.  Even the war mongering was done incompetently.  The end result of their two terms in the White House was the lingering wars AND the meltdown of our economy due to the inevitable conclusion of their encouraging reckless monetary policies that had no basis in economic reality.  President Obama managed to kind of stabilize the “ship of state” despite the obstruction of the republicans EVERY step of the way, but many Americans – especially in the 50 – 64 age group – are hurting financially.

I found it almost humorous (except all of this seems really serious to me these days) when I heard Donald Trump announce “I inherited a mess.”  As I see it, here’s the reality;  Trump inherited a fairly strong economy that had been on a slow “upswing” for about five to six years.  It’s kind of like the huge ship slowly plowing through the water and it’s hard to slow it down.  From my vantage point, Trump will “benefit” from Obama’s economy for about another – maybe – six months (it won’t take much to shorten that time-frame significantly) and then the reality, good or bad, of what he’s “accomplishing” will begin to take effect.  From the outside it doesn’t appear that much of anything (other than “signing statements” and “executive orders”) is getting done.  It’s apparent to me that if the republicans in congress can manage to put ANY type of legislation together they have a willing “signer” in the White House.  Trump will sign whatever they come up with – and, if it doesn’t work, the “blame game” will be interesting.  For example, if republicans manage to pass a “health care” overhaul (tax cut) it will undoubtedly be referred to as “Trump care.”  Based on the preliminary reporting (the bill is being put together in secret) the resulting legislation could be very unpopular.  Trump, himself, characterized the House version as “mean.”  Should be interesting to say the least.  Either way – if they allow the Affordable Care Act to “fail,” or they pass their own bill, the republicans are going to be looking for creative ways to shift the BLAME away from themselves – that’s what they’re good at!

Getting back to how the world is viewing what’s happening in America, this morning I listened to an “expert” on foreign policy say that the danger of something escalating into some kind of war is at a point that would have been unthinkable a year ago (Donald, that’s when President Obama was in charge).  Even the Russians appear to be “pushing buttons” to see how Trump will react to their bullying tactics in international air space.  A couple Russian fighter planes “buzzed” an American unarmed transport plane (? I’m actually not completely sure what type of plane it was) reportedly coming within five feet of one of its wings.  The first question that came to my mind was “Is Vladimir Putin” trying to find out if there’s anything he can do to get Donald to say something negative about him or Russia?  Do they have to shoot the plane down to get Trump to react?  Makes me wonder, “What do the Russians actually have on Trump?”  I keep thinking of the so-called “dossier” and the suggestion there might be a video of the most salacious part of that “dossier.”  If that’s true, and if it comes out, it could be more than very embarrassing for Trump – this one would be worst than the “Access Hollywood” tape.

It appears to me that every day the republicans in Congress “look the other way” at the actions of Trump in his legal battle with the FBI, his incompetence in governance, the real possibility he’s using his office to make money for his business interests, and the REALITY that he’s still NEVER even acknowledged Russia, essentially, ATTACKED our republic – ensuring there will be no concerted response and the attack will be ongoing – our nation becomes weaker and more vulnerable.  The Russians are getting (I’m sure) more than they anticipated when their (supposed) goal was to weaken Hillary Clinton’s presidency.  They are weakening the foundation of our democratic republic and, so far, Trump hasn’t even acknowledged it happened.  Trust me, everyone interested in damaging America is watching and understands how vulnerable America has become.  I don’t believe Mike Pense is the one to solve this problem – so, “we the people” will need to endure this until 2020 and hope and pray for the best.  (Pense has proven to be a willing LIAR for Trump on several occasions and he’s lost whatever credibility he may have had prior to the election – and, I might add – from my perspective Pense is a terrible LIAR.  He doesn’t hide it well)

I started this post a few days ago and Trump has now acknowledged that Russia “may have” interfered with our election.  However, instead of taking some kind of action to send a message to Vladimir Putin all I’ve heard from Trump is more blaming of President Obama.  Like: “Why didn’t Obama do something about it?  Everything that comes from Trump’s mouth is either a LIE or a poorly thought out comment.  I could write, probably, a couple posts on why I believe President Obama didn’t come out with a stronger response to Russian interference prior to the election – but, the reality is that our “liberal media” had all they needed by early October.  They were more focused on allowing Trump to “play” them right up till election day and virtually IGNORED the warnings from the intelligence community prior to the election.  Our media is now totally “IN”  on the “Russia investigation” – but, it took Trump’s election and the reality of what that means to get their “attention.”  I would say to Trump, stop blaming Obama for everything you can think of – you’re never going to be as cerebral as him and he’s not the problem – you’re the problem.  You’re so ignorant you keep “shooting yourself in the foot” because of your LYING mouth and you’re LYING “tweets.”  If Trump was concerned about the reality “we the people” have been ATTACKED by Russia, he’d create a response that damaged Russia’s banking system.  From what I’ve read that’s a doable option – EXCEPT, that I believe Trump is beholden to Russia’s banking system – and, when that all comes out, much of what we’ve been trying to understand about Trump’s actions will become crystal clear.

Yesterday a presumably “liberal” whack job opened fire with an assault weapon on a field of republican lawmakers practicing for the annual Congressional “bipartisan” baseball game in Washington DC.  Of course, just as I feel a sense of disgust when any “whack job” (I characterize anyone who’d purposely try to kill people that way simply because, to me, you’ve got to be crazy to do such a deplorable act) does something like this, I thought I’d just sit back and observe the conversations that ensued thinking that most of these acts of violence in America – that seem to have political overtones – in the past have been aimed at “liberals” or “liberal” institutions.  I’m thinking of the attack in Denver on the Planned Parenthood operation, for example.  To me, it’s always interesting to listen to the dialogue after something like this because our “liberal” gun laws are bound to be part of the discussion – and, we know where a certain political establishment sits on that subject.

Obviously, there was a lot of “coming together” on Capital hill after one of the leading republican legislatures was critically wounded along with, I believe, a staff member and members of the Capital police – who, by the way, have been credited with saving a major tragedy by killing to perpetrator before he could kill who knows how many of the members who were practicing for the baseball game.  I have to say that, despite my negative feelings regarding the republican party and what they’ve done to America in the last 35+ years I shared in the thankfulness that a larger tragedy was avoided.  (to me, the solution to the problem of the republican agenda lies at the voting booth)  And, I had to agree with most observers that the rhetoric in Washington (DC – I live in Washington state – which almost feels like a different country than DC) is inflammatory and might be what is leading to some of these acts of violence.  Personally, I worry for people who are in Congress (it wasn’t too long ago that Gabby Giffords was attacked in Arizona) and, I especially worry for people in the media who’ve been relentlessly and verbally – in a vicious manner – attacked over and over again by Donald Trump.

The man who attacked the republicans was, apparently, a volunteer for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary campaign.  I’m not sure if we’ll ever know what triggered this action on his part, but we know that both Bernie and Trump “connected” with many of the Americans who are frustrated and fed up with the way government has been functioning for the past many years.  If you’ve read many of my posts on this site you’ll already know that I place the “blame” for that mostly on republicans for their “obstructionist” strategy since the days of Bill Clinton.  While I don’t focus much of my writing on the democrats, I don’t give them a “pass.”  It’s my opinion that the democrats, in many cases, don’t have the courage to stand up for their own convictions.  For example, in the 2014 mid-term elections there were few democrats willing to defend the policies they had pursued under the leadership of President Obama, from what I could tell, because his “popularity” was down.  It’s apparent to me that the one thing the American electorate won’t support is “timid” politicians.  And, many democrats have come across as checking the way the wind is blowing before taking a position on issues.  On many occasions I’ve referred to that as spineless.

That all being said, there’s a couple things that have happened in the past few days that have caused me to gain more clarity in my mind as to how we’ve managed to get to this point.  With a shooting like the one which happened yesterday there were members of both parties hugging each other and FINALLY talking about the need to “work together” and tone down the rhetoric.  But, almost predictably, there was one republican who stayed true to form – and, in my view, is as unable to “tone down the rhetoric” as the man who sits in the “Oval Office.”  That man is Newt Gingrich.  As I would have predicted, Gingrich came out with a statement that was laced with the, apparently in his mind, awful word “liberal.”  I took, as I listened to a broadcast of what was apparently a Facebook post, (I don’t do Facebook) it was as if Gingrich was placing blame for this shooting on those “on the left” who oppose Trump.  As if it’s their rhetoric that has inflamed the political “waters.”

Listening to that post brought back many (unpleasant) memories I have of Newt Gingrich.  To me, he is one of the main reasons America finds itself in this terrible quandary where the country is so clearly divided.  I remember when he was first in Congress Gingrich was the man who first pushed the “obstructionist” strategy.  The plan was for the republicans to stop as much of government from functioning as possible and BLAME the democrats.  He initiated the attacks on the word “liberal.”  He had outlets like Fox “news” (at the time with former republican dirty trickster Roger Ailes at the helm) on board with his plan – and, to this day, they’ve been participating – to the point where those on the air at Fox can be regarded as pathological liars – give them a “talking point” and they’ll repeat it until they can’t talk anymore – and, he had the right wing talkers on the radio airwaves, led by Rush Limbaugh, supporting his plan – “hook, line, and sinker” – all this, since the days of Ronald Reagan.

During the Clinton administration (which, despite the personal shortcomings of Bill Clinton, brought the economy into the Black – leaving an annual budget surplus of $250 BILLION for Bush/Cheney to squander away), if you remember, it was Gingrich who initiated the strategy of “shutting down the government” in order to “get his way.”  Of course, this “strategy” backfired majorly and it helped Clinton to “recover” from the constant attacks coming from right wing republicans.  (leading to Clinton being called “the comeback kid”)  Gingrich, in the midst of his own infidelity, led the impeachment push against Clinton for Clinton’s disgusting actions with an intern in the White House.  While Clinton’s personal behavior turns me, personally, off – similar to my feelings about Trump – the hypocrisy of the republicans during the Lewinsky scandal was almost unbelievable.  If I remember correctly, there were several members of the House republicans who led the impeachment charge who were essentially doing the same thing at the same time.  Gingrich was the “leader of the pack.”

Due to his own infidelity, at one time, Gingrich was “banished” from the national political scene only to return in the last few years attempting to either win the White House or gain a position of importance from, at this time, Trump.  I’m not going to get into all the hypocrisy or flip flops of Gingrich in this posts, but suffice it to say there’s much to discuss.  What caught my eye was his attempt to place blame for the shooting the other day on those who are “resisting” Donald Trump.  It’s as if he’s applying for SOME job – ANY job in government.  (it was rumored he wanted to be Secretary of State after Trump “won” the election.  (with 3 MILLION less votes!)  It’s as if, every time I forget Gingrich existed, here he comes with something that is aimed at making himself relevant again.

Prior to blaming “the left” and their attacks on Trump for the shooting, Gingrich was encouraging Trump to “fire” Robert Mueller, the “special counsel” now leading the so-called “Russian investigation.”  Just three weeks after coming out with strong support for the appointment of Mueller because he’s “impeccable for honesty and integrity” and saying “the media should now calm down,” Gingrich came out with a “tweet” saying “republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair.”  OK, in case you’re confused – he’s talking about the same person.  Mueller is, of course, the “special counsel.” So, you might ask, what changed?

Well, from my perspective, not much changed – but, I’ve been operating on the logic relating to all the circumstantial evidence that’s been “drip, drip, dripping” out since it became apparent there’s something Trump doesn’t want “we the people” to know about regarding his dealings with the Russians.  So, now we have Newt Gingrich suggesting to Trump that he “fire” the special counsel because this man who’s got “impeccable integrity” isn’t going to be fair.  All this reminds me of the commercial on TV where two people meet and say EXACTLY what’s on their mind – like, “I’ve got alternative plans in case this date doesn’t go well.”  Well, since Mueller’s appointment, it’s becoming more apparent that, for Trump, this isn’t going well.  Evidently, in Gingrich’s eyes, that means Mueller is no longer “impecably honest.”  In fact, the more Trump listens to people like Gingrich, the worse it gets.  But, somehow, Gingrich has remained as a “voice” in the republican party despite a career full of folly and failure.

I could (and might have to) write an entire post on the ramifications of Trump listening to Gingrich and “firing” Mueller, but that’s for another day.  (Actually, Trump can’t fire Mueller, he’d have to find someone in the Justice Department to do so – starting with Rod Rosenstein, the man who appointed Mueller. who would most certainly resign before firing Mueller – or, Rosenstein could refuse and force Trump to fire him – then forcing Tump to work down the DOJ heirarchy until he could find someone like the man Nixon found during the infamous “Saturday night massacre” – Robert Bork, who severely damaged his career by following the “orders” – to fire Mueller.  If this happens, it will be interesting to see how many people would refuse or resign regarding the president’s “order.”  Trump would be dooming his presidency!

My point today, however, is how did we get to the point where the talk in Washington DC is about the level of the rhetoric and what it is doing to how our nation’s government functions and how it affects “we the people” who love this nation and are frustrated by the dysfunction in our nation’s capital.  That’s kind of a “what came first, the chicken or the egg?” argument, but I think a strong case could be made that the dysfunction was purposeful and was the strategy Newt Gingrich put in place to bring Washington to a standstill and give republicans a way to blame democrats for government failures.  Republicans are again proving they’re much better at winning elections than governing, but this shooting brings up how deep the divide in America really is.  To me, while Newt Gingrich is blaming rhetoric on “the left” for the DC shooting, it is his own “rhetoric” over the years that’s at the crux of America’s political divide.

Final thought:  I’ve been saying, almost since Trump took office, that he will inevitably be impeached – whether by this republican congress, or by the one “we the people” will elect in 2018 if republicans don’t act first.  If Trump decides to “fire Mueller” – which, I believe is possible – as Gingrich has suggested, I would be surprised if Trump lasted another month after doing so.  Regardless, the “ship of state” is anchored down going nowhere and republicans must be getting very frustrated with the lack of “production” while they have control of the Congress.  I don’t think it will be too much longer until the damage Trump is doing to “we the people,” the American image around the world, and to their own party here at home becomes so apparent to them (republicans in Congress) that they decide to act.

Delusional:  characterized by or holding idiosyncratic beliefs or impressions that are contradicted by reality or rational argument, typically as a symptom of mental disorder.  Today, as I was driving around doing errands, I listened to Sean Spicer give his first “daily brief” since Donald Trump returned from his “first overseas trip.”  As I listened to Spicer’s incredible description of what I saw, all I could think of was the word delusional.  Trump, apparently, is delusional – and, his surrogates either share that diagnosis – or, they just have to force themselves to LIE repeatedly to the American people as a way to continue being employed.  I don’t want anyone to lose their job, but I have to believe people like Spicer and Conway (and others working for Trump) are doing serious damage to their long term career opportunities.  I’m guessing, for example, Spicer is prepared to “go down with the ship,” but I often just feel a sense of empathy for him – that his job is defending what is clearly Trump’s directions and not informing the public of the actual White House “doings.”

Of course, there is truly a “divide” in America and I’m the first to admit that I don’t understand the so-called “Alt Right” – so, there surely is a “landing spot” for Spicer and Conway and Bannon and the others who came from Breitbart.  (Well, actually, I believe Spicer was somewhat part of the “mainstream” of republican circles before Trump)  Breitbart, to my knowledge – and, again, I don’t pay much attention to those “circles” – is the American version of the Russian journalism that actually “invented” the “Fake news” phenomenon.  Obviously, as a devious political strategy, “Fake news” is very effective.  Of course, Trump has attempted to “turn the tables” on actual “Fake news” by claiming that any news reporting on him that he doesn’t like to be “Fake news.”  At least, “we the people” are now aware of the strategy so, hopefully, in the future it won’t be as effective.

My son, at one point (and, unfortunately, him and many of his friends – “20 somethings” – don’t participate in politics) pointed out to me how people create “fake” websites in order to scam people on the internet.  Websites that look real to someone like me who’s unsuspecting of anything “evil,” allowing the perpetrator to either get someone to “click” where they shouldn’t, give info they shouldn’t, or in the case of politics – believe information that’s been made up.  Since he’s pointed that out to me, I’ve run into many situations where people are using the internet to “intrude” on unsuspecting old people, like myself, with offers and websites that actually look real but are FAKE alternatives.  I’ve learned to always check the URL before I click on ANYTHING and, often you’ll see one letter changed from the real website’s address – so, that even the fake URL looks real without close inspection.

So, Spicer started his news conference with one of the more incredible descriptions of something I had actually witnessed that I’ve ever seen.  The first thing he did was refer to Trump’s trip as “historic” in the sense that it was “wonderful” – something more impressive than foreign trips by other Presidents.  Despite the FACT the Europeans were shocked at the way they were treated by Trump and the FACT Trump actually kissed up to the Saudi’s in an astonishing way – evidently, as other “leaders” have done – apparently because of the oil in Saudi Arabia – ignoring the FACT that MOST of the 9/11 attackers were Saudi’s and it’s not a public “secret” that funding for Al Qaeda and ISIL – in large part – comes from members of the vast array of Saudi “princes.”

Additionally, the idea of promising something like $350 BILLION worth of sophisticated military equipment to the Saudi’s was “historic” certainly gave me pause.  Why on earth are we continuing to arm them at this level (if that is actually what happens – most of what Trump has claimed in his propaganda regarding “job creation” has been phony)?  Is that the way we create jobs in America now?  I guess that decision will end up being “historic,” but I certainly have some reservations about how it will be characterized when “push comes to shove.”  I guess what I’m trying to say is that I have NO confidence that this (supposed) arm sale was part of any coherent Middle East foreign policy that will have any kind of positive result for them or us.  I’m certainly no expert on the region, but continuing to arm the Saudis at such a significant level certainly raises red flags in my mind.  I guess, we in America will forever be willing to “look the other way” from the 9/11 reality in return for the oil.

And, to me, a massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia sends a very disturbing message to the Shia who’ve been at odds with the  Sunni’s – which is what the Saudi’s predominately are – about the allegiances of the United States.  On the one hand we say our main objective is to “defeat ISIL” (which is made up of Sunni’s) and then we throw our military support to the “home” of Al Qaeda and the terrorist organizations started by Osama bin Laden.   Remember, the ruling majority in Iraq are Shia and the source of the war is Shia v Sunni.  Again, it seems we (America) have no coherent foreign policy in dealing with this MESS that was exacerbated when George W Bush/Dick Cheney LIED the United States into invading Iraq all the way back in 2003.  I often wonder how Bush and Cheney are able to sleep at night knowing what damage they’ve done to the stability of one of the most critical parts of the world (not to mention the number of people DEAD as the result of their fiasco)?  It seems almost like an unsolvable problem – and then along comes Trump whose  actions are like pouring gas onto the fire.

Every time I listen to Trump it’s as if he’s operating in another universe.  The words that come from his mouth, almost every time, defy reality.  His claims rarely have any basis in FACT, and he’s convinced his supporters that anything reported about him that is negative would be “Fake news.”  He seems to be operating as if the so-called “Russian investigation” will just go away now that he’s fired James Comey, the (now former) director of the FBI, and he promotes his “legislative agenda” (which has gone nowhere) as something “very great” with no seeming connection to the realities of his own proposals.  Every time I listen to him the word “delusional” comes to mind and I’m reminded our president is a pathological liar.

For example, while bashing the Affordable Care Act (and, purposely attempting to undermine it – I truly believe Trump is the nation’s head racist – and, he could care less about people’s health insurance – he wants to dismantle ANYTHING with President Obama’s name attached to it) Trump is proclaiming the “health care” bill put forth by Paul Ryan and the House as something “wonderful.”  He ignores the FACT that the CBO estimates that 23 MILLION less people will be insured and that for anyone not in the younger healthy “class” premiums will skyrocket.  He also says NOTHING about the TRILLION dollar tax cut – which is what his “health care bill” really is and how it will cut almost $800 BILLION from Medicaid.  This bill will lead to realities that will truly make Trump’s presidency “historic” should the Senate go along with the House – but, the sad reality is the damage caused by all this will take YEARS to fix.

Evidently, the idea of fixing the Affordable Care Act is not “on the table” with Republicans because the last thing they want to do is help supplement President Obama’s so-called “legacy.”  What I don’t think they realize is that as every day passes they make Obama look much BETTER.  Heck, Trump is even, from my perspective, making George W Bush look better.  I’m not sure how long today’s republican party will continue to put up with Trump, but I believe he’s already etched himself into a place as the WORST president in the countries’ history (that’s historic!) and, as I’ve said many times here, the extent of the damage is still to be determined and it’s pretty much up to the republican party to determine when they’re going to “pull the plug” on this man.

Unfortunately, and this becomes clearer every day, what lies on the other side of Trump isn’t much better.  I believe Mike Pense has already begun the process of preparing for the ascendancy – I’ve read where he’s set up a “Super PAC” for the fundraising.  Pense, during his short term as Vice President has shown himself to be a willing LIAR as well.  I’m not sure he would fall into the “pathological” category and I’m not sure which is worse – a pathological liar or a “willing liar” – although, on thing I am sure of, they’re BOTH really BAD!  Right behind Pense in the line of ascension is Paul Ryan.  He’s another republican who’s exposed himself as, at a minimum, a willing liar.  By that, I mean he doesn’t have a second thought of standing before reporters and clearly LYING about the most basic things.  This “health care” bill has so many holes in it no one would have enough fingers to “plug the dike.”  Yet, I’ve heard with my own ears Ryan claim that “no Americans will go without health care.”

Of course, Ryan would claim he’s being “honest” because he’d point out if you become sick and you don’t have health insurance you could just go to any emergency room and they would be obligated to give you treatment.  I probably don’t have to explain to you why that is such a bogus claim – but, suffice it to say that the last time I was in an emergency room (6+ years ago, and for less than four hours which included something like five minutes with an actual doctor) the charge was $6000 for what seems like almost no service.  And, without health insurance my savings, at the time, would have been more than wiped out.  Had I have needed to be admitted, I would have faced financial ruin without health insurance.

Even with the Affordable Care Act there’s still MILLIONS of Americans without health insurance – but, with “Trumpcare” that number will increase by 23 MILLION.  Additionally, some people insured via the ACA can’t get into the doctors of their choice.  So, what should be happening is the ACA being FIXED – with a bipartisan solution (like a “public option” or a plan to head us toward a “single payer” “Medicare for all” system.  But, what we’re getting is a republican party trying to figure out a way to “repeal the ACA” with a “replacement” that angers the fewest number of right wing voters and allows them to give a YUGE tax cut to their benefactors.  Again, when they call their plan “health care” they are being DELUSIONAL.

Trump’s explanation of his foreign trip, his description of his “successes” so far in his administration, his claims about the “Russia investigation,” and virtually anything that comes from his mouth or the mouths of his surrogates ALWAYS comes across as delusional.  And, we have a republican congress that is apparently allowing their party to become the “party of Trump.”  They’re going to have to defend Trump as we get closer and closer to 2018 and hollow rhetoric will become less and less effective.  Many of the Americans who have benefited from what President Obama managed to get through an obstructionist congress during his two terms in office are people who voted for Trump (presumably because they couldn’t stand Hillary Clinton).  Trump’s delusion is soon to be their reality and it could get ugly.

Additionally, I can’t bring myself to believe there’s many Americans who are going to be willing to “look the other way” when the TRUTH about the Trump campaign’s involvement with the Russians becomes apparent.  The circumstantial evidence that there was COLLUSION is becoming overwhelming and the investigation by Robert Mueller is bound to overflow into the Trump financial empire – that’s likely to be wound tight by obligations to Russian sources of MONEY.  I’ve read enough sources that have said Trump’s preponderance to file bankruptcy, thereby STIFFING lenders and workers out of MILLIONS of dollars, left him no choice but to seek financing for his projects from abroad – with much of the money coming from Russia.

This would explain why Trump has yet to say one negative word about Vladimir Putin, why he’s not been quoted once as to having ANY concern about the Russian attack on our election (he didn’t even bring it up in his conversations with James Comey), why he met with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister shortly after firing Comey and exclaiming to them that the firing would “take away the pressure of the Russia investigation,” and, probably the most interesting part of this, why he continues to praise Michael Flynn and contact him encouraging Flynn to “stay strong.”  (Makes you wonder what Trump’s hiding and what Flynn knows – I’m guessing we’ll learn the latter before Flynn has to go to jail – what he knows about Trump and the Russians is likely his “get out of jail free” card.)

I’ll end this by saying that listening to a majority of republicans in the congress brings that word to mind again – delusional.  What becomes apparent is with republicans in Congress it’s all about politics and not about honor.  If they had taken their oath of office seriously, they’d be lining up as I’m writing this to end America’s present nightmare.  (Actually, for me, I’m almost hoping the republicans hold out until 2018 and let “we the people” vote in democrats to put them (democrats) on the spot as to whether they would impeach Trump – I don’t think Trump will make it that long – but, I’m concerned that Pense is even more dangerous – because, with him at the top Republicans could probably get their draconian agenda passed)  We (Americans) are drifting here at home – with MAJOR needs that should be addressed in a progressive manner – and, our standing in the world is reeling.  We will be able to recover from this, but it depends on how long Trump is allowed to live in the White House as to how difficult the recovery will be.  Kind of reminds me of smoking cigarettes.  The longer you do it, the harder it is to clear your system of the damage.  “We the people” all need to be praying that there’s no significant international crisis while Trump is still at the “helm.”  That would be the “thing” that could make the damage he does almost irreversible – the man is delusional!

I was reminded today as I was listening to John McLaughlin, former director of the CIA, about the “goal” of the Trump administration, as put forth by White Nationalist Steve Bannon; to “deconstruct the administrative state.”  The Trump administration is busy trying to destroy virtually everything “we the people” have fought for since the days of the Great Depression.  The evidence of administration connections to ruthless dictators around the world is becoming irrefutable and the attacks on fundamental American institutions – which might block his efforts – like the media, the FBI, and the intelligence community in general – not to mention the other parts of the “administrative state” (State Department, EPA. Education, etc., etc.) – should get people’s attention – even many who voted for Trump but still actually believe in our “democracy.”  Remember, they’ve been brainwashed since the days of Reagan to believe “the government’s the enemy.”

I keep wondering how long this stuff will continue before the republicans in congress take notice and intervene for “we the people.”  Lately, I’ve been rereading “A Family of Secrets” by Russ Baker for about the fourth time.  It’s a reminder to me that presidents who get on the wrong side of the intelligence community don’t have their terms end well.  After reading this book again, I’m convinced JFK’s demise was the result of the CIA and the eastern oil alliance conspiring to bring Kennedy’s administration to a premature ending.  Deposed CIA head, Allen Dulles – fired after the boggled Bay of Pigs invasion – was one of the “investigators” on the Warren Commission along with others who had no interest in discovering what really happened to Kennedy.  It should surprise no one that Kennedy’s assassination has never received complete closure.

Then there was Richard Nixon.  The Watergate burglars were led by CIA agent (also of Bay of Pigs fame) E. Howard Hunt and a bunch of Cubans also involved in the bungled invasion.  Of course, Nixon was undermined by his own paranoia and the ensuing cover-up.  However, to me, and if you disagree I would suggest you read this book – it is well documented – Nixon was “outed” by the same force that got Kennedy.  The CIA along with the oil alliance which helped the CIA set up “secret” outposts around the globe following WW II, had several reasons to dislike Nixon.  One big one was Nixon’s lack of support for the “oil depletion allowance,” along with his overtures to China and Russia – both in opposition to the strong “anti-communist” nature of the CIA at that time.  Now, I have to say I was no supporter of Nixon back then – but, until much later I had no idea he was undermined by the CIA.  If you read Baker’s book it’s hard not to wonder how much power the intelligence community actually has.  Every time there’s a new president elected I have this picture in my mind of that person’s first order of business being the CIA instructing him/her on the job’s “expectations.”  I don’t think Nixon was paying attention.

Now, fast forward to Donald Trump.  He’s picked “fights” with several organizations that I don’t think he understands what he’s dealing with.  The so-called “liberal media” has definitely, to me, seemed much more “liberal” (if that is what you’d call standing up to Trump) since Trump began his relentless attacks on them – routinely calling anyone who reports what Trump is actually doing as “Fake news” – a term which actually originated during the election from the Russians’ strategy of finding ways to get ridiculous stories published via America media circles (or, them – the Russians – creating crude facsimiles of websites and “reporting” on them as if real – of course, people using the media to spread their propaganda is nothing new – to me, there’s a difference).  Several times in the campaign Trump mentioned that anyone in the media who was “nice” to him would be OK – however, anyone who says anything negative about him will get BLASTED as Trump will fight back without any respect to integrity or actual FACTS.

Trump seems to “shoot straight from the hip” in his response to circumstances virtually as they arise.  He’s the classic 6th grader I dealt with during my years in the classroom who was constantly getting in “trouble” due to issues caused by “blurting out” – where I would be constantly trying to teach students to “think before they would say something.”  Additionally, Trump has the classic signs of a bully – but, I believe he’s getting a taste of reality regarding what happens to bullies who are unable to get their way.  Attempting to bully the media and the intelligence community is beyond foolish – it’s STUPID!  As I’ve said before, Trump seems to be “in way over his head.”  He’s essentially encouraging the media to intensify their investigations of him and his surrogates by making one baseless charge after another against them and, in regards to his standing with the intelligence community, well, firing Jim Comey was really STUPID – especially, the way he went about it.  One thing that is blatantly clear from reading Baker’s book is that the intelligence community is a close knit brotherhood.

Had Trump fired Comey the day he took office the news of the firing probably would have received the response he expected – but, right after Comey publicly announced that the FBI was investigating his campaign, including possible criminal investigations, made it look REALLY bad.  Of course, making something look really bad isn’t good enough for Trump, so – the next day – he gave an interview with Lester Holt of NBC where he ADMITTED he fired Comey because of the “Russia Investigation.”  Then, he STUPIDLY topped that off by meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and Russian Ambassador in the Oval Office (with ONLY Russian journalists present) where he confirmed to them he fired Comey (who he disparaged to the Russians – one of them the same guy involved in “scandal”) to take the pressure of the Russia investigation off of himself – STUPID – and, then to top it all off, he disclosed some of the most sensitive of Classified information to the Russians.  As someone said – “you can’t make this stuff up.”  It’s beyond STUPID! (if you ask him, Trump will tell you “I’m smart”)

Of course, trying to minimize the effect of the media and the intelligence community would be the work of someone who has authoritarian tendencies.  Along with those “tendencies” you also have the attacks against the judiciary and complaints about the constitution.  There, to me, is ample evidence suggesting Trump and his surrogates feel comfortable in disregarding the “laws of the land.”  Combining all this with his “bromance” with Vladimir Putin and his comfort with other dictators around the world, even republicans in congress should be seeing MAJOR red flags!  World leaders are beginning to flee from America and, despite Trump’s “base” supposedly being very loyal, republicans in Congress who took an oath to support our Constitution and the “laws of the land” need to be “stepping up.”  Whether they like it or not, the solution to the Trump problem lies in the hands of the republicans – they’ve got control of Congress.

Today is the day Trump is suspected to be going to pull America out of the so-called “Paris Climate Accords.”  (He actually did it!) From what I understand, the “Accords” are voluntary and possibly more symbolic than anything else – but, in reality, the only two countries in the world who are not signatories to the agreement are Syria and Nicaragua.  I’ve questioned many times on this site as to how much DAMAGE Trump will be allowed to cause before republicans in Congress do the inevitable and IMPEACH him – well, the Climate Accords might be significant along those lines – although, Trump may actually decide not to pull out – he promised his “White Nationalist” base he would pull out during the election – you know – anything President Obama was for, they are against – but, from what I can tell, NUMEROUS CEO’s around the country are counseling Trump to keep America involved.  The end result of America pulling out could conceivably, from my perspective, help catapult China further into the “lead” in the fight against “Climate Change” along with speeding up their goal to be the world’s leading economic power.

From what I’ve heard and read, China is focused on pushing the “green” energy agenda.  Renewable power sources, for instance, obviously are the “future” – but, in America, the republican party and people like Trump are still stuck in their commitments to oil and coal.  The sooner “we the people” get beyond that “reality,” in my mind, the better – especially for our children and grandchildren.  I’m bringing this one aspect of “what’s going on” up as an example of the actual and potential damage of continuing with Trump in the “White House.”  Everyone in Washington DC understands there are already multiple reasons Trump could legitimately be impeached – not the least of which would be his violations of the emoluments clause of the Constitution.  Republicans are waiting for the political winds to shift to the point where their own jobs are in jeopardy – which, I believe is ALREADY the case for many of them – before they take up the reality that Trump has “got to go.”  If nothing else, I’m sure his overall incompetence is wearing thin on republican leaders in Congress.

So, Trump is not only attempting to “deconstruct the administrative state,” he’s undermining America’s standing in the world.  I listened to as much of his speech yesterday as I could stomach, while he was announcing withdrawing America from the Climate Accords, and one thing he said really caught my attention.  “When are people around the world going to be laughing at the United States?”  Well, I don’t believe that time is here – I think they are shaking their collective heads and wondering what the hell has happened to America – but, there are many who seem to be trying to find ways to tolerate what is going on who are LAUGHING at Trump as a way to mitigate their concerns and/or anger.  He has evolved to a somewhat pathetic person, who clearly doesn’t understand what’s happening to him – and, as the investigations get closer and closer to him, in my mind, he becomes even more dangerous.  2 out of every 3 Americans believe we (America) should be leading the fight against “Climate Change” – not, handing that role to China.  Only 20% of Americans support Trump’s “health care” (tax cut for the rich) bill, and most want him to honor his pledge to support Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

If Trump succeeds in “deconstructing the administrative state” the American people will suffer extreme damage for years to come.  I’m not the only person in this nation waiting to see which republican (if any) will have the courage to step up and lead the charge to stop the DAMAGE Trump is inflicting on the rest of us – sooner rather than later.  Remember, what he calls an “overwhelming victory” in last year’s election was actually the largest LOSS in America’s history of any president who managed to win the office despite LOSING the popular vote – in Trump’s case by 3 MILLION votes!

He has NO MANDATE, and he continues to push the divisive agenda promoted by the likes of Steve Bannon and Steven Miller – both “White Nationalists.”  Every day we’re a bit closer to November 2018 – I can’t imagine there’s many republicans who want to go to the polls defending the “deconstruction of the administrative state” to people who don’t understand that includes Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, unemployment INSURANCE, Meals on wheels, early childhood education, children’s healthcare legislation, the ACA (which should – and could – be improved), and the list goes on.

Final Thought:  Speaking of “history,” the history books are going to give Trump a spot that I can’t imagine anyone would want – and, I’m saying that without any consideration to the investigations which are ongoing.  His general incompetency and his narcissistic behavior is likely to put him at the bottom of the list of presidents.  (George Bush is smiling)  Should the “evidence” lead to Trump’s financial dealings with the likes of the Russian Oligarchs – we could be talking about legal issues worse than Nixon – with, at this point, still the possibility of espionage involving – certainly – some of his surrogates, and very possibly Trump himself (I, for example, don’t believe Michael Flynn and/or Jared Kushner were operating as “rogue” diplomats in their covert meetings with various Russians connected to Vladimir Putin)