Probably the most frustrating part of watching the “Trump train” heading for the cliff is anticipating the damage – which, as so often happens, goes to “the least of these” (in the words of Jesus Christ) – and not wanting them to be the “fall guys” for our beleaguered and dysfunctional political system (and, especially this president) as is so often the case.  And, then trying to understand how the “system” became so dysfunctional in the first place and what is going to have to happen to “fix” it just leads to more frustration.  Unfortunately, I keep coming to the same understanding as I ponder all of this: Greed.  I still remember (clearly) the days of the Reagan administration when I believe the “focus” of this great nation changed in an almost 180 degree direction and, to this day, the actual reality of what transpired back then has not been fully “vetted” publicly by our so-called “liberal media.”

Today, I was watching on TV as there was a “Women’s March” (A day without women in the workplace – I believe is what it was billed) going on in the streets of the nation’s capital (and, presumably, around the country) while our national legislators were debating whether our present president is legitimate, whether our past president committed a felony (you know, like what GW Bush and Dick Cheney did THOUSANDS of times – wiretapping Americans – in this case Donald Trump), and – most importantly to “the least of these” – the “repeal/replacement” of the “Affordable Care Act.”  Democrats are now (lovingly) referring to the health care proposal being propped up by Paul Ryan as “Trumpcare.”  I have not read (and probably won’t) the bill in its entirety but it’s interesting listening to the republicans who are pushing it.

Ryan and the others are claiming their bill will lower costs, improve health care, lower premiums, and – all in all – will be a huge improvement to what they refer to as “Obamacare.”  They claim “Obamacare” is “collapsing of its own weight.”  Of course, what they don’t say is that for 7 long years they’ve done NOTHING but vote 50+ times to repeal “Obamacare” with NEVER attempting to “fix” it.  Evidently, their new bill is the “fix.”  And, from all indications they’re going to have a difficult time getting this bill through their republican controlled congress and, if they do, people will remember all the claims they and Trump have made regarding the process of “repeal and replace.”  On many occasions, for example, Trump has said that the “replacement” will provide health insurance for EVERY American – and, it will cost less and work better.  Hey, I have to say, I’m all for that.

For many years I’ve been advocating, just like Bernie Sanders, that health care should be a RIGHT in our society (apparently the wealthiest society in the world) and not a privilege.  Getting back to my earlier point of when Reagan entered the White House, things back then were MUCH different.  For starters, hospitals and health insurance carriers were mostly “not for profit” entities.  As with virtually everything else – from the “conservative” point of view – privatization was the answer to the health care “crisis” which began emerging in the 70’s and continues to this day.  Reagan convinced Americans that the government is the problem – in virtually every area.  Instead of creating a single payer, “Medicare for all,” solution back then, the answer was “HMO’s” (along the lines of Kaiser Permanente) and incentives for doctors and health providers to withhold treatment to save money. (More profit)

The good news – back then – was that it was pretty much assumed that health insurance was a NORMAL benefit that went with being employed.  I remember working for the minimum wage (back then it was $1.25) and having full medical coverage – which, at the time, I didn’t need.  Businesses, at least everyone I was associated with or observed, back in the 60’s and 70’s simply accepted the responsibility of providing group policies for their employees.  The employees were the most important part of their businesses.  That all – publicly – changed when Reagan began the right wing assault on America’s great middle class. (I say publicly, because, by all accounts I can figure out, it really changed with the so-called “Powell Memo” that soon to  be Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell sent to the Chamber of Commerce in 1972 outlining the plan for a corporate takeover of America’s government – the anti-worker plan that Reagan so expertly put into place)

It was under Reagan’s leadership that America went from being a “we society” (ie – the “New Deal” and “Great Society” of FDR and LBJ) to Reagan’s version – a “me” society.  That’s when shareholders became more important than workers.  That’s when the traditional republican assault on unions gained “full steam ahead” status – as Reagan himself, violated his own promise to the air traffic controllers, and “busted” their union on national TV.  Certainly, there could be an argument against the demands of PATCO (the union) but it’s undeniable that Since that day, the power of workers has diminished in America and executives have become almost unbelievably rich!  The percentage of workers represented by a union has dropped from around one third at the time of the PATCO strike to less than one tenth today.

If you remember, it was Reagan who promised: “I’m going to cut taxes and balance the budget.”  Well, I wasn’t paying that much attention to politics at the time, but I clearly understood how STUPID that claim/promise was.  Of course, Reagan did, initially, cut taxes (mainly for the wealthy) and his “trickle down” policy not only “trickled up” but that’s the direction of the deficit.  Like ballooning by about 300%.  So, and I really am trying to get back to my point, since the days of Reagan workers have been disrespected. The rhetoric would say otherwise – coming from republicans – but, the reality says……. Yikes!  The promises keep coming, the results, not so much. It’s not good.  And, yet, it’s the very workers who’ve been “left behind” by the “trickle up” policies of republicans that were the force that allowed Trump to move into the White House.  And, from what I can tell, it’s the blue collar working class – especially those still struggling from the 2008 financial meltdown that would have become another depression without President Obama’s (less than ideal – thanks again to republicans) stimulus package passed, ironically, in his first two months in office, that will be the “losers” from “Trumpcare.”  (Of course, Trump’s in his 7th week and so far the proposed repeal/replace of “Obamacare” is the first thing “on the plate”)

Instead of fixing “Obamacare” (like putting in a public option) most “conservative” republicans want to completely repeal it and “start over.”  I don’t think there’s many – if any – of us “common folk” out here in America who totally understand the nuances of the Affordable Care Act.  Yes, it’s really complicated and, no doubt, needs a lot of “fixing.”  However, based on the information I’ve gleaned by listening to the republicans pushing their new “plan” there’s no way it’s going to live up to their promises.  It really does remind me of Reagan promising to “cut taxes and balance the budget.”  “We the people” have been suffering the consequences of Reagan’s policies since the 80’s and republicans continue to push us toward the “cliff.”  It seems to me that with Trump at the helm, the “cliff” is getting near, and it could be a big drop when we get there.  Is that what it’s going to take to wake up Americans who just don’t want to pay attention to what their government is doing?  I know people who are relying on their health care (which comes through the exchanges) to survive.  It looks to me like rates are going to go UP, not down, coverage is going to go DOWN not up, and, for people who are older – like those in the 50 – 65 age group who are still reeling from the “great recession” their out of pocket expenses will balloon.

Those who have “pre-existing” conditions will still be able to buy health insurance – it’s just that for most, it will be prohibitively expensive.  The proposal includes a defunding (for one year, I believe – which republicans probably believe will be enough to destroy it) of Planned Parenthood, where many low income women get their health care and, from what I can tell, the plan will have Medicaid in the “cross-hairs.” Probably the most important part of the “repeal/replace” proposal to republicans and their benefactors is the apparent $380 BILLION tax cut that goes covertly to the top 1% of Americans.  Obviously, that’s just more money in the “coffers” of republican politicians..

I’m sure the list of “unintended consequences” will be long – but, as I stated at the beginning of this post – I believe it will be “the least of these” who bear the brunt of the repeal of “Obamacare.”  Obviously, I don’t believe Trump (actually, I’ve learned that you can’t believe a word that comes from his mouth) and the republicans that “everyone” will have coverage and that it will be less expensive and better.  As I’ve said many times on this site, “I hope I’m wrong.”  However, in most instances – whether talking about republicans or democrats – that hasn’t been the case.  Most of us out in the “heartland” seem to be better able to see what is actually happening in our nation’s capital.  Maybe that’s because we don’t have the spectrum of special interest money clouding our vision.

That last sentence is exactly why, at the beginning of this post I mentioned the the word that I believe was encouraged by Reagan and those who’ve followed him as republicans and those who financially support them: Greed.  The statistics don’t lie.  The working class has been stagnant at best since Reagan and the corporate executives have had their compensation soar since then.  The health of our corporations and our nation’s economy is (publicly) gauged by the stock market, and corporate executives have found creative ways to boost their own salaries by creatively boosting stock prices at the expense of long term health of corporations.  Since Reagan corporations have become increasingly “healthy” while MILLIONS of Americans are deciding whether to buy food or go to the doctor.  That will not change as long as “we the people” continue to be brainwashed to think the more money that goes to the top (the “job creators”) the better off we’ll all be.

When I was young it was not unusual for people to work for one company their entire career.  Today, is seems unusual for a “worker” to be in the same place 10 years.  And, lately, the republicans have put their faith in the very people who’ve been behind this trend.  In 2012 it was Mitt Romney – an expert “corporate raider” who would purchase a company, bleed it of all its assets, take a huge profit, and then abandon it – often times to insolvency.  The workers left wondering what happened are just “collateral damage.”

Now we have Donald Trump.  And, somehow (with the help of the Russians and James Comey) he became the 45th president.  Trump represents GREED personified.  The list of workers he’s “stiffed” seems endless from the reports I’ve read, and he’s strategically filed for bankruptcy 6 times – again, leaving workers in the pile of “rubble” that remains after he takes “his” and “goes home.”  I’m not sure why so many Americans fell for his schpeel, but now, at least until the republican congress comes to their senses, we’re stuck with him as president.  It should be no surprise to anyone that “Trumpcare” will just be one more Donald Trump lie.  As I’ve stated so many times of late, the real problem is the damage he creates (including the “repeal/replace” of “Obamacare”) could last a generation or more.

A final note:  Regarding my wondering how the system became so dysfunctional, and for anyone who believes my “bashing” of republicans means I’m a democrat, I’ll leave a final thought.  As much as the republicans frustrate me for their GREED and disregard for “the least of these,” the democrats aren’t far behind for their lack of courage.  Yes, there’s a few who seem to be “fighters” (Elizabeth Warren, Sanders – yes, he’s really an independent, and Jeff Merkley to name a few) but many don’t seem to have the courage of their own convictions.  Their lack of “fight,” in my view, is why seemingly EVERY mid term election is dominated by republicans.  The base who would support democratic ideals aren’t given a reason to get excited and vote.  That, to me, is the reality and if democrats want to be the solution to the problem they had better “lean to the left.”  It’s almost as if they’re afraid of backlash of the “liberal media.”  I say, if your position is honorable, FIGHT for it!

If the world was not in such a sad state, watching the Trump presidency would be comical.  However, the reality is that Trump appears to be as unhinged, “unqualified,” and incompetent as those who opposed him pre-election predicted.  Of course, at that time, not many people (including Trump from what I’ve read) expected him to be president.  Now, people in the media who were willing to prop him up for the sake of higher ratings and more advertising money during the election are “singing a different tune.”

I had breakfast the other day with a good friend of mine (a diehard republican who voted for Trump) who’s like most Trump supporters and is willing to accept all the baggage that goes with Trump because he believes much of the agenda he supports will get passed with Trump in the White House.  He is also in the “isolationist” mold and has no problem with the United States focusing on America and leaving the rest of the world to “whatever.”  (That’s my characterization of a much longer conversation)  It doesn’t matter to him if the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians.  I’m only pointing this out because I believe there’s many Americans who think exactly like that.  My friend says he doesn’t read Breitbart, but when Trump “tweets” some absurd “fake news” that he picked up at Breitbart my friend points it out to me as if it’s true.  Trump has convinced his “followers” that the “liberal media” is “dishonest” and that is where the so-called “fake news” is coming from (actually, of course, “fake news” is one of the main “weapons” of Russia as they are attempting to totally destabilize the “West”) so that his die hard followers are not going to believe the “truth” – whatever it might be – when it finally comes out unless it totally exonerates Trump and his surrogates.

Trump’s tactics, which I personally believe are being orchestrated by Steve Bannon (and, maybe to a lessor extent Stephen Miller), are classic examples of authoritarian takeovers of societies.  Attack the press, the intelligence community, and anyone who disagrees with you – make it more difficult, if not impossible, for opponents to fight against you (In America, the attack on voting rights is likely to become more intense under Attorney General Sessions) using accepted “norms” – ie, voting, protesting, etc,  And, of course, when things look bad, Trump and his surrogates can be counted on to “lash out.”  The latest “lash” is Trump “tweeting” that “sick” President Obama ordered Trump to be wiretapped in the previous election.  I’m guessing he “tweeted” that because he can’t figure out how all the information him and his associates are trying to keep secret keeps coming out in the press.  Again, if this world was not in such a dangerous place, this would all be comical.  Trump, this morning – if I heard it correct – proposed EXPANDING the investigation into his campaigns involvement with the Russians during the election to include whether President Obama ordered Trump Tower to be wiretapped!

Personally, I say, YES!  Do this!  People on both sides of the “isle” have been arguing for weeks over how this should be investigated.  I say, get it out into the open and investigate ALL of it!  Absolutely check to see if President Obama ordered surveillance of Trump and EVERYTHING else in question.  Let’s have an independent counsel so there’s no questioning the results.  What were Trump’s surrogates saying and doing in their MANY meetings with Russian officials during the campaign and after the election?  If President Obama felt Trump should be wiretapped, what was the reason?  Wiretaps require a warrant through the FISA court (unless you’re Dick Cheney and George W Bush, of course) so, if Trump was wiretapped, what was the reasoning behind it that allowed the FISA court to authorize it.  (Of course, Obama’s head of intelligence said no such thing happened – but, hey, let’s include this in the investigation)

Here’s what’s the most unnerving about all of this to me.  My friend doesn’t care about what Putin is doing in Russia and believes that if the Eastern European countries (who are now part of NATO – which, by the way, Trump conveniently wants to undermine) can’t defend themselves from Russia, that’s their problem.  He even said that he didn’t believe the Nazi’s would ever have attacked America had we chosen not to enter World War II.  (I’m only pointing this out because I don’t think he’s alone in this thinking) So, I asked him what he thought about the 54 BILLION dollar increase in (what I already believe is a totally BLOATED) defense budget and he said he’s OK with that.  Honestly, it’s really hard for me to make sense of that type of thinking that seems to be contradictory on its face.  I want to be an isolationist AND I want to spend almost 700 BILLION dollars on “defense.”  Yikes!  (Doesn’t it make sense that if we’re going to focus on our own borders $600 BILLION a year on defense is enough???  Maybe a bit too much???)

This all leads me to believe that there are many Trump supporters who are fine with the Russian meddling in our election and that apparently Trump’s “team” colluded with them.  In my heart I have to believe that those who feel as he does are a small minority of our population and that if, after the investigation that Trump himself now is calling for, shows that Trump’s surrogates were involved with the Russian attack on our process (I mean, when they were predicting accurately when the “stuff” that was hacked from Podesta would be made public, most of us can add two plus two, right?) then the Trump administration will be in its final days.  I don’t believe there’s enough Republicans to save Trump if it turns out his campaign workers were colluding with Putin and his underlings.  Yes, republicans have shown an incredible ability to “go with the flow” – that is, they’ve allowed Trump to re-define their party and now they have to live with it but, I can’t imagine people like John McCain and Lindsey Graham, for starters, going along with appeasing Vladimir Putin.  Although, I’ve maintained on this site that those who will truly make a “name” for themselves out of all this will be those in the republican party who stand up and say, NO! and point out the obvious – that nothing that Trump represents is “mainstream” in America, it remains to be seen if there’s anyone in the republican party with the “stones” to do so.  (and, I have to add that if an investigation confirms what people like me believe – at that point the republicans won’t seem so courageous when they “jump ship.”)

Yes, there are many good hardworking Americans who voted for Trump because they believe he’s going to bring  “high paying jobs” back to America.  Of course, most of Trump’s job creation claims are pure bloviating (to this point; remember, the first year of his administration he’s working under the previous administration’s policies) or outright “untruths.”  For example, Trump is claiming to have saved jobs in instances where the decisions he’s talking about were made long before he took office.  We’ll see in a couple of years how all this shakes out, if Trump is still in the White House (I still believe MOST republicans would prefer Mike Pense as president) However, there’s soon to be a “crisis” over the debt ceiling.  Wall Street has gone wild expecting huge tax cuts and deregulation – yet, so far, NOTHING has been even initiated.  Trump’s budget is likely to EXPLODE the deficit even farther (Obama had cut GW Bush’s deficit more than in half) and we’ll see if all those “conservatives” in the House still agree with Dick Cheney who famously said, “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”

Republicans are constantly working on revising HISTORY in a futile attempt to make themselves look better.  The reality is that even retired 6th grade teachers like myself have learned how to “Google” information and get something much closer to the truth than you get on Fox, Breitbart, and wherever else people like Trump get their “talking points.”  I believe when the reality of Trump’s inability to do ANYTHING hits Wall Street we’re all in for another crash – this time with someone at the “helm” who’ll have NO IDEA what to do.  (Have you read the history of 1929 and Herbert Hoover?)  My friend mentioned above told me that no body cares about anything but the economy and he believes the economy will flourish under Trump.  I told him that if in two years Trump is still president and the economy is flourishing I would agree with him that Trump will make it through his term.  I don’t see either of those scenarios coming true.

The reality is that Russia and what they’re doing around the world is DANGEROUS.  GW Bush/Dick Cheney committed the most STUPID action (possibly) in the history of this great nation by invading Iraq.  President Obama spent 8 years trying to clean up the mess and was making progress as he left office (Iraqi’s were in the process of pushing ISIL out of Mosul) and I truly hope Trump’s incompetence doesn’t screw up the progress – but, I have no confidence that will be the case.  Trump clearly is an impulsive person who is liable to do something really STUPID when it comes to decisions relating to foreign policy. (Unfortunately, I believe it’s just a matter of time until Trump “outdoes” The Bush/Cheney fiasco)

Russia is in the process of pushing the white nationalist movement around the Western world and if we continue to take a blind eye to what they’re doing, the damage could be among the worst of the damage we’re going to have to endure because of Trump’s presidency.  While,  as stated above, I’m saying this all would be comical if it weren’t so serious, I’m guessing Vladimir Putin is totally enjoying what’s happening in/to America.  During the campaign I believe he was truly hoping that he could destabilize to some degree Hillary Clinton’s administration.  He clearly feared a Clinton in the White House.  What Putin has accomplished in regard to helping create Trump’s administration, I’m sure, goes beyond his wildest dreams.  Trump’s presidency has put Vladimir Putin into a stronger position world wide anyone could have imagined prior to the election.

As an aside:  Someday our “liberal media” will figure all of this out!

I keep trying to watch the “news” – and, of course, if you’ve been on this site much you know that I have a strong interest in politics (that’s all I write about), AND about the only “news” I can stomach is MSNBC.  And, if you’ve watched much of MSNBC in the past year it’s pretty much Trump and little else (including in the campaign last year).  So, I get the views of “experts” on “both sides of the isle” pretty much every time I tune in relating to Trump and, not much else.  Lately, of course, the subject has been “did he or didn’t he” – meaning did Trump and his surrogates “collude” with the Russians who were attempting to make sure either Trump would become president, or more likely, that they could contribute to the undermining of Hillary Clinton had she won as everyone (including Trump) expected.  To me, it’s continuing to be INTERESTING to say the least.

I’ve pointed out (repeatedly) a few points that I believe need to be reiterated virtually every time this subject is “broached.”  First, when Trump’s lips are moving it is likely he is lying.  I believe him to be a pathological liar – meaning, he believes his own lies are the truth as they come out of his lips.  Secondly, his top surrogates – meaning Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, and Kellyanne Conway have direct ties to the White Nationalist movement that is growing worldwide.  Conway was seen “tweeting” to a person who’s “handle” said, right up front, “White Nationalist,” Miller was giving the White Nationalist hand signal (presumably to reassure the “base”) as he was being interviewed on one of the Sunday “news” programs on TV – I believe it was “Face the Nation.”  And Bannon, well – he has been at the forefront of the White Nationalist movement as the editor of Breitbart “news” – which was one of the originators of so-called “fake news” – which Trump, in all his projectionist glory is attributing to the “mainstream media” who are investigating his administration.  (And, Lord knows there’s much to be investigated ALREADY)

That all being said, what has struck me as completely interesting – and, somewhat depressing at the same time – are the number of republican “hacks” (pundits), many of whom were part of the “never Trump” movement, who are lining up to propagate the lying of Trump and his close surrogates.  This morning the new lie is that Trump “inherited a mess,” and he’s going to create MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of jobs to “get the economy moving again.  The first thought that came to my mind when I heard that was – well, yes I’m sure the economy could grow a bit faster – BUT, it was President Obama who inherited the MESS.  Evidently Trump was too busy pushing the “birther” crap to remember that when President Obama took office the economy was shedding jobs at almost one MILLION per month.  By comparing Obama’s first month and a half in office with Trumps – well, by now President Obama had a “stimulus bill” signed into law that helped to prevent our economy from going into another “Great Depression.”  Essentially, at this point all Trump has done is sign a bunch of “executive orders” that have reaffirmed the fears of those who didn’t vote for him that he’s a tyrant.  The damage (or help) to the economy by Trump and his regulation cutting cohorts remains to be seen.  Remember, his first year in office will have an economy operating on the Obama agenda.  This time next year, we’ll be able to have a better discussion as to what effect Trump’s “plan” (if there is one) will have on the economy.  My point here is that the surrogates – even those who didn’t support him in the election are willing to spew the lies.

Of course, as of right now, for most Americans the economy is secondary to a couple other issues.  People on “both sides of the isle” – or, better put,  most people – want to know how much influence the Russians really did have on the election AND how much collusion was there between Trump and his “representatives” and the Russian intelligence community.  We KNOW there was at least some “collusion” OR Michael Flynn would still be Trump’s national security advisor.  People want to know how much collusion there was – was it just promising to remove sanctions when Flynn talked to the Russian ambassador in December (the same day President Obama imposed sanctions for their intrusion into our election process) or was there MORE?  Americans also want to see Trump’s tax returns to see how much he’s “invested” in places that are connected to Russia and Vladimir Putin – who Trump seems to view as the world’s greatest leader (aside from himself, of course)  In my mind, if there was “nothing there” – in the words of Sean Spicer, Trump’s press secretary – the Trump camp would be encouraging a bi-partisan open investigation to get this issue behind them as soon as possible.  Considering the level of “untruths” coming from all directions out of the White House since Trump moved in, nothing less will calm the “waters.”  If Spicer, Trump, and the other surrogates think this is just going to “go away” – I believe they’re fooling themselves.  (I was around during Watergate – and, this seem much more serious, potentially, to me)

The other issue that has the hair standing up on the backs of many Americans is the so-called “repeal and replacement of the ACA” – usually referred to as “Obamacare.”  Republicans spent 6+ years attempting to repeal it (something like 50 times) and NEVER attempting to FIX it.  I don’t know anyone who believes “Obamacare” is the total solution to America’s out of control health crisis – but, a majority feel it was a step in the right direction.  Now, the republicans have the opportunity to do what they should have done years ago and FIX the ACA so that it reaches more people and, whatever the problems with it (I’m obviously not an expert on health care) they try to improve.  The ultimate goal SHOULD be some form of a national health care – single payer type – solution so that, in the words of Bernie Sanders health care becomes a “RIGHT” and not, as it is now, a privilege.  Republicans are going to “own” whatever they do to the ACA and, from what I’ve heard, they can’t even agree amongst themselves on what to replace it with.  I can pretty much assure you that the replacement will make the problem worse instead of better based on what I’ve been able to “glean” from listening to early reports from Paul Ryan and others.  The 2018 election should be very interesting.

While most of us are tuned in eagerly to find out about the Russian issue and the “Obamacare” circus, I’ve been watching Ryan and Mich McConnell to see how they’re dealing with all this.  If you’ve read any of my previous posts I predicted that there will become a point in time where the republican leadership tires of Trump’s folly and they find a way to create Mike Pense as the 46th president.  I firmly believe he’s much more palatable to them than Trump.  However, they’ve made what could be considered a “deal with the devil” and they are now reliant on the Trump “base” which includes the hard right “White Nationalist” group.  So, they will have to tread lightly and find a good reason before they move against Trump.  However, I watched Ryan and McConnell in an impromptu news conference the other day (I believe both of them are trying as hard as they can to stay out of the “spotlight”) and they looked like two kids in a candy store.  They had just left a meeting with Trump and you could tell, by – as I used to teach my 6th graders – reading between the lines, that they were excited to have someone in the White House who will sign the legislation they’ve been pushing for years but couldn’t get past President Obama’s veto pen.

For example, TAX CUTS.  Let me try to find a polite way to say what the main agenda is for Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell.  It’s TAX CUTS.  And, guess  which way the tax cuts will be aimed – toward the top, or the bottom????  Yes, you’re correct, that was a stupid question.  For starters, the repeal of “Obamacare” will give the top one or two percent of Americans something like 380 BILLION dollars over the next ten years.  (you’re right, that’s a lot of money) But, that’s not all – it’s just the beginning.  They’ve got plans for another GW Bush/Cheney tax cut that will put BILLIONS more in the pockets of those who so generously finance their campaigns.  As Trump himself said, when he gives money to politicians he expects a return on his investment.  Think of the Koch brothers – who’ve “invested” maybe more than a BILLION dollars just since the day Citizens United was decided by the Supreme Court making it MUCH easier for America’s wealthy elite to buy congresspersons.  For example, I’m confident that if you check the donors list (those who’ve been identified) for just Ryan and McConnell you’ll find massive amounts of oil and coal money.  (Right now, I’m guessing Ryan is getting a lot of health insurance and pharmaceutical money “invested” in his campaigns as he tries for find an alternative for the ACA – remember, OVER a BILLION dollars was “invested” in the original bill – mainly from health insurers and “big pharma”)

Of course, Ryan and McConnell also are leading the charge to deregulate, and where possible, disassemble entire government agencies that prevent their benefactors from making even larger profits.  The EPA is in danger, the education department, the Food and Drug administration, the Consumer Protection agency (over Elizabeth Warren’s “dead body” as the saying goes), and who knows what else is in the cross hairs.  We know republicans want to defund Planned Parenthood where women get low (to no) cost health care, and the list goes on and on.  They now have a president who will obligingly sign whatever they can get through the last roadblock for us “liberals” and that is the democratic Senate.  However, there are several democratic senators (like Joe Mansion who first comes to mind) who live in states won by Trump and are apparently willing to vote like a republican.  So, the 60 vote barrier could be reached on some consequential legislation that will turn back the clock many years.  Time will tell, and, again, the 2018 election should be interesting.  (Taking Mansion and West Virginia for example, one “success” of the early Trump administration was allowing coal companies to again dump their waste into rivers and streams.  I, personally, was conceived in West Virginia and I have to wonder are there no “liberals” there?  The coal industry is virtually devastating huge segments of the beautiful mountains in West Virginia and surely there will become a time of remorse for allowing this to happen – I just have to wonder if anyone there cares enough to speak out?  We should no longer be relying on coal for our energy in the first place – there’s too many better options, but dumping the waste in rivers????)

My point here is that “we the people” need to be busy watching our “fronts” and our “backs” as the Trump administration moves ahead.  While many people like me will get caught up wondering how much collusion there was in the election (I mean, the fundamental premise of our nation is at stake on that one – if Trump and his surrogates colluded with the Russians, in my view, they’ve “got to go”) there’s a lot going on behind the scenes and much damage could be done if we’re not paying attention there as well.  Furthermore, people need to be encouraged to get their butts to the polls whenever there’s a chance to start the process of voting these people out of office – and, I’m talking about anyone who’s in office and is cooperating with the “white nationalists” in the White House.  I would encourage the so-called “liberal media” to stop being obsessed with being “fair and balanced” and begin calling out the surrogates when they lie – as happened (again) today on MSNBC. I read the other day that in Trump’s “successful” address to Congress – considered a success because he proved he can read a teleprompter – he LIED 51 times.  So, the headline wasn’t the lies (evidently, that’s just a given now) but the tone.  This is leading us to a bad place!

In essence, via obstruction, republicans managed to gain control of all three branches of government (once Trump’s SCOTUS nominee is confirmed) and have convinced Americans that government is “broken.”  So, now it’s up to them to FIX it.  The early returns, as I watch the Trump administration in action are a bit scary.  And, the damage the republicans (ie Ryan and McConnell) can do “behind the scenes” could take a generation to recover from.  It’s up to “we the people” to stop this takeover of our government.  There’s no doubt going to be significant “damage” done by 2018, but Americans – many of whom are presently in the streets protesting – will have the opportunity in 2018 to stop this “right here, right now.”  I don’t have much confidence in the democrats, but they are the only hope for those of us who don’t want America to be Russia’s buddy and an authoritarian state.  Should be interesting and, remember, while we’re all focused on the folly of Trump and his associates, keep a watch on what the republicans in Congress are up to – the damage they can do will likely be much more difficult to “fix.”

I spent most of my career teaching Middle School and, in the process, you get a good lesson in learning to tell when someone’s LYING.  In fact, for years in the administration’s office (where they deal with “naughty” students) there was a poster which read: “Tell the truth, there’s less to remember.”  The other day, when Donald Trump was giving a bizarre news conference I couldn’t help but be reminded of that saying – actually, MULTIPLE times.  I mean, he started off with an astonishing claim – that he won a landslide “electoral college” victory – the largest since Ronald Reagan.  Of course, that was completely untrue – even I knew that without checking – in fact, the ONLY president to get a smaller “victory” was GW Bush – who relied on the Supreme Court to get 271 electoral votes back in 2000.  For some reason, (I think both you and I know the answer to that thought) Trump continues to talk about the electoral college “victory” as if it’s a mandate, despite the FACT he called it (the electoral college) “a disaster for democracy” back in 2012 after President Obama defeated Mitt Romney.  Fortunately, a reporter “called” Trump on the LIE he began his news conference with – but, there was plenty more to come.  (Trump failed to mention that Hillary Clinton got almost 3 MILLION more votes nationwide than him – I wonder why? Honestly, he still seems to be struggling with that FACT)

Later in the news conference Trump, as he was attempting to intimidate the “media” said he no longer watches CNN.  “They are too dishonest.”  (Talk about “the pot calling the kettle black”)  Of course, later in the conference he actually called on and had a diatribe with a reporter from CNN – during which he said, “I watch you every night.”  I wanted to say, “OK, which is it?  Either you watch them or you don’t.”  I could picture Trump in the principal’s office trying to get out of some kind of trouble that had no way out.  Later in the “session” Trump was looking for a “friendly” reporter and called on a reporter from, I believe, a Jewish network (or publication).  The reporter brought up the increase in anti-Semitic violence since Trump took office – specifically and carefully trying to avoid connecting it with Trump himself – which I thought was a kind gesture on the reporter’s part.  Of course, Trump took it very defensively and then made a couple remarkable comments that NO ONE, that I saw, who were reporting on the news conference picked up on.  (I guess, even though Trump is surrounded by anti-Semitic racists the subject is too sensitive for our “liberal media”)  Trump told the guy to sit down, and said – first – that he was offended and then said – and, I’m not kidding, “I’m the LEAST anti-Semitic person AND I’m the LEAST racist person.”  I wasn’t sure who Trump was comparing himself to – Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, and Stephen Miller were sitting right in front of him – maybe he was comparing himself to them.  He’s “less” racist and anti-Semitic than his top advisers.  Well, for all I know he could be telling the truth on that one.

However, I had to wonder, why didn’t he say “I’m not anti-Semitic or racist?”  Of course, saying that would have brought another trip to the principal’s office.  I can’t say I’ve heard – or that I can remember hearing – Trump make an anti-Semitic comment, but to call himself the “least racist?”  Again, I’m not sure who he’s comparing himself to – we know where many of his strongest supporters stand (If you’re not sure, research Breitbart and the “alt right”) – but to PUBLICLY lead the so-called “birther” movement against President Barack Obama speaks volumes about Trump as a racist.  Of course, you could also read about the Justice department actions against Trump and his father regarding their unwillingness to rent properties to African Americans.  None of that is conjecture – it’s FACT!  To me, it’s just further example of a pathological liar – in his mind, if he says it, it must be true.  But, again, maybe he was comparing his racism to, say, Bannon – and maybe he is “least racist” in that sense – I’m not sure.

If you were unlucky enough to have to listen to one of Trump’s top political advisors – Stephen Miller – on a recent tour of the “Sunday morning talk shows” on television – you would get a good look at the mindset that permeates Trump’s administration.  Miller said, on one occasion, “our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned.”  That wasn’t all.  He also added, when defending Trump’s RIDICULOUS claim that 3 – 5 MILLION Illegal aliens ALL voted for Hillary Clinton to explain why she won the popular vote by nearly 3 MILLION votes, “I’m prepared to go on any show, anywhere, anytime, and say the president of the United States is correct 100 percent.”  If you’ve studied authoritarian regimes in history, this group should have your attention.

Miller, Kellyanne Conway, and Steve Bannon all come from the world of Breitbart.  That’s the home of the White Nationalist movement – and, even it Trump doesn’t understand this group’s foundation is RACISM, well, that’s on him.  I wrote the other day about Kellyanne Conway sitting at a press briefing given by Trump stooge Sean Spicer right in line with one of the cameras (to Spicer’s left).  Conway was busy texting (or something that looked to me like texting – I don’t do Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and just as she was writing a response – under her “hashtag” or whatever you call it on Twitter – showed up a response to a congratulatory “tweet” (I hope that’s the right word) from one of her admirers – who’s “Twitter handle” (again, I’m guessing for the right terminology) gave a clear connection to White Nationalists and was titled “Lib Hypocrisy.”  Here’s an explanation of the symbolism on Lib Hypocrisy’s handle:  “Lib Hypocrisy’s Twitter handle features the green face of Pepe the Frog, a well-known symbol of the white nationalist movement. The related account bio lists the hashtags #WhiteIdentity, #Nationalist and #GeertWilders, a reference to the virulently anti-Muslim Dutch politician.”  Conway nevertheless retweeted Lib Hypocrisy’s message and wrote, “Love you back.” She also wished her “hapless haters” a happy Valentine’s Day.  (This info thanks to the Huffington Post) Trump and his top surrogates will claim to be “the least racist” – but, the evidence clearly says …………. “back to the principal’s office.”

Understand this, however; Trump is working in the classical form of a true tyrant.  And, Steve Bannon is the perfect “silent partner” in pushing their agenda.  Of course, the republican party – I’ve been writing about them for years – are the perfect enablers to allow Trump to create damage to this great nation that could take generations to reverse because while we’re all worked up about Trump they’re busy dismantling every New Deal remnant they can get their hands on.  I’ve heard it said that Bannon believes that – evidently by using the voter suppression tools, the Big Lie Theory of Joseph Goebbels, the intimidation of the press, and the ability to dismantle important regulatory parts of government – keeping a “base” of 40% is enough for the so-called “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  I’ve written about this ad nauseum, but I don’t think the original architects – like Karl Rove – envisioned Trump in the White House portion of their “plan.”  That’s where I sometimes think that “we the people” are better off just enduring Trump for one term rather than the impeached alternative – because, I believe the conservatives behind the “plan” would much prefer Mike Pense as president.  But, the reality is that, in my mind, Trump MUST be opposed at EVERY opportunity.  The sooner he’s out of office the better for “we the people.”

I’m already seeing signs that the “media” is weakening – getting tired of the EVERY day drama that’s going to be “life under Trump.”  He will continue BASHING the media and “we the people” will continue to depend on them to keep “investigating” what is really going on.  The only TV “media” I can stomach is an occasional viewing of MSNBC – plus I have it on my car radio.  Commentators like Chuck Todd, Chris Matthews, Steve Kornaki, to name three that come right to my mind, appear to be looking for ways to “get along” with Trump and his surrogates.  In one moment they’re calling the LIES out as they should, and the next moment they’re looking for a way to make sense out of something that makes no sense at all and is provably FALSE.  Matthews is the most discouraging to me because I know he was a staffer for Tip O’Neil and Jimmy Carter – he should know better.  Todd has been getting “used” by republicans for as long as I can remember watching him.  I will probably never forget him interviewing Allison Lundergan Grimes who was running against Mitch McConnell – the person filibustering EVERY position of Barack Obama in his attempt to make sure Obama failed – and saying she was “disqualified” because she wouldn’t share with him who she voted for in the previous presidential election – yes, you’re right – in his mind she was disqualified for protecting her right to a secret ballot.  Of course, he said NOTHING regarding McConnell’s OBSTRUCTION of President Obama – evidently, in his mind, that was not disqualifying. Todd’s remarks ultimately ended up being the focal point of the McConnell advertising campaign that brought him through a tough election – which was potentially winnable for his opponent.  These guys are going to give in to Trump – I can feel it coming.

Many in the media, including those I just mentioned, apparently have accepted that ALL politicians are liars.  While I don’t agree with that (although I do believe we’ve all lied at some point in our lives) to the point where it can be stereotyped – the “level” of LYING coming from Trump and those he’s surrounded himself with is staggering.  There’s a difference between “spinning” and pathologically LYING. The whole world is watching and wondering what on earth is going on in America.  “We the people” MUST continue with what’s being termed the “Resistance” for as long as Trump is in the White House and we MUST be adamant that the democratic party come home to her roots and show a readiness to FIGHT for what I’ve termed the “heart and soul” of this nation.  I believe one thing that Trump’s election has done is “wake up” MILLIONS of apathetic Americans who’ve been taking their privileges for granted (and, right now I’m not talking about “White privilege” – which is what Trump and his followers are determined will continue)  Traditional privileges like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the right to join a union, food stamps, unemployment insurance, clean air, clean water, safe food and drugs, and I could go on and on all hangs in the balance.  Much of this will be – at least temporarily – going away.  The wealthy in America are in line for another big boost to their “bottom lines” and, if “we the people” don’t persevere and get our collective BUTTS to the polls – and, I’m talking now about 2018 – this will continue getting worse.

Step one is throwing republicans out of control of the congress.  I don’t care if states are considered “blue or red,” the democrats need to be active in EVERY state where there’s an election and they need to find and support good YOUNG progressive candidates who can make the case for working people all across this land.  The first and most effective way to “stop Trump” is to start voting republicans out of office en masse.  The next step is to find good YOUNG candidates who would be willing to go through the GRIND of running for president in 2020.  Whether it’s Trump or Pense in 2020, the damage done in these four years will need to be “fixed” sooner rather than later.  Even my granddaughter (a sixth grader) is scared and wondering how someone like Trump could even get elected.  Kids her age know about the Access Hollywood tapes and the LYING and they’re wondering how there could be enough adults in America to vote someone like this into office.

At some point we are likely to have much more information as to why Trump should never have been elected president – like maybe he’ll be forced to disclose his tax returns, maybe the so-called “dossier” from Russia that no one’s talking about anymore – and, that I believe is true and is out there on video – will show up, maybe we’ll find out the true amount of collusion between Trump’s campaign staff and the Russians who were hacking the Democratic National Committee, maybe Trump will end up in court facing the numerous women who claimed he sexually assaulted them, or who knows what else.  (I’ve heard that Trump is facing something close to 100 lawsuits) In my mind, it shouldn’t take any of that – the LYING coming from the Trump White House is enough for me to believe he should never have had the privilege to move in there.  He’s called the media “the enemy of the American people.”  Of course, the purpose of that is to get them to stop “snooping” on all these issues.  The future of America, at this point, is dependent on the media continuing to uncover the TRUTH about Trump and his campaign.  He will continue to LIE and attempt to BULLY them so that, as his surrogate Miller stated,  he’s “unquestioned.”  If we EVER get to that point, God help us!

I guess it was to be expected that Donald Trump would give people like me plenty to write about.  In fact, it’s coming so “fast and furious” it’s hard for me to focus my ADHD mind.  But, let’s just focus on something I saw Trump say today in reference to the court decisions that are putting (at least) a temporary halt on his attempt at being America’s first DICTATOR.  Trump made the comment that – after saying he didn’t want to accuse the court of being biased – that “courts these days are SO POLITICAL.”  I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in seeing the irony of that comment.  (Shortly after making that comment, there was another STUPID remark in reference to his Supreme Court nominees reported displeasure with his attacks on the judiciary – which I’ll get to later)

Maybe instead of using the word “irony” I should have said hypocrisy.  There’s been plenty of discussion (including on this site) of how Trump got himself elected.  There was the manipulation of the media, the Russian interference (which may have actually been coordinated with the Trump campaign staff – which, by the way, would be treasonous), The FBI – James Comey deciding to announce, 11 days prior to the election, that the Hillary Clinton “investigation” was re-opened, and there was the voter suppression tactics by republicans in several swing states that actually worked.  Any one of those “issues” may have swung the election.  However, by my estimate, a majority of Trump’s “base” was made up of right wing Christians who could care less who’s in the “Oval Office” if Roe v Wade can be reversed.  And, on this POLITICAL issue Trump promised a Supreme Court judge who would be committed to overturning that decision.  No matter your position on abortion, that is Trump suggesting he’s going to nominate a judge based on POLITICS.

Now, most “liberals” are going to fight Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch as the replacement for Antonin Scalia – if for no other reason than the seat he’s been nominated for SHOULD be held by Merrick Garland. For POLITICAL reasons, the republicans refused to even meet with Judge Garland for almost en entire year.  Now, with Trump’s ill informed attacks on the court system, along with some incredibly STUPID surrogates (Stephen Miller comes to mind), I believe the republicans will have no choice but to get rid of the filibuster to get Gorsuch nominated. (Despite the FACT Gorsuch seemed a bit rational when he commented about Trump’s attacks on the court as being disheartening and demoralizing.  Those comments alone might get a few democrats to vote for him – but, I believe without 60 votes there will be an 8 person Supreme Court for at least 4 years.  So, it’s inevitable that Mitch McConnell will use the so-called “nuclear option” to get Gorsuch confirmed.  (The only caveat here is that McConnell may be getting nervous about the republicans’ ability to control the Senate based on they are now the party of Trump and he may want to keep that option for when he’s in the minority again)

I’ve pointed out several times on this site that Trump and many of his surrogates (mostly Kellyanne Conway) are LIARS.  In my mind, Trump is a pathological liar – as the lie is leaving his lips, he believes it is true.  I’m guessing that Trump has been LYING so long that it’s just a way of life for him.  Which brings up another IRONY involved with observing the MESS that is Trump’s administration.  He just fired Michael Flynn, his national security advisor, for – you guessed it – LYING.  To me this all would be comical if it wasn’t so serious.  Of course, Trump didn’t really fire Flynn for LYING, he fired him because the press found out he LIED to Vice President Pense (who, by the way, I’m predicting will be our 46th president within the next year).  Trump fired Flynn because he pretty much had to in his attempt to shield the TRUTH about the involvement with his campaign and the Russian attack on Hillary Clinton during the election.  This is ALL going to get very interesting.

And, speaking of Kellyanne Conway, she was seen sitting at the news briefing where Saturday Night Live star Sean Spicer was LYING about why Flynn “resigned” texting to, who else, but someone who’s “Twitter feed” shows an allegiance to the White Supremacist movement.  Of course, afterward – after being “outed”- Conway did what she usually does – she LIED.  Only this time it was to cover up her own actions instead of Trump’s.  Someone must have “hacked” into her Twitter account and sent the message – at exactly the same time she was seen sending a message during Spicer’s attempt to calm everyone down about Flynn’s “resignation.”  Now, this should surprise no one because Conway came into the Trump campaign with Steve Bannon straight from Brietbart which is the “home” of the White Supremacist movement in America.  The only surprise I have each time stuff like this comes up is that our “liberal media” seems to be “missing in action” as far as reporting it to the general public.  Despite the implication of people of this “bent” in positions of the highest power in this nation our “liberal media” seems to be willing to “go along to get along.”

That would bring me back to the aforementioned Stephen Miller – who’s pretty much been identified as a “whack job” every step along the way.  If you missed it, he made the rounds on the “Sunday news” shows last week and, depending on your perspective – either told it like it is, OR showed the reality of what I’ve been writing about for the past year – as Trump became a “possibility” in the republican primary process.  Miller, as with Bannon and Conway, comes from the Brietbart “world.”  He’s only 31 years old but he talks as if he’s the impending RULER of the universe.  I’m not kidding, this dude was really full of himself.  (And, of course, Trump loved it)  The parts I saw of Miller were a little on the scary side if you believe that Trump is actually going to be able to advance his “plan.”  Miller made statements like: “Trump will not be questioned.”  He made other statements as ridiculous as that and Trump gave him a “Twitter” pat on the back.  That should get my previous references to the similarities of Trump’s campaign with that of a certain German back in the early thirties a bit more relevance.  Of course, the “facts” Miller used in his tirade against anyone who would even question the fuhrer er president, as with MOST of what comes from the White House, were LIES – gaining what the Washington Post “fact checkers” called a “bushel of Pinocchio’s.”

A quick aside:  The other day I saw the picture of Miller that was widely published after his tirade on the so-called “Sunday news shows” and he was giving the “white power” salute with his hands as he was talking to the reporter (being broadcast on national TV).  This is just more of the coded garbage that has been a part of the Trump campaign – mostly what I’ve picked up on is the coded language – and, I have to admit I had no idea what the “white power” hand signal was until it was shown to me in an article from Daily Kos.  They showed examples of two other White House staffers doing the same thing in the White House briefing room.  NO ONE in the “liberal media” is reporting on this stuff.

I don’t know how much longer the republicans who control the Congress will be able to tolerate Trump as THEIR president.  The world is wondering, “what the hell is going on in America?”  The American people who are watching are in the streets in virtually every city – and, each proclamation that Trump comes up with (if the public is informed) seems to result in massive protests.  And, it’s going to keep getting progressively worse.  First of all, Trump has no idea what he got himself into.  Secondly, the reality of what Trump, and probably more significantly Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, wants is going to be FAR outside the “mainstream” in America.  And, say what you will about the “mainstream,” but politicians need to be operating in at least some segment of it.  The opposition is likely to grow and Trump’s “approval rating” is likely to continue falling.  Yes, the 30% of America who were attracted to Trump’s candidacy because he led the “Birther” movement, will stick with him high and dry.  That is the Brietbart side of America – which, until Trump got elected was considered a “fringe element.”  Many of the supporters of Brietbart are unapologetically RACISTS.

Trump has already committed impeachable offenses – that we know about and probably some we don’t yet know about – and, in my view, as each day passes, he’s on thinner and thinner “ice.”  The reality is that “true conservatives” in America have a much higher opinion of Mike Pense than they have of Trump.  I believe it’s just a matter of time before republicans start talking among themselves (if it’s not already happening) about the IMMENSE damage Trump is doing to their “brand.”  At that point the “scheming” as to how to get rid of him will begin to grow.  Remember, they are all about having power (obviously, they know not how to govern) and when they get to the point where they believe Trump is going to cause them to lose power it will be a short while until he’s impeached.  It’s going to happen!  (The TRUTH about the collusion with the Russians during the campaign will likely be the “last straw”)

So, that gets me to my final thought.  A person who commented on this site asked me to give ten things that should be done to make things better (Implying that I’m “whining”).  Of course, if you’ve read some of my previous posts you know there are at least ten that should be obvious – although the suggestions I made to President Obama obviously are “moot” at this point.  But, here’s at least a few (and, Trump could save his presidency by reading this and actually pushing for them – I’m not kidding): 1.) Instead of repealing the ACA, FIX IT.  Start by including the “public option” that was torpedoed by turncoat democrat Joe Lieberman. 2.) Push for an overhaul of our infrastructure with a “bent” toward clean energy – although, obviously, roads, dams, bridges, schools, government offices, and more need to be upgraded and/or repaired.  And, do this by encouraging union workers who are making a “living wage.” (require and independent bidding process for the projects) 3.) Improve Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – first by extending the payroll tax for all earnings which would solve the present problem and lead to increases that would benefit millions of Seniors. (full disclosure, I’m a senior – but, we all get there if we’re lucky enough) and secondly, by laying the groundwork for a “medicare for all” future 4.) Reverse the recent decisions to allow the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access pipeline, each of which threatens the water supply of millions of Americans by allowing the DIRTIEST oil to pass through America’s heartland.  I really DON’T want to have to say “I told you so” on each of these dangerous projects – just check out the reality of the safety of these pipelines – they’re breaking all over the place.  The list of “accidents” is staggering) 5.) Actually create an advisory group to lead the way in rebuilding our inner cities in a way that will help minority communities become healthier.  And, this advisory group should be made up of the leaders of those communities.  Commit the resources to do this.  6.) Get rid of Betsy DeVos in the education department and appoint someone who believes in public education and local control (Yes, there needs to be federal guidelines regarding equal opportunity, but not the cumbersome system that has evolved since “no child left behind” left so many children “behind.” 7.) Actually commit the resources to our VA to deal with the reality that there’s MILLIONS of veterans who are not getting the care they need to deal with the aftermath of being sent into ridiculously STUPID wars.  I believe almost all veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to at least be suffering from PTSD.  8.) Pass comprehensive immigration reform that gives those who need it a “path to citizenship.”   I could go on, but hopefully, if that person shows up here again, this will do as a start.

I’ve pointed out many times on this site, and in other situations, that I’ve always been an “independent” voter.  Yes, of late, I pretty much vote for democrats because I’m so disgusted with where the republican party has evolved over the years, but I’ve never joined the democratic party.  It started with Nixon, got worse under Reagan, GW Bush/Dick Cheney took the “conservatives” farther from “we the people” and closer to the corporate interests who’ve been scheming to destroy as many rights of America’s workers as they can since the infamous “Powell memo” to the Chamber of Commerce in 1972, and now we’ve gone full bore fascism with Trump.  Since I’ve donated (small amounts of) money to various democrats in the last few years, my email inbox is FULL of solicitations from candidates I know not who they are, or in many cases even where they’re from.  The emails always came from democrats until about a year ago.

Someone, no idea who it is, evidently gave my email address to a far right group that is part of the “engine” behind the Trump movement and, like the democrats, they’re sharing it with their brethren.  Now I’m getting bombarded daily by multiple organizations pushing the “White Nationalist” agenda.  One of the sights, “The Mad Patriots,” sends me something virtually EVERY day and occasionally twice in a day.  I don’t open them – I don’t need to because I can tell what’s inside by reading the bylines of the articles.  I can’t remember the other names of the outfits sending me their propaganda, but it’s pretty much all centered on the same prerogative.  It’s the White people against everyone else.  The democrats are the enemies of “White America.”  Honestly, it makes me a bit sick to my stomach that there’s so many “White Nationalist” or “White Supremacist” or now, “alt right” groups still floating around in our nation.  And, each one of these “sites” (groups) are extremely happy with out 45th president.  It matters not to them that the Russians very well may have put him in office.  They are not fans of the FBI, yet I’m sure they’re delighted that the head of the FBI did everything he could to make sure Trump would win, in case the Russian influence wasn’t quite enough.  (Jim Comey, the aforementioned head of the FBI knew about the Russian influence and the degree of it prior to the election, but he said NOTHING because the FBI “doesn’t comment on ongoing investigations!”  Unless, of course, Hillary Clinton is involved)

The people running these particular right wing organizations are TOTALLY happy with our new president and ALL the stuff he’s doing that’s putting MILLIONS of protesters in the streets.  These are the same people who were supporting the “tea party” and “birther” movements along with the policy of obstructing President Obama EVERY step of the way.  It’s interesting to read the bylines on their emails which would suggest that they don’t like the idea of “tit for tat.”  Should the democrats suck up courage and do the same thing back to Trump that they did to Obama, in their mind, that would be “un-American.”  And, of course, they’re totally confident that the democrats won’t have the courage to do so.  Personally, I believe that is why so many Americans have abandoned the democratic party which, at one time, stood as the beacon for the blue collar working class in America.

Well, in my view, it’s time for the democrats to step it up and reclaim the middle class of this nation by FIGHTING the republican agenda and Trump EVERY step of the way.  Take for example Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court.  Democrats should unite to block the nomination and FORCE the republicans to get rid of, once and for all, the filibuster in the Senate.   Republicans will not be in control forever (hopefully, only two more years – thanks to Trump) and, they are the ones who’ve abused the filibuster to the point where it’s time to get rid of it.  The democrats can force them to “get it over with” on this nomination.  Let the republicans get legislation through and, just as they’ve said about the ACA, I believe anything they propose will collapse, eventually, under its own weight.  “We the people” are likely going to have to endure another MAJOR economic DISASTER to finally get the point across that these people (republicans and their benefactors) have been plundering the Middle Class of America since the 1970’s.

Make no mistake, the soon to be proposed tax cuts will funnel BILLIONS to the so-called 1% (which, of course, includes Trump and virtually EVERY person affiliated with his administration). along with repealing the Affordable Care Act – which presumably will give the top 1 or 2% in America another $360 BILLION over the next ten years.  This kind of crap has been going on since the day Ronald Reagan said, “I’m going to cut your taxes AND balance the budget.”  That’s maybe the greatest LIE in American history – and, republicans are still getting away with it – which demonstrates several things.  First, it shows how they are masters at messaging and propaganda (they always get away with blaming democrats for the ballooning deficits and national debt).  It also shows, as I mentioned above, how weak the democrats are that they would allow this to happen – while we’re all fighting over wedge issues.  The republicans are masters at “playing” the democrats and the media.  (Trump’s ability to manipulate and bully the media is a major factor in why he’s sitting in the White House as I’m writing this)  And, finally, and regrettably – as I’m a retired teacher, it really shows how STUPID the American public is.

Well, I should probably use a different and more kind term than “stupid,” because it’s probably more related to how busy Americans are and how they are relying on a media that is all about ratings and shareholder value as opposed to investigative reporting.  For example, as a teacher, I spent the last 23 years of my working life along side people who all had college degrees and most who had advanced college degrees (ie Masters, PHD).  Over the span of years from when the Supreme Court decided the case until right before this election I asked MANY teachers this question: “Do you know what Citizens United is?”  Not ONE teacher was able to answer me in the affirmative, NOT ONE!  I’m sure I asked the question over 50 times during the 8 year period I’m talking about.  There were rare occasions when a teacher would even want to have a conversation about politics – despite our “mission” to help mold proficient and productive “citizens.”  To me, a productive citizen is one who votes and one who looks beyond the headlines and bylines to find information needed to make an informed decision.  For heaven’s sake – in America, if over 50% of eligible voters participate in an election, that, in itself, is a “victory.”  Yikes!

And, now we’ve got Trump as president and Steve Bannon, a White Supremacist – who, by the way is revered by the right wing organizations I referred to above, as a top advisor to our president and a member of the National Security Counsel.  Things could easily go from bad to worse and in a hurry.   I know teachers who don’t vote and don’t want anything to do with politics.  I know others who vote but have no idea of why they’re voting for anyone – yet when I try to invoke conversation it’s usually squelched by negative complaints and phrases like, “I don’t want to talk about politics.”

I’ve always believed that “we the people” get what we deserve when it comes to elections, both local and national.  But this time feels different.  The reality is that NEITHER candidate for president could have ended up a “popular” choice – due to their high unfavorable ratings – although Hillary Clinton won, what in a normal year would be a landslide with the popular vote – almost 3 MILLION more votes than Trump nationwide – but, NEVER in my wildest dreams did I envision I would be talking about whether or not our president is beholden to the Russians, or the FBI for his victory.  I saw the issue with the voter suppression coming from the “right” for several years before this election and still think it may have been a deciding factor as well, but the more I think about where we’re at as a nation, my mind keeps coming back to the spinelessness of the democrats.

I still remember 2014 when democrats running for congressional seats wanted nothing to do with President Obama – didn’t want him campaigning for them, were unwilling to run on the very successes of their FIGHT against republican obstruction, and basically in my mind didn’t have the courage to STAND UP for their own professed values.  It was like “tell them what they want to hear,”  which is another way of telling voters we think you really are stupid and we’re going to say whatever we think might get your vote.

So, now “we the people” are in a spot where if Trump is going to be “stopped” it will be up to the democrats growing “a pair.”  That, in conjunction with the “liberal media” actually doing investigative reporting might give us a chance to stop this disaster before it does damage that will last a generation or more.  Already, it’s clear that the Supreme Court is going back to the 5 to 4 majority that believes “corporations are people my friends.”  The new appointee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, has a history of calling corporations “people” along with a right wing record that will conceivably make Antonin Scalia look like a moderate.  Democrats will be unable to totally block Gorsuch – unless Mitch McConnell is unwilling to give up his filibuster tool – once it’s gone, it’s gone – but, they can force the issue as I stated above.  They need to send a message to their “liberal” base that they’re willing to FIGHT.  Unfortunately, I have to say I’ll believe it when I see it.  Trump and the people he’s associated with are bound and determined to “Make America White again” and they are bullying their way in that direction.  The right wing websites I mentioned above are not subtle in what they believe and in their support for Trump.  “We the people” need to call it what it is and band together to stop this right wing assault on our nation as soon as possible.  We need to DEMAND democrats actually represent us and if they continue to lack the will for this fight, then it’s time for a THIRD party.

Trump and his surrogates have their “alternate facts” and his supporters buy the LIES hook line and sinker.  Additionally, republicans in Congress are falling all over themselves to defend Trump because they believe he’ll allow them to FINALLY get their draconian legislation through that repeals what’s left of the New Deal (and, of course, Gorsuch’s nomination is worth whatever damage Trump can do to the nation with the “Conservative Christians” because they only care about the abortion issue – and, it’s their hope Roe v Wade will be overturned).  It’s time for all us “minions” out here – including many of the blue collar Americans in the mid west and south to decide if all the great benefits our fathers and grandfathers (mothers and grandmothers as well) FOUGHT for after the great depression are worth us FIGHTING for today?  I’ll say it again, rights and privileges are much easier to lose than to regain!

Since the inauguration of Donald Trump I’ve already pointed out multiple times how much “we the people” are going to need the press AND the democrats in the next 2 to 4 years – I should say four years, because, as my granddaughter so eloquently pointed out to me, Mike Pense is no great improvement over Donald Trump.  However, the constitution says that officers of the government – meaning the president for sure – should be impeached for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”  There are many who believe Donald Trump has already violated laws that would fall into the “high crimes and misdemeanor” part of the constitution.  His business interests are already showing startling “growth” around the world and you’d have to have your head in the sand, or have no idea what it is, to not understand where Trump is on dangerous ground with the emoluments clause in the constitution.

If you are unfamiliar with this, here is the “emoluments” clause in the constitution – designed to prevent national leaders from profiting from their position in government: “No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”   An emolument is a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office.  As you can see, Trump is ALREADY on shaky ground.  Already an untold number of people from “foreign states” have paid fees to stay in Trump hotels!

Of course there has been no indication there’s a republican with the courage to call Trump on anything – he’s already put our troops in Iraq at grave risk with his flippant suggestion that we might “still take their oil.”  I’ve yet to hear a single republican even mention how dangerous that comment was (of course, he had repeated it numerous times on the campaign trail – and, I’m sure the Iraqi’s have recording devices and his comments are likely “the talk of the town” in Baghdad as I’m writing this.  I credit Rachel Maddow of MSNBC for cluing me in on Trump’s latest bloviating on this terrible subject (what would you think if you were an Iraqi?) – but, if we lose one member of our military due to this brazen pontificating, I believe that would be enough to call Trump’s presidency a “failed experiment.”  Honestly, it’s bound to happen (that is, Trump’s presidency a failure – God forbid the previous option).  I lived through the Nixon years and he was a lightweight compared to Trump.  I’ve been viewing Trump through the “he’s a fascist” lens – but, for a while today, I got the impression he’s more like a mafia boss.  Either way, he’s a dangerous narcissist.

It was reported tonight that the entry fee for his resort in Florida has doubled from $100,000 to $200,000 since he took the oath of office.  He has not divested himself – this is just step one in what appears will be an ongoing challenge by Trump of our Constitution and the “constitution” of the republicans who control congress regarding corruption and conflicts of interest.  Should that change in 2018 I’m not feeling that confident the democrats will do anything – but, we can always hope.  If you remember, the last time “we the people” kicked the republicans out of control in Congress was 2006 and the democrats proceeded to do NOTHING regarding ending the Iraq war and/or impeaching GW Bush for CLEAR “high crimes and misdemeanors” – which was their MANDATE.  So, we’re on shaky ground depending on democrats – although I believe Trump’s pushing the limits is so brazen already – and, it’s bound to get more-so – that maybe we’ll see congress actually do their job.  If no one REALLY is “above the law” in this country then Trump should be in trouble already.

In an interesting twist of irony, Chris Hayes, on MSNBC, tonight reported that Trump has been communicating on his PERSONAL cell phone since he took the oath of office.  (Calls to Vladimir Putin?)  In case you don’t remember, this is EXACTLY the same issue republicans had with “crooked Hillary” regarding the dangers of using personal communications devices for government business.  There’s supposed to be a record of every message that transpires and, obviously. communications should not go through personal servers.  So, is Trump soon to refer to himself as “crooked Donald?”  Do you actually think Jim Comey and the FBI will be investigating this terrible breach of “national security?”  How about Jacob Chaffetz and the House ethics oversight committee?  Maybe they could have the Trump hearings at the same time as the Clinton hearings to save taxpayers the money they’re going to need to pay for the wall on the Mexican border.

Trump apparently wants to re-open the “black (torture) sites” where GW Bush/Dick Cheney so ruthlessly sent “enemy combatants” during the illegal invasion of Iraq and the fiasco in Afghanistan.  He wants to authorize TORTURE and, I heard with my own ears tonight, that Trump believes TORTURE works – despite ALL the evidence to the contrary.  Evidently, according to Trump someone at the CIA told him this (kind of like Bernhard Langer to told him there were people waiting in line to vote who didn’t look like they should be voters – therefore, 3 – 5 MILLION “illegals” voted for Hillary – of course, Langer, himself, is a German and ineligible to vote – not sure why he was in that line).  Well, regardless of who we have at the CIA, TORTURE is ILLEGAL – it’s a WAR CRIME and it doesn’t work.  This of course, (if I let it) would get me back to my major disappointment with our outgoing president Barack Obama who essentially made all this stupidity possible by blocking the investigations into the TORTURE authorized by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and others and committed by CIA agents who were very thankful when then President Obama said, “we’re going to look forward instead of back.”

Hopefully, those agents got the message when Obama became president that their futures were in his hands.  Had he allowed the investigations to proceed, not only would Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld have been in jeopardy but also all the agents who carried out the illegal orders as well.  I said at the time, “looking forward instead of back is like saying it’s OK to the next republican in the White House.”  It makes enforcing our laws impossible, you have to LOOK BACK to prosecute crime.   And, here we are with a president who seems to be chomping at the bit to authorize TORTURE.  I’m not sure who he wants to TORTURE because I don’t believe we’re rounding up Muslims based on complaints by their antagonists anymore.  I hope this isn’t a sign of escalation in America’s “endless war.”  I’m sure the “Military Industrial Complex” would love nothing more.

Here’s what I believe the democrats need to understand, and sooner rather than later.  The so-called f@#^ing liberals, in the words of Rahm Emmanuel when he was the chief of staff for President Obama, are the BASE of the democratic party.  We are not looking for democrats to be “republican lite.”  We are tired of spineless politicians feeding from the same trough as the republicans for whatever is left after MOST of the corporate money goes to the GOP.  We’re tired of wondering why issues with 75% public approval NEVER get enacted.  We’re tired of endless WAR.  We’re tired of politicians enriching themselves at the expense of “we the people.” (In fact, it appears the most brazen example of this will be the confirmation of Tom Price as HHS Secretary – where he’ll be leading the charge in repealing The Affordable Care Act – after making HUGE profits off of stock tips while a member of the House oversight committee on the health industry.  He should probably be headed to court, but this is 21st century America)  I could go on and on about what we’re tired of, but what we want are some courageous leaders who will FIGHT for the “least of these” in the words of Jesus Christ.

A couple days ago Trump asked many (most?) of the experienced lifetime public servants at the top of the “food chain” in the State Department to resign – preceding the apparent confirmation of Exxon-Mobil’s chief executive as our Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.  You can read Steve Coll’s “Private Empire, ExxonMobil and American Power” to find out all you need to know about Mr. Tillerson.  This (the purging of the experienced State Department public servants) SHOULD get your attention.  I can virtually guarantee you the sanctions put on Russia for their actions in Ukraine and Crimea (not to mention their meddling in our election) will soon be lifted.  Tillerson (and Trump) will be easy targets for Vladimir Putin.

Couple this (the purging of experienced diplomats) with the attacks on the press – Steve Bannon (Trump’s senior advisor via Breitbart) was quoted in the New York Times – apparently, he asked them to quote him – that the press “needs to shut up.”  He claims our “mainstream media” still doesn’t understand why Trump was voted into office and, apparently, he’s thinking we should all just be happy with whatever transpires.  Here’s how I see it.  He’s correct in that the media doesn’t really understand how Trump was voted into office because they are too busy trying to be “fair and balanced” to “get it.”  Bannon represents the segment of the population who became enraged by the election of a person of color to the “White House.”  And, make no mistake, there’s a significant number of Americans who still cling to the “white privilege” they’ve become so accustomed to over the past many years.  President Obama’s election was a “wake-up call” to the White Nationalist movement in this country of which Bannon is, apparently, the chief spokesperson.  You don’t have to read “Breitbart news” much to realize if that’s the mainstream in America, there’s a bunch of us in real trouble.

They’re purging the government of veteran public servants, they’re striking out at the media, and they’re coddling the intelligence community.  These are the ingredients of authoritarian fascism – clear and simple!  The parallels to 1930’s Germany, including the “conservative Christians” as the base, is – as I’ve pointed out many times since Trump became the nominee – is startling.  The damage Trump is doing to this nation is HUGE and, if “we the people” don’t FIGHT against this agenda EVERY DAY – the future of the country I love is in grave jeopardy.  I can’t even believe I’m saying this, but I NEVER thought I’d live to see the day when we would elect a president who was observably fascist and who was hell bent on “partnering” with Russia in some kind of authoritarian attempt to “rule the world.”  I truly hope I’m wrong, but the evidence so far says otherwise.  If the sanctions on Russia are lifted after Tillerson’s confirmation my worst fears will be confirmed.  The world is on edge waiting to see of the United States of America is going to devolve into a fascist state.  I, for one, am prepared to do whatever I can to prevent that from becoming the reality.

Suggested Reading:  “Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Eric Metaxas; “The Family” by Jeff Sharlett; and, the above mentioned “ExxonMobil” by Steve Coll

If you’ve been paying attention to government and politics for any length of time, and if you’re a “liberal” (ie “progressive – the politically correct term) and you know people who watch Fox “news” and listen to right wing talkers on the radio – people like Limbaugh, Hannity, and a plethora of others – you know already you can’t reason with them.  They have been convinced, without real evidence, that they’ve been “educated” and that’s it.  The other day, I thought Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump’s “senior advisor” – the front person in their war on truth – said something I’m sure at this point she regrets.  While talking (arguing – which is her specialty) with Chuck Todd on MSNBC, (and, I have to add, I’m no fan of Todd – he’s proven over and over again he’s no match for the right wing spin machine) Conway – while referring to the discrepancies regarding claims about the number of people attending Trump’s inauguration – where Trump’s press secretary had made PROVABLE lies – said that the Trump administration has “alternative facts.”

This is nothing new if you’ve been paying attention – but it is the “engine” showing why Trump’s presidency is so dangerous.  I’m already reading postings on web sites of the Trump supporters who’ve been sucked in “hook, line, and sinker” and you can’t reason with them.  They have their “alternative facts” and that’s all they need.  I’ve been pointing out for years on this site that Fox “news” (along with the right wing talkers) adopted Joseph Goebbel’s “Big Lie Theory” from their inception.  They make it up as they go – in whatever way gets them to their desired “end.”  (ie “the end justifies the means”)  Those at the top are pathological liars – their victims, the people who watch and/or listen to their propaganda are simply Americans who don’t understand that anyone on TV as a “news commentator” would be spewing pure propaganda via provable lies.  Of course, it’s up to each listener to verify what’s being said and I know very few who do that.

And, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that those on the “other side of the isle” (Democrats) are saints.  The reality is that we all have our own perspectives and we “spin” what we see based on that.  But, the difference is when what you’re saying is provably FALSE and you do (or should) know it.  If this wasn’t so serious, for example, the display of Mr. Spicer – Trump’s press secretary – would have been pure folly.  It would be a great lesson for a journalism professor to teach his/her students how NOT to give a press briefing.  You would have to be totally oblivious to reality to believe what he was saying – yet, the next day here was Conway backing him up by claiming “we have our alternative facts.”  (in an ideal world, the BEST journalism lesson from this situation would have been Spicer saying “I resign” when ordered to stand in front of MILLIONS and repeat a LIE.)

In my view, Trump and Conway fall into the category of pathological liars.  By definition, a pathological liar is someone who compulsively tells lies or fabricates information.  It is my belief that pathological liars are so “accustomed” to lying that they believe their own words as the words leave their mouths.  If you’ve watched Donald Trump at all – and, if you’re like me and have relied on MSNBC for some of your “information,” you couldn’t help but watch Trump a lot – because they crammed Trump down our throats during the campaign – and, continue to do so to this day – the other day I saw him sign several executive orders – I honestly don’t remember a single instance of MSNBC or any other media outlet showing live a series of executive orders being signed.  Back to my point – Trump’s LYING is nothing new.  And, Kellyanne Conway is a master liar as well.  She can look the camera right in the “eye” and give a total “falsehood” (in the words of Todd) with seemingly no visceral reaction.  She is the BEST I’ve ever seen at what I call deflecting (not sure if it’s a real “term”).  That is, she’ll be asked a question about, for example Trump’s admitting he’s a sexual predator, and her response will be that Hillary Clinton had a personal email server.  When people who master these traits – lying, deflecting, and there are others I’m not mentioning here – like projection – get to the highest levels of government and they have fascist tendencies – LOOK OUT!

It’s not hard to realize that our president is a narcissist.  But, here’s the definition in case you’ve missed it: “a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.  So, we’ve all got to live with this for the next four years (unless some republicans in Congress get some courage – or, maybe two years if the people protesting this last weekend actually turn their anger into purging republicans (and recalcitrant democrats) from congress.  Conway was suggesting that Trump’s inauguration was attended by more people than those who showed up for Barack Obama’s inauguration (in both instances is wasn’t even close – especially Obama’s first inauguration) and she was trying to blow off the significance of the FACT millions of people ALL AROUND THE WORLD were in the streets as she was speaking; voicing their OPPOSITION to Trump’s agenda – and, presumably to Trump himself.  I’m guessing there’s a lot of women who don’t want him grabbing their p@#$%^s no matter how famous he gets.  Both Spicer and Conway were suggesting that if the “mainstream media” continues to report the TRUTH (of course, they didn’t characterize it that way) the Trump administration will bypass the press.  When I’ve suggested, in the past, this is a WAR for the heart and soul of America – I hope you’re starting to realize why.  Trump is a fascist and there’s way too many in America who either don’t understand this or who are OK with it.

The part of all this that is the most depressing to me is that “we the people” are pretty much relying on the democrats and the press to combat Trump’s agenda.  In just four days Trump has played enough of his “hand” for us to realize that his intentions are far less than “honorable.” (at least from the perspective I see as “American”)  He’s instituted “gag orders,” for example, in virtually every department of government – no one is to talk to the press.  He’s freezing funds that have been appropriated for issues that relate to the environment, he’s signed orders to “restart” the two pipeline projects halted during the Obama administration (Keystone XL and Dakota Access) – one of which Trump has a financial interest in seeing completed (do you think republicans will “call” him on this?)  Trump is ordering that information and data related to “climate change” be purged from the various agencies collecting and studying the data – information that could be lost FOREVER (unless courageous civil servants manage to copy the data prior to the purge – let’s hope).  This is just the first few days – as I’ve said before, the DAMAGE Trump can do to our nation is almost unimaginable!

I was so encouraged by the “Women’s march” the day after the inauguration – but, we all need to realize that won’t stop him one bit.  As he’s proclaiming that as many as 5 MILLION “illegals” voted in the last election – presumably ALL for Mrs. Clinton – Trump is saying he would have otherwise won the “popular vote” and therefore, he has a “mandate.”  Here’s the reality: more than 65 MILLION Americans voted AGAINST Trump and of the 62 Million voting for him, a significant number were actually voting AGAINST Mrs. Clinton – in my view, largely due to the 25 years of republican made, and unsubstantiated in every instance, “scandals” that they were able to push into our “liberal media.”  Which gets me to my concern regarding the media and the reality “we the people” are depending on them to expose EVERY illegal action of Trump’s administration – in fact, every ACTION – because some of the “legal” actions will be extremely damaging to the gains “we the people” have made since the 1930’s – most of which Trump wants to purge.

I’m of the age that I graduated from high school around the time of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution which propelled America headlong into the Viet Nam fiasco.  I’ve watched the press closely most of the time between then and now.  Like most Americans I want to believe our press is “neutral” and is reporting the “news” in an unbiased manner.  Of course, it’s pretty much impossible for any human to be unbiased – but, I’ve always longed for any journalist who “tells it like it is.”  Most journalists who fall in that category have been labeled “liberal” – by the so-called “mainstream media.”  For example, Greg Palast, in my view, is a courageous reporter who “tells it like it is.”  There’s many “corporatists” in America who don’t like that and, from what I can tell, Palast is “persona non grata” in the “liberal media.”  I support the “Nation,” which is a liberal publication that “tells it like it is.”  (The last part of that sentence is evidently what makes them liberal) When I read the “Nation” I feel as if I’m reading actual information.  I’ve read some of Seymore Hersh’s work and, to me, he’s an investigative reporter who “tells it like it is.”  These people are few and far between.

That all said, if you look at the history of our “liberal media” just in my adult lifetime – 1965 to the present – there are so many examples of the media in collusion with the government that it makes me REALLY nervous feeling as if I have to trust them to counter the actions of Donald Trump.  How are they going to react when he decides to bypass them?  What kind of “deals” will he make with the 9 CONSERVATIVE corporations which control almost ALL of the “liberal media?” (Thanks to Bill Clinton and the Telecommunications Act of 1996)  Just take Viet Nam, for example.  Our media – which would, in this instance, include the Movie Industry – is, to this day, glamorizing our troops involvement in Viet Nam and acting as if the MILLIONS of Vietnamese who were the VICTIMS of our nation’s overreach were not real.  Our media condemned Saddam Hussein for using chemical weapons but was silent as America did the same thing.  (I had friends who DIED due to their exposure to chemical weapons while fighting in Viet Nam).  And, just as the media did when GW Bush/Dick Cheney invaded Iraq, during Viet Nam our troops were portrayed as protecting the people of South Viet Nam – at the same time they were FIGHTING the people of South Viet Nam.  The almost EXACT same thing happened in Iraq.

So, is the press going to push back at Trump?  Does the press in America believe in the foundations of the constitution and the advances so many have given so much allowing the rest of us to gain so much?  And, if the press is unwilling to do their job – and, probably even if they are, are “we the people” willing to FIGHT for the rights many of us have been taking for granted over the years?  Few Americans have had to fight for anything in the last 40 years (when I got out of high school there was a draft, and MILLIONS of unsuspecting young (mostly) men were sent to Viet Nam to fight an ill advised and illegal war – we were brainwashed into thinking we were saving the world from communism)  Which gets me to my final point.  Over the years, our media has essentially been part of a propaganda scheme that could end up being our undoing with the election of Trump.

Propaganda?  America?  I’m sure you’re saying that I’ve gone over the deep end.  But, if you start reading as much about the “real” American history as I’ve been reading, the reality is more than sobering.  I believe, we in America have been brainwashed.  We’ve been convinced that we’re the greatest nation on the planet.  (Yes, we are the wealthiest and most powerful, but the greatest?  By who’s definition?)  Our history is FULL of realities that the history books attempt to hide.  Let’s start with Slavery.  I believe America is still trying to push that reality “under the rug.”  Abraham Lincoln absolved us of that issue, right?  If that was really the case, Donald Trump, the head of the “birther” movement would have never gotten near the White House.  What about our history with Native Americans.  It’s not just that we killed many of them and pushed the rest onto reservations on land no one wanted – but, now over 100 years later that land has become more valuable and we’re going to put pipelines and who knows what else on that land.  Treaties? What Treaties?

How about Chile, Panama, Ecuador, and all the other places in the southern hemisphere (and around the globe) where our corporate interests have superseded the will of the people in those countries – causing our CIA to instigate coups that overthrew democratically elected (albeit) socialist governments that were committed to protecting their natural resources – because those natural resources were necessary for the profitability of said corporate interests.  How much of that was reported in the “liberal media?” How many stories have you read about people like Sukarno in Indonesia – slaughtering MILLIONS – but, opening the oil spigots to American corporations so he’s OK?  I just finished a book about the Exon-Mobil corporation – who’s CEO is likely to be our next Secretary of State – how many stories have our “liberal media” reported about the regimes we support in return for access to their oil?  Most people know about Saudi Arabia – but, how much do they know?  We need the oil, we’re all driving cars everywhere, it’s no our problem, right?  In the southern hemisphere MILLIONS of dissidents have “disappeared” over the years as we supported one dictator after another – where has our “liberal media” been on all of this?

And, now we have a president who’s coming right out front and claiming we “should have taken the oil” in reference to the invasion of Iraq!  That’s right, during the campaign he said the invasion of Iraq was wrong and illegal (and, he dishonestly said he opposed it from the start) – but, evidently, as long as we were there – well, we might as well “grab the oil.”  That, in and of itself, was one of the most absurd statements I’ve ever heard coming from the mouth of a US President – but, we’ll see how it evolves.  The only person I’ve heard, to date, mention this as a significant issue is Rachel Maddow of MSNBC.  It should be headline news and people should be beyond outraged. (I can guarantee you, it’s “headline news” in Iraq)  As soon as our troops in Iraq again become the targets of the Iraqi’s they’re – at least they were at the end of Obama’s terms in office – fighting along side, – to remove ISIL – I guarantee you the reason will be Trump’s STUPID and DANGEROUS words he thoughtlessly spewed out at the CIA (all the while as he was dishonoring their “wall of honor”).  Where is the media outrage – is it going to take Americans to lose their lives over this to get people’s attention?  (and, God forbid, if that happens, I’m guessing Fox will find a way to blame it on Obama)

During the Iraq “war” the media reported it as if it was actually a war.  In reality it was a non-provoked invasion of a sovereign nation.  The media was diligent in reporting all the deaths of American troops as if they were the only real humans in the area.  Roughly half of Iraq’s population of 26 MILLION was either uprooted or killed.  Estimates that I remember (I read numerous books about the reality of the Iraq “war”) put the number of Iraq’s killed in the two to three MILLION range and the number injured and/or forced to flee their homes along the lines of another 10 MILLION.  This “war” was represented in our “liberal media” as an invasion that would protect us from a “mushroom cloud” and, after the weapons of mass destruction excuse was debunked, we were there to create a democracy – and, free the people from the savage dictator Saddam Hussein.  The reality was that our troops got sucked into an attack on the people of a sovereign nation with no purpose (or, were they actually thinking about the oil and just miscalculated?)  – except, once the lies were exposed, the same end game that happened in Viet Nam kept us there. Figure out a way to “leave with honor.”  Of course, there’s no way to do that and many of my friends, to this day, understand little to NONE of the reality of Iraq – in my view because our “liberal media” doesn’t tell the truth and, unfortunately, they’re too lazy to read about it from “reliable sources.”

And, now we’re relying on them (the media) to expose Trump – someone of whom you can safely say, “If his lips are moving, he’s lying.”  I believe this is why so many Americans are upset and they don’t know what to do about it.  The republicans in Congress are obstinate and they OBSTRUCTED virtually EVERY initiative proposed by President Obama and have fallen all over themselves to support Trump, the democrats don’t have the courage of their own convictions – the idea that all 48 members of the democratic caucus in the senate, for example, will band together to halt as much of trump’s agenda as possible is like a pipe dream, and, as I’ve tried to show, the media has been in collusion with the government for many years.  Now, it’s true that everyone seems to see Trump as “different,” but, if he’s allowed to go unchallenged for even a short period of time – the damage could take a generation or more to correct.  And, unfortunately, in the short term, the only challenge that I can see could derail his agenda would have to come from republicans – don’t hold your breath!

The damage coming from the rest of the world could be more significant and more enduring.  For example, I can see the dollar losing its status as the world’s currency if other nations get upset enough with Trump’s bullying tactics.  The reality is that there’s many around the world who don’t see America through the “rose colored lens” of our “liberal media” and they would be happy to see us become less relevant – if not irrelevant.  Take the Russians for example.  People like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were not fooled by the recent Russian adventurism while Trump was referring to their president as a great leader.  Clearly, the Russians were doing everything they could to get Trump elected.  Why?  I’ll let you figure that out for yourself.  However, I’ll end this by saying that, while “we the people” are upset with Donald Trump, (and I’ve tried to list “all the ways”) Vladimir Putin is all smiles.

Final thoughts: Will the investigations into Trump’s association with the Russians continue?  Will the investigations into the Russian influence on the election continue?  Will Trump be able to bully all of his adversaries into oblivion?  Will the FBI’s intervention into the election be fully investigated?  Will democrats “grow a pair?”  Time will tell – but, I can assure you that if the democrats don’t lock arms and FIGHT, and, if the “liberal media” cows to Trump’s bullying tactics, this will not end well.  Because, as anyone could see during the “Women’s March” – the numbers who oppose our new president are ENORMOUS!  And, they’re willing to “hit the streets!”

There’s an old saying: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.”  It’s day two of the Donald Trump administration and MILLIONS of people (not just women) are in the streets MARCHING in protest of the reality that the right wing in America along with the Russians and the FBI managed to get Trump elected.  I’m an old man and I’ve  been watching politics since the days of Eisenhower and I, apparently along with all these people marching today (I was not allowed to participate due to doctors orders), are in near disbelief that a man like Trump could win a national election in this nation.  I’ve seen many win the White House who I clearly disagreed with, but nothing along the lines of Trump.  The man is dangerous and MILLIONS around the world see this.  Republicans are trying to convince “we the people” that Trump is going to “Make America Great Again.”  Think about what Trump has said, who he’s associating with, and hold on for the next four years.  He is what it appears!

I’m not sure what was the most uplifting for me today as I watched footage of the MILLIONS of people in the streets, but I have to say that watching the HUGE numbers of people marching from places all around the WORLD was very encouraging.  I saw, in the words of Bernie Sanders, Yuge crowds in London, Paris, Berlin, and even somewhere in Greece.  I heard there were protests in 66 countries.  Trump gave an inaugural address that further showed his commitment to the White Nationalists who were the engine behind his campaign.  The reality is that Trump’s “base” will believe him no matter what happens and it will be a long time until they get over the FACT a person of color was in the “White House,” so there is going to be issues in the next four years.  The people on the streets today are going to have to stay strong and they’re going to have to PUSH those in the democratic party to stand up for them.  The frustration in America has been driven by people’s anger at our politicians not listening to them.  The democrats had better start listening or there will be a third party by 2018.

Trump has already started the implementation of his “agenda” and much of what he’ll try to do will be “under the radar.”  For example, I heard last night that shortly after Trump took the oath of office, the Justice Department sent a request for a delay in proceedings on a Texas voter suppression law that clearly is/was aimed at preventing Blacks and Hispanics from voting – a law that was apparently soon to be ruled unconstitutional.  Without the support of the Justice department, which was apparently ordered to request this delay the moment Trump became president,  who knows what will happen with this law.  I’m just pointing it out as a clear statement of their true intentions as we move forward.  Trump is already thinking ahead to 2020 and he’s going to need to block a lot of voters to get re-elected.  The man is NOT stupid and he’ll (as we’ve already seen) do anything to “win.”

I listened to Trump today as he was speaking to members of the CIA.  It was sobering, to say the least.  I’m not sure how many Americans are putting two plus two together (well, in watching the numbers in the streets, apparently it’s in the MILLIONS) but, Trump was pandering to the CIA – the “intelligence” community – saying he was going to give them “probably more support than you want.”  As he was pointing this out he was sharing how “dishonest” our media is.  Now, considering it’s highly likely that the FBI – via James Comey – was responsible for Trump’s election by prompting the swing to Trump in the last week of the campaign after Comey’s “letter to Congress” re-opening the Clinton email “scandal,” and Trump “kissing up” to the CIA (who he recently accused of being like “Nazi’s”), what do you think his plan is regarding “shutting up” our so-called “liberal media.”  My hope, in fact, is that his election will re-invigorate a “liberal media” – which, in my mind, has been terribly missing for many years.  (Keep in mind, this so-called “liberal media” is controlled by, essentially, 9 CONSERVATIVE corporations – that are all about the “bottom line” – and, not so much about “news.”)

But, just put yourself in the place of journalists, just like anyone else – I’m sure – keeping their jobs are priority number one.  Trump is not bashful in going after anyone who does or says something that is unflattering toward him.  And, he’s already busy creating his own “reality” as far as “news.”  Today, I listened to his press secretary, Sean Spicer, blast the “media” for it’s portrayal of the number of people who attended the inauguration.  It was a blatant attempt to create their own reality.  As the saying goes “A picture tells a thousand words,” and the images of those witnessing Trump’s inauguration paled in numbers compared to the total number of people who witnessed Barack Obama take the oath of office.  It wasn’t even close.  Yet, to listen to Spicer, Trump’s crowd set the all time record.  He started parsing numbers from different parts of the Washington Mall and suggesting something approaching one Million people were there.  However, from all reports I’ve heard – and from the images I’ve seen – there were more people in Washington today for the “Women’s March” than were there for the inauguration.  And, when you look at the pictures of the “YUGE” numbers of people around the globe – the backlash was staggering.

In New York alone, the people walking along Fifth Avenue (approaching Trump Tower where they were re-routed) was almost unbelievable.  I watched film of those in New York slowly making there was towards Trump’s so-called “Tower” and the street was packed for hours – for as far as the eye could see (which was about 3 or 4 blocks – from one side of the street to the other.  Now, I’ve never been in New York, but the numbers of people protesting there appeared to me to AT LEAST number in the several hundreds of thousands.  The last image I saw was after dark, around 6:00 PM in New York, and the line of people looked the same as it did hours earlier.  Then there was Chicago – another “YUGE” number of people and, I didn’t see the video of Los Angeles, but the report I heard was something in the neighborhood of 500,000 people in Los Angeles alone.  Yet, Trump and Spicer were claiming that they had record support during the inauguration.  You can believe NOTHING that comes from Trump’s mouth or any of his surrogates.  It was announced today that Trump is entering the “White House” with an approval rating of 32 percent, BY FAR, the LOWEST in history.  His supporters are dwindling down to the die hard White Nationalists who were so adamant in their hatred of President Obama.  It won’t be long and we’ll know where the “floor” is of his supporters and then the republicans in Congress are going to have a “YUGE” decision on their hands.  Do they bend to his wishes, or do they start listening to “we the people.” (hint: don’t hold your breath)

I believe Trump is the catalyst that was needed to cleanse America of this right wing corporatist political party that has commandeered the republican brand.  I listened to Michael Moore today suggesting the “old guard” of the democratic party “needs to go.”  I could not agree MORE!  He’s calling for new and YOUNG leadership of the party – which would include many of the segments of the population that Trump and his faithful despise.  This should get interesting.  Evidently, there’s a strong segment of the population, when faced with the reality of what’s at stake who have been energized.   The democrats clearly need better messengers of their platform.  Now, I’ve never been a strong Hillary Clinton advocate, but I found it interesting and ironic that the agenda that was being put forth today, at least for the protests I heard in Washington DC, was eerily similar to Clinton’s “platform.”  I had to wonder, how many of the people in the streets this weekend failed to vote, or failed to vote for Mrs. Clinton?  I know that she was very unpopular with a significant segment of America – partly due to the Russian meddling – and, mostly due to the 25 years of republican unsubstantiated assaults aimed directly at her (evidently, because, like Putin, they fear her) but, I thought, “how many of these people know what she was proposing?”

I’m not sure how much of that is “on her” – she did spend, in my view, way too much time attacking Trump – but, how much of her pushing her actual message was never covered by the “liberal media?”  All the time during the election cycle, it felt to me as if the media was totally caught up in the war of words from the candidates attacking each other.  I felt as if Trump was allowed to get away with an endless amount of baseless accusations against Mrs. Clinton that the “liberal media” allowed to happen without challenge – as if they were equally “guilty.”  I was – and am still today – convinced that our “liberal media” allowed a “false equivalency” to prevail during the campaign.  Even though there were “fact checkers” – out of the limelight – putting facts to much of the “spin,” not much of that made the “news” outlets – from what I could tell.  I have to admit that as the election wore on, I was so sick of the “news” and how things were presented – even the so-called “liberal equivalent” to Fox (GOP TV), MSNBC, which was busy legitimizing Trump day in and day out.  I couldn’t stand to watch it – for probably the last two or three months of the campaign.  I will always believe one thing Trump claimed – right up to election day – and, that is our system is rigged.  We just didn’t understand how rigged it is – and, looking back, it’s kind of scary.  That’s why the sheer numbers of people in the streets today was so encouraging.

I heard that last Tuesday the first of what conceivably could be many lawsuits accusing Trump of sexual assault was filed.   I’m expecting several of the women who came forth during the campaign will have pro bono attorneys willing to defend them in court and it should be interesting as to how it plays out, to say the least.  Of course Trump has unlimited funds to defend himself and I’m sure among the best lawyers in the country – but, I believe he’ll make Bill Clinton look like a raw amateur when it comes to his sexual discrepancies.  “We the people” need to honor the courage of any of the women who come forth – because they’ll be in line for Trump’s full fury.

But, that brings up another interesting (and ironic) point – which doesn’t give us much confidence there will be courageous republicans standing up to this man.  One of the republicans in Congress, Jason Chaffetz, is the head of the “House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,” and he’s planning on more hearings investigating Hillary Clinton.  Benghazi? Emails? When will these guys get enough?  Yet, here’s a president who’s admitted to being a sexual predator (numerous women came forth and confirmed he had sexually assaulted them), there’s increasing evidence suggesting his surrogates were in cahoots with the Russian government during the campaign – in which the Russians were attempting to get Trump elected, he’s probably ALREADY in violation of the emoluments clause of the constitution, and he’ll probably NEVER release his tax returns just to name the “tip of the iceberg” –  and, I don’t believe Chaffetz has planned a single investigation of Trump.  But Hillary?  They just can’t get enough in there 25 year vendetta to tarnish her image.  It’s a miracle she made it as far as she did.

So, for anyone out there who might be getting fooled by anything Trump, or one of his surrogates might say, I remind you of the saying at the beginning of this post.  Trump is what you think he is!  Don’t be fooled by people like Kellyanne Conway – who could argue with a fence post and win.  I have to give her credit – she’s good at what she does, but the truth as I see it is that she will say whatever needs to be said to deflect the truth away from her boss.  Pathological liars are people who’ve lied so much that they believe their own lies as the words come out of their mouths.  Trump is beyond anything I’ve ever seen and “we the people” are in  for an incredible four years.  If Trump’s election was necessary to wake up the apathetic voters in America then he will lead to the change we need.  It remains to be seen, but today’s marches were encouraging, to say the least!  Our republic is WORTH fighting for!

“We the people” elected Barack Obama and then sat back and expected the “change” to just happen.  Well, I’ll be the first to say that much of what President Obama did shortly after his inauguration didn’t sit well with me.  I knew trouble was on the horizon when his chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel, referred to people like me as “f@#%ing liberals.”  But, the reality is that we sat back and expected things to happen as we envisioned them.  Obviously, that didn’t work.  The republicans are resilient and they understand this is a WAR for the heart and soul of this nation.  Trump is a MAJOR setback, but maybe that’s what we needed.  As a “glass half full” person, that’s how I’m going to look at  this – and, again, the MILLIONS of people in the streets today – day two of Trump’s administration – was extremely encouraging!

I’ve been watching the past few days to the reaction from John Lewis, one of the great Civil Rights icons in America, claiming he doesn’t believe Donald Trump is a legitimate president.  It’s been interesting.  I’ve got to add, prior to getting into whatever “rant” follows, that I felt the same about George W Bush/Dick Cheney back in 2001 (and 2004) for differing reasons, but the bottom line is there’s plenty to be concerned about in America’s elections over the previous 16+ years.  Most people know that Bush/Cheney were “installed” by the Supreme Court after the 2000 election allowing Jeb Bush and his Secretary of State to “pull a rabbit out of a hat” in “swinging” the state of which he was the governor for his brother – when, if looked at in detail, Al Gore clearly SHOULD have carried Florida and the election.

Now we’ve got a president with UNTOLD numbers of questions looming over his head, not the least of which is the effect of the Russian interference on the election.  Additionally, it’s not just me wondering what on earth was in the minds of the FBI sending James Comey out to interfere in the last days of the 2016 election.  I’ve stated here that I noticed a swing in the polls IMMEDIATELY after Comey’s announcement and I clearly remember (and for me that’s amazing at my age) a poll maybe two days after Comey’s announcement where over 50% of “undecided” voters stated that the “reopening” of the email probe was a deciding factor for them.  Nate Silver, who I believe is the most respected “pollster” in America, flatly stated, after studying the final election results, that Comey’s “letter to congress” (which, of course, was made public by republican “leakers”) swung the election to Trump.  Trump’s “base” was mostly made up of Christian Evangelicals – who, apparently, weren’t bothered by Trump admitting to being a sexual predator, or his racist history (and comments), or his lack of knowledge, or his ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin – AND, “White Nationalists” who were energized by Trump’s racist history and have been leading the anti-government push for years.  I honestly believe many of these people believe the government can run itself or the government’s the enemy, or who knows what?

On top of the Russian influence and the FBI interfering in the election there’s, additionally, the issue of the voter suppression efforts of republicans that have been ongoing for years – but, which have gained momentum in the past couple of years due to the Supreme Court “gutting” of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  So, this past week, we had John Lewis – one of the many who put their lives on the line to get the Voting Rights Act passed back in 1965 – questioning the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s presidency – and, he didn’t even bring up the effects of the voter suppression.  Our “liberal media” likely will not investigate the effect of the voter suppression tactics of republicans – but, I don’t think I’m the only one who wonders about its role in Trump’s “victory.”  Here’s some of the places where voter ID laws were instigated – clearly in an attempt to “suppress” the votes of democratic leaning constituencies:  North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan – to name a few.  Why bring up these states?  Well, the combined total of Trump’s votes to Clinton’s in the four states was something like 175,000.  I heard one person in Wisconsin claim that over 300,000 voters were “suppressed” in that state alone.  Of course, just like Florida in 2000 we’ll never know the true results of this election because our “liberal media,” as opposed to being the “watchdog” of our government, is in collusion with our government.  And, by the way, anyone who’s been paying any attention at all knows who the voter ID laws are aimed to discriminate against – it’s no secret!

This (the media’s collusion with government) was evident recently with the uproar after Buzzfeed.com published a “dossier” that had been “floating around Washington” for at least two months that had incriminating allegations regarding the president elect.  No one could “corroborate” the allegations so this “information” was destined to remain “hidden” from public view, presumably for ever. If you’ve been watching, I’m sure you came to the same conclusion I did when listening to Trump “deny” the allegations – especially those relating to the “golden shower” on the bed President Obama slept in while he was in Moscow.  It reminded me of Trump’s denials of the sexual assaults as one woman after another came forward to “out” him on his predatory behavior.  I still remember the lawsuits against Bill Clinton – “back in the day” – and, I have to wonder if any of the women who came forward are going to pursue actions against Trump.  Of course, he “promised” to sue every one of them – we’ll see!

Regarding the “Buzzfeed” allegations, personally, I applaud the outfit who published it – maybe this will force the allegations to be vetted.  Apparently, this information came from a British spy who was hired by someone in the “never Trump” movement to get “opposition research.”  After Trump won the nomination whoever was financing this “research” apparently backed away and, we’ll probably only know if it’s true if the Russian government chooses to allow the “evidence” to become public.  (which would include video evidence) The implication is that the Russians collected this “evidence” as a way to blackmail Trump once he’s in office.  And, if you’re thinking, “Oh, they wouldn’t do that” – well, I’ve got a bridge I’d like to ………… (you know, or should know, the rest of that one) Interestingly, the “spy” who came up with this information has “disappeared” and reports are that others (informants) are in “danger” now that the information has been publicized.  Does all this not make you wonder????

So, getting back to John Lewis – when I think about what he said I’m reminded of the program called “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC where he’s brought up many of the questions looming over the Trump presidency and reported to “we the people” – at least those of us thinking along the lines of Lewis – “You’re not alone.”  O’Donnell showed one poll after another which show how Trump is coming into office as the most unpopular president since the polling began (by a large margin) and how virtually every move Trump makes just makes matters worst for him.  Trump played the media masterfully to win the election, but it appears to me that his “opposition” is beginning to understand him and they are going to give Trump unlimited opportunities to “shoot himself in the foot.”  We can count on the “Twitter” responses to his critics – and, I believe they will use this against him until Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon can convince Trump that presidents don’t (or shouldn’t) use “Twitter.”

The comedians in America are looking forward to the next four years because Trump is likely to give them unlimited opportunities to make fun of him.  However, the damage he could do to this country and “we the people” is not something to be laughing about.  As I said on a previous post, I truly hope I’m wrong about Trump, but I’m not going to hold my breath.  Just the damage done by repealing the Affordable Care Act – without a replacement (which Trump has said won’t happen) that is better, is going to be a flash point.  It took over 60 years to get “something” regarding “national health care” and, while the ACA was far from perfect – it was a first step that could have been improved every year since its inception.  However, simply because it was enacted during Barack Obama’s presidency the republicans have done nothing but try to repeal it for the past 7 years.  We’re soon to find out what they have to replace it.  Trump actually has an opportunity here.  Do you actually believe that he, along with the republican congress, will have a replacement that improves the ACA?  Again, I hope I’m wrong – but, let’s just say I’m extremely skeptical.

Trump could easily quiet his critics in the public, but evidently not without angering the republicans who see red as they begin the implementation of some draconian legislation that had no chance with President Obama in office.  The promise of deregulation should remind people of Bush/Cheney.  Of course, the tearing down of New Deal regulations had it’s infancy in Reagan’s administration, and Bill Clinton – in the interest of the so-called “grand bargain” made a couple major concessions that helped lead to the “Great Recession” of 2008 (mainly the repeal of Glass/Steagall) – but, combined with HUGE tax cuts and out of control military spending – along with deregulation or the lack of enforcement of existing regulations – Bush/Cheney led us into a financial collapse that, save for the actions of President Obama and the democratic congress (and a couple republicans), could have resulted in another Depression (in fact, in places around the world – that was probably the result of Wall Street’s financial misbehavior ie – Greece, Spain, Iceland and others).  Well, listening to Trump and the republican congress it feels like “Deja Vu all over again.”

If we didn’t learn the lesson about “tax cuts for the wealthy” and “balancing the budget” after the years of Reagan and the two Bush’s, are we ever going to learn?  Evidently, here we go again.  It should be interesting to watch all the budget “hawks” who spent the past eight years blaming the budget deficit on President Obama – while he was overseeing an approach to the economy that reduced the deficit by more than 60% by the time he will leave office.  Based on the plans of Trump, I’m guessing the deficit will top $1 TRILLION per year within 2 years of Trump taking office.  Remember, the first year he’s somewhat constrained by what he inherited from Obama (around a $500 BILLION deficit – down from $1.4 TRILLION when Obama took office) but, based on history we can expect a spike upward.  And, I’m predicting all the republicans that cared so much about the deficit during Obama’s presidency will be back on “silent mode” – just as they were when GW Bush took Bill Clinton’s $250 BILLION surplus and turned it into the MASSIVE deficits he stuck President Obama with.

Just the repeal of the ACA will funnel something in the neighborhood of $380 BILLION back into the pockets of those at the “top” in America’s financial “food chain” in the next few years.  Trump is proposing across the board tax cuts which would include the elimination of the inheritance tax.  Seriously, do you think he’s got an ulterior motive on that one????  It was reported during the campaign that Trump hasn’t paid taxes in almost 20 years and his response to that allegation was “that makes me smart.”  So, I’m wondering where the money’s going to be coming from?  I’m sure there’s more to John Lewis’ concerns about Trump that causes him to feel Trump is not a legitimate president.  Aside from the obvious (Russian influence), the level of incompetence is startling.  Lewis has been in Congress for MANY years – he’s seen this all before and I respect him for speaking his mind.  I believe he sees similar “writing on the wall” that many Americans see and are troubled by.  Trump lashed back at Lewis claiming his district was a mess and “crime infested” – of course, with NO facts to back it up – (that’s how he runs) and accused Lewis of being just “talk, talk, talk.”  Well, from my perspective, John Lewis is one of the politicians in America that I trust and believe has not been corrupted by big money.

The real irony of all this is telling.  When you look at what brought Trump into the spotlight with the group of Americans who deplored the idea of a person of color living in the “White House” – it was Trump leading the so-called “Birther” movement.  For several years Trump questioned the legitimacy of Barack Obama – over a birth certificate!  Lewis’ questions regarding Trump’s legitimacy run much deeper than a question over a birth certificate (although, I for one, would love to know the TRUTH about whether Trump’s wife was “legal” when he met her – this is another part of the “mystery” we’ll never know – thanks to our “liberal media” – but, I digress, that’s a story for another day)  There are even allegations that Trump’s surrogates were in contact with the Russians while all the “hacking” was going on.  Their campaign, at times, seemed to be coordinated with the “leaks” coming from the hacked DNC emails.  I believe John Lewis will be the one who comes out of this controversy well.  He is a man who simply isn’t willing to look the other way in the face of something that’s wrong.  Most Americans KNOW this election was – just as Trump predicted – RIGGED.  I believe it’s going to go from bad to worse for Trump as he assumes the office of the President of the United States.  Personally, I believe President Obama handled the 6 years of Trump claiming he was an illegitimate president with an infinite more amount of class than Trump’s response to John Lewis.  What’s the old saying?  “He can give it out, but he sure can’t take it!”

Trump obviously has supporters who care not about history, tradition, morality, or the United States as a “we” society.  But, the MAJORITY of Americans, are not in that category.  Due to the unending assault on Hillary Clinton via our “liberal media” there were MILLIONS of Americans who were voting against Mrs. Clinton with little knowledge about the amount of DAMAGE Trump can cause for “we the people.”  It’s becoming clearer every day that if the election was held again, even with the help of the Russians, Trump wouldn’t stand a chance.  And, as I stated in a previous post, maybe this is what was necessary for Americans who’ve been sitting on the “sidelines” for the past many years thinking there’s no reason for them to participate in the electoral process to decide whether or not all the benefits of living in a society that is self governed is worth the effort to participate.  As I’ve said many times, rights and privileges are much easier to lose than to regain.  It took 60 years to get the ACA.  It will take a few weeks to destroy it – and, then what?

For years I’ve been watching as our Congress refuses to bend to the “will of the people” – and, continually passes legislation that moves us closer and closer to a Mussolini styled fascist state.  A nation where there’s a corporate government “partnership.” This past election has apparently moved us one step beyond that.  Seriously, I suggest you beware of authoritarian personalities who have the backing of the FBI and are willing to upend the intelligence community to their liking.  Think about it – and, think about this – there seems to be an unending number of Americans who are focused on how wealthy they can become with little regard for “we the people.”  I don’t see many of them uneasy about the results of this election.

The money involved in our elections post “Citizens United” is staggering and the reality is that there are few members of Congress who, like John Lewis, can be considered free from the grasp of the big business lobby.  This is why there’s no “public option” to the ACA – despite 75% of Americans wanting it to be part of the legislation.  This is why the minimum wage is stagnant – despite an overwhelming percentage of Americans wanting it raised.  This is why Social Security and Medicare shouldn’t be worried about their future – when 3 out of every 4 Americans want those programs improved – as opposed to cut.  The list highlighting the conflict between the will of the people and the will of congress is much longer than those three examples.  I’ve said, since I started writing, that despite my constant vitriol aimed at the republican party, one reason I have to keep ranting about republicans is the democrats!  I’m not the only person who sees democrats as “spineless” when it comes to the big fights.  And, really, at this point, we’re (meaning those in the anti Trump movement) depending on them more than ever.  Yikes!

Democrats have allowed our “liberal media” to tarnish the word “liberal” to the point where even democrats shy away from the “label.”  This despite the REALITY that almost EVERY great advance that has moved our middle class “up” since the Great Depression (and, really, before) has been initiated by “liberals.”  We’ve allowed the so-called “liberal media” to blur the lines over the meaning of basic political terms.  So, now the “acceptable” term is “progressive.”  Well, I’m personally thankful for “liberals” like John Lewis, and my prayer is that the democratic party “grows a set” – as the saying goes – in the face of what lies ahead.  I believe Lewis is “right on” regarding the “legitimacy” of Donald Trump.  The reality is that Trump will be the 45th president on January 20th and the future of this great nation hangs in the balance as to how “liberals” react.  A friend of mine sent me an email the other day which said something like “don’t just talk, take the walk.”  I believe he was referring to the planned protests (ie the Women’s walk scheduled for the day after the inauguration and others) following the inauguration.  He. along with me and millions of others in the “baby boom era,” took to the streets back in the 60’s as we came to understand the folly of the Viet Nam fiasco.  Well, here we go again!