Long before Donald Trump was even the republican nominee for president, let alone the “president elect” I (along with many others) was pointing out his fascist tendencies and the parallels of his campaign to that of a certain German that no one wants to speak (or write) about.  For example, his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” comes directly from Hitler’s campaign in the 1930’s when Hitler proclaimed he was going to “Make Germany Great Again.”  The parallels go way beyond that slogan, but sooner or later those in our “liberal media” are going to begin “getting it.”  Trump is a narcissistic “authoritarian” and he’s, in my view, by far the most dangerous threat to America’s foundation in my lifetime.  I believe it was JFK who said the only way our democratic republic could be destroyed was from “within.”  Well, hold on to your you know what!

I also pointed out repeatedly about the masterful use of political projection being used by Trump as he progressed closer to the nomination and then the general election.  In my view, our “liberal media” have been unsuspecting “co-conspirators” in bringing Trump to power due to their willingness to allow Trump and his surrogates to function in a “fact free” world.  Originally, the republicans had 17 members of the so-called “clown car” and they were all fighting for the top spot – and, I’m very sure, NONE of them thought Trump had a chance.  One by one, they dropped from the “race” as Trump was “winning” primaries with sometimes barely more than 25% of the votes – because of the diluted field.  What wasn’t happening, again thanks to our “liberal media,” was an analysis of where this 25% was coming from.  I maintain that Trump’s solid “base” comes from the followers he developed as he led the so-called “birther” movement.  As we approached the election this group was publicly named the “alt right” – although I believe that moniker was there well before the election – it’s just that the “liberal media” evidently aren’t tuned into Brietbart “news.”

When I can stomach watching the “news” I tend to tune into MSNBC and I’ve repeatedly written about how I believe commentators on MSNBC like Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd are so easily “played” by the right wing in America’s political circles – and, Trump played them like a master musician.  In my mind, MSNBC went a long way in giving Trump legitimacy that was undeserved.  I was a Bernie Sanders supporter (until Mrs. Clinton won the nomination) and I found it shocking how MSNBC so readily bought into the right wing’s assault on Mrs. Clinton (which, if you’ve been around for a while, you know has been ongoing for decades) while leaving anything that would seem as a nominal “vetting” of Mr. Trump “on the cutting room floor.”  For heaven’s sake – he was not even pressured into releasing his tax returns.  In the run up to the election Trump was treated like the spoiled brat who’s used to getting “everything” and no one wanted to deal with his “tantrums.”  (Well, guess what – now we’re all going to have to deal with the tantrums – or, the other alternative is what is generating my thoughts tonight)

People in America don’t like it when anyone references the Nazi’s in regards to our political process (although Trump, the master at projection, used that term to define our intelligence community today), evidently believing that no one of that “ilk” could ever make it to the “top” in this great nation.  Here’s a thought: guess again!  Just look at a couple “issues” that are front and center as we await the inauguration of our 45th president.  (It’s really hard for me to write that knowing I’m referring to Trump!)  The man has been busy vilifying the “liberal media” since the beginning of the primary season – and, his attacks on the media calling them “terrible persons,” “disgusting people,” “dishonest,” and I could go on are more than just bluster.  Trump is setting the stage for when the inevitable backlash toward his incompetence (or worse) begins getting reported once he’s in office and all he will have to do is remind his “base” that the media is “dishonest” and full of “disgusting people,” and – on we go to the next foible.  Trump has this rabid “base” of white nationalists who are thrilled to death to have someone with their thoughts sitting in the “White House,” and, as he said in the campaign, he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and none of his followers would care.  Our “liberal media” has never wanted to infer what Trump meant by “Make America Great Again” – but, I’ll let you guess what he thought of a person of color living in the “White House.”  Clinton called this portion of his followers as the “basket of deplorables” – which was one of the mistakes she made in the election cycle – but, in reality, she was correct.  We’re talking about the overt racists in America and they’re still “aplenty.”

The second part of this that should, at some point, get the attention of our “liberal media” – and, I’m talking about people like Matthews and Todd – is Trump’s attack on the “intelligence” community.  In fact, he’s already talking about restructuring it to his liking – And, of course, Trump has no background to even begin to understand how the intelligence community should be organized.  However, I wrote in a previous post that President Obama is giving Trump a “gift” that he may or may not understand the significance of – and that is an intelligence community that is already spying on just about everyone on the globe.

Think about this – if Trump convinces his “followers” that the media is “dishonest,” etc. and he sets up the “intelligence community” to act at his behest – well, “we the people” who may not like what he’s doing as president could have barriers to our dissent that have never existed in this nation before.  In reality, it’s the media that is supposed to be the “fourth estate” in American politics and “we the people” are SUPPOSED to be able to rely on it to keep us informed as to what our government is “up to.”  I’ve already seen a plethora of evidence that people like Matthews and Todd (and many others) are more interested in ratings (ie keeping their jobs) than reporting “news.”  How many of these people are going to become afraid to tell the truth when that will undoubtedly be in opposition to Trump’s “reality.”  We know by now that anyone who says anything negative about Trump can expect a barrage of backlash – and, he’s got some of the most accomplished members of the “fact free world” (ie liars) I’ve ever seen in my many years of observing American politics as his surrogates.  When it comes to “spinning” (again, ie lying) Kellyanne Conway, the chairperson of his campaign and now a “top adviser” – the one out front giving the “spin,” is the best liar I’ve seen (next to Trump, of course).

Conway, along with Steve Bannon, (he of Brietbart and the “alt right”) were responsible for getting Trump elected.  Clearly they’re experts using the strategy “the end justifies the means” and they had a “playbook” for Trump that was totally in the “fact free” world.  Everyday we’re learning more of why Donald Trump should NEVER have gotten close to the presidency and, unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about it now.  I believe there’s a “mountain” of “deplorable” stuff about this man that people have “out there” – including people like Vladimir Putin – that will make Trump vulnerable once he’s taken the oath of office.  Trump will be violating the emoluments clause of the constitution almost from the day he takes office and who knows what else.  We’ll never see his tax returns – ie, of the never ending “audit” – (how the “liberal media” let him get away with that one shows how feeble they’ve become) – and, who knows how many women are out there who’ve had their P@#%ies grabbed by Mr. Trump – among other examples of sexual depredation.  During the campaign, even a large segment of the “republican establishment” were saying Trump was unqualified to be president – but, after the election????

Maybe the worst thing I’ve seen since Trump’s “election” – although, not surprising – I’ve written for years about how the republicans are all about the power and winning at all costs – is the number of republicans in Congress who are falling all over themselves to join the “Trump team.”  The republican party is now the party of Trump.  While I’m not like the republicans who committed themselves to ensuring President Obama would “fail” as he took the oath of office, I’m not one to say that.  In fact, I hope I’m dreadfully wrong about him.  However, the evidence I’m seeing so far (ie cabinet appointments, no taxes, no “blind trust,” and the possibility that Trump has been in collusion with the Russians – just to name the “tip of the iceberg”) would indicate otherwise.  The “never Trump” part of the republican party seemingly have been standing in line wanting jobs in the administration and the republicans in Congress (with the possible exception of Marco Rubio – do you think there’s a republican who would go against the “sheep mentality?” – we’ll see after the Rex Tillerson confirmation hearings) are willing “water carriers” for this “deplorable” man.

I still remember them saying Trump is “disqualified” after some of the racist remarks, he was “disqualified” after the video of Trump admitting to being a sexual predator came out, and it went on and on.  Each time, he comes back forcefully against anyone who does or says anything negative about him.  And, his “base” buys it.  That’s what I mean when I talk about the “worst thing.”  Is there anyone out there willing to do what they were all talking about during the campaign which was “stop Trump.”

Let me sum up my thoughts for tonight.  If “we the people” can’t count on the republicans to stand up to this man, if we can’t depend on the “liberal media” to stand up to the backlash they’ll surely get if they report the “truth” about him, and if he’s able to “re-configure” the intelligence community to his liking – well, this could get ugly.  I can picture even people like myself – who are essentially “ranting” in cyberspace as being targeted.  The man is a narcissist and an “authoritarian” – he attacks anyone who disagrees with him.  I guess I’ll end by letting you just put two and two together.  Yikes!

An afterthought:  Maybe Trump is president to FORCE “we the people” to decide whether or not we’re willing to FIGHT to save our democratic republic.  Whether we actually VALUE all the benefits we were granted in life by our parents and grand parents – ie the “greatest generation” – those who fought in WW II, who fought for worker’s rights, women’s rights, things like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, bank regulations, highways, post offices, schools, union rights, (ie 40 hour work week, child labor laws, etc.) and I could go on and on.  President Obama set the foundation for the next great advance for our society with the Affordable Care Act (which, in and of itself was/is not the “solution” – just a “start”) – republicans have been blocking national health care as a “right” since the days of FDR and now they’re going to repeal “Obamacare” with no concrete plan to replace it – when they could have been spending the past 8 years helping to “fix” it.  I know college educated people who still have no idea what “Citizens United” is – yet, they complain about the corruption in our government and, by that reasoning, voted for Trump.  Maybe this is happening to FORCE the American public to pay attention to what these politicians are actually doing.  It’s still hard for me to believe how any working class American could vote for these republicans – and, I put much of that blame on our “liberal media.”  They’re more interested in appearing “fair and balanced” than telling it like it “is.”

Well, it’s getting close to “the peaceful transition of power” in America as Barrack Obama leaves the White House and the “birther in chief” takes over.  I’m sure, during the five or six years that Donald Trump was leading the “birther” movement, essentially accusing our president of being born in Kenya and not actually being a citizen, President Obama didn’t take seriously the thought that Trump would be the 45th president of the United States.  (Actually, I don’t think Trump actually believed this until it happened)  As I look back on Obama’s presidency and shudder in anticipation of Trump’s I can’ help but remind myself of a couple of decisions President Obama made that may turn out even worse than I anticipated at the time.

First of all, on several occasions I lamented the decision by President Obama to “look forward instead of back” regarding the outgoing administration of George W Bush and Dick Cheney – who clearly were in massive violations of not just American laws, but also international laws.  Both Bush and Cheney (and others in their administration) SHOULD have been held accountable for authorizing (and in the case of the “others” – COMMITTING) WAR CRIMES.  The sad reality is that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al very PUBLICLY authorized America’s forces to TORTURE the so called “enemy combatants” – who, by the way, could be determined by Bush and Cheney themselves and who were, we’ve learned over the years, in many cases simply people in “the wrong place at the wrong time” OR in many cases people victims of Shia or Sunni “payback” as America’s troops allowed Afghans or Iraqi’s to help identify the “enemy combatants” with no regard to “probable cause” or “human rights.”

Obama essentially opened the door for soon to be President Trump to follow through on his campaign promise to “Waterboard and a whole lot more” as the “War on Terror” moves into its third American administration – more than likely foolishly attempting to solve an unsolvable problem that is like an open wound that won’t heal – thanks to the aforementioned GW Bush/Dick Cheney and their thirst for oil.  I predicted this at the time of Obama’s decision – calling it potentially, the worst decision of his tenure in office – and, it may well end up being so.  However, the second part of that same decision may end up being even more damaging in the “long run.”

If you remember, when President Obama was Senator Obama and campaigning to be president, there was a vote in the Senate to block the NSA from collecting massive amounts of “data” on American citizens – due to the FACT the Bush/Cheney regime had violated the FISA Act presumably MILLIONS of times.  The FISA court was put in place during the aftermath of the Nixon scandals to prevent the government from arbitrarily invading the fourth amendment rights of Americans through the intrusion of phone calls (and, by the time of Bush/Cheney the internet).  Each one of these violations was a felony with a potential fine of $10,000 and up to five years in prison – for EACH offense.  Then Senator Obama voted to pardon Bush/Cheney and the telecommunications companies which had complied with the government’s overreach into “we the people’s” privacy.  I actually wrote President Obama at the time – letting him know this issue was enough for me to vote against him – and, I got a return message assuring me that he would “fix” the problem once in office.

Well, in reality, the “fix” that President Obama put in place once he was in office was to EXPAND the “eavesdropping” the NSA was doing on its own people.  The problem is worse now as President Obama is about to leave the White House and a TERRIBLE precedent has been set for our incoming president Donald Trump – who I’ve pointed out many times already on this site has distinct FASCIST tendencies.   The worst fears of many of us so-called “liberals” are on the horizon.  The right wing (fascists) have control of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the media, and the courts – with the Supreme Court soon to be a “lost cause” for the next 20 – 30 years – I don’t anticipate I’ll live long enough to see the right wing authoritarians expunged from the court.  In addition, due to the Citizens United court decision of 2009 (have you noticed the amount of “dark money” – and, money in general, in our last few elections?), and the McCutcheon decision “we the people” will have more than an “uphill climb” to turn America back to a “we” society from the “me” society we’ve evolved into since Reagan first took the oath of office because the amount of wealth controlled by the so-called 1% is mind boggling.

And, Trump will feel very comfortable in authorizing MASSIVE electronic intrusions into the lives of “we the people” – especially those who oppose him.  Have you noticed how he reacts to anyone who disagrees with him?  Yikes!  Oh yes, don’t forget the Court “gutting” the Voting Rights Act and all the voter suppression laws that sprung up prior to the 2016 election – very possibly the MAIN reason Trump is the president – elect.  This is just one more part of the reality “liberals” face going forward as we attempt to prevent Trump from turning America into a totally fascist state.  Seriously, some of the republican operatives “behind the scenes” were part of the “dirty tricksters” of the Nixon era – they’re just older and “wiser.”  I believe “we the people can expect the worst! (and, most of us won’t even know what’s happening)

Many democrats are emailing me as they try to figure out how to “save” as much of President Obama’s “legacy” as they can – and, it’s true that he’s going to leave office with an approval rating that is almost unmatched in modern times (maybe the closest would be Bill Clinton when he left office).  I’m worried, however, that the stains on President Obama’s “legacy” could come from the things he didn’t do – and, the most significant was “looking forward instead of back.”  There’s a general consensus in America right now that those in “power” are “above the law.”  Trump obviously believes this because he’ll be thumbing his nose at history AND the constitution the day he takes office as he will be clearly in violation of the emoluments clause in the constitution.  To suggest that his varied business interests won’t collide with his responsibility as our president from day one are, in my view, absurd.  Of course, Trump and all his minions (the best group of LIARS I’ve ever seen) will blatantly deny any accusation of conflict of interest and they totally believe they can bully the congress and the press into submission.  Unfortunately, I’m feeling they’re probably correct.

It’s this “bullying” part of Trump’s nature that worries me the most regarding this ability to spy on America that President Obama has given Trump as a parting “gift” – that Trump will be busy finding “stuff” to hold against potential enemies from the day he moves into the White House.  Trust me, this is not far fetched.  Think I’m crazy?  Well, I hope you’re correct, but I see the makings of something dreadful on the horizon and I have ZERO confidence in our Congress to stop Trump if he tries to put a total stranglehold on our government.  (Actually, the saving grace will be that he’ll be “impeachable” from the first days in office due to the violation of the emoluments clause – but, I don’t believe there’s a republican willing to take him on at this point – for example, the “never Trump” republicans “falling in line” since the election has been a sight to behold – a true picture of the character of America’s politicians!)

I’m presently reading Glenn Greenwald’s book “No Place to Hide, ” subtitled “Edward Snowden, the NSA, and America’s Surveillance State” – which gives a very sobering view of what I’m trying to put in perspective here.  The ability of America’s “surveillance state” to intrude into our lives goes way beyond our imagination – meaning us average people who wouldn’t suspect the government eavesdropping on our “stuff” – and, many of us thinking, well, there’s nothing for them to hear with me so it’s OK.  In reality, we’re letting our government eviscerate the fourth amendment to the constitution with little more than a whimper.  In fact, Snowden, who should be a national hero, is in exile in Russia because President Obama – who promised the most TRANSPARENT administration ever has essentially been in charge of what amounts to the opposite.  Whistleblowers beware! Obama’s administration has prosecuted more “whistleblowers” – including Snowden, than any administration in history.  Of course, Snowden “blew the whistle” on the FACT the Obama  administration had accelerated the surveillance of America’s citizens as opposed to stopping the abuses as promised, so Snowden was vilified because how else could the illegal gathering of “data” continue? – and, it is continuing to this day – and, likely to be accelerated MORE under a Trump administration!

Herein lies my deepest disappointment with President Obama.  As an optimist I’m sure he was unable to conceive that someone such as Trump would ever win the White House – but that is EXACTLY why our fore fathers put the protections into the constitution that Obama was willing to ignore in the name of, what else (this has been the excuse for the past 40 years for virtually all government overreach) but NATIONAL SECURITY.  Well, earth to President Obama – and, anyone else willing to listen – the greatest danger to our national security is when our leaders choose to violate the constitution in the name of “national security.”  As I’ve said many times on this site – rights (fourth amendment right of privacy in this instance) are much easier to give away than to get back.  In reality, MOST AMERICANS have no idea they’ve allowed the NSA to compromise their right of privacy.  I find it interesting to observe all the right wingers – Trump included – making such a “stink” over the “2nd Amendment” (which they, and the NRA, have twisted far away from the original meaning of the amendment) while being seemingly oblivious to the attack on our fourth amendment which is far more significant as far as protecting our “liberty.”

I really hope I’m wrong here, but the virtual elimination of the fourth amendment is, from my view, the easiest and most direct manner in which an authoritarian regime can turn our republic upside down.  All the “ingredients” are there, so “we the people” need to beware!  To me, Trump is clearly the result of a “white backlash” against the idea that someone “different” could be in our “White House” – and without question, at least in my opinion, the “war” for the heart and soul of America continues!  If “we the people” don’t wake up soon, the damage to what created the greatest middle class in the history of the world could last a generation or more!

I chose today to read the comment section of an article in the “Independent” – an internet publication which I know little about, that pointed out the FBI was being sued in order to force them to make public information relating to their decision to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.  Many people, including myself, believe that the decision by James Comey to suggest the FBI had more of Hillary Clinton’s emails to “investigate” (which proved to be untrue – these emails were on a computer owned by the estranged husband of one of Mrs. Clinton’s staffers) caused enough late deciding voters to vote for Donald Trump to swing the election.  Right now, as I’m writing this, the news media is focused on the role Russia played in turning the election toward Trump – which they should be investigating – that reality, in itself, is REALLY BAD – but, in the process, there’s little talk about the FBI’s role in the election and even less talk into how the voter suppression laws in states like North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and others prevented MILLIONS of mostly democratic voters from casting their ballots.

Nate Silver, of a website called FiveThirtyEight, who is what appears to me to be the most respected “pollster” out there, was very clear regarding the effect Comey had on the election.  He stated that Comey’s letter to the republican congress cost Hillary Clinton the election.  “No ifs, ands, or buts.”  As I was reading the aforementioned article and then the comments I couldn’t help but think about the right wing brainwashing that’s been going on in America since the days of Ronald Reagan.  Reagan initiated the “hate” towards OUR government and began the intellectual assault on “liberals” that is thriving in the world of the “right wing” to this day.  As I was reading the comment section to this article my mind was reinforced with the thoughts I’ve been having about “how bad is it going to have to get, before us “liberals” have a place at the table again.  And, keep in mind that Barack Obama, at least to me, was/is no “liberal.”  I consider President Obama to be a moderate pragmatist.  As I’ve written before, I was never certain he understood/stands there’s a WAR going on in America for the heart and soul of this nation.

As I was reading the comments to the article referenced above it was kind of depressing to read comments from people who were spouting the “talking points” of the propagandists that permeate our airwaves on behalf of the republican “establishment” (that most of these people claim to be against) while referring to those who disagree with them as “libtards” or worse.  It’s as if their point of view is “true” because Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or one of the many mouthpieces for the right wing propaganda machine said so.  We have evolved into a fact free society and having dialogue between people with opposing viewpoints is nearing impossible.  I’m sure there are many others like myself who choose to avoid discussions about politics with friends who’ve been “sucked in” by Fox “news,” Limbaugh, or the many other options out there for people who are spewing misinformation because the misinformation has been deeply embedded in their brains.

I remember watching the election shortly after the Comey comments were made public and the resultant effect on the polling.  I remember Silver withing a day or two warning people who thought Mrs. Clinton would win that there was a major shift happening.  On one program where it was either him or one of his associates being interviewed, their polling (which has proved to be very accurate over the past few years) suggested that over 50% of undecided voters found this revelation to be enough to cause them to vote for Trump.  Of course, Trump played it masterfully, and the “news” that there was nothing to the emails – which came out one day prior to the closing of the polls – was too little and too late for Mrs. Clinton.

As more and more Americans become aware of the reality that Trump was correct when he said the election was going to be “rigged” – and, that it was rigged on his behalf – he will become an even more illegitimate holder of the highest office in this land.  Trump is already showing his bullying nature as he chooses a cabinet that is making “libtards” cringe and by refusing to divest himself from his real estate empire that will cause him to be in violation of the constitution’s emolument clause on the day he takes the oath of office.  I personally believe Trump thinks the republicans wouldn’t dare confront him on this issue and the democrats can’t because they are in the minority in both houses of Congress.  In my mind, this will be a CONSTANT issue for however long Trump survives in the White House.

Here’s a reality that not many people are talking about.  I have no doubt that there’s a large block of republicans who would rather have Mike Pense as president instead of Trump.  It would not surprise me at all if Trump fails to make it all the way through is first term in office.  When things start going south and, in addition, when “we the people” start learning more about Mr. Trump (assuming any investigative reporters survive his assault on the media) and his business and personal dealings I would not be surprised to see the republican “establishment” (which is still in control, no matter what people think) flee from Trump in an instant.

For example, he pledged to sue all the women who came forth and accused him of sexually assaulting him.  I for one, hope he follows through on that “promise.”  Or better yet, how about Gloria Allred and some of the other attorney’s involved sue Trump – kind of like what happened to Bill Clinton if you remember.  I love listening to my republican friends who have disdain for Clinton because of his philandering tell me they voted for Trump for “moral reasons.”  Will the republicans have the courage to enforce their own pledges to enforce the constitution regarding Trump’s clear conflicts of interest that are bound to “pop up” all over the place or stand up for their own “moral” principals?

One thing republicans have convinced me of over the years is that they are good at winning elections but terrible at governing.  This very reality shows the depth of their propaganda “machine” that continues to cause middle class Americans to vote against their own self interest. I’m feeling as if it will take another disaster similar to the Great Depression to get every day Americans who’ve been sucked in by Fox, Limbaugh, and the rest of the right wing MISinformation machine to realize they’ve been duped.  For example, I have to wonder how many Trump voters even know that his cabinet is full of people he defiled during the campaign.  I believe at least three top posts are going to Goldman Sachs people.  Trump’s cabinet will be filled with the cream from America’s elite 1%.  His appointees are pledged to wipe every government regulation that protects “we the people” from corporate overreach off the books.  Get ready for the next “bubble!”

You pretty much have to believe Trump thinks he’s untouchable as far as our laws and our constitution.  He can do whatever he pleases.  After all, he “won” without divulging his taxes, he “won” despite admitting he’s a sexual predator, he “won” with the label of “racist” with a known “White Supremacist” as his CEO (supposedly, there’s another video out there that exposes Trump using the “N” word behind the scenes at one of his TV shows), he “won” despite being labeled the liar of liars during the campaign from the fact checking websites, he “won” with the help of women voters whom he insulted over and over again during the campaign, and to top it all off, all those republicans on the “never Trump” bandwagon have been falling all over themselves to get on the “inside” since the election results became reality.  I’m sure he feels there’s nothing he can do to “upset the apple cart.”  And, he may be correct, but my naive belief in the American system and America itself tells me otherwise.  I believe there are MILLIONS like myself who will never accept that Donald Trump is legitimately the president of the United States.  And, I believe all these republicans scurrying for favor with Trump will head in the other direction at the first signs of disaster – which, in my mind, is not an if but a when.

After the Iowa Caucuses Donald Trump exclaimed, “I love the uneducated voters.”  He also said, during one of the debates when it was brought up that he hasn’t paid a dime in Federal Taxes in the past 18 or so years, “that makes me smart.”  And, in reality, he’s proven that he’s really smart.  He’s played the media like a virtuoso on the violin and he’s ginned up those “uneducated voters” that he loves to the point where they voted in record numbers.  He’s given the right wing racists in America a true champion and the end result is people like the ones I referred to above who are making divisive (and uneducated) comments on websites attacking the very “libtards” that are more in tune with their own self interests are blindly loyal to Trump.

These people are disgusted with the dysfunction of our government and have been convinced by the right wing propagandists that it’s the fault of the “libtards.”  In reality, they have no idea who’s fault anything is because they ALLOW their opinions to be formed by the the experts of misinformation.  Hannity, Limbaugh, and many of the other “minions” in this propaganda scheme are marvelously good liars ( additionally, during the election, I thought Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, was maybe the most skilled liar I’ve ever listened to in my lifetime with the exception, naturally, of Trump himself) and I haven’t met one Trump supporter who has cross checked any information they “believe” – because why would they? it came from Fox “news,” or Rush Limbaugh.  To suggest Fox “news” might not be giving “facts” causes some of these people to start throwing things as they yell about “libtards.” (or worse)

I was never an enthusiastic Hillary Clinton supporter, but the more I witnessed her being attacked from all sides in our “liberal” media, the more I realized that there must be a reason the “right wing” was in such fear of her.  I believe she would have had the courage to stand up to these people, but we’ve all been spared four long years of one “invented” scandal after another.  Now, we get to sit back and observe how much damage can Trump and all the surrogates who’ve jumped on his “bandwagon” can do to what’s remaining of the “New Deal” of the 30’s and 40’s and “Great Society” of the 60’s.  I’ve written in the past that rights and privileges are much easier to lose than to get back once you’ve lost them.  The “right wing” cabal that has been behind the destruction of America’s middle class since the days of Ronald Reagan has been here throughout history.  In fact, it’s feeling, to me, like “deja vu all over again” regarding my vision of America in the 1920’s.  We’re experiencing a wealthy elite expertly turning one blue collar faction against another while ripping us all off while our focus is on things like “immigration,” or “gay rights,” or “email scandals,” or – well, the list goes on.

I have to cringe when a farmer, or a factory worker, or any member of the working class is calling me, a teacher, a “libtard” because I believe they should have basic health care as a right, that their children should have access to higher education without “breaking the bank,” and that America should bring her troops home and stop trying to be the world’s policeman.  It makes me cringe when I’m called a “libtard” because I want our government to balance its budget and pay off at least some of its debt – while the “conservative” who’s calling me names is voting for one republican after another who pushes the deficit to record levels and continuously is cutting taxes for his cronies – and, then masterfully puts the blame for the deficit on democrats while our “liberal media” lets them get away with it.

I don’t understand why someone who depends on the Affordable Care Act would vote for someone who pledges to repeal it – as the first thing he does in office.  I don’t understand why people who depend on Social Security and Medicare would vote people into office who are determined to undermine both programs.  And, I really don’t understand why ANYONE who calls themselves a Christian would vote for someone who’s an overt racist and sexual predator and then tell me they did so for “moral” reasons.  Time will tell how this plays out – one thing I hope is the result of Trump’s presidency will be the emergence of a wave of political awareness and activity by America’s young voting age people that pushes us towards Bernie Sanders’ “agenda” – but I believe the potential for a national disaster (economically and militarily) due to Trump’s presidency is “off the charts.”

I hope I’m wrong, but I fear the damage caused to our republic will take at least a generation to overcome.  And, remember, Trump and his cronies are experts at profiting off of what’s disaster for “we the people” – this is why so many are lining up to battle his agenda from day one – there are many Americans who use the internet to mobilize who “get it” and are “paying attention.” Like me, they don’t trust the democratic party to have the “spine” for the “battle.”  We’ve seen a pretty much one sided “war” since President Obama took office and the republicans have been the “aggressors.”  The republicans will do anything to gain, and now keep, power.  They’ve succeeded for the second time (the first being Bush/Cheney) in their attempt to create their “permanent republican ‘majority'” and they’ve got a bully in chief in the White House.  It’s not going to be easy to get those people who referred to people like me (in the article in the “Independent”) to realize they’ve been duped and to join forces to actually create a REAL populist movement (like the “New Deal”) aimed at “fixing” Washington DC.  Again, the next four years should be interesting at the very least.

I’m trying to force myself to watch a bit of the “news” on TV of late and it continues to remind me of why America continues in this downward spiral that will soon, in my view, accelerate once “The Donald” takes the oath of office.  I haven’t written much lately because it’s so hard for me to even imagine that Donald Trump will actually be the president of the United States in about a month.  Watching MSNBC tonight confirmed to me why this is even possible and gives me a feeling of depression as I try to imagine the future.  And, I’m not thinking from my perspective, but from that of my children and grandchildren.

When Barack Obama became president and I started writing about what I called, at the time, the “red flags” which caused me to worry about the “what if’s,”  one of the first things President Obama did was to essentially PARDON those in the GW Bush/Cheney administration who authorized TORTURE and carried it out because he wanted to “look forward instead of back.” (The torture was not the only activity of the Bush/Cheney regime that was illegal) At the time President Obama said, “America” doesn’t torture people.  That decision was like “blood in the water” for republicans and they’ve been on the attack ever since – pushing their actions beyond the limits of the constitution and the legal system knowing there was an administration which was timid regarding enforcing our laws regarding those “at the top.”  Wall Street essentially got a “free pass” regarding the “melt down” that caused an untold number of people around the world to LOSE TRILLIONS of dollars along with the “free pass” given to Bush/Cheney et al and those “at the top” have felt comfortable in continuing their reckless behavior ever since.

Additionally, I saw “red flags” when President Obama filled his cabinet with Wall Street insiders like Larry Summers and Tim Geithner and political hacks like Rahm Emanuel.  He kept some of the Bush appointees in place like Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense which virtually assured that his promise to get America “out of Iraq in 16 months” was nothing but political rhetoric.  So the republicans had it both ways – they were able to mount an unprecedented strategy of obstruction regarding the policy proposals of the Obama administration, yet their campaign of perpetual war and arrogance toward our laws continued for the entire Obama Presidency.  I’m bringing this up again (I’ve written many times about my frustration with Obama’s refusal to allow Bush, Cheney, et al to be held accountable for their illegal activity that amounted to WAR CRIMES and more) because I wrote many times that what President Obama seemingly failed to understand was/is that there’s a WAR – internally – for the heart and soul of this nation, and those who want to turn back the clock to the days of the “robber barons” are VERY SOPHISTICATED and they have UNLIMITED funding and, obviously, they’re winning.

This “WAR” has been ongoing since the infamous “Powell memo” written by soon to be (at that time) Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell back in 1971 or 1972 – I’ve read about it reported in both years from different sources.  What is clear from the reporting about this memo – written to the US Chamber of Commerce as I recall – is that it was the beginning of the downfall of America’s great middle class that had become the envy of the world thanks to the policies of the “New Deal” of FDR and the “Great Society” pushed by LBJ.  And, of course, Dwight Eisenhower was the kind of republican people like me long for – although, Eisenhower was referred to as a communist sympathizer by the descendants of those pushing the right wing agenda that has become today’s republican party.  I’m talking about those in the network of the “Koch brothers,” those who call themselves the “Family,” and those who, to this day, align themselves with the views of the John Birch Society.

This “WAR” also includes those on both sides of the “race” issue.  The election of Barack Obama brought the (unbelievably large number of) covert racists in America out from “under the rocks” and the “leader of the pack,” Donald Trump (he led the “Birther” movement) ended up winning this past election with the support of what Hillary Clinton accurately referred to as “The basket of deplorables (not a good campaign strategy – telling the truth) which includes the KKK, the so-called “alt right” – which is the “White Nationalist” movement that includes among others the “Skinheads.”  Obama, due to the fact that his father was born in Kenya, could not carry this part of the fight and our “liberal media” failed miserably to call it what it was/is.  I have to say that the FACT that Donald Trump’s campaign “CEO” was/is the leader of the “alt right” movement says it all.  Yet, our “liberal media” let him (Trump) get away with this – and, to this day, they’re continuing to let him get away with this because Steve Bannon is Trump’s chief advisor in the White House.

It’s the “media” that is what is so discouraging to me as I look forward to what might “go down” in the next four years (and, I’m not talking about the Dow Jones average – but, it’s likely to get the same result).  Trump played them masterfully – and, they still don’t GET IT!  I wrote many times about my frustration with all the FREE airtime MSNBC gave to Trump – in my mind, it was aimed at keeping this election competitive because of the amount of MONEY they could/would make from the advertising and the ratings they would receive.  In essence, they participated in the “legitimizing” of a candidate that should never have gotten close to the White House.  Now, they’re trying to figure out what went wrong – but, I doubt they will EVER own their responsibility for turning a White Supremacist, a fascists, a homophobe, a sexual predator (by his own admission) into our 45th president.  (again, it’s hard for me to even believe this is happening)

I’ve written many times that I don’t believe the democratic party has a clue as to what is really happening in the political realm right in front of their collective faces.  (Maybe with a few exceptions, like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, etc.)  This republican takeover of our system of government (they want to essentially dismantle most of it) has “long legs.”  The biggest instigators, in my mind, are the aforementioned “Koch brothers” who’ve been busy undermining the democratic party in one state after another – focusing on state legislatures and governorship’s – while the democrats are thinking they need to control the White House at all expense. They are masters at surreptitious political strategy.  They get you looking one way while they’re busy doing “their thing” in another direction.  The Koch’s, for years, have been working from the “bottom up” and you could see the result by looking at the “red and blue” on the maps showing the results between Trump and Clinton.  It makes me wonder if democrats have a clue as to what is really happening.

So, what we now have is a House of Representatives that is almost impossible to vote out of republican control because of their gerrymandering strategies of 2010, (Not only did Clinton win the popular vote by almost 3 MILLION votes, the House routinely is controlled by republicans despite the FACT that democrats get Millions more votes every election cycle – in other words, the leaders of the republican party have much more political savvy than the leaders of the democratic party), but along with that there’s the Citizen’s United Supreme Court decision (along with their decision to “gut” the Voting Rights Act of 1965) that MOST of the people I know – and, they are “educated” – have no idea what it is or what the ramifications of it are, and you have a political party (republican) that clearly believes the “end justifies the means” and they will do anything to retain power.  The end result of all this is Donald Trump as president.  (I believe the “liberal media” needs to take ownership of the FACT most people still don’t even know about “Citizen’s United” and the gutting of the Voting Rights Act)

Today, MSNBC was (FINALLY) taking the “news” that Russian hackers were working to help Trump and hurt Clinton seriously.  Of course, it’s a bit late for them to consider this a newsworthy story because the Russians have succeeded in their attempt to flip the election, but today’s news went a bit farther.  Evidently, there’s evidence that the Russians were much busier than working to flip just the presidential election, but also several congressional elections as well.  Maybe now we know why Donald Trump wants to be “friendly” with Russia, and Vladimir Putin whom he referred to as a “great leader.”  (If you remember, Trump actually encouraged the Russian hacking during the campaign) Yikes!  (This all is further evidence that our “liberal media” is not on the side of “we the people” – in my mind, the people I see on TV are not journalists, but more like actors.  Their focus in on ratings and not factual news)

There’s more.  If you feel a bit uneasy that other countries – in this case Russia – are playing a role in determining our elections through “cyber warfare,” well, think about that Citizen’s United decision I referenced above.  It has turned our election process into a moneyed free for all.  It’s pretty obvious to most Americans that our political process is for sale to the “highest bidders.”  And, when people like the Koch’s can pledge upwards of a BILLION dollars in one two year political cycle those like myself feel like our $25 donations here and there don’t amount to much.  The Citizen’s United decision not only opened the “floodgates” to corporate “investment” in our political process, but it allowed this “investment” to be covert.  Which, in turn means that “we the people” will never know how much of the money that’s flowing into our election process is coming from foreign entities.  I can hear my right wing friend saying,”Well, how do you know that money’s not going to democrats” (he believes since I think the republican party should be “history” I must be a “democrat”) – which is the epitome of a false equivalency and, in my mind, the truth is that it doesn’t matter where the money’s going – it shouldn’t be allowed into the process in the first place.  In 2012 I totally disagreed with Mitt Romney when he defended “Citizen’s United” by saying, “Corporations are people, my friend.”

Corporations consist of people, but they are entities that gain their rights from the people.  The result of the Powell Memo I mentioned above has been the corporate takeover of our government which is, as I’m writing this, bordering on Mussolini type fascism without Trump – and, now we have a president who’s campaign slogan – “Make America Great Again” – mirrored the campaign slogan of a famous fascist politician back in the 30’s – “Make Germany Great Again.”  Most Americans who read this probably think I’m nuts because they get their “education” from a “liberal media” that they believe is giving factual information.  Well, from my perspective, we have outlets like MSNBC – fighting for ratings at whatever cost – who supposedly represent the “liberal” counter to Fox “news,” which is nothing more than GOP TV, continuing to this day propping up Trump as being legitimate.  They gave Trump massive amounts of free airtime, and failed miserably to report on all the “dirty tricks” (from the days of Nixon) republicans were using to swing this election (in cahoots with the Russian government), and now we all have to live with the results – for AT LEAST four years!

Fox “news” and the GOP have been practicing, for as long as I can remember, Joseph Goebbels’ “Big Lie Theory” and I can’t remember one time ANYONE who’s an investigative “reporter” making the connection.  I’ve heard some people questioning the absence of facts from many of the right wing “arguments” (and, from virtually everything Trump says) but no one, at least that I’ve heard, has made a connection to Goebbels (Hitler’s chief of propaganda).  As I looked at the election map, I noticed many of the rural areas that went heavily for Trump get their “news” almost exclusively from Fox – with the help of right wing radio talkers like Rush Limbaugh.  This propaganda scheme has been in the works since the days of Ronald Reagan and the rest of us continue to turn a blind eye to the reality that “we the people” are being brainwashed.  As I look back, this has been going on for as long as I can remember.  In fact, with the advent of the internet, now there is a plethora of “fake news” that people are just wrapping their minds around.  Again, from the perspective of the republican party, “The end justifies the means.”  As Paul Weyrich once said, “I don’t want everyone to vote” – and he added – while talking to a group of “conservatives” – the more people we can keep from voting the better our chances are of winning.

Add to all this the gutting of the Voting Rights Act and you have the formula that republicans used to put an unbelievable man into the office of president.  When we the people, if it ever happens, get the truth about this past election Trump will be viewed in even more disdain than he is today.  When you look at the Russian influence and then, if anyone ever tabulates the numbers of voters who were denied the privilege of voting in states that enacted voter suppression laws after the section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was gutted, Trump’s “legitimacy” will be even further in question.  (And, I haven’t even mentioned the FBI director, James Comey, and his incredible attempt to swing the election – which may have been the final straw against Mrs. Clinton in rust belt states)

As Trump puts together his “team” a couple things are apparent.  First, those of us who said when Trump is talking you know there’s lies coming out of his mouth, aren’t surprised that his cabinet is filled with men from Goldman Sachs and members of the military.  His cabinet is predominantly White and his pick for the Department of Education is a woman who is an opponent of public education.  In fact, he’s putting people in charge of departments across the board who are known to want to close them down.  For example, Rick Perry will be in charge of The Department of Energy which he famously couldn’t remember that he wanted to eliminate during the 2012 primary campaign.  The chaos that is likely in the next four years will be difficult to reverse – it will be interesting to see how Trump’s “base” responds when they realize he’s not only failing to “drain the swamp” he’s making it swampier!  One thing we can count on is that their source for “news” – Fox – will find a way to say the swamp is being drained.

The question I have:  Is there anything resembling investigative reporting sill out there (OK, I know about reporters like Greg Palast – but, if you don’t follow people like Thom Hartman you NEVER hear them) on any outlet that might be considered “main stream?”  When “we the people” wonder how we got to this place where a man who admitted to being a sexual predator has been elected president, the first place to look, in my view, is the so-called “liberal media.”  Our system of government relies on the media to be the “fourth estate” – holding the other branches of government accountable.  Most people in America assume the information they get watching the “news” is factual.  Unfortunately, in my view at least, nothing could be farther from the truth.  My greatest discouragement lies in my belief that MSNBC did more to legitimize Trump than maybe any other “news” outlet.  As I stated during the election – most people understood that Fox is the mouthpiece of the republican party.  If there’s a place where the reality of a Trump presidency SHOULD have been FULLY exposed – it should have been MSNBC.  Instead, they allowed themselves to by played masterfully by Trump – and, unfortunately, I don’t expect that to change going forward.  Once disaster hits they’ll be right on it.  I just don’t see them taking ownership of their role in creating the disaster.

What’s the old saying? “Hope springs eternal” – Well, now, despite losing the election for President of the United States, Donald Trump is the “President Elect” – via the abnormality of the Electoral College he, himself, ridiculed before it allowed him to “win.”  If you remember, we went through this – to a lessor degree – in 2000 and ended up with GW Bush/Dick Cheney.  And, we all now know what that brought us.  Essentially, that is what makes all this all the more interesting to me – as I witness an American electorate desperately searching for something DIFFERENT from what they’ve seen from Washington DC in the past 30+ years.  It really underscores the sophistication of the republican propaganda scheme and the gullibility of the American people – and, it’s becoming clearer, the “liberal media.”

As I’m writing this Trump is 58 days from being inaugurated and we’re seeing an incredible amount of what is predictable about American politics in general and the republican party in particular.  (I may get to my thoughts about the Democrats – but, we’ll see).  The republicans, including those in the “Never Trump” movement, have been stumbling all over themselves to curry favor with their new “standard bearer” – just as I predicted many times – it’s all about the POWER with republicans and has little to do with what is best for “we the people.”  To me, the sad reality of this election is it really exposes the lack of sophistication with America’s voters (and, believe me, I’m not a strong “Hillary” supporter) and our “liberal media’s” connection to the corporate stranglehold more and more people are recognizing is the MAJOR threat to the fundamental values Americans have taken for granted since the days of the New Deal.

What’s really going to be interesting is watching a man who, it appears to me, still doesn’t understand what he’s gotten himself into – and, how the various factions that brought him to this place are bound to react when they realize the level of bloviating Trump spewed at his rallies as he ginned up the WHITE middle class in America that is fearful they are “losing their country.”  Since the election I’ve watched videos of groups affiliated with the KKK being overjoyed that “one of their own” has won the “White House.”  You can imagine how they’ve felt these past 8 years.  And, the White Supremacists who are painting swastikas on buildings they consider part of the “liberal establishment” and doing the “heil Hitler” salute at their rallies are overjoyed.  Trump is trying to disassociate himself overtly (along with coded “hints”) from the so-called “Alt Right” movement – but, the reality is that his chief White House “advisor” Steve Bannon is essentially the mouthpiece of this movement.  I heard Trump today, in an interview with I believe the NY Times, say, “If anyone can show me proof that Steve Bannon is a racist he will be asked to leave the administration.”  Previously, I’ve seen some of Bannon’s quotes – I wonder if there are any “investigative” reporters left in America who will take Trump up on that offer.  I can guarantee you, there are millions of Americans who would feel better if Bannon was asked to leave the administration!  (However, the “Alt Right” – which includes groups like the “Skinheads” would be in instant revolt).

Today, it was announced that Niki Haley, governor of North Carolina – a person who was part of the “Never Trump” movement – was appointed as U.N. Ambassador (opening the way for a right wing Trump supporter to move into the North Carolina governor’s mansion) and, of all people, it’s being rumored that Mitt Romney will be appointed Secretary of State.  Of course, this would only further prove that Romney lacks conviction in anything he says.  These republicans continue to show their “true colors.”

Wall Street is so excited that it is now at new record levels.  The report today was that the “financial sector” is up over 20% in anticipation that Trump will be rolling back the regulations that were put in place after the Bush/Cheney fiasco led to the “Great Recession.”  Well, hold on to your “you know what’s” as we head back toward more financial skulduggery and, who knows, maybe this republican administration can put us into another “Great Depression.”  What’s really interesting to me is that the same “deficit hawks” – who were completely silent during the Bush/Cheney years when Clinton’s $250 per year surplus was turned into what eventually became the $TRILLION per year plus deficits that Obama inherited – AND, complained bitterly during Obama’s term as he brought the deficit down by more than 50% but would do NOTHING to help stimulate the economy in a way that would bring it back to a surplus – are now crawling back under their rocks as another republican administration prepares to balloon the deficits to new record heights.

As I listened to the words of Bannon (who, by the way, equated himself with the devil) as he predicted a stimulus package that makes Obama’s look tiny and compares with what was done in the New Deal I had to wonder – will these republicans actually go for this.  Personally, I’d love to see America’s roads and bridges, her schools, post offices, etc. etc rebuilt.  I’d love it if they did it in a way that shows acknowledgement that we need to transform this nation toward a “green economy.”  But, I have to say, my practical self is very skeptical.  I remember Bush/Cheney engaging in two WARS all on credit.  In fact, they initiated the largest tax cuts in American history while pushing the military spending through the roof (Kind of like Reagan on steroids).  So, is it going to be deja vu all over again?  Except with the caveat that this time there will be TRILLIONS spent on rebuilding our infrastructure (which is definitely needed).  And, where will all the deficit hawks be during all of this?  Will this republican congress that would agree to NOTHING with Obama in the White House change their tune?  Will they take the same approach Dick Cheney took in 2002 when he said, “Reagan prove deficits don’t matter?”  (Evidently, with these people, they only matter when it’s a democrat in the “White House.”

I have to wonder how Trump will respond once all these “happy days” are behind him and he actually is in charge.  I believe he will NEVER  be considered the true president – just as Bush was always understood to be the president because we had a right wing Supreme Court (which, unfortunately, is the worst part of the this election to me).  The court not only anointed Bush, but in the ensuing years – with the help of two of his appointees – the court unleashed unlimited CASH into our election process (which is one of the things all these “conservatives” seem unhappy about – the corruption in Washington DC – it’s just that virtually every person I know who voted for Trump has no idea what Citizens United is – and, of course, who’s responsible for it) AND, they gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Those two things, in my mind, are the reasons republican control virtually every aspect of our government.  In fact, as I’ve stated before, I don’t trust the results of the election in the states where the most egregious voter suppression laws were enacted – North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  I believe it is likely that without the voter suppression efforts (and, I also don’t trust the results where they were using electronic voting machines in the states where the voter suppression tactics were in full force) that Hillary Clinton would have carried all of those states.  We’ll likely never know – just as it’s never been common news about the actual results in Florida in the 2000 election.  In America, we just assume everyone is “above board” – despite the reality that we know this is not the case.  I wrote before the election, as Trump was complaining that the “election was rigged” – that the ONLY way he could win was if that was true.

I guess what we’re waiting for now is if Trump will actually try to fulfill all his boisterous campaign promises.  I’ve already heard him say that he’s not going to “prosecute Hillary Clinton” – as if it’s up to him.  (Of course, Obama blocked ALL the impending investigations into the Bush/Cheney regime – which included two men who had admitted to authorizing WAR CRIMES on national TV and saying they’d do it all over again – and, I’ll save my comments on that for another day, other than to say I complained bitterly to Obama about allowing them “off the hook” and pointed out that he was just enabling the next president to do the same thing – which Trump has claimed he’ll do “and far worse.”)  Is Trump actually going to attempt to repeal “Obamacare?”  It would be awesome if it was strengthened and if they could figure out how to reduce the rising cost of medical care – but, will he actually “pull the plug” on the 25 MILLION who now have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.  (personally, I’m in favor of a “single payer” system where if you’re working you’re paying taxes toward some kind of “medicare for all” plan).  Do you think Trump will institute the “public option” so there really is competition in the insurance industry?  (Not likely – it’s the insurance industry that funds the campaigns of enough members of Congress that this will never happen – it’s the “Fox guarding the hen-house” theory of designing a health insurance system)

Of course, in the campaign Trump bloviated to African Americans, “What do you have to lose” by voting for Trump?  Well, it will be interesting when we find out.  Is he really going to rebuild the inner cities and will he do it in a way that improves the lives (and livelihood) of the Black community?  I heard today he was appointing Ben Carson as the head of HUD – despite Carson’s claim that he’s not qualified to lead a government bureaucracy.  Evidently, the FACT that Carson is Black is all that matters in this appointment.  Now, don’t get me wrong, if this is true I will be on the front lines hoping that Carson can lead a change in the inner cities of America that would better the lives of those in the Black community who are struggling.  I’m just going to be totally honest here – I’m very SKEPTICAL.  Trump certainly doesn’t have a history favorable to the plight of the Black Community and his leading advisor is a White Nationalist.  Do you see why I’m skeptical?

As stated above, at some point I’ll write a post aimed at the democrats – I usually save my remarks for the republican party which, in my view, can’t be history fast enough – obviously, it’s going to be around for a while.  One thing we can almost be certain of is that the Democrats won’t provide much opposition to Trump.  If he gets blocked it will be by the deficit hawks I’ve said in this post that I believe will head back under the rocks until the next democrat is trying to fix the disaster we’re all about to experience.  I’ve always maintained that the problem with the democrats is they don’t have the courage of their own convictions.  You already hearing them talking about how they can “work with Trump.”  I don’t know what it’s going to take for them to “get it” – this is  a WAR for the heart and soul of this nation – and, they just got defeated by a known racist, a misogynist, a man who was publicly exposed as a sexual predator, a homophobe, a pathological liar, and a man who has shown little to NO knowledge of how our government works.  They based their campaign on why we shouldn’t vote for Trump instead of why we SHOULD vote for them – it’s like they’ve been caught up in the same fear mongering that has identified the republican party for years – but, it’s like men against boys.

Trump sees no value in facts.  He speaks without thinking.  He’s constantly bloviating and he’s now in a position where his stupidity risks the livelihoods of the rest of us.  When I looked at the maps of the electorate the voted him in, it was like a clear vision of the parts of America where people have no access to information except that which comes from the mouths of the propagandists on Fox “news” along with the right wing blabbers like Limbaugh, Savage, etc.  To call these Americans “low information voters” is complimentary.  When I try to reason with someone who watches Fox it’s an impossibility.  They are almost always convinced they’re “educated” to the “facts.”  Rarely has anyone I’ve talked to who watches and/or listens to that stuff given me a reason to think they “cross check” information to see if it’s true or not.  When I can stomach watching Fox for even a few minutes, I don’t need to look hard to find their disassociation with facts.  Donald Trump is completed disassociated from facts AND he’s a pathological liar.  The first day he takes office he will be violating untold numbers of American laws simply related to his holdings and the undeniable conflicts of interest that can’t be avoided.  The main question I have in my mind at this point is will the Democrats have the courage to hold Trump accountable.  History tells me, don’t hold your breath.

Donald Trump is the epitome of the republican’s ability to win elections using the theory of “the end justifies the means.”  As stated above, we’ll probably never know the shenanigans that went into him pulling this off – but, the republican party now owns Trump and will be defined by him.  He’s trying to be the next Reagan (another master liar and racist) and the republicans seem to be falling in line.  Again, will the Democrats capitulate?  Or, will they fight and stand up for all of us who voted against Trump?  One thing’s for sure.  America’s downward spiral will continue for at least another 4 years!

For the past couple of days I’ve been listening on the radio as I drive around to people calling talk radio shows to defend their vote for Donald Trump.  Most are in denial that they voted for a White Supremacist, a misogynist, a fascist, and someone who’s generally unstable and is going to have his hand on the nuclear codes.  I still vividly remember Trump claiming: “I love the uneducated voters” during the primary season.  (of course he loves them, they’re the perfect “victims” of the right wing propaganda machine that is extremely sophisticated)  Something in the neighborhood of 75% of white Americans with a high school education or less voted for Trump.  Unbelievably to me 53% of Women voted for Trump – despite the Fact he admitted to being a person who sexually assaults women – because he’s famous and can get away with it.  And, worst still (to me as a Christian) and similar to the fascists taking over Germany in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, reportedly 90% of evangelical Christians voted for Trump.

I have a friend (who I’m having a difficult time processing his thinking) who told me he was voting for Trump for “moral reasons.”  Of course, my friend is a regular watcher of Fox “news” and, from my perspective, has been brainwashed.  He believes Sean Hannity tells the truth.  He’s also an evangelical Christian and it’s so hard for me to understand how he (and millions of others) could look past Trump admitting to attempting to f@#k a married woman (shortly after his own marriage to our first lady elect and while she was pregnant with his youngest son) and claiming he can just come up to women and grab them in the “pussy” because he’s famous.  Of course, I’m guessing my friend didn’t believe the plethora of women who then came forward and confirmed everything Trump boasted about – all of the sexual advances unwanted.  And, of course, I guess the my friend (and the other “Christians” who supported Trump) believed Trump when he claimed they were ALL liars – and, as any sexual predator with means would, he threatened to sue every last one of the women after the election.  Honestly, I look forward to him doing that, because I believe there will be no shortage of attorneys who will defend these women for free.  Honestly, I hope some of them sue Trump!

During the campaign Trump demonstrated a complete ignorance about how government functions – he seems to think he’ll snap his fingers and get what he wants – and more alarmingly an almost complete ignorance of all things foreign policy.  If you remember he claimed to be smarter than all our generals – which should lead to an interesting situation once he’s actually “commander in chief.”  How will these generals react to someone who claims they are stupid?  Will they all be replaced?  If so, who’s going to replace them?  In my mind, ultimately the people who will be proved to being stupid are the people who voted for Trump.  Trump is incompetent and I’m sure the various factions are lining up with plans to manipulate him – and, this would include Vladimir Putin.

I found it interesting all the republicans who detested Trump being willing to “fall in line” just in case he won because, to them, it’s all about the power.  I believe one reason people are so angry with our government has been the dysfunction of Congress which SHOULD be placed at the “feet” of the republican party – they’re the ones who’ve been OBSTRUCTING everything for the past 8 years in their attempt to make sure our first African American president FAILED.  They’re ALSO the ones who enabled Bush/Cheney to deregulate our government in the 8 years proceeding President Obama creating the “Great Recession.”  It’s really interesting to me that enough of America’s voters evidently forgot that.  Or was this just the backlash to “we the people” demonstrating that we would choose the best candidate – EVEN if he/she’s Black?  (It’s impossible to take the White Supremacist “factor” out of this election)

With the help of the so-called “liberal media” republicans managed to convince the voting public the BLAME for the OBSTRUCTION (that republicans have been doing for years – the “strategy” began with Newt Gingrich back during the Clinton administration) belongs with the democrats.  I found it ironic when I listened to one Trump voter after another saying they voted for him because he’s going to bring their jobs back.  Despite the FACT he was bloviating with all his claims about how he’s going to force America’s corporations to relocate back in America that’s NOT going to “bring their jobs back” – I guess all these people have such short attention spans – and lack of interest in educating themselves – that they have forgotten it was the republicans who created the “Great Recession” – it’s been the republicans from Reagan through the two Bush presidencies who pushed the national debt to extreme proportions and that jobs were “going away” at the rate of one MILLION per month as GW Bush/Dick Cheney left Washington (with their “tails between their legs”).  The two administrations in the past (almost) 40 years that have created the MOST jobs have been the Clinton and Obama administrations.

There have been numerous studies which have shown the least informed Americans are the ones who watch Fox “news.”  And, in many rural settings unless you want to do what I did and pay for satellite TV, the only “news” you can get comes from Fox.  And, if you’ve watched Fox and vetted what they’re spewing you quickly realize they are proponents of the “Big Lie Theory” of the Nazi’s propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.  You repeat a LIE often enough and people will believe it’s true.  They’ve been doing this for 25 or more years – slowly manipulating the minds of the people watching them who believe they are obligated (they’re on TV aren’t they) to be “reporting” the truth.  If Fox had any intention of being “honest” they would re-brand themselves as GOP TV.  Over the years, I’ve discovered it’s hard to have a civil conversation with someone who gets their “information” on Fox because they are absolutely convinced their information is accurate and, as my friend who was voting for Trump for “moral reasons” said to me, “There’s no way you’re going to change my mind.

You have to give credit to Kelleyanne Conway and Steve Bannon for joining the Trump campaign (there’s a Wall Street Billionaire who financed it all) and keeping him on (a dishonest) script.  Kelleyanne Conway is one of the best LIARS I’ve ever seen.  I watched her spin one Trump blunder after another by ALWAYS switching the subject to “But, Hillary……”   She never would allow whoever was questioning her to get a real answer to any questions regarding the reality of Donald Trump – it was always about Hillary Clinton.  And, the media allowed her to get away with it.  In Bannon’s case – he quietly mobilized the SIZEABLE White Supremacist base of the “new republican party” (Including, to my and many others’ despair, the KKK) – the people Trump originally endeared himself to as he led the “Birther” movement after President Obama was elected.  Trump gave many white nationalists (racists) a reason to vote for the very first time.  Before this, neither party has ever chosen someone who was overtly racist to lead them – and, despite Trump’s “victory” (I continue to believe when the facts regarding the voter suppression tactics of the republicans become public Trump’s legitimacy will be undermined) I believe he will be the undoing of their party.  I think the backlash to Trump will stain every republican who goes along to “get along.”

The republicans are now in an interesting position.  Their “base” is solidly made up with what Hillary Clinton referred to (accurately in my view) as a “basket of deplorables.”  She was, of course, referring to the strong connection with Trump and the alt right – or White Supremacists movement that was energized by Obama’s election.  This group is made up of “hate groups” that are very likely to have an unrealistic expectation of what a Trump presidency means.  I can already hear people like Conway and Bannon – and the others who end up in his administration – the idea of Newt Gingrich as Secretary of State makes my skin crawl – YIKES! – blaming democrats for whatever goes wrong in his administration. What if “Obamacare” isn’t repealed? (I have one friend who voted for Trump who believes it won’t be), what if Hillary Clinton isn’t “jailed?” What if there’s no wall, or Mexico won’t pay for it?  Who are they going to blame the backlash on that is certain if they start rounding up Latino’s and begin deporting them?  Do you really believe republicans are going to focus on rebuilding our inner cities and creating opportunities for members of the African American community?  (Honestly, I would love it if they would – but, when it becomes obvious that Trump won the election via voter ID laws that excluded (possibly) MILLIONS of African Americans – in key “battleground” states – from voting do you think his supporters will be committed to “Black Lives Matter?”)

However and more importantly, keep in mind that Trump represents a group that wants nothing to do with the republican “establishment.”  You already see Paul Ryan showing his true colors by “kissing up” to Trump – evidently, the FACT Trump is an overt racist is no longer an issue for Ryan – but, I’m guessing Ryan as Speaker of the House is not a guarantee – there may be a few “Tea partiers” who have different ideas – I’m certain they feel empowered.

In the next four years we’re going to see the true colors of the republican party and my guess is that it will be the beginning of the end of their “conservative” movement.  People like Ryan and McConnell already, I’m sure, have their sights set on programs like Social Security and Medicare – finding ways to funnel as much of the money from those programs to their corporate benefactors.  I’m sure they have intentions of more “tax cuts for the wealthy” (again, their benefactors), and more “no bid” contracts for their friends in the WAR industries.  They will be propping up the fossil fuel industries (despite the critical stage we face in the “war on Climate Change” – which Trump and his supporters refuse to acknowledge) – in fact, I’ve heard that Trump has a MILLION dollar investment in the company building the pipeline that is generating controversy in North Dakota.  It’s almost certain he will grant the license for this pipeline that is violating Tribal lands given over in Treaties from the mid 1800’s and when people learn of his financials stake in the process – well, it’s not going to go over well with us “LIBERALS.”  The protests aimed at Donald Trump began shortly after the election.  My prediction: America, get used to them!

Well, the worst fears of many Americans were realized on November 8, 2016 with the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States.  Today, the day after, I’ve listened to the commentators who got it so wrong trying to understand “what happened?”  So far, I haven’t heard one of them refer to the reality that has been hitting me in the face for the past couple of weeks.  Trump is an authoritarian personality, he’s had the Russian government working (kind of – due to the media I’ll likely be writing about tonight) behind the scenes attempting to interfere with an American election (successfully, I might add) and then, a couple weeks ago the director of the FBI, James Comey, did the unthinkable and injected more innuendo regarding Hillary Clinton’s so-called “email scandal” onto the headlines about two weeks prior to the election.  From that moment on, the polls began to tighten and I saw polling results that suggested something above 50% of independent and undecided republican voters were swayed to vote against Mrs. Clinton because of that FBI “letter to Congress.”

Of course, a couple days prior to the election Comey came out and confirmed that there was no scandal and that there was nothing to suggest Mrs. Clinton did anything illegal, but you had crowds at Trump rallies chanting “Lock her up” and you had media commentators acting as if this was almost a non-issue.  I can tell you, I’ve read much about the history of America’s FBI and the thought that they, along with the Russian government, turning this election to Trump makes me even more apprehensive about what the next 4 years will look like.

Since it became clear to me that Mrs. Clinton would lose, I’ve only heard one commentator who I believe “gets it” when trying to understand “what happened.”  If you’ve been on this site at all, you know that I’ve railed against, to name a couple “commentators” who are supposed to be on the non-Fox MSNBC (which supposedly is left leaning), Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd.  In a recent post, I suggested that Matthews is almost as full of himself as Trump. Matthews and Todd seemed determined to legitimize Trump’s candidacy every step of the way (except maybe the day the Access Hollywood video was publicized – I don’t remember either one spending more than a passing thought on the FACT Trump’s campaign CEO is a White nationalist).

The commentator on MSNBC who seemed to “get it,” was a lady named (I believe) Joy Reid.  She is African American and, from my perspective, one of the brightest members of MSNBC’s staff (which has become hard to watch – as they CONSTANTLY propped up Trump during the campaign – presumably for better ratings – I pointed out at the time, the potential downside of them giving Trump BILLIONS in free advertising).  Reid pointed out that throughout the campaign the media, including MSNBC, portrayed Trump and Clinton as equally flawed.  I could tell, after she pointed this out, that Matthews didn’t like hearing this from one of his peers.

The reality is that they actually did just that.  Trump “got away” with unbelievable flaws that SHOULD have disqualified him from this election for all intents and purposes.  However, with the help of the 24/7 cable “news” outlets and commentators that you have to wonder what their motivation was, Trump came across – to many – as less flawed than Mrs. Clinton.  He was allowed to make one absurd accusation after another – with NO ONE pointing out the absurdity of most of them.  These people were more concerned with their ratings than the welfare of the American nation.  Because of that, the next four years of American history could go down as among the worst – if Trump achieves anywhere close to what he claimed he was “for” in the campaign.  And, I can guarantee you, there’s a large segment of his supporters that are expecting a wall and expecting “Mexico will pay for it.”  Yikes!

I can also guarantee you there is a larger percentage of the American population who are aghast that Trump managed to win and are wondering the same thing as the “pundits.”  There’s another factor here that could bring into question Trump’s “victory” in a way that would make the two “wins” by George W Bush look like child’s play.  So far, I’ve heard no one referencing the voter suppression efforts of the GOP that hit “high speed” once the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  (Trump’s “victory” virtually guarantees the Voting Rights Act will not be fixed anytime soon)  I really have to wonder about the votes in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin for starters.  I wonder if we’ll ever know how many members of minority communities or universities or elderly people were denied the right to vote based on the “voter ID” proposals that republicans predicted could keep as many as 5 to 10 MILLION democratic leaning voters from the polls.  I believe all the states I mentioned were close enough that the very reason the outcome didn’t reflect the polling may have been the number of African American, Hispanic, college students, and others who did not get their votes counted.  It certainly wouldn’t have taken anywhere close to the republican projections to make the difference in each state.  If this information is ever made public (if you recall, the TRUTH about Florida in 2000 was NEVER made public) Donald Trump’s legitimacy as president will be undermined.  I’ll be surprised if anyone in the “liberal media” ever reports on this, but until I’m convinced otherwise I will be thinking republican “dirty tricks” did us (we the people) in again!

I’ve written several times here about republican projection.  That is, if they’re complaining about something it’s usually to hide the FACT that they’re actually doing it.  Trump was constantly complaining about a rigged election.  I remember thinking (and I think I wrote about this prior to the election) that the only way he could win was if he was correct – if the republicans actually succeeded in blocking enough voters from voting to swing the election; ie – rigging the election.   So, between Russian interference, FBI intervention in the election, corporate media, and voter suppression we now have President Donald Trump.  If people ever put all this “together” “we the people” are in for a “rocky ride.”  (I suppose with Trump as president, that is inevitable)  I guess the one thing we can be happy with is that Vladimir Putin got the result he wanted.

I have no idea how long it will take for me to finish this post.  What I’ve come to realize over the past week or two is, no matter how the election of 2016 turns out, it is clear to me that America is on a downward spiral that could go from bad to worse on Tuesday, November 8th.  I’ve been watching American politics since the days Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson were running against each other back in the 1950’s.  From that time until the day Ronald Reagan won the White House, the health of working class people (the middle class) was what was driving American politics.  Amazing things happened in America (and, still are) during those times, but the huge difference, to me, was the attitude of the general public regarding our middle class.  Essentially, in an attempt to explain my thought in a short phrase, our nation operated on a “bottom up” philosophy.

As a Christian, I’m always reminded of Jesus’ words “What you do for the least of these, you do for me” AND “What you do TO the least of these you do to me.”  He often reminds me of those words when I drive past a homeless veteran on the side of the road and I don’t give him/her anything.  He reminds me that if my neighbor is hungry and I have an abundance of food I should feed him/her.  And, I believe, back in the 50’s, 60’s, and early 70’s America’s government came much closer to being in line with those words of Jesus than we are today.  In fact, I believe that with the inauguration of Ronald Reagan (ironically, supported by the so-called “religious right”), America began to change from what I call a “we” society to a “me” society.

I still remember, in the 1960’s, as a young impressionable American, feeling the obligation to help in the FIGHT for Civil Rights and Voting Rights that so many in the African American community (and their supporters) sacrificed so much in order to achieve monumental legislative victories.  I’ve also been aware that, since the victories of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 there has been a concerted effort by many Americans to “turn back the clock.”  And, unfortunately, the events of the past 10 or so years, demonstrate they are succeeding – really, no matter who wins on November 8th.

The Supreme Court passed the so-called “Citizens United” decision (along with the “McCutcheon” decision) in the first decade of the 21st century that essentially wiped away all attempts at controlling the flood of money into the election process and we’re seeing the results of that in 2016.  Additionally, (and, almost unbelievably) the Court GUTTED the Voting Rights Act so that, as the 2016 election unfolds we’re seeing the effects of that decision as well while republicans all across America are scheming for ways to prevent minority populations from making it to the polls.  All of this, in itself, is a bit depressing for someone like me who grew up believing in, benefiting from, and supporting the tenets of the New Deal which was the “generator” of the great expansion of America’s middle class from the 30’s through the late 70’s,

In reality, since the day Franklin Roosevelt shared that the moneyed elite in America hated his policies (guts? :o) and went on to say, “I welcome their hate” there has been an undercurrent of right wing, racist, wealthy Americans fighting to reverse the gains middle class Americans made during the New Deal and the years that followed.  In fact, this group (which included, for example, the John Birch Society and a group referred to by Jeff Sharlett in a great book as the “Family”) has been working to undermine the basic philosophy today’s democratic party  rests on (or should I say, it should rest on) since FDR’s time.  Let me be clear, what we’re talking about here is a faction of Americans who believe in “white privilege” and, obviously, will do whatever it takes to preserve this “privilege” which they appear to view as a birth right.

I believe many of the people I’m talking about were “under the rocks” until Barack Obama was elected president.  While there were many like myself who were excited that an African American could win the presidency, this obviously sent this group I’m referring to “off the edge.”  Their initial response to Obama’s presidency was to claim their NUMBER ONE priority was that the president would FAIL.  It’s becoming apparent that President Obama is going to leave the office of the president as the most popular second term president in many years, so apparently their work to make sure he fails has been a FAILURE.  However, what they’ve achieved is creating unprecedented GRIDLOCK in Washington DC and, through the ability to spend unlimited amounts and a willingness to disregard FACTS, they’ve succeeded in deflecting the blame for the results of their “strategy.”

Americans are fed up with the gridlock and the division in Washington DC, but now that the democrats have gone one more over the edge for some of these people on the right – they’ve nominated a WOMAN to be president – we’re getting a close-up view of what America is really made of.  Out of their contempt for our first Black president and the unthinkable thought of a woman as “commander in chief” the republicans have come up with Donald Trump as a candidate for the office of president.  I really thought that after Sarah Palin they couldn’t out do themselves, but they’ve managed to do so.  And, the sad reality, 3 days prior to the election is that Trump conceivably could win the White House.  It makes me sick to my stomach to even write those words.  To me, this is an indictment on our system and a wake up call as to how many Americans are either “on board” with a man who is demonstrably a fascist, is clearly a racist and misogynist, and hasn’t given one piece of rhetoric, that I’ve heard, which would indicate even a rudimentary understanding of the workings of our government.  Just that thought brings me back to Reagan who started the attacks on government – our government that these right wing people have been working hard to undermine since – well, as I said above, since FDR led a middle class revolution in the 30’s and 40’s.  Republicans have bought into their own lies – and, many are voting for Trump (conceivably) knowing in their hearts how incredibly dangerous he will be should he make the White House.

If Clinton wins, and Congress remains in republican control, the obstruction and vitriol will continue – in fact, it will probably increase.  Republicans have already promised to BLOCK any and all appointments to the Supreme Court should Clinton win the White House.  And, that will simply be the tip of the “iceberg.”  They will continue to push America toward financial default and continue to manipulate our “liberal media” into making sure “we the people” don’t give “credit where credit is due.”  America’s cable “news” outlets have been falling all over themselves trying to be like “fox” and the end result is that we have a voting public that is as ill-informed as probably any in the world.  People want change – and mostly they agree on the change – like health care reform, stop the wars, affordable education, alternative energy (acknowledge the problem of Climate Change), raise the minimum wage, etc. etc. – they just don’t seem to understand that in EVERY instance, the “roadblock” to the “change we can believe in” is the republican party and the corporate interests who have bought them.  Americans are sick of the gridlock, they just don’t understand where it’s coming from.

I’m apprehensive about this election one way or the other.  If Trump (God help us) should manage to win, my biggest fears will have been realized.  I can’t imagine “we the people” would vote him into office – but, the reality is that over 40% of Americans are supporting him.  If Clinton wins, well, the obstruction will very possibly be put on steroids.  This group who believes their “white privilege” is a birthright, will not go away on their own.  Until the American people fully understand what is happening and they vote these people (like McConnell, Ryan, etc.  the republicans who were unable to repudiate Trump) OUT OF OFFICE, the obstruction and vitriol will continue.

Donald Trump has been playing the media since the day he started his ill-fated run for the presidency.  He does whatever it takes to dominate the news cycles while throwing in one unsubstantiated accusation against his opponent – first Jeb Bush, then Ted Cruz, now Hillary Clinton – after another, then complains bitterly to his followers that he’s being unfairly treated by the same people who are suckered into giving him UNIMAGINABLE amounts of FREE air time when they report accurately what he said.  I maintain that Donald Trump would be irrelevant except for his ability to use the cable outlet “commentators” to his advantage to the tune of BILLIONS in free advertising.

And, the worst one, to me – who is constantly causing me to scratch my head AND turn off my TV (or XM radio) is Chris Matthews of MSNBC.  Tonight, I was FORCING myself to watch his show called “Hardball” – “the place for politics” and he ended the segment I watched as if he was campaigning for Donald Trump.  He, seemingly, was doing what most republicans have been doing since their “nightmare” began – with Trump’s nomination – encouraging Trump to “stay on message” – and Matthews attempted to lay out the message.  (Obviously, Matthews is not a fan of Hillary Clinton – that has been apparent to me for some time)  Matthews was encouraging Trump to focus on the immigration issue (my first thought was “are you kidding me?”  suggesting Trump’s position on immigration would be a winning one – Trump’s fascist tendencies have shown almost the brightest with this particular issue), the issue of war (earlier in the program he had implied to Michael Moore (who Matthews said, “I’ll give you 2 minutes, uninterrupted, to state your case for Hillary Clinton – then interrupted Moore withing maybe 15 seconds and NEVER allowed Moore to make his case) that Mrs. Clinton is a war “hawk” – while, apparently, suggesting Trump to be less so????  I really didn’t get that one.  And, if I remember correctly, the third issue was the national debt. (it could have been “jobs”)

What aggravated me the MOST as I FORCED myself to listen to this “commentator” – who comes across to me as almost as narcissistic as Trump himself (OK, I know that’s close to impossible – but, let’s just say it’s a matter of degree) – was that ALL THREE OF THOSE ISSUES are issues that have been initiated AND exacerbated by REPUBLICAN policy since the days of Ronald Reagan and the ONLY reason ANY republican could get away with PUSHING those three issues is because “commentators” like Matthews have allowed, over the years, republicans to foist DEBT, WAR, and BLOCK immigration reform and not pay the price they should if our MEDIA was doing its job of INFORMING the American public on the FACTS of these policies. (the Fox “news” “fair and balanced” baloney seems to have permeated their competition)

It should be no secret, to anyone, that the BALLOONING of the national debt began with the TAX CUTS during the administration of Ronald Reagan.  The FACTS demonstrate that the rise in our national debt was jump started by Reagan’s so-called “Trickle down” economic philosophy (which republicans, to this day, continue to profess – including Mr. Trump), it got worse under the first President Bush and “Bush II” put it on steroids.  Combining the thirst for tax cuts – mainly for the wealthy (remember, the middle class has been asked to pay more since those days) with deregulation aimed at the largest corporations in the nation and the push for PERPETUAL WAR – which was begun by Reagan’s MASSIVE defense buildup and has continued since – spurred on by the illegal invasion of Iraq instigated by the Bush/Cheney regime (and, by the way, not paid for AT ALL – in fact, Bush/Cheney BORROWED every cent of the money needed to fund their WAR fetish).  “We the people” will be paying for their illegal (and incompetent) wars for, very possibly, generations.  To even suggest Trump is the “answer” to this problem, to me, is well beyond PREPOSTEROUS.

Under President Obama, the deficit has been reduced approximately in half.  Every economist I’ve studied since Obama’s taking office have pointed out that the only thing Obama should have done differently, when considering the MESS he inherited as he moved into the White House, was to DEMAND and fight for a larger and more comprehensive “stimulus” package.  For all intents and purposes, the Obama administration prevented America from falling into another Great Depression.  Republicans were BLAMING President Obama for the HUGE budget deficits before he took the oath of office.  I really didn’t hear people like Matthews pointing out how preposterous that was at the time and I don’t hear them educating “we the people” on the FACTS relating to why it takes YEARS to recover from an economic disaster of the magnitude “we the people” were “given” by the Bush/Cheney regime and the republicans in congress who allowed this (STUPID) “trickle down” philosophy to survive.  As I’ve heard some people (probably myself included) say, “It’s all about the money.”  (I could get into the issue of income inequality here – but, I’ll leave that for another day)

As far as the issue of immigration.  Matthews seemingly was complaining – as he was encouraging Trump to focus on that issue – about the so-called 11 MILLION “immigrants” in America “illegally.”  Of course, he didn’t (and wouldn’t apparently) point out that Trump disparaged Mexicans, Muslims, African Americans, and who knows who else as he was proposing politics that mirrored those of the Third Reich.  In fact, the other day I heard audio of Trump supporters verbally assaulting members of the media using a term used by Nazi’s “back in the day” to attack the press.  Yikes!  Democrats – including Mrs. Clinton – have been trying for years to reform out immigration laws.  To suggest this would be a “winning” strategy for Trump just reinforces to me that people like Matthews have no interest in factual “reporting” – their (his) interest is simply in ratings and doing whatever they can do to make sure the election is “exciting” and presumably competitive.  Just like above – “It’s all about the money.” (I might add that President Obama has presided over the largest number of Illegals deported in recent history – if that’s what people like Matthews thinks will “solve” the problem)

It kind of makes me think about all the republican politicians – who refuse to disassociate themselves from Trump – that I believe are “hanging on” because they fear what will happen if he wins and they don’t support him (think of Chris Christie and the slowdown on the George Washington Bridge on steroids – for the retaliation – that’s how people like Trump work –  again, we’re dealing with authoritarian personalities – bullies – who don’t like ANYONE saying “no” to them).  My hope is that those republicans with the courage to distance themselves from Trump hold the others accountable after the election.  Are “commentators” like Matthews fearing for their future if Trump wins?  Is Chris Matthews making these preposterous comments so that he can continue his show if Trump  wins?  So he can claim he was “fair and balanced?” I know that Matthews knows better.  I know that he knows Trump is dangerous.  Does he simply hate Hillary Clinton?  I really don’t have the answers to any of those questions and all the other questions swirling around in my mind.

What I do know is that Donald Trump is DANGEROUS.  He’s the greatest threat to the fundamental values America has stood for in my lifetime.  His campaign is based on fear mongering and lies and the parallels of Trump to Hitler are startling – of course, people like Matthews will NEVER point this out.  (I mean, Hitler’s campaign “slogan” was “Make Germany Great Again” – do you get it? – if you’ve been watching – including supporters, earlier in the campaign, raising their right arms and pledging allegiance to Trump – you can piece this together)  I believe it was FDR who said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” and (I’m getting old, my memory is sketchy) I believe it was JFK who said the only way America could be “defeated” would be by an “enemy within.”  Trump has ginned up a large segment of America’s population who are ANGRY with the last 35 years and the direction we’ve been going.  What people like Matthews CONTINUE to do, is FAIL to appropriately  EDUCATE our population on why this is happening and who’s to blame.

I’m not a great supporter of the democrats – my hope is that if Mrs. Clinton wins, the HUGE segment of the population who supported Bernie Sanders will stay active and FORCE Mrs. Clinton to instigate  a PROGRESSIVE agenda AND they will work to vote out as many of these right wing fanatics that are supporting Donald Trump as possible.  (and, just to be fair, I believe ANY democrat who continues to show a lack of spine – to fail to fight for the ideals of the progressive movement – should get the same outcome as the right wing republicans I mentioned)  These people were on the FRINGE prior to Reagan’s election and they need to go back there.  I saw an electoral map tonight that represented how this election would go if just the “millennials” did the voting – and, it would compare to the landslide Reagan carried when he won his second term – maybe ONE state would go for Trump – and that’s it!  This right wing Crazy stuff is on its way out.  Obviously, the “money-changers” are doing everything they can to stop the momentum of those who supported Bernie.  The republican party is threatening its own existence by standing by Trump and people like Matthews – who have a significant voice – in my mind, should be TRUTHFUL about EVERYTHING they say.  Again, I have questions about his motivation, but none about how preposterous what he said tonight was.  If Chris Matthews wants to be an advisor to Donald Trump he should quit his job at MSNBC!  (what he did – and said – tonight, including what he did to Michael Moore, should be unacceptable to anyone who calls themselves a progressive – he should go to work for Fox)

I’ll finish be adding that at one point I considered myself a “conservative.”  I do believe in the fundamental values that made America great (yes, Mr. Trump, that has already happened) – but, those values were embedded in the philosophy that brought us the “New Deal” and the “Great Society.”  Since the days of the so-called “Powell memo” – written by future Supreme Court justice Lewis Powell in 1972 – which spurred on the corporatacracy we’re now fighting against (if you’re a middle class progressive) America’s great middle class has been shrinking.  It’s as if republicans want to take us back to the days of the “robber barons” and our “liberal” media doesn’t seem to be paying attention.  Therefore, it’s hard for someone like me to associate with the word “conservative” – because, the fight for the rights of those who are the backbone of this nation – the blue collar workers – is being re-lived.  Yes, it’s true that the times have changed and America’s workforce needs to be retrained – but, our nation has the resources to do this along with investing in our young people and our infrastructure in a way that addresses the realities of  the 21st century.  (for example, clean energy, free college education, new roads and bridges, etc. etc.)  People like Matthews need to stop falling all over themselves to “be like Fox” and focus on making the “4th estate” one of the building blocks that turns this nation back to the fundamentals our fathers and grandfathers (I’m talking 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s here) fought so hard for as we (America) emerged from the Great Depression and WW II.  The so-called 1% has plundered untold TRILLIONS from America’s working class.  It’s time for this to stop!

As the women come forward accusing Donald Trump of being a sexual predator – which he inadvertently admitted to on tape at “Access Hollywood” several years ago – what I’m having a hard time understanding is why republicans are so surprised.  I mean the guy’s a walking narcissist who’s demeaned women (and others) in a way that would seemingly make it obvious that he’s all about himself and, just as pathological liars believe their lies as the words come out of their mouths (and, by the way, Trump gets a check mark on that one too!), he is apparently so caught up in this improbable campaign that he actually thinks he’s “presidential” and can BS his way into the oval office.  Yikes!

Years ago, when I started writing (venting – I was so upset with the invasion of Iraq by Bush/Cheney et al), one of my first posts mentioned America’s “low information voters.”  I was challenged by a local (second rate) “conservative” talker who accused me of being “elitist” for making such a comment (his name is Lars Larsen – not sure if he’s still a paid liar for the right wing “noise” machine).  This “talker” like the rest of the republican propaganda machine which has been vilifying anything “progressive” since the days of Ronald Reagan has been cultivating these “low information voters” for years and the end result is that the republican nominee for president is now the most bizarre, unqualified, DEPLORABLE, candidate that maybe has ever gotten this far in the process – in the HISTORY of this great nation.

If you remember back during the primary season, Donald Trump hit a bit of a bump in the road in Iowa, where none other than Ted Cruz – another right wing wack job (who I personally think would have been every bit as dangerous as Trump – in fact, Cruz’s lack of character has been on bright display as he caved to the urge to remain relevant – at least in his own mind – by “endorsing” [and even phone banking for] Trump – despite Trump’s DEPLORABLE comments about Cruz’s wife and his own pledge NOT to support someone as DEPLORABLE as Trump post primary process) – defeated Trump in the Iowa caucuses.  Trump, in his rationalizing the defeat made a comment about Iowa’s “uneducated voters.”  And, then Trump said, “I love the uneducated voters.”  Well, as I listen to the Trump voters share why they’re solidly behind him, I “get” why Trump LOVES “uneducated voters.”  It all reminds me, constantly, of my earlier post when I was lamenting America’s “low information voters” that, it really is possible for a fascist like Trump to eventually gain control of this government.

I’m guessing a LARGE percentage of Trump’s supporters have no idea what  the definition of fascism really is.  They’ve heard – and many bought into – the charge that President Obama is a fascist (among other superlatives like Communist, Socialist, etc.).  Of course, in Obama’s case – despite the FACT that Wall Street and America’s big business has THRIVED under his leadership, it’s absurd to accuse him of being a fascist.  But Trump?, not so much.  Trump even, at one point in the campaign, had his followers at a rally raising their right arm (in a heil Hitler like manner) pledging to support him.  If you closely examine whatever you can discern from Trump’s boisterous comments and the people he associates with, you can’t help but come away with seeing the parallels between his rhetoric and that of those in the Third Reich.  The racist rhetoric – concerning Muslims, Jews, Mexicans, and earlier in the campaign – prior to his disingenuous “play” for votes in the African American community – his comments about African Americans (along with his history of discrimination regarding people of color) along with his authoritarian tendencies should give anyone who believes in the principles of this nation pause.

Actually, his “theme,” “Make America Great Again” mirrors Hitler’s theme back “in the day” when he campaigned on “Make Germany Great Again.”  I’ve wondered why more in the mainstream media haven’t caught on to this, and I’m constantly wondering what Trump is referring to.  What does he want to take us back to?  When was it that he thinks America was “great?”  I have to use the past tense, because just the innuendo of his theme would suggest America is not “great.”  Trump covers his bases – because he virtually lambasts EVERY part of the American system – and, of course, he’s going to “fix” it all because he knows how to negotiate.  Evidently, the courts and the congress will simply go along with whatever Trump decides is best for the rest of us.  Personally, I find the thought a bit unnerving.

I mean, Trump is threatening to JAIL Hillary Clinton if he’s elected.  He’s boasted that the FIRST thing he would do is have Mrs. Clinton – a 30 year public servant – JAILED because of an imaginary email scandal.  (let’s face it, the right wing “conspiracy” has been after Mrs. Clinton since the day she publicly exposed their existence).  The reality of American politics is that this is unheard of.  Now, I have to admit that I was in favor of INVESTIGATIONS of the Bush/Cheney regime after they left Washington DC with their “tails between their legs” – both George W Bush and Dick Cheney admitted on national TV that they had authorized WAR CRIMES.  For whatever reason, Barack Obama chose to block all the investigations just as Bill Clinton “looked the other way” in 1993 knowing that Ronald Reagan AND most probably George HW Bush had committed felonies in the “Iran/Contra” affair during the waning years of the Reagan administration.  (Evidently, that’s one of the big differences between democrats and republicans – the republicans can make a “scandal” out of nowhere – while the democrats “look the other way.”)  But, threatening to JAIL your rival in an American presidential election???  As the saying goes, “come on man!”

Many of the republicans who supported the impeachment of Bill Clinton over the Lewinsky scandal – “I didn’t have sex with that woman” – continue to support Trump, despite the glaring REALITY that Trump’s escapades apparently make Clinton’s look like “child play.”  I mean, no matter how all the recent accusations of Trump’s alleged sexual assaults turn out, it’s undeniable that he’s been unfaithful to ALL of his wives.  Melania, his recent wife, must be having a hard time defending him after he boasted that he wanted to f@#k the guy’s co-host on “access Hollywood” despite the FACT Trump was recently married (for the third time) and the “co-host” was married. (Don’t all these republicans supporting him claim to be from the “party of family values?” – evidently, not my families values.)

In fact, part of Trump’s boasting seemed to delight in the FACT she was married – he seemed surprised that she “turned him down.”  Obviously, there’s now a long line of women who’ve turned Mr. Trump down (despite his claim to be so “good looking”).  Honestly, even as he denies the allegations – and then attempts to demean the women making them; as if to say “do you really think I’d “move” on someone who looks like that?”  “I don’t think so!” – he essentially affirms the charges.  He speaks as if he’s “god’s gift to women” and that he can do “whatever I want.”  Every time I’m forced to listen to him (MSNBC is still giving Trump unbelievable amounts of FREE airtime) I get sick to my stomach.

And, yet, over 30% of Americans are still planning to vote for this DEPLORABLE man.  He’s now suggesting that if he loses “the election is rigged” and further ginning up his “low information voters” (or, as he puts it “uneducated voters”)  Close to where I live, there are Trump supporters flying American flags along with Trump flags (I’ve never seen that before either) wearing shirts that say “Hillary for Prison” and packing handguns on their belts AKA the wild wild west.  I just want this guy to go away, but I’m thinking things could get interesting after the election.  Many of Trump’s supporters have pledged to NOT support the outcome of the election should he lose – which is highly likely – UNLESS – he’s correct that the election is rigged.  Remember, republicans have been busy passing voter suppression legislation since the Supreme Court GUTTED the Voting Rights act of 1965.  The voting machines are owned by right wing republican corporations and the corporate interests in America (re: fascisim) are so close to their “permanent republican ‘majority'” that they can probably “taste it.”

I’m sure there are people in the republican shadows that are just shaking their heads.  When Bush/Cheney were “crowned” by the Supreme Court back in 2000 they had control of all three branches of government.  But George W Bush was such a bumbling disaster as president that their plan was upended.  The Bush/Cheney fiasco in Iraq along with the domestic disasters – which included the financial meltdown – left the republicans in “ruins” – but, they didn’t slow a bit – they just moved FARTHER to the “right” and began an unprecedented OBSTRUCTION policy in their attempt to make our first Black President “fail” – which was a failure in itself – he will leave office as one of the most popular presidents at the end of his administration EVER – but, it did lead to republicans regaining control of the Senate and the House and the possibility, again, with Trump’s candidacy for republican control of our entire government.  The problem these “money changers” face – every time – is that the caliber of candidate that is willing to “tow the company line” is not appealing to the vast majority of Americans.

I mean, the ONLY way someone such as Trump could get this far is – well, look closely at the 17 candidates who were called the “clown car” running for the nomination against Trump.  Seriously, Ted Cruz was the second choice!  I believe the only way Trump gets even close to 40% of the vote is that Mrs. Clinton has been the brunt of right wing attacks for as long as I can remember.  They’ve been trying to “ruin” her since she made the first attempt to address the health care problem in America – that republicans continue to ignore (just as they continue ignoring issues like Climate Change)  In fact, due to all the vitriol in this election cycle, there has been very little talk about issues like “Climate Change” which very well could be the most significant issue facing America in the last century.  Also, Trump is planning to repeal “Obamacare” (The Affordable Care Act) with some unnamed “replacement.”  In reality, republicans have been BLOCKING national health care since the days of FDR.  As Alan Grayson so famously said, their plan is “Don’t get sick.”  And, if you do get sick, “Die quickly.”  I wish I didn’t see so much TRUTH in that!

Trump is very probably the foremost proponent of political projection I’ve yet seen (and, believe me, with today’s republicans, that’s saying something).  As the accusations come out of his mouth I always want to put a mirror up to his face.  He accuses his opponents of being “liars.”  Trump is a pathological liar.  He accuses his opponents of being “corrupt.”  From what I can tell, Trump is as corrupt as they come. Trump even had the audacity to say to Mrs. Clinton, after she reminded viewers at the last “debate” that Trump hasn’t paid taxes in 18 years, “I use the rules you made.  If you don’t like it, you should have changed the rules.”  Thereby, publicly ADMITTING that he hasn’t paid ANY taxes at least since the mid 90’s.  What a guy!

The evidence continues to spill out that he’s used his “foundation” (which, I believe, has received a “stop and desist” order from New York’s attorney general) for personal gain numerous times – and, apparently, blatantly illegally.  Trump ended the last debate by blurting out – during Mrs. Clinton’s closing remarks – “she’s a nasty woman.”  To me, Donald Trump is one of the “nastiest” people EVER!