I was driving home the other day listening to MSNBC on my satellite radio when there was a discussion (one of many) about the candidacy of Donald Trump.  Of course, EVERYONE seems to be trying to predict when Trump will finally self-destruct, but, in this instance, they were referring to Trump’s on again off again “feud” with Fox “news.”  What struck me was the comment made by Michael Steele (former republican chairman, now a pundit on MSNBC) referring to his claim that Fox is in the business of “creating news” (a comment I wholeheartedly agree with) followed by the half statement that went something like “we all are in the business of crea…….” at which point he collected himself and rephrased whatever he was going to say.  My point is that Steele came as close as anyone I’ve listened to who is involved in our “news” to saying what many of us believe to be the truth.  They are in the business of creating news and not reporting news.

This is not much different from the recent comments of Kevin McCarthy,  who was the presumptive “heir apparent” to John Boehner as Speaker of the House but can’t get past “the tea party,” as he admitted (what any sane person who pays attention to American politics already knew) that the “endless” Benghazi hearings have succeeded in bringing down Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers.  Of course, the hearings are “disguised” to be some kind of “investigation” of a tragedy that the republican house members just can’t get enough of.  You have to wonder, what will they think of next when faced with the potential reality that “we the people” prefer Bernie Sanders to Secretary Clinton.  Put on your seat belts for all the “socialist” comments along with the socialism FEAR mongering.

Somehow, against my will – but due to my technological ignorance, I installed a program that I can’t figure out how to get off of my computer that opens up to “news” coming from Fox “news.”  So, every time I open an internet browser on my computer I’m reminded that today’s “news” media is more about creating news than reporting it.  It’s almost as if the National Enquirer has morphed into being “mainstream” media.  And, those involved are finding more and more ways to intrude on the privacy of “we the people.” (I finally figured out how to remove the “Fox” intrusion off of my computer)

I’m pointing this all out (again) because I almost get sick to my stomach when I choose to watch (or listen) to what is considered the “mainstream media.”  Actually, at one point, I thought MSNBC would provide a “counter balance” to Fox and those who are their “minions,” but the reality is that the cable news business is a business first and news organization – well, I want to say “later,” but I even have a hard time typing that word.  MSNBC is purging those who would be “liberal” from their ranks, the “talk radio” world is and has been controlled by the right wing for decades (example: After Mitt Romney’s defeat in 2012 Clear Channel – owned by Bain Capital – Romney’s company – shuttered the local “liberal” talk station for a Fox “sports” station that generated about 1/8th the listener-ship).  MSNBC recently (I think, I’ve actually stopped listening for the most part) replaced Ed Schultz with Chuck Todd – the same guy who allowed himself to be totally “played” by Mitch McConnell in the last election.  These people are so obsessed with being “fair and balanced” that they are constantly “played” by political operatives who “get” that the worst thing that happens when they lie is a few “Pinocchio’s” from website fact checkers.  The “news” won’t call them out for fear of being labeled “biased.”

Tonight, after the first democratic debate I couldn’t help myself from tuning into MSNBC to hear the comments and there was Chris Matthews essentially blasting Bernie Sanders and promoting Hillary Clinton – of course, while sitting in his pundits chair right along side Clinton’s campaign manager. Do these people (like Matthews) just assume that “we the people” are so stupid we won’t notice the impropriety of this type of “reporting?”  Honestly, I hope others in more significant places than me noticed this and actually report it.  How can someone give an unbiased view of a debate when pandering to the manager of one of the “combatants?”  Clearly, those in places to matter will be doing what they can to prevent Sanders from gaining the nomination.  I’m sure that Matthews believes Bernie is unelectable, but that does not excuse this clear conflict of interest.

In the debate, Sanders was correct in saying we need a “revolution” of people who are educated to what is ACTUALLY happening in this nation which is allowing a select few to continue a MASSIVE redistribution of our nation’s wealth from the middle class to the so-called 1% at the top.  I’m sure people will line up to twist his use of that word (revolution) in such a way as to scare voters who are unfamiliar with him from considering his message.  For those of us who believe in the New Deal of FDR and what it did to create the greatest middle class in the history of the world Bernie Sanders is a refreshing voice.  I’m sure those who “create the news” will do everything they can to ensure Sanders is a “flash in the pan.”

On a related note, today I read that Rupert Murdoch has succeeded in purchasing the National Geographic magazine (and what goes with it).  Most people won’t even notice – but, this is another step in the process of the right wing’s propaganda scheme to continue the bludgeoning of our middle class – in this instance, at the expense of the fight against “climate change.” It won’t be long and you won’t hear a whimper from National Geographic in an area where they’ve been one of the loudest voices.  That’s how the “golden rule” was explained to me years ago when I was taking an economics class in my early college days:  “Them that have the gold, makes the rules.”

When MSNBC is finally purged of all liberal voices (I suppose Rachel Maddow is next) all that will be left will be a conglomerate owned by Murdoch (he, of course, owns Fox “news,” the Wall Street Journal, and many other “news” outlets) and other right wing zealots (MSNBC, I believe, is owned by GE or Comcast – either way, not good) who deny climate change and encourage “trickle up” economics.  These people will continue sucking the wealth from America’s middle class until there is nothing left to suck – and, then they’ll be off to the Riviera or some other exotic place. (Murdoch, for example, is an Australian and the leading outside stock holder in his Fox “empire” is a Saudi Prince)  While doing so they’ll continue “creating news” so that the minions who’ve “bought” their shtick will go to their economic graves thinking the democrats caused the deficit (and every other bad thing you can think of).  (Have you ever had a political “conversation” with a Fox “news” “expert?”  The best way I can explain it is “enlightening” – and, if you don’t get my drift, I mean that TOTALLY sarcastically)

This assault by those who are busy “creating” the news – in a way that benefits their insatiable desire for more wealth – seems endless.  Yet, a true liberal is gaining momentum.  As I listen to Bernie Sanders, I have a hard time disagreeing with much of what he says.  Of course, there is not a candidate out there who’s going to hit the “spot” on everything – let’s face it – each one of the millions of voters are different as are the candidates – but, his focus on the middle class and working class of people, in my view, is where the government should have their focus.  Yes, we need business, we need entrepreneurs, we need investors, and on and on – but, at this point in time, it is the middle class, the working poor, the infrastructure of our nation, the inner cities, the rural areas which have been isolated by the job loss from globalization, our education system, our health care system, and the list goes on, that needs the focus of our government leaders.  EVERYONE will benefit from addressing these needs.  And, if this has any chance of ever happening, we need our media to return to reporting the news instead of creating it!  What will it take?  Well, on this I also agree with Bernie – it will take a “revolution” of people taking ownership of their privilege to be voters in this great nation and taking the time to educate themselves on the true issues of the day without the brainwashing of Fox “news” and their minions.

I’ve been writing on this site since my frustration with the Bush/Cheney administration (beginning with the invasion of Iraq) boiled over to the point I had to find a place to vent.  It turned out that cyberspace was the place – I didn’t know much about it and felt my writing could be my personal journal – no one would be the “wiser” – because I didn’t anticipate anyone finding it.  As it’s turned out, MANY people have found this place and that reality has further motivated me to continue writing (or should I say “venting”) in this “blog.” (honestly, I didn’t know what a blog was when I started – this Word Press format was simply available to me from 1and1.com with whom I had purchased a domain so that I could have my own email address.

That all being said, over the course of time – if you’ve read many of my posts – I’ve been pretty consistent in my “bashing” of the republican party (in particular) and the surge to the “right” in America (generally).  My biggest problem with the republican party (despite my almost complete disagreement with their agenda) has been what I perceive to be their “base.”  That is, my impression is that the leadership of the republican party has, for many years now, been able to count on a block of voters “come hell or high water” to support their agenda almost exclusively due to the issue of abortion.  This group, of course, is often referred to as the “Religious right.”  On many occasions, I’ve referred to myself as part of the religious “left.”  I’ve stated many times that I can’t understand how any Christian would be able to support a party that openly supports corporate welfare while “bashing” those Jesus would refer to as “the least of these” in what often ends up being perceived as a racist agenda. (among many other issues as well)

For example, many on the “right” scoff at the issue of “Climate change,” while their financiers continue to encourage republican legislators to support deregulation when it comes to the environment.  The leaders of the republican party have been almost, it seems, obsessed with somehow abolishing what they refer to as “Obamacare” (The Affordable Care Act which has made medical insurance available to almost 20 MILLION people as I’m writing this) without a single proposal (that I’ve seen) for a better alternative (like “Medicare for all” – for instance).  They have supported policies that make it harder and more expensive for those who want higher education to achieve those goals and, at the same time, policies that have almost encouraged our manufacturing base to moved overseas.  Additionally, they’ve made it almost routine for corporate interests and the ultra wealthy to “stash” huge amounts of their wealth in tax free “havens” in places like the Cayman Islands while, at the same time, CONSTANTLY trying to reduce the taxes of the “top 1%” who they consider the “job creators.”  The result of this one issue, in my mind, is that the “middle class” in America is shrinking and the “working class” – what I call the “blue collar” worker – is being (and has been) under valued.  Since the days of Ronald Reagan (if you’ve been around this site you know I’m not a fan of Reagan) shareholders and executives have been over valued and workers are unimportant (in the larger scheme of the “free market” right wingers).

Then there’s issues such as abortion.  I don’t disagree with those in the “pro life” movement that life begins at conception.  To me that is an un arguable FACT.  I would NEVER encourage anyone to get an abortion (unless, of course, the mother’s life was in danger).  However, to me, the issue is MUCH more complicated than it’s presented in right wing political circles.  How can I be pro-life and not support free pre-natal health care for women who are in poverty?  How can I support “pro-life” and not support health care for the mother and the child after the child is born?  How can I not support early childhood education for children born in poverty?  How can I support cuts to programs like food stamps and low income housing and expect moms who have unwanted pregnancies to be able to care for their child?  And, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango, why are there a lack of consequences for the father of the children in unwanted pregnancies.  I find it interesting (and, disgusting) that most of the people who I’ve heard ranting about abortion – and, sometimes in the most bizarre fashion – are right wing republican MALE politicians.  It bothers me deeply when right wing MALE politicians use this issue to “gin up” their conservative “base” who have no idea what else they get when they vote for these people.

The reason I’m bringing this all up is because I managed to listen to about 30 minutes of Pope Francis’ address to the joint “meeting” of congress on 9/24/15.  With the exception of the Pope’s kind of veiled references to “life” and “the family” (I was presuming – “reading between the lines” – he was referring to “gay marriage”) I thought I could have been listening to Bernie Sanders!  My first thought was, “I’ll bet Fox “news” will be apoplectic over the Pope’s speech and then Rush Limbaugh came to mind and I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of attack the Pope would receive from the lead “Ditto head” of America.  Well, thanks to either Media Matters or the Daily Kos I was able to get footage of the response of both Fox and Limbaugh along with some other people that I didn’t quite recognize.  And, the response was HARSH.  Now, keep in mind this response was coming from the very people who’ve been USING the Christian community since the early eighties to get FILTHY RICH and undermine our government to the point where they have almost “free reign” on their abuses of our economy EVERY DAY.  They didn’t care at all for the actual GOSPEL of Jesus being presented pure and simple by the Pope.

And, I think what really scares them the most is that MILLIONS (probably BILLIONS) of people on this planet LOVE this Pope.  I’ve been trying to tell my republican friends (Christians) that the republican party is turning off more people to the Gospel of Jesus than those of us who are believers can encourage to get “turned on” by His teachings.  It kind of humored me listening to Limbaugh and various Fox “news” hosts calling the Pope names that have recently been aimed at our sitting President.  The most common name I heard was “Socialist.”  Well, as that is their major “talking point” of attack toward Bernie Sanders, maybe this address from the Pope will really have a positive transforming affect on this nation.  If people could just watch the video of Limbaugh as he almost fiies out of his chair ranting against the Pope maybe more would get the picture of what a disgusting person he really is.  In fact, I decided I should let you watch this – so, if you want to see the response of all these people who’ve been using Jesus to get rich over the past 35 years and what they think of the actual Gospel of Christ – click HERE.

I’m going to end this here – my point tonight is that I loved what I heard from Pope Francis – he reads the Bible similarly to me and I hope the “conservatives” in America will FINALLY wake up to the reality that the republican party has been using you for many years to pilfer the taxpayers of this nation out of TRILLIONS of dollars of wealth.  And, as the saying goes, “greed has no bounds” and they will not stop until “we the people” stop them.  In America, the “traditional” way to stop them would be at the ballot box.  We (progressives and conservatives alike) will be much better off when people like Rush Limbaugh and corporate interests that align with Fox “news” no longer have an audience large enough to support them on the mass media.  The closest thing to Pope Francis in American politics is Bernie Sanders!  Does anyone besides me find that ironic?

The final irony – it was announced today that John Boehner, America’s Speaker of the House, – who presumably was the one who invited the Pope to speak (I believe Boehner is a Catholic) resigned his position in the House (not just as speaker) the day after listening “up close and personal” to the Pope’s remarks.  I have to wonder if Mr. Boehner had a tough night sleeping trying to reconcile his own record with the remarks of the leader of his faith.  The thought went through my head that maybe Boehner is really a devout Catholic, as I’ve heard him referred on occasion, and he does actually have a conscience.  Who knows, one member of the republican party, knowing in his heart the wrongs he’s inflicted on this nation, repenting – that one thing in itself could end up ensuring that the Pope’s message has a monumental and enduring legacy on this nation. (I’m not holding my breath – but, we can always hope!)

I’m just about finished with my second time through “Angler” by Bart Gellman about the Vice Presidency of Dick Cheney.  I guess I have to read books twice to really get an idea of what I think – I also just finished “The Family” by Jeff Sharlett a second time.  The result of all this is that I’m more convinced than EVER that the present day republican party needs to come to an unceremonious end.  The EXTREME right influence on this party is beyond the “pale” and the simple fact that Cheney is still allowed to even speak publicly tells me either the rank and file republicans have no idea what Cheney did as Vice President, or they still support him and, like him, have no conscience.  Either way, America needs to purge Cheney, those in the “Family,” and people who think like these guys from the “mainstream” of politics.  These people believe in authoritarian government that has a foundation built on fear and despises (secretly, of course) our representative democracy.

Even tonight, I happened to watch a show on MSNBC and there was Cheney, in a little blurp pulled from CNN (I think) showing Dick Cheney being asked his view as to whether Joe Biden should challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president.  First of all, of course he would encourage that, because the last thing Cheney or any republican wants to see is Hillary Clinton running as the Democratic nominee for president in 2016.  Secondly, why would what Dick Cheney thinks be important to anyone.  The man should, by all measures, (reinforced as I read through “Angler”) be in JAIL!  The list of his CRIMES is long and, as I’ve stated on this site many times, President Obama’s refusal to allow accountability to fall on Cheney (and others in the GW Bush administration) was a paramount BLUNDER.  I’m guessing that Cheney is smart enough to avoid travel in places like France, Spain, and other European countries who actually respect the rule of law when it comes to “leaders.”  According to the Geneva Conventions (not to mention our own laws and international laws) Dick Cheney is clearly a WAR CRIMINAL.  (And, I suppose, you’d have to include GW Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, David Addington, and others in that category)  This does not even consider the UNLIMITED felonies committed as Bush/Cheney PURPOSELY violated the FISA law – each violation being a FELONY.  Really, for my republican friends out there who say, “prove it” – read this book, among others.  There’s a boatload of evidence supporting just these two areas of criminality – the authorizing of TORTURE, and the illegal wiretapping of UNTOLD millions of American citizens.  (and, to that I say, if you think I’m wrong, let’s have the investigations that should have taken place shortly after President Obama moved into the White House and took the oath of office to FAITHFULLY UPHOLD THE LAWS!)

As I’m reading “Angler” I do get more of a sense of sympathy for “the decider” – ie GW Bush.  Although, as he himself was quoted as saying, “The buck stops here.”  The reality is that Dick Cheney was DEFINITELY working on the “Dark Side” – with much of his misbehavior done behind Bush’s back – Cheney was quoted as saying he didn’t want to burden Bush with some of the decisions (that Bush evidently didn’t care to be involved in – YIKES!).  When you read this book and realize that Cheney, after vetting almost every important republican in the country – telling each one they were on “The short list” of 3 or 4 in consideration of the Vice Presidency he would soon claim himself – then “threw” Governor Keating of Nebraska “under the buss” in effect ENDING the governor’s political career – and, at the same time, sending an unwritten message to all the other “candidates” that “I’ve got your deepest secrets” as a way to gain unanimous backing of the Bush/Cheney agenda – well, you get the point (I hope).  The man is RUTHLESS (and, that’s the nicest way I can put it).

Cheney was not only dishonest with the republican leaders who he “vetted” for the VP job, dishonest with the American people as he strong-armed this nation into Iraq, dishonest in issues like the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame, (and I could go on, but you get the point) but Cheney (most deviously – and disgustingly) was TOTALLY dishonest with George W Bush.  I’ve NEVER been a “fan” of Bush, but, as I’ve stated many times on this site, (despite the republican creed of wanting our present president to “FAIL”) I truly wanted President Bush to succeed.  When they left the White House I believed (and still do) that George W Bush was the WORST president, certainly in my lifetime, and very likely ever.  I believed then, and believe today (and, history is regrettably proving me correct) that the invasion of Iraq was the most disastrous decision made by a president in the history of this nation.  Who knows what the final toll of the damage caused by that decision, and the number of people killed, uprooted, and who had their lives totally destroyed – in so many almost incalculable ways.  Additionally, Hurricane Katrina has left a legacy of lives destroyed that could have been possibly saved that will probably never be fully calculated; the lax regulation that led to the financial meltdown in the final days of Bush/Cheney also has left damage that, while somewhat correctable, will probably never be measurable as far as the true number of people who had their lives completely turned “upside down” due to that fiasco.  During Bush/Cheney there was one “fiasco” after another.

As I read “Angler” it’s easy to see why so many people were assuming it was “De-fact o” President Cheney as that administration “unfurled.”  George W Bush really did consider himself “the decider” and he relied on a hierarchy of “underlings” that was pretty much the brainchild of Dick Cheney himself.  Incredibly, we had a Vice President “stocking” all the important positions of government with his own “cronies.”  Once the Bush/Cheney regime was “up and running,” there wasn’t much to get in the way of what Cheney wanted.  Incredibly, even in instances where President Bush was not in agreement with Cheney (ie, the second tax cut), Cheney slyly went behind the President’s back, and through his connections in the House, manipulated the process so that in the end he got what he wanted and President Bush had no idea he’d been “snookered” by his own Vice President.  As I’m reading this book again, I keep saying to myself, “incredible” that there would be someone so self serving and arrogant that he could manage to get himself to such a position.  And, it’s even more incredible to me NOW that, with all the evidence out there (for anyone willing to find it) that actual “news” outlets would give this guy ANY kind of platform to spew his venom.  Seriously, the “media” is supposed to be “The fourth estate” – meaning, the final “check” for “we the people” in our constitution’s plan of “checks and balances” to prevent people like Cheney from gaming the system.  The idea that we should be a WAR MONGERING nation is a view held be a few Americans (clearly Cheney is one of them), but “we the people” should be informed as to the reality of people like him before we’re asked to take his word as something that has ANY credibility.  I’m actually guessing that, by now, George W Bush is aware of what Cheney was doing (I’m pretty sure he can read – he should read “Angler”) and I would be surprised if they are still even on speaking terms.

I’m convinced that the TORTURE, the illegal wiretapping, the outing of a CIA agent, the obscene tax cuts (aimed at the wealthiest among us), the politicizing of the Justice Department, just to name a few of the places Bush/Cheney et al went over the legal “lines,” were essentially due to the “leadership” of Dick Cheney and his lawyer David Addington.  I believe they felt that “if the president does it (or authorizes it – even if he doesn’t know what he’s authorizing) it must be legal.”  Those are the famous words of Richard Nixon that were proved UNTRUE during the Watergate era – and, Barack Obama, by blocking the investigations into the illegal activity of Bush/Cheney et al, set the groundwork for future presidents who are as arrogant as Cheney to believe in the “unitary executive” to the point of some form of authoritarian government that is anathema to the way MOST of us every day Americans think.  I mentioned the book “The Family” above, and I can assure you there is a small and very RICH and POWERFUL faction in America who believe almost exactly as Cheney and, to me, they are even scarier because they make their claims in the name of Jesus Christ.  As I read about Cheney and the “Family” I’m reminded of a book I read about Dietrich Bonhoffer, a great German who gave his life trying to rid Germany of Hitler during WW II.  In the early part of the “Socialist Democratic” takeover of Germany (The Third Reich) it was the conservative Christian community that provided the “blind” support of the Nazi movement.  Many think it couldn’t happen here.  Personally, I’m not so sure.

That is the very reason, I believe, that I’m so passionate about encouraging my Christian brethren to abandon their “blind” loyalty to a republican party which is anything but Christian.  I’m now re-reading “Chain of Command” by Seymore Hersch which pretty much corroborates what Gellman wrote in “Angler.”  It simply throws in Donald Rumsfeld and some of the Generals who were involved early on at Gitmo into the “TORTURE” picture.  I’ve read several books that have focused on the American’s treatment of “enemy combatants” (many simply people in the wrong place at the wrong time) since 9/11, and it’s clear that the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Addington et al “regime” chose to ignore the laws of human rights as they led our nation into TWO “open ended” conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Most people know by now that the invasion of Iraq was simply a manifestation of the desires of those involved in the so-called “Project for a New American Century.”  This group of right wing “conservatives” was pressing for an invasion into Iraq during the Clinton years.  9/11 was used as the “excuse” (the “Shock” in the words of Naomi Klein) allowing them to proceed in their quest for Iraq’s oil (and, whatever else they had in mind).

The end result of all of this is a much more unstable world and a United States that is more divided than, certainly, any time in my lifetime (and I’m a WW II “baby”).  Today is the 14th anniversary of 9/11 and I remember George W Bush having a united nation behind him as he sent our forces into Afghanistan to eliminate (one way or the other) Osama bin Laden and his cohorts in Al Qaeda.  I even remember nations around the world standing behind us and offering support (including Iran).  Bush/Cheney chose to throw all that good will away and take a disastrous course (into Iraq) that has turned Americans against each other even more-so than, in my view, during the Viet Nam era.  Regrettably, as mentioned above, untold PEOPLE around the globe suffered, have suffered, or are suffering because of this disastrous decision and the United States “image” has suffered possibly irreparably.  (Certainly, if “we the people” elect another “right winger” in 2016 the damage could be permanent – and, remember in today’s world the economy is global)  It should be clear that I don’t believe we need anyone affiliated with the Bush/Cheney administration involved with present day decision making, but, the last thing we need is Dick Cheney giving his voice on national TV regarding today’s foreign policy issues.  The only time Dick Cheney, the “Angler,” should be publicly defending his record is before a judge.

I was just reading how Jeb Bush has begun his attacks on Hillary Clinton (and Barack Obama) by claiming they “prematurely pulled our forces out of Iraq” leading to the unrest in today’s Middle East.”  I chose not to read the actual articles (maybe I will by the time I finish this post) but, just the thought of that line of thinking makes me a bit sick to my stomach.  The reality is that Jeb Bush thinks he’s qualified to be President of the United States.  And, the republicans I know would actually vote for him should he gain the nomination.  To me, that shows how incredibly sad the United States has become.  That he could even utter those words without INSTANT condemnation is confirmation that America’s public is subject to a “liberal media” that is fully engaged in the propaganda scheme foisted on the unsuspecting public for the last (who knows how) many years!

Let’s just get this out, for starters.  Neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama did what Obama promised when he was first elected, and that was to get our troops home within 16 months of the inauguration.  The Obama administration simply FOLLOWED the “exit strategy” that had been negotiated by NONE OTHER THAN the GW Bush/Dick Cheney administration themselves.  That is public knowledge.  Does Jeb Bush not know this – or, more likely, is he just counting on the public’s lack of information and the media’s unwillingness to “tell it like it is.”  Of course, you’ll find the “blogs” showing their outrage at such an incredible attempt at REWRITING history, but I’m guessing the so-called “mainstream media” will allow all the “low information” voters to figure this out for themselves – and, based on my observations with most of those in my peer group – I’ll have to listen to my republican friend “experts” telling me that Hillary Clinton is the cause of ISIL.  I can see it’s going to be a “long year” – being forced to listen to this crap from now until the next election.

Honestly, I can’t even believe the republican party still exists – that common “everyday” Americans would still even listen to these people.  Are you kidding me?  Donald Trump (or Jeb Bush or Ted Cruz or …….. you know the list) for President of the United States?  I thought McCain/Palin would have been enough for them – but, this is what you have to call “DOUBLING DOWN!”  There is a group of powerful (and “invisible”) people who’ve managed to “invade” our system of government in ways most of us will NEVER understand and they are “pulling the strings” on politicians who will do anything or say anything according to the “plan.”  I believe that anyone who wishes to be a part of this scheme must make some kind of pledge to “toe the line” under all circumstances.  The “ORDERS” come from somewhere in the “SHADOWS.”  We’ve learned about Charles and David Koch – but, you have to keep in mind that when they hold their “secret” meetings, there are close to 500 (millionaires and billionaires) that we’ll never know about who attend and presumably commit their financial resources to the “plan” – whatever it may be.  (I think many of us on the left have a good idea)

Fortunately, (or unfortunately if you’re a true republican) “The Donald” has emerged on the scene and exposed the ignorance of a large segment of the republican “base.”  “The Donald” (Donald Trump if you live under a rock) is the “favorite” of republicans despite him actually appearing in a “debate” and getting enough national “attention” that people should be “getting it” regarding his “campaign.”  The FACT that somewhere around 25% of republican “likely voters” think Trump to be qualified to be president says all you need to know about the republican party.  And, the rest of the so-called “clown car” seem afraid of him and unwilling to challenge some of his most outrageous comments.  (Of course, if you believe Trump you think that immigration is the ONE issue of importance facing Americans and everything else is simply a matter of “negotiation”) His latest outrageous rhetoric inflaming the immigration issue is grounded on his claim that immigrants (presumably Mexicans) come to America to birth their children – he refers to them as “anchor babies” – and, of course, any baby born in this country is automatically a citizen – with Trump (and, presumably through their silence or timidity the rest of the republican “candidates” who have “lock-jaw”) suggesting the babies and their parents being rounded up and deported out of the country.

There, by all accounts I’ve read, are approximately 11MILLION immigrants in the United States “illegally.”  Think of the increase in law enforcement that will be required to find, round up, and deport all of these people.  And, the wall Trump is talking about (of course, it’s between Mexico and the United States – I keep thinking, “what about Canada?”  or the east and west coastlines? – but, that’s just me – and, of course, Trump always concludes his degrading remarks toward Latinos by saying something along the lines of “I love Mexico”), that wall reminds me of the “Great Wall” in China – one of the “7 wonders of the world.”  This wall would only be a couple thousand miles (presumably) but the rhetoric reminds me of the rationale I teach out of the 6th grade World Studies book regarding the Chinese and why they built the “Great Wall” – THOUSANDS of years ago.  It’s been apparent to me that republicans want to take us back in time, that just seems a bit too much for me.

The only thing you hear from the republicans (now, we’re not talking about Trump – because he’s the new version of Rudy Jiuliani who couldn’t talk about anything besides 9/11) are things like “repeal Obamacare” (Actually, the Affordable Care Act), cutting taxes for the wealthy, war with Iran (along with each and every one seemingly having a “secret plan” to defeat ISIS – also referred to as ISIL), constructing the Keystone XL Pipeline (along with denying “Climate Change” – which SHOULD be the scariest of their scary “positions”), and various positions regarding Women’s health that will make sure women “know their place” in American society.  Jeb Bush, for instance, signed a bill as governor of Florida requiring women who were putting their child (which they chose to carry to term as opposed to seeking an abortion) up for adoption to, for 30 days, advertise in the state’s newspapers their sexual “history” listing every person who could possibly be the child’s father along with their own personal sexual history as a way to “shame” them for becoming pregnant out of wedlock.  We see this with republicans all across this great land – almost always MEN – suggesting all kinds of ways to make things WORSE for women – usually in low socioeconomic situations – who find themselves facing the incredibly difficult decision of what to do when they are facing an unwanted pregnancy.  I have NEVER  seen a “plan” aimed at the MAN who was responsible for the “situation” – and, some of the suggested “solutions” are beyond my ability to comprehend.

Everything that comes out of the mouths of virtually everyone of the candidates running for the republican nomination (I have to admit – I was listening to their “debate” while driving home from somewhere – and, I thought I heard a few sensible comments coming from the mouth of John Kasich of Ohio – knowing enough about him that I shudder to think of him as president – but, something he said [I believe he was referring to Medicaid expansion in his state] actually sounded reasonable) is either disingenuous or outright fabrications of reality.  It seems to me a “no brainer” that those who wish to receive the financial backing necessary to mount a campaign are fighting over the same donors and they’re saying what they believe these “donors” wish to hear from them.  That’s where the “revisionist” history – albeit, in this case, Jeb attempting to “white wash” the sordid republican “history” of Iraq by blaming ISIL (or ISIS if you must) on Barack Obama – and, just to make sure he continues the “Hillary bashing” he throws her into the “discussion” as well.  That simply confirms to me that the man who legislated a policy designed to “shame” unwed mothers has absolutely NO SHAME himself.

I was listening to a republican “pundit” tonight, as I again was driving home, on the Chris Hayes show on MSNBC lamenting the damage Trump is doing to the republican “brand” with all the “Latino bashing” and saying the ONLY republican candidate capable of drawing any support among the Latino voting community would be Jeb Bush – and, soon after the words came out of her mouth, Hayes played a recent clip (I believe the interview was recorded today actually) where Jeb Bush himself was referring to “anchor babies” and agreeing with Trump that they and their parents need to be deported – despite the FACT – no matter how they got to the United States – they are citizens.  Evidently, republicans tout the constitution when it meets their needs, and deny it when it doesn’t.  I still remember Ronald Reagan (the patron saint of these right wing wack jobs) claiming “I’ll cut taxes for the wealthy and, due to “trickle down economics” balance the budget.”  I can envision the candidates in today’s campaigns claiming they will, build a wall to rival the Great Wall of China, find and deport 11 million “illegals,” cut taxes for the rich (in fact, I’m envisioning something like a flat tax – which is really a good thing for the wealthy), “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran,” and wipe out ISIL (with a secret plan) all the while BALANCING THE BUDGET!  If the American people don’t SOON totally reject this bunch, we deserve what we get!  When I look at where these people want to take this country it really does make me sick to my stomach!

The American public has been brainwashed into a ridiculously false “argument” (discussion, dialogue – however you would have it) regarding issues at home and world issues – with, what appears to me, a dangerously false assumption that the rest of the world looks up to us and is just hanging on the edges of their “seats” while the United States tries to get its “house in order.”  For example, I listened to the radio today as I was riding around (I forget which “news” outlet it was), and there was evidently a rally in New York City led by former governor Pataki (a member of what is being referred to in many circles as the republican “clown car” of candidates seeking the presidential nomination of the republican party for 2016) calling for the rejection of the agreement negotiated by the Obama administration with Iran.  The snipit I heard called for the rejection of the agreement (which is designed to – peacefully – prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon) because it’s so important for Iran to be stopped from obtaining, you guessed it, a nuclear weapon.

The alternative?  Of course, the only conclusion one who’s thinking rationally can draw from that position is that we have another republican running for president who is in favor of BOMB, BOMB, BOMBing Iran – in the words of John McCain back in the days when he was running for president.  These (now I’m talking about virtually every member of “the clown car”) are the same people who constantly criticize President Obama’s foreign policy (remember, they’re the ones who started all the wars in the Middle East during the rein of Bush/Cheney) yet are constantly coming out with “positions” that indicate what appears to me an IGNORANCE to the reality of world politics.  Which gets me to the main point of my thought tonight.  I’ve been writing for years about my belief that the present day version of the republican party needs to be DEFEATED and placed into the history books.  The damage they’ve caused is IMMENSE, but, if “we the people” don’t stop them, as the saying goes “you aint seen nothin yet!”

For some reason republicans act as if they’re “above” everyone else – including the leaders of the other countries around the world.  Keep in mind that the agreement with Iran was “hammered out” by a group of (I believe) six nations – and, of course, the United States is just one of them.  Apparently, the republicans feel they can “scuttle” this agreement and the other five countries (who are “dying” to again do business with Iran) will simply “fall in line.”  These people (the republicans) are beyond ARROGANT and our “liberal media” is so out of touch with reality that the American public stands a good chance to be “the last to know.”  For those Americans who are busy simply trying to raise their family, make ends meet, and “just get by” – who still actually trust that we have a “fourth estate” watching over our government (the media) – the eventual reality could be devastating.  I can picture in my mind leaders from around the globe losing patience with “we the people” – for a few years you could justify what is happening here by thinking we’ve been “hoodwinked” – and, assuming that “we the people” will come to our senses and elect leaders who actually believe in the fundamental values that made America great in the first place.  However, it wouldn’t surprise me if leaders around the globe were making contingency plans for when they decide “enough is enough.”  There’s no longer any reasonable excuse as to why our voting populace would continue to vote these people into office.

Keep in mind, the “crash of 2008” – which was largely the result of republican deregulation and Wall Street greed – in their continual assault on the remnants of the “New Deal” and the “Great Society” (OK, yes there was democratic complicity involved) affected the entire world – not just the U.S. economy.  Countries like Greece, Spain, and others are still trying to recover.  These countries were already upset with American foreign policy under Bush/Cheney when their incompetent management of the economy sent a direct “blow” to economies around the globe.  Now, several of these nations want to bring Iran into the picture by removing the sanctions (which, actually were increased and actually enforced by President Obama in an attempt to bring Iran to the negotiating table – trying to stop them from building a bomb peacefully) and gaining access to Iranian oil.  Do you really think they want America’s republican party to scuttle a deal that took almost two years to negotiate?

I believe the “leaders” of the republican party just keep on pushing their agenda (which is motivated by an insatiable greed) – you know, tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation, welfare for Wall Street but not for Main Street, and perpetual war as if there’s “no end in sight.”  And, unfortunately, they have a base – which, doubly unfortunately is largely “conservative” Christians who will continue to blindly vote republican as long as the republicans  call themselves the “pro life” party – all the while the number of lives lost due to republican policy decisions is almost beyond comprehension!  At some point in time this “base” is going to realize they’ve been used to further an agenda that is anything but Christian!  (If you get a chance, read Frank Shaeffer’s Crazy for God)

So, while the republicans proceed as if there’s no end in site, either “we the people” will put an end to their “antics” or, in my view, leaders from other nations will begin to isolate the United States and the process of, for example, replacing the dollar as the leading world currency.  I believe that if our Congress attempts to “scuttle” the agreement with Iran, the other nations involved will proceed on their own, and we will be left to lick our internal political wounds – as a first sign that nations around the world have grown totally impatient with us acting like we’re the “boss of everything.”  What do you think the result would be if China and Russia started getting “chummy” because they’re thinking they can put the United States “in its place?”

When you look at the last five years of President Obama’s administration, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand the republican party has put their almost obsession with destroying Obama’s presidency over the needs of “we the people.”  Yes, it’s become obvious that there’s a significant percentage of America’s population who continue to have views that are, at the very minimum, racially intolerant.  However, I continue to believe that it’s only a small percentage of them who agree with the republican agenda as transcribed by the Koch led faction – which includes:  repealing “Obamacare” (the Affordable Care Act – which is actually working), dismantling Medicare and Medicaid (I heard tonight that the reason Governor John Kasich was not invited to the latest “Koch-fest” – where right wing politicians pander for as much Koch money as they can get – was because he accepted Medicaid funds – which helps low income people – for his state as a benefit of “Obamacare”), “privatizing Social Security,” (yes, the same plan that was soundly rejected during GW Bush’s tenure – they won’t quit, they just keep pushing their agenda – and they will – until they get their way OR until “we the people” put an end to their madness at the polls), and, of course, BOMBING Iran – this list could be much longer, but I hope you get the idea!

So, my question is:  When is America going to wake up?  Are we so calloused to the political realm and ALL the politicians who have sold their souls to the monied interests (yes, the problem is “bipartisan” – it’s just that the republican “agenda” is much more dangerous than their counterparts) that we’ve thrown up our collective hands and concluded it doesn’t matter who we vote for, they’re all the same.  That’s EXACTLY what Charles and David Koch want us to think.  They are masters (along with others, many more successful at staying out of the “limelight”) at manipulating the system, they’ve been “at it” for MANY MANY years, and I’ve become convinced they will not stop until either they succeed or “we the people” MAKE them stop.  The Koch’s and their associates have UNLIMITED financial resources.  For example, I find it almost laughable that the present “leader” of the “clown car” implies that he can succeed without the Koch’s money.  Just as Mr. Trump apparently overestimated his own self worth, he apparently has underestimated that of the Koch’s.  They could “bury” Donald Trump with as much financial impact as me going to the local store and buying a Diet Pepsi.  Their threat to our system is REAL – but, the rest of the world is a different “story.”  We’ve allowed our nation to be part of the international economy.  We’ve allowed our manufacturing interests to largely abandon our nation.  We’ve allowed our economy to become more and more dependent on the “whims” of the international markets.  I truly believe that if our republican congress succeeds in scuttling the “Iran deal” – the international backlash towards America could be dire.  This would be an action that would tell the international community that America has truly evolved into a “war mongering” nation – and, that the Bush/Cheney regime has succeeded in ushering in a policy that seeks “perpetual war.”  We will truly have displaced the Soviet Union in the eyes of many!

I was reading the lead lines of the NY Times (as I do every day :o) and the first article today referenced the psychologists who enabled the torture program that was instituted by the Bush/Cheney regime during the invasion (and destabilization) of Iraq after 2003.  Today is over half way through 2015!  I knew about this close to 10 years ago.  The first thought that came to my mind was the effect of the Fox “news” propaganda scheme (and, of course, that of the present day republican party – since the so-called “Contract for America” – which I’ve always referred to as the “Contract ON America”) labeling our media as “liberal.”  If our media is so “liberal” where have they been all these years?  If you look back through the archives of this site (and, I’m just a retired teacher who decided to read a lot of books about what is REALLY happening once Bush/Cheney decided to do Viet Nam deja vu – ie Iraq) you’ll see repeated references to the issue of torture and how it was enabled – really, by more than the psychologists – but, the reality is that somehow Bush/Cheney got medical professionals to WATCH our CIA (and others) TORTURING Iraqi’s (and others) as a way to justify their ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR!  I’ve said many times, that history will not miss what REALLY happened – and, many in America’s hierarchy are going to be painted with a horrible “brush” when all is said and done.

First, let me start with President Obama – because I’ve voted for him AND I’m one of those Americans who wants him (and all presidents) to SUCCEED.  I’ve limited my criticism of President Obama as much as I can because of the BARRAGE of attacks he’s had to endure coming from the “right” since the day he was elected.  I even heard an interview the other day featuring the “new” republican “frontrunner” for 2016 Donald Trump (are you kidding me, I can’t even believe I just wrote that!) where Trump – while “doubling down” on his racist Mexican remarks (all the while saying “I love Mexico”) – “doubled down” on his position that President Obama is not an American.  They just can’t help themselves and they just won’t stop.

However, President Obama – as much as I would want him to succeed – will never be able to escape the reality that he let George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and many others escape the accountability that SHOULD have been earned when they chose to VIOLATE American and International law by authorizing TORTURE!  Essentially, as I’ve written many times before, Obama “undid” all the work done during the regime of Richard Nixon to prove to the world that just because a president “does it” doesn’t mean it’s LEGAL.  Essentially, by claiming he wanted to “look forward instead of back” President Obama sent a very bad message to the entire nation (I should probably say world).  The reality: if you are going to have a FAIR and JUST legal system – you MUST LOOK BACK!   When someone commits a crime those who are entrusted with enforcing the laws cannot do their job without looking back.  I said at the time, and I still believe, that President Obama’s decision to, essentially, enable TORTURE was a disastrous and regrettable decision – for numerous reasons.

First, do you think people around the world don’t know that America’s leaders (the supposed “beacons” of human rights) authorized TORTURE?  In fact, there was a court in Spain that attempted to prosecute the Bush/Cheney group, but was presumably stopped by President Obama.  (I would recommend to Dick Cheney not to visit Spain)  The investigations were stopped, but I’m not sure about the torture.  For heaven’s sake – we still have men imprisoned at Guantanamo Cuba who have not been charged with any crime and they’ve been there for, in some instances, over 10 years!  Three men at Guantanamo “tied their feet together,” “tied their hands behind their own backs,” “stuffed rags down their throats to the point that it would be impossible to breathe,” and “HANGED THEMSELVES!” (Now, if you really believe that’s the truth – I’ve got a bridge………. – you know the rest)  That incident was not even investigated.  A prisoner subjected to “enhanced interrogation” at Abu Ghraib was found DEAD in the “interrogation room” by the grunts at Abu Ghraib who ended up taking the punishment for the treatment there that made its way to the “liberal” news (no one EVER investigated where the orders came from making these soldiers think they were doing what they were told to do – well, no one who’s work made it to the “liberal media” – I’ve read a few books about Abu Ghraib and those who authorized the “enhanced interrogation”).  Is it hard for you to understand why so many in the Middle East HATE America?

So, our image was (possibly irreparably) damaged abroad – but, what about at home.  The decision to allow the Bush/Cheney crowd to go free sent the wrong message to “those at the top” in America.  When Bush/Cheney’s disaster was finally removed from Washington DC what they left behind was an impossible MESS.  Let’s start with Wall Street.  The nation’s financial system was collapsing as George W Bush (along with republican candidate for president John McCain) announced “The fundamentals of our economy are sound.”  Within weeks of making that claim Bush along with Hank Paulsen, the Treasury Secretary, were lobbying congress for what eventually became known as the TARP bailout – a multi-TRILLION dollar commitment to the very culprits whose reckless behavior put the nation’s economic health at MAJOR risk.  There was $700 BILLION dollars committed “up front” which made the news headlines, but “we the people” will never know how much the government guaranteed the banks of Wall Street going forward.  And, of course, true to their nature, many of the “culprits” took the bailout money and issued BONUSES to their employees – I’ve read multiple reasons justifying the payments; I’ll leave that to your own research – my point here is that The Obama administration, to my knowledge, failed to hold a single banker accountable for gambling away the savings of millions of Americans (and, others around the globe).  Honestly, that didn’t send the right message to those of us on Main Street.

I believe this timid approach to accountability for those at the “top” has filtered all the way down to our police departments around the nation.  Anyone paying the slightest bit of attention to the inordinate number of police shootings (that is, the police shooting unarmed civilians) knows that, in almost every instance, the police personnel involved face no serious accountability.  The arguments I’ve heard – that made the “liberal media” – have tilted heavily toward giving the police officers the “benefit of the doubt” in situations which clearly to me should be considered homicides.  As the saying goes in the African American community, young unarmed Black men are being shot for being Black.  With the explosion of cell phones with the capability to take video “we the people” are getting a much clearer picture of the reality in some of these cases.  Virtually every time a video shows up “after the fact” – the police reports prove to be incredible fabrications of the truth.  The reason – at least in my mind – is they can “get away with it.”  Similar to George Zimmerman shooting Trayvon Martin and escaping accountability, from what I could tell, because Mr. Martin was Black, and similarly the incident where Michael Brown was killed in Missouri.  My point, sending the message that those “at the top” are above the law – which is what President Obama did when he allowed Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and the others to “walk” has done immense damage to our legal system internally AND externally.

Recently, President Obama has changed his tactics, politically, in a way that I believe is invigorating many of the people who originally voted for him.  I don’t think I’m the only American who voted for Obama because of the terrible position the republicans put us in during the Bush/Cheney regime.  It wasn’t just the TORTURE they should have been held accountable for – the list is long.  I mean, shouldn’t there be some kind of “blow-back” when leaders lie to the public to justify INVADING a sovereign nation??  Isn’t “outing” a CIA agent tantamount to treason?  Shouldn’t those who profited off of the war they instigated be exposed as war profiteers?  Isn’t spying on American citizens without “probable cause” a violation of their 4th amendment rights?  (I’m often confused by “conservatives” who will support the 2nd amendment at any cost but seem to have no concern for the 4th amendment).  The reality is that the republican party will willingly repeat ALL of the above INFRACTIONS because they believe, simply, that they can!  And, they are going to spend BILLIONS in an attempt to gain control of the White House along with both houses of Congress, the courts, and our “liberal media.”  If they succeed in their goal (can you even imagine Donald Trump, or Ted Cruz, or another Bush, or Chris Christie, or Scott Walker, or Rick Perry – and, I could go on, the list is long – in the White House???) Obama’s failure to ENFORCE existing laws regarding the Bush/Cheney crew will be even more devastating.  However, his recent behavior suggests to me that he’d better take up the FIGHT (for the heart and soul of this nation) while he still can.  As I’ve said many times on this site, I believe the republican party – under it’s present leadership – needs to be SOUNDLY defeated.  In my mind, it’s up to President Obama to lead the way – and, somehow get those in the democratic party who’ve demonstrated a “lack of spine” to join the “fray.”

While I believe, from a practical standpoint, it’s probably too late for any legal accountability, I continue to hope that the investigation which should have happened in President Obama’s first year in office will still happen.  Despite the FACT this “news” regarding the psychologists enabling the torture program is really “old news,” maybe it’s a sign that someone has decided to do “the right thing.”  I don’t feel confident in this, but I can hope.  I mean, take the illegal surveillance of American citizens – which just kept on happening once Obama took the oath of office – despite the FACT that “we the people” should have been totally aware of this (I can’t find the book I read about the NSA, but this was all exposed well before Bush/Cheney left office) it took Edward Snowden to be the “whistle-blower” to get America’s secret spying campaign on the “news.”   Snowden’s info, telling us the NSA went (or should I say is going) beyond what was in the book I read – which, in itself, was disgustingly bad – should, if you believe in the 4th amendment and the rule of law, at the very least, be unnerving.  (and, of course, Snowden’s “reward” for exposing this illegal activity – presumably because it’s government illegal activity – is that he had to go into exile.  He’s in Russia!  Kind of reminds me of the 70’s in reverse!)

President Obama justified his decision to essentially “pardon” Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al by saying investigations would be a distraction!  The reality is that by allowing republicans to believe there are no limits on their behavior, “we the people” have had to endure CONSTANT distractions as republicans continue their assault on the fabric of our nation.  And, make no mistake, the republicans (despite what is being referred to as the “clown car” regarding their presidential “hopefuls”) might win.  If you’re old enough to remember, America elected Ronald Reagan (thanks to some expertly handled shenanigans) and he was considered a fringe candidate up until he got the nomination.  (Of course, he was a law breaker as well who “got away with it” as did his “cronies” thanks to pardons from George HW Bush)  The people who are funding the “right wing” in America are smart and they have UNLIMITED funds.  And, despite my friend Lars Larsen calling me an elitist when I refer to America’s “low information voters,” the reality is that America is teeming with “low information voters.”  These people are susceptible to sophisticated advertising, sound bites, and “wedge issues.”  Often times they vote against their own best interests.  So, assuming that just because President Obama said, America does NOT torture – well, BOTH former President GW Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney have publicly stated “I’d do it again.”  And, many in their party are right there with them.

So, I’ll keep hoping that someone in President Obama’s administration does the “right thing” and the TORTURE that was authorized by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and the others will be subject to an OPEN investigation.  And, someone in our government would make it clear to those who did this that there is a “price to pay” for being, essentially, WAR CRIMINALS.  Knowing that our leaders are NOT above the law, I believe, would be a great first step in the process of internal healing that this nation needs to go through.  Everyone KNOWS that TORTURE is wrong and that we were WRONG to condone it – and, by allowing the perpetrators to “walk” that is exactly what we’ve been doing – condoning TORTURE!  Just like the psychologists Bush/Cheney hired to give their program “cover.”

A footnote: Usually on Saturday mornings I have breakfast with a good friend who I would call a Libertarian – someone who views the democratic party somewhat as I view the republicans.  After our latest discussion, I just want to add that I didn’t mention Congress here (I think the two of us agree that members of Congress have been enabled to disregard the laws as well – mostly in regard to their accumulation of great wealth while “serving” in office – and beyond).  As far as both of us are concerned, the level of corruption in Congress is depressing – and, it’s bipartisan – that, the two of us can agree on.  The interesting thing to me regarding this relationship is that we can dialogue with on another, despite our divergent viewpoints, and both of us usually come out of a discussion in a better place.  We’ve often wondered if our leaders – no matter what their party affiliation – will ever get to that place in our lifetime.  I believe we’ve actually had many times in our history when members of Congress were able to put the interests of the nation ahead of their own agendas.  We (my friend and I) usually share our frustration of living in a nation where LARGE majorities of people agree on certain issues (ie – “the public option,” “ending the wars,” “the minimum wage,” etc., etc.) yet our “leaders routinely fail to act on the wishes of “we the people.”  We differ on who is mostly to blame.

I was working on a post which was, essentially, a refresher on the mistake President Obama made when he chose to “look forward instead of back” – allowing Bush/Cheney to leave Washington DC with no consequences for their illegal activity while in office.  To me, that set the stage for a lot of what is SO wrong in America these days – where those at the “top” feel NO fear of any prosecution for thumbing their collective noses at our criminal justice system.  I believe this attitude has filtered all the way down to many in America’s police force and we’ve all witnessed the arrogance and lack of integrity of police departments all over the nation as many unarmed civilians (mostly Black) have been gunned down.  I will finish that post soon – but just yesterday the tentative agreement with Iran, aimed at stopping their pursuit of a nuclear weapon was announced and those on the “right” showed why so many of us are embarrassed that they even have a voice in the national dialogue with their knee jerk reactions – in most instances by men who haven’t even read the agreement!

So, I decided this was not the time for me to pile on to the anti Obama campaign – mainly because I’m one who wishes for him to succeed and, basically feel that, despite the incredible effort of the republican party to derail his presidency, he is succeeding.  Heck, President Obama can’t even count on many in his own party to defend him – which is one of the reasons democrats are in the minority in Congress.  I have to say that I’m extremely happy that President Obama ignored the “liberal press” as they apparently want the U.S. to, as John McCain put it a few years ago, “Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran.”  I believe the Iranian people are not that different from “we the people” in America – they want peace.  It’s true there is an incredible hatred in Iran of the Israeli government, but the idea that we can just bomb them into submission is ludicrous to me.  I don’t know who the speaker was (I was listening to MSNBC on my car radio as they played sound bites of various republican responses to the agreement) who claimed that “this will be the cause of “World War III.”  That’s the kind of thinking (and rhetoric) that will guarantee no republican sits in the White House for the near future.  (I mean, for heaven’s sake – their present “front runner” is Donald Trump – you’ve got to be kidding)

I recognized some of the voices as I listened to this chorus of doomsayers chime in on what a terrible agreement this is.  Of course, these are the same people who have been panning the Affordable Care Act (AKA “Obamacare”) for the past 5 and 1/2 years – including something like 50 votes in the House of Representatives to “repeal it” – without even a scent of something different to replace it with.  It’s almost exactly the “same song” on this Iran agreement (which has been in the “works” for almost 2 years and was the “force” behind the traitorous letter from 47 republican senators to the right wing leaders of Iran encouraging them not to negotiate with President Obama’s representatives – because, essentially, those very same republicans could not be trusted to honor any agreement – one of the more incredible, and disgusting, acts by any group of congressional “leaders” in my lifetime) – the republican war mongers have offered NOTHING as an alternative – while, with the help of George W Bush/Dick Cheney who actually softened the sanctions initiated by Bill Clinton, they enabled Iran to amass a huge stockpile of centrifuges and fuel necessary to build a bomb – all while our republicans presumably are waiting for the opportunity to try their “shock and awe” treatment that they used on Iraq on the Iranians.  (I wonder if they even think about how that strategy worked in Iraq?)  Actually, it was President Obama who strengthened the sanctions imposed by President Clinton and ENFORCED them, that brought the Iranians to the negotiating “table” the republicans apparently want to avoid.

This republican policy toward Iran has been curious to me for many years.  (I know for certain they’d like to get their “hands” on Iran’s oil reserves)  If you’re as old as me – actually, you don’t even have to be that old – I was around (graduated high school) as LBJ used a lie to escalate our involvement in Viet Nam – so, my only surprise when Bush/Cheney did essentially the same thing in Iraq was that they, and our other “leaders,” had apparently missed the “lesson” of Viet Nam.  To me, Iraq was a “deja vu all over again” fiasco.  But, I digress – back to Iran – during the administration of Ronald Reagan – the “patron saint” of present day republicans, the American executive was ILLEGALLY trading arms to Iran (our “sworn enemy” – in defiance of our Congress) and laundering the money so they could support the “Contras” who Reagan et al wanted to undermine the elected government of Nicaragua.  Reagan should have been impeached over this scandal (well over 1000 missiles were shipped to Iran – who, at the time, was at war with Iraq – and Saddam Hussein – who we were publicly supporting with American weapons) but my point is that, just like today, the republican public position was that Iran was our “mortal enemy” while – at the same time – we were arming them to the “teeth.”  (Our next republican president – “Poppy” Bush, who was involved in the Iran/Contra dealings pardoned every member of Reagan’s administration who were prosecuted for this illegal behavior with nary a whimper from our “liberal media”)

One of the voices I heard (and recognized tonight as I drove home) was Dick Cheney’s.  Now, I’ve stated many times on this site that it is beyond me why this man gets to say ANYTHING on a national (or local) “news” broadcast.  (I put the word “news” in quotes because – if you missed it – I’m not sure if we really have national “news” broadcasts anymore.  To me it’s becoming “entertainment” with a slant toward news (that seems always “slanted”)  Why anyone would even care what Dick Cheney thinks anymore is beyond me.  He was the driving force behind America’s DISASTROUS invasion of Iraq in 2003 and he’s been busy trying to defend that HORRIBLE mistake ever since – including his repeated admissions that he authorized TORTURE and that he would “do it again” if given the chance.  The man should be BEHIND BARS!  So, I have no idea why he gets a voice on TV (and, usually with no rebuttal!)  People actually believe him – I know this because I know some older white guys (like me) who still watch Fox “news” and actually believe they are informed.  Of course, Dick Cheney would call this (agreement with Iran) a “bad deal” – I’m sure without the benefit of actually reading it – because he’s one of the war mongers who’ve been PROFITING off of America’s “war machine” since the day George W Bush took office (check out the “no-bid” contract history of Halliburton, Cheney’s company before he took the oath of office and how much he has profited off of the war he instigated – yuk!)

One thing most people don’t know is when Dick Cheney was the CEO of Halliburton, the company managed to find a way to bypass the rules that prohibited doing business with Iran and signed contracts for drilling for oil and gas during the Clinton years.  Bill Clinton had “cut off ALL trade and investment in Iran.”  These are the sanctions I mentioned above that the Bush/Cheney administration virtually ignored during their administration and left the “cleanup” of Iran’s push toward a nuclear weapon to President Obama.  Then, when the Obama administration negotiates a deal which virtually guarantees Iran will not get a nuclear bomb for at least the next 10 to 15 years, Cheney is on the “front lines” of those trying to undermine the process.  But, why would anyone think this would be different.  After all, the republicans have focused their efforts since the day Obama was elected to ensuring that he would – in the words of Rush Limbaugh – FAIL!  They blast anything President Obama does before any ink used in whatever the agreement might be, is dry!  As stated above – they are constantly responding to events with “knee jerk” reactions.

Here’s the rub for them.  Yes, they’ve got a stranglehold on most of our “liberal media.”  And, yes, Fox “news” still has a significant audience (of minions).  But, the reality is that republicans are falling on the WRONG SIDE of virtually EVERY issue that stands before the American people and the world.  From health care, to immigration reform, to Cuba, to the Middle East, and I could go on and on – republicans represent what is wrong in America.  People are shaking their heads because one issue after another have the support of HUGE majorities of the American public – yet our government fails to get ANYTHING done in response to just about every situation.  President Obama is taking matters into his own hands where he can – which, I might add, is invigorating the very “base” that elected him and has been so disappointed in his efforts to “bargain” with these right wing thugs who won’t rest until Obama has been destroyed – they’re too stupid (now, in many ways they’re smart – like in how to manipulate the “system”) to realize that “history” will get this all “right” – and, they are going to end up being a “blight” on America history.  From the Bush/Cheney crew who instigated the fiasco’s in Iraq and Afghanistan to these congressional leaders who’ve been spewing the racial “code words” for the past (almost) 7 years in their attempt to ensure President Obama’s failure.  In the end, they will make him look even BETTER!

This agreement with Iran really brings out the republican’s “true colors.”  They have no concern for the success of this nation.  Their only goal is controlling POWER and making sure that our first president of African American descent FAILS.  Everything else, to them, is secondary.  And, more and more people, every day, are realizing what the reality is.  And, each one who comes to the understanding they’ve been duped for all these years will be part of a significant “backlash” that (I hope) will either destroy the republican party or force it to reform itself and rejoin the “melting pot” we call America with policies that benefit the middle class of this great nation.  A large portion of the American people support President Obama’s attempt to solve the Iranian problem diplomatically (as they do with health care, immigration reform, Cuba, the minimum wage, etc.) and the Iranian people have responded to this agreement joyously.  I can’t help but think of how the so-called “neo-cons” will respond if we (America) actually establish a diplomatic relationship with Iran.  (One of my ironic thoughts was that the leadership of Iran probably views America’s “liberal” move toward “marriage equality” in the same vein as these republicans who are panning this deal – right wing zealots have more in common than they’d like to admit)

I’m going to end this by reminding anyone who’s interested.  The Iranians volunteered to help the U.S. defeat Al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks and were refused by Bush/Cheney.  Now, we are dealing with the aftermath of that disastrous decision which is the spread of ISIS (or, as some call them ISIL or “The Islamic State”).  I remember John McCain as he ran for president not knowing the difference between Shia and Sunni Arabs – and, for that matter, President Bush blundering the same subject, yet the reality is these two sects have been mortal enemies for centuries and NOTHING we do will change that.  The Iranians (Persians) are Shia Muslims and the Iraqi Arabs are Sunni.  Saddam Hussein and his supporters (the Baathist’s) were Sunni and had been at war with Iran (Shia) for as long as I can remember (while I was paying attention).  ISIS is made up largely of the Sunni remnants of Saddam Hussein’s army that was “dismissed” by Paul Bremer soon after the American invasion of Iraq and is a major threat to Iran. From all I can tell, virtually every one of the republicans I heard tonight panning the President’s decision to make this agreement with Iran (keep in mind there were several other countries involved in the decision, so America could have been left on the “outside” had President Obama listened to these republican detractors) have also been condemning President Obama for the very existence of ISIS (of course, as I just stated, their existence is a direct result of decisions made by Bush/Cheney et al).  I can’t help but think of how will they react if the United States joins with Iran in an effort to defeat ISIS and succeeds?  My biggest concern is that, while this deal has great potential to initiate a true change in the Middle East, will republicans, in their effort to ensure President Obama’s “failure,”  attempt to scuttle the deal with Iran?

As I see it, in facing the worst “DO NOTHING” Congress in the nation’s history (they’ve been upfront with their obstructionism) President Obama has FINALLY gone on the offensive.  I hope the members of his own party “jump on board,” because I believe this could be the beginning of the end of the present day republican party.  They are looking more like the sixth graders I spent my career teaching than national leaders.  President Obama is “on a roll” and I believe he’s of the mindset that “what have I got to loose?”  He’s going to push for progress and members of Congress can either decide to jump on board or, in the end, face the wrath of the American people who – in my mind – are getting sicker and sicker of the gridlock that defines Washington D.C.

So, I have my disagreements with our president, but I’ll leave them for later.  At this point, I applaud him for taking aggressive action in areas where his executive authority allows him to bypass the obstructionist congress.  And, my hope is that these republican minions who carry the water for whomever is “pulling the strings” would listen to Chris Christie and “just shut up.”  To my friends who still admire GW Bush and claim that President Obama is “the worst president ever” – all I can say is maybe you should re-think your position.  Certainly, make sure you’re around other Fox “news” propaganda victims before you openly broach the subject.

I haven’t written for a bit, but the thoughts have definitely been “flowing in.”  For example, the other day I was driving around listening to MSNBC on my car radio when John McCain was given “air time” (that, in my opinion, should NEVER happen – he follows close behind Dick Cheney for me as to “conservatives” that should just “shut up” – that’s as nice as I could say that).  McCain was commenting on the fall of Ramadi in Iraq (to ISIS) and, of course, BLAMING President Obama and his “failed foreign policy.”  McCain doubled down on his stupidity by saying something along the lines of “While President Obama is worried about Climate Change ………” and you can imagine the rest.  McCain, and the rest of these right wing (nuts) republicans are regularly making me sick to my stomach when I listen to them.

In this instance, of course, the natural implication of McCain’s remarks is that President Obama should never have allowed America’s fighting forces to leave Iraq, and now that ISIS (ISIL as some refer to them) is gaining “traction” in what is essentially a continuation of the Shia v Sunni (un) “civil war” that’s been “raging” for several thousand years, America should “protect” the Iraqi’s from this evil force (other Iraqi’s).  (ISIS are the same Iraqi’s that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Bremer along with all the cheerleaders like McCain “deBaathified” after Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Bremer and the cheerleaders destabilized Iraq, the Middle East, and the world in their push for oil and other “free market” profits they envisioned upon the defeat of Saddam Hussein)  Interesting (at least to me) is the reality that – the Iraqi’s themselves don’t seem too willing to participate in their own “protection.”  I honestly believe that people like McCain see Iraq (and the Middle East) as an opportunity to keep America’s “Military Industrial Complex” (in the words of Dwight Eisenhower) “employed” into the indefinite future.

The stupidity of McCain’s comment regarding the situation in Iraq (which he and the rest of the right wing militarists will probably NEVER admit to regarding their ownership of the damage to LIVES and PROPERTY that has resulted from their INCOMPETENCE) wasn’t enough for this guy who has thrived on incompetence since the Viet Nam War and still somehow manages to stay in the United States Senate (what’s up Arizona???), but he had to attempt to push himself towards the top of the list of “Climate Change” deniers at the same time.  Most people in America know that our Congress has been BOUGHT and SOLD by the special interests who are “INVESTING” millions of dollars on our “representatives” in congress, not only to keep us in perpetual WAR, but also to allow the continued PLUNDERING of “Mother Nature” by the fossil fuel industry.  These comments by McCain just show, along with comments by NUMEROUS others on the “right,” that the fight to save this great nation and the planet is an “uphill battle” because NOTHING positive will happen until the America public WAKES UP and votes the John McCain’s and his peers out of office!  Really, you should be required to be more informed than simply watching Fox “news” if you’re going to accept the responsibility of helping to run our government.  (and, I would remind anyone who is of the “anti-government” ilk, “we the people” are responsible for electing OUR government – so, we’re responsible for people like McCain being there – it really is time for a “housecleaning”)

I’ve listened to the stupidity regarding Iraq coming from the mouths of people like McCain since the day Bush/Cheney lied us into the invasion (and, of course, there was WAY too much Democratic enabling at the time) and none of it surprises me anymore – despite ALL the evidence (I can’t count the number of books I’ve read about the reality and the futility of the Iraq invasion – I doubt McCain has read one of them) that the Iraq invasion was possibly the STUPIDEST move ANY U.S. president has ever made.  (the results of the Iraq invasion just keep getting worse – I’ll leave that discussion for another day)  McCain and his buddies (Bush/Cheney et al) will NEVER admit their stupidity on this, but what riled me the MOST as I listened to McCain’s “canned” attack on President Obama was when he “doubled down” with his “Climate Change denial.”  I was just finishing the book, “This Changes Everything” by Naomi Klein (who also authored “The Shock Doctrine” – both of these books would be on my “most recommended” reading list) and I thought, “I knew McCain was ignorant regarding the Shia v Sunni “thing” in the Middle East, but I wasn’t aware that he was part of the Climate denier fraternity.  (after thinking that through, I wondered, “what was I thinking” – of course he’s part of that “fraternity” – he’s a republican!)

America’s (and now the “world’s” – “our” corporations are now referred to as “multinational”) corporate BEHEMOTHS have been plundering the earth for her natural resources for years.  “We the people” have been the beneficiaries of this “plundering” while being kept “in the dark” as to the manner in which these corporations have gone about their business.  And, in the process, I’m now convinced there’s a totally unreported “partnership” between our government (especially the CIA) and the industries that are profiting off of the extraction of fossil fuels from – essentially – any place they can find them (the fossil fuels).  Additionally, these interests (the corporate and the “national”) will stop at virtually NOTHING to get what they want.  Books like “The Shock Doctrine” and “Confessions of an economic ‘hit man'” clearly point out the unethical (and brutal) means this corporate/government “partnership” has gone to in order to assure the American public a continued “fix” to their fossil fuel addiction.  The result now is that “the pigeons are coming home to roost!”  Maybe the American public is still ignorant to what has transpired over the years, but people around the world are “waking up.”  (McCain and his peers are “counting” on our public remaining “in the dark”)

From the overthrow of Mohammed Mosaddeg in Iran during the spring of 1953 to CIA led coup d’etat’s in various other countries around the world (all of which had “rich” supplies of natural resources – usually OIL) The United States has put its own industrial growth ahead of any kind of “moral compass” regarding the rights of peoples in “third world” nations across the globe.  The result of this PLUNDERING has been the massive industrial “ADVANCE” in America and (mainly) Western Europe since the post WW II era.  With the “advancement” of the “Free” Trade agreements that had various effects on trade and economies for years – GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) was implemented right after the end of WW II to facilitate the post war rebuilding effort, but the agreements like NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and others have been “springing up” since with a focus on corporate profits and “cheap stuff” for “we the people.”  The result: especially since the 1980’s – America’s “blue collar” work force has been experiencing job losses and/or stagnant wages and  workers around the globe have experienced the exploitation predicted by Marx in his “Communist Manifesto” when referencing “Free trade.”

Not surprisingly, the “forces” which I refer to as the PLUNDERERS are functioning in “high gear” as I write this – with the help of people (politicians) like John McCain who will dutifully say whatever “talking points” they are given to say – in order to keep their “status” in the republican hierarchy.  We’re talking about corporate interests from the likes of Koch Industries, Shell Oil, Exxon, BP, etc.  They are all involved in the Tar Sands of Alberta Canada – the dirtiest oil coming from the planet – which (as I understand it) is being “mined” from a HUGE open pit and requires transportation across Canada and the United States to reach refineries and ports capable of shipping it to countries willing to burn it.  (The now “infamous” Keystone XL pipeline is one of the ways these people plan to PROFIT off of this dirty oil)  Additionally, the bi-products of producing oil from the tar sands are also environmentally “unfriendly.”  The result of the carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels is already having devastating effects on the planet, but, evidently, it will take a total catastrophe to get the attention of McCain and his cohorts on the “right.”  So I expect him to continue making “light” of “Climate Change” while attempting to BLAME President Obama for as much of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Bremer (and the cheerleaders’) NIGHTMARE as he can.  The republican solution to their abysmal place in HISTORY is to REWRITE it!

However, there are no words McCain can come up with that will change the FACT that ISIS (or ISIL) is the result of Bush/Cheney et al and their invasion of a sovereign nation – ILLEGALLY! (Click HERE for info on “The Project for a New American Century” which should partially “clue you in” on why Bush/Cheney invaded Iraq)  For McCain to “frame” his disingenuous comments regarding President Obama’s “responsibility” for the fall of Ramadi with a “jab” at “Climate Change” tells us, even MORE, the stakes in the upcoming elections of 2016.  If we, as a nation, don’t SOON come to our senses and begin the process of RIDDING America of “right wing” wackos from the Congress the consequences will be disastrous.  Climate Change is nothing to be GLIB about.  I’m not sure what we can do at this point to mitigate it, but having leaders like McCain and his peers who won’t even acknowledge the problem, and who continue to support the policies which have contributed to this issue, makes no sense.  As I told a friend of mine the other day – I’m not a supporter of the democratic party – but, the starting point (for us idealists who still believe America can be “saved”) is voting out the republican party as it exists today.  Step two – is then letting the democrats know that “they’re next.”  Just as we (should) refuse to accept the republican disregard for the “will of the people” we need to let democrats know that timid “leaders” who won’t even defend their own policies and beliefs are unacceptable as well.

I’ll write at another time about the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) that is being pushed by President Obama.  Let me just emphasize that I don’t hold democrats blameless – it’s just that there has to be a starting point to cleaning up the mess in Washington DC – and, I believe, for the past 35 years (since the election of Ronald Reagan) republicans have been pushing us toward the “brink” – with no regard to anything other than profits, shareholders, lower taxes, and removal of every last remaining part of the New Deal.  It seems to me that republicans view the “Guilded Age” as the goal when they say they want to “take our country back.”

The thought “What will people think of America in the early 21st Century?” seems to be continually crossing my mind these days.  And, the answer to what comes to mind as a question is not “pretty.”  This thinking parallels my thoughts as to how people around the world are viewing America these days – the once shining (at least in the eyes of all of us idealistic liberal fools) “leader of the free world.”  The more I read about what is/has (been) really going on since the days of Ronald Reagan the more disgusted I get.  As I learn as much as I can find that would resemble something approaching the “truth” as to what our nation’s “leaders” have been up to over the past 35+ years the more I believe that history is going to look back at this part of America’s legacy with disdainful eyes.  The list of abusive practices seems endless, but the hope for solutions seems illusive at best, and most of the time seems impossible.  Certainly, should America’s right wing republican party succeed in controlling the “White House” (along with their control of the Congress, the courts, and the media) “we the people” could be going from “bad to worse.”

As I’ve said many times on this site, I find it unfortunate that I MUST rely on the (spineless – in my mind) democratic party to “turn the tide” against the right wing “tide” that got out of control with the election of George W Bush/Dick Cheney in 2000.  As stated above, to me, it all started going “south” when Ronald Reagan won the presidency in 1980.  But, Bush/Cheney managed to REALLY topple the “apple cart” in their 8 years of creating an unstable world militarily, financially, socially, and morally.  They created a record that I certainly hope will NEVER be matched.  (However, as I predicted around 5 years ago – there’s another Bush on the horizon – and, incredibly, his foreign policy adviser is his brother GW! Now that takes a set!)  Despite what Bush/Cheney left as a “legacy” the American “voters” put republicans in charge of the House of Representatives only two years after republican policies nearly bankrupted the entire nation (and much of the world).  Since then, it has continually gotten worse -right wing republicans have gained control of the Senate, an increasing stranglehold on our “liberal media,” and suffocating and disastrous control of the court system.  All of this has happened with not much more than a “whimper” from leading democrats – although, recently I’ve seen signs that some dems are realizing what people like me have been saying since the “heyday” of Bush/Cheney – this is a WAR for the heart and soul of America.

Like I said above, the examples of how republicans are destroying America from the inside out seem endless.  Just yesterday, there was a tragic accident on an AMTRAK train on what I heard characterized as the busiest public transit route in America where 5 people were killed and dozens of others injured – some critically.  And, what happened today?  The republican House passed a budget with an 18% cut to funding for AMTRAK – transportation used by MILLIONS of Americans.  Kind of how they (republicans) view anything that relates to the infrastructure of this great (my thoughts) nation.  We use it until it falls apart and then apparently we discard it.  Reminds me of the business philosophy of the last republican candidate for president – Mitt Romney.  I believe members of his own party referred to him as a “vulture capitalist.”  He got filthy rich by creating an investment group (Bain Capital) that would purchase active businesses, suck every dime of equity out of the business possible, and then abandon the business in a heap of noncollectable debt and devastated workers who were the necessary “collateral damage.”  We’ve seen this philosophy with highways, bridges, schools, and many other parts of the infrastructure which many refer to as the “commons” with the pending “bill” to bring things up to “code” (or rebuild the nation with a “green” philosophy) now skyrocketing into the multiple TRILLIONS!

Our republican “leaders” seem perfectly “fine” with complaining about the debt they themselves have been instrumental in creating while, at the same time, leaving the cost of the “solution” to our children and grandchildren.  You read that right – they don’t want to “inconvenient” the wealthy among us (those benefiting the MOST from America’s natural “riches”) by actually PAYING for all their “must haves” (like, for example, a war machine that costs over $600 BILLION per year – more than the rest of the world COMBINED spends on the military! – plus, Bush/Cheney put two WARS on “charge cards”) but they seem perfectly fine leaving the cost to those who would follow us.  (Republicans would also tell you the financial problem is because of things like Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, unemployment insurance, early childhood education, Medicaid, and other social services without a reference to the military budget which is “keeping us safe” – seriously, and as an aside, just think about how much safer we get the more we spend on the military – arming ourselves to the teeth along with selling our outdated weapons to virtually every other country around the world)

We have an unlimited budget for bombs (and troops) around the globe, but we can’t afford to make our public transportation safer – like the businesses that Bain Capital left in ruins, apparently we will now do the same with AMTRAK and who knows what is next.  (If you haven’t noticed, republicans have blocked (or attempted to block) EVERY initiative put forth by President Obama except spending in the military – there seems to be no limit to the size of the military’s “piggy bank.”  (There is one caveat to that last statement – evidently the Trans Pacific Partnership – often times referred to as the “TPP” – seems to have almost universal republican approval.  That doesn’t seem to make President Obama nervous although it does me, especially when the “agreement” is negotiated COMPLETELY in secret- I’m sure I’ll have more to say on that topic at another time.)

So, getting back to my original thought: How will America be looked at 30 years from now? (And, I’m talking about in history books that actually report factual history – not, for example, the “history book” students will likely be reading in places like Texas in these upcoming 30 years.  Republicans are already well into their attempt to “re-write” history regarding the invasion of Iraq, the fiasco that is Afghanistan, the financial crisis of 2008, the costs of the deregulations that began with the aforementioned President Reagan, the real cause of the massive deficits, the “attacks” on women, workers, and the elderly – and, I could go on and on.  Real historians will “tell it like it is” and the reality is that the 35 years following the Reagan election and, who knows how many more, will fit right in with the “blackest of times” in the evolution of America.  Just recently I read a letter (to an editor) by a Canadian Citizen listing all the accomplishments of Barack Obama and his administration (despite all the republican obstruction) and wondering why the American public would vote republicans into control of Congress despite these successes. (of course, most of the successes are a direct result of Obama’s first two years in office when democrats controlled Congress)  The writer of the letter asked, “When Obama is out of office, could you send him to Canada?”

And, the reality is that under Obama (whom I have my share of disagreements) America’s standing in the world has been somewhat reclaimed.  People in other countries are not so stupid as to miss the reality of America’s Republican party.  They are confused (as am I) how the American voter can continue to vote these people into office.  I believe the answer to that confusion is that our “liberal media” ISN’T “liberal,” President Obama is too close to Wall Street for many “liberals,” (along with the Democratic party) and the result is an embarrassingly low voter turnout (especially, in mid-term elections) in a country where there is no serious threat to those who go to the polls.  (Yes, republicans are busy creating voter suppression laws around the country in an attempt to keep what they consider “low life” away from the voting booth – but I believe the democrats failure to fight for their own values is just as significant.  For example, in the last election – 2014 – based on the emails that flooded my inbox I felt I was being asked to vote AGAINST the “Koch brothers” more than FOR democratic successes.)  And, by the way, I’d vote “republican” if I could find one who is genuinely for “we the people” and not beholden to the corporatocracy.

I’ll conclude by saying that this vote to defund AMTRAK just one day after the terrible accident (which, granted, we still don’t know the real cause) is a clear symptom of the real problem in America.  Our “leaders” (mainly in the Congress) have been corrupted to the “core” by the influence of the “moneyed interests” of this nation.  The result has been, since – again – the election of Ronald Reagan, a dismantling of the fundamental institutions which created the greatest middle class in the history of the world – which continues to be the republican agenda to this day, leading to a rising gap between the “haves” and “have nots” that threatens to turn America into “third world” status.  Today it’s AMTRAK, tomorrow maybe the Postal system, we’ve already seen a huge push to “privatize” the prison system (I really don’t understand how “we the people” can not see past that one), we’ve got private “militias” feeding off of government contracts, and the “military industrial complex” (as Eisenhower named it) sucking the nation’s economy dry, and republican leaders who evidently see America as Mitt Romney sees takeover targets in business.  Do republicans really intend to “suck” the wealth out of America and leave the “rubble” as collateral damage to us peons? (remember, many of the wealthy “leaders” have stashed untold BILLIONS in foreign tax havens – evidently for the day when it’s time to “get out of town.” (Ironically, they’ll probably relocate in some “socialist” European country!)

I don’t use AMTRAK (at least at this point) but I’m totally happy with my tax dollars going to support public transportation.  Please read Naomi Klein’s “This Changes Everything – Capitalism vs Climate Change” and you’ll understand why I believe we should be investing more in mass transit instead of less.  If we end up with a republican in the White House after the 2016 election, I believe the results will be so catastrophic that even my republican friends will understand the disastrous results in their lifetime.

There’s a group of right wing politicians lining up as candidates for the republican nomination for president in 2016 and they all seem to be spouting the same line: “We need to ‘take our country back.'”  Well, have you ever wondered what that actually means?  Take it back to (or from) what?  There never seems to be substance to that cliche’, but they repeat it often enough that I’m continually wondering what they REALLY mean.  The more I ponder this, the more I believe they want to “take ‘our’ country back from “we the people” – so to speak to the days of the “Robber Barons.”  That is, they are pushing for the continuation of the assault on FDR’s “New Deal” which has been in the “cross-hairs” of the right wing since the days of FDR himself.

Ronald Reagan made it clear who they think is the enemy when he said to fear these words, “I’m from the government and I can help.”  For 50 some years there’s been a group of right wing “conservatives” who’ve been attempting to gain control of our government in order to dismantle it.  And, they are very sophisticated, they can’t seem to take no for an answer (meaning losing elections just seems to invigorate them), they have unlimited funds, and they’ve – over the years – gained MORE and MORE power in the fundamental underpinnings of our government system.  (ie – control of the courts, the media, local legislatures, state legislature, governorships, and now America’s Congress.)  All that is left for them to have a complete “stranglehold” on our “system” is gaining the White House.  Should that happen in 2016 all the unsuspecting “liberals” and democrats who don’t seem to be paying close attention will have an incredible “up hill climb” to reverse the damage that will be done in short order from the date the next president (if it’s a republican) takes the oath of office.

They have already achieved much toward their goal to repeal every part of the New Deal.  In fact, as recently as 2007 -2008 we (America – and, because of us the rest of the world) experienced a financial calamity that, except for the TARP “bailout” and actions taken by President Obama shortly after he took office, could have resulted in another “Great Depression” due in large part to the repeal of New Deal regulations that prevented Wall Street Banks from becoming “too big to fail.”  Obviously, the American people didn’t learn much from that one, because we’ve now voted back into control of Congress the policy makers who still profess the very politics that brought that crisis to a head.  In my mind, the “next go round” is not too far in the distance – especially if the republicans gain the White House in the next election.  The coddling of Wall Street is not unique to republicans, the democrats – some way more than others – are guilty as well – but, it was the repeal of Glass Steagall that allowed the banks to consolidate with investment houses leading to the savings of Americans being gambled in high risk derivatives.  (and, yes, it was Bill Clinton who signed the repeal of Glass Steagall as he was seeking to “get things done” with a republican led congress – but, it was an issue that originated with and was pushed by republicans led by Phil Gramm).

Since George W Bush took office in 2001 the push to privatize EVERYTHING possible has been on steroids.  The “conservatives” have succeeded in “privatizing” many different aspects of what was once government responsibility on the assumption that private business can do things more efficiently.  I’m sure in some instances that is true, but let’s look at the prison system.  Do we really want a privatized prison system – where the focus then turns to profitability instead of rehabilitation?  I really don’t get that one.  And, republicans have been trying for years (and they still are) to privatize Social Security and Medicare (while ostensibly eliminating Medicaid), and tonight I happened to tune into the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC and she reported that the republicans have a plan in place to push for privatization of the VA after gaining the White House in 2016.  Yikes!  I’m sure they will claim they’re doing this in the interest of all the veterans they claim to support (one of these days ask a vet who’s home from Afghanistan, Iraq, or one of the still living who went to Viet Nam or Korea how much they think republicans are “supporting the troops”) and won’t bring up their motives to gain access to the TRILLIONS of dollars that will be required to adequately take care of ALL of our disabled (and otherwise) veteran’s health care in the next 40 years.

Yes the VA is experiencing some difficulties, but much of that has been brought about via spending cuts initiated by republicans in Congress.  The VA needs more doctors, more nurses and more facilities.  It shouldn’t take a “brain surgeon” to figure that one out – we’ve got something along the lines of a quarter of a MILLION vets who’ve returned from either Iraq or Afghanistan (or, in many cases, both).  Viet Nam should have made clear to our leaders that troops who are involved in conflicts where there is no clear enemy – that is, like in Viet Nam, the troops spent tours where they had to wonder if they were in someone’s “cross-hairs” 24/7.  In both Iraq and Afghanistan there was no clear “enemy.” Aside from all the obvious injuries brought home from these “wars” by our troops, the number with mental maladies must reach into the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.  My guess is that most who experienced combat in either of these conflicts suffer from, at the minimum, PTSD.  Those afflicted need whatever level of medical attention necessary to give them a chance to re-integrate into American society. (and, it should be a lifetime commitment and it should be FREE)

Although, the longer we were there with the BUNGLING of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld regime, the number of “enemies” was continually on the rise along with the rise in American “casualties.”  And, by casualties in this instance, I’m talking about the troops who made it home needing the above mentioned medial treatment.  Believe it or not, the Iraqi people, in general, didn’t take well to American troops breaking down their doors, ransacking their homes, taking family members prisoner and then torturing them.  As these wars dragged on, the more our military came to understand they were given a bogus mission, and the more they realized our policy was creating more “enemies” every day of the occupation. I have to believe the only thing which keeps the American public from understanding this is the incredible BRAINWASHING we receive on a daily basis from our “liberal media.”  The solution isn’t to privatize our VA, the solution is to fully FUND it!

This discussion could go on and on.  For example, we’ve fallen to something like 33rd in the world in education.  The “push” to privatize education has been ongoing since the days of Reagan – you guessed it, there’s a lot of money to be “had” in education dollars.  But, like the VA, the prison system, and so many other aspects of government, the republican strategy is to siphon financial support away from “whatever” (in this case education) and, then claim it’s “broken” and can only be fixed by the “free market.”  (allowing for more of their benefactors to skim HUGE amounts of money from the American “pie”)  As a retired teacher I could get lost writing about this issue, but suffice it to say that if America’s public education was fully funded from “top to bottom” (this includes early childhood education and support for low income students) the results would be much more competitive with the rest of the world.  This is just another example of how republicans think and work.

It’s not much different from the business model of republican leaders.  For example, the last republican nominee for president, Mitt Romney, used the same philosophy to get rich in the business world – presumably thinking if it worked there it will work in government.  Romney and his Bain Capital cohorts would purchase a company, underfund it by pulling as many assets as possible from the business, and then walk away leaving the mess for someone else to clean up.  And, of course, like the students in our schools, the inmates in our prisons, the Vets in our VA system, and the citizens of countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, the human capital that is lost is just “collateral damage.”  In the case of the businesses, millions of workers lost their jobs (and, in many cases, their retirement savings accounts), in the prisons you hear stories of people spending years behind bars for possession of a joint, in education you end up with many students who will never reach their potential for lack of support, and in Iraq nearly half the nation was uprooted from their homes, not to mention all the dead and wounded.  The “free market” philosophy continues to fail miserably yet republicans continue to “push it.”

So, again, what is it that republicans want to “take our country back” from?  They’re certainly not trying to take it back from the things I just mentioned – in fact, they’re pushing for more of the same.  The Affordable Care Act (AKA “Obamacare”) has provided something like 16 MILLION Americans health insurance so that they can go to the doctor without fear of bankruptcy, yet the republicans want to “take us back” from that – with, as far as I can tell, no alternative.  I don’t think they’re trying to “take us back” to the days when corporations and MILLIONAIRES paid higher taxes (in the case of corporations, maybe I should say “some” taxes) although they claim to want to “balance the budget.”  They recently voted in Congress to repeal the estate tax which will remove something like $280 BILLION in the next 10 years – I haven’t heard how they plan to keep that from “ballooning” the budget deficit.  Maybe they want to take us all the way back to when there wasn’t programs like Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, food stamps, environmental protections, a food and drug administration, the IRS, etc. etc.  Maybe that’s it, you know, “every man for himself.”  The true “state of nature” where the “strong will survive.”  Maybe that’s why the NRA is such an integral part of their support group.  I don’t know, but I’m open to suggestions.

All I can tell you is that I have children and grand children that I love dearly (you probably do as well) and I’m very concerned as to what those of us who are considered “mature” are going to leave them.  I’m a “baby boomer” and I feel a sense of embarrassment crossed with a sense of anger when I see groups of White Americans who don’t even realize the “White privilege” they’ve enjoyed for the past 70 years (actually, it’s obviously been going on much longer than that, but that’s kind of the median age of the baby boomers from my calculations).  We’ve enjoyed a wonderful highway system, the best of the education system (college was SO available – and affordable – when I was “of age”), good and cheap medical care (until post Reagan America – more “privatization”), and a nation that led the world in “upward mobility” during our prime years.  (Now, with the advent of “trickle up” economics, America is near the bottom of ALL advanced nations in the possibility of children born into poverty “moving up”)

The list goes on and on and I can only guess what “we want to take our country back” actually means.  You’re going to hear it OVER and OVER again between now and November 2016.  If I thought for a minute that the republicans meant to “take us back” to the pre-Reagan years – that is, the 50’s through 70’s – I’d be right in line to vote for them.  If they would promote publicly operated hospitals, prisons focused on rehabilitation, fully funded education for our once treasured public school system, a focus on human rights and civil rights, rebuilding our infrastructure and protecting our environment (I didn’t even mention all the republican climate change deniers in this post, and ultimately, that could be their gravest threat to our nation’s (and the world’s) stability), and ACTUALLY a plan to balance the budget through a combination of tax increases and public investment (along with a commitment to peace) then I would no longer feel the need to vote AGAINST republicans.  The sad reality is that their “belief system” fails miserably for the vast majority of Americans who “need” government yet they continue on the path which has pushed America downward in so many ways for the past 35+ years.  If the democrats had the “stones” to fight for their own fundamental beliefs, they would be the ones campaigning on “we want to take our country back.”

I briefly mentioned above how so many White Americans, at least in my opinion, have no conception of what is called “White privilege.”  I didn’t want to spend a lot of time on that thought, I was simply trying to “blend” it into my “thought of the evening.”  However, as I finished writing this and was briefly skimming it for the inevitable “foo pahs” I had another thought:  “Maybe that’s it – that’s what they mean when they say they want to “take our country back.”  Maybe they feel that having a person of color in the White House means they’ve lost “their” country.  Yikes!  I’ve been thinking of a post that relates to the FACT republicans have held in abeyance the nomination of Loretta Lynch (a Black FEMALE nominated for Attorney General – a person who’s been previously confirmed to a judicial position UNANIMOUSLY) for longer than the previous SEVEN Attorney Generals COMBINED and I have to think:  She’s obviously a woman, and she’s obviously a person of color.  Do you think that’s what republicans want to take us back from?  A country where women or people of color can reach the highest offices in the land?  A country where people are judged by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin?  WE all know they “want Barack Obama to FAIL!”   And, now this fiasco with Loretta Lynch.  Again, I’m just trying to make sense of all this and ……………………………..