I have to wonder how many members of Congress actually read the Mueller report. Today, I listened to a democratic member of Congress, Steven Lynch of Massachusetts, talking about the potential timeline of the present IMPEACHMENT inquiry. When comparing this investigation to the “Russia thing” he pointed out one of the problems with the Mueller report was the amount of time it took to get from the “drip drip” of what was in the report to the point where there could have been impeachment hearings. When Rep. Lynch was referring to the Mueller report he said, “in the report there was no collusion although it left open the possibility of OBSTRUCTION.”

My first thought was, did he actually read the report? Suggesting the report said there was “no collusion” was almost a similar “spin” to William Barr, or the republican “talking points” saying virtually the same thing. Had he read the report I don’t think there’s any way he would say that. Mueller was CRYSTAL CLEAR in his report they didn’t even consider whether or not there was “collusion.” They investigated whether or not they could “prove beyond a reasonable doubt” if there was a conspiracy between the individual 1 campaign and the Russians to affect the results of the election. Mueller stated they couldn’t prove a conspiracy to the satisfaction of “the office” but, they were clear in their report they were NOT exonerating our so-called president. Mueller also added, “The lack of cooperation from the administration affected their ability to come to a conclusion” – or words to that affect.

In fact, Mueller suggested the reason individual 1 Jr. wasn’t indicted (along with Jared Kushner) was because “the office” concluded they did not understand their actions (while, in essence, COLLUDING with the Russians) were ILLEGAL. Mueller was not an aggressive prosecutor in all of this – despite what you hear from individual 1 and his sycophants. And, for a democratic member of Congress (Mr. Lynch) to suggest OBSTRUCTION was left as a possibility almost boggles my mind. What Mueller CLEARLY did was leave it up to the Congress to decide if the OBSTRUCTION was impeachable because he was prohibited from INDICTING a sitting president. There was evidence of at least 10 instances of OBSTRUCTION of Justice in Mueller’s report.

So, now we’re on to the Ukraine scandal – which, when it gets right down to it is the result of the very same issue which started the Mueller investigation – individual 1 COLLUDING (or, in this instance, attempting to COLLUDE) with a foreign government to help him with his next (in this instance) campaign. The difference, however, is the “cast of characters” involved in what amounts to almost treasonous behavior – because the ultimate benefactor of these unthinkable actions coming from the “White House” is, again, Russia. In this scandal it appears, along with Rudy Giuliani, Ambassador Gordon Sondland, Rick Perry we also have Mike Pense, Mike Pompeo, and Attorney General Barr right in the middle of all the “action.” This “action” caused unknown DAMAGE to the Ukrainians FIGHT against the Russians who have invaded their (Ukraine’s) Eastern provinces. (Everything individual 1 does seems to benefit Russia! Just sayin.,.,,)

Likely the key to the “action” mentioned above is the involvement of our Attorney General in an ILLEGAL campaign finance scheme which likely precludes any involvement with our Justice Department in the investigation. For example, the “whistleblower” complaint was forwarded to the Justice Department and they would have buried it in the “dregs” of the department to NEVER have been publicized had the “whistleblower” not pursued the issue once he/she found out it was being buried by Mr. Barr. Of course, Barr’s name was mentioned multiple times in the complaint (as it was in the “summary” publicized by the “White House”) during the now infamous phone call and it’s outrageous Barr was NOT forced to recuse from anything involving this issue. ALL these people are corrupt up to their eyeballs!

What is undeniable at this point in time is that this “shakedown” has been ongoing since the first day President Zelensky took his oath of office in Ukraine. Anybody who’s been paying attention KNOWS, for example, Rudy Giuliani has been over in Ukraine pushing for the president of Ukraine to provide some kind of “dirt” on Joe Biden due to his son Hunter’s position on the board of a Ukrainian Energy company since the day Zelensky was elected. Additionally, Giuliani (and others) has/have been chasing the (many times) debunked conspiracy theory the Ukrainians have Hillary Clinton’s server which holds the “missing emails.” Giuliani, with the help of Sondland and Attorney General Barr are pushing to prove it wasn’t the Russians who interfered in the 2016 election, but instead it was Ukrainians and they were helping Mrs. Clinton. Yikes!!! (And, by the way, an American ally had hacked into the actual room where the Russian hackers were at work and Mueller had the IP addresses of the computers which broke into the democrats servers and stole the emails – ie the RUSSIANS did it!)

It’s been clear for some time our so-called president has mental deficiencies but, evidently, his issues are spreading to those around him. I keep thinking of the title of Rick Wilson’s book, “Everything Trump touches dies.” You would think Mr. Barr would be smarter than this, but……..? I keep wondering if he actually read Mueller’s report as well as the Congressman mentioned above. In fact, I have to wonder how many members of our government actually read the report. I read it twice and, yes, it’s a bit dry, but if you’re part of the government and have the responsibility to take your OATH seriously, to me, reading it is the least “we the people” should expect. I’m fairly certain my own representative DIDN’T read the report. To me that’s shameful, but I digress!

Seeking this aid from Ukraine for the benefit of individual 1’s campaign is illegal no matter who’s doing it and where it comes from. Yes, it’s true if others outside his “orbit” are collecting “oppo research” which doesn’t come via the Ukrainian government, I believe that is not illegal. The election laws are clear when they say “no candidate for office can solicit or receive anything of value for their campaigns from a foreign source. Soon after individual 1 considered himself “in the clear” of the Mueller investigation after Robert Mueller testified before Congress he was on the phone to the president of Ukraine seeking help for his next campaign, essentially doing the same thing he pulled off with the Russians, via the Ukrainians.

Obviously, what made this all MUCH worse was the FACT individual 1 had blocked the release of the desperately needed military aid which had been appropriated by an overwhelming bipartisan vote in Congress as leverage to FORCE the Ukrainian president to publicly open an investigation into the Bidens. (An investigation which long before had proven “empty”) As I stated above, aside from the benefit this would do for individual 1’s campaign, the suspension of the military aid caused an unknown (to us) amount of DAMAGE to the Ukrainians in their FIGHT against the Russians. They were almost begging for the “javelins.” (Which I believe are anti tank missiles)

I believe “we the people” will never know the details of what has transpired in this scheme coming from the “White House” until after the November 2020 election and William Barr has been removed from the Justice Department. I believe Barr, himself, will possibly be liable for his own actions in this matter. It appears to me Giuliani is involved in MUCH more than the issue with trying to force the Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens. There’s HUGE amounts of money involved with the Oil and Gas industry in Ukraine and it looks like both Giuliani and Rick Perry (and maybe Sondland and who knows who else) were trying to get in on the action! Yikes!!!

One member of Congress after another, when questioned in public, seems to show themselves to be, especially if it’s a republican, trying to make up words on the spot. EVERY republican feels they MUST defend this EXTORTION by individual 1 and too many democrats come across to me as if they haven’t read the Mueller report which makes me wonder where are they getting the information they are using to determine their position on IMPEACHMENT. It kind of explains to me why it took so long to get a majority of democrats in the House to support IMPEACHMENT. In this case, it appears that public knowledge of our so-called president committing EXTORTION, where he provided the PROOF himself, was what it “took.”

In my mind, the scariest part in all of this is the number of our “leaders” in Washington – both parties – who are struggling with the courage it takes to honor their oath of office. This IMPEACHMENT “inquiry” SHOULD have been on the “front burner” long ago – as many of us have been clamoring. Republicans continue to show their FEAR of individual 1 while focusing on keeping their job at the expense of our republic. And, many of the democrats are in the same boat – because, had they read Mueller’s report this Ukraine thing would be NO surprise. In fact, I have to wonder how many other situations would mirror this one during individual 1’s time in office.

Final Thought: Here’s another comment that might well be taken with offense by many, but, to me is just real. Last night I watched part of individual 1’s rally in Kentucky (where Rand Paul further soiled himself by the side of our mafia boss in chief as he lobbied for the whistleblower to be “outed”) and many of the people in the audience were wearing tee shirts with the lettering on the front reading “Read the Transcript.” I keep wondering what is the level of STUPIDITY among “we the people.” I guess I think in terms of what I used to teach my sixth graders – like READ various points of view when forming your opinions with the emphasis on READING!

So, these people are wearing shirts with words that are absurd on the chests – where anyone watching on TV can clearly see. For starters, the “Transcript” has not been published – so no one CAN read the “Transcript.” The ONLY thing “we the people” COULD read would be the summary of the phone call in question because THAT is what has been published. Obviously, anyone wearing those shirts was admitting to being susceptible to the right wing propaganda which is making them look to be FOOLS.

Now, had the shirts read “Read the Summary of the Phone Call” that would suggest they had read the Summary and were OK with THEIR president EXTORTING the Ukrainians for the benefit of his 2020 campaign and the benefit of Vladimir Putin and the Russians. The bottom line is it IS the SUMMARY of the Transcript, which is what has been published and has individual 1 facing IMPEACHMENT. I’m guessing close to NONE of the people wearing those shirts has READ anything relating to the details of why individual 1 is LIKELY to be IMPEACHED. I really don’t want to refer to them as STUPID (even though that thought has crossed my mind) because, outside of politics many of them may be “very fine people” – who knows. But, wearing that shirt makes them come across to anyone who’s actually READ the summary and the other available documents regarding this EXTORTION scam as STUPID. I wish I could say it differently!

One more thing: Now there are (actual) transcripts of the depositions which have been taken by the House Intelligence Committee. How many of those people wearing the shirts at individual 1’s rally do you think will read those transcripts? (The first couple covered over 500 pages – and, it appears there will be two more released each day) Do you think these people will watch the public hearings republicans have been pushing for? The bottom line is these people come across to be like a group of SHEEP being herded toward slaughter. Individual 1 comes across as a cult leader and these people wearing the shirts will some day learn they were part of a cult which attempted to undermine the constitution of the United States of America.

My hope is the constitution will be standing when that day arrives!

Golf is considered a game of honor. People who play the game are understood to follow the rules and to bring penalties on themselves when appropriate. For example, if you’re in a spot where others can’t see what you’re doing and something happens which requires a penalty stroke you are obligated to call the penalty on yourself. You’re expected to “play the ball as it lies” amid a bunch of other rules. Individual 1 is famous for playing with his own set of rules – apparently thinking he “owns” the golf course so he can make his own rules. He seems to be operating under the same “rule book” as he “leads” our nation. (Where he’s “leading” it is what is so alarming to so many Americans)

I just finished writing a letter to the representative of the district where I live, a republican, pointing out my disappointment she failed to show the courage necessary to vote for the “impeachment inquiry” vote in the House the other day – a vote republicans have been clamoring for since the actual “investigation” began a few weeks back. In the letter to my representative I pointed out the corruption she is, essentially, voting in favor of by not supporting the “investigation” – as if EXTORTION is OK as long as it’s happening by the GOP – because I can guarantee anyone these republicans would be apoplectic if a democratic administration had done even a sliver of what individual 1 has done.

For example, picture in your mind Louis Gohmert if Barack Obama had tied a request for political “dirt” on his imagined opponent from a foreign nation to aid to that same foreign nation. He would NOT be calling an investigation into that behavior a “sham” and he wouldn’t be threatening “civil war” over investigating a President Obama. Personally, I believe he, and anyone else in the Congress who suggests (and, in effect encourages) a “civil war” if individual 1 (or any other president) is impeached SHOULD be Censored at the very minimum and being thrown out of Congress SHOULD be an option. (By the way, people like Gohmert were suggesting a “civil war” when Obama was in office apparently because they really struggled with a person of color in the “White House”)

By now, everyone knows individual 1 is NOT going to change. What you see is what you get! And, what we see is getting worse all the time. (I guess, maybe, that means he is changing – for the worse) When someone is a pathological LIAR they actually believe the words they’re saying as those words “tumble” off their tongues. I believe a person’s relationship with the law is quite similar. For example, I believe individual 1 has operated as if the laws don’t apply to him for most of his life which may explain why he believes the summary of the phone call which “triggered” the impeachment inquiry was a “perfect call.” (Despite the FACT it included an ILLEGAL “ask” when he requested “dirt” on Joe Biden – a simple FACT, that is ILLEGAL!)

Quite frankly, individual 1’s brazen disregard for our system of laws is so alarming to me I end up here too many days writing with the hope at least one person might find this site and choose to VOTE in the 2020 election – hoping the republican party gets voted into the History books – to be reconstituted with something that at least resembles something which represents actual “conservatives,” (Conservatives along the lines of Edmund Burke) The fact our Congress is full of people like Gohmert, Steve King, Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, Devin Nunez, and I could go on, indicates there’s a significant portion of America which gets their “news” from Fox “noise” which is an organization seemingly dedicated to furthering the goals of Vladimir Putin by turning Americans against each other via (actual) “fake news.” (Fox “news” is now being referred to by many as “Trump TV”)

I often wonder who is actually funding Fox which, if you actually do the work to understand what the TRUTH is in regard to actual political “news,” is hard to stomach for even one minute. When I try to force myself to watch Fox I can never make it even to the one minute place. Not only are their commentators (at least the ones I’ve seen) extreme right wing extremists, they willingly LIE on one issue after another. And, this idea of “blind loyalty” which is the apparent fundamental belief of today’s “conservatives” reminds me of 1930’s Germany. (And, by the way, individual 1 is a second generation American via Germany) At one point in the 2016 campaign individual 1 actually had his supporters raising their arms similar to a “heil” salute. And if you’ve ever seen any of the embarrassing examples of individual 1 requiring his sycophants, while sitting in the Oval Office, one by one, to express their “thanks and loyalty” to him as the cameras are watching, you know what I’m talking about. The republican party seems to be a cult!

Getting back to Gohmert’s suggestion if individual 1 is IMPEACHED there’s going to be a “civil war.” (Boy, that will put William Barr in a tough spot as the leader of the Justice Department). I’ve written about a friend of mine who’s an individual 1 supporter and who I often meet for breakfast. He’s also shared the “civil war” prediction with me at our breakfast meetings. He watches Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity on Fox and I’m not sure what right wing websites – he doesn’t like to admit he’s getting all this right wing propaganda but much of what I hear from him I hear from the other sycophants who are part of individual 1’s cult. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine one of America’s two political parties could evolve into a cult, but, well, “it is what it is.”

The truth around all of this is that those “very fine people” we all saw carrying tiki torches, wearing Nazi armbands, carrying Nazi flags, and chanting “Jews will not replace us” are heavily armed with the very assault weapons many “liberals” want off the streets. Should Mr. Gohmert’s prediction come true we’ll see the law enforcement personnel likely be some, if not most, of the victims of the damage those assault weapons can cause. Those are “weapons of war” and anyone who doesn’t understand our constitution is the foundation of our republic is someone who may result to violence if things don’t go their way.

The reality is we are facing a challenge to our constitutional form of government beyond almost any in the past – maybe with the exception of the ACTUAL civil war. Americans have become very comfortable with a way of life which is likely not endurable. There are only so many resources in the world and this reality seems to be part of the divide which is tearing America apart. Over my lifetime – I started paying close attention to politics about the time JFK was assassinated. Using the constitution as the “rules” with live by it’s becoming clear individual 1 doesn’t understand what’s in the constitution and has no willingness to be guided by it. He feels he is able to “do whatever I want.” (The classic mantra of a sixth grade BULLY)

If some kind of “insurrection” occurs with either the impeachment or the voting from office of individual 1 – who you KNOW will claim “foul” if he’s VOTED out of office – will partly be the result of the ginning up of the white nationalists and the right wing base of “evangelical Christians” by outlets like Fox (I’m now saying “noise” – as I said above many refer to them as “Trump TV”), Breitbart, and other right wing organizations SHOULD be held accountable for any seditious commentary which comes across their airwaves.

The bottom line out of all this which has come from “Trumpism” is we MUST make sure the CONSTITUTION is standing tall at the end. We must make sure those who are self dealing in this incredible day of INCREASED corruption don’t succeed in undermining the “rule of law” in America. Getting individual 1 out of office will not be easy – it’s going to be the challenge for those of us who believe in the “rule of law” to VOTE in massive numbers that leaves no doubt on where the American people stand. Aside from the DAMAGE done domestically by this mafia boss in the “White House” there is massive damage to America’s image around the world which will need to be repaired. And, trust me, people in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and other places in NATO will be watching the election of 2020 as eagerly as most Americans.

Those around the world aren’t “in the dark” about the reality that Vladimir Putin has “something” in individual 1 which has our so-called president working in Russia’s behalf since, virtually, from the first day he was in office. For example, the only reason the sanctions placed on Russia by President Obama have not been removed is because of what was exposed in the Mueller investigation – the more than 100 meetings between individual 1’s campaign officials and the Russians along with Mike Flynn (in my mind, on the orders of individual 1) telling the Russians the sanctions put on them by Obama for the election interference would be removed once individual 1 was in office.

We at least have to give Congress credit in the FACT the reason individual 1 was unable to remove sanctions on the Russians is because that would have been too obvious even for the republicans in the Senate. In fact, the Congress actually voted for additional sanctions with, if you remember, individual 1 attempted to “slow walk” before he was finally forced to put them in place. However, since that day, he’s actually succeeded in removing some sanctions which, hopefully, will be investigated as to who benefited from that action. I do know that Oleg Deripaska was one who benefited which seemed to be a “good deal” for Jared Kushner.

The bottom line here is the Russians hope individual 1 survives and that they can help him gain “re-election” (with who knows how many less votes than his opponent in 2020?) while MOST Americans can’t wait for him to be out of office along with our traditional allies around the world. How many of the countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, China, etc. will be happy to see individual 1 in office for another four years finishing off the “America” they are trying to undermine. Both sides can see America is getting destroyed from the inside out – the difference lies in those who wish for the America “before individual 1” and those who wish for the destruction of the “America” which has led the “free” world since the days of WW II.

It will take a MASSIVE response from those who consider themselves in the “resistance” because individual 1 has become the all time “cult leader” – leading a confluence of right wing neo-Nazi’s and “conservative Christians” similar to the group which brought Hitler to power in the late 1920’s, ironically with the campaign slogan “Make Germany Great Again.” I said at the start of this post that it should be no surprise to anyone that individual 1 willingly CHEATS at politics due to the fact many who’ve played golf with him suggest he CHEATS at that “game of honor.” And, republicans have long showed themselves to believe “the end justifies the means.” So, it’s going to be a difficult challenge to end this nightmare and will require a massive turnout at the polls – EVERYWHERE!

And, I’ll end this by saying, democrats must be FIGHTING for every vote – including places considered “individual 1 country.” A 50 state strategy, to me, is required and hopefully democrats will have the funds necessary for that type of campaign. As President Obama used to say, he wasn’t fighting for the red states or the blue states but the United States of America – that SHOULD be the norm. When all is said and done, it’s imperative we have an Attorney General who leaves no doubt that we are “a nation of laws and not men.” To those who have stocked up cache’s of weapons to “protect” themselves from the government, it must be clear to them, as to me, the constitution is the basis of our republic and “we the people” are OBLIGATED to honor it.

Final Thought: Should there be any form of insurrection in this nation it MUST be met with an overwhelming response which lets anyone know who thinks that is an acceptable form of “protest” in American it is unacceptable. And, if you use weapons in your “protest” you will be met with an overwhelming force from our police, FBI, or whatever response is necessary. At some point more and more of individual 1’s supporters will understand they are supporting a corrupt and inept person who has no idea what he got himself into. I said, long ago, individual 1 would “rue the day he got ‘elected'” – well, since, I’ve also said that day likely passed long ago. However, his nature – the “fight back and attack” anyone who disagrees with him won’t let him accept that and he will FIGHT until the very last day he can legally call the “White House” his home – and, from many reports, beyond that day.

Our constitution is being put to the test and, I for one, am STRONGLY on the side of the constitution. Sadly, I know people who could care less about anything but keeping this demagogue in office. There’s a lot more coming out each day as the IMPEACHMENT inquiry advances. You can expect republicans to be involved in a full force SMEAR campaign against anyone who might actually testify in the inquiry. This should continue to be interesting – I’m telling those around me who are younger, this is a critical point in American History – pay attention!!!

So, as usual, these past few days are FULL of “stuff” coming from individual 1’s administration which is mind boggling – including how he presented the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Northern Syria – thanks to intelligence from the Kurds whom he had recently betrayed. For example, over the weekend General John Kelly – individual 1’s second chief of staff – tried to make himself look prescient suggesting he had warned individual 1 “not to hire a ‘yes man’ to replace himself” – suggesting Mick Mulvaney is a “yes man” and that’s why our so-called president is being IMPEACHED. Well, from my perspective, Kelly is not much better than individual 1. (The only reason individual 1 wasn’t impeached during Kelly’s time as chief of staff is because William Barr undermined Mueller’s work)

It’s still as clear as a bell in my mind watching Kelly stand at the podium in the White House’s communication room LYING about individual 1’s disparagement of a fallen soldier to the soldier’s wife – while her (African American) Representative was sitting in the car listening to the call. Individual 1 called on Kelly to defend his actions toward this widow which ended up being a barrage of MORE LIES! In the course of all of Kelly’s LIES, as supposedly being the “one” who could defend individual 1, he showed himself to be a RACIST and a misogynist (while he was trying to say something like “In my day women were respected”) attacking congressperson Wilson by saying things which were provably FALSE about her and then, just like his boss and for “good measure,” he couldn’t resist LYING about President Obama. Kelly soiled himself for the History books!

Additionally, in the interview, Kelly seemed to be suggesting he was a “truth teller” during his term as the Chief of Staff in his relationship with individual 1. Keep in mind, if you read the Mueller Report, Kelly wasn’t able to keep individual 1 from committing, by some accounts, at least 10 examples of OBSTRUCTION of Justice. I’ve always been curious as to how Generals like Kelly can stomach the relationship individual 1 has with Vladimir Putin, for example. If anyone would understand the threat Putin poses to the United States and our Western Allies it would, seemingly, be our “Generals,” but I noticed nothing but SILENCE coming from Kelly during his time in office as individual 1, time and again, was “making Russia ‘great’ again.”

So, apparently Mr. Kelly feels a bit of a reprieve that the IMPEACHMENT is NOT coming on his “watch.” However, it should have – although Nancy Pelosi was correct all along when she said, “individual 1 (she, of course said “Trump”) will IMPEACH himself” – which is exactly what he did once he realized the Mueller report was not going to “get” him. The phone call at the center of the Ukraine scandal happened ONE day after Mueller testified to Congress. Does that give you the same thought it gave me regarding what was in individual 1’s brain once Barr undermined Mueller? “I’m in the clear, I really can do ANYTHING i want.” (I have to add the obvious, individual 1’s abuse of power did not start with the aforementioned phone call)

And, watching those republicans attempting to continue their defense of this despicable so-called president is beyond alarming. The LYING is endless – it’s all they got! I’m sure the defenders of individual 1 are flabbergasted by all the career diplomats who actually believe answering a lawfully drawn up subpoena is a moral obligation or duty. Individual 1 has been implementing the mafia practice of “loyalty” (ie no one “talks” to the authorities) – apparently struggling with the idea he’s in charge of the “authorities.” (and wondering why they are not “under his thumb” – with the exception of Barr)

I’ve been writing about how individual 1 has come across as a mafia boss to me for a couple years now and the evidence implying I was correct continues to mount. I still remember when he called Michael Cohan a “rat” when Cohen decided to “tell the truth” to authorities after individual 1 abandoned him during the investigation from the Southern District of New York which now has Cohen spending 3 years in prison. When interviewed about Cohen, individual 1 (I heard this myself at least twice) said “flipping should be illegal.” He really hates the idea of his subordinates actually telling the truth to investigators. Isn’t that mafia like?

And, speaking of his connection to the mafia, there’s a plethora of information in the public domain about individual 1’s connections to the crime families in New York and the Russian Mafiya which, apparently, bailed him out of several of his BANKRUPTCIES via various money laundering schemes. Then there’s his most recent “adviser” who’s been arrested, Lev Parnos, one of Rudy Giuliani’s infamous Ukrainian mafiya “side kicks” during his shakedown of the new Ukrainian government. Last night (10/29) I happened to watch the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC which included a very interesting “bio” of Mr. Parnos. Yikes!!!

I included the date so you can check out their archive should you choose – but, Mr. Parnos has a history which would indicate individual 1, despite his claims to the contrary, doesn’t actually “hire the best people.” Ms. Maddow gave a history of Parnos that goes back to a group of “investors” who were ripping people off for MILLIONS of dollars and were directly connected to organized crime families. There are damning questions about where Parnos gets his money and, keep in mind, Giuliani HASN’T been paying him – he’s been paying Giuliani! To the tune of half a MILLION dollars! And, there are clearly questions, from what I’ve read, into what kind of scheme Giuliani, along with Ambassador Sondland and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, were part of, apparently, a scheme aimed at getting “in on” Ukraine’s great oil wealth.

It looks to me like not only did individual 1 VIOLATE our laws (election laws, bribery laws, and ????) but also Giuliani, Mike Pompeo, William Barr, Sondland, Perry, and likely others need to be “lawyering up.” When all is said and done – and, make no mistake, I’m not predicting when that will happen (Fox “noise” has a large audience which will consider this all “nothing” which will likely delay any finality on this issue) – I believe there’s evidence suggesting individual 1 will be regarded as a traitor. There’s too much evidence suggesting the “connection” between him and Vladimir Putin goes well beyond what is publicly known as I’m writing this and what would be diplomatically acceptable under any other circumstances. There have just been too many “coincidences” in regard to individual 1 doing Russia’s “bidding” for my liking. (This is another situation which DEMANDS our next president not follow President Obama’s plan of “looking forward instead of back” when he “looked the other way” from the CRIMES of Bush/Cheney – these people need to be held accountable! (Otherwise we’ll soon be facing the next song on a “broken record”)

Stuff is going to continue coming out, it’s just not for certain there will be enough by the time the Senate has to vote as to whether or not republicans will feel the “need” to “convict” and remove individual 1 from office. (That will cause the so-called “alt right” to hit the streets if it happens) There is undoubtedly a significant portion of America who are part of the “White Nationalist” movement that is spreading across Europe (and triggered by none other than Putin and his Russian cyber warriors themselves) and causing so much division across our nation. It will be difficult to get all the DAMAGE caused by individual 1 out in the open so it might be “fixed” once he’s no longer ruining this nation. And, speaking of………..

Republicans and their apparent NEED to practice Projection; I watched excerpts, today, of republicans in the House as they were defending the indefensible – where the democrats had brought up a vote (they’ve been clamoring for) for an impeachment inquiry, setting up public hearings (which they’ve also been clamoring for) where our so-called president was offered more opportunity to cross examine witnesses than previous presidents in impeachment inquiries their strategy remained the same – which is “showboating.” But, how do they do this? Well, that’s were the projection comes in.

While individual 1’s actions are, over and over again, working to the benefit of Vladimir Putin to the point where I’m not the only American questioning what Putin has on him – it was interesting watching his republican defenders in the House today. While as Nancy Pelosi and the other democrats were making their case for the “impeachment inquiry” (which seems to have been well under way for the past couple of weeks) next to a large American Flag sitting on a tripod right next to their microphone. Well, you’d expect the republicans to stand next to that same flag wouldn’t you? But, NOOOO! They, of course, chose to stand next to the “hammer and sickle” of the former Soviet Union (which Putin is working to reconstitute – with individual 1’s help) – suggesting, I guess, being given the right to cross examine witnesses in public sessions, to them, is “Soviet Style” politics. Personally, I found it offensive and ironic!

Final Thought: I’ve grown tired of the daily grind of keeping up with the scandalous behavior of individual 1 and the willingness of the republicans in Congress to continue enabling him. Combined with Fox “noise” our republican “leaders” are allowing MILLIONS of Americans to be confused as to what is happening. People I know who watch Fox and support individual 1 don’t understand we’re talking about CRIMES in this Ukraine scandal (to a level which, I believe, goes well beyond the now infamous “phone call), additionally CRIMES laid out in the Mueller report (which individual 1 apparently thought because he “got away with them” quite possibly leading to the scandal in Ukraine), and, most seriously, that individual 1’s shakedown of the president of Ukraine was a significant threat to the national security of both Ukraine and America! So, I MUST continue doing my small part of the RESISTANCE!

This all has evolved well beyond the reality we have a bumbling, unfit, demagogue with a cult following in the “White House.” The DAMAGE being done to the “fabric” of America is growing maybe exponentially every day. There are people in places in our traditional institutions who are “flying under the radar” and are committed to destroying the institutions they “lead.” Just as I’ve said our rights are much easier given up than getting restored just as our institutions are easier torn down than built back up. As republicans have overseen the destruction and decaying of America’s infrastructure so they are overseeing the destruction of the State Department, the Department of Energy, The Agriculture Department, etc. etc. Pay attention and VOTE!!!

I keep wanting to take a break from bloviating on this site, then I think about what individual 1 is doing to this country – likely pushing us to the brink of fascism. And, before you go thinking that is hyperbole, check out what fascism is. Check out the politics of many of his followers on the so-called “alt right.” Do some research on Steve Bannon who, I believe, is still working behind the scenes to further the right wing assault on our nation he was openly pushing when he was actually working in the “White House.” The book I’m reading right now, “Siege” by Michael Wolf, documents how Bannon, for example, is still pushing the right wing Neo-fascist agenda across Europe. Personally, I believe people like Bannon are scheming on who they can push onto “we the people” after individual 1 is either removed or voted out of office.

People like Bannon, behind the scenes, acknowledge individual 1 is “stupid.” There have been an “endless” number of former “White House” aids who have referred to individual 1 as anything from the “stupid” Bannon was quoted in Wolf’s book (and there was an adjective which begins with the letter “F” and the ending “ing” preceding the term “stupid”) to the word “moron” which came from the mouth of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (and, of course, Tillerson used the same adjective preceding the word “moron” as Bannon used prior to the word “stupid”) John Kelley and James Maddis have also been quoted in different “circles” as laying very unflattering descriptions of individual 1 at various times including the same descriptive terms as Bannon and Tillerson.

These are the people close to our so-called president – the people who were supposedly going to keep up the “guard rails.” The “generals” who, now, individual 1 is denigrating (as he does to anyone who disagrees with him – maybe, somehow, he’ll read this blog – Oh yes, he doesn’t read) are now warning of the expanding disaster in Syria. Today, I saw video of the America troops, who are withdrawing from Northern Syria – leaving the Kurds to likely be facing genocide in the coming days – with the Kurds throwing rotten fruit and tomatoes at the vehicles carrying the troops – troops, who, by the way, from all accounts of people on the scene, are ashamed they are leaving these Kurds to the whims of Erdogan – who is one of the prime ruthless thugs who individual 1 seems to admire. Apparently, the guard rails are gone!

I’m having a hard time getting the pictures of what is happening to the Kurds out of my mind. and it’s very likely going to get worse. I keep trying to imagine what republicans would be saying if President Obama had done something like this. It was Obama who initiated the policy which created the “partnership” with the Kurds who did the “heavy lifting” in the battle against ISIS. I still remember the republicans criticizing Obama for following the “plan” initiated by GW Bush on the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. I suppose individual 1’s supporters aren’t sophisticated enough to remember their so-called president calling Obama the “father of ISIS” – or something of that nature as he (individual 1) was, later, taking credit for “defeating ISIS.” (Which was simply another of his MOUNTAIN of LIES)

Republicans were not shy about criticizing Obama’s (kind of) pulling American troops from Iraq, but as I remember it, he still had troops fighting ISIS in (Mosul) as he left office. However, I believe it was Obama who initiated the plan for American troops to be working indirectly in the fight against ISIS via special forces (the “small footprint” strategy – meaning their guys do the dying – like in the case of the Kurds) supporting either the Iraqi troops or, in Syria, the Kurds – who, essentially, both, rendered ISIS to be scattered around the world and caused them to lose their “caliphate.” This situation the Kurds presently find themselves in, is just going to get worse – and, I can picture individual 1 attempting to LIE his way out of responsibility for all the Kurds being slaughtered as it’s going to be reported by what he WILL call the “fake news.”

OMG, I just listened to individual 1 claim, “I defeated ISIS.” He was referring to the Kurds and how “they are no angels,” and how we didn’t have an endless agreement to defend them (or words to that affect) forever. He was referring to the agreements made during Obama’s term in office and, while I, personally, don’t want American troops “in endless wars” – the reality is the section of Syria occupied by the Kurds was relatively stable and they were holding over 10,000 ISIS fighters in detention (fighters who likely are escaping during this debacle). My first thought, individual 1 taking credit for personally “defeating ISIS” made me think of “bone spurs.” The idea individual 1 would actually be part of defeating ISIS is maybe the MOST absurd thing I’ve heard yet during individual 1’s time in office, and that’s saying something!

I’ve also heard individual 1 and his sycophants justifying the extortion of the military aid they used as a way to get the Ukrainians to provide them some “dirt” on Joe Biden and a pathway to FOOL “we the people” into thinking it was the Ukrainians “interfering” in the 2016 election and they were doing so to help Hillary Clinton by claiming our nation does not have an endless agreement to support Ukraine. again, OMG! It’s as if EVERYTHING he does is aimed at helping Vladimir Putin. Are we ever going to find out why? I keep talking about the DAMAGE individual 1 is doing to America and what it will take to correct it, but what about Ukraine? Individual 1 is, basically it seems, helping Vladimir Putin to gain even more of a foothold in Ukraine – that will only be able to be undone by even more sever sanctions on Russia or military confrontation.

So, here’s the results of individual 1’s “foreign policy:” The Ukrainians are “staggered” by the threat of the “conditions” put on the much needed aid that they would invent something on Joe Biden individual 1 can use in his next election battle. I’ve heard reports that individual 1 has intimidated Ukraine’s president Zelensky into seeking a “compromise” with Putin that has the people of Ukraine, again, up in arms. This is bad, but personally, watching American tanks leaving Syria with the Kurds throwing rotten tomatoes, potatoes, and other “projectiles” at the vehicles carrying our troops who are leaving the Kurds “with their tails between their legs.”

Of course, it’s not the troops themselves who the Kurds are angry with, it’s individual 1. They are using the word “betrayal” whenever a reporter can get an interview. But, they understand that MOST of the American people are devastated by the condition they’ve been put in by our so-called president. Can you imagine what the troops AND those the troops are protecting around the world are thinking? The reality is that Vladimir Putin is on a “rampage” around the world in his attempt to turn the “West” inside out via the Russian’s “active measures” while he’s trying to recreate the “former Soviet Union.”

And, all of this is happening while there’s a serious “IMPEACHMENT inquiry” going on in the House of Representatives which is LIKELY going to result in Articles of IMPEACHMENT being passed in regard to individual 1’s incredible ABUSE of power. Sometimes I have to wonder if he simply believes there are no laws, or the laws simply don’t apply to him. (And, I’m thinking this is not a new thought process for him – I believe he felt the same way as he was when managing his criminal enterprise – the “Trump Organization.”

Republicans, at some point, are going to be put “on the spot” as they will need to vote on whether this mob behavior coming from the “White House” is acceptable to them. Each one of them will be deciding what spot they want in the future American History books. Do they want to be “resting” next to individual 1 and Benedict Arnold or do they want to be in a place where Americans who spent their lives defending the constitution – no matter what – find themselves. I’ve said this all along: Individual 1 is a disgusting person. He’s an incredible narcissist, a racist, a misogynist, a xenophobe, and a pathological LIAR.

Sadly, as I’ve also said many times, his base is the so-called “Evangelical Christians” – who MUST be struggling to find ways to justify their support of this person with what they read in the Bible. Today, individual 1 claimed the IMPEACHMENT inquiry was like a LYNCHING. OMG! This was said, apparently to again “gin up” his base. Well, is a reference to LYNCHING something the Christian community “buys?” It will take years for America to recover from what this thug is doing to this nation. He’ll take us all down with him if that’s what he thinks will save him. And, remember, he’s got to be thinking that once he’s no longer our so-called president, he can then be indicted!

Final Thought: In Wolf’s book, there is a much clearer explanation of the MONEY LAUNDERING scheme individual 1 carried out in Florida with a property he “purchased” for $41 MILLION (The first I heard of this was via the reporting of Rachel Maddow on MSNBC) – ironically STEALING the property from Jeffrey Epstein – and then, without doing virtually ANY improvements to the property reselling it to a Russian, Dimitry Rybolovlev, for $96 MILLION in an obvious money laundering scheme. There are even questions as to whether or not that individual 1 “purchased” the property in the first place as a “front” for someone else – maybe even Rybolovlev. Likely Epstein didn’t make more of an issue with this because he had his own problems at the time and individual 1 was well aware of what they were.

As I’ve said, “I can’t keep up!” I wrote this a week or two ago and didn’t publish it because, well, there was “other stuff” – so, I’m going to publish it now – my apologies for the lack of editing (which, often, is “par for the course” in my writing – keep in mind, if you find this, I have no idea how or why :o)

Since I wrote this Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed and, of course, according to individual 1 he (and his bone spurs) did the killing. I’m sure I’ll write more about all that later.

Every day I learn something else that causes me to yearn for the day individual 1 is no longer destroying (what’s left of) our democratic republic. I can’t remember who said it but I still remember when I was young (likely High School age in the 60’s) hearing someone (maybe JFK) warning “we the people” that the only way our republic could be “defeated” was from “the inside out.” Well, that’s exactly what is happening with individual 1 and his (deplorable – Hillary Clinton was correct) supporters who put their TOTAL power ahead of our nation’s best interests and the constitution. Make no mistake, individual 1 is a “White Nationalist” and many of his supporters are “White Nationalists.” I’ve personally seen several images of people connected directly to his administration brandishing the “White Nationalist” hand signal.

Individual 1 has placed people into various traditional government institutions with the intent to destroy the very institutions they have taken an OATH to protect and defend. Today I read where the former head of the VA’s office of Accountability and Whistleblower protection, Peter O’Rourke, actually was using his office to retaliate against whistleblowers (does that sound familiar?) and stifle their claims. This came out in an Inspector General report which said, “the office’s first executive director, Peter O’Rourke, ‘leveraged his power as head of the whistleblower office to end investigations into allies and failed to provide basic reports to Congress on the office’s operations.'” Of course, O’Rourke has now “moved on” and is now the executive director of the Florida Republican party. Yikes!!!

The article (in “The Daily Kos”) went on to say, “In its first two years of operation, the [office] acted in ways that were inconsistent with its statutory authority, while it simultaneously floundered in its mission to protect whistleblowers,” the report said. It didn’t provide adequate training for the investigators it hired and “did not have an approach that ensured comprehensive and impartial investigations,” it concluded. “The [office] itself engaged in actions that could be considered retaliatory.” What a racket for Trumpers—a perfect “catch and kill” system to hide corruption within the administration. “The report’s findings of failings in all these areas help explain the significant challenges [the office’s] leaders face today in establishing trust and achieving its intended goals,” said Michael Missal, the department’s inspector general.”

A couple things – first, this appears to be individual 1’s way of preventing any of the problems which appear to be rampant in the VA system – as “we the people” have an OBLIGATION to support MILLIONS of military veterans who have returned home from duty in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, various places in Africa, and more – with many of them desperately needing medical treatment which is not readily forthcoming – preventing the shortcomings from becoming public. During Obama’s terms as president there were issues publicized but I don’t remember a concerted attempt to block whistleblowers – although, it’s been no secret that whistleblowers have (and do) face/faced peril by coming forward. This is/has been a problem. As far as I could tell, Obama was no “saint” in dealing with whistleblowers.

Which leads to my other point. Now individual 1’s time in office has been credibly threatened because there is one person in the government who had the courage to file a whistleblower complaint regarding our so-called president and his minions (Giuliani, Sondland, Pompeo, Pense, Barr, and likely others) attempting to EXTORT political favors from Ukraine while suspending military assistance which the country’s existence depended. Now we’re (unsurprisingly) hearing attempts by individual 1 and his sycophants to force this whistleblower to “testify in public.” They feel the (so-called) president should have the right to cross examine this person. (Of course they do – but, if the “shoe were on the other foot” they’d be claiming “foul” at a level which would make your ears twinge) The point of the whistleblower protection law is to (surprise) PROTECT the identity of the whistleblower so there’s NO retaliation!

Well, in both instances it’s clear individual 1 doesn’t like the idea of “whistleblowers.” To him, we’re talking about “rats.” (Do you remember that’s what he called Michael Cohen when Cohen said he was going to cooperate with the government and tell the truth?) I’ve been pointing out since year one of individual 1’s destruction of the office of the president that he comes across to me as a mafia boss. Of course, as time has gone by (and, I’ve read a bunch of books on him AND Vladimir Putin) it’s become clearer and clearer that individual 1 would like to transform our “government” into something that resembles the Kremlin. And, sadly, almost EVERY republican “still standing” in our Congress has shown the kind of fear I can only imagine those in government in Russia have for Vladimir Putin.

In Russia the dissident political figures and journalists find themselves either in prison or falling out of high rise buildings or ingesting poisons that make their deaths excruciatingly horrible. And, Putin has a way of finding those “dissidents” who manage to flee the country and find refuge elsewhere – like, for example, the “father and daughter” who were poisoned while living in England. They use poisons that make it clear who did it which is also a message to anyone else who might “cross” Putin. It’s always a slow death!

Poor individual 1 is left with blithering tweets showing his outrage at anyone who says something about him which is not a compliment. He has received “reinforcement” in the form of his new Attorney General William Barr who has made individual 1 even more dangerous. (Although, at some point, I believe members of the FBI and Justice Department may very well revolt on what Barr is “up to.”) In line with his (individual 1’s) attempt to MALR (Make America Like Russia) Barr is now leading an “investigation” into the “investigators” – ie the origins of the Mueller investigation that now has the ability to charge people with crimes.

It’s not apparent, at least to me, who they think they can charge with a crime regarding the investigation into individual 1’s COLLUSION with the Russians during the 2016 election. I’ve read from many different sources the so-called “Russia investigation” began when George Papadopolous decided to get drunk in a London Pub and BRAG to some guy who’s a diplomat from Australian that the Russians had “Hillary Clinton’s emails” which were going to be released to help individual 1. The guy from Australia passed this “information” on to the FBI (as Papadopolous SHOULD have). That is what started the so-called “Russia investigation.” (Mueller clearly lays it out in his report – which maybe even Barr did NOT read)

Keep in mind, while individual 1, Giuliani, Barr and others are trying to “prove” it wasn’t the Russians who got individual 1 elected in 2016 the Russians are still at it as I’m writing this. Add to that, those who are part of individual 1’s campaign are using the same “active measures” strategy of the Russians as they unfold their 2020 campaign. They are using Facebook as kind of a “home base” for their LIES. And, of course, if you’ve been paying attention, Facebook recently publicized their decision to allow dishonest political advertising on their platform with NO boundaries. When you think of the amount of people on Facebook (which, by the way, doesn’t include ME) you can see the potential POWER of LIARS like individual 1 on a platform like Facebook. Plus individual 1’s campaign STILL has all the STOLEN data they received via “Cambridge Analytica” during the previous “fake news” campaign.

For over three years now it’s been hard to NOT see individual 1 using Twitter as another platform for his LYING. And, clearly, just like Facebook, Twitter has no compunction in regards to self regulation regarding all the LYING. (Again, I don’t use Twitter, but in today’s world you can escape all of individual 1’s LIES Twitter routinely allows to be published. Twitter and Facebook, by all accounts, is how individual 1 keeps his “minions” in line. But, occasionally, there’s a sign of hope “out there.”

Just the other day, at the fifth game of the World Series where the Washington (DC) Nationals were playing baseball against the team from Houston, individual 1 decided to give the “fans” a treat by attending the game – actually going to an event which wasn’t pre-programmed with a bunch of “MAGA” hat wearing “deplorables” who are always warned to “drown out” anyone who might be a protestor until “security” can remove them from the site. At the game, individual 1, his wife, and the rest of his entourage were pictured on the “big screen” at the stadium (and these screens are huge) while the public address announcer pointed out the (so-called – that’s just me) “president is at the game.”

With big smiles on their faces all the people in individual 1’s “box” including our so-called president himself stood waving to what they imagined would be an adoring audience. (Not sure who suggested to him this was a good idea) Earlier in the day individual 1 had announced the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Northern Syria earlier that day. I’m sure individual 1 was expecting cheering from his adoring public after spending the morning BRAGGING about something which was reported happened in spite of him instead of because of him. (The decision to abandon the Kurds in Northern Syria – the same Kurds who provided the intelligence required to locate al-Baghdadi – caused our special forces to re-calibrate the timeline of the attack due to the changing nature of the Kurds being forced from their territory by the Turks and Russians – who, by the way, individual 1 curiously thanked in regard to the raid)

So, the look on individual 1’s face and that of his wife quickly changed from ear to ear smiles when the crowd in unison began BOOING. This wasn’t like a few BOOS, but a chorus of BOOS that permeated the entire stadium. But, it got worse for our so-called president. The BOOS soon changed to a chorus of chanting: “lock him up” reminiscent of the chanting individual 1 has encouraged at his rallies (it started at the 2016 Republican Convention) in regard to Hillary Clinton in regard for her “missing” emails. Apparently, the very emails which are LIKELY to get him IMPEACHED.

Yes, this whole saga regarding the so-called “quid pro quo” in the Ukraine scandal – where individual 1 is EXTORTING the Ukrainians to investigate the “origins of the 2016 investigation into Russian interference in our election” where individual 1 has bought into the crazy conspiracy theory there’s a server in Ukraine with all the missing emails and it was the Ukrainians who were “meddling” in the 2016 election to help Mrs. Clinton and NOT the Russians helping individual 1 – despite ALL the evidence to the contrary! (What’s worse – while individual 1 is focused on Ukraine – the Russians are “at it again” – with, apparently, no orders to stop them coming from “the top”)

All the BOOING at the World Series game along with the chanting: “Lock him up” confirms to me I’m not the only one who doesn’t believe individual 1 is a “stable genius.” This republican party has been headed for the right wing “cliff” for years and, I believe, it’s about to go over the edge. They fear this (so-called) president from one side of Capital hill to the other. After he’s been IMPEACHED it’s very unlikely the Senate will remove him from office, but they will ALL be forced to vote on whether or not they believe it’s OK to EXTORT political favors from other nations in return for things like foreign aid (or who knows what – individual 1’s “acting” chief of staff admitted on camera “we do this all the time.” What are the other examples of EXTORTION coming from this (so-called) president in mafioso clothing? (Again) Yikes!!!!

Final Thought: Speaking of the crowd chanting “Lock him up” – I believe a clear majority of Americans want individual 1 to “face the music” – regarding all the criminal activity – once he’s out of office. (Of course, his avid supporters think the criminal activity is OK because of various reasons – things they are willing to trade their morality for) Here’s the question I have. I’ve heard (and read of) individual 1 claiming he has the right to pardon himself. I’ve also heard discussions by legal experts about whether or not he’s correct in that assertions. Most say it’s not clear because NO ONE has ever broached the subject before – meaning we’ve NEVER had anyone in the Oval Office as CORRUPT as individual 1. So, I have to wonder, will he be able to avoid prosecution for his crimes – both before his “election” (with 3 MILLION less votes than Mrs. Clinton) and after by PARDONING himself on the way out? Seems like there’s something new EVERY day!

One more question: If somehow the Senate voted to remove him from office would that mean he no longer had the power to pardon? At that instant would he no longer be our (so-called) president and be unable to PARDON anyone? Stay tuned!

The republicans just keep getting more absurd as they are attempting to defend the ILLEGAL behavior of their so-called president. They continue to use the same “playbook.” During the Mueller investigation it was “There was no collusion,” followed by “collusion is not illegal” then followed by “Who gives a s@#t?” Of course, the ILLEGAL behavior of individual 1 didn’t stop with his “vindication” (by William Barr) following the Mueller report when almost immediately he was “at it again” when he called the newly elected president of Ukraine and attempted to extort “dirt” on Joe Biden in exchange for the duly authorized military assistance which had been authorized on a bi-partisan vote in Congress.

The democrats, mainly Nancy Pelosi and a bunch of “rookies” who had won in districts carried by individual 1 in 2016, had finally had enough. They began the formal (informal?) IMPEACHMENT process which has now evolved to kind of the same “shenanigans” republicans were relying on during the Mueller investigation. Have we gotten to the point where they are claiming EXTORTION is OK? Do you think they are thinking ahead to when there’s a democrat in the “White House” and, it now seems improbable, that they might have the majority in Congress again? (I’m not sure they are able to “think ahead”) I’m starting to think the republicans could be facing the same kind of era of being the minority they experienced in the 60’s and 70’s. I’ve been lamenting where this republican party has evolved for years. It’s time for “we the people” to put this to “bed.”

Yesterday Bill Taylor, an unimpeachable (no pun intended) diplomat who has a history which is almost the opposite of individual 1, gave testimony which is devastating to our so-called president. Adam Schiff is running the hearings of the intelligence community in a way to prevent each witness from hearing the others ahead of time – the depositions are happening in private. (By the way, similar to how republicans carried out the “Benghazi hearings”) The republicans don’t like getting the same treatment they gave the democrats when they were in control. Taylor is an honored Viet Nam veteran AND he’s been a respected foreign service “lifer” AND no one questions his integrity. Can you say that about individual 1? Today, the republicans actually “stormed” the secure room (SKIF) where the depositions are taking place stopping today’s activity – apparently objecting to the “process” for about 5 embarrassing hours. My first thought was: “Be careful what you wish for.”

I believe, at some point, these witnesses who are now giving depositions will be testifying in public. Just a reminder, a deposition simply lets the investigators know what to expect when someone is testifying in public. I think these republicans who are objecting to this process will be rolling their eyes when Bill Taylor testifies in public. Taylor, by all accounts, is the last in a line of former (or present) public servants who have confirmed individual 1 was EXTORTING the Ukrainians for an investigation which WOULD be ILLEGAL, this investigation would be coming from the Ukrainians, in exchange for military aid which was desperately needed to fight off, who else, the Russians. And, keep in mind, Taylor was pulled out of retirement by Mike Pompeo (and individual 1) to replace Marie Yovanovich who had been “railroaded” out of Ukraine (as our ambassador) because she was not cooperating with this EXTORTION scheme. Did they really think Taylor would succumb to their corruption? Yikes!!!

Matt Gaetz continues to cause me to wonder what is going on in the minds of the people who vote people like him into office. I have to wonder if his “moral compass” is as blank as individual 1’s? Gaetz is the one who was leading the group of republicans who “stormed” the SKIF where today’s deposition is taking place – brandishing their cell phones in an apparent attempt to make sure their disregard of any “norm” was part of their “message” and challenging the democrats to enforce ethics protocols. In fact, I’m now hearing these right wing thugs suggesting “quid pro quo’s” are not illegal. Just as a little further back they were saying “collusion” is not illegal. Here’s the part they will not have an answer for: it IS illegal to solicit “anything of value” from a foreign person or country in regard to an American election!

I’ve heard Gaetz in Congressional hearings and not once, in his attempts to defend individual 1, has he EVER (at least while I’ve been listening/watching) defended our so-called president’s behavior. When I was watching the hearings involving Michael Cohen, Gaetz (along with the other republicans in the Judiciary [Oversight? Intel?] Committee) did NOT use one word to defend individual 1, virtually EVERY word that came from their mouths were aimed at attacking Cohen. Just as with the “stunt” today, there’s NOTHING suggesting a defense of the (so-called) president’s actions – only an attempt to “muddy the waters” – which seems to be the “new normal.” Sadly, there’s NEVER any republicans objecting to ANYTHING being done by individual 1. Is anyone watching?

Not only is our so-called president putting our constitution at jeopardy, but what is happening to the Ukrainians AND the Kurds is devastating to them and, not so coincidentally, beneficial to the Russians! Today there were videos on TV of the Russians, already, moving into Northern Syrian and occupying the land the Kurds were envisioning as their homeland – resulting from their battle against ISIS, arm in arm with American special forces – with the Russians warning the Kurds to get the h-e- double toothpick out of Syria if they want to continue breathing. And Ukraine? Well, the Ukrainians are understandably worried about whether or not the Americans are going to abandon them in the face of the Russian incursion.

If the Russians end up taking over Ukraine this will be an even greater disaster. Putin is active around the world and, it appears, individual 1 is working as a Russian asset. It’s hard to imagine an American president abandoning American allies as he’s done with the Kurds and possibly the Ukrainians and the republican party virtually in lockstep saying, well…… NOTHING! The republicans were beside themselves when Putin took Crimea and, as I remember it, they criticized President Obama’ sanctions (which have proven to be effective) as not enough. In fact, I believe Bill Taylor was one of those suggesting the Obama administration had not done enough in Ukraine. Now, individual 1 is attempting to get the sanctions removed – much to the delight of his idol Putin. Will republicans continue to look away.

Here’s the reality of the situation, that gets more serious by the day. Individual 1 seems to be working for the benefit of Vladimir Putin and Putin is gleefully filling ALL the voids our so-called president is creating. (Well, I should add, the Chinese are very quietly also filling some of the voids, and there’s more) The Russians and Chinese have become much closer since individual 1’s “election” (with 3 MILLION less votes than his opponent) and, based on what I read in “Putin’s World” by Angela Stent, Putin is making “deals” with the Saudi’s, the Iranians, the Turks, of course the Syrians, the Egyptians, and even the Israelis. When all is said and done regarding Putin’s “intrusion” into America’s 2016 election, I believe the final “verdict” will be: individual 1 has “Made Russia Great Again!” (And, the “green light” individual 1 is giving Putin around the world may be irreversible once this national nightmare has ended – plus, we may never know what Putin “has” on our so-called president???)

Final Thought: In the never ending quest of individual 1 to PROVE the Russians had nothing to do with his “victory” in the 2016 election (with 3 MILLION fewer votes than Hillary Clinton not to mention the James Comey blunder) it was reported today that William Barr has opened the possibility of a CRIMINAL investigation of the “investigators” – as he’s been flying around the world making an ASS of himself in front of our allied intelligence officers. Not only has Barr, from all reports, been up to his ears in the Ukraine scandal, but he’s pursuing, seemingly, every Alex Jones conspiracy theory you can find on the right wing blogosphere.

Today, I reminded myself of the time when Keith Olberman had a show on MSNBC and, on a nightly basis, he had a segment called “The Worst Person in the World.” It’s hard to imagine anyone taking that “honor” from individual 1 at ANY time, but tonight I came up with a new “winner” – at least for this one day. Today’s “Worst Person in the World” is William Barr. I’ve stated before that, for some reason, he seems to be “volunteering” for a place in the History books right next to individual 1 and Benedict Arnold!

Individual 1 claimed he was simply focused on “corruption” in Ukraine when he was (extorting) Ukraine President Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter in return for the desperately needed military assistance our so-called president had previously BLOCKED despite bipartisan Congressional support for the assistance to be provided “forth with.” Well, as all is coming together on this fiasco we see the “corruption” was apparently coming directly from individual 1 and his so-called “lawyer” Rudy Giuliani.

Here’s where the “rubber is hitting the road” – long time non-partisan public servants are refusing administration attempts to shut them up and they are walking into the IMPEACHMENT hearings and willingly giving their depositions to the committees “investigating” individual 1’s brazen abuse of power – which has been ongoing since the day he took the oath of office, but has been brought to a “head” with his (curiously) releasing a transcript of his call with Zelensky where he ADMITTED to breaking American law in at least one way and likely several ways. The bottom line is it’s a VIOLATION of campaign finance laws to solicit ANYTHING of value from ANY foreign source. And, trust me, what individual 1 was soliciting from Zelensky was worth enough to make it a FELONY (over $25,000) because of the expense Rudy Giuliani has incurred trying to get “dirt” on the Biden’s. (Which, by the way, has Giuliani, very possibly, in the crosshairs of legal impropriety – if there is any legal accountability in America anymore)

Then top this all off by having individual 1, apparently in an attempt to change the narrative from the IMPEACHMENT inquiry, turn the Turks loose on our allies the Kurds in Northern Syria while also getting about 1000 American troops caught in the “crossfire.” Pictures of the Kurds being slaughtered by the Turks have maybe even had an affect on some of individual 1’s supporters. Just picture them – what would they be saying had President Obama done this? Of course, how many of individual 1’s absurd actions could we ask the exact same question? (In fact, I’ve even heard republicans suggest this is the “same” issue which arose when President Obama “pulled our troops from Iraq.” As usual, the similarities they suggest are absurd. Obama simply followed the agreed upon departure of American troops set forth by GW Bush – which, I must add, I was not in agreement with)

As was predictable, most observers are saying the “winner” in individual 1’s ABRUPT decision to pull our troops from Syria (mainly the troops protecting the Kurds) will be Vladimir Putin. Observers continue to “wonder” what does Putin have on individual 1? Not only is Putin the beneficiary of this blunderous action in Syria but likewise in Ukraine. Clearly the new president of Ukraine, who was committed to fighting “corruption” when he got elected has been somewhat intimidated by Giuliani and individual 1 (and, likely Ambassador Sondland as well) as they’ve been attempting to get Zelensky and his surrogates to provide some kind of “dirt” on Biden – who, I don’t believe, will end up being the democratic nominee. Overcoming the gains Putin has made BECAUSE of individual 1 will quite possibly take years!

Additionally, the real threat to the Ukrainians is the one coming from the Russians – who are presently attacking a couple of regions in Ukraine while individual 1 is attempting to pressure them (the Ukrainians) into caving to Putin. After the former Soviet Union disbanded, Ukraine agreed to give up their nuclear weapons in return for a guarantee from America and her Western European (NATO) allies to protect Ukraine from intrusions from Russia. Well, Putin seized Crimea in 2014 and President Obama instigated severe sanctions which have prevented Russia (and Exxon Mobile) from tapping into Russia’s vast oil reserves in the Arctic and Siberia. Putin wants those sanctions removed and he wants control of Ukraine’s oil reserves as well – which apparently are located in the Donetsk region where they are presently fighting. Obviously, if the Americans withhold military aid, it benefits Putin and the Russians. Plus, at some point, I see individual 1 attempting to remove the sanctions on Russia.

I’ve said for almost two years now individual 1 appears to me to be acting just as if he’s a mob boss. This morning I’m listening to Mick Mulvaney attempting to obfuscate and LIE his way out of a BUNCH of trouble he and individual 1 are in. It’s making my stomach churn. Sadly, there are surely people out there who actually believe what Mulvaney’s saying and have difficulty “reading between the lines,” but it’s obvious Mulvaney is describing IMPEACHABLE and ILLEGAL behavior. Individual 1, Mulvaney, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Pompeo, Mike Pense, and others are up to their necks in this ILLEGAL behavior regarding Ukraine. And, as I’m listening while typing I’ve got to add, the president doesn’t get to do whatever he wants in regard to foreign policy. These people can’t be GONE soon enough for me! (Wow! Mulvaney just confirmed that individual 1 and Co. was bargaining the military support for the political “dirt” ie a “quid pro quo” – are these guys actually this stupid? The answer appears to be YES!)

Just as he seemed to think breaking the law in plain sight makes it OK – as he solicited both the Ukrainians AND the Chinese to investigate the Biden’s while standing on the White House lawn in front of a plethora of cameras, apparently he believes the same thing regarding the emoluments clause to the constitution. So, this morning, as I tuned in, Mulvaney was giving their justification for having the “G-7” Summit next year at individual 1’s Doral Resort. Mulvaney had the temerity to suggest individual 1 would NOT profit from this meeting on one of his properties. All I can say is they believe “we the people” are more stupid than I thought.

Is this just another example of individual 1 attempting to get “we the people’s” attention off of the impending IMPEACHMENT? Well, if it works as well as his “plan” to allow the Turks into Syria leading to the potential genocide of the Syrian Kurds well, God help us. No matter how that “diversion” works out, once again, individual 1 has enabled Vladimir Putin to continue with his “laughing all the way to the bank.” As I’m writing this, there have been thousands of Kurds killed and upwards of 250,000 Kurds who have lost their homes and, I’m sure, people around the world have an even lower view of the United States based on this betrayal of the Kurds by individual 1. Right now I’m listening to individual 1 supporters claim they can “put the toothpaste back into the tube.” As I often say, Sad!!!

Today, a letter individual 1 sent three days after unleashing the Turks onto the Syrian Kurds to the president of Turkey was publicly released. It was embarrassing to listen to it as I heard it read by Nicole Wallace on MSNBC. Obviously, Turkey’s president Erdogan was as impressed with the letter as I as he reportedly crumbled it and tossed it to the trash can. I can only imagine how these dictators around the world speak of individual 1 in private as he’s attempting to seek their favor. Sad (again)!!! (I’ll attempt to find a copy of the letter I can link to)

Mike Pense is, as I’m writing this, speaking in Turkey in regard to a “cease fire” in the war zone that was created by individual 1’s impulsive decision to remove the American troops from Northern Syria. As both Pense and Mike Pompeo try to make this all look like it’s some kind of brilliant move on individual 1’s part Erdogan is getting everything he wanted from the start. Pense just said, “let me be clear, the president has been clear about American opposition to Turkey’s entrance into Syria.” In my mind I’m going, “Are you kidding me?” What would individual 1 say to the Kurdish leaders if he had to face them in person? I suppose his “bone spurs” would prevent that from happening!

Personally, I hope this cease fire works, but “I’ll believe it when I see it.” (It’s two days later, and it’s NOT working) Sadly, as I watch Pense and Pompeo in their news conference in Turkey I believe I’m looking at American leaders who have engaged in lawbreaking while in office and who have near zero credibility around the world. As I’m writing this they are participating, back home, in individual 1’s ILLEGAL refusal to answer legally submitted subpoenas. If they didn’t do anything wrong in regard to Ukraine – which is, obviously, the source of the subpoenas – then why not defend themselves via transparency. It’s as if they “do things” and then clean up the mess afterward. I don’t see much difference between the Ukraine fiasco and the BLUNDER in Syria. Other than the FACT, from the standpoint of the Kurds, the “mess” can’t be “cleaned up.”

Individual 1 continues to show himself to be a reckless, boneheaded, and ignorant decision maker to “we the people” AND those around the world. Right now, with Pense in Turkey, they are trying to undo something which may be impossible to undo. Pense, as usual, is fawning over individual 1 giving “credit” to both our so-called president and Erdogan of Turkey – while there are funerals en masse going on with the Kurds. It appears to me this may be a desperate attempt to get the remaining American troops out – the troops who’ve been blowing up their own facilities as they leave with “their tails between their legs,” before the Turks complete their objective of “ethnically cleansing” the Kurds from their homeland. Yikes!!!

Final Thought: I’ve got to stop – this is more “rambling” than my usual posts. I long ago accepted that it will take an overwhelming response at the polls by “we the people” to get this nightmare over. What has caused me to be so, I guess, more ANGRY than usual, it the betrayal of the Kurds. I’m not sure “we the people” will be able to recover from the damage associated with that BETRAYAL in my lifetime. Anything more I would write at this point would be redundant!

Would it really surprise you if, after all is said and done, we find out Rudy Giuliani AND individual 1 had a scam underway to get their “mitts” on some of the incredible oil MONEY available in Ukraine via CORRUPTION? Well, if you’ve been around here you know about individual 1’s PROJECTION which would tell you when he says over and over his “concern” with Ukraine, as he’s trying to defend his EXTORTION of Ukraine’s president, is “corruption” you KNOW the CORRUPTION is coming from, well ………. individual 1!

Just yesterday, two Ukrainian “investors” were arrested for funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars – apparently from a mysterious Russian – into the “coffers” of a “Super pac” associated with individual 1 (I believe its name is “America 1” or “America First”). These are CLEARLY illegal campaign donations AND the two Ukrainians responsible are now sitting in a jail cell. Both of these “thugs” are associates of Rudy Giuliani and have been seen in photographs eating lunch with individual 1 at the “White House.” Is the “picture” getting clearer? (Somehow, each of these thugs came up with a cool $1 MILLION for their bail????)

The question I keep asking myself is what does Putin really have on individual 1. Yesterday I was also asking myself the same question in regards to Erdogan of Turkey – because I continue to be confused as why individual 1 would abandon the Kurds in Syria, seemingly on a whim, who are now fighting for their lives against Erdogan’s forces after individual 1 had a call with Turkey’s president. This appears to be the beginnings of a genocide – against a group who’ve been incredibly reliable allies of America’s forces in Syria. This is maybe the most SHAMEFUL move by individual 1 yet. It was a small group of American forces who were preventing this slaughter of the Kurds and you have to think individual 1 has NO moral compass to allow this to happen.

It’s no secret, what is happening, so you MUST understand individual 1 KNEW exactly what would result from the spur of the moment decision – despite his “tweet” where he claimed this move came “In all his wisdom.” Makes me wonder if he has any “wisdom” at all? (Two days later….) The Kurds have now made a deal with the Russians and al Assad to join them so they will join the fight and stop the Turks – who are doing horrible “stuff” as they push into Northern Syria. So, now that the publicity is REALLY bad, individual 1 is not happy!

I just listened to Mike Pense – with a very serious look on his face as only he can give – reporting that individual 1 just had a “very firm” call with Erdogan and he told Erdogan “he’s not going to tolerate Turkey’s invasion of Syria……….any more.” There was a noticeable pause between the word “Syria” and the phrase “any more.” It’s as if individual 1 actually believes he has ANY power in this fight “anymore” – after publicly saying he’s pulling out all American troops and “let the others fight it out” – or something along that line.

There’s still 1000 American troops stuck in Syria who are trying to get out without leaving their equipment behind. I’ve heard reports the Turks are firing on the Americans, but I haven’t heard any corroboration from other sources – so I’m not sure. But the bottom line is individual 1 committed another DUMB act and now he’s trying to “put the toothpaste back in the tube.” What are the odds Mike Pense has ANY credibility with anyone involved – like Erdogan, al Assad, or Putin – not to mention the Iranians.

Personally, I started this “blog” in response to the absurd invasion of Iraq back in 2003 – which to me was “deja vu all over again” after going through the Viet Nam era – so I’m no fan of all our troops in the Middle East. I can even see myself agreeing with individual 1 on pulling troops out of Syria had he done so in a way that didn’t cause the Kurds to face a possible genocide – causing them to “change sides.” (Plus potentially exposing Israel to the wrath of the Iranians from “close up”) The Kurds are fighting to survive and individual 1’s “serving them up” to the Turks has gained the attention of leaders (and people) around the world.

I would surmise that suggesting individual 1 is looking like a “traitor” is an image which goes well beyond the borders of the United States. I even heard this morning, as commentators were suggesting “sanctions” were being aimed at Turkey, individual 1 was still planning to meet with Erdogan in the “Oval Office.” Keep in mind, he’s got two large interests in Turkey (plus other interests from what I’ve heard) in the form of “twin towers.” Do you really think he’ll do anything which would cause the Turks to kick him out of Turkey as far as his business interests? If he’s proved anything as our so-called president it’s that he’s going to gain as much MONEY as he possibly can while “we the people” allow his scam to continue.

Another very significant problem is the about 50 American nuclear warheads on an American base in Turkey which could easily be cut off from America if Erdogan decides he doesn’t like individual 1’s sanctions. Individual 1 like’s to come across as some kind of tough guy, but it seems the reality is that leaders around the world are laughing at him – and filling as many “vacuums” as he manages to create before the republicans in Congress who are his “firewall” come to their senses. Each one of them (the republicans in Congress) is going to be “tagged” with being part of this disaster when the history books are written. I’m sure many of them are now considering how they want to be remembered.

And, speaking of the “vacuums” individual 1 is creating around the world via his incomprehensible “foreign policy” most are being filled by either Russian (Putin) or China. When you read the many books which are available to give “non partisan” information about what is happening around the globe you see Vladimir Putin has received a return on his investment in getting individual 1 elected which has been magnified exponentially. Putin has created alliances with China, Israel, and Saudi Arabia – off the top of my head as I try to remember what I’ve been reading – and, much of what he’s gained has been due to malfeasance by individual 1. And, this is not to mention the damage which has been done to America’s relations with traditional allies like the members of NATO.

I’ve been constantly referring to the DAMAGE caused by individual 1 over the past 2 1/2 years, mostly about what he’s doing to the traditional American institutions like the State Department, the Defense Department, along with the other institutions individual 1’s sycophants have been bludgeoning. We’re seeing the results of the tearing down of the State Department in this fiasco going on in Ukraine which is likely to be the initial “blow” in the impeachment of this thug of a (so-called) president. There’s been no one to provide “diplomatic” advice to a president who likely didn’t want any advice – in “all his wisdom.”

At this point I believe individual 1’s IMPEACHMENT is going to happen – the question ALWAYS has been his (what I’ve called the) firewall in the Senate. It appears this decision to allow the Turks to institute a policy of GENOCIDE on the Syrian Kurds – who’ve been staunch American allies in the battle against ISIS – may be a “bridge too far” for even a few republicans. Many of the “safe red” states are the home of some of America’s military bases – where, I believe, the military personnel are not happy with turning and running from out allies in Syria. More and more Americans are being challenged to personally defend their own defense of this despicable president. If they turn on him, well………………………………….

Final Thought: Individual 1 claimed his actions in Ukraine were based on his desire to combat the corruption in Ukraine – which the new president was committed to fighting as well. However, clearly, individual 1’s actions – via his new “fixer” Rudy Giuliani (who’s quickly becoming an American embarrassment) – was actually causing MORE corruption in Ukraine. Of course Ukrainian president Zelensky found himself “‘between a rock and a hard place” as he’s trying to get individual 1 to release the military assistance already appropriated by Congress which had “mysteriously” been put on hold (do you really think Zelensky didn’t understand why?) while the president is pressuring him to FIND “dirt” on his (imagined) 2020 opponent.

Here’s the deal as I see it: If individual 1 was really concerned with “CORRUPTION” in Ukraine – he needed look no further than the nearest MIRROR!

I brought up, briefly, in my previous post about individual 1’s decision to pull American troops out of Syria thereby opening up the Kurds, who’ve been doing the bulk of the fighting against ISIS – and, who have over 10,000 ISIS fighters in “custody” – to what could be a devastating attack coming from the Turks. From all reports individual 1 had another of his now infamous phone calls with Turkey’s president Erdogan where he agreed to what could end up being the most disastrous of his decisions yet. This appears to be another action which will work to the benefit of Vladimir Putin and the Russians who are filling the “vacuum” individual 1 is creating in the Middle East. If the Kurds get slaughtered the DAMAGE to America in regard to our reliability with nations around the world will be “in the tank.”

I actually started this “blog” (if that’s what it is) years ago after Bush/Cheney created the foreign policy DISASTER of invading Iraq – which, to me, was “deja vu all over again” in regard my memories of Viet Nam. And, it turned out to be even worse than Viet Nam, in my view, not only for the hundreds of thousands KILLED because of their blunderous action but also the MILLIONS who’ve been uprooted since that fiasco began. Getting out has not been easy because of the repercussions stemming from the initial blunder. President Obama seemed to authorize a lot of drone attacks along with the use of special forces to turn the tide against what evolved into a battle with ISIS – which was “on the run” when Obama left office. At the time it appeared to me getting “out” was not a realistic option and the strategy was to minimize the danger to American forces while continuing the fight against ISIS AND Syria’s dictator al-Assad.

I say this because I wish we had no troops in Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other places in that region – if it was practical. Well, the small number of American troops who have been protecting the Kurds, who, by all accounts, are the heroes in the battle against ISIS, are leaving the Kurds at risk as they pull out of the country. It was reported tonight that Turkey’s forces are on the move and will be in a position to attack the Kurds within 24 hours which caught my eye. I certainly hope those reports are wrong and that individual 1 is correct in suggesting the Turks are NOT going to attack the Kurds. Of course, that feels like my idealistic side kicking in again. Should the Kurds release the 10,000+ ISIS fighters it will be another bad day for our so-called president – at least that’s how it appears to me.

From my perspective it seems as if individual 1 should be more concerned about republican support than democratic – ie I believe he’s going to be impeached at this point in time by the House (Unless they get the classic democratic “cold feet”). It’s the republicans in the Senate who are the “firewall” against removal from office and I don’t believe even Moscow Mitch will be OK with the Kurds getting slaughtered and the ISIS fighters back on the loose. Maybe republicans will find a way to “spin” even that outcome, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Lindsey Graham? Is he going to continue supporting a so-called president who commits what many will consider an obscene act of negligence? OK, I know what you’re thinking. Graham is capable of incredible acts of hypocrisy – so, “we’ll see.”

My first thought when I heard about his decision regarding out troops in Syria was “he’s trying to take the focus off the IMPEACHMENT inquiry.” I’m just not sure he picked the right distraction. I was convinced the warmongers in the Congress, on the republican side, would likely support some kind of attack on Iran (which still could happen – if he decides it’s the best way to save his administration). People like Mike Pompeo have been lobbying for an attack on Iran for years. I can picture Lindsey Graham at the microphone defending this type of action – but, if the Syria situation blows up, “all bets are off.” (Of course, the ISIS fighters are Sunni and the Iranians are Shia – not sure if that matters)

One more thing which happened today making much of what individual 1 – and his sycophants – have been up to lately look even worse was the Senate Intelligence Committee releasing their report which, essentially, confirmed Mueller’s report stating the Russians intervened in the 2016 election for the benefit of individual 1 and to the detriment of Mrs. Clinton. This report further puts the LIE to individual 1’s claim it was the Ukrainians who did the “interfering” in the 2016 election by furthering the conspiracy theory about a company called “Crowd Strike” supposedly having “the missing server.” (Whatever that means)

The FACT our so-called president falls for these absurd conspiracy theories put forth by some really questionable characters is a story in itself. Even more incredible to me is the FACT our (or should I say individual 1’s) Attorney General, William Barr, is shuttling around the world in an attempt to undermine the very agency he’s in charge of – the FBI and the Justice Department. Honestly, I’m not sure who’s more disgusting; individual 1, Barr, Pompeo, or Giuliani. And, of course, there’s a group of republicans in Congress who are reliable (absurd) sycophants. This, of course, would include the above mentioned Graham – who, if he watches any TV except Fox (I’m now going to call it) noise would be watching himself, 20 years ago saying the exact OPPOSITE of what he’s spewing these days. (Must be the cost of free golf)

In fact, it was reported today that none other than the guy who, over and over again, soiled himself during the MANY Benghazi hearings during Obama’s administration aimed at Hillary Clinton – where she made them (republicans) look like FOOLS during 11 HOURS of testimony – Trey Gowdy, is now heading individual1’s defense against impeachment. Gowdy will be, apparently, shamelessly defending the indefensible in our so-called president as he (individual 1) is extorting political “help” from the leader of Ukraine while, at the same time, undermining our ally the Kurds in Syria – which very well may lead to their (the Kurds) slaughter and the re-emergence of ISIS. I really don’t understand how anyone can defend this.

And, as a Christian myself, the idea individual 1’s base is largely made up by “evangelical Christians” makes me sick to my stomach. What kind of “witness” are all these so-called Christian leaders making as they defend someone who LIES “like a sieve,” who is an admitted sexual predator, and who acts as if he’s a dictator instead of our so-called president. I’ve just read a bit about the “prosperity gospel” which is conveniently believed by those who are part of the top 1% and supported by many of the “Christian” leaders we see regularly on TV. Personally, that’s a convenient twisting of Christ’s words by those who’ve created the issue of income inequality which even individual 1’s supporters oppose. In fact, many of them are the victims of the policies of those they’ve been tricked into voting for.

I believe there is little to NO chance individual 1 will be convicted in the Senate. However, the democrats IMPEACHING individual 1 will be a start in changing the public impression that democrats are spineless. “We the people” voted democrats into control of the House for this very reason – to hold individual 1 accountable. Anyone who doesn’t understand the 2018 election was a referendum on individual 1 wasn’t paying attention. The republicans have operated via FEAR mongering for as long as I can remember. The democrats should have NO fear in proceeding with IMPEACHMENT. It’s warranted and this issue with Syria……….

If the Kurds get slaughtered and they release the thousands of ISIS fighters the republicans will really be put to the test. For sure, there are many examples of comments they made during Obama’s time in office which will be replayed if they support this blunder on individual1’s account. Trying to figure out why he would have done this will range from appeasing Vladimir Putin to protecting his personal business “footprint” in Turkey. Individual 1 could easily be (maybe he was) blackmailed by Turkey’s president Erdogon in order to “get out of the way” of what Turkey has wanted for many months.

Here’s the bottom line: As long as individual 1 occupies the “White House” the DAMAGE to America will mount. This blunder in Syria may cause damage which is irreversible! “We the people” have until November of 2020 to demonstrate to the world we reject this thug. However, that may be of little resolve for the Kurds – who are now, as I’m writing this fighting for their lives! Every day I find myself asking: When will “enough” be enough for republicans? And, concurrently, when will voters in places like Iowa, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, etc. vote out their republican Senators who have been enabling this disastrous behavior? I’m actually worried that individual 1 is making it almost impossible for America to be “great again.”

OK, I’m really trying not to lose my patience with people who actually believe they are “informed” as they spew the Fox “news” propaganda. Sometimes, I’m sure, I’m coming across as a bit arrogant as I point out to people what they are saying is – well, I’d like to use the word our so-called president put in all caps yesterday in one of his (many) tweets, but I’ll just say “BS.” Yesterday I ran into a very nice fellow who made light of Bernie Sanders having a heart procedure to a friend of mine who’s a Bernie supporter saying something like maybe he (Bernie) should get his medical care in Sweden.

To me, that was the typical right wing mantra which has evolved over the past 50+ years of being mean spirited. Personally, I’m not one who wants Bernie to win the nomination (I actually did want him to win it in 2016), but when someone has an issue with their heart, to me, it’s not a joking matter. I have to say, if individual 1 was hospitalized with a heart issue I can see myself praying for his recovery but certainly I wouldn’t be joking about something that serious.

Yes, I understand that a bunch of old white guys at a golf driving range is no big deal and joking around is commonplace. It’s just that, to me, the comment by the guy who joked about Bernie was simply a manifestation of his succumbing to the Fox “narrative.” I tried to broach a conversation with him about him saying “I’m a conservative.” So, I said, “What is a conservative?” He said, someone who believes in “limited government and free markets.” I said, “What markets are free?” He couldn’t answer. I said, “There are no free markets – markets reflect whoever can influence them to favor themselves.” He basically agreed.

I said, “I’ve always considered myself a ‘conservative’ because I believe in balanced budgets and traditional values.” His response was, “like the president who recently doubled the national debt?” I said, “are you suggesting that was President Obama?” He didn’t respond so I said, “the cause you’re referring to was the Bush/Cheney regime and the crash of 2008.” He responded by saying, “That was no crash, a crash was what happened in1929 when my grandfather had to walk 2 miles in the snow to earn 6 cents an hour.” I decided it wasn’t worth proceeding in the conversation so I just added that the economy was shedding 800,000 jobs per month when Obama took office and the annual deficit was $1.5 TRILLION. The only reason the “mess” he inherited didn’t evolve into another “Great Depression” is because people LEARNED something from the first one.

It didn’t make sense to me to proceed with the conversation except to point out to him there really isn’t two sets of “facts.” FACTS are facts and “alternative facts” are make believe. If my facts are wrong point that out. But, no one gets their own facts. We have a so-called president who makes up “facts” at a rate which is hard to keep up with. Unfortunately, there are few members of the media “fact checking” him in real time. He’s a pathological LIAR and he convinces himself whatever he’s saying is true as it rolls off his tongue because he’s been doing this his entire life. It’s disgusting, but people like this guy I met yesterday fall for it.

Individual 1 is now “doubling down” on his illegal, corrupt behavior as he tries to normalize his IMPEACHABLE behavior. This morning, in an impromptu “news conference” he called on China to investigate the Biden’s. I guess he figures if he keeps doing this in public people will believe it’s “normal.” However, the TRUTH is when he asks the Chinese to “investigate the Biden’s” he’s again BLATANTLY violating American law. Despite the FACT he took an oath to “faithfully defend the constitution and the laws of the land” he continues to show a disdain for any thought those laws should apply to him.

Individual 1’s “projection” is almost unbelievable to me – the fact he gets away with it is the part that just “boggles” my mind. Almost EVERY absurd accusation he hurls at this or that democrat is something he’s actually guilty of – that’s his way of shielding his own misbehavior. This “suggestion” to the Chinese they investigate the Biden’s is ABSURD – but it’s a key part of his strategy to fight the IMPEACHMENT inquiry which has him “backed into a corner.” Incredibly, he’s suggesting he’s on a “crusade” to eliminate “corruption” in Ukraine. Do I need to point out the obvious? To me, this absurd accusation should simply add another “ARTICLE” to the democrats “investigation.” (To me, individual 1 is, by far, the MOST corrupt president during my lifetime)

All of this just confirms what individual 1 has said more than once and that is he welcomes “help” from foreign entities in his quest to win elections. He did this during the Mueller investigation when he suggested, in regard to individual 1 Jr.’s visit with Russians to get “incriminating information” on Hillary Clinton directly from the “Russian government,” that “anyone would do this.” He even went so far as to suggest taking aid from foreigners in elections was common, “everyone does this.” Obviously, it’s just more of his delusion. Oh yes, if you’re confused, everyone DOESN’T do “this!”

This morning, in the same press briefing where individual 1 was suggesting he wanted the Chinese to investigate the Biden’s he basically ADMITTED to prodding the president of Ukraine to do the same thing. With our so-called president who can’t keep his mouth shut there’s no secret to the FACTS involved in the “impeachment inquiry.” He admitted he wanted Ukraine’s president to open (ANOTHER) investigation of the Biden’s and all their “corruption” – all why he was suspending desperately needed military assistance to Ukraine. That’s EXTORTION. Even his request to China this morning included threats that “I’ve got a lot of power in regard to our trade negotiations with China if they don’t do what we want.” That could also be considered EXTORTION! Like I’ve said over and over here, he’s like a MOB BOSS!

Well, the part of all this about whether he’s correct or NOT in regard to the Biden’s (which every thing I can find says he’s NOT) is TOTALLY irrelevant. The reality is that his EXTORTION of the president of Ukraine was ILLEGAL Full stop! That being said, I have tried to find out if there’s anything to his accusations aimed at the Biden’s. As you might have already guessed, the answer to that is a big fat NO! There are neutral observers who have suggested Hunter Biden’s involvement in Ukraine and, to a small degree in China, was poorly thought out because of the “appearance of a conflict” for his father. But NO one has been able to find anything which would indicate “corruption” or “lawbreaking.”

Regarding Ukraine, in essence from what I’ve been able to find, Joe Biden was doing the opposite of what individual 1 is accusing him of doing. In reality he WAS pressuring the Ukraine government to fire a prosecutor who was considered corrupt by virtually all interested parties internationally. Biden, actually, was pressuring the Ukrainians to investigate corporate interests which would have INCLUDED the gas/energy company of which Hunter Biden was on the board. If anything, Joe Biden was suggesting the company his son worked for SHOULD be investigated for corruption! Go figure!

The “conspiracy theory” individual 1 has fallen for (That Ukraine was the source of “interference” in the 2016 election and it was to favor Mrs. Clinton) comes from the same guy who’s been busy making up stories on democrats for years,. Peter Schweitzer. He wrote the book “Clinton Cash” which played a role in smearing Mrs. Clinton during the 2016 election – so, individual 1 is simply using this guy’s made up “scandal” in advance of the 2020 election thinking his likely opponent will be Joe Biden. They (which includes William Barr) are attempting to prove the “Russia Investigation” was a made up story by our intelligence community and the real “culprit” was the Ukrainians who were working to benefit Hillary Clinton! This is almost too incredible for me to believe because it’s so absurd, but our so-called president falls for this crap and therefore people like Schweitzer and Fox “news” will continue to have too large an audience! Sad!!!

Like many Americans I keep asking myself “How did this happen?” Well, there are a lot of people who are attempting to answer that question and, for me, the search for answers continues. What I understand is that “we the people” MUST fight for our local communities, our states, our country, and our planet – which includes an interest in the success of our allies around the world – and, actually, those who aren’t considered our allies. Somehow turning the focus of world leaders away from the MILITARY to common needs of the working class of people, it seems to me, is the key to the fight to save our planet from ourselves.

Recently I received a small book in the mail which was anonymously sent to me via Amazon. I finally figured out who sent it to me and I’ve now commenced reading it. It’s obvious to me, now, why it was sent my way and I’m ready to recommend it to others at this point. The title of the book is “The Three Dimensions of Freedom” by Billy Bragg. He makes a very cogent argument about what “freedom” really is and what is required, in reality, for “freedom” to exist. He also gives a totally believable explanation as to how the emergence of all the right wing populists in Western democracies has evolved – which would include individual 1.

I’m not going to go into great detail of what is in Bragg’s book, but, I believe, the key to what he’s “arguing” is what will come in the section I have yet to read – and, that is the requirement of “accountability” for “freedom” to exist. In a much more intelligent manner than I ever could, he is explaining (in the part I’ve read) the history of how wealthy individuals/corporate interests have manipulated the “freedom” of people in the West via providing themselves with favorable manipulation of what Bragg termed “liberty” and “equality.” The reality, and why as I said above to the guy I was talking to at the driving range, is there is no “free market” and the “freedom” of “we the people” is defined by the “regulation” which is imposed by those with the money and power to influence our “leaders” – in Washington, London, and other places in the West where democracies are under assault by neo-Nazi extremists – like individual 1.

So, what can “we the people” do – in America – to reverse this trend which is, in effect, destroying the country as envisioned by our founding fathers. In short, we can VOTE! The sad reality is that those of us who don’t like what is happening MUST vote in overwhelming numbers because, as they’ve done since the days of Nixon, “conservatives” believe “the end justifies the means” and VOTER SUPPRESSION is a main tactic they’ve used for years. Not only MUST we vote out individual 1, in a manner which sends a message to our traditional allies we intend to “heal” the wounds created by our so-called president, but we also MUST vote out enough republicans from the Senate to take the gavel out of Mitch McConnell’s hands. (Message to the people of Kentucky: You all have the opportunity to guarantee this!)

One more thing: If “we the people” do what we should do, it’s vastly important we make it clear to those in the “rust belt” and the south they are extremely important to the success of this nation – this partisan divide must end. For some reason many of them have supported individual 1 despite the reality MUCH of what is known about his ACTIONS, you would think, would be repugnant to them – especially those who call themselves “Christians.” At the very least, once individual 1 (and his willing sycophants) are removed from office, hopefully “we the people” can start talking to one another again – respectfully.

I have a good friend who is a supporter of individual 1 (I’m constantly wondering why?) and we meet regularly for breakfast. He believes I’m a liberal nut job and I call him a right wing wack job – but, we NEVER walk away from our conversations mad and we acknowledge to each other how much we care about one another. Often we surmise it would be great of people around the country who see things differently could have dialogue without rancor. One requirement, in my view, is we SHOULD expect our leaders to make decisions based on FACTS and that they would be HONEST with “we the people” – no matter their party affiliation. Call me an idealist – but, I believe this is possible – when it is accepted that our leaders MUST put country before party and, more importantly, when we have leaders (and a general population) who believe WORKERS are more important than shareholders.

When you study American history from the Great Depression to today – people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Elizabeth Warren don’t seem so “radical.” When you hear everyday Americans acting as if they fear these two women while they call them “socialists” it demonstrates our educators have done a poor job of teaching American History. “Conservatives” have spent the past 75+ years working to undermine the “New Deal” – which provided the benefits so many Americans take for granted – and, they’ve actually succeeded in convincing many Americans in the “heartland” to vote against their own self interests as they help the “top 1%” get rid of regulations which were designed to prop up the middle class.

Final Thought: If “we the people” are going to actually “drain the swamp” – which seems to be one of the main objectives of individual 1’s supporters – the first step will be voting individual 1 and as many republican Senators as possible OUT of office in 2020’s election and THEN holding them ACCOUNTABLE for their lawbreaking once they’re out of office. I’m not only talking about our so-called president, but William Barr, Mike Pompeo, Rudy Giuliani, and any others who have broken our laws. Until “we the people” make a STAND saying that “on one is above the law” this rampant lawbreaking by our leaders will continue. (Of course, there’s no suggestion President Obama was a “lawbreaker” – but, the past two republican administrations along with Reagan’s and Nixon’s, not so much – Clinton was a womanizer)

I will even go so far as to say the “OLC memo” which says a sitting president can’t be indicted should be changed. Our present (so-called) president is showing an alarming disregard for the law and he’s going so far as to defiantly break our laws in plain sight. This can’t be allowed in a nation which has based its existence on the understanding “we are a nation of laws and not men.” If we actually believe that to be true, then it makes no sense to suggest a president can’t be indicted. Obviously, individual 1 has interpreted that “memo” to give him a “green light” to “do whatever (I) want.” Yikes!!!

As usual of late, this post took me a few days to finish and, therefore, much of what I referred to is already “old news.” Since I started this post our so-called president has unilaterally pulled American troops from Syria – apparently leaving the Kurds to the whim of President Erdogan of Turkey – who views the Kurds as “terrorists.” While I would agree that American troops shouldn’t have invaded Iraq, they shouldn’t be starting a war with Iran, and much of the objections of many about our presence in the Middle East, I don’t have a good feeling about how individual 1 is going about this. I’ll write more later – I just hope those who claim the Kurds are going to be slaughtered by the Turks are wrong and I hope those who say the Kurds are holding over 10,000 ISIS fighters prisoner and may turn them loose at any time are wrong. We’ll see!