Today I was driving around and who, but Rudy Giuliani, comes on spewing what is almost unbelievable nonsense – except that we’ve come to expect that from Giuliani and the so-called president he portrays himself as supporting.  I’m going on my 71 year old memory, but I believe Giuliani said something like “first they were looking for collusion, then obstruction, and now this” in regard to those pointing out Trump is credibly accused of at least TWO felonies regarding “hush money” payments made prior to the 2016 election – according to the court filings in Michael Cohen’s pleading – “to affect the outcome of the presidential election.”

Giuliani, who was once the head of the Southern District of New York’s prosecuting attorney’s office which is where the charges are originating, seems to be continually debasing himself and whatever public credibility he still commands outside of the world of Fox “news.” (AKA Trump TV)  I’ll point out the absurdity of his remarks in a bit, but this is a great example of how ANYONE who gets affiliated with Trump comes out on the other side in shambles.  Trump very well may have been operating a “crime family” operation in his private “business” – but, that’s just not going to work in the federal government.  Trump is clearly attempting to undermine the fabric of our constitution, but it appears the document is strong enough to overcome (although, no yet a certainty).  The question remains to be determined if America and “we the people” are strong enough to overcome although I have the feeling that “we” will actually come out stronger, eventually, once Trump is out of office, in prison, or whatever – just plain GONE!

Let’s start with the absurdity of Giuliani’s remarks from the bottom up.  For example, his contention that the campaign finance violations are minor and there’s some kind of conspiracy to “get” Trump is ridiculous.  If it’s no big deal then EVERYONE associated with the issue should STOP LYING about it!  In reality, hiding the two affairs in question may very well have allowed Trump to “win” the “election” because of the razor thin margins in the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.  Who knows, maybe some of the “Christians” who support Trump “come hell or high water” might have reconsidered if his affairs, which happened while his wife, Melania, was caring for their newborn son, had become public knowledge – especially after the Access Hollywood tapes were made public.  Of course, we’ll never know, but the reality is that BOTH of these payments were, according to Giuliani’s former office, serious campaign finance violations.  Our so-called president is what amounts to an unindicted co-conspirator in TWO felonies!

Then there’s Rudy’s lamenting “then there was obstruction” which is almost laughable on it’s face in regard to making any sense of what he’s complaining about.  Obstruction of Justice occurs when someone attempts to influence, block, or in some way impede an ongoing criminal investigation.  Trump brought this one on himself with all his “tweeting,” his public comments, his threats, everything he’s done in an attempt to undermine Robert Mueller’s “Russia Investigation.”  If he (Trump) was innocent all he had to do was let the investigation proceed – in fact, I would say cooperate fully with it – and, well, “no worries.”  Based on Trump’s actions it doesn’t appear he’s innocent and his actions, along with Rudy’s, are getting more bizarre by the day.  Rudy, and Trump, know most of their supporters are either stupid, they don’t care, or they get their “news” from Fox so they believe they can say anything they want and their “base” will simply suck it up.  This is apparently why Rush Limbaugh refers to these people as “ditto heads.”

Finally, there’s the “collusion” piece in all of this – which is actually CONSPIRACY to defraud the United States of America which conceivably could be determined to be TREASON.  We’re talking about Americans working with Vladimir Putin and the Russians to illegally influence the outcome of an American presidential election – which was an ATTACK on our nation – look up the definition of TREASON.  Now, if that doesn’t get your attention, then I would question your loyalty to our nation.  If this is proven true – and there are many indications already in the public record suggesting it is true – then it’s the worst CRIME I’ve witnessed in my lifetime (and, quite possibly, in our nation’s history) and, as I’ve said on this site before, it will put Trump in the history books right next to Benedict Arnold.  And, there are going to be a lot of republicans along with Fox “news” and other outlets participating in a cover-up, if that is what is ultimately proven, right next to Trump when all is said and done.

Just the now infamous meeting in Trump Tower in June of 2016 which Donald Trump Jr. replied to the email setting the meeting up – knowing it was intended to present incriminating information about Hillary Clinton from the Russian government – with “If it’s what you say it is, I love it!”, well, that was COLLUSION, conspiracy, whatever you want to call it.  It was ILLEGAL!  And, Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Paul Mannafort were all present.  Suggestions that Trump Sr. didn’t know about the meeting are preposterous in my mind – I mean right before the meeting he (Trump Sr.) boasted he would have “incriminating information” on Mrs. Clinton “probably Monday.”  (The meeting, if I remember correctly, happened on a Saturday and Trump Sr.’s boast happened on a Thursday or Friday.)  What is the significance of all this? you say, well, in a word, COLLUSION.

Then there was Cambridge Analytica which was “guided” at this point in time by Steve Bannon and they. at Cambridge Analytica, had pilfered “data” from Facebook on something like 50 (or more) MILLION Americans.  Putting that FACT together with the incredible “targeting” the Russians did with their (real) FAKE news which was aimed at vulnerable Americans with amazing efficiency during the run-up to the election causes me to wonder if, when Mueller makes his final report, Cambridge will be exposed as having some nefarious connection with Russian cyber warriors – remember this was an ATTACK on America orchestrated by Vladimir Putin.

The evidence continues to mount suggesting there’s a good reason why Trump does NOT act like he’s “innocent,” there’s a good (well, maybe I should say bad) reason why Trump STILL has not said a bad word about Putin, and, in reality, the “walls” are closing in on Trump.  When I was teaching (middle school – often Trump reminds me of a spoiled 6th grader who acts like a bully – we had a sign over the door to the office which read: “Tell the Truth, there’s less to remember.”  Well, Trump and Giuliani BOTH continue to contradict themselves in an embarrassing manner over and over again because they have no compulsion with the TRUTH.

As I’ve been saying for over a year I don’t for one minute believe the Russians are NOT still in our midst, I believe they were doing everything they could to prevent the “Blue Wave” in the Mid Term elections and they’re already busy with their plans to help Trump in 2020 (if he lasts in office that long).  Just the other day more reports have been made public suggesting that Trump may STILL be “colluding” (or whatever word you want to choose for TREASONOUS behavior) with the Russians – as their actual “Fake News” is mirroring Trump’s tweets and his laments when he’s caught incriminating himself (well, answering questions) on camera.  These latest reports, which were published, I believe, by the Senate Intelligence Committee, would suggest I’ve (and many others) been correct in assuming the Russians “are still among us.”  Obviously, Trump will need to be IMPEACHED for “we the people” to begin the LONG road to recovering from the DAMAGE he’s been inflicting on our Republic.

Of course, Trump isn’t going anywhere until the republican party grows a spine and decides America is worth risking their jobs over – that is, if they actually believe the 35% of Americans STUPID enough to suck up every word of Trump TV, Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of the right wing “water carriers” who LIE for money in the face of the mounting EVIDENCE that our so-called president is a criminal.  In fact, it appears from the way the Justice Department is handling this investigation Trump really is a mafia “boss.”  And, of course, that means he’s not going “quietly” as witness to him attempting to plug “loyalists” into as many phases of our government – especially, the Justice Department – as he can who he believes will “protect” him.  And, of course, he’s been busy attempting to undermine Robert Mueller from the day he was appointed.  In response to what Trey Gowdy said about “if your innocent, act like it” – Trump does not appear to be “innocent.”

The bottom line here is that for Giuliani to be out on the “airwaves” continually attacking the Mueller investigation – showing a willingness to repeat every LIE that originates in the mouth of Trump – to me, puts Giuliani right in the middle of the obstruction.  And, today, we saw there are still Americans who don’t look at what is going on here lightly.  The Judge overseeing the sentencing of Michael Flynn, today, sent a clear message to Flynn and possibly to Giuliani and Trump.  (I believe his name is “Judge Sullivan”)  Flynn’s supposed sentence of probation appears to be in jeopardy after he, via his lawyers, sent a veiled “I want a pardon” message to Trump where he claimed entrapment by the FBI. 

While those on Trump TV were speculating this brief filed by Flynn’s attorneys could be “the end of Mueller’s investigation” and that the judge might throw out Flynn’s conviction they couldn’t have been MORE wrong.  Judge Sullivan not only DIDN’T throw out the conviction, he put Flynn under oath and asked him whether or not he was treated fairly and whether or not he LIED on his own volition.  Flynn admitted he LIED with no help from the FBI and the he KNEW he was committing a crime in doing so and then the Judge reminded him that he had been given a “cushy” (my term) charge from the special prosecutor and questioned whether he had committed TREASON in his representations of Turkey during the campaign – when he famously conspired to kidnap a Turkish Cleric for Turkey’s president Erdogan.  Then he suggested Flynn do some more cooperating because if he got sentenced right there he was likely going to JAIL – despite the recommendation from Mueller’s team other wise.

To me, this should send a message to Trump, Giuliani, Trump’s children, and anyone else with a propensity for LYING there are people in our court system who actually still believe America is a “nation of laws and not men.”  I even believe members of the republican Congress were participating in the OBSTRUCTION of this investigation and should be held accountable.  If all the people who have participated in the cover up of the Russia investigation go to jail, there will be even more over crowding.  Trump should be feeling very nervous facing a reported 17 investigations.  I believe Judge Sullivan’s message today was clearly intended for Trump and Giuliani as well as Michael Flynn – undermining your country is really BAD!  Trump very well may soon be standing before him in court!

For a couple years now I’ve been referring to Donald Trump as the head of a “crime family” and it’s interesting that more and more people who give “expert” opinions on our 24/7 Cable TV world which includes MSNBC – which I watch when I watch anything – are including similar references.  Today I heard a former prosecutor refer to Trump as someone who reminds him of a Mafia boss.  A couple days ago I heard a different former prosecutor say that the Mueller investigation, based on how they are proceeding, as reminding him of investigations of organized crime syndicates.  These former prosecutors are examining the filings of the Mueller investigation and the Southern District of New York’s (SDNY) case against Michael Cohen.

One former prosecutor after another point out we now have a (so-called) president who would be facing felony charges had he not been (the so-called) president because the Justice Department guidelines suggest presidents can’t be indicted.  Trump’s response to the documents leading ALL these former prosecutors to imply Trump is in “deep water” was beyond curious.  Trump claimed the documents essentially exonerated him and ended his “tweet” pointing this out with a “thank you.”  Even the husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway – a conservative lawyer – pointed out Trump’s response was laughable.  (My interpretation of reading Conway’s comments)

Michael Cohen has a history of LYING and that makes him a witness who needs to have everything he says to prosecutors corroborated by other evidence.  It appears there’s enough corroboration to Cohen’s guilty pleas that Trump should be very leery of what he’ll face the day he leaves office.  I’m guessing we’re getting close to the point where Trump will be working on some kind of deal with Mike Pense to pardon him once he has vacated his (so-called) presidency.  And, of course, Pense also has “issues” which will make any time when he’s the “so-called” president as awkward.  (Keep in mind I’ve predicted Trump will never resign, however, the idea of an orange jumpsuit may cause him to come up with a “Plan B.”)

While there are surely a certain number of Democrats in Congress who are in the pocket of the “moneychangers” so many Americans are disgusted with, there surely are MANY young Democrats who came to Washington DC on the “blue wave” of 2018 who have the courage to FIGHT for the basic American values which have been stripped away since the days of Ronald Reagan as America’s corporate interests have consolidated POWER into what has become a right wing ATTACK on what has become the remnants of the New Deal and the push for a system of government which melded socialist ideals with a capitalist form of government.

This ASSAULT on our government by right wing groups led, in part, by the now infamous “Koch brothers” has resulted, in effect, to a group of people who are willing to continue supporting Trump, now looking at a series of issues facing legal jeopardy, because while “we the people” are all worked up at every STUPID thing Trump does, they are skimming off as much taxpayer MONEY as they can before the “gravy train” reaches the end of its “line.”  For example, I’d like to know how much MONEY the Koch’s claimed from the one piece of legislation Trump was able to push through Congress – the tax scam.  My guess is it’s BILLIONS!  The so-called “donor class” of the republican party got what it wanted – “mo money!”

They could care less about Trump’s legal jeopardy, they could care less how Trump gained the office of the (so-called) president, and they could care less about the DAMAGE Trump is causing to our government – in fact, they FAVOR the DAMAGE Trump is inflicting on the institutions which are the backbone of our government – because they HATE the government because it limits the DAMAGE they can do to America as they are profiting from America’s natural resources with NO concern about the future of this nation or, for that matter, the world.  They’ve apparently got two more years to be plundering America’s taxpayers, America’s resources, and America’s wealth in general.  This has been ongoing for 30 years, but it’s at a climactic point in 2018/2019.

Donald Trump is now referred to as “individual 1” in court documents describing illegal payments to women who had affairs with Trump which he wanted to hide from voters, especially after the Access Hollywood tape came out and 19 women were accusing Trump of sexual misconduct.  The court documents state Michael Cohen arranged the payments on the instructions of “individual 1” for the purpose of affecting the election results.  In other words, it’s possible the election, which swung on a small percentage of votes in three states, put Trump into the “White House” because of these campaign law violations.  In fact, it’s  exactly why these laws were enacted – to keep anyone from surreptitiously gaining access to the presidency by hiding information from voters which they SHOULD have before an election via illegal payoffs.

Even though the Justice Department has determined a President can’t be indicted while in office there’s several people speculating Trump will be liable for an indictment once he’s out of office if he doesn’t win re-election – the statute of limitations will not have run out after 2020 so Trump will be very intense in his efforts to get re-elected.  While many people, including – I suppose – me, are suggesting much of Trump’s “policy” is “inhumane” the reality is he’s “human” and it stands to reason his focus is NOT on what’s best for America.  In fact, most observers have pointed out over and over that Trump is focused on himself under any circumstance – let alone one where he’s the TARGET of an investigation which could identify him as a traitor.

In the mean time the problems facing “we the people,” the world problems America traditionally would  be taking the lead on. and the general problems of the economic system go without competent leadership.  Of course, that’s been the case since Trump moved into the “White House” it just wasn’t so obvious.  In fact, there are a plethora number of questions in reference to how the Trump family is enriching itself at the expense of “we the people.”  Jared Kushner is allegedly doing all sorts of covert actions with various middle east moneyed interests in order to save his bad investment on 5th avenue – which, apparently, he managed to pull off – while “advising” Mohammad bin Salman how to “weather the storm” after he (MBS) allegedly ordered the MURDER of Jamal Khashoggi.  Yikes!

Trump, himself, is liable to be exposed to a significant number of Emoluments Clause violations which our founders put in the constitution in anticipation of exactly what is happening right now – preventing the president, or any elected official, from profiting off of their office.  Obviously, we’ve been watching one politician after another getting rich either while in office or soon after leaving office.  We just haven’t seen the willingness to “flip off” the constitution in the way Trump and his family has – as if they are clearly a MAFIA organization.  This plundering wherever they can find the opportunity is just “business as usual” for the Trumps.  They were not concerned with our constitution prior to Trump’s “election” (with three MILLION fewer votes) and they’re certainly showing NO signs of concern now.

If fact, Trump showed his disdain for the constitution well before he ever became our so-called president.  He was “vaulted” into the presidential “picture” by leading the so-called “birther” movement when Barack Obama was president.  He’s expressed an affinity for one dictator after another since “winning” (with 3 MILLION less votes) the “election,” along with a disgust of a legal process he finds contemptuous – along with not in the least understanding it.  He expects to be able to do whatever he likes and he lashes out at anyone who would disagree with him – including the “free press,” the justice department, and any people he doesn’t like either in the democratic party or honorable republicans.

Of course, this national nightmare would have long since been OVER except for the complicity of the chicken s@!t republican party.  Surely, there’s enough republicans in Congress who care about something more than their next election to have some kind of accountability for Trump.  Well, obviously, the answer to that stupid statement is “NOT!”  Fortunately Devin Nunes and his republican cohorts will no longer be in charge in the House starting in January.  The Mid Term elections, to people like me, means our republic still has a chance to “turn things around.”  The Senate is another matter.  Mitch McConnell is still in charge in the Senate which means NOTHING of substance which will affect Trump is likely to even receive a vote – although, if Trump is impeached republicans will be FORCED to vote – essentially on whether or not the president is “above the law.”

If you remember, McConnell famously claimed, during the first days of Barack Obama’s administration the number one goal of the republicans was that Obama would fail.  He wasn’t willing to allow Obama to stand or fall on the merits of his own decisions he led an orchestrated agenda of OBSTRUCTION to BLOCK virtually EVERYTHING Obama introduced.  McConnell initiated around 700 FILIBUSTERS.  Now McConnell is BLOCKING every attempt to hold Trump accountable for his illegal behavior – this despite, at one point, being belittled by our so-called president.  For some reason, these republicans are cowering to Trump.  Recently I read that McConnell, himself, may be compromised by Russian money along with other Senators whose behavior has been, at a minimum, curious – like Lindsey Graham.

Now we’re finding out more about how the Russians allegedly filtered MILLIONS of dollars through the NRA which was then “funneled” to republicans like Trump and very likely McConnell and Graham – and, who knows who else.  The bottom line is there are a few republicans who may be facing charges along the lines of treason.  Keep in mind, unless you’re Trump, Vladimir Putin is no great “leader.”  He’s the head of maybe the world’s most significant organized crime syndicate which has infiltrated the U.S. along with many other countries and he’s the EXPERT, as the former head of the KGB, at “compromising” people who help him achieve his ends – the clearest one significant to “we the people” is destabilizing America and other Western nations – like Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and many others.  The right wing “push” going on around the world very likely is the work of Vladimir Putin.

Robert Mueller is going to expose ALL of this and it remains to be seen if republicans continue to act like cowards in the face of the Trump assault on out republic.  I believe Trump and several members of his family are looking at the potential of legal jeopardy.  They really are acting as if they are an organized crime family – very small time compared to Putin who Trump appears to be totally envious of – and the Justice Department seems to have more than just Trump in their “sights.”  I’ve said before that Trump would rue the day he decided to run for president and I believe that day is here or, maybe, it’s past that day.  Trump can’t even find a chief of staff because everyone who gets near him needs a lawyer!

When analyzing Trump and the DAMAGE he and his sycophants are doing to America both domestically and around the world it’s hard to keep the mind from spinning out of control.  Today as I listened to Mike Pompeo speaking in Europe about America’s foreign policy and claiming Trump is attempting to “bring America back from the void created by previous administrations” due to their “retreating” on the world stage I honestly had to fight back the urge to vomit.  Trump and his willing surrogates are either deluded or just a bunch of willful LIARS!

Pompeo’s words come just a few days after I watched Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) and Vladimir Putin giving each other a “high five” at the G-20 Summit in Argentina as if to be laughing in the face of how they’re “playing” Trump and his willing bunch of LIARS.  “We the people” continue to watch in dismay as one world leader after another “schools” Trump in world diplomacy as they publicly show they’ve figured out that, with Trump, “flattery will get you everywhere,” and Trump is the very “vehicle” they’re using to destroy America’s role in the world.  Putin almost looked “giddy.”

If it wasn’t so disgusting it would be laughable listening to Pompeo suggest Trump and Co. are, essentially, filling the space created by President Obama and presumably his predecessors  whom he accused of “retreating” on the world stage.  My thoughts immediately went to the pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords, the pulling out of the TPP, the trashing of our traditional alliances, and the pulling out of the Iran Nuclear “deal” – for starters.  These are issues that required much EXPERT diplomacy which is no longer an option for America’s government because, for example, the State Department has been purged of HUNDREDS of years of experienced EXPERT diplomats!

The idea that Trump’s “gut” is going to “Make America Great Again” would be even more laughable – again, if all this wasn’t so serious.  Trump is, in reality “Making China Great Again,” he’s lifted up the status of Putin and Kim Jong un, he’s publicly “stained” himself over the MURDER of Jamal Khashoggi – clearly, stating to the world Saudi MONEY is more important than any human rights issue, and he’s still acting in ways that would suggest he is “owned” by Putin and, apparently, now also MBS.  Personally, I’m anxious for Mueller to “follow the money” in regard to Trump’s ties to both Russia and Saudi Arabia and who knows where else.  When “we the people” are OK with our “allies” going to diplomatic meetings with reporters carrying BONE SAWS, America has become anything but “great.”

Here’s what’s the most UNBELIEVABLE to me – as I ponder all this.  Trump is so BRAZENLY violating on American LAW (and “norm”) after another that “we the people” are apparently numb to all this.  Daily, it seems, Trump is committing some act of OBSTRUCTION of justice, witness tampering, or breaking some other law as if to say FU to “we the people” and OUR Justice Department.  As this all progresses, the Justice Department is being directly challenged, our intelligence agencies are being directly challenged, and, of course, he’s calling the “media” “the enemy of the people” – all signs of someone who longs for autocratic power.  It must really “gall” Trump knowing that Putin and MBS can laugh about how they take care of dissident reporters – right in Trump’s face on the “world stage” – and he’s “stuck” with simply calling them (the media) “the enemy of the people.”

So, Trump’s actions, which, as I said, are making “we the people” numb to the daily routine of one scandal after another is causing the “liberal media” (and, people like me) to spend a lot of time “chasing their/our tails.”  It’s a never ending barrage of DISTRACTIONS designed to keep “we the people’s” minds off of things that are important.  Over the next few years I believe we will slowly uncover – because of disasters that show up “after the fact” – a lot of the DAMAGE which is “flying under the radar.”  As much as I appreciate our “liberal media” and support actual investigative journalism I believe this unending FOCUS on the Mueller investigation and the desire to see Trump INDICTED for his CRIMES (which is unlikely while he’s president – and, maybe after – which I’ll try to explain in a bit) is causing an untold amount of DAMAGE to go unreported – apparently, just the way people like Mitch McConnell like it!  Republicans are getting judges and, I’m guessing, a lot more “stuff” we’ll only find out about LATER!

And, I do worry about what’s going to happen when Trump leaves office.  Personally, I want Trump to have to answer for his BRAZEN disregard for our legal system.  Instead of upholding it, he’s undermining it.  So, is the next president, hopefully in 2020, going to do as President Obama did and “look forward instead of back?”  I’ll get into the Obama fiasco later, but the past couple of days has seen our “liberal media” at what I consider it’s absolute worse.  And, believe me, I understand how we have a history of honoring our “past presidents.”  (In fact, Jimmy Carter is one of my favorite people in the world)  And, while George HW Bush is lying in state in the rotunda of the nation’s capitol it’s probably the wrong time to “tell the truth about him.”

However, I watch MSNBC, and one host after another on their network is almost trying to turn HW Bush into a “saint.”  Trust me, this man was no saint.  He did manage, as many of the other members of Yale’s “Skull and Bones” secret society have done, to keep his true “history” pretty much to himself.  (That “society,” by the way, has reportedly been the source of many of the stalwarts in the CIA)  And, I admit, there was a lot about HW that I appreciated – especially after two years of Trump, it’s more apparent.  But, here’s the reality – and, much of this is coming from the memory of a 71 year old man (me) who reads a lot of books and forgets a lot of “stuff.”  (For reference, read “Family of Secrets” by Russ Baker if you want to get a more accurate “picture” of George HW Bush – and, for that matter, the Bush family, including “Bush 43.” I’ve read other books revealing the “secrets” of the Bush dynasty as well)

Bush, somehow, kept his long association with the CIA secret – less the time he served as the head of the CIA – and, to be fair, many who were there when he was the head of the agency give him credit for “saving it” – keep in mind the similarity with today – Bush took over the CIA right after Watergate.  It was in disarray and it was always a bit curious why Nixon put Bush in charge. The CIA was, at the time, being accused by politicians “on both sides of the isle” of abusing it’s power.  Some of the worst of their abuses were being exposed and, according to those who were on the inside, at the time, Bush began the rebuilding of the agency’s image.  But, the reality is Bush was put at the CIA because, based on what I’ve read, Nixon wanted to get him “out of the way.”  Nixon realized Bush had greater ambitions.

I’ll put it this way, Bush was a very ambitious person, and his road to the “White House” was “littered” with stuff no one’s talking about right now.  According to Baker, HW became part of the CIA right out of college and he was part of the notorious “Phoenix” program in Viet Nam which was, essentially, a death squad program gone wild – similar to what happened years later in the Iran/Contra scandal – I believe in Nicaragua.

In “Family of Secrets,” Baker weaves an interesting “web” around HW Bush and how his activity, allegedly while working for the CIA, centered around the assassination of JFK.  I won’t go into it all, but “Family of Secrets” is a VERY interesting book – I’ve read it twice and I’m feeling I need to read it again as I’m listening to all these so-called “liberal” commentators (like Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd) fawning over HW Bush.  (I guess that’s what you do when a president dies, but………………..)  At some point in America’s “history” “we the people” are going to examine history honestly.

HW Bush was also up to his ears in the Iran/Contra “episode” during the latter years of the Reagan administration (another republican reaching “saint hood” apparently because all republican presidents of previous years are now being compared to Trump – but, trust me, Reagan was no “saint” either – unless we’re just going to throw out our contention that “America is a country of laws.”  I referred to the American tradition, earlier, where the new president allows the previous president to simply “go out to pasture” with all “transgressions” forgiven.  Well, Clinton looked the other way regarding HW Bush who easily could have been prosecuted for his involvement in Iran/Contra – and, as I said, he had a lot of “non-saint” issues along the way to the “White House.”  (Somehow, Reagan avoided true scrutiny as well)  To HW Bush’s credit, he always acted like a statesman – which seems to be what the pundits are fawning over as they remember him.

Of course, for me, the most egregious example of a president overlooking ILLEGAL behavior by his predecessor would be President Obama (who I very much admire) actually BLOCKING any of the investigations which were ongoing as he took office into the WAR CRIMES of George W Bush and Dick Cheney.  I listened the other day, again on MSNBC, how outgoing presidents “give space” to the incoming president and how GW Bush did so regarding President Obama.  My first thought was Bush SHOULD have been giving Obama space in the hopes Obama would do exactly what he did; “Look forward instead of back.”

There’s a myriad of problems with that “approach” which I’ve gone over ad nauseum on this site – mostly during the first years of the Obama administration.  The main point in my argument against “looking forward instead of back” is that each administration is setting “precedent” for the future and, sure enough, Trump was claiming “I’d do waterboarding and a whole lot more” if elected – during the 2016 campaign – EXACTLY what I had predicted a few years earlier would be the result of Obama’s choice to “look the other way” from REAL WAR CRIMES.  “We the people” prosecuted adversaries after WW II for the same things Obama was “looking away from.”  “We the people” were instrumental in founding the Geneva Conventions that were set up in order to STOP war crimes.  And, OUR OWN LAWS were clear that both GW Bush and Dick Cheney had willfully authorized WAR CRIMES.

And, that doesn’t even get into the LYING that caused the Iraq fiasco which led to the loss of HUNDREDS of thousands of lives and is STILL to this day the cause of much of the destabilization in the Middle East and therefore, the WORLD.  President Obama is the ONLY president since, you guessed it, Jimmy Carter to make it through a term in office without some kind of scandal that is clearly based in lack of respect for our system of laws.  In addition to what I mentioned above, Bush/Cheney authorized illegal wiretapping – en masse – they “outed” a CIA agent to get “revenge” for someone attempting to expose one of their LIES, and, in general, they pushed boundaries everywhere.  Now, especially with Trump in the “White House” many people – including a lot of republicans – are looking at GW Bush in a much better “light.”

My point is, the problem with allowing this lawbreaking by our “leaders” is that, just like the sixth graders I used to teach, they will keep pushing the boundaries until forced to stop.  Now we have a so-called president who doesn’t believe there are ANY boundaries as far as his behavior is concerned.  He’s running this country as if he’s the head of a crime syndicate and MILLIONS of Americans are OK with that because, generalizing, they are white nationalists to some degree  or they’re happy getting right wing judges – no matter what Trump is “up to.”

As I’m watching virtually everyone in Washington DC giving their respects to George HW Bush and as I’m listening to the commentators I can’t help but wonder what are these people going to be saying after Trump has “met his maker.”  Are they going to be rationalizing his behavior?  Are they going to be making him out to be something he wasn’t – simply because he figured out a way – with the help of Vladimir Putin – to “win” an American election?  (With 3 MILLION fewer votes than his opponent)  Are we going to look the other way from ALL the misdeeds Trump is foisting on “We the people” and – as is likely to be uncovered – has been “doing” for the previous 30 years, or so.

I love studying history, but it’s often very frustrating when I learn the “truth” about stuff that has been “watered down” or worse in the mainstream history books.  There’s a lot of historians heaping praise, for example, on George HW Bush – but, it comes across to me as people who didn’t look beyond the surface when doing their biography of him.   Many people in America who write the history books have an aversion to the truth.  It’s really a bad policy and I’m often reminded that “those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.”  I’ve just turned off the TV so I don’t have to listen to all the “fawning” of HW Bush – and, he obviously was a kind and good man in the eyes of many – but, hiding the real truth about him will lead to the lost opportunity for “we the people” to learn.  I guess my point here is, I really hope Donald Trump is not allowed to get away with his lawbreaking simply because he’s our so-called president!

Final Thought:  I believe Nixon is the only president who faced any serious accountability for his lawbreaking – and, yet, by the time he was out of office for a few years all was forgotten and forgiven – he also acted somewhat (although less than Trump) as a mob boss.  People have to look purposely to find the real truth about Ronald Reagan and most people have no idea what the truth is regarding the working life of George HW Bush.  In my mind, America continues to flounder because we just can’t come to grips with the reality of our own history!

Did you ever imagine what things would be like in America if a MAFIA boss could somehow make his/her way into the “White House” as a so-called “president?”  Naturally, I’m not talking about places like Russia where Vladimir Putin is regarded as not only the head of the country but, also, the head of an incredible world-wide crime syndicate.  Of course, I’m talking about America’s so-called president Donald Trump who, every day, acts more and more like the crime syndicate boss many have alleged he actually is.  What “we the people” are seeing, is the tearing down of our traditional institutions – deconstructing the administrative state as Steve Bannon put it – right in broad daylight!  And, somewhere around 35 – 40% of “us” are falling for it.

America, as “we the people” have come to know her since the days of FDR in the 1930’s and 40’s is clearly “on the line.”  People like me didn’t understand the level of Trump’s lack of “scruples” until seeing him in action over the past couple of years.  It’s like a mafia boss brazenly pushing one boundary after another until he realizes the republican party, as it exists in America as of 2018 is incapable of standing up to this national disaster, and then thinking, “I can do whatever I want!”  Every day this continues, things get worse for “we the people,” looking at the long term health of this nation.

Trump’s motto was “Make America Great Again.”  As each day passes that he remains in office America becomes “less ‘great.'”  He’s attempting to destroy our Justice Department, our Intelligence Agencies, our Congress, and, virtually, everything our founders set up to prevent someone like him from gaining control in America, not to mention the fundamental structure of the institutions which have been evolving since WW II.  His actions are clearly consistent with the worst tyrants of the last century and, so far, the only thing preventing him from completely destroying America is those “checks” our founders put in place that Trump continues to struggle against.  (And, Congressional republicans refuse to enforce)

Of course, I haven’t even mentioned the media – the “fourth estate” in America’s system of checks and balances.  Trump may despise the media more than he despises Robert Mueller, if that’s possible.  Members of our media, many who are going to be regarded as TRUE patriots when all of this “is said and done,” keep attempting to uncover the TRUTH about Trump and what he did in his attempt to gain the “White House.”  Curiously, I don’t believe Trump ever expected to succeed and, as I’ve said several times previously on this site, he’ll come to “rue” the day he decided to obliterate President Obama’s legacy and run for president – if he’s not already at that point.

Yes, America’s government is much different than America’s business world and many of Trump’s supporters believe(d) that coming from the business world was an “asset.”  Maybe that would be true if it was a person who was the head of a public company that had to answer to stockholders and a true board of directors.  Trump’s business is a closely held private enterprise where he did what he pleased when he pleased.  Do you get the impression he thinks that’s the way the government should work?

In reading Michael Lewis’ “The Fifth Risk” it’s clear Trump – and those he brought with him – had no idea what he/they was/were getting into when he took the “reins” of government.  To top that off, “we the people” had no idea how he managed to get those “reins.”  And, it’s true there’s a significant minority of Americans who don’t care how Trump got the “reins,” but, thankfully, there’s WAY MORE of “we the people” who absolutely do care – including a few republicans.  As departments like the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, and the Center for Disease Control – to name a few – become dysfunctional, even Trump’s most ardent supporters are going to begin realizing the level of DAMAGE he’s inflicting on this nation.

And, while “inflicting” this DAMAGE, we are all learning about what kind of person was somehow “elected” (with THREE MILLION fewer votes than his opponent) to be our so-called president.  He acts like a Mafia boss and, as I watch the investigation of the “Russia thing” unfold, it’s clear the investigators are acting like they’re investigating a Mafia boss.  Trump lashes out at anyone who challenges him – in any way, kind of reflexively – and he talks like someone who should be cast in the next version of the Godfather.  Just the other day I heard him reference his former “Lawyer” Michael Cohen (usually referred to as his “fixer” – that, alone, should have told us all we needed to know) as “weak” because he’s now cooperating with the investigation.

Let that sink in a bit.  Our so-called president is calling someone who’s doing the right thing as “weak.”  He’s stated on multiple occasions, which I’ve heard with my own ears, that he hates “flippers.”  To him, a “flipper” is someone who decides to cooperate with the government to save their own skin (That they’re telling the TRUTH apparently is irrelevant) .  Of course, the corollary of that statement is that he would prefer people NOT cooperate with the government he’s in charge of which he took an oath to defend while upholding the constitution and the laws of the land.  We’ve definitely never had anyone remotely like him living in the “White House.”  Even Richard Nixon had a basic underlying respect for the constitution.  While many are seeing the parallels between Nixon and Trump, I will be totally surprised if Trump resigns.

Keep this in mind.  When Trump is out of the “White House” he’s likely to be facing legal jeopardy – unless, of course, Mike Pense becomes president and pardons him as Gerald Ford did for Nixon.  Of course, Pense would be guaranteeing NO CHANCE to get elected in the next election and this would all presuppose Trump is impeached – which is hard to imagine with the present membership of republicans in the Senate.  They appear to want to be “standing” right beside Trump (and Benedict Arnold) in America’s history books.  (I’m guessing Trump could be facing State “issues” after leaving office which are out of the reach of presidential pardons)

Not only has Trump become exposed for HOW he managed to “win” the “election” (with THREE MILLION fewer votes than his opponent – oh yes, I already said that) but, as the investigation has proceeded I believe it’s uncovered and is uncovering Trump’s Mafiya background in dealing with the Russian “underworld” along with the Mafia families who’ve been in New York for generations.  Multiple reports have suggested Trump has long ago been “cut off” by American banks due to his propensity for refusing to pay back loans.  Many have wondered where Trump got the funds to buy a bunch of golf properties with cash – the suggested answer being Russia.  In fact, Trump’s connection to Russian “dirty money” is well documented and goes back 30 years or more.  (Ponder that along side Trump’s claim, “I have nothing to do with Russia”)

Trump has been bullying his way through life and skirting the legal system for most of his adult life, according to what I’ve read.  He talks of his “Roy Cohn” who was, apparently, a lawyer for the underworld who also represented Joseph McCarthy during the “communist purge” after WW II.  According to reports it was Cohn who “taught” Trump to never apologize and to always “attack, attack, attack.”  This “trait” has been on display over and over again since Trump became our so-called president.

Another thing; Trump is a master proponent of “projection.”  (Unfortunately, I’ve come to believe our “liberal media” thinks every day Americans understand what “projection” is, so – even when they’re pointing out it’s happening AGAIN – they don’t explain what it is.  I’ve asked several people who are “educated” “What is projection?” and, almost NONE of them could even give an answer (other than talking about movie cameras).  Trump is constantly accusing his opponents of doing exactly what he’s guilty of.  (Remember all the “lock her up” chants?)  The latest example is a “tweet” (keep in mind, I don’t do social media so I’ve seen this in “second hand” reporting – from multiple sources) showing Trump’s “political enemies” (I guess – Bill Clinton was in the photo – I thought Trump gave him money) “behind bars” with a caption that referenced the term “treason.”

Well, I’ve pointed out many times on this site I believe Trump’s actions in the 2016 election, if proven to be true – and, I’m talking about conspiring with the Russians to get elected, will amount to TREASON.  Actually, I felt his performance while standing next to Vladimir Putin in Helsinki was essentially TREASON.  And, as I’m writing this Trump is in Argentina at the “G-20 Summit” and we’ll see if he’s smart enough to listen to his advisors to avoid a meeting with Putin while Americans are digesting he was secretly working on a “deal” in Moscow during the 2016 election while repeatedly denying it.  I suppose NO ONE should be surprised he was LYING, now should they?

Of course, Trump has a long history of associating himself with people who don’t know the TRUTH – and, that should be no surprise considering the connections to the Mafiya.  (That’s the spelling of the reference to the Russian “Mafiya”)  And, what about his strong supporters from New York like Roger Stone and Jerome Corsi?  Trust me, they don’t have a “history” of truth telling.  Corsi is the person who came up with the “Swift Boat” character assassination of John Kerry which Kerry famously failed to adequately respond – likely costing him the “White House” and Stone has been a republican “hit man” since the days of Nixon.  Corsi came up with the “Birther conspiracy” re: Barack Obama and, I believe, it was Stone who, along with Lee Atwater,  came up with the “Willy Horton adds” during the campaign of George HW Bush.  (Despite the lack of “scruples” by the Bush’s they seem like saints to me,  compared to Trump)  (RIP HW – who passed away while I was writing this – I could write much about him, read “Family of Secrets” by Russ Baker – it’s an “eye opener”)

Have you heard the saying, “Birds of a feather, flock together?”  Well, I just listened to Jerome Corsi interviewed by Ari Melber on MSNBC and it’s apparent why he’s associated with Trump.  I’ll put it this way, pathological LIARS actually believe their LIES as the words come out of their mouths! Interestingly, I just finished reading “The Death of Truth” by Michiko Kakutani and she eloquently points out the danger in America right now as so many of “us” are willing to allow our “leaders” to get away with LYING.  She clearly explains first, how our founders set up our constitution in a way to prevent “factions” from taking control and turning America into an autocracy.  Then she points out how Trump, his sycophants like Corsi and Stone,  and the Russians are working to “incite” the very “factionalism” our founders worked to prevent via “checks and balances.”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “All politician LIE.”  Well, to varying degrees, I suppose, all human beings LIE.  But Trump and people like Putin take LYING to the extreme which most people can’t even comprehend –  likely, explaining why so many Americans continue to support Trump.  They just can’t bring themselves to believe he’s the LIAR he’s portrayed by the “liberal media” – AND, unfortunately, they believe Fox “news” and people like Rush Limbaugh – who are paid LIARS.  This is all putting our nation at risk every day it continues.

As I said above, I believe Trump is acting as if he’s a Mafia boss (whether it’s true or not) and Putin has been credibly defined as a Mafiya boss – the head of Russia’s Mafiya.  It appears Mueller is investigating Trump as if he’s a Mafia boss and, I believe, Trump’s family is likely a bit nervous after Michael Cohen’s admissions in court the other day.  Republicans in Congress could put an end to this disaster today if they had the courage, but clearly, they’re comfortable in being complicit.  I guess the question becomes;  When Mueller’s probe is completed will they (republicans) continue to act as sycophants???

Final Thought:  Every day I wonder, “why are republicans OK with the DAMAGE Trump is inflicting on America?  Have they really evolved to the point where they’re OK with the destruction of America’s traditional (since WW II) institutions – which took so much BLOOD to establish and grow?  And, when are democrats going to fight for the votes of Americans who are working class and live in the rural areas of this country?  From my vantage point, they are the ones being hurt the MOST by republican policy.  I continue to believe many “conservatives” support the republican party strictly because of the abortion issue – yet, there’s never a national dialogue about abortion.  Personally, I believe the issue is much more complicated than “pro life” or “pro choice.”  It seems to me, that’s the issue which must be “bridged” for this nation to once again “pull together.”  Just sayin…………………….

Let’s hope “there’s more of us than of them” – and, I’m referring to the “never Trumpers” as the “us” and those who are Trump’s “base” as the them.  I don’t do “Twitter” but often times stuff that shows up on “Twitter” makes it to other outlets.  Today, as I usually do, I was checking the “Yahoo Finance” page on the internet and there was a picture of Trump with text overlayed on his image that read “SANCTIONS ARE COMING NOVEMBER 5” in what looked to me as an image you would see at the local movie theater regarding an upcoming movie.  “Yahoo” suggested it looked like “The text and typeface riffed off the popular fantasy HBO show, ‘Game of Thrones’.”

I can only imagined the response of people around the world who are reviled by this so-called president.  This was the height of Trump’s narcissism.  “It’s all about Trump.”  And, in this case, the reality is that pulling the U.S. out of the “Iran nuclear deal” is largely about Trump as, from what I’ve read, it explains most of his actions.  Many of those who apparently advise him were strongly opposed to this.  My guess is, his son-in-law was in favor because Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu was influential in this decision along with, oddly enough, Mohammad bin Salmon of Saudi Arabia.  It’s apparent to me that Trump’s actions in this instance, as well in almost all others, are not based on any sound “educated” judgement.

In fact, in reading Michael Lewis’ “The Fifth Risk” one gets, at minimum, a sobering look at what “DAMAGE” (as I’ve referred to it since before Trump took his “oath” of office) Trump is doing to our nation AND to the world.  The section of the book I’m presently reading gives example after example of how Trump’s “transition team” essentially did NOT exist!  Committed public servants were in shock that NO ONE showed up to get “vetted” on what their responsibilities would be once Trump took office.  Not only Trump, but pretty much the rest of America, has no idea what the various departments of OUR government are responsible for.  The potential for disaster looms ever greater each day Trump’s lackeys allow agencies like the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, etc. to flounder for lack of leadership.

One of the examples given in Lewis’ book is what went into putting the “Iran Nuclear Agreement” in place and what was accomplished in doing so.  Of course, here comes Trump and Co. and, just as he pulled us out of the Paris Climate Accord – more on this shortly – allowing countries like China and Germany to take the worldwide lead in clean air technology and, to top that off, pulling us out of the “Trans Pacific Partnership” (TPP) opening up Southeast Asia to Chinese dominance economically, we’re now “on an island” outside of the Iran nuclear agreement.  In all three of these instances it appears Trump is simply trying to ruin President Obama’s legacy with no reverence to the DAMAGE inflicted on America.

Here’s one thing that is really disgusting (among many) regarding this DAMAGE Trump is inflicting on “we the people” (along with those around the world who believe in self rule) as he seems intent on being the “anti-Obama” – Trump’s lackeys have required all references to “Climate Change” be removed from various agencies which would have an interest in combating “Climate Change.”  In other words, all these climate disasters which are repeating themselves around the globe won’t be of interest to Trump and those in America’s bureaucracy.  Trump, recently, even went so far as to blame the fires in California, which as I’m writing this have claimed over 50 lives – with hundreds MISSING – on poor state forest management and he threatened to cut off funding to help with the disaster.

This STUPID action by Trump likely is the result of California turning even BLUER due to the people’s repulsion of Trump and all the actions I’m writing about.  Some one must have clued Trump in on the reality that MOST of California’s forest land is FEDERAL land and under the control of the Agriculture Department which Trump has “beheaded.”  The list of vital programs which are being discontinued because of STUPID economic decisions by Trump and his lackeys is staggering.  I live in the state of Washington and the “clean up” of the Hanford nuclear reservation, which will take CENTURIES, is apparently being “de-funded.”  If you’re not aware, Hanford is the home of BILLIONS of gallons of nuclear waste that will likely, at some point, leak into the Columbia River.  This is waste resulting from Hanford being the site selected during World War II to develop the nuclear bomb which destroyed Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan, effectively ending the war. (And, resulting in many disagreements over  the tactic)

Lewis points out in his book that FDR discovered the Germans were close to developing a nuclear weapon in the late 30’s or early 40’s and America was rapidly pushing to do so in an attempt to “get there first” and “save the world” from German and Nazi domination had they succeeded before America.  Since then THOUSANDS of nuclear weapons have been constructed and the material used for them was mostly produced at Hanford.  What’s left are HUGE containers filled with nuclear waste that gets closer to a DISASTER every day – and, Trump apparently is attempting to cut the money out of the budget intended to continue the FIGHT to clean up this site – a FIGHT that has been ongoing for something like 30+ years and will last for at least another 100 years.

When it was time for Trump to take over the reins of government he was “missing in action.”  Neither he, nor those who were close around him, had any idea what they had gained control of.  And, of course, there was Steve Bannon by Trump’s side claiming their goal was to “deconstruct the administrative state.”  Maybe Bannon understood what that meant (although, I don’t believe he did), but Trump’s voters certainly didn’t/don’t understand what that meant/means.  Things we’ve taken for granted for years are soon to be in jeopardy.  And, it’s likely going to be very difficult to recover from the DAMAGE which is being inflicted on “we the people” by these ignorant narcissists.

Trump and his sycophants are busy undermining one traditional American institution after another.  Government bureaucrats have been demeaned by people who have no idea how important they are to all of us.  As I’m reading Lewis’ book I’m amazed at how complicated the agencies like DOE and DOA have become over the years.  They are integral in the cliche’ “keeping America safe” and most of us have no idea how they do that.  What’s unnerving is when you find out our (so-called) president and those he’s appointed to run these agencies also have no idea how they “keep us safe.”  As I’ve said, “every day the potential for disaster gets greater.”

I’m certainly not suggesting anyone in Trump’s sphere could have stopped the fires in California or the Category 4 Hurricane which recently ravaged Florida.  What I am saying, however, it’s clear those in Trump’s “circle” are “climate deniers” of the worst order.  This is a FIGHT that will last years, but every year we lose in focusing on what needs to be done – and, keep in mind, that’s NOT attempting to “bring back coal” – makes the challenge more difficult.  There’s a point when inaction will result in going over the “tipping point.”  I certainly don’t know when that is, but it’s apparent to me procrastination is a poor strategy.

I started this post about three weeks ago and, I guess, I’m just tired of “chasing my tail” in commenting on Trump’s degradation of America.  The climate denial is disgusting, the racism and misogynism and the other “ism’s” are disgusting, and I could go on and on.  Here’s the deal;  The democrats took back the House in the Mid Terms – which I considered CRITICAL to the future of America.  The next couple years are going to be a BATTLE because Trump has NO scruples and he LIES in his sleep!  He’s clearly preparing his “base” to be outraged at Mueller’s report whenever that happens and he’s preparing republicans to begin BLAMING democrats from the first day of the next Congress for EVERYTHING that goes wrong.

And, I’ve been pointing out my contention the economy is RIPE for a trip in the downward direction as a result of the tax scam and the tariffs.  Trust me, Trump and the republicans will BLAME the democrats.  Trump will have his eyes set on 2020 as a way to somehow protect himself from what’s coming “down the pike” from Mueller AND the investigation in the Southern District of New York.  He’s not able to be indicted as a “sitting (so-called) president” – so, remaining in office may be his “get out of jail free” card.  He’s already an “un-indicted co-conspirator” to TWO felonies in New York and, it appears, there’s much more to come.

I also believe there will be a plethora of legal skirmishes over subpoenas intended to help the House of Representatives figure out just how much CORRUPTION is directly tied to the Trump administration.  Clearly they’ve had a “cheering section” in Congress instead of a Congress willing to accept its role as providing “oversight” over the executive branch.  The constitution was intended to PREVENT exactly what the republicans have been doing for the previous two years.  And, to suggest the stagnation in Washington is because of democrats is preposterous.  Republicans have been OBSTRUCTING, as “job #1” since the days of Gingrich’s “Contract (ON) for America back in the 90’s.  Check the FACTS – Mitch McConnell FILIBUSTERED Obama legislation around 700 times during President Obama’s two terms.  Republican OBSTRUCTION was no secret.

I anticipate democrats will attempt to pass actual legislation beginning in January but republicans will agree to NONE of it – and, they’ll blame democrats.  Trump may be smart enough to work with democrats on key legislation that HUGE majorities of Americans favor as a way to “save his skin.”  However, in regard to Mueller and the other investigations aimed directly at Trump, it appears “the horse is out of the barn” and our so-called president is looking at a “world of hurt.”  Look for him to be progressively more antagonistic and look for him to “gin up” the alt right “crazies” who will very possibly hit the streets with violence in mind.  The next two years should be interesting, to say the least.

As I’ve said, on other occasions, trying to keep up with Trump’s “scandals” is like chasing your tail.  It’s like at least “one a day.”  Sometimes I think he’s just completely stupid and other times I think it’s all calculated and it’s his way to avoid accountability – which he’s been doing his entire life.  To me, he seems to be like a pathological LIAR, but, then again, is he actually sophisticated enough to be using Goebbels’ “Big Lie Theory?”  Regardless, the LIES are flowing freely, and I don’t believe there will be any change – PERIOD!

As I’m writing this, Trump is being challenged by Vladimir Putin (once again) and, so far, as usual, he’s failing the test.  Just as he cowered in the face of Muhammad bin Salman’s BRUTAL murder of Jamal Khashoggi, as he’s cowered to Kim Jong Un’s continued buildup of his nuclear program, he’s likely to cower in the face of Putin’s ordering Russian ships to attack those of Ukraine.  This is getting beyond ridiculous – and, at this point, it’s ALL on republicans in Congress – because they appear to FEAR Trump – for whatever reason.  If Trump take’s “we the people” over a “cliff,” it will be due to republicans in Congress’ enabling!  (Actually, this  has ALL been on republicans since the day Trump took the “oath” – in front of the smallest inaugural crowd in recent memory!)

Final Thought:  I just finished reading Michael Lewis’ “The Fifth Risk” and now I’m in the middle of reading Michiko Kakutani’s “The Death of Truth.”  I highly recommend each book to anyone wanting to better understand the gravity of Trump as our “so-called” president.  Waiting two years to get him out of office may be too late to save this republic as it is.  I don’t see him capable of handling ANY kind of serious challenge and, in my view, there will be at least one during his time in office.  Hopefully, for the sake of the world, it will be an economic disaster and not a foreign policy disaster.  Trump has no idea what he’s in charge of and he believes he should just be able to do whatever comes to his mind.  The situation in Ukraine could escalate quickly and I don’t know ANYONE who believes Trump can “handle” what “comes his way.”  It’s time for republicans to put a stop to this nightmare – regardless of what anyone thinks – if Trump is stopped, it will be because of republicans (in the Senate).

If you’ve been around here at all you know I spent the last 20+ years of my life as a sixth grade teacher.  I started my teaching career late in my working life and, apparently, that allowed me to end up being a mentor to many young teachers as my experience in the classroom grew. (For much of the latter part of my career I was the “most experienced” adult in the building)  One thing I tried to make clear to younger teachers was the importance of virtually EVERY word that would come from his/her mouth each day in the classroom.  As the teacher you have NO idea what each student experienced at home that day, that week, that month or, for that matter, in their lifetimes while your WORDS are finding a resting place in their minds. The possibility would always exist you could set a student “off” with your WORDS and which would cause people to react by wondering “what just happened?”

I say this because what we’ve seen in the past week in American politics is the result of careless words spoken with one intention are resulting in violence and tragedy.  WORDS matter!  Of course, I’m talking about how Trump’s hate speech has penetrated the minds of two vulnerable, seemingly pathetic, and now considered disgusting people who interpreted Trump’s HATE speech as a “call to arms.”  One man responded to Trump’s attacks on various democrats along with CNN by sending (I believe) 14 pipe bombs aimed at two former presidents (Obama and Clinton), two former intelligence officials (Brennan and Clapper), CNN and a bunch of others (Including George Soros – a favorite rhetorical “punching bag” of the right wingers in America)

The worst part of all this is what happened in Pittsburgh in a Jewish Synagogue a few short blocks from my brother-in-law’s home where I stayed for a couple of months last year.  11 people were MURDERED while worshiping in their Synagogue along with several others wounded – which included 4 police officers who were attempting to stop the carnage.  These MURDERS were the work of a right wing zealot who took Trump’s words about the “caravan” of refugees headed North in Southern Mexico literally.

Trump referred to this “caravan” as an ATTACK on our Southern border – an “invasion.”  Well, the man who MURDERED the 11 Jews in Pittsburgh responded to those words on Social Media as if he was “all in” in the fight against these people Trump refers to as “dangerous” – some “MS13 gang members, Middle Eastern terrorists” who represent a threat to America.  This deranged MURDERER took it upon himself to start killing Jews because HIAS (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), which has been helping immigrants since the 1880’s is, apparently, affiliated with this Synagogue, and he (the MURDERER) was quoted as saying he needed to KILL “as many Jews as possible.”  His last posting on his social media feed said, “Screw the optics, I’m going in” – as if he was a “freedom fighter.”

Of course, Trump’s “mouthpiece,” Sarah Sanders, seemed offended that anyone would possibly connect this guy’s actions with Trump’s words.  But, as I used to tell my teaching associates, WORDS MATTER!  There’s no way for Trump to just shrug off any culpability in these MURDERS.  Of course, he didn’t ORDER the guy to do this, but, as I’ve said, WORDS MATTER!  And, undoubtedly, Trump’s words were a catalyst for these murders.  Sadly, Trump is so unhinged and calloused to all this that he was back out spewing the same WORDS soon after this happened – and, he’s PROUDLY claiming he’s going to “tone up” the rhetoric in response to being asked if he would now “tone it down.”  This is his reflex reaction.  Apparently, Trump’s only regret in all this is that it “slowed momentum,” regarding his HATE speech.

And, of course, there was MORE – and, other “stuf,f” which would have been huge news in “another other day” doesn’t even “move the needle.”  While people were looking for the MAGA bomber, a Trump supporter (another MURDERER) was attempting to break into a Black Church in Kentucky which had about 10 people inside.  Fortunately, the doors were locked and he was unable to get inside so he took off for a nearby supermarket where he randomly killed TWO African Americans – a man and a woman – indiscriminately, then taking off before being captured shortly thereafter.  The connection to Trump is not as clear in this instance, but clearly another HATE crime on top of the other high profile HATE crimes of the past couple of weeks.  All while Trump is busy GINNING up his “base” with absurd LIES about a group of asylum seekers who may or may not make it to the U.S. border in a month or two.  They’re 1000 miles away, they’re WALKING, and it’s mostly women and children – fleeing violence and poverty in their native countries.

Trump and many of his supporters are having difficulty “digesting” that America is a nation of immigrants.  And, America has two sides to her history.  There’s, for sure, a good side – but, many – especially those who’ve enjoyed “white privilege” for years – don’t want to acknowledge America’s “dark side.”  If you’re not a student of history I don’t want this to be a history lesson, but the reality is that MOST of us came from somewhere else at some point in the history of our families.  And, even those who are “Native American” immigrated to America from Asia – it’s just they got here a REALLY long time ago.  They had been here for THOUSANDS of years before the European “invasion” which led to the destruction of many native tribes.  A couple of the “black marks” would be the genocide of the Native American people’s and, of course, the issue of slavery.

In fact, it’s very likely the heritage of the African Americans MURDERED in Kentucky goes WAY back farther than the white racist who MURDERED them – likely thinking they were some kind of threat to him.  Sadly, the election of President Obama brought a plethora of racists out from “under the rocks” and, of course, Donald Trump used that as his “bridge” to the “White House.”  Having an overt racist in the “White House” is not new to America, it’s just that many, including myself, thought we were “past that” with the election of President Obama.  Clearly, I was wrong – which I recognized soon after Obama took the oath of office – as I observed the so-called “Tea Party” – a group which, to this day, refuses to acknowledge the roots of their movement.

The “Tea Party” will claim they formed as a result of the TARP bailouts, but that’s about as disingenuous as it gets.  If you saw the signs at the “Tea Party” rallies, they were motivated by racial hatred aimed at Barack Obama.  This was “white America” realizing they were soon to be a “minority” part of America.  Our “liberal media” was, apparently, willing to ignore the racist signs and words at the “Tea Party” rallies and believe the LIE they were formed because of the bailouts.  Of course, if that was actually true, they would have affiliated themselves with the democratic party because the TARP bailouts were the work of Henry Paulsen and George W Bush – as the Bush/Cheney regime had orchestrated a financial crisis which easily could have been another “Great Depression.”

At that moment in our history, the republican party was in “tatters.”  Bush/Cheney had LIED America into two intractable wars that, for people like me, brought back memories of Viet Nam – only, this became worse because, well, we’re still there 17 years later.  Not only were we dealing with STUPID wars, we were dealing with “leaders” who SHOULD have been facing WAR CRIMES charges for authorizing TORTURE, and they’d run the economy “off the cliff.”  How bad was the economy?  Well, our “free market” republicans offered $700 BILLION of taxpayer money to Wall Street.  Supposedly, this is what riled up the “Tea Party.”  Well, the republican party was in such a bad way they were willing to “latch on” to this racist based movement because, well, what else could they do?  They needed someone – and, the “Tea Party” was willing to say anything at anytime – regardless of the veracity.  Perfect for republicans.

This is the same way republicans latched on to Donald Trump.  You see they, what I (and many others) call the puppet masters – those surreptitiously “pulling the strings” out of the limelight – those with all the money, often referred to as the “top 1% – are all about “winning.”  At all costs – “the end justifies the means.”  “Republicans” have wavered from “never Trump” to cowering to Trump based on “winning.”  It should be interesting to see how they respond should the “mid-terms” bring a result they don’t like.  Trump clearly represents the “Tea Party” faction which has been a “headache” for traditional republicans since the Bush/Cheney time.  What will happen if they start “losing?”

A couple weeks ago Trump declared himself a “Nationalist” (like Hitler, Stalin, Putin, etc.) in front of a doting audience which either didn’t understand what that means or were “on board” with having a president who wears his racism like a medal on his lapel.  There are cells of “White Nationalist” all across America – I still remember Chuck Norris, famously of “Walker Texas Ranger,” pointing this out shortly after President Obama took his oath of office – and, they are, by and large, armed to the hilt.  The man who MURDERED the 11 Jews in Pittsburgh had a cache of 10 weapons ranging from the AR15 he used in the attack to a shotgun in his car.  He had more weapons than a “hunter” could use in a season, without reloading.  And, every time there’s a mass shooting and you hear “gun control” in the news, assault weapons fly off the shelves of the gun dealers.

I say this because a good friend of mine, who I haven’t been able to sway from being a Trump supporter, has predicted to me “there’s going to be a civil war.”  I never ask him to elaborate – mainly because the idea is anathema to me – but, when I think about it, the Trump rhetoric is likely designed to cause all these “cells” of right wing “patriots” to reject ANY finding by Robert Mueller that might suggest Trump shouldn’t be our so-called president.  Like, for instance, if he actually DID “collude” with the Russians.  As the “evidence” unfolds, it’s becoming more and more likely that’s where Mueller is headed.  Of course, a finding of “obstruction of justice” would only be surprising to me if it WASN’T part of Mueller’s report.  I believe there was “collusion” (which is actually, in this instance, TREASON) but we have to wait for all the evidence.

The latest reports are that Roger Stone was relaying the information “Wiki Leaks” published at strategic points of the 2016 campaign to the Trump surrogates – which may have included Steve Bannon.  I’ve said all along, it appears to me it’s likely there’s a connection between Cambridge Analytica (Bannon) and the Russians.  Someone had to be helping the Russians strategically “target” their messaging and it was Cambridge Analytica who STOLE the “data” of over 50 MILLION Facebook users – and, if you remember correctly, it was Facebook the Russians used to peddle their divisive propaganda.  My point?  Well, I believe there’s a good possibility Trump has serious legal jeopardy and he’s verbally preparing his “base” who believes anything he says – “there’s no collusion.”

And, they’re armed to the hilt and we can see from several examples in Trump’s first couple of years all he cares about is Trump.  I believe Trump KNOWS how these people (often referred to as the “alt right”) will respond to his demise should it happen and he not only does not care, he’s encouraging it.  Again, his only regret about his words that set off the Pittsburgh MURDERER is that it “slowed the momentum” of his furious campaign in an attempt to fool republicans into voting for “him.”  As he’s said, in the Mid Terms “a vote for republicans is a vote for me.”  He’s NERVOUS about having a democratic House – that will ACTUALLY investigate the “Russia Thing.”  That’s exactly why I (and MILLIONS of others) say, a vote for Democrats is a vote to save our republic!

Trump continues to act like a Mafia boss and any violence involved in “protecting” him is simply, in his mind, collateral damage.  Trump is the result of an ugly side of America and her history.  Getting rid of him will be the result of, what some have referred to as, America’s “better angels.”  “We the people” have an opportunity to make an in process “correction” in the Mid Term election next week.  There’s a lot to learn from what has happened in the last 2+ years and, my hope, is that younger progressive leaders will emerge and they are eager to lead honorably.  As Trump, himself, has said may times, “We’ll see………………”

Final Thought:  May God Bless all those people in Pittsburgh who quietly protested Trump’s visit after the Murders along with all those who are mourning the tragic deaths which resulted from HATE speech that should have no place in America.  My prayer is America will reject Trump and what he stands for so that we can lead a rejection of this “nationalism” before it spreads to far across Europe and other parts of the world.

I’m not very book smart when it comes to economics.  I believe I had one economics class back in the 60’s during my first attempt to finish college (it took a while) and I’ve read several books in the last few years.  However, I’ve had a lifetime of observing “economics” from the standpoint of my interest in politics and observing how different administrations – from Eisenhower to now our so-called president Trump – have chosen to effect our economic “ship of state.”  Certain things have appeared over and over that, in my view, provide a bit of insight for anyone who’s been paying attention.  In fact, what I’ve observed over the years leads to frustration when I get into conversations with people who I believe are old enough to know better.

What I’m leading up to is my prediction the “you know what” is about to hit the “fan.”  I’ll elaborate in a bit.  But first, getting back to those I know who should “know better.”  Let’s talk about the deficit.  Now, I have to admit I didn’t pay much attention to the deficit until Richard Nixon was president.  I still remember him “explaining” why it was good for the government to be borrowing money – he said it was like having a mortgage on your home.  The federal government had so much “real estate” that, to him, it made no sense for the government not to borrow against that real estate.  Many Libertarians still lament Nixon taking America off the “gold standard,” which I’m not capable of debating one way or the other.  I just remember him doing it.  However, what I’ve observed since then is when republicans (who are essentially the libertarians of yore) are in the “White House” the annual deficit goes WAY up, and when democrats are in the White House, the deficit goes down.  The statistics are undeniable.

And, of course, if you know a republican they’ll claim exactly the opposite – they’ll blame, ALWAYS, the rising, out of control deficits on democrats in Congress or democratic presidents.  Yet, just this year the CBO has again projected TRILLION plus deficits as far “as the eye  can see.”  President Obama brought the $1.5 TRILLION annual deficits he INHERITED from Bush/Cheney – who, by the way, themselves, had INHERITED a $250 BILLION annual SURPLUS from Clinton/Gore – just sayin……  and, of course, Dick Cheney, as he was manipulating the second tax cut of the Bush/Cheney regime, famously said, “Ronald Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”  So, Obama got the Bush/Cheney $1.5 TRILLION deficits down to about $400 BILLION – a reduction of about 70%.  Then came Trump.

True to form, Trump and his republican sycophants, passed ANOTHER “tax cut for the wealthy” – kind of makes you wonder how many of these tax cuts do they need.  This one was passed when the “wealthy” were “rolling in the dough” and when corporations had TRILLIONS “in the bank.”  Kind of like throwing gas on a burning fire – but, more on that in a bit.  Interesting, at least to me, is the FACT that all the republicans who were complaining about the deficits during the Obama administration (which Obama inherited from Bush/Cheney, as I pointed out) are not making even a “peep” about the FACT they’ve now reversed virtually ALL the gains made during the Obama/Biden years.  Even republicans like Jeff Flake and Bob Corker – not even up for re-election – who claimed they wouldn’t vote for a budget that raised the deficit by “one penny” voted with Trump on the tax “scam.”  Suddenly, as usual, “deficits don’t matter.”  This has happened OVER and OVER again during my short (71 years) lifetime.  When will “we the people” wake up?

This most recent tax “scam” (which is how I usually refer to it) was the most egregious of them all.  When the economy is “booming,” from what I’ve learned, a tax cut is not only inappropriate, it can be downright destructive.  What could be the result?  Well, I’ve predicted it’s likely (I’m saying that so if I’m wrong anyone who chooses can point that out) – and, that’s a boost to INFLATION that will lead to a “downturn” of who knows what proportions.  And, from my vantage point, the “deal-maker in chief” has no idea what he’s doing and I, for one, don’t trust republicans to know how to pull America out of another “Great Recession.”  They, famously, didn’t help at all when President Obama was faced with the challenge of preventing the “Great Recession” of 2008 from turning into a DEPRESSION – which, to many, must be how they viewed it.

And, sadly, from my perspective, if the downturn I’m about to predict, actually happens, it’s likely going to be Trump’s “uneducated voters” – who he “loves” so dearly (they actually believe what he says to them is the truth – I could go on about that for “days”) – are going to be the ones hurt the worst when, and if, this actually happens.  Many places in the so-called “rust belt” still have not fully recovered from the Bush/Cheney fiasco and, from what I can tell, they’ll be “in the line of fire” the next time the economy contracts.

So, what is my point?  Well, lately the stock market – which, to me, sadly controls too much of America’s wealth – has been on kind of a roller coaster ride.  Huge swings going up and down – lately more down than up.  Well, the results of Trump’s tariffs are going to begin showing up on corporate balance sheets and, while I have long since decided against participating in the stock market, I can see a CRASH of some proportion coming.  Again, I don’t trust republicans to know how to deal with an economy in recession, so it could be “the big one.”  Let’s all hope not.  But, it appears to me that something significant is “on the horizon.”  From my experience the huge swings are a pre-cursor to a significant downturn.  The combination of the tax “scam” and the tariffs could be a prime example of the devil’s bargain.

Am I predicting a recession on the horizon?  Well, the answer is yes.  Of course, it could take a while – but, again, if these huge swings in the market continue that would tell me “something’s up.”  And, here’s the worst part of it all.  If INFLATION is rearing its ugly head I don’t think dropping interest rates to funnel money into the economy is an acceptable solution. Trump is already complaining about the Fed raising interest rates.   I can imagine what he’ll be saying if the economy tanks while inflation rises – that’s the “double edged sword” that will really cause Trump to have some bad “tweets” – as he’ll likely be grasping for (even more) straws.  From my vantage point, that’s how Trump operates – “grasping for straws.”

This is exactly why the recent tax “scam” – essentially the result of “demands” from the republican “donor class” was such a bad idea.  If the economy tanks and inflation expands, i believe the only way to deal with it responsibly would be a tax INCREASE – and, of course, if we get to that point, you and I both know who republicans would target – and, in case you don’t know, it won’t be corporations or the wealthy.  With Trump at the “helm” this could get even uglier than it is.  (Actually, they’ll likely never resort to a tax increase under any circumstance)

How ugly is it?  Well, in the past few days some guy from Florida, an avid Trump supporter, has been mailing pipe bombs around the country to people like President Obama, President Clinton, CNN, and other democratic supporters Trump has singled out at his rallies.  Fortunately, none of the bombs made their targets or exploded while a mail carrier was in possession of it – or one of the authorities once they were identified.  Incredibly, the FBI found the perpetrator within a matter of a few short days demonstrating they really are a super effective investigative body.  Can you see why Trump has been attacking them?  If a person had something to hide, it appears having the FBI checking into it would make one very uncomfortable!

And, true to form, Trump was “tweeting” stupid stuff this morning, lamenting how this bomb situation has taken the focus of the news media off the upcoming election.  This tells us a lot.  For example, I’ve been pointing out since the campaign of 2016 how masterfully Trump is using the media to save himself advertising money and how he “plays” them like a “fiddle.”  Well, why would anyone think he’d stop doing so as long as they’re not figuring it out and they keep broadcasting his “every word.”  (Well, of course, not “every” word, but he definitely knows how to get them to broadcast the words he wants them to “report”)  Even one of his supporters committing “home grown” terrorism isn’t enough to stop Trump’s insidious “tweeting.”

And, what about the rest of his administration?  Well, allegedly, while the FBI was frantically trying to find the pipe bomber Kirstjen Nielsen, Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security, was busy trying to push the narrative that a caravan of desperate Latino’s about 1000 miles south of our Southern border are an “imminent” threat to the security of the United States.  Pushing the LIE that this group is full of MS 13 gang members, Middle Eastern terrorists, and who knows who else?  Maybe some Mexican murderers and rapists – that’s an effective Trump LIE. 

Trump was actually bemoaning that the pipe bomber was taking the voters’ focus off of all the recent LIES he’s been spewing at the rallies he’s attending daily – apparently, in lieu of doing his actual job.  His hope is that the “media” will get their focus off the “MAGA bomber” “sooner rather than later” (my quotes) and back onto the MAGA BullS@#*ter in order for his propaganda campaign to be more effective.  This is the very “media” Trump refers to as “the enemy of the people.”  Oh, by the way, the “MAGA Bomber” made the identical reference about the “media!”

Can you imagine what Trump is thinking (if he’s capable of that) regarding the possibility voters might vote against him as the result of his divisive rhetoric becomes more apparent to any voters “sitting on the fence.”  Trust me, he’ll be trying to find ways to get the “media’s attention” back onto his scandalous behavior as soon as possible – who knows to what extreme he’ll go in order to accomplish this – but, the bottom line is, as long as Trump is in the “White House” this recurring theme will continue to be a recurring theme.

Of course, then today some whack job – this one, another “white Nationalist” but, apparently one of the “Charlottesville ilk” who weren’t the “very fine people” – shot up a Jewish Synagogue in Pittsburgh killing 11 worshipers, wounding 4 police officers and a few others,  all the while spewing out anti-Semitic slogans in the attack.  The guy is part of the “alt-Right” movement which was/is the work of Steve Bannon and which looks at Trump as their “savior” – but, he, apparently, has been quoted as saying Trump doesn’t go “far enough.”  (Whatever that might mean?)  The bottom line is Trump is largely responsible for emboldening the neo-Nazi movement in America and it’s unlikely he’ll repent anytime soon.  The right wing violence in America is likely to get much worse before it gets better.

Here’s what quite possibly is the worst part of all this in my view – and, I’ve pointed this out numerous times prior to this week’s right wing violence.  (And, apparently, there’s much right wing violence that goes unreported by our “main stream” “liberal” media.)  Trump has fully prepared these nut jobs for the possibility he’s going to be impeached.  (It’s almost as if he knows something “we the people” don’t – if you know what I mean)  The MAGA bomber had a cache of weapons (and, maybe more bombs) and the Pittsburgh MURDERER apparently had a stash of 21 weapons at his apartment.

I know there are right wing zealots all across America who are armed to the hilt and I’ve had people I know who are Trump supporters tell me “there’s going to be civil war” – in anticipation of Trump’s impeachment.  (And, yes, I understand there very well could be “left wing zealots” out there as well, “armed and dangerous”)  Just look at the thugs at right wing rallies and this shouldn’t surprise you.  That being said, let’s hope enough democrats win on November 6th so that Trump will face accountability if Mueller’s report is as scathing as some (including myself) think it might be.  Whatever happens after that will likely be ugly and dangerous – but, at some point, it’s going to have to happen.  Period!

I’ve been pointing out since the origins of the “Tea Party” that “we the people” are in a WAR for the “heart and soul” of America.  (In my mind, to be resolved at the voting booth) Well, it’s gotten to the critical stage and in a week and a half we’ll see if all the “progressives” complaining about Trump will actually go to the polls.  That is the first step in stopping this disaster.

The next step?  Well, DEMANDING democrats FIGHT for the principles that caused them to be the party of “we the people” from the days of FDR until the 1970’s would be a good start.  As I’ve said many times, today’s version of the republican party needs to be voted into the history books – and, their place in the history books is NOT going to be one of prominence.   Once that happens, if democrats don’t fight for their traditional values it won’t be long and the republicans will reappear just like the cockroach you don’t use strong enough “stuff” to make sure they don’t come back.   Are democrats capable of doing this?  Well, I believe there are some younger ones who are capable of being strong leaders.  Let’s hope the “old guard” will step aside should the dems retake the Congress this year.

Final Thought:  I was watching some Trump supporters being interviewed at a rally the other night right after the MAGA Bomber had been identified – along with his political dogma.  I’m not sure how to describe what I saw and heard.  One person after another showed an embarrassing – well, I hate to say this – but, the word coming to mind is “stupidity,” regarding the MAGA Bomber and Trump.  Trump, himself, has claimed he “loves uneducated voters” – and, one by one the people at his rally showed why.  These people were actually suggesting President Obama sent the bomb to himself (and, likewise with the other 13 bombs).  The right wing brainwashing that’s been going on for years has been (and is) effective – based on what you hear from Trump’s supporters at these rallies.  Trump’s audience came across to me as pathetic – I keep telling myself they must have been “programmed” for years to have such a disregard for – well, in this instance – common sense.  It helped me to understand how they could force themselves to believe, for example, all 19 women claiming Trump sexually assaulted them were the LIARS.  Incredibly, they believe the LIAR in chief  is the “truth teller.”  (Despite FACT checkers identifying OVER 8000 LIES since he took office.  Yikes!!!

Bringing this nation “together” is going to be a monumental task and will require a leader of the “ages.”  Let’s hope there’s a democrat who will emerge who’s got what it takes to overcome the right wing MACHINE (Koch brother, etc) that’s been robbing the people at that Trump rally “blind” for years, along with all of us who can’t stand Trump.  It’s time “we the people” were educated as to what’s really been happening in America since Lewis Powell’s memo to the Chamber of Commerce back in 1972 started this move toward a corporatocracy.  Read Hedrick Smith’s “Who Stole the American Dream” and “The Family” by Jeff Sharlet.

Like everyone else, when it takes me multiple days to finish a rant, I end up “chasing my tail.”  My original point was that the economy, from my perspective, is teetering on the brink of a significant downturn.  All the wild Stock Market swings are the “sign” which gets my attention.  I believe the “scandal per day” approach by Trump and his sycophants will exacerbate the downturn once it hits – and, I don’t believe republicans (especially Trump) have the where-with-all to pull “we the people” out of a recession.  It’s almost as if Trump has been attempting to take “we the people” back to the days of Herbert Hoover.  Well, what’s the old saying?  “Be careful what you wish for.”  Let’s hope I’m wrong!

I ended my last rant by pointing out Trump, on purpose, claimed to be a “nationalist” in front of an audience apparently full of his favorite “uneducated voters” because they cheered what was essentially Trump putting himself in the company of – well, Adolf Hitler.  Of course, this should not surprise those who have been following this catastrophe from the start because the “hints” have been there since the early days of the campaign.  I started out pointing to the clear authoritarian tendencies Trump was exhibiting early on along with the reality that Trump’s campaign slogan mirrors that of Hitler’s.  (Make Germany Great Again)  The target “audience” is almost identical – the “conservative Christians” who feel a sense of loss as to how they view “their” country.

Of course, you couldn’t miss Trump’s “reality” after the march on Charlottesville by the neo-Nazi’s carrying tiki torches and chanting “Jews will not replace us” while brandishing Nazi flags and wearing Nazi armbands.  Trump, famously, claimed there were “very fine people” in that heinous group of, what should be, outcasts.  On top of all this there’s Trump’s apparent admiration for virtually every dictator on the planet and his “bromance” with Vladimir Putin.  Every indication is that Putin has some kind of “kompromat” on Trump – and, if you take the time to read books like Trump/Russia by Seth Hettena – it’s not hard to come to that conclusion.  The mystery is, what is it?  Hopefully, at some point, Robert Mueller will clue us all in.  (Which, by the way, makes the election on November 6th all the more important – because, I guarantee you if the “blue wave” doesn’t materialize Trump will be emboldened to fire Mueller and MUCH more – somehow he’s managed to get republicans cowering to him)

If you’re not sure, look up the term “nationalist” and, if you’re a republican, spend your time trying to rationalize how that’s not what Trump meant.  Then, think back to Steve Bannon and his “alt right” movement and think again.  When they talk about “deconstructing the administrative state” what they mean is TOTALLY revamping our system of government.  When they talk about people who protest against them as “angry mobs,” all while ginning up their “uneducated voters” to a fever pitch, thus turning them into an “angry mob,” maybe you’ll get the idea.  Kind of encouraging them to send dangerous stuff in the mail to the supposed “enemy of the people” – which would include the press and virtually ALL democrats!

The most difficult issue Trump has had to deal with in the past month is the death of Jamaal Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident journalist who was a legal resident of the United States and MURDERED in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey by Mohammad bin Salman’s (MBS) henchmen.  Of course, it was necessary for the Saudi’s, Trump, Jared Kushner (one of MBS’s best friends), and MBS himself to find an alternative explanation to the MURDER because of all the MONEY involved.  And, to be sure, we’re not just talking about the MONEY which would be jeopardized coming to America through arms sales and such (not to mention the oil issue), but, as I pointed out in my previous rant, the money Trump, himself, is getting via Saudi’s staying at his various hotels and “investing” in Trump properties around the world.  As Trump, himself, has said, “They’ve got a lot of MONEY.”

So, I believe the story they’ve ended up on is there was a “fist fight” between Khashoggi and one of the “henchmen” and Khashoggi was strangled (“accidentally”) when put in a choke hold by one of the “henchmen” allegedly trying to break up the fight.  Apparently all 18 “henchmen” that flew into Turkey, pre arranged, (Or, were there only 15 with others beamed in by satellite?) by the way, to confront Khashoggi after he’d been “lured” there by whom I’m not sure – but, lured just the same, from someone connected to MBS – have been arrested and one of the “leaders” has been “fired.”  (Personally, I thought they’d draw straws and the loser would face a public execution)  And, this concocted story works for Trump (and Kushner) because it allows them to (continue LYING as they(the Saudi’s) keep funneling the barrels of MONEY into their (Trump and Kushner) pockets and those of their benefactors.  (meaning the arms dealers selling BILLIONS worth of weaponry to Saudi Arabia)

Oh yes, MBS would qualify as a “nationalist” as well.  This is where I think Trump is the most envious of these dictators, er “nationalists,” who don’t have anything like checks and balances – which, by the way, Trump is trying to bypass by rigging this coming election in any way possible.  (We’re seeing voter suppression in multiple places around the country – not to mention, we have no idea how involved the Russians are at this point in time – we just know they’re “here”)  The true “nationalists” like MBS, Putin, Duterte (The Philippines), Erdogan (Turkey), etc. just kill journalists who they don’t like.  Journalists who are reporting the TRUTH about their despotic regimes.  Keep in mind, the above mentioned “henchmen” who “accidentally” killed Khashoggi brought a BONE SAW with them – I guess, “just in case.”

Seriously, that’s not what I thought was the traditional way to dispose of a body, even in Saudi Arabia.  If you remember, after Osama bin Laden was killed by America’s special forces they took special care to dispose of the body in a way that would not disrespect Muslim law.  According to multiple reports:  “The deceased’s body was washed (ablution) then placed in a white sheet. The body was placed in a weighted bag. A military officer read prepared religious remarks, which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker.  After the words were complete, the body was placed on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased’s body slid into the sea.”  They weren’t creative enough to bring a BONE SAW!?

As usual, I started this post (rant) yesterday which, in Trumpian time, is almost a life cycle, and, sure enough, Khashoggi’s MURDER is no longer “the most difficult issue” on Trump’s “plate,” as an entire day has passed.  Since then, (apparently) one of Trump’s deranged followers in one of the MOB’S he’s created in his “speaking tour” has decided to eliminate as many of the “enemies of the people” as he or she could by sending pipe bombs in the mail to President Obama, President Clinton and Secretary Clinton, CNN, Erick Holder, John Brennan via CNN (with Brennan’s name misspelled), Maxine Waters, and maybe Joe Biden (still to be determined as I’m writing this).  Fortunately, none of the bombs went off – which may be why people like Rush Limbaugh are suggesting it was a “liberal conspiracy” to fool people into thinking there’s a right wing fanatic out there.

And, of course, at this point in time “we the people” don’t know who the culprit is, but I’d say the odds are very strong, well, that there’s a right wing fanatic out there.  Actually, I believe there are an untold number of them “out there” – but, hopefully, most not interested in sending bombs through the mail.  Trump spent this evening attempting to avoid taking any responsibility for this happening while sounding as if he’s determined to find the perpetrator and suggesting “we the people” need to “come together.”  Here’s a suggestion:  As long as Trump is our so-called president  “we the people” aint coming together.  There’s too many of us who see right through all the LIES!

Let me give you a good example of how LYING has totally permeated the republican party – it’s TOTALLY acceptable to LIE to republican audiences because they just soak it up with no questions asked.  Tonight, Trump was making a last ditch effort to save Scott Walker’s job as governor of Wisconsin.  I actually heard Walker during his turn to speak claim that anyone who would suggest he’s not totally in favor of saving “pre-existing” conditions in regards to medical insurance would be LYING.  Well, here’s the TRUTH – Walker is one of the LEAD plaintiffs in a republican lawsuit intended to END The Affordable Care Act and the protections, in it, for people with pre-existing conditions – which would include MILLIONS of Americans.  Something like 75% (or more) of Americans oppose allowing insurance companies to discriminate based on your pre-existing conditions – but, that’s clearly no barrier to this republican lawsuit – and, with Kavanaugh on the Court, they have a decent chance of “winning.”

Republicans all over the country are LYING about this – the lawsuit has been brought by something like OVER 20 republican governors.  It’s almost as if they want the people in their states having NO health insurance and being forced into bankruptcy the first time a family member gets seriously ill.  I’ve had a hard time for years understanding how any of “we the people” would be able to support republicans who want to take their health care away.  Worse than that, republicans who willingly want to put MILLIONS of families one sickness away from losing everything they have.  This is really one of the shameful aspects of our “democracy” – especially when you realize well over HALF of Americans support health care for ALL!

Yet, we’ve got one MOB after another getting ginned up by Trump yelling things like “lock her up” for the latest democratic WOMAN Trump wants to demonize and actually believing Trump’s LIES without taking the one moment it would take to fact check each and every  one of them.  At some point the angst has to shift from Trump to the “uneducated voters” who seem to support every word that comes from his mouth.  They seem to think ALL of the “negative” stories floating around our news media about Trump are “fake news.”  This all is the very height (and purpose) of political projection.  Trump, over and over again, is able to place his shortcomings on those who oppose him.  He’s definitely a “nationalist” in line with many of his infamous predecessors.  He even practices the propaganda scheme of the Third Reich.  (Don’t know what I’m talking about? check out the archives and look for the “Big Lie Theory”)

As mentioned above, people in the “mold” of Hitler are/were “nationalists” and it’s very surreal to have a sitting so-called president of the United States claim to be in that camp – MOST, well, until Trump, ALL previous presidents wouldn’t get within driving distance of that label.  Trump brought it on himself.  One has to wonder if he’s so STUPID that he doesn’t know what he was talking about – who he aligned himself with?  Come on man, he’s the (so-called) president of the United States.  That would be even MORE embarrassing!  After all, he thought Fredrick Douglass was still alive early on, so …………………

The pipe bombs will likely push the Khashoggi scandal right into the same place as the Russia thing, the tax scam, the health care crisis, the abuse of NATO and the U.N., the fiasco in Helsinki where he threw our intelligence community under Putin’s “bus,” the North Korea “thing” where he got an agreement on a table napkin that ended the North Korea “problem,” and ALL the children separated from the parents at the border (brings tears to my eyes when I think about it) – not to mention the 19 women accusing him of sexual assault and the TWO women he paid off ILLEGALLY right before his “election” – all of this “onto the back burner.”  And, the one thing we can count on with Trump!  There’ll be another scandal tomorrow!!!

“He said he didn’t do it.”  How many times have we heard those words coming from the mouth of our so-called president as he attempts to deflect whatever the most recent absurd situation he’s trying to “get through” without getting to the truth.  As we’ve all learned by now, our so-called president lives in a world of LIES – referred to by his surrogates as “alternative facts.”  In this most recent case we’re talking about the MURDER of Jamaal Khashoggi, journalist from the Washington Post, who was killed and then, apparently, had his body cut into pieces with the BONE SAW the 15 man assassination “team” brought with them from Saudi Arabia.  Khashoggi’s “crime” was to write opinions in the Post not favorable to MBS (Muhammad bin Salman).  With Trump calling, in America, the press as the “enemy of the people” it’s no wonder an American “ally” would feel at ease in MURDERING a journalist who was a dissident.

There’s little doubt this MURDER was ordered by MBS, but as Trump says “MBS says he didn’t do it.”  If you remember, recently Judge Kavanaugh “said he didn’t do it.”  Roy Moore said “he didn’t do it.”  Rob Porter said “he didn’t do it.”  For Trump that appears to be all it takes.  In this case the MURDER seems to be the work of Jared Kushner’s “good buddy” MBS who is also the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and, therefore, in charge of BARRELS of money.  What is it that appears to be the motivating factor in just about any decision emanating from our present occupant of the “White House?”  I would contend it’s “barrels of money.”

And, the evidence is becoming clearer that the Saudi’s are “into” the Trump organization far deeper than “we the people” have been led to believe as our “dissident” journalists have been attempting to keep up with ALL the scandals coming from this “White House.”  Seemingly, a scandal (or more) per day.  The issue with Khashoggi should be of extreme interest to those Americans who are recognizing Trump is a threat to the very foundation of our republic.  His attacks on our “free press” have been incessant and they make me wonder to what lengths will he go to get rid of those in the press investigating him and his businesses.  To me, that’s one reason Trump seems to admire dictators like Vladimir Putin, Erdogan of Turkey, Duterte of the Philippines, MBS, and others around the world.  These dictators just pull out the “bone saws” and “eliminate” their “problem.”  (Of course, Putin uses poison)  Journalists are killed in ways “we the people” have a hard time imagining to discourage others from reporting! (Sadly, it appears to work)

In Khashoggi’s case the evidence is overwhelming as to what happened – it happened in the Saudi Embassy in Turkey and the Turks have video and audio recordings of the MURDER (and, dismemberment).  There, obviously, are many reasons why Trump wants to believe the ridiculous denials of MBS and they can be summed up in those “barrels of money.”  The Saudi’s will choose a “fall guy,” arrest him, and likely have a public execution and Trump will be satisfied “justice was done.”  Clearly, Trump’s number one priority is keeping those “barrels of money” coming.  Of course, recent presidents have saddled up close to the Saudi’s because they wanted to keep the “barrels of oil” coming – but, Trump has more complicated interests.

Trump has hotels all around the world which are frequented by members of the Saudi royal family to the tune of MILLIONS of dollars and he doesn’t want to do anything to cause that “flow” to slow down.  It’s been reported Trump’s hotels which were experiencing financial stress have become profitable again because of the YUGE (In Bernie’s words) amounts of money the Saudi’s “drop” on the Trump organization every time they “come to town.”  Additionally, Trump himself has pointed out the Saudi’s have spent “MILLIONS” (“They’ve got a lot of money”) investing in Trump properties in New York and other places around the globe.  Kind of like the members of the Russian Mafiya, who’ve purchased numerous properties in Trump projects as a way to “launder” their “ill gotten” gains.

Before he was “elected” (with 3 MILLION less votes that the first WOMAN to run for president) many “republicans” were part of the “never Trump” movement.  Now, the money changers are throwing money his way in an attempt to keep the money flowing their way.  The tax “scam” has proved to be HIGHLY beneficial to the bottom lines of the republican donor class and, on top of the money Trump is getting from them, he continues to “play” the media as if it was his personal harmonica.  I, personally, choose to watch MSNBC when I watch anything and they’re continuing to report virtually every word Trump says.  He’s got their reporters (and the others in the “White House” press corp) falling all over each other as they try to get the latest “scoop.”  In the process scandals which would have been the topic of conversation for weeks are now long forgotten in days.

As we go into this coming election (in about two weeks) there’s still HUNDREDS of children who’ve been RIPPED from their families – many likely to be permanently torn away.  There’s the looming TRILLION plus deficits for as far as the CBO can see which NO ONE is talking about.  There’s the Supreme Court which now has TWO “conservatives” credibly accused of sexual misconduct – the recent addition accused of attempted RAPE.  There’s a foreign policy which is headed “who knows where” – with traditional allies scratching their heads and wondering whether “we the people” are going to put a stop to this or not???  There’s the CONTINUED “meddling” in our election process and, in reality, our very nation’s “business” by Vladimir Putin, who’s number one goal is to destroy America’s standing in the world from the inside out – and, in Trump, he’s got the perfect “idiot” (their – meaning the Russians – characterization) to get the job done.  Trump continues to do Putin’s bidding as either a “witting” or “unwitting” agent of the Kremlin.  Any way you look at it, it’s BAD for “we the people.”  (In essence, the Russian “meddling” is an act of war)

I’ve referred to Trump as a “sixth grade bully” on many occasions.  I was a sixth grade teacher for the last 20+ years of my working life and Trump really reminds me of sixth graders I had in the classroom.  Today, as I had just turned on MSNBC – like clockwork – there was Trump with a gaggle of reporters climbing over each other trying to get today’s “scoop.”  It would be laughable if it weren’t all so serious.  (In my view, the media should follow him, but not give him access to live mikes and not report every word that comes from his mouth – they need to understand how they’re being played)  So, here’s Trump talking about “lying Ted” Cruz – who he was getting ready to head to Texas, at tax payers expense in “Air Force one,” in an attempt to prevent LYING Ted from losing to Beto O’Rourke.  It’s Texas, so even Ted Cruz is likely to win simply because he’s a republican – but, apparently Trump and Cruz have “kissed and made up.”

Today Trump said, “he’s no longer LYING Ted Cruz” because he’s been great on my agenda – or words to that affect.  So, the disrespect to Cruz’s wife is no longer an issue, nor what Trump said about his Dad – it’s just politics as usual in America.  Cruz and Trump are the perfect example of the republican party.  Neither one could give a rip about anything which would fall in the category of “moral values” – despite being leaders in the “party of moral values.”  Roy Moore was OK – because he’s a republican.  Kavanaugh’s OK because he’s a republican.  Trump’s OK because (he says) he’s a republican.  Of course, in Trump’s case, if it suited him better, he’d be a democrat or “whatever.”  And, of course, with Cruz, Trump’s OK because he’s going to help me keep my job.  (To me, it ALL stinks!)

As Trump was explaining why “LYING Ted” is no longer “LYING Ted” I just got this picture in my mind of a couple sixth graders on the playground having an argument and then making up.  And, the second boy (in this instance it would be Cruz) would be following the first around like a little puppy dog – bullying, therefore, successful.  Of course, the one thing bullies don’t like is when someone fights back – which is what, I hope, “we the people” will do on November 6th.  As I’m watching Trump, who was energized by his “win” with Kavanaugh’s confirmation (by the slimmest majority in Supreme Court history – I believe), I see someone who’s scared stiff about the upcoming election – he’s working “overtime” to prevent the “blue wave” – which likely would expose all kinds of stuff Trump doesn’t want “we the people” to know.

What those who might be thinking about NOT voting should consider is that republicans have multiple “strategies” they can use to stop the “blue wave” – and, most of them either are, or should be, illegal.  (In other words, EVERY  vote is important) There’s the voter suppression which is no secret to anyone who’s been paying attention to American politics for the past – well – MANY years.  This has always been an issue, but our right wing Supreme Court made it doubly so when they GUTTED the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  “Conservatives” have been implementing all kinds of DIRTY strategies ever since with the idea of making it either harder, or impossible, for “left” leaning voters to have their word count.

Then there are the Russians, who, believe me, are still busy turning “we the people” against each other in very sophisticated ways that will undoubtedly help Trump and the republicans.  And, of course, there are the unlimited funds (the “Koch brothers,” for example – it might now be “brother” – have “ponied” up something in the neighborhood of half a BILLION dollars – a big “thank you” to republicans for the tax “scam”) which is flowing freely as republican donors realize their “ill gotten” gains from the republican tax giveaway.  I could go on, but you get the point.  (at least I hope you do)

Most of all, should “we the people” do our usual and not show up at the polls, the “Russia thing” will soon be ended and we’ll likely NEVER know what Robert Mueller had discovered.  Mueller has stayed quiet during all of this, but we mostly know what he’s considering – at least on the “obstruction of justice” front.  He’s been trying for months now to interview Trump in order to figure out if he had “corrupt intent” when he was CLEARLY obstructing Mueller’s investigation.  It seems to me, based on the June 9, 2016 meeting with the Russians, “collusion” is a no-brainer.  But, of course, I’m no lawyer.  However, if we want to find out exactly what happened, the Democrats had better AT LEAST take back control of the House of Representatives.  I’ve said from the start, taking back the Senate would need a minor miracle.  (although, I am praying)

So we have a so-called president who’s in his fifth version of “He said he didn’t do it” as he tries to protect his “cash cow” coming from the Saudi’s.  Apparently president is a job with no requirements because Trump is doing nothing but giving campaign speeches in places that are “bright red.”  As long as he’s our so-called president America will be headed toward third world status.  I could go on and on about the DAMAGE, as I’ve referred to it, he’s caused this great nation – but, you can check out the archives.  The point here is that Trump is doing “double duty” these days – first, trying to prevent democrats from having any control of our government so he can continue doing as he pleases and secondly, trying to LIE for the Saudi’s so that they continue to unload massive amounts of their MONEY into HIS bank account.  You have to give Trump credit – no one has been able to figure out how to PILFER more of America’s wealth in our history – and, he’s doing right out in plain sight.  (And, of course, no one’s talking about all the children pulled from their families with no end of their trauma in sight.)

Final Thought:  Maybe that’s why so many around the world are thinking “we the people” are not that bright.  I guess we have an opportunity to regain our “status” world wide (with those people who believe in democracy) on November 6th.  Count me as one who will believe it when I see it – regarding whether or not progressives show up at the ballot box.  Let’s hope so, because the alternative is a disaster of epic proportions!  I have a friend who’s a Trump supporter and he truly believes there’s going to be a “red wave.”  Yikes!!!

OMG:  I wanted to re-read this before publishing it and, while I was doing so I happened to be listening to MSNBC and they showed a clip where, last night, Trump actually claimed he’s a NATIONALIST!  I’m not sure what was more shocking to me – Trump making such an incredible statement OR the audience breaking out in applause.  Do they know what that means? I thought to myself.  If you’re not sure, let me clue you in – HITLER was a NATIONALIST!  I’ve been pointing out the parallels between Trump and Hitler since he was running for president.  Do people really not care?  Or are America’s voters as “uneducated” as Trump claimed when he was a candidate.  He said it: “I love uneducated voters.”  What did he actually mean?  I’ll have more on this later, but, again, OMG!

Just a quick reminder:  We are a nation of IMMIGRANTS!

No matter the corroborating evidence the FBI finds or doesn’t find on Brett Kavanaugh he, in his testimony in front of the Senate and a world wide audience the other day, proved himself to not only be unqualified for the Supreme Court, but, additionally, in my view, he shouldn’t be sitting on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  This man appears to be a bit unstable.  I haven’t been able to get my mind off what it’s likely “like” living in his home.  I really truly hope the guy has stopped drinking – because with a “fuse” that short, well, to me he was scary.

I don’t know anyone – with the exception of Lindsay Graham (the biggest disappointment in all of this to me), Chuck Grassley, Orin Hatch, and most of the other WHITE males sitting on the republican side of the Senate Judiciary committee – who found Kavanaugh more credible than Ms. Ford.  And, I’m not one to be giving advice to republicans, but my suggestion is to “cut and run.”  Pull this guy’s nomination and move on.  Yes, you have a two vote advantage in the Senate, but if you confirm this guy the damage done to America will be extreme and the damage done to the republican party will last maybe a generation.

Yes, republicans are the masters at manipulating the media, they’re the masters at manipulating the voting districts, they’re the masters at voter suppression tactics, they’re the masters at funneling MONEY to the greedy people who are funding them, and they’re the masters at looking into the camera (or people’s faces) and LYING!  Their entire propaganda scheme is based on LYING – they’ve adopted “The Big Lie Theory” as I’ve said over and over again on this site.  (I really wish members of the “liberal media” would point out the “Big Lie Theory” as the work of the Germans of the Third Reich and adopted by the republican party of present day America.  Sad!)  As much as republicans are committed to what they call the “permanent republican ‘majority,'”  they always screw it up – despite their commitment to “the end justifies the means” or “win at all costs.”

This is why they’ve jumped on the Trump “band wagon” – because they believe it’s a “winning strategy” – where MANY of them were “never Trumpers” just a year or two ago.  The aforementioned Graham is a great example.  Two years ago I actually believed he’d be one of the principled republicans (I’m beginning to think that doesn’t exist) who would stand up to Trump.  Well, fast forward to today and Graham might as well be wearing the MAGA hat to work each day.  His outburst at the Kavanaugh hearing – where he apparently “fired” the lady republicans hired to “grill” Ms Ford and put on a show nearly comparable to the embarrassment which was Kavanaugh’s opening remarks – shows he’s more than just one of Trump’s “golfing buddies.”  Not only did Graham disrespect Ms Ford with his remarks, he TOTALLY disrespected the lady they flew out from Arizona.  Yikes!

These republicans – and, by the way, make no mistake – Kavanaugh IS a republican and will act as a REPUBLICAN if he’s somehow confirmed – not only appear to disrespect women it looks to me as if many of them despise women.  These are your classic “good ole boys” acting as if you challenge their authority and they’ll start throwing things.  Honestly, how you could expect 51 of them to band together and support what EVERYONE in the world who was watching yesterday saw is beyond me.  That shows how arrogant they are and how they believe they’ll be able to use all the money their wealthy benefactors are SHOVELING to them to keep control of Congress.  And, sadly, they might be right – at least in the Senate.

I wrote the other day about a couple who stopped by our house to visit – friends of my wife from 39+ years ago – who are Trump supporters.  These were two really nice GOOD people.  They are inundated by “conservative” media – mostly Fox “news” AND they HATE politics.  They pay attention to only what they feel they have to and they believe what they see and hear on Fox.  There are MILLIONS of good Americans just like them.  These two people were certain of beliefs that were simply factually incorrect.  For example, someone has convinced them that the crash of 2008 was caused by things which happened during LBJ’s time in office.  Both appeared to believe the ballooning deficits (and, those over the years) were/have been caused by democrats.  When I pointed out this was wrong, they questioned whether the Congressional Budget Office (or any other government agency keeping track of these things) could be trusted.  There’s Fox and other “conservative” websites where they get whatever information they end up with.  And, that’s what they believe.  They believe Trump tells them the truth!

So, the debacle which happened this past week with Kavanaugh giving what I can only describe as an odd, bizarre, and partisan opening speech to the Judiciary Committee and then following that up with a bizarre performance when being asked questions by the democrats on the Committee likely won’t “move the needle” on the two people I mentioned above or millions of other Americans who rely on Fox for their “news.”  Yes, in about 5 weeks there’s going to be an election, but the damage of Kavanaugh on the highest court in the land will be ongoing for the lives of my children.  My prayers are that the FBI does a thorough investigation and checks into ALL of the allegations against Kavanaugh.  My feelings have evolved to – “if he doesn’t withdraw, then he deserves to lose his seat on the court of appeals as well.”

When I heard him BLAME the Clinton’s for what he called the “smear campaign” against him, it almost caused me to fall over.  I was sitting watching TV by my self and all of a sudden I felt a “What the …….” moment just come barreling out of my mouth.  I couldn’t believe what I had just heard – except that he was already into an angry diatribe suggesting some “liberal” conspiracy to block his nomination.  He quickly made it clear to me why democrats were opposing him from the start – aside from the FACT his previous decisions would suggest the reason Trump selected him was out of “self-preservation.”  Kavanaugh has extreme views on executive power.  For example, the president can NOT be subpoenaed, he/she can’t even be investigated while in office.  According to Kavanaugh’s previous writings and decisions, even if a president, for example, CONSPIRED with the Russians to get elected, he couldn’t be investigated.

That should be enough to get his nomination defeated.  For heaven’s sake, republicans should NOT want a president to have dictatorial powers.  That is an extreme view of the constitution which I can’t even understand how anyone could “go there.”  (Republicans BLOCKED any “evidence” of Kavanaugh’s participation in the TORTURE “memos” during his years in GW Bush’s Office of Legal Counsel)  On top of Kavanaugh’s known views, he demonstrated he DOESN’T have the temperament to have a seat on the highest court in this nation.  We’ve seen with Clarence Thomas that once on the court, no matter what you do that shows you’re a republican hack, it’s almost impossible to get you removed.  Thomas, for example, goes to the Koch Brother’s retreats which couldn’t get more “partisan.”  Kavanaugh will be in the same mold only worse, in my view.

If Kavanaugh is confirmed, the damage to the court could ring right to the foundation of our republic.  Women all across the country are already outraged that he’s made it this far – if republicans “hold their noses” and move on with this the backlash will be even more severe.  And, trust me, it’s not just women who are angry at what they’re seeing.  I’m 71, I’m white, and I’m disgusted beyond my usual anti-republican feelings watching all of this.  I now see Kavanaugh as someone who’s dangerous.  His opening remarks will never leave him and I’m certain that people like Michael Avenatti will pursue the charges alleged by his client and those who are corroborating them.  Republicans will NOT be able to “sweep this under the rug.”

And, what about Jeff Flake.  Every once in a while he gives a speech on the Senate floor which makes people like me think maybe there’s a positive move afloat.  Then, he votes with TRUMP on every occasion.  Yes, he somewhat “intervened” in the committee vote on Kavanaugh and I’m happy he did so – however, I’m not convinced he’s a “no” on the nomination – even after the “investigation.”  To me, he shouldn’t need an investigation.  Kavanaugh has LIED on several occasions during this process, according to many observers, not including any LIES regarding his drinking habits and the allegations made against him.  His face got so red when he was accusing the democrats of a “smear campaign” and BLAMING the Clinton’s it actually looked to me like the face of a heavy drinker.  I guess Flake didn’t notice that – because, reportedly, he was a “yes” vote until just prior to the time of the actual vote to send Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the full Senate.

FOUR women have brought forth allegations of sexual misconduct – some of it very extreme – against Kavanaugh – and, I’ve seen NO evidence these people were recruited by democrats – at least, democrats in the Senate.  Clearly, Ms Ford was not “recruited” as Kavanaugh would suggest.  And, the ladies and those who corroborate their stories coming from Kavanaugh’s days at Yale, appear to me people acting in support of Ms Ford – that is, not coming forward to “smear” him without proof and urged on by democrats.  It appears the democrats simply believe the people should be “heard” – and, republicans, in their HASTE to get this to a final vote, consider anything which slows the process “stalling tactics.”  In other words, they believe Kavanaugh will be confirmed no matter what the evidence.

Final Thought:  I wrote this several weeks ago and all the “stuff” caused me to “lose my focus” – which, I believe, is Trump’s “plan” – so far as he plans anything.  That being said, I’m publishing it regardless i the hopes that anyone who reads this will be reminded of how important it is to VOTE in the November’s election – just a couple weeks away.  If I had the time to write today, I’d be writing about the danger – which is building the longer he’s allowed to remain in office – of Trump’s ATTACKS on our free press.  There will be more to come in the next few days.  Again, please VOTE on November 6 and REMEMBER the Russians are STILL ATTACKING our system of government and don’t believe what you read on Facebook or other social media outlets (which, I must admit, I don’t participate in).