I’ve written several posts about Trump’s so-called “tax cut” which was a “scam” to funnel over a TRILLION dollars to America’s elite – the corporate interests and the top 1% – those who don’t need the “boost” in the face of an economy at full employment and record corporate profits.  For example, I don’t know anyone who believes Warren Buffet and his “Berkshire Hathaway” corporation needed an additional $29 BILLION thanks to the tax scam.  There’s likely not to be a single job created due to that windfall to Buffet.  The “Koch brothers” are reportedly, just in their individual tax returns (not counting “Koch Industries”) saving close to $2 BILLION which, anyone paying attention to them knows, means even MORE money fueled into the “coffers” of republicans willing to “toe the (Koch) line.”

Every cent of the tax scam – about $1.5 TRILLION – is going to be borrowed money.  I believe, along with the Trump budget, the annual deficit will soon be over $1 TRILLION per YEAR thanks to Trump’s and the republican’s agenda!  It took President Obama 7 years to reduce the annual deficit (with, by the way, no republican help and republicans complaining about the deficit – which was created by Bush/Cheney – virtually every day) from the $1.5 TRILLION per year which he “inherited” to around $400 BILLION when he left office.  Well, it didn’t take long and Trump, with ONLY republican help, has pushed the annual deficit back over a TRILLION each year – for the foreseeable future.  And, of course, there’s more.

In Trump’s first year in the “White House” he’s done a couple “biggies” that are “Making China Great Again” by pulling out of two of President Obama’s signature achievements:  The Paris Climate Accord AND the TPP trade agreement.  (Of course, many democrats also disagreed with the TPP, but Obama steadfastly supported it as integral to America’s economic future)  Well, it appears the TPP has opened the door for China to do what President Obama was trying to prevent, and that is dominating the Southeast Asian economy.  In the same light, China is taking the lead in solar and wind technology which, it makes sense to me, is a much smarter “road” than pushing to save coal – even “clean coal” whatever that might be.

Now, Trump is imposing tariffs on the importation of Chinese steel and aluminum.  Of course, America imports far more steel and aluminum from her traditional allies like Canada, Mexico, and countries in Western Europe than from China.  Again, we are left to wonder if Trump has any idea what he’s doing.  (Of course, people like me have been saying from the start he has NO IDEA what he’s doing.)  The tariff situation is just one more example of this, and it is a great example of what I’ve often referred to as the “damage” Trump is imposing on the rest of us.  Of course, America’s “religious right” is accepting of all the “damage” in return for a bunch of right wing judges and attacks on the Affordable Care Act, thereby putting MILLIONS of Americans off their health insurance and raising the costs for just about everyone else.  History tells us the tariffs will create way more damage than good in the long run.  (I almost feel the tariffs were put in place in a desperate attempt to save the special election in Pennsylvania for Trump)

When it comes to the “damage” resulting from the tariffs Trump has claimed, “Trade wars are easy to win,” whatever he means by that.  Ask Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and they’ll likely disagree – or ask republican senators from the “farm belt.”  Tariff “wars” can be described as “tit for tat.”  Based on reports I’ve heard the resulting “retaliation” to Trump’s tariffs will affect areas of the country considered “red.”  (If you live under a rock, that means republican)  The threat of European tariffs on, for example, Harley Davidson motorcycles got Ryan’s attention, because they’re made in Wisconsin.  Europe is threatening tariffs on Kentucky whiskey – I’m OK with that, but not McConnell.  And, tariffs on American agricultural products could affect farmers all over the Mid West and West.  However, according to Trump, this “war” will be easy to win.  We’ll see!

Since the beginning of Trump’s so-called administration people like me have been questioning when will he be impeached?  Of course, I’ve always known that nothing will happen until republicans decide THEY’VE had enough.  Yes, after the 2018 Mid Terms there’s a good chance democrats will control the House and that’s where impeachment takes place.  However, it’s the Senate which convicts a president who’s been impeached and there’s no way democrats will have a two thirds majority in the Senate after 2018 – so, it will only take 34 republicans to keep this nightmare from happening day by day.  Trust me, despite the “deplorable” attacks on his wife coming from Trump, Ted Cruz has become a “believer.”  He’s a great example of where the “moral clarity” of the republican party lies.  It’s a FACT Trump is supported in the CHURCHES of the so-called “Christian right.”  As a Christian myself, I struggle every day to understand that.  The reality is the “Christian right” remains Trump’s “base.”

I was listening this morning to a clip from the “Morning Joe” show on MSNBC where Joe Scarborough, until Trump a “conservative” republican, compared Trump to Bill Clinton and commented on the similarity between the issues of both.  Of course, he was referring to the infidelity issues – which, to me, are – yes – similar, but even Clinton pales compared to Trump.  Had Clinton’s lawyer, for example, paid off a “porn star” days before his first election to buy her silence – well, I believe the resulting outrage would have spread into enough of the democratic party that Clinton would have been removed from office and Al Gore would have been president.  Of course, both Clinton and Trump “lied about sex” – but, Trump LIES about virtually everything AND Clinton PROVED he knew how to govern.

I’ve pointed this out numerous times on this site (despite my own disgust with Clinton’s behavior – I do have “conservative values” although I would not qualify to be an “altar boy” myself.  It says in the Bible, “let the man with no sin throw the first stone” – so, I’ve got to lay my “stone” down – I’m just sayin….) that Clinton left office with the nation “enjoying” a $250 BILLION surplus and a government that had been “pared down.”  (That’s what republicans claim they will do, but they NEVER do – mainly because they know how to win elections but they DON’T know how to govern)  I’m not trying to validate Clinton’s personal behavior, but, to me, the bottom line in governing is to cause the government to “live within its means” and to keep the country safe.  When Clinton left office, he was popular world wide and so was America.  Bush/Cheney put a HUGE “dent” in America’s standing in the world which President Obama significantly repaired.  And, now we’re STUCK with Trump and the DAMAGE is mounting fast!

I have to keep wondering, how long will EVEN republicans put up with this?  Even if they’re OK with Trump paying off a “porn star” prior to an election I’m guessing Robert Mueller is not.  (The FBI should not be happy about that as well as the Justice Department, but, despite all the pernicious attacks on his character, Jeff Sessions continues to appear as if wanting to curry favor with Trump.)  It appears republicans are OK with Russians interfering in our election and actually helping Trump win (possibly in coordination with Trump’s campaign) but, I’m guessing Mueller is NOT.  Republicans may be OK with Trump’s continual PROFITING off of his office – against the tenets of the constitution – but, I’m guessing Mueller’s NOT OK with that.  Republicans not only appear to be OK with attacking political opponents, they’re helping Trump do so – and, that’s one of the foundation points of an autocratic regime – but, I’m guessing Mueller sees it for what it is – deflection from the real issue and I don’t believe, in America, Trump will be allowed to get away with this.

Republicans in Congress appear to be OK with Trump bringing his daughter and son-in-law into the “White House” as “senior advisors” (they are both in their mid-thirties with NO government experience) – commonly referred to as “nepotism” – but, I don’t believe Mueller is fooled.  Both Ivanka Trump and, more likely, Jared Kushner appear to be in the “sights” of Mr. Mueller.  Certainly, Jared Kushner has committed several CRIMES we know about via the false statements on his SF 86 forms.  For whatever reason Kushner has been denied a security clearance and the rumors about his financial misdeeds would have been  enough, had it been Mrs. Clinton or an Obama, for republicans to be screaming “jail.”  They’re still screaming “jail” but for entirely nefarious reasons.  Trey Gowdy  STILL wants to investigate Mrs. Clinton’s “email scandal” (Gowdy aka Benghazi) and now he and his cohorts are looking at “Uranium 1” in their DESPERATE attempt to DEFLECT America’s attention from the reality there’s a buffoon in the “White House” who’s connected at the hip with Vladimir Putin.  I honestly have to wonder if these republicans believe in anything?

Here’s what’s making me think even republicans are about to turn on Trump.  For the longest time Mike Pense was like Trump’s “puppy dog.”  I actually believe he brought a lot of shame on himself in places that will likely be forgotten once republicans do the “right thing” and end this nightmare.  Like for example, when he LIED for Trump about why Comey was fired.  If Pense can escape his participation in the OBSTRUCTION of justice I’m guessing he’s now preparing for his ultimate “prize.”  If you’ve noticed, of late, Pense has been “under the radar.”  You don’t see him, right now, attempting to cover up Trump’s “porn star” issues, or the tariff issue, or anything else.  It looks to me as if he’s “laying in the weeds” waiting for “his time.”  Trump seems to be unraveling more than usual and Pense is smart enough to get out of the way.  There’s a reason Pense started a “Super PAC” a few months back.  The man wants to be the one still standing when Trump “goes down.”

This tariff thing just might be “the straw that broke the camel’s back” for republicans and Trump.  They got their tax cut (scam) and that can’t be taken away (at least by Trump).  They’ve got a bunch of judges – and, by the way – that will continue under Pense.  The republican donors are happy because they’re getting even FILTHIER rich and, it appears to me, Trump may have served his “purpose.”  Now that he’s “going rogue” (tariffs) maybe they will finally think “it’s time for a change” – hoping that by dumping Trump they have a better chance to retain their majority in the House.  Will they finally regain their “moral compass?”  (And, believe me, I use the word “regain” with tongue in cheek – I don’t believe they have one!)  The republican “base” will believe whatever “Fox and Friends” tells them to believe.  It could be a couple years before their “base” understands how they’ve been ripped off in the tax scam.  But one thing they will easily understand, Pense is closer to a “true conservative” than Trump.  (although Pense has proven to lack that “moral compass” as well – he almost disgusts me more than Trump – often times I feel Trump can’t help himself – Pense is totally calculated)

Final thought:  Yes, I feel I should “put my stone down.”  But, at the same time, as I watch what is happening to the country I love, I’m unable to remain quiet.  I realize these words just wander in “cyberspace” and I have no idea who reads them – but, in my heart, I have to get these words out.  The FACT it’s “Christians” supporting the republican party and, in particular, Trump is so difficult for me to understand.  This all started with Bush/Cheney which caused me to have similar feelings.  I’m seeing a nation that is fulfilling the prophetic warning of Dwight Eisenhower.  We’ve succumbed to the “military industrial complex” with the result being today’s republican party.  With Trump it’s gotten worse.  It were the “right wing Christians” who were the “base” of the Third Reich.  Americans need to wake up before it’s too late.  Maybe, just maybe, Trump’s tariffs which could affect many republican members of Congress negatively will get their attention.  After all, it has always appeared to me that with republicans, it’s all about the money, PERIOD!

I’m presently reading “The Despot’s Apprentice” by Brian Klaas.  The book is subtitled “Donald Trump’s attack on Democracy” and the author expertly lays out how despots around the world have taken democracies and turned them into dictatorships – as in Thailand and Turkey to name a couple of his examples.  He’s been studying this phenomenon for several years and, while the United States is a much more difficult “problem” for an authoritarian, the reality is that “we” are not immune – and, Trump has all the makings of a fascist type dictator.  There’s, in my view, more than one reason why Trump NEVER says a bad word about Vladimir Putin.  And, one of the reasons isn’t the so-called “Russia thing.”

One of the most egregious ways a democracy can be turned into an authoritarian regime is via attacks on the “free press.”  Right now, this evening, I happen to be watching MSNBC as so many Americans are attempting to understand the most recent school shooting (and, my perspective is that I’m a retired school teacher) and what, if anything considering the “hold” the NRA has on our politicians, what “we the people” can do to prevent future tragedies from happening.  As I’m watching the TV – MSNBC is widely considered the “liberal” antidote to Fox – at least with the people I know – I’m witnessing a great example of the false equivalency Klaas refers to regarding to how the media is used to “weaponize” autocrats.

Even the guests on the shows I’m watching – many of them either students or teachers who’ve been given a temporary “platform” to express their views – are giving a clear example of the danger when the media is being used by those who would accept an authoritarian state.  Let me explain:

Both commentators and guests, when referring to the “gun debate” are suggesting the problem is with “politicians” – and, I just listened to a teacher from the school in Florida which was attacked last week say, “it doesn’t matter which party” when referring to the “politician  problem.”  Now, keep in mind, I’ve always been an independent – but, had I been the host of the show where that comment was made I would have to have said – “yes, it does matter which party” you’re talking about when talking about gun safety.  While there are certainly democrats who take NRA money, the REAL problem is with the republican party.  They are the ones who, every time something like this happens, propose MORE guns as the solution.  They are the ones taking BOATLOADS of NRA money AND they are the party where if you even suggest some kind of sensible gun legislation, as Trump himself would say, “you’re fired!”  (Although, I have to say, Trump is proposing things the NRA may not be all that happy with – although, he’ll probably never actually support anything making to actual legislation)

This is the perfect example of how Trump and those who support him manipulate our “free press” in their effort to marginalize it – therefore, allowing them to “rule” as they please.  We’ve seen this since the early days of Fox “news” where they came up with the moniker “fair and balanced” – as if to be “fair” in discussing an issue you need one democrat and one republican.  This often has led to what I (and many others, I’m sure) call the “false equivalency” I mentioned above.  If you have one side of an issue presenting actual facts which are responded to by LIES the situation/discussion is not “fair and balanced.”  What you get is a “muddying of the waters” – which is a key tool of the autocrat.  This is how people like Trump manipulate the discussion.  (If you are unfamiliar with the “Big Lie Theory” check out some of my previous posts – it was devised by Joseph Goebbels of the Third Reich and it’s been “adopted” by Fox – and, their friends)

I’ve said on this site many times that when I can stomach watching the “news” I usually watch MSNBC and they are a great example of an outlet that has fallen for this “Trump trick.”  As I watched the previous election unfold I noticed MSNBC going out of their way to, what appeared to me at the time, be “fair” to the Trump campaign.  It seemed as if there was an endless number of Trump speeches broadcast from end to end.  I remember, at the time, wondering if Mrs. Clinton was giving speeches or why was Trump the subject on MSNBC almost endlessly.  I struggled with believing they were attempting to be fair as opposed to they didn’t like Mrs. Clinton and I finally decided they were attempting to make sure the election was close so they could generate more MONEY in advertising revenue.

Regardless, I don’t remember much, if at all, of MSNBC actually reporting on Mrs. Clinton’s positions on the “issues of the day.”  It seemed as if neither candidate had positions on the issues of the day – but, I know that’s not true and I actually knew Mrs. Clinton’s positions from other sources – but, my point is it appeared to me at the time (and, I still believe this) MSNBC was attempting to create a false equivalency between the two candidates – they weren’t  “telling it like it is” and this type of reporting is evolving into a plague on our republic.

I think MSNBC has recognized what they did during the election – just as, I believe, James Comey recognized, after the fact, what his announcement just 11 days prior to the election did.  While places like MSNBC and, in addition, the FBI are attempting to actually figure out what they enabled on November 8, 2016, the republican party has recognized that Trump provides them with what they see as “the opportunity of a lifetime.”  He’ll sign their stuff – whatever they can get to him.  So, they’re willing to go along with his attack on the fundamentals of our nation.

This is leading to another of the “tenets” of authoritarians who are in the process of destroying democracies and that is they attack the intelligence community.  Virtually every day Trump is attacking the FBI and the Justice Department.  By turning as many Americans as possible against our Justice Department Trump is attempting to create a circumstance where Americans lose trust in the most important institution which creates stability in our nation.  It is “we the people’s” belief in the fairness of our Justice system that allows us to feel we really do live in a “nation of laws and not men.”  In fact, while most, like myself, believe the president is not “above the law,” what the authoritarian attempts to create is an environment where “we the people” don’t trust the “law” and, therefore, we “grant” him/her more authority.

Clearly, Trump is the type of person who wants to make decisions unilaterally – without regard to what our founders put into the constitution – the “checks and balances” – which were designed to prevent EXACTLY what Trump is attempting to create.  Trump has attacked what he called “so-called” judges who ruled against his unconstitutional “travel bans,” he attacked a judge of Mexican heritage for being unable to render a fair verdict because of his heritage, and he’s been RAILING against Jeff Sessions since almost day one of Sessions’ term as Attorney General – because he followed Justice Department protocol and recused himself from the so-called “Russia thing.”  Sessions was integrally involved in the Trump campaign and was obligated to recuse himself from any investigations into the campaign – the reality is that it’s Trump’s lack of knowledge of how the government works that is the problem (for him) because it shouldn’t have been a surprise to him that Sessions would need to recuse himself from any investigation into his campaign.  The Attorney General’s job is NOT to protect the president – it is to uphold the constitution.

One more example of what Trump is doing that mirrors other authoritarian personalities is his willingness to profit from his office.  Trump has business interests around the world and it appears he’s tied into some very questionable financial interests and he brazenly continues to profit off of his various interests.  Just in the United States alone – there are some obvious examples.  He has a hotel in the old Post Office building close to the “White House” and foreign governments are paying premium prices to use that facility apparently in an effort to gain more access to the so-called president.  Trump has interests in places like The Philippines, Turkey, Panama, and other countries around the world where democracies have succumbed to authoritarians.  Trump has chosen to focus America’s foreign policy on these places at the expense of our traditional European allies.  Aligning himself with people like Vladimir Putin, Rodrigo Duterte, or Recep Tayyip Erdoğan takes any mystery of Trump’s inner thoughts away.

Additionally, Trump’s authoritarian tendencies are showing themselves in another way as he attempts to circumvent our constitution.  This strategy is called “divide and conquer.”  Trump clearly has associated himself with the “white nationalist” (many call it the “white supremacist”) movement – it’s actually been his “motor” to the Oval Office.  Trump, early on in the administration of Barack Obama, showed his racist beliefs as he led the so-called “birther” movement.  Over the course of his campaign he attacked those of Mexican heritage, Muslim heritage, African heritage, and anyone who disagreed with him.  Since the election he’s continued this strategy – unwilling to “bend” even after a woman was killed – as he called those carrying tiki torches, wearing Nazi armbands, carrying Nazi flags, and chanting “Jews will not replace us” at Charlottesville “very fine people.”  Clearly he’s attempting to pit “white” against “other.”  This is a traditional tactic of the authoritarian “leader.”  Trump’s propensity to LIE allows him to continue to fuel division among Americans in strategic ways.

Lastly, Trump is showing classic authoritarian tendencies as he continues to attack his political opponents.  He’s still leading chants of “lock her up” regarding Hillary Clinton in a classic parallel to third world nations deal with the problem of “dissent” by jailing or “disappearing” the dissenters.  He’s also attacking people like James Comey – who, in reality, is the reason he’s in the “White House” in the first place.  Even Trump’s own internal polling, in the days prior to the election, identified Comey’s ill advised announcement that the “Clinton email investigation had been re-opened,” swung the election in his favor.  Yet, he’s still attacking Comey and suggesting even he should be jailed.  Trump has been continually reported to be considering FIRING Robert Mueller, apparently thinking THAT would end the “Russia thing” – just as he felt firing Comey would put that investigation to an end.  Sadly, there appear to me way too many members of the republican party who are willing to go along with Trump in this aspect of his attempt to turn America into a fascist state.

People like Devin Nunes, Trey Gowdy, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, and Orrin Hatch to name a few seem willing to carry Trump’s “water” as he tries to become America’s dictator.  It’s been shocking to me to see some of these people, who, in the past, would have been at the forefront of the opposition to an administration so beholden to Russia – and, KNOWING, Russia HELPED them during the election – actually, willing to disregard the intervention and HELP enable it.  The bottom line here is that America is under attack and the attack is coming from “within.”  Trump is demonstrating virtually ALL the tendencies of a fascist authoritarian dictator.  It is up to “we the people” to stop this madness.  I believe too many Americans have just taken our democratic republic for granted.  I read the other day only 1 in 4 Americans can name the three branches of government.  This is a national disgrace and it needs to be dealt with.  Our founders gave us a solution and it’s NOT the so-called “2nd amendment.”  It’s the voting booth and the change needs to begin in 2018.  I’ve said this for years, “if we don’t vote, we deserve what we get.”

Final Thought:  I’ve written about the “damage” Trump is doing to our nation many times.  Soon I”ll have another post regarding Trump’s unhinged economic policy that threatens our economic stability – the stability he inherited from President Obama.  Obama worked to “fix” the MESS he inherited from Bush/Cheney – the “Great Recession.”  I believe what Trump is conceivably creating will be MUCH worse than what happened under Bush/Cheney.  That post will be next.  (And, the “damage” from Trump will likely be much greater than a ravaged economy – the “damage” he’s creating with our traditional allies may be very difficult to “fix” – depending on how long republicans allow this nightmare to continue)

During the 2016 campaign for president of the United States while many, including myself, were observing what we thought was republicans selecting a buffoon as a candidate for the highest office in the land, well, the joke was on us.  Donald Trump was the perfect candidate for all the right wing republicans who want to “Make America White Again,” and who couldn’t get their draconian legislation past Barack Obama.  Additionally, he was the perfect candidate for Vladimir Putin who had/has a passionate HATE for Hillary Clinton (and Obama).  I don’t believe either Putin or the right wing republicans thought Trump had the slightest chance to actually win, but they were dead set on damaging Mrs. Clinton to the “nth” degree in the process of the election.  As it turned out, both got more than they could have dreamed of.

Let’s start with the Russians.  It’s clear to me their intention was to create as much discord in America as they could.  While their efforts were aimed at propping up Trump, in reality, I believe, their goal was to tear down Mrs. Clinton as much as possible to further weaken her ability to govern once, as expected, in office.  Of course, just as they’re still involved in their efforts to use our open society against us, that is to turn Americans into divisive cliques – they would possibly be more-so had Clinton won – because I’m not sure “we the people” would be as aware of what they were/are up to had Trump not been elected.  For example, it’s unlikely there would  be a “special counsel” investigating the Trump campaign’s potential involvement with the Russians had Mrs. Clinton won.  (I don’t believe democrats carry out political vendettas against their defeated opponents)

However, presuming the intentions of the Russians was/is to sow discontent and exacerbate the divisions that already exist in America, Trump is likely beyond their wildest dreams.  It’s like the gift that just keeps giving – in the form of “tweet” after “tweet.”  As more evidence comes out showing what the Russians were/are up to – instead of reacting in a way that would make “we the people” believe he wants to do something about it – Trump roils into fits of “Twitter” rage.  Keep in mind, there’s no doubt the Russians knew the level of Trump’s narcissism before they “chose” him as the republicans’ candidate back in 2016. (I believe their “work” in cultivating Trump began well before 2016) He’ll NEVER accept that his “brilliance” wasn’t the reason he “won” the election (with 3 MILLION less votes than Mrs. Clinton).  But ………

Therefore, the Russian “intrusion” into America’s politics will continue as long as Trump is in  the “White House.”  They will continue to strategically send the REAL “fake news” to the places in America where the people are the most vulnerable.  (Sadly, it’s as if they’re working hand and hand with Fox “news” and people like Sean Hannity)  And you have to wonder – well, at least I am wondering – how they’ve figured out where those places are?  It does make me think they’re getting help from somewhere.  I’m sure, at this point, the Russians are preparing the “true” Trump supporters for impeachment possibilities and they’ll be “ginning” them up to a fever pitch.  Remember, their goal is to destabilize America, and Trump is the perfect “stooge” to allow them success.  The Russians would like nothing better than to see Americans fighting in the streets over the so-called “Russia thing” – as Trump put it to Lester Holt when he admitted to obstructing justice – after Trump is impeached OR after he and his republican enablers cut off Mueller’s investigation prior to its completion.

Not only is Trump perfect for the Russians by allowing them to turn Americans against each other, but he’s the perfect (so-called) president, from the Russians point of view, in regard to what he’s doing to America’s stature around the globe.  Trump, in his obsession with undoing as much of President Obama’s work as possible, is undermining “we the people’s” best interests in several areas world wide, especially to Vladimir Putin’s delight, in regard to dealing with NATO.  Just as Trump, himself, recently “tweeted,” the Russians “are laughing their asses off” at “we the people” (my words) he’s correct – contrary, however, to what Trump thinks, they’re laughing AT him (and, unfortunately, us for falling for their “tricks”).  Which brings me to the republicans.  Who knew?  That is, who knew it would be the republicans who would be willing to allow our nation to be attacked, without response, by the Russians.  All that bloviating over the years is, presently, ringing quite HOLLOW!

So, as I stated earlier, Trump is also a perfect president for the republicans.  I’ve mentioned many times over the years – since the era of Bush/Cheney – the republican “dream” as articulated by none other than Karl Rove for the so-called “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  They believed back in the days of Bush/Cheney that with control of the courts, the “White House,” and Congress – along with GOP TV (Fox) and the right wing water carriers on the radio airwaves – they could have a “stranglehold” on POWER in our “democracy” for the foreseeable future.  That is, with their “caginess” they could maintain POWER indefinitely with much less than a majority of voters supporting them.  (GW Bush seemed perfect for the job of president – but, he had one problem – a sliver of a “moral compass” and believed in the constitution – to a degree)

How would they pull this off?  Well, by gerry rigging the voting process on one “front.”  Let’s start with gerrymandering – where they “rig” the voting districts across as much of America as they can, creating “safe districts” in their quest to control the House of Representatives.  And, obviously, they’ve succeeded in this part of the plan.  For the past several elections, democrats have earned MILLIONS more votes than republicans in the “battles” for seats in the House of Representatives, yet republicans continue to have a significant “majority.”  George W Bush bungled up so much during his regime that democrats managed to take back control of the House in 2006 as the American public clearly voted democrats into control of the House to stop the war in Iraq.  (Of course, what “we the people” got was the so-called “surge” as Bush and republicans thumbed their collective noses at democrats daring them to “do something about it” – which of course, they didn’t, but, I digress – it’s a habit)

The next part of the republican scheme is voter suppression.  We saw that in its most arrogance when Trump actually set up a commission designed to PROVE 3 to 5 MILLION illegal aliens ALL voted for Hillary Clinton – explaining why he LOST the popular vote.  But, their actual “plan” is much more sophisticated than that.  First, it relies on their control of the courts – the courts that started all this by declaring Bush president back in 2000 (I’m digressing again) – in 2014, led by Justices Alito and Roberts – GW Bush appointees to the court – the Supreme Court GUTTED the 1965 Voting Rights Act that so many heroic – mostly – African Americans shed their BLOOD in order to get passed.  Almost as if in coordination with the right wing court one state after another began instituting VOTER SUPPRESSION laws within days of the courts ruling.  Just those laws, themselves, aside from the Russians, aside from Comey, and aside from the false narrative presented by the media, and aside from Hillary Clinton’s poor campaign – those voter suppression tactics may have been enough to carry the election for Trump.

I heard reports right after the election that somewhere around 300,000 people in Wisconsin were disenfranchised in 2016 by their new voter ID law.  Additionally, other states which passed various forms of restrictive voter ID laws prior to the election were North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida – to name a few.  Something like a TOTAL of 75,000 votes across Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania swung the electoral college in Trump’s direction.  There were other factors in the 2016 election, but this was a significant one that gets little attention.  The point is, it’s part of the strategy that leads republicans to believe they can control our government with significantly less than a 50% plus one level of support.  I believe Trump, himself, believes 40% is enough to get re-elected.

And, of course, the courts are a very IMPORTANT part of this republican scheme – which would essentially turn America into an autocracy.  The Supreme Court has made some – shall we say – curious decisions of late – but, in my view, they ALL pale compared to “Citizens United.”  The Citizens United decision, for example, essentially made it easier for the Russians to “interfere” in the 2016 election.  It’s what is allowing Charles and David Koch to pour HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars into each election cycle.  They’ll likely “invest” close to HALF A BILLION dollars during the 2018 election as they attempt to continue the republican stranglehold on government.  And, as I mentioned above, they’ve got the perfect “stooge” in the “White House” – so, if they can prevent the democratic “wave” of 2018 – the Koch’s and their “peer group” will be every bit as happy as Vladimir Putin – they’ll essentially be working together to keep Trump in POWER!

Why do I call Trump the “perfect stooge?” you might ask.  Well, for starters, he is a significant improvement, in the eyes of the republican “puppet masters” in that he has NO moral compass and believes the constitution is a ridiculous burden on his vision of POWER.  Additionally, he’s willing to FIGHT the free press in a manner that would make people like Erdogan of Turkey and Putin in Russia proud.  Of course, in America, the press is still “standing” and “we the people” still have the opportunity to vote these republicans out of office – despite the obstacles mentioned above – but Trump will not shy away from his attempt to turn America into a totally fascist state as long as he’s still in the “White House.”  To the republican “elite” they couldn’t ask for more – as the saying goes, “It’s all about the POWER baby!”  (Well, actually, I think I just made up that “saying.”)  The daily dose of “scandal” bothers the republican leaders NOT (at all) – all they care about is having someone in the “White House” who will sign their legislation – like the recent HUGE gift to America’s wealthy in the “tax scam.”  (the $1.4 BILLION headed to the Koch’s will leave a smile on their faces as they pour much of it back into the pockets of their republican “puppets” who will continue to vote against the interests of “we the people” – “it’s all about the money, baby!” – I think that might actually be a “famous saying”)

If you remember all the self-righteous republicans joining the “never Trump” team after the “Access Hollywood” tape came out and then, later, doing exactly what Amarosa Manigault predicted – which was “bowing down to Trump.”  Makes my stomach curl just writing that!  Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, and now even, apparently Bob Corker – and, maybe even Mitt Romney – plus scores of other republicans, they’re all “soiling” themselves as they “bow down to Trump.” As the Mueller investigation continues to “unwind” it will be interesting to watch these republicans equivocate as they try to find their way back to the “never Trump” team they abandoned for political expediency.  We’ve learned “for sure” the “Russia thing” is NO “hoax” – so Trump will have to aim his “tweet storm” in a different direction.  Sadly, “we the people” still have little hope there are honorable republicans in Congress willing to do “the right thing” in the face of overwhelming evidence there’s a tyrant in the “White House.”  Is he still their perfect tyrant?

What will be interesting lies ahead – with the final report of Mueller.  It seems clear to me that Trump is in Mueller’s “headlights.”  And, Jared Kushner, Donald Jr., and many others along the way could be facing serious charges.  This issue with the Russians, despite the words of people like Hannity, is serious business.  We’re talking words like, espionage, sedition, treason, traitor.  This could get very ugly and, I believe, there really are Americans who want to FIGHT BACK against the Russians in a way that shows we can GOVERN ourselves and we’re going to keep our OPEN society despite their (the Russians) efforts to undermine it!  Trump might be the perfect “stooge” for the Russians and the republicans, but Robert Mueller is perfect for “we the people.”

Final Thought:  I didn’t elaborate on Trump’s propensity to LIE – he’s a pathological LIAR which puts him in the company of other tyrants like the above mentioned Erdogan and Putin – PLUS Trump’s actions are putting smiles on the faces of the leaders in China, for sure, and likely other places around the world as Trump is taking us down instead of up.  Pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords and the TPP will just cause Trump even more unfavorable comparisons to the president he despises above all others, Barack Obama.  And, if he succeeds in undoing the Iran agreement, the comparison will become even more stark.  Trump is making President Obama more popular than he ever was while in office!

I want to write about how John Kelly fits so nicely in Trump’s “White House” but, first, I’ve got to “crow” a bit.  I still remember back in the early 70’s listening to Richard Nixon defend deficit spending by claiming it was like having a “mortgage on your house.”  Of course, back then the deficit was a few BILLION dollars.  Foolish people like myself have been complaining about deficit spending repeatedly since.  And, curiously, each time there’s a democrat in the White House, the annual deficit goes down – despite the claims from “conservatives” to the contrary.

Jimmy Carter took the deficits he inherited from Nixon/Ford and cut them in half.  Yet, in 1980 the deficit was one of the PHONY reasons given by Ronald Reagan why he and his “supply side” (“trickle down” economics, which I call “trickle up”) philosophy should be elected.  He claimed, “I’ll cut your taxes and balance the budget.”  Right!  Of course, republicans have been making that claim ever since and, recently, we saw version number three of Reagan’s “voodoo economics” – in the words of George HW Bush.  Reagan’s initial tax cuts raised the deficit (Well, yes, he also instigated a HUGE increase in military spending – sound familiar?) about “four fold” to over $200 BILLION annually within two years of taking office.  The deficits resulting from his initial tax cuts led to the one time in my lifetime I believe you could actually call “tax reform” tax reform – which happened in 1986.  However, Reagan left office with Deficits in, what was at the time, the stratosphere.

George HW Bush famously said, early in his term – which followed Reagan’s (despite both Reagan and Bush teetering on potential accountability for their role in Iran/Contra aside from the HUGE deficits) – “read my lips, no new taxes.”  Well, when the deficit looked as if it was going further into the stratosphere Bush did the responsible thing – which ruined his future in the eyes of MOST republicans – and signed a bill raising taxes.  Despite doing so, he still left annual budget deficits surpassing $300 BILLION (in 1992 dollars).  The national debt, at that point in time, was approaching 4 or 5 TRILLION – I’m too lazy to look up the actual amounts, but I believe I’m pretty close.  (going from my diminishing memory)

Well, along came Bill Clinton (and, yes, he had and gained a lot of “baggage” while in pursuit of and then while in the White House) and the first thing he did was propose a budget that RAISED taxes and was passed with NOT ONE republican vote.  Clinton and Al Gore actually reduced the size of government – a claim that republicans just can’t understand.  (That’s exactly what republicans CLAIM to do) They always seem to HATE deficits except when there’s a republican in the White House and they’ve successfully put their “big government” label on democrats.  This, of course, is contrary to the facts.  Well, we could argue all day about Clinton and his personal behavior (I find some of his actions deplorable – using a word of his wife in describing a portion of Trump supporters in the 2016 campaign – so, let’s focus on the topic) but, the reality is that when Clinton left office the budget had a surplus of $250 BILLION per year and was predicted to wipe out our national debt in 10 years!  Additionally, Clinton – and by extension, the United States – was very popular around the world – which, despite what some republicans say, is very important.

I believe Clinton’s personal failures led many Americans to shy away from Al Gore in the 2000 election although he won the “popular vote” by around 1 MILLION votes. (Over 500,000)  Of course, GW Bush’s brother was the governor of Florida and managed to create enough confusion around the Florida election results to cause a serious recount of the votes.  There were issues with voting machines that either changed votes from Gore or the famous issue with “hanging chads.”  Republicans controlled the Supreme Court (as they do today) and it “swooped in” to bail out the Bush campaign and declare Bush/Cheney the “winners” of the 2000 election.  That was the end of the budget surpluses  Bush/Cheney inherited and the beginning of astronomical increases in the annual deficit and the national debt that Barack Obama was getting under control until, well, you guessed it, another “republican” was in the “White House.”

Shortly after they took the oaths of office Dick Cheney famously said, “Ronald Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”  That was the preclude to the MASSIVE increase in our national debt that was recently “restoked” with an ill timed tax “scam” and further increases to both the annual deficit and, of course, the national debt.  Bush/Cheney not only made two HUGE tax cuts, but they got America entrenched in TWO occupations that were “open ended.”  AND, they “hid” the budget effect of BOTH wars er occupations.  Until Barack Obama took the oath of office the money going to BOTH the Iraq fiasco and the Afghanistan fiasco were “off the books” – in a futile attempt to make the budget deficits look better.  But, the sad reality was by the time Bush/Cheney left office the annual deficit was hovering in the neighborhood of $1.5 TRILLION and, they left office with the nation mired in the “Great Recession” which, without the Obama administration’s “stimulus” (with, again, almost NO republican support) we could have gone into another “Great Depression.”

Bush/Cheney repealed many regulations that freed businesses to operate with a total disregard to customers and a complete focus on profits and little regard to actual “conservative” ideals – at least the ones I always thought made me a conservative.  (obviously, by today’s definition, I’m no conservative)  The Bush/Cheney administration was encouraging an economic disaster in waiting – and, it happened in 2007 – 2008.  The other day, as the stock market was “trimming” 1000 pts. for the second time in one week from the “Dow” I heard members of Trump’s “team” saying the “underlying fundamentals of the economy remain strong.”  Those were the exact words used over and over from 2007 until shortly before Bush/Cheney high tailed it out of Washington DC.  They stopped using that claim when Hank Paulson was forced to propose what became known as the TARP bailout of Wall Street.   Do you see any parallels?

There really are times when tax cuts are appropriate.  Two of the times when they would be inappropriate would be when the country is involved in a war – if “we the people” are unwilling to pay for a war, we shouldn’t have one – and when the economy is strong and unemployment is low.  Well, the Bush/Cheney tax cuts were ill-timed due to the “wars” and their other actions left President Obama with an unbelievable mess to “clean up.”  Despite the un-apologetic claims by republicans and their supporters that their NUMBER ONE goal was to ensure President Obama “FAILED,” (I’ll let you figure out why) Obama led a “correction” to the economy from what he inherited to a STEADY upward climb for the last 7 years of his term – taking Wall Street from the bottom of around 6500 in 2009 to about 20,000 when he left office AND taking unemployment from well above 10% when he took office to around 4% when he left.  4% unemployment has been considered FULL employment during my lifetime.

So, the last thing the economy needed upon our “so-called” president Trump moving into the “White House” was a tax cut (scam).  Honestly, listening to Paul Ryan say, “I’ve been wanting to say this for years, we’re giving the American people their money back,” made my stomach crawl.  First, it was ALL borrowed money (so, they weren’t giving “we the people” our money back – who knows where it’s coming from?)  Secondly, “we the people” weren’t/aren’t getting much of the money – OVER 80% is going to the top 1%. Ryan was LYING on so many levels – aside from the FACT, the economy didn’t NEED  a tax cut.  But, who’s surprised at Ryan LYING? Not me!  Corporations and the top 1% of Americans were FLUSH with cash, corporate profits were at near all time highs, and inflation was relatively under control.  The last part of that sentence, by my prediction, will be the major problem with the tax scam.

Yes, when Obama left office there was a definite issue of income inequality, but his attempts to deal with that were constantly “rebuffed” by republicans in Congress.  Mitch McConnell initiated around 700 FILIBUSTERS in his attempts to make sure President Obama “failed.”  Somehow, our “liberal media” was unable to grasp what republicans were doing and McConnell essentially “got away with it.”  (I’ve written numerous posts about my disenchantment with MSNBC – which, for whatever reason, is what I watch when I can stomach it) Trust me, GIVING 82% of this tax scam to the top 1% won’t “fix” the issue of income inequality.  This is just another example of “reverse Robin Hood” economic theory and republicans have convinced enough Americans they’re for the “working stiff” that they “get away” with it.  Hopefully, this will be the last time!

McConnell even blocked a Supreme Court appointment for almost a year making sure the right wing “bent” of the court continues for the foreseeable future.  Despite all this, when Obama left office the annual deficit had been reduced by almost 70% and stood  at around $400 BILLION.  It was gradually going “down” and conceivably could have been eliminated and we could begin the process of paying off the debt in just a few years.  But, NOOOO!  America, with the help of Vladimir Putin, “elected” – with THREE MILLION less votes than his opponent – Trump and, regarding the deficit and the debt, “here we go again.”  Trump’s right wing “Evangelical Christian base” is willing to trade America’s republic for a few right wing judges in their never ending fight against abortion.  Here’s the reality for any of them who might happen on this site.  Women were having abortions before Roe v Wade and they’ll be having them after – should it get repealed.  Maybe someday those “pro lifers” will actually participate in a dialogue on the issue of “life.”

There are two things obvious to me as I’m writing this – first, the annual deficit will surpass $1 TRILLION for this fiscal year – and, likely with increases over the next few years – until “we the people” elect another democrat to the White House.  The second thing I’m sure of is that right wing media and their “spin machine” will find a way to BLAME these increases to the national debt on democrats.  At some point, hopefully, the American people will understand what’s going on – this problem is continuing to get worse – and, keep in mind, these deficits are ushering HUGE amounts of money into the bank accounts of republican donors.  It’s not as if we’re investing in America – most of the money is going to the people and businesses who’ve bought off our right wing Congress.  (Yes, there are democrats who’ve allowed themselves to take money from wealthy donors, but MOST of them voted against, for example, Trump’s tax scam)

In summary, as I mentioned above, regarding when tax cuts are appropriate – obviously, the Bush/Cheney tax cuts came at the wrong time – during two “wars.”  (Yes, neither were ever declared a “war” by our recalcitrant Congress – I guess we could call them endless occupations)  And, now we have the Trump “tax scam” – while the economy is strong – close to “booming.”  Corporations are sitting on record amounts of CASH and are experiencing record profits.  The issue of income inequality was, prior to the tax scam, a major issue – it’s likely to get worse.  Too few people at the “top” and too MANY at the “bottom.”  Yet, the Trump “tax scam” will usher over 80% of the benefits to the top 1% of Americans OR to corporations that don’t need the cash.  If you read my previous post you know there’s a word my granddaughter won’t allow me to use anymore, (she heard Trump use it and told me it’s officially a “bad word”) but the Trump tax scam was foolish.  And, as this “scam” was being rolled out I was forced to listen to those LYING words Paul Ryan spoke as if they were coming from  Dick Cheney during the Bush/Cheney regime:  “we’re giving the American people their money back.”  (I’ll just add one more note to this thought – GREED is a terrible human failing – it reared its ugly head during the Bush/Cheney years and. well, I’m sure it’s no surprise to the “never Trumpers” – here it is again)

One more time for good measure, in the case of the Trump “tax scam” those words – “we’re giving the American people their money back” – were so ridiculous they almost made me gag.  First of all, as I’ve said several times on this site, they weren’t giving “we the people” our money back!  Aside from the FACT MOST of the money was going to the top 1% of Americans (who don’t “need” it – it’s reportedly giving $1.4 BILLION to the Koch brothers, for example) it’s NOT “our money.”  Virtually EVERY cent of this tax “scam” will be BORROWED money.  Who’s money they’re giving back is still to be determined, but what we do know is it WON’T be “we the people’s money.  Ryan was simply speaking ANOTHER republican LIE.  This tax scam, done at exactly the WRONG time, was done for two reasons.  First, it’s what republicans do.  Secondly, republican donors were demanding a return on their “investment” – and, they are getting what they wanted “big time.”  However, the end result may not look so good to them.  (It’s a deficit for “we the people” and a “bonanza” for the “top 1%)

We’ve seen, already, skittishness on Wall Street as investors who understand what inflation does to the economy are looking to find other places for their money.  Now that there’s been a “budget resolution” that further exacerbates the deficit issue I believe we can expect further negative impacts to our economy.  Obviously, I’m not an economic guru, but common sense tells me there’s got to be a limit on how much “we the people” can borrow.  My experience tells me Trump and the republicans are pushing “we the people” into an inflationary cycle that will cause the “Fed” to increase interest rates at an accelerating pace – likely causing distress to the housing market – which, traditionally, in my lifetime means recession.  Only time will tell, but it appears to me, the republicans are making one last fleecing of taxpayers before “we the people” wake up and understand what they’re doing.  Remember, in the 1950’s the top tax rate was 90% to counter act the GREED which is actually going on in America today.

It appears to me, Trump is dead set on taking America back to the “robber baron” days and his republican Congress is willing to go along with whatever he wants.  And, that’s giving his intentions a generous interpretation.  I’ve pointed out Trump’s authoritarian (Nazi like) tendencies many times on this site – beginning during the campaign for the republican nomination when I first started researching who he is.  There’s so many “NO’s,” to me, when I analyze Trump, that it’s unbelievable to me he’s our “so-called” president.  It’s not unreasonable for me to believe he’s the “work” of Vladimir Putin – who, by the way, is still hard at it trying to undermine the American system of government – but, whatever the reason he’s in the “White House” – the reality is Trump is FLEECING “we the people” of our tax money at a near record pace and, if we don’t figure this out soon, our national debt will surpass $30 TRILLION and we’ll be laying it at the feet of our children and grandchildren.   Sad!

Final Thought:  I said, at the start of this post, that I want to write about John Kelly, Trump’s “chief of staff.”  I was watching as he began remarks that defined him during the “Gold Star” fiasco with these words, “when I was young, women were considered sacred.”  He was giving a list of things he considered “sacred” that, according to him were no longer considered in that light.  Of course, right after saying that about women he proceeded to desecrate a woman member of Congress (who happens to be Black) with some incredible LIES that included LIES about President Obama, his former “commander in chief.”  Not only was he LYING, but he exposed his racist beliefs.  These racist beliefs have been on further display in his remarks since that day and, just the other day, he came to the defense of a man, serving in a very important role in the “White House,” who has a KNOWN history of domestic abuse – both mentally and physically.  John Kelly is showing himself to be one of the “deplorables” Hillary Clinton referred to in the campaign – words that cost her votes, but were Oh so true.  We saw many of the deplorables marching with Tiki Torches at Charlottesville and wearing Nazi armbands chanting anti-Semitic slogans and being referred to by Trump as “very fine people.”  As far as I can tell, Kelly would have felt right at home marching with all those “very fine people.”

The foolishness (my 5 year old granddaughter has informed me I can no longer use the word “stupid” because she heard Trump use it and said, “that’s a bad word”) associated with our so-called president just continues unabated.  I keep thinking I’ll get a few days off from having ideas swirling around in my head as I attempt to understand how “we the people” managed to get to the point where enough of us think having a buffoon as president somehow will “make us ‘great’ again.”  It seems to me that every time, in my lifetime, we’ve “elected” republican presidents  we’ve become “less great.”  Especially, the last two.

George W Bush was “asleep at the switch” while 20 hijackers were planning 9/11 and he was getting warning after warning that he disregarded.  After the tragedy, he decided the “shock” (read Naomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine” – one of the BEST books I’ve read about why we’re seemingly headed in the wrong direction) was enough to allow him and all his “neo-conservative” buddies to LIE the United States into an ILL ADVISED invasion and, ultimately, occupation of Iraq.  This, while destabilizing the Middle East, also led to the creation if ISIS and enhanced the spread of “terrorism” instead of stopping it.  Bush was CHOSEN as president by the Supreme Court – which blocked the recount of votes in Florida which would have given the election to Al Gore – who prevailed in the “popular vote” by nearly 1 MILLION votes.

Trump, however, set the record for “winning” the 2016 election with 3 MILLION less votes than Hillary Clinton using the help of Russia which – due to Trump’s refusal to admit the Russians were involved AND a recalcitrant Congress that appears willing to put party before country – may succeed in hiding their impact on the final results.  What they WONT be able to hide is the FACT they were doing all they could to give Trump the boost he needed to win – and with surprisingly sophisticated methods – almost as if they had Americans guiding them.  For example, Russians were using “Twitter” and “Facebook” in very strategic manners to target vulnerable parts of America as they attacked Mrs. Clinton and boosted Trump.  That’s precisely why the so-called “Russia investigation” was started.  This activity was reported by 17 sections of America’s intelligence community.  It’s really beyond question that the Russians were “here,” what’s still to be determined is who was helping them target specific groups?  (which they did, almost as if they were “guided” by “experts”)

You’d think, if Trump is as innocent as he claims, he would be totally cooperating with the investigation, he would never have FIRED James Comey – and, days later gone on national TV and explained to Lester Holt the reason he fired Comey was to stop the “Russia thing.”  To top it off (and, I want to use that word my granddaughter has forbidden here) a couple days after ADMITTING to obstructing justice to Holt Trump “doubled down” by meeting – IN THE OVAL OFFICE – with the Russian foreign minister AND the Ambassador who was part of MOST of the controversial meetings his campaign had with “Russians” which they had LIED about – calling Comey “a nut job” and saying “I fired him to end the Russian investigation.  The pressure is now off.”  Of course, Trump thought he’d “get away” with that admission of obstruction because NO American interpreter OR journalist was allowed in the meeting.  The problem for Trump is there were Russian interpreters and journalists in the room and they reported what happened on RT TV – which is broadcast around the world.  What’s that word?

Fast forward to yesterday and a speech Trump was giving to a group in Ohio who are still supporting him despite ALL the reasons not to – and he had the audacity to suggest that the democrats who sat through his State of the Union remarks without wildly cheering “the good news” were “un-American.”  Apparently, at the urging of one of the “whack jobs” in the audience, Trump decided to call the democrats “Treasonous.”  I keep wanting to use that word my granddaughter has forbidden – so, I’ll just say “ill informed” – giving Trump the benefit of the doubt.  What it did is accentuate Trump’s lack of understanding (my granddaughter is having an influence on me) regarding the FACT the president’s words MATTER.  My words here don’t matter that much.  I’m just a retired school teacher who loves his country and feels the best way to deal with the frustration of where his country is headed happens with writing.  Sometimes I say “ill informed” things – but, it doesn’t matter as when Trump does so.

In Trump’s attempt to “Make America White Again” he keeps pushing “we the people” over one “cliff” after another.  I’ve listed many examples in previous posts, but his accusation democrats were “treasonous” – whether “tongue in cheek” (as the “White House” claimed after the fact) or not, it’s clear Trump will never be able to control the words coming from is mouth – which is exactly why his lawyers DON’T want him testifying in the “Russia thing” because they KNOW he’ll LIE.  (It’s interesting to listen to Trump’s supporters – from Congressional “minions,” to Fox “minions,” to people like Rush Limbaugh ALL believing Trump will LIE if he’s questioned by Mueller.  Most are calling it a “perjury trap” – which would be illegal – but, in reality they know Trump is a pathological LIAR and they’re all OK with that during the “business day.”  They’re OK with Sarah Sanders LYING virtually EVERY day to the American people, they’re OK with John Kelly being a LIAR and racist (like Trump) – they only care about keeping POWER.

Republicans and their donors scored big with the tax scam which is designed to fool the same people Trump was speaking to when he made the “treasonous” comment that he’s actually “cutting their taxes.”  In reality, it will (temporarily) cut their taxes almost enough to offset the INCREASE in health care costs due to the same bill (and, not taking into consideration the increases caused by their other attacks on “Obamacare”)  What the tax scam did was create enough additional income for people like the Koch brothers (estimates at $1.4 BILLION per year) to allow them to continue comfortably infusing HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars into republican campaigns so they can pay for more LIES going into the 2018 mid terms in a desperate attempt to prevent democrats from retaking control of Congress.  Trump, and the donors, know what that would mean.  (Impeachment!  Yes, I’ve digressed, but hopefully it’s “strategic” :o)

So, back to my point.  Treason:  Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.  That definition comes from Article 3 section 3 of the United States Constitution, which I doubt Trump has ever read.  It’s not un-American to sit on your hands while the president is giving the State of the Union address and, it’s certainly NOT treason.  Joe Wilson yelled “you lie” to President Obama (when he wasn’t “lying”) during one of Obama’s State of the Union addresses and that wasn’t treason (personally, I thought it was un American).  So, let’s consider what MIGHT be considered TREASON – including in my “mind’s eye.”

Let’s just assume, for the help of discussion, that a foreign country decided they wanted to decide who was elected in one of our elections.  Say they ATTACKED us via cyber ATTACK by STEALING information from one of the two campaigns and using it to influence voters from the other campaign – especially at strategic times.  Say they had a strong interest in preventing one of two candidates from winning the election and wanted, at minimum, to weaken that candidate in case he/she won.  That would be an ATTACK on the nation.  For argument’s sake, say members of the country being attacked (in this case, the United States) chose to work with the ATTACKERS (in this case, say, the Russians) to either swing the election in favor of their chosen candidate OR, the more likely scenario, weaken the other candidate in ways that would enhance the interests of the ATTACKER.  Many, including myself, would consider that “adhering to their enemies.”  Do you get my drift?

It’s true, at this point in time, we don’t know whether Trump knew what his campaign was likely up to – in fact, we don’t know the extent beyond MANY undisclosed meetings what members of Trump’s campaign were up to, but what we do know is America was ATTACKED by Russia at her most vulnerable spot during our previous election.  I could go on and on about all the reasons I believe the Russians were doing this – remember, that they were doing it is an unmitigated FACT – but suffice it to say they ATTACKED our country which makes them our ENEMY.  Many call them an “adversary” – but, by attacking our electoral system and attempting to turn Americans against each other – in my mind that makes them our ENEMY.

Therefore, using the definition of TREASON in Article 3 Section 3 of our Constitution – the thing republicans claim to carry in their lapel pockets – ANY member of Trump’s campaign who was “adhering” to the Russian ATTACK (the definition of “adhere”: to be devoted in support or allegiance) would not simply be doing “campaigning as usual.”  Trump’s own son replied to an offer of incriminating evidence on Hillary Clinton – directly from the Russian government that was “supporting your (Trump Jr.’s) father” – with “I love it.” AND, along with Trump’s son-in-law and his campaign manager (at the time) he met with representatives of the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin in a clear effort (by the Russians) for the repeal, by Trump, of the Magnitsky Act should they succeed in getting him elected.  That meeting alone suggests “adhering to our enemy.”

But, there was much more.  The 33,000 emails STOLEN from the DNC and John Podesta by the RUSSIANS were strategically disbursed at times beneficial to the Trump campaign.  For example, one group (of emails) was released about two hours after the “Access Hollywood Tape” was published, attempting to change the narrative away from Trump’s admission of sexual misconduct.  The emails were selectively released periodically throughout the process which followed the conventions.  Was somebody in Trump’s “orbit” working with the Russians and “Wiki Leaks” (remember, on more than one occasion, Trump’s announcement – “I love Wiki Leaks” – after he had encouraged the Russians to find Mrs. Clinton’s “missing” emails)

And, then there was Facebook and Twitter.  Now, I’ve got to say this – I’ve said it before, I don’t do Facebook or Twitter – but Mark Zuckerberg is fast becoming my least favorite American – at some point he could rival Trump – because, we don’t really know all there is to know about his involvement in the Russians’ use of Facebook to spread the REAL “fake news” Trump SHOULD be concerning himself with.  The Russians “weaponized” Facebook to spread LIES about Mrs. Clinton and PROPAGANDA about Trump during the 2016 election and it had an undetermined (at this time) impact on the final vote.  Twitter was used as well.  This is all very sobering, but the reality is someone was helping the Russians TARGET specific groups of people to make their “fake news” the most effective.  Helping them would be “adhering to our enemy.”

As I’ve pointed out in prior postings, this crap is still going on and the Trump administration is doing NOTHING to stop it.  In fact, they even continue thumbing their nose at Congress by refusing to implement the sanctions Congress passed on near unanimous votes against Russian interests.  I really don’t know how much we need to see before the reality here becomes obvious.  OK, it’s long ago OBVIOUS to me – but, like most other Americans, I’m anxiously waiting Robert Mueller’s “findings.”  But, let me end by saying:  Failing to applaud at the State of the Union is NOT Treason; conspiring with Russia to rig our elections IS TREASON!

For years the republican party has been dreaming of what Karl Rove, during the Bush/Cheney regime, called “the permanent republican ‘majority.'”  This, of course, meant they would have control over all three branches of government and would create a circumstance where they would not be subject to the wrath of the voting public.  To make this work, they needed a somewhat “buffoon” at the top who would simply sign whatever they could manage to get through Congress.  Of course, George W Bush was not the best “buffoon” because, despite his inability to put a complete sentence together in a press conference, he had some measure of respect for the American tradition of government.  We haven’t heard much from Rove lately (I haven’t heard anything) but I’m sure he’s out there playing a role in what’s going on somehow, somewhere.  What Rove and the republicans have proven is they’ll do anything to “win” including getting a “boost” from the Russians!

Bush had the makings of the republican “dream,” but he blew it by listening to all the war mongers that took us into Iraq when we should have been taking care of Osama bin Laden and that was it – after 9/11.  The democrats temporarily gained control of Congress only to lose it during President Obama’s tenure by showing an incredible lack of will to defend their own fundamental beliefs.  The democratic “leaders” often times didn’t support their own president.  Obviously, in politics, the racist undertones goes both ways.  Democrats have traditionally been the supporters of the working class of America and, in many instances, they still are.  But, they tend to “sway back and forth” depending on the latest poll.  In my mind that’s why the Affordable Care Act is “crumbling” instead of being improved – toward a “medicare for all” or some other “plan” that leads to universal coverage for the American people.  (Yes, I’m digressing – it’s a bad habit, I write off the “top of my head”)

Bush had Dick Cheney to take care of the – what I call – republican dictatorship – another phrase for “the permanent republican ‘majority.'”  In their vision – and, I believe republican donors such as David and Charles Koch among many support this view – they DON’T need a ‘majority’ for their plan to work.  In fact, while many, including myself along with much of Trump’s support staff in the “White House” consider Donald Trump a pathological LIAR, a NARCISSIST of the highest order, a misogynist, a racist, and on and on, he may be the PERFECT buffoon for those who believe in this “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  That’s because he’ll sign ANYTHING they bring him – he’s got NO IDEA of how American government works, no idea of American History, (he still believes Frederick Douglass is with us) and his idols on the world stage are the exact opposite of what Americans supposedly believe in.  One thing about Bush/Cheney, they would never have partnered with Putin to win an election which, apparently, can’t be said for Trump.

For example, Trump believes Vladimir Putin is a great “leader.”  The fact he has journalists KILLED, he jails and tortures his political opponents, is widely considered “un-American,”  and has amassed a huge fortune while in office.  Trump would have us believing he’s longing for the day he has the same “power.”  Trump has been attacking the so-called “liberal media” since “day one,” he’s been going after the intelligence community since day one.  In fact, his first official act as our so-called president was to stand before the CIA wall of honor and SOIL himself with maybe the worst collection of remarks by any president in American history.  To today’s republicans, that is irrelevant.  ALL of that is irrelevant.  What they see in Trump is a mechanism to turn America into their “permanent republican ‘majority’ as laid out, originally, by Rove.

How, you might ask are they going to do this?  Well, if you’re paying attention, they’re in the middle of the most egregious attack on the fundamentals of America in her history.  Trump is making a play to turn himself into another Putin – or maybe Erdogan of Turkey would be a better comparison.  And, the sad reality is that more and more republicans are going along with this plan – and, “we the people” don’t have much hope in the short term other than to unite behind the democrats to stop what’s happening.  As I’m writing this, Trump is furthering his attacks on the FBI and the Justice Department – both of which are SUPPOSED to be totally independent of ANY meddling from the “White House” – as he’s trying to head off the Mueller investigation which is likely to paint a portrait of someone involved with organized crime, not to mention “collusion” and obstruction, when the investigation concludes.

Trump and both his son and son-in-law are in Mueller’s “cross-hairs.”  Additionally, I believe there are many in Trump’s support staff who are vulnerable to legal issues because virtually NONE of them had any idea what they were getting into when Trump unexpectedly “won” the election.  (albeit, with 3 MILLION less votes than Mrs. Clinton)  Republicans are doing everything they can to head off Mueller’s investigation before it gets to Trump (I, personally, believe it got there long ago – he’s in the details at this point in time) and, at the same time, they are allowing the Russians to continue their intrusion into America’s “open society.”  When all is said and done with what’s going on right now, republicans will have put themselves into something near the head of the class regarding America’s hall of SHAME!

It’s not impossible for someone like myself to feel a bit of compassion for some in the “White House” who may end up facing criminal charges as “collateral damage” to Trump’s attempt at turning the U.S. into a Russian satellite, but this is too important for me, or anyone else who loves this country, to allow themselves into “wimp mode.”  There’s nothing more important at this point in time than STOPPING Trump – sooner rather than later!  The people in the “White House” – if there are any – who have a semblance of moral rectitude, chose to be there.  Those on the front lines, like Sarah Sanders and John Kelly have proven themselves to be willing LIARS and unrepentant racists – willingly defending Trump’s attacks on our history as a “land of immigrants.”  They know what they’re doing and what they’re defending!

Hope Hicks, I’m not so sure.  She seems to be a young, naive lady who happened into this sphere and is way over her head.  To this day I haven’t heard anything coming from her mouth to suggest I can characterize her in any way – as opposed to John Kelly who confirmed his racist, misogynist beliefs after the fiasco with the “Gold Star family” – although reports suggest Hicks may be up to her eyebrows in Trump’s continued OBSTRUCTION of Mueller’s investigation.  My point here is, when all is said and done regarding the “Russia thing” there needs to be accountability for Trump and those in his “circle” who conspired with the Russians to get him elected and those participating in the cover-up.

I used a lot of ink in my disdain for President Obama’s decision to “look forward instead of back” as he let Bush/Cheney leave Washington with a “get out of jail free card” regarding all their ILLEGAL behavior during their disastrous regime.  Just the idea that they were allowed to publicly authorize TORTURE without even a single investigation has bothered me to this day.  That is exactly why Trump has stated he’d authorize waterboarding “and a whole lot more” and people hardly blink an eye.  Had Bush/Cheney faced charges as WAR CRIMINALS we’d NEVER see another president suggesting TORTURE is OK.  Most Americans are better than that (plus, it’s proven that TORTURE doesn’t work) and our nation has played the role, during my lifetime, as one of the beacons in the fight for “human rights,” at least publicly.   Looking the other way only encourages people, down the road, to continue pushing the limits of what is “acceptable.”

To me, TORTURE is NOT acceptable, nor is what Trump is attempting to do – which is to turn America into a “sister country” to Russia.  Hopefully, we’ll, at some point, fully understand what has motivated him to have this bromance with Putin while allowing the continued presence of Russia in our political process.  I suppose, in his mind, as long as they’re working for his behalf, why not?  (or worse – I’m not sure how much credit to give his thought process)  Of course, Trump could never pull this off by himself – so, he needs the republicans to help.  And, many of them are choosing to do just that – which is clearly to put their own power over their country.  My guess is the idea that being “White” will soon mean you’re (I’m) no longer in the “majority” in an America that will soon be officially a “minority majority” nation scares them – especially, the racists in the so-called “tea party.”  Kind of reminds me of South Africa when apartheid was on its way out.

The bottom line here, however, using the phrase I’ve heard republicans use countless times in my own lifetime (I’m 70), we are a “nation of laws, not men.”  What that means, and has always meant, is that even republicans are supposed to follow the laws – even though, just as organized criminals behave, the present version of republicans seem to feel the laws don’t apply to them and they’re constantly looking for ways to circumvent them.  The latest version of this – their infamous “Nunes memo” which landed with a “thud” comparable to the drop of a “needle” at an NBA game will hardly slow them down as they attempt to prevent “we the people” from getting Russia out of our business.  Today, some of what I heard, well, made me gag – AGAIN!

I’m not sure, at this point, who’s the bigger LIAR, Sean Hannity or Trump.  Clearly, and unbelievably, and SADLY we have a president STUPID enough to be using Hannity as one of his leading “advisors.”  It wouldn’t surprise me to see Trump bring Hannity into the “White House.”  Today, Trump was quoted as saying, “This is shameful” or “This is disgraceful” or words to that effect – and, it is – for once I have to agree with him.  Trump is SHAMEFUL and DISGRACEFUL and, to me, Hannity is almost worse.  These people are disgusting.  I can kind of understand Trump – he’s GUILTY of something, or he wouldn’t be acting and LYING as he is, but Hannity?  Trump, Hannity, and many republicans are working together to impede a federal investigation – Hannity is calling for Mueller to be “jailed” and for all charges to be dropped against Mike Flynn (who’s already plead GUILTY to LYING to the FBI – I don’t think you can change that) and Paul Manafort – who’s accused of essentially being connected to Russia’s organized crime network.  I guess Hannity’s just an old “softy.”  Don’t hold your breath!

Hannity and Trump are making these LUDICROUS claims based on Nunes releasing a memo that claims the FBI “illegally” got a FISA warrant on Carter Page, of all people – AFTER he was no longer part of Trump’s campaign – the same Carter Page that numerous members of Trump’s campaign have claimed played NO PART in his campaign.  So what’s the big deal here?  Are we trying to have something both ways – something that’s meaningless regardless?  Is this Benghazi part 2?  Page has been on the FBI’s radar since 2013 which makes this whole thing even more ludicrous.  Now Nunes is claiming the “next memo” will be designed to tear down our State Department – likely some kind of TERRIBLE situation regarding the infamous “Uranium 1” deal in 2010!  That’s right, in 2010!  That will prove Trump’s innocence regarding the “Russia thing” – which, if he was innocent, you’d think he would have simply, from the start, encouraged the investigation to run its course ASAP – without the 30+ LIES regarding meetings with Russians by Trump campaign members ALONG WITH Trump’s refusal to hold Russia accountable for their intrusion on our election AND all the OBSTRUCTION.

Russia is still here, and, apparently, to get rid of them, “we the people” will need to get rid of Trump!  There are enough “uneducated voters” in America, the ones Trump claimed to “love” during the campaign, who watch Fox and Hannity and actually believe this garbage.  They may be willing to allow the republicans in Congress – mainly the so-called “Freedom Caucus” – to tear down our intelligence community in a desperate attempt to save Trump from something they apparently are aware of, but not MOST  of us.  I’ve said this many times, Trump knows what he did and it’s causing him to act in desperate ways – I believe those who are enabling him are volunteering to be held accountable for OBSTRUCTION as well.  It makes sense to me that if a president can be held accountable for attempting to block a federal investigation, so can members of Congress (Nunes) and members of the media (Hannity and others).  When the smoke clears, if we’re still a “nation of laws” all will be OK.

When Donald Trump was running for the office of President of the United States not many people were confused by his lack of “experience” as far as running a government.  To many Americans, that seemed to be a good thing – mainly to the republican “puppet masters” who simply want someone who can sign his or her name on legislation AND to the right wing media world that wants America to be White again.  What many didn’t understand, I believe, was how illiterate our new president was in reality.  He doesn’t read or write virtually at all.  As far as America and her history, he’s virtually ignorant.  What he’s good at is BULLYING!  Somehow, Trump has managed to get republicans in the House of Representatives (and, some in the Senate) to essentially disregard the investigation into the Russians’ cyber attack on America in an attempt to protect Trump from what they MUST believe are charges coming from Robert Mueller’s investigation.  Are they afraid of him?

Devin Nunes has soiled himself during the past year as he’s taking the role of protector of Donald Trump and is now releasing a “memo” that the FBI considers “reckless” and includes the release of “classified information.”  It was reported Trump, himself, ordered the release of this memo – thinking it would “help him.”  Can you imagine if President Obama had done this?  Was it Trump who, indirectly, forced Andrew McCabe out of the FBI?  Evidently, his wife is a democrat who ran for office, is that a crime?  What if Obama had done that to an FBI agent whose wife was a republican and ran for office?  “We the people” are heading into uncharted territory.  The nation’s 200+ year history is under siege.  If the republicans decide to put Trump ahead of the “Russia investigation” there’s a sad day coming to this nation.  I’ve said before Trump and Fox “news” are destined to end up next to Benedict Arnold in American history, but now we’ve got to put Nunes, and possibly a group of republicans, in the same place.  Shame on them!

We watched the republicans through both terms of Barack Obama’s presidency put their attempt to make sure he “failed” ahead of the interests of the nation, so I guess it shouldn’t be so much of a surprise as they are looking away from the “Russia thing” in order to protect a corrupt president – a “republican” of course.  If you’ve been on this site, it should be no surprise to you when I say Trump makes my stomach curl.  Somehow, the “Christian right” in America has backed a mafia like character to be in the oval office.  As Trump “pushes” his way through the institutions of America – destroying anything that threatens him or those that his supporters want destroyed to allow them to make more money without government oversight on their businesses.  This all is getting very ugly.

Trump is treating the FBI and the Justice Department as if those who work there are his personal employees and their obligation is NOT to the constitution (which Trump gave an oath to uphold) but, instead, they are obligated to protect Trump.  Their job is to investigate whoever Trump guides them to investigate in his mind.  Kind of reminds me of how Trump’s idol, Vladimir Putin, works.  Just yesterday we saw film of Putin’s number one opponent being DRAGGED from a demonstration and physically thrown into a police van and being carted to who knows where.  Trump appears to be frustrated he doesn’t have the same POWER as Putin.  But, he has succeeded in forcing Andrew McCabe out of the FBI and, apparently, this so-called “memo” is aimed at Rod Rosenstein.  Let’s hope Rosenstein “holds the fort” to protect Robert Mueller’s investigation.  Clearly, Trump is attempting to “get to” Mueller through Rosenstein.

If Rosenstein resigns or is fired, Trump would then attempt to put someone in his place who would either fire or restrict the Mueller investigation.  Trump is HIDING something and republicans in the House are attempting to help him.  Obviously, I’m no lawyer, but there appears NO doubt Trump has OBSTRUCTED justice but there appears to be much more.  When someone keeps saying “No Collusion” you can almost be certain there was “collusion.”  Sadly, the “collusion” part of all this SHOULD be the work of the Congressional investigations but it appears that republicans are willing to give the Russians a “free pass” to protect Trump.  I’ve been warning about the direction of the republican party for over 15 years, but I could have NEVER imagined republicans attacking the FBI and the intelligence community and being OK with Russians interfering in our elections.  I’ll say it again, this is SHAMEFUL!

Trump is preparing to give his “State of the Union” speech as I’m writing this and his LYING to the American people will continue.  Sadly, (I keep saying that) our “liberal media” is likely to fall for whatever Trump might say – especially if he can manage to actually read the teleprompter for a WHOLE hour.  There’s no way I could force myself to watch whatever he says – but, I can predict.  MOST of his remarks will be aimed right at – HIMSELF.  Trump will BRAG about the tax scam that will make him much richer – and, he’s likely to LIE about that.  What he WON’T talk about is what the scam will do to the deficit or how much he’ll benefit. He will BRAG about the “jobs” “he’s” created – failing to point out the graph of the rise in the economy is following EXACTLY the path it was on when he inherited it from Barack Obama (kind of like how his real estate empire was built off an inheritance).

His tax scam will escort this economy back into issues like inflation and when the interest rates rise as a result and the money supply is contracted he’ll, next year, find a new way to blame Obama. But, for now, they only time you’ll hear Obama’s name it will be to blame him disingenuously for something that allows Trump to brag about “fixing” something that wasn’t “broke.” He’ll claim to be the smartest president whose accomplished the MOST any president has accomplished in his first year in AMERICAN HISTORY.  His “uneducated voters” he loves so much will fall for it and, if he can keep his focus on the teleprompter people like Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd at MSNBC will fall for it – at least temporarily.

Trump will propose some kind of unrealistic (obviously, he won’t put it that way) plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure, but he won’t explain how the republican tax plan will make doing so much more expensive – and, that’s not even taking into consideration what rising interest rates will do to any projects.  Projects that SHOULD have been undertaken in his first year in office.  His obsession with undoing Obama “stuff” will backfire as he tries to put together an infrastructure bill without further exploding the deficit, a bill that SHOULD have been his first order of business last year.  (had he done so, he would likely ACTUALLY be able to take credit for some job growth) And, there’s a plethora of other reasons why the infrastructure part of his speech will be unrealistic – Trump very likely won’t even understand why he’s LYING.  Read this article that was published by Aaron Klein of the Brookings Institution which explains the issue well.

Trump will also come up with some kind of immigration proposal that will look better than what he’s willing to actually agree on. (neither will his most rabid supporters)   The REALITY is there are many in the republican party – and their CORE base – who wouldn’t shed one tear watching “dreamers” – who are producing BILLIONS in support of our economy, not to mention the moral aspect of a “problem” that SHOULD NOT be a “problem” at all – watching them being deported.  This would be an incredible renigging by our government – with the FAULT lying squarely at Trump’s “feet” if this happens – if the “Dream Act” is not passed on a “clean bill.”  The “dreamers” should NOT be held hostage to a “wall” that “Mexico won’t pay for.”  Holding the “dreamers” hostage to radical “stuff” that democrats will NOT be able to agree with is the most cynical example of right wing American politics I can remember (and, keep in mind, McConnell filibustered Obama nearly 700 times) – and, that’s saying something.  These young people deserve better than this – most of them know more about America’s constitution than Trump ever will!

Trump will do some bragging about the military defeating ISIL somehow because of orders he gave.  Of course, he again inherited a situation that was nearly accomplished and the credit, what there is of it, should belong with our men and women in the military.  What he won’t talk about are the soldiers killed in Niger (a s@#thole country) on a mission “we the people” will likely NEVER understand because Trey Gowdy, who spent years and BILLIONS “investigating” Benghazi is curiously silent.  And, he won’t talk about the soldiers killed in Yemen this year – because people may wonder about who ordered the mission.

Obviously, there’s little Trump could do to satisfy me – because, as a Christian his misogynist, racist, narcissistic, LYING behavior is just too much for me.  I really don’t understand how people of faith can even tolerate having someone like Trump in the “Oval Office.”  He came to the office with NO experience, he has no curiosity for government, he’s enriching himself at the expense of “we the people,” he’s undermining our most basic institutions in the FBI and the Justice Department, he’s got a history of sexual assault and abuse with women, and who knows what else will come out as Mueller’s investigation concludes sometime this year – and, by “conclude” I’m talking about the findings.  I believe the court “fights” will be a part of the American scene until, at least, the 2020 election – when, if not before, “we the people” will have the opportunity to stop this nightmare.

In the State of the Union speech Trump will be trying to fool as many people and “pundits” as he can.  If they fall for it – well, shame on them.  (I keep saying the “S” word)  It will be hard to calculate all the LIES in Trump’s SOTU speech, but there will be people closely monitoring.  It’s just that I won’t be one of them.  Before I retired I was a sixth grade teacher and one thing I was very strict with my students about was LYING.  Teaching them, “your word is your bond.”  I’ve tried watching Fox “news,” I’ve tried listening to people like Limbaugh and the other right wing “water carriers” on the radio airwaves, and I’ve tried listening to Trump.  I rarely can stand to listen for more than a minute or two to any of them – but, after reading about Trump and Stormy Daniels and all the other stuff, I just don’t want to hear anything from him. (and, for all the Clinton haters, I can hardly stand to listen to Bill Clinton either)  For anyone who “falls” for Trump’s shtick tonight, (here I go again) shame on you.  Somebody else wrote it and it’s meaningless to him!

Final thought:  As I often do, I’m publishing this without re-reading and editing – something I didn’t teach my sixth graders, so I apologize for any “foopahs.”  Hopefully, I’ll have the energy (or I’ll remember) to edit the mistakes, but I want to publish before his speech to either massage my ego or cause me even more embarrassment than normal.  Trying to follow politics and keeping engaged in what MY government is doing (yes, it’s OUR government) is fatiguing for an old man.  However, I believe it’s my generation who’ve led us to this terrible place in American history – and, we all have an obligation to be informed.  To me, when you do that, it takes the “cover” off of what republicans have been and are “up to” – and, it’s not in the best interest of “we the people.”

I was listening to Joy Reid on MSNBC’s show “The Last Word” hosted by Laurence O’Donnell and she made a great point that I should have been contemplating.  I have given the thought of Paul Ryan much of my “thought time” in the past year because he’s third in line to the presidency and, in my mind, Mike Pense is almost as vulnerable to impeachment (or legal liability) as Trump himself.  That makes Ryan worth much thought.  When you observe an OBSTRUCTION of justice in process and say nothing, from my understanding, you’re then part of a conspiracy.  When you LIE about an OBSTRUCTION things get even worse.  Pense has been LYING for the president at will, and some of his LIES, by my calculations, make him part of the same OBSTRUCTION everyone (aside from Sean Hannity and the other water carriers on the right wing propaganda circuit) knows Trump has committed.  For example, when he LIED about the reason James Comey was fired to several TV outlets, it was apparent he knew the REAL reason Comey was fired and he was being part of the cover-up.

So, what did Ms. Reid say that caught my attention?  She pointed out that Ryan has shown NO courage in standing up to Trump as we’ve watched one transgression after another.  I’ve often thought about how much he’s (Ryan) been almost, seemingly, disinterested whether Russia was interfering in America’s politics.   Is he “disinterested?”  Does he lack, as Ms. Reid suggested, courage?  Or, is there method to his madness?  I’ve heard reports Ryan wants to be president.  He did run for Vice President with Mitt Romney.  Does he now have a direct path to the “White House?”  If both Trump and Pense are impeached (Pense could face legal jeopardy separately from impeachment – remember Spiro Agnew) Ryan is next in line.  And, I believe there are many republicans who would prefer Ryan to either Trump or Pense (including Ryan).

I’m relatively certain Ryan is smarter than myself.  He has to know, at this point, Trump is already more than vulnerable to “high crimes and misdemeanors.”  I’m sure he’s smart enough to know that Pense is also likely already in serious legal jeopardy.  Like me and MILLIONS of other Americans Ryan is waiting for Robert Mueller to conclude his investigation.  The “heat” seems to be rising and, I believe (and have predicted this before), Jared Kushner and, maybe, Donald Jr. are the next in line for Mueller.  (the reality is there are MANY members of Trump’s “team” – including his daughter – who COULD be having trouble sleeping at night – knowing they may need a lawyer.  But no one seems confused that it’s Trump who is ultimately going to be the issue. (I’m pretty certain “we the people” are going to learn why Trump refused to show his tax returns)

Does that sound outrageous?  Well, I just got the book “Fire and Fury” and haven’t yet read it, but the reports already in the public “sphere” suggest many of Trump’s staff were read into, for example, the REAL reason James Comey was fired – which is likely in the book, and much of what I’ve heard that is in the book is “bearing fruit.”  Theoretically, they (Trump’s surrogates) all have made themselves part of a conspiracy to obstruct justice.  The Trump “White House” appears to be more corrupt than what we all experienced in the Nixon years.  And, as I’ve questioned before, are all these right wing members of Congress who are LYING to protect Trump OBSTRUCTING justice as well.  You’ll notice Ryan is totally quiet in all of this.  Is he planning to be standing on top when all the smoke clears?

Let us remember, the United States of America was (and is being) attacked by Russia which is succeeding in exacerbating the ideological divide that is eating away at the fabric of America.  To me, ANYONE who is “looking the other way” or is putting their own future ahead of the interests of our nation is “deplorable.”  The “Russia investigation” started off simply looking to see if there was “collusion” with the Russians by the Trump administration.  From the very beginning it has appeared Trump and his surrogates have something to hide because there’s been a MOUNTAIN of LIES as the investigation has progressed.  The Trump connection to Russia is undeniable!  To anyone who puts this nation FIRST (as Trump claims he’s doing) there has to be a desire to understand why all the LYING?

First, and foremost, in my mind, “we the people” need to get the Russians out of our nation’s political process and there’s much Russia is doing elsewhere around the globe we SHOULD be confronting, but Trump and the republicans are silent.  Trump, the republican congress, and the Justice Department under Jeff Sessions seem to be ignoring the reality of what the Russians are doing.  That alone will give them a tainted place in America’s not yet written history books.  The Russians (and, I’m sure, others – the Russians are laying out the framework of how to do this) are using our open society against us.  We need to be STEADFAST (I couldn’t think of a better word) in defending our nation and our history.

We CAN’T allow the Russians to destroy our republic from the inside out.  The republicans in Congress who are doing some outrageous things in their attempts to protect a president who may have committed treason, or more likely, may have a criminal history that’s getting uncovered and one who’s committing crimes (OBSTRUCTION of justice) in his attempt to “fight back” as Trump, himself, is putting it, are soiling their own reputations and undermining the integrity of the House of Representatives.  Largely, because Ryan stands quiet as if he’s afraid to act in an honorable way that would show moral character and courage.

Ryan is “invisible” as many members of his caucus in the House are doing and saying unbelievable things.  It’s as if they are working in concert with the right wing media – you hear the EXACT same LIES coming from Fox “news” (many are now calling it “Trump TV”) as if they’re willing to destroy this nation’s most fundamental institution – the Justice Department – in an effort to save Trump.  They must ALL believe there’s something “there, there” – as many have put it, but does Ryan really think silence in the face of the need for courage is the work of someone who wants to be the nation’s leader?  The right wing propagandists could care less if there’s criminal behavior in Trump’s “White House” and they are OK with a president who’s OBSTRUCTING an investigation into himself because there must be something there.  But, why would Ryan align himself with people like those at Fox while they’re showing themselves willing to put their party ahead of our nation?

This really shouldn’t be much of a surprise.  We saw it during the terms of President Obama.  Republicans did not hide that they were attempting to ensure President Obama would fail.  One of the ironic parts of that effort to me is watching Trump taking credit for the economy he inherited from Obama.  And, the minions who watch Fox and are oblivious to the FACT they’re victims of a Nazi propaganda scheme, will continue to believe any charges brought against Trump come from an FBI that is part of a Clinton conspiracy – or, who knows what.  And, the question I keep rolling through my brain is what will Ryan do?  So far, as I’ve said, he’s shown an incredible lack of leadership and courage in all of this.  Often, I wonder if he’s even paying attention based on his silence.  And, when he speaks, his words are the equivalence of nothing.  Is his “position” dictated by “Fox and Friends?”

What are republicans going to do when Mueller gives his report?  There’s plenty, already, for republicans to act on in a way that would end this nightmare.  If they impeached Trump now, it might save him from legal jeopardy from this investigation which would then be ended, presumably. And, it might save the republican party from the impending “wave election” being as bad (for them) as it might.  Yes, I understand the tax scam was designed to fool enough Americans to keep republicans in control at least one more “cycle.”  But, the reality is they can’t run away from the Trump liability.  A few extra dollars in their pockets (temporarily) won’t sway enough voters to save them – especially if they “look the other way” when Trump is “facing the music.”

It’s no secret Trump is violating the emoluments clause of the constitution daily.  Republicans are OK with that – which is setting a TERRIBLE precedent.  Think of it – having a president who’s PROFITING off of his office is fundamentally WRONG with our system of government and our CONSTITUTION.  But, will they be OK with OBSTRUCTION?  Will they be OK with money laundering?  Will they be OK with COLLUSION?  I realize all this is “alleged” but it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand Trump and his family and his surrogates have been hiding something since this issue arose.  Clearly, Trump was expecting Jeff Sessions to “protect” him – that’s why he chose him to be Attorney General – apparently thinking that would make him his personal lawyer.  Do republicans think MOST Americans will think Mueller is biased? Or do you, as myself, believe Americans believe in the rule of law – for EVERYONE?  Are republicans planning to risk ignoring Mueller in the 2018 election?  Is Ryan’s plan to win the “White House” going to be via succession or will he not seek re-election (to avoid a possible loss) with the plan to get the nomination in 2020?  He seems to be quietly calculating all this out of the “line of fire.”

Here’s what Ryan’s silence is supporting:  Trump has proffered over 2000 provable LIES in just his first year in office according to watch dogs at the Washington Post.  He’s ruining America’s standing in the world community – with the exception, of course, of countries like Russia.  Our economy is going to eventually take a huge “hit” due to much of what Trump is doing “behind closed doors” and I, personally, believe neither Trump nor the republicans will have a clue how to bring us out of whatever happens.  It could easily be worse than what Bush/Cheney “gave” us in 2008.  Our Justice Department and Intelligence community is under attack from within our own country – seemingly republicans working with the Russians – and our standing in the “world community” is being slowly eroded – plus there’s much more.  (Government institutions are being purposely debased)  And, during all this, Ryan remains quiet.  Is that the new definition of “presidential?”

Additional Thought:  Since I wrote this post, Devin Nunes, the republican head of the Intelligence Committee who recused himself but seems “un-recused” from the “Russia Investigation,” has managed to get the House to vote authority for him to release the secret memo he’s been working on to undermine the Mueller investigation. According to the FBI, Nunes doing this is “reckless.”  They’ve suggested Nunes is threatening our National Security.  Obviously, the purpose is to protect Trump from what Nunes, and evidently Trump believes is coming from Mueller.  Paul Ryan is SILENT during all of this.  He seems to have no courage when it comes to standing up to Trump.

Essentially, America is at a crossroads.  Are we going to REALLY be a “nation of laws” or are we morphing into a fascist dictatorship?  There is definitely a “wave” coming in 2018 that is progressive, but you can count on republicans doing everything they can to prevent MILLIONS of people from voting.  Republicans are trying to BLOCK – or discredit – Mueller’s investigation and BLOCK as many people as they can from voting.  If republicans don’t IMPEACH Trump after Mueller’s report (actually, they shouldn’t need Mueller’s report) the voters will vote democrats into the House in order to “get the job done.”

There’s “something” with Trump and Russia.  He STILL hasn’t implemented the sanctions Congress directed him to put in place – and the republican Congress is enabling – and, the Russians are still here – with NO push back from “we the people” via our federal government and the Justice Department led by Jeff Sessions.

The “stuff” Donald Trump is doing to destroy the “America as we’ve known it” mounts every day to the point where it’s hard to keep up.  Think of this:  Trump’s lawyer paid off a “porn star” to hide an illicit affair about a month prior to the election, likely an illegal campaign “expense.”  It’s hardly an issue – as far as the media AND, more significantly, his “conservative Christian” base seem to be concerned.  I’m not sure what they’re seeing that is OK to “look the other way from” – but, the reality is they voted for Trump knowing he’d admitted to being a sexual predator on the “Access Hollywood tapes.”  I keep wondering if Trump is willing to “throw” this stuff out there to deflect “we the people’s” attention off the “Russia thing” because he knows his “Christian” base will accept whatever comes their way?

Trump seems to believe he can “deflect” anything and all of his “base” will stick with him.  I believe that’s true regarding the hard core white supremacists, but as a Christian myself (I guess I’m liberal – see my previous post for the disclaimer) I continue to struggle as to how Christians can continue to support this man.  Aside from the reality that there’s something “deplorable” with the “Russia thing” that ALL AMERICANS should be ALARMED about, Trump is a serial adulterer and think about how that makes the Christian community look as they continue to support him.  I have to wonder “are there any limits for these ‘Christians’?”  Lately, I’ve been feeling a sense of empathy for Trump’s present wife Melania – how is she handling all this.  The affair with the porn star happened after her son by Trump was born by just a few months (and, reportedly, he propositioned others at the same golf event).  The Access Hollywood tape was made while she was pregnant with Baron.  Yikes!

The “damage” as I’ve referred to it comes in HUGE swaths every day, but there’s a lot of what might ultimately be called “collateral damage.”  Take for example Andrew McCabe who was the second in command in the FBI under James Comey and who’s been under relentless attack from Trump and the republicans over the “Russia thing.”  McCabe is reportedly planning to retire early in the coming months because he’s tired of being attacked from republicans.  This is a man who’s served for over 20 years and was integral in the anti-terrorism work of the FBI after September 11, 2001.  Every top official that resigns during this Trump fiasco makes the fallout worse as we continue to wait for republicans to come to their senses and stop this nightmare. Comey, (despite how he handled the Clinton email thing), McCabe, Christopher Wray, and Robert Mueller should all be considered national heroes and not subjected to this crap coming from Trump and right wing republicans.  They are the patriots in all this!  (Apparently, McCabe’s “crime” was being married to a democrat who ran for office in Virginia and received support from the governor of Virginia – who was a supporter of Hillary Clinton – in 2015 no less!  You can’t make this stuff up!  “We the people” should encourage McCabe to “fight on” and remain on the job!)

EVERYONE knows Donald Trump is a LIAR.  That can’t be in question.  Yes, his supporters are going to say, “all politicians lie,” but, I’ve never seen anything close to Trump (well, there’s Kellyanne Conway and “alternative facts”).  When someone LIES like Trump, you can’t believe ANYTHING he says!  And, you have to keep in mind that someone like Trump has no problem looking into the camera and LYING to the American people (kind of like Bill Clinton) plus he’s LIED so much that he probably TOTALLY believes the Mueller investigation won’t touch him.  Maybe, but it doesn’t look that way to me.  In fact, at this point, it appears to me Trump believes he’s invulnerable and there’s no way he could be subject to the laws like us poor minions.  Like when he said he believes he should have total control over the Attorney General – as in telling him who to investigate and in expecting him to “protect” the president.  As in so many ways, Trump appears to be delusional.

Here’s another thing.  There’s a lot of members of the Trump “team” who could be in serious trouble.  When you witness a crime and don’t report it, that makes you part of a conspiracy as far as I can tell.  When you’re willing to LIE to protect the president you could be in very serious trouble – ask Mike Flynn or George Papadopoulus.  People like Jeff Sessions, Steve Bannon, Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Don McGahn, Reince Priebus, and others may learn to loathe the day they signed up as surrogates to Trump.  And, of course, both Donald Jr. and Jared Kushner confirm the saying, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”  They seem to be proficient LIARS.  I have to wonder if they’re going to be stupid enough to LIE to Mueller.

Both Donald Jr. and Kushner appear to me to be vulnerable on their own merits.  The June 9, 2016 meeting with the Russians was COLLUSION clear and simple!  From where I’m sitting it matters not what they received in the meeting.  It appears rather obvious the discussion centered on some quid pro quo that would repeal the Magnitsky Act.  That they were talking about “adoption” is so absurd it boggles the mind they think “we the people” are that stupid. (Well, we just might be, because, to an extent, the LYING is working)  Fortunately, I’m very confident neither Mueller nor any of his investigative team are that stupid.  That meeting was COLLUSION.  So, Donald Jr. is likely to LIE more than he already has about it – he probably already has to Congress (and, the republicans will enable it) and Jared will pretend he was an innocent observer.  Here’s the bottom line – they were both in the room (as was Paul Manafort) – period, end of story!  COLLUSION

Then you’ve got what appears to be a MOUNTAIN of illegal activity by Jared Kushner on his own.  It’s no wonder Trump’s daughter was so attracted to him. He had to fill out his SF 86 form for his security clearance and, apparently, still doesn’t have full clearance because he keeps LYING.  Surprise, surprise.  He lied about numerous of his contacts with foreign governments and/or officials and, based on recent reporting he’s managed to mix his own business interests into his “job” with the government.  Like his father in law, it appears he’s focused on improving his bottom line while in the “White House.”  Also, like his father in law, it appears he’s become compromised based on his dealings with foreigners – who are much more sophisticated than himself – especially, in his case, by the Chinese while his father in law appears to be compromised by, at minimum, the Russians.

Unfortunately, not only are “we the people” dealing with a so-called president who’s a LIAR, but also those right wing members of Congress who have proven themselves willing to say whatever they need to say to accomplish their goal – which is power for themselves and MONEY for their donors who sit at the top of the “food chain.”  Republican members of Congress have used this attack, attack, attack strategy to gain and attempt to hold power since the early days of Newt Gingrich (who continues to soil himself with LIES to this day – it appears to me Gingrich is in a constant audition for Secretary of State every time he comes onto Fox “news,” kissing up to Trump in a really embarrassing manner).

This is the same formula Gingrich used to change the power in the House back in the early 90’s.  It’s continued to work because republicans believe in the theory: “the end justifies the means,” and they’ve succeeded in gerrymandering the Congressional districts in many states to create numerous “safe seats.”  They’re led, behind the scenes, by the very sophisticated “Koch brothers.”  I don’t believe it’s going to work much longer, but the Koch’s already have their LYING adds out for 2018 (I’m in Pittsburgh right now and have seen a couple – it’s disgusting – but, it works) committing $400 MILLION for republicans who supported the tax scam for 2018.  (It’s not hard to imagine how much it saved them)  Maybe all “we the people” needed to stop this right wing takeover of America was Trump.

One reason I believe the republican “strategy” of “the end justifies the means” is coming to an end is because they’ve now become the “party of Trump.”  I figure by 2018 Trump will still be in the 30’s in the polls and, quite likely, by the election, Mueller will have completed most of his investigation and will be focusing on prosecutions.  What the republicans do with any charges suggested against Trump will have a bearing on how bad the “wave” is.  If they confirm we’re a “nation of laws and not men” they may be able to mitigate the “wave.”  However, if they “look the other way” at a charge of say, OBSTRUCTION, or MONEY LAUNDERING, or COLLUSION I can’t imagine a majority of Americans being OK with that.

I have to believe that even some of Trump’s “base” don’t want the Russians involved in our politics.  Clearly, they’re still here and they’re attempting to help the republicans in 2018, which SHOULD be antithetical even to them.  It,s very problematic to me there’s a TV network (Fox “news”) now referred to by many as “Trump TV” that is willing to allow the Russians to help manipulate the electoral process and the thinking of the American public.  Just think how they would have reacted had President Obama been snuggling up to Russia and encouraging their ACTUAL “fake news” to support his campaigns.  Every time I hear Trump say those words, “fake news,” I almost gag because it’s the Russians who have mastered the “strategy.”  It goes hand in hand with the “Big Lie Theory” of Joseph Goebbels’ which Fox and the republicans have endorsed for years.  It’s immoral, but it works.  Most Americans are too busy to take the time to figure out what is “real” and what is not.  Sad!

I’ll end this by saying the attacks on some very good men at the FBI make me – I want to say something like discouraged or sick to my stomach – but, I think what I really feel is anger.  Someone like Andrew McCabe, who’s dedicated his life to public service – and, no doubt, at times in ways that threatened his own health – shouldn’t be facing these barbarous attacks as Trump attempts to – as usual – deflect from his own misdeeds.  If McCabe truly wants to retire he should be doing so with honor – although, he’s only 49 years young.  If he’s just tired of the politics and the fact our Congress is allowing these attacks on his character – I feel it’s a great loss to the nation.  And, every civil servant who’s dedicated themselves to this country and who are being either forced out of government or leaving because they can’t support Trump, are not “making America great again.”  That’s a HUGE part of the “damage” I’m always talking about.

America was MUCH “greater” before Trump moved into the Oval Office.  I keep thinking of the metaphor of smoking.  Like when you quit, how long does it take for your body to recover.  Once Trump is out of the “White House” – however long from now that might be – will determine how long it takes for America to “recover.”  As I’ve said many times, “the damage is mounting fast.”  The place I’m the most worried is internationally.  I’m concerned that Trump is empowering China, India, and other countries around the world economically and, me not being an economist, I have a bad feeling in my gut of what will happen if there’s a significant downturn while he’s in office.  Our traditional allies are not happy we elected someone like Trump and they very well may start looking elsewhere economically.  I’m not sure, but what I am sure of is this:  If republicans really want to make America great again, they need to impeach Trump!

OK, if you’ve read my previous post you’ll know I’m one who predicted the democrats would “cave” on the so-called “government shutdown” and, of course, they did.  So, now we’re in that stage where republicans and democrats are attempting to make themselves look to be the “winners.”  It’s true the democrats achieved getting the CHIP program funded for six years as they “kicked the can down the road.” AGAIN!  The budget SHOULD have been approved last October and, as usual, our dysfunctional Congress continues to operate on “CR’s” (Continuing Resolutions which temporarily keep the government funded).  As the saying goes, “Is this any way to operate a government?”  As they argue over who was the “winner,” as usual, “we the people” are the losers.

Of course, “liberals” (* please see disclaimer at the end of this post) like myself are not happy with the democrats.  AGAIN!  In my last post I made a caveat that said, “I hope I’m wrong.”  I still hope I’m wrong – but, I’m not one to trust Mitch McConnell (or Trump or the rest of the republicans – especially in the House).  I wrote it was unconscionable that republicans were attempting to get their budget passed by holding the CHIP program as the “hostage.”  Essentially, it was if you want the “CHIP” program (the Children’s Health Insurance Program which provides insurance for 9 million children and many pregnant moms) the cost will be DACA.  (The “Dreamers” – meaning the Americans brought here by their parents when they were very young – this is the ONLY country they’ve known for all practical purposes.  These kids trusted the government to pass the “Dream Act” as they identified themselves following promises republicans evidently are willing to break.).  This just confirms what most of us know about where the republicans stand on moral issues like these.  I’m not the only “liberal” who believes no DACA NO deal!

Well, now the CHIP issue is “off the table” – it’s been funded.  Maybe this is the only way democrats even had a chance to get what “we the people” want in this deal.  Based on the latest polls I’ve read 87% of Americans want the DACA recipients to receive permanent status as Americans and a similar number support CHIP.  I’ve written before, as a Middle School teacher for over 20 years, I had many students who are now likely integral parts of the DACA issue.  Many of them are the most memorable students I ever had the privilege to teach.  In my mind, they are every much American as myself (and, my family IMMIGRATED to America in the 1600’s).  This should NOT be an issue which would hold up anything – it should get passed on a “clean” bill – PERIOD!  But, I can say this, on February 8th, Democrats would be wise to make a stand at that point – because, it’s unlikely “we the people” can trust Mitch McConnell!  If the DACA “kids” end up facing deportation, it better not be because the Democrats “caved.”

I’ve spent years wondering if the “leaders” of the democratic party understand there’s a WAR going on for the “heart and soul” of this nation???  Were they watching last weekend as MILLIONS of women (and men) were marching in the streets around the globe in protest to what Trump and the republicans stand for?  Do they understand they COULD be the mechanism that funnels that energy into America’s politics? Something I often find myself wondering about.  Those who were in the streets are not looking for some timid politicians to be the leaders of this nation.  The “white nationalists” who are represented in Congress by the so-called “tea party” won’t be overcome by politicians who are afraid to stand for their fundamental beliefs – and, the Americans who will ultimately decide whether “we the people” will stand on the principles originally laid out by FDR (and, by the way, his great wife Eleonor) or will we succumb to Trump and the philosophy of authoritarians like Hitler, Stalin, Putin, etc.  It’s a stark choice that, as a “baby boomer” I can’t even believe we’re being forced to make.  But, thank God for the “women’s march!”

There is a WAVE coming in 2018 and, by default, it appears to me that democrats are going to be the beneficiaries – but, the next few weeks will determine much as to how excited those pushing the “wave” will be regarding the democratic party.  I can anticipate a lot of inner turmoil in the party if “leaders” bail on the DACA “kids.”  Could there be a third party?  Could people run as independents?  I don’t know.  What I do know is that “liberals” are getting fed up with the direction of this nation and they’re “not going to take it anymore.”  I personally don’t believe the media understands the enormity of the issues.  Look at the people in these marches.  Likely, many of them wouldn’t be on the list of “liberals” in any polling they may end up getting caught into.  If democrats are smart, they’ll harness this energy and work to recruit as many working class people as they can into their “fold.”

As I’ve said many times here, it’s just a matter of time for the LYING to catch up with the republicans.  This past weekend, the “vice LIAR” was in Israel LYING straight to the troops there that “a minority in the Senate was preventing them from being paid,” and, “the president and the vice president will do everything they can to make sure you’re all paid.” (or something of the sort – to a noticeable “smattering” of applause.)  I had to wonder if they (the troops) knew he was LYING?  I had to wonder if they knew that – should any military checks fail to be written it wasn’t due to a “minority” in the Senate – unless you consider Mitch McConnell a “minority” – but TOTALLY due to McConnell BLOCKING a proposal to make sure they were paid no matter what?  When your vice president willingly LIES directly to the troops and presents himself as a self righteous “Christian” do you believe, as I do, that this charade has gone on long enough?

This might be another of my “digressions” – I’m just being “up front” – but, is Mike Pense going to go down in the history of vice presidents in the same category as Trump?  I’ve predicted Trump will end up along side Benedict Arnold (and, by the way, as I’ve predicted, the evidence is MOUNTING that the Russians are STILL interfering in our political process – working toward skewing people’s minds come the 2018 election) and, I’m not sure if Pense is just a LIAR or is he involved in the COLLUSION?  I believe some of Pense’s LIES have opened himself up to possibly being entangled in the OBSTRUCTION – like when he covered up for Trump when Comey was fired by purposely LYING to various members of the media.  When he witnessed crimes and did not report them (and, that goes for several members of the “White House” staff).  Watching Pense, this past weekend, LYING directly to our troops made my stomach curl.  I’m not sure I wouldn’t prefer Trump! (I can’t believe I just wrote that)

Here’s the bottom line of this past weekend.  I’m happy the CHIP program is now funded for six years – of course, was there ever a thought that even these mean spirited republicans could take health care away from 9 MILLION kids and their pregnant moms?  We’ve now got another three weeks to wonder whether the “Dreamers” will get what they deserve – which is permanent legal status and a “pathway to citizenship?”  Somehow, I feel another “shutdown,” or threat thereof, is soon to be on the horizon and we’ll be doing this all over again.  Fortunately, the CHIP program won’t be part of that negotiation, but republicans clearly believe they can force democrats to vote for things they are diametrically opposed to in order to get the “Dream Act” their base is expecting.  The republicans will push for a “wall” (and, Mexico WONT pay for it), they’ll push for immigration policies that belie America as a “nation of immigrants.” And, I believe, there’s even more “method to their madness.”

Do you remember the “Russia thing?”  Well, that’s still the most unnerving reality “we the people” are facing.  Is it possible republicans are making as much chaos in DC as they can to take “we the people’s” attention off of Robert Mueller’s investigation while they’re planning a full throated attack on the FBI in the intelligence community?  I know I’m very concerned for the “Dreamers” but it will be terrible if all the stuff going on right now takes our attention off the FACT the Russians are INVADING our nation via cyber networks and our government is seemingly oblivious to all this.  It would be terrible if republicans succeeded in undermining the investigation into the “Russia thing” OR, possibly more importantly, undermining the confidence of the American people in our Justice Department.

It’s the belief and trust in our Justice Department as apolitical that is the backbone of the American form of self government.  Since the days of Reagan I’ve seen more and more people refer to the government as if it’s the “enemy.”  This attack is coming from people who seem to be OK with some form of authoritarian system that doesn’t even resemble what was put in place by our “founding fathers.”  As of this writing “we the people” have the ability to “fix” this problem in November, if not before.  Does it feel to anyone else there are republicans who would like to prevent us from the ability to vote republicans into the “history books?”  I have to say there are republicans I’m OK with – despite the reality I don’t like how they vote.  The best example is Jeff Flake – and, of course, he’ll be one of the republicans who don’t survive what’s going on because he knows he can’t even win a primary without selling himself out to the Trump supporters.  I’m disappointed he doesn’t try – but, apparently, he sees the “writing on the wall.”

The “Russia thing” is probably, in the “long haul” more important than the “Dreamer” issue for democrats to make a stand over – but, the reality is that there really is a WAR going on in America – internally – that surpasses anything I can remember in my lifetime and both issues require diligence and courage.  When Trump was elected I believed his immoral and potentially illegal behavior would cause him to face accountability by the end of his first year in office.  What I wasn’t understanding was the number of right wing republicans in Congress who would put their power ahead of their country.  I couldn’t have imagined there were republicans in Congress who would allow the Russians to intervene in our electoral process as LIARS and fearmongers.  If they succeed, we’re in BIG trouble.  Every day that passes and republicans continue to show themselves as possible traitors the “stakes” seem to be rising.

Do they actually believe they can succeed?  Do they think they can stop the “Russia thing?”  (And, by that I mean the investigation into Trump – not the Russian invasion of our country)  Why are the Russians still allowed to produce the ACTUAL “fake news” one year after Trump’s “election?”  It really is time for democrats to MAKE SURE “we the people” understand they are up for the FIGHT.  Reportedly, Devin Nunes is about to release the “memo” he’s been working on “behind closed doors” where he’s going to “cherry pick” classified information he forced the FBI to provide in order for him to undermine the FBI itself and Mueller in particular.  Is there a democrat (aside from Diane Feinstein) who will, in response to Nunes, publish the entire information Nunes is parsing to make his dishonest point?  The next month should be interesting.  I keep telling my son – “keep watching, this is important American history, happening right before our eyes.”

• Final Thought:  I mentioned above about a disclaimer regarding the word “liberal.”  I always considered myself a “conservative socialist.”  I’ve been pining for a “balanced budget” since the days of Nixon – when he suggested the national debt was nothing more than a mortgagee on a home.  I’ve always wanted the “mortgage” to be paid off, or at least paid down.  Clearly today’s “conservatives” think almost 180 degrees from that.  I’ve believed in the “tradition” which created the world’s greatest middle class – emanating from the “New Deal” today’s republicans are hell bent on repealing.  To me, Social Security and Medicare should be “untouchable.”  Today’s “conservatives” are trying to undermine each (plus Medicaid).  I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ – read the “beatitudes.”  Additionally, He said, “What you do to the least of these you do to Me, what you do for the least of these you do for Me.”  I could go on, but today’s “conservatives,” in my view, have “muddied” the meaning of these words in a way to allow themselves to turn America into a third world dictatorship.  I hope “we the people” don’t fall for this, and, I for one, will fight this intrusion on our democracy/republic to the bitter end – if necessary!