Back when I was teaching (Middle School) we had a sign on the wall that said: “Tell the Truth, there’s less to remember.”  Someone should send that sign to Trump’s “White House” and hope that the message it portrays would sink in.  That would help prevent the fiasco that has transpired as Trump’s surrogates have attempted to defend the indefensible regarding the reasoning behind Trump’s firing of James Comey.  Vice President Pense (on many occasions) was quoted as saying Trump fired Comey based on the recommendation of the Assistant Attorney General Rosenstein, Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer (who LIES virtually every day for Trump) said the same thing in response to questions from reporters as did advisor Kellyanne Conway and assistant press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (who, today, said she didn’t see why people considered it a problem today when Trump, essentially, “cut off their knees” by saying he had already decided to fire Comey before meeting with Rosenstein).

This is normal with today’s White House.  We have a president who’s a pathological LIAR and continues to verify that “diagnosis” (obviously, I’m just a retired teacher – but when you’ve spent most of your life dealing with “Middle Schoolers” you learn how to identify LIARS).  Now, as Comey himself today verified, the director of the FBI serves at the pleasure of the President and Trump had every right to fire him.  The problem arose from the way it was done, the timing, and the LYING intended to justify – and deflect from the truth – the real reason Comey was fired.  (Not to mention Trump’s attempt to destroy Comey’s character in an interview he [foolishly] granted to Lester Holt where he essentially admitted to obstructing justice) I watched today as pundit after pundit tried to figure out the real reason why Trump actually fired Comey and most, in my opinion, missed it.  They did make the connection to Trump’s frustration that the “Russia investigation” is getting dangerously close but I believe Comey said something during testimony last week to the Senate Judiciary Committee that was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” for Trump.  Remember, you read it here first! :o)

During the testimony Comey was asked about his decision to “re-open” the Clinton email investigation just 11 days prior to the election which violated all FBI protocol and, by most sources, is the reason Trump is sitting in the White House. Comey’s response to that question, I believe, is why he’s no longer the head of the FBI.  He said, “I feel slightly nauseous that the decision I made could have had an impact on the election” – or words to that affect.  I can only imagine sitting next to Trump as he watched his FBI director say he felt “nauseous” because he may be the reason Trump is president.  Now, keep in mind, Trump is the closest thing to a classic NARCISSIST that I’ve ever seen.  I have no doubt that would be interpreted by Trump as the ultimate “slam.”  It’s been reported that Trump tried to get a “loyalty pledge” from Comey and, instead, got a promise of honesty.  Put those two things together along with the advancing FBI investigation (just last week Comey was asking for more resources to allow the FBI to ramp up the investigation) and you have the real reason Comey was fired.

Trump may be a good real estate person, but he’s in way over his head in the political arena – which he clearly demonstrated during this latest fiasco. (It seems everything he touches has fiasco written all over it) In his letter to Comey, letting him know he was fired, Trump did the unthinkable – as if he’s got no advisors giving him sensible advice (I mean, I would have counseled him against this one) – he said something like thanking Comey for telling him three times that he was not under investigation in the Russian investigation.  What???!!  Are you kidding me?  I would know better than to do that.  Aside from the FACT he shouldn’t be asking Comey if he’s “under investigation” (I don’t believe Comey told him that he wasn’t – I mean it makes me uncomfortable writing this knowing my president is this foolish) I believe he’s created ANOTHER opportunity for republicans to end this nightmare – from most accounts simply asking Comey if he’s “under investigation” is potentially “obstruction of justice.”

Trump himself said that during a dinner meeting with Comey where Comey was saying he wanted to remain as the director of the FBI he asked Comey if he was “under investigation?”  Now, put yourself in Comey’s shoes.  If you were lobbying to keep your job and your boss asked you a question like that – well, I’m hoping Comey didn’t simply say “yes.”  I’m sure we’ll eventually find out – but, from all accounts, whether you like Comey or not (and, I’ve certainly expressed my displeasure in his interference in the 2016 election – he’s going to get an uncertain, at this time, place in history over helping put Trump into the presidency and now getting fired just as the Russian investigation is “heating up”) he is regarded by almost everyone I’ve listened to who knows  him or works with him as an honest up front type of person.  I still remember him, during the Bush/Cheney years, making a stand against the use of illegal wiretapping by the Bush/Cheney administration. (At that point in time I definitely admired him)  I believe Trump is compounding his mistake by characterizing Comey as a “grandstanding showboat.”  Most people refer to him as being more like a boy scout.  This is not going to end well for Trump.

The reality that needs to sink in at the White House is that if, as they say, there’s no “there there,” they should STOP the LYING and pontificating.  Mike Pense, who I’m not the only person who thinks he’s likely the “next president” needs to stop the constant LYING for Trump who would clearly throw anyone “under the bus” – based on my interpretation of listening to his comments during the Holt interview – if that’s what it would take to save his skin.  While Trump was demeaning Comey’s character he was still defending Mike Flynn – who’s very possibly hearing the chant “lock him up” in the not too distant future. I believe Trump is still defending Flynn because he doesn’t want Flynn angry enough with him to “spill the beans.”  If, after Flynn gets whatever he’s going to “get,” regarding the problems he has with taking money illegally from foreign interests without permission from the Defense department and then not reporting it on various national security forms and not registering as a foreign agent, if Trump pardons him we know why there’s the “sweet talk” now.

But, Trump had no second thoughts about undermining Pense and the other White House surrogates who were sent out to give a false reason for Comey’s firing. Yesterday I listened in near disgust as Ms. Sanders – who I had never seen before – was a bit combative as she basically seemed incredulous that the press corp was expecting HONESTY from Trump’s spokespersons.  Trump and his minions are, every day, showing the authoritarian tendencies that put many Americans (including me) off.  I’m sure that today they will be acting as if nothing happened and will be complaining that none of the “good” is getting reported.  The solution to that problem is For Trump to show his taxes and encourage an independent investigation into the Russia issue.  If there’s “nothing there” he should act as if there’s “nothing there” and ease people’s minds.  Most Americans DON’T want politicians or their surrogates colluding with foreign governments to interfere in our elections – with Russia being at or near the top of the list.

Trump actually acted as if he still doesn’t understand this investigation into Russian interference is REAL and, at the very minimum, several of his surrogates are in jeopardy not to mention his own role – whatever it may have been.  I keep thinking back to the Republican National Convention where Trump’s surrogates made only one change to the platform – and, it had to do with undermining support for Ukraine and reducing opposition to Putin’s interests in Ukraine.  I heard an interview where Trump himself said he was OK with that change.  Certainly made me wonder at the time, why?  Well, since that time, the “wonder” has grown considerably.  I believe if Trump really has nothing to worry about (as mentioned above) he’d be encouraging an independent investigation and he’d be showing his tax returns to make sure we all know, one way or another, whether he’s got financial ties to Russia.  One thing I’ve learned through all this is the sophistication of the Russians as they turn people, unsuspecting in many instances, into “assets.”  I keep thinking about the so-called “dossier” that was published by Buzzfeed and wondering how much of that will ultimately be corroborated.

I listened to Steve Schmidt the other night, who is a leading republican consultant and who, it appears to me, is one of the few (republicans) who actually “tell it like it is” – even though I don’t always agree with his conclusions – challenging republicans in Congress to face up to the reality that they are the ones responsible for “fixing” this problem.  He. like me, is TIRED of all the LYING and he realizes the long term damage that is being done to the “republican brand” because of Trump’s incompetence.  As he said, “the world is watching.”  This all would be embarrassing if it weren’t so serious.  We’re getting to the point where NO ONE believes anything coming out of Trump’s mouth and where virtually all those whose job is reporting to the American people about the actions of the White House are questioning the words of Trump’s surrogates.  I’m convinced that KellyAnne Conway is not seen much on TV as one of Trump’s advisors is because people just tired of her CONSTANT lying.  If Pense does assume the role of President, he needs to remember that All of his LIES are being safely stored in data bases that will be used to question his veracity in the future.  It’s one thing to be loyal – it’s quite another to continue LYING to the American people.  It’s time for Pense to start making sure what he says in public is going to be backed up by Trump.

Trump is about to leave on a trip over seas and I’m worried that he’s going to embarrass himself and “we the people” who somehow allowed him to gain this position.  To me, this (foreign policy) is where Trump’s presidency gets really dangerous.  He has proven time and again that he does not understand government, he doesn’t understand American history, he doesn’t understand world events, and he has a propensity to coddle dictators. He’s never said a bad word about Vladimir Putin (and, astonishingly, right in the middle of the Comey fiasco, he met with the very Russian “ambassador” in the “middle” of the Russian controversy – apparently at the suggestion of Putin himself – with Russian journalists present and not American.  I could write a post on that one alone.), he’s complimented Duterte of the Philippines and invited him to the White House, and he met in the White House with the president of Egypt, and called Kim Jong Un a “smart cookie.”  Actually, I’d be OK with all of that had Trump not been rude to the Chancellor of Germany and leaders of other countries allied with the US or had he not seemed to be endorsing Putin’s candidate in the French elections.  Republican presidents are confusing to me: Bush had a thing with pushing democracy everywhere, Trump seems almost the opposite.  As Mr. Schmidt said the other night, “the world is watching.”

He’s still claiming that “If the Russians interfered in our election I want to know about it.”  This is over 6 MONTHS since it became the UNIVERSAL conclusion of all 17 facets of our intelligence community.  The heads of each of those departments testified as such to Congress – I remember them being asked if Russia interfered with the election with the intention of helping Trump and hurting Clinton – one by one the each answered “yes.”  That was months ago – and, Trump is still wondering if it was Russia? (or maybe China, or who knows?) The man is not credible.  In fact, after listening to him yesterday in the interview with Holt I came away thinking he’s delusional. Pathological liars believe their own lies – they are constantly making things up to suit the circumstances, which is exactly why at the beginning of this post I referred to the sign at my school that said “Tell the truth, there’s less to remember.”  Trump is running into this problem seemingly every day and the Comey fiasco is just one more example. (When there’s  film vaults full of your previous lies, and people realize LYING is the norm, it’s really hard to get away with the “revisions.”)

Final Thought:  It really is time for the republicans in Congress to intervene and stop the LYING by ending Trump’s term as president.  He’s daily giving them reasons to do so – yesterday admitting to what amounts to “obstruction of justice” by asking Comey if he is “under investigation” – not to mention ALL the violations of the emoluments clause in the constitution regarding his many properties and financial entanglements around the world.  Who knows what his taxes would reveal – there’s got to be a good reason why he won’t show them.  They need to stop this before Trump gets to the point where he’s seen as pathetic – which will soon be the case unless there’s a miraculous “turnaround.”  I’m guessing, at this point, the real estate business is looking quite good to Trump again!

I’m sure I’m not the only American citizen who’s watching in dismay as Donald Trump and the republicans are busy trying to undo anything and everything “liberals” believe in.  Most of what “we the people” are witnessing, however, seems to me just the tip of the “iceberg” regarding the potential damage Trump’s administration is/can do(ing) to the fundamental values Americans like me have grown up with.  And, I’m sorry to say, many of Trump’s supporters are of my age and appear to have lost sight of what actually did “make America great.”  The more I watch Trump and his surrogates the more I believe what they really mean with their slogan is “make America white again.”

Almost every week we get more and more information that would infer Trump and his minions actually did do, what to me is the unthinkable, the (treasonous) act of conspiring with a foreign nation (Russia) to undermine our election process.  There’s little doubt now that the Russians hacked the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and, they’ve been at the forefront of “Fake News.” (And, by the way, Trump’s constant referring to “fake news” regarding the cable outlets that are actually investigating his action is about as classic a use of political projection as I’ve ever seen.  ie, you do it, then blame your opponent for doing what you’re doing to get the attention focused elsewhere)  What we don’t know is if the Russians managed to hack any of the electronic voting machines during the election.  Just the possibility of that is one more reason why I believe all American elections should be done with paper, traceable, re-countable ballots.  Regardless, until the TRUTH is “out there” this subject is going to be the focus of the reporting “we the people” see if we’re watching the “news.”

However, it may be the “behind the scenes” stuff where the MOST damage is being done.  For example, as a retired teacher I know there’s a lot of problems with our public education system, but having Betsy DeVoss as the Secretary of Education is a bit unnerving.  I’m not sure what she’s doing in that post – which is why I’m writing this – because those of us who are “ordinary people” should care about public education and we should be aware if there are any drastic changes being made.  Hopefully, anything happening will be positive, but my instincts tell me to “be afraid, be very afraid.”  Like most of Trump’s supporters (this is one of the very few things I would have in common with most of them) I’m done with my education.  I hope and pray that today’s youth will get the same opportunities those of my era got – and, I have to add, I’m very skeptical.  In my mind “No Child Left Behind” was an underhanded attempt to undermine public education and the system is still “reeling.”  We need to know what DeVoss is “up to” and I believe it’s likely to be “flying under the radar” because of the Russian stuff.  I certainly don’t believe she’s intending to “fix” public education.

Then there’s the State Department and the Defense Department.  Trump isn’t even nominating people for MOST of the under secretary positions in both departments.  These two parts of our government, it seems to me, are right up there as the most important.  Especially, in today’s world with a president who’s proving time and again that he has no idea what he’s doing.  Trump has been diagnosed by more than me as an authoritarian figure and his assault on the media, his assault on the intelligence community, and all his platitudes toward DICTATORS around the globe – especially Putin – along with his lamenting about the restrictions our CONSTITUTION puts on his ability to get what he wants should throw up RED FLAGS!  It’s not healthy for decisions to be made by a very few people.  Granted, most people say James Mattis, the Secretary of Defense, is an honorable and competent leader, but the same can’t be said about Rex Tillerson, the Secretary of State.  There’s a very small number of people weighing in on the decision making process – which is scary when the “decider” is a narcissistic pathological LIAR who’s exhibiting strong authoritarian tendencies.

There’s also the other important parts of the bureaucracy that many of Trump’s benefactors would love to demolish.  The person in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency is an oil minion who had a history of suing the agency prior to Trump choosing him to head it.  They are proposing cutting it to the point where it is dysfunctional. (much to the glee of people like the Koch Brothers who’ve been fined MILLIONS for their lack of respect for our environment)  The EPA recently removed ALL references to “Climate Change” from their website and they’ve either fired or muted the scientists studying what may be the most important issue of our time.  (Evidently, until Mar a Lago is under water, Trump and his minions will be climate change deniers)  Additionally, they’re opening the Arctic and the east and west coasts to more drilling.  The damage from undermining the EPA and removing restrictions on the use of fossil fuels could be catastrophic in the long run. (Trump, like me, is 70 – hence, no worries)

The Energy Department is being run by a republican, Rick Perry, who famously couldn’t remember he wanted to abolish it during a campaign debate back in 2012.  I’m sure he loves the place now – but, he’s another connected to the oil industry who could be very quietly leading the actual demolition of this agency.  More likely, what he’s doing is making it easier for oil companies to bludgeon the earth in search for more of the oil that is contributing to the climate change that the EPA is ignoring.  This is what you call “teamwork.”  What it appears they’re “up to” is opening the coastal areas for drilling and making it easier for the oil companies to get permits.  The mantra – as Sarah Palin once said, “Drill baby Drill.”

Agencies like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) will get starved for funding, making the food supply less safe.  I listened to Trump’s Treasury Secretary talk about how money for school lunches will be dropped because “there’s no evidence it leads to school success.”  Of course, teachers (like I was) would find many ways to argue that point – with most of us, we were/are always providing food for hungry students so they have a better chance to be successful learners.  I listened to Greta Van Susteren, one day, on her MSNBC show lament how any school personnel could possibly embarrass a student without the ability to pay for their lunch by giving them a cheese sandwich or some other way of making sure that student’s poverty is known.  Well, the reality is that comes from republican efforts to “cut” the “wasteful” spending that “gives” food to “undeserving” students.  There was one republican (actually, I believe it was several) who suggested if students couldn’t afford their lunch they should have to work for it – by cleaning tables or some other task.  Van Susteren focused her dismay on the lunch room workers who are doing what they’re told (most are near minimum wage earners) with no apparent knowledge of where that type of thinking comes from.  And, now, Trump’s “budget” would remove ALL funding for school lunch programs.  (Apparently, it’s hard for privileged people like Trump and the Goldman Sachs surrogates he’s filled his cabinet with to have any empathy for children growing up in poverty)

I could go on and on – the “health care” proposal is simply a HUGE tax cut disguised as “health care.”  I guess Trump and his surrogates believe the MILLIONS who will lose access to health care – via Medicaid – probably don’t vote anyway so what’s the big deal.  Planned Parenthood serves MILLIONS of poor women’s health needs – they want to defund that.  Medicaid and ultimately Medicare and Social Security are in their “cross-hairs” yet “we the people” won’t even see it all coming because we’re busy trying to find out how high in Trump’s hierarchy does the treasonous actions with Russia go?  And, yes, I’m just as much focused on the Trump/Russia attack on our republic as anyone else (probably more than many) – to me, from Russia’s standpoint, it was an act of war – from Trump’s potentially treasonous – well, hopefully we’ll find out the Truth about the level of collusion.  But, if we’re not paying attention to all these underlying issues the damage done there could take a decade or decades to “fix.”

Trump is the master manipulator when it comes to the media, but his lack of understanding regarding the constitution and the functions of the government will ultimately catch up to him.  In fact, it’s happening virtually as I’m writing this.  I started this post a day or so ago and in the meantime Trump decided to FIRE James Comey – the Director of the FBI who was “closing in” on the so-called Trump investigation regarding the Russian collusion.  Of course, as he ALWAYS does, Trump lied about the “why” and seemed oblivious to the “when” part of the decision.  Right when someone’s investigation is “ramping up” is a BAD time to fire them – especially if, as you say, there’s no “there there.”  It really doesn’t look good.  And, only the most foolish of the Trump supporters would believe the stated reason Comey was fired:  “Because of his handling of the Hillary Clinton email scandal.”  Right!  If you actually believe that, I’ve got a bridge I’d like to offer you at a very reasonable price.

Of course, not only does Trump lead the LYING about why Comey was fired but his minions with no apparent self respect – meaning Vice President Pense, Sean Spicer, and KellyAnne Conway, the three I saw/heard (plus there was a lady in the White House briefing room I didn’t recognize pushing the absurd LIE that it was all about the Clinton emails and Comey’s press conference 9 months ago) are WILLING liars to the American people – not just on this issue, but it’s been ongoing since Trump took the oath of office.  And, no, all politicians DON’T lie to the American public anywhere near the level of Trump and his surrogates.  I’m really concerned that Mike Pense is such a WILLING LIAR because, if (or should I say when) Trump’s IMPEACHED Pense is next in line – and, he’s going to have a very difficult time gaining any traction with the American people because he’s leaving video evidence of one LIE after another.  And, who’s next in line?  Well, it’s Paul Ryan – YIKES!  He’s another very WILLING LIAR.  His lies regarding the “health care bill” rival Trump’s in relation to demonstrating his disdain for the intellect of “we the people.”

And, speaking of the oath of office, when are republicans in Congress going to “grow a pair” (OK, that’s just wrong the way I said that – I should have said, get some courage) and step up and be “counted.”  If republicans continue to enable Trump’s behavior the only hope “we the people” have to STOP this dangerous man will be the 2018 elections.  As stated above – in the meantime there could be a lot of MAJOR damage done to the America many of us have come to take for granted.  Republicans have CONTROL of both houses of Congress so it’s on them to put a stop to all of this un-American “stuff.”  (Today, Trump actually met with the Russian “ambassador” who Flynn was meeting with and, the only way “we the people” know about it is because Russian media outlets posted images of the meeting.  Russian journalists were allowed in but not American – go figure)  Unfortunately, I believe both Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are thrilled to have someone in the “White House” who will sign their draconian legislation and that’s more important to them than whether or not our country has been attacked by Russia with willing support of American citizens.  This is the most significant crisis in my LIFETIME!  I truly hope there’s some courageous Republicans in Congress who will step up and demonstrate they were serious when they took their oath of office.  Otherwise, it’s going to be a very LONG two years until “we the people” can vote them out of office.

I just listened to James Comey’s testimony (well, part of it) before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Before I get to how incredulous it seemed to me, let me say that I’m coming to the conclusion it’s better that Trump won the 2016 election for several reasons.  The main one is that it’s exposing the republicans for what I’ve been writing about for years.  Now they’re in a position where they can no longer BLAME Barack Obama or the democrats (with any credibility) for their lack of ability to “govern” and I can only imagine how toxic it would be had Hillary Clinton “won” the last election.  (I put “won” in air quotes because as we all know she actually did win the popular vote by 3 MILLION votes)  Now, we’ve got republicans on the verge of passing a “health care bill” – that’s actually a massive tax cut for the wealthy – which will take health insurance away from (according to CBO estimates) 24 MILLION Americans and will hike premiums and deductibles for everyone else.  When the “rubber meets the road” this should be enough to get “we the people” to come to our senses and start voting these people from office.

Back to Comey: the man is unbelievable to me – even though I’m now depending on him to actually TOTALLY investigate the collusion between Trump and Russia in the last election.  After his comments today I’m not very confident he will do so – but, I can hope.  Comey defended his announcement that the Clinton email “scandal” had been re-opened (despite there being nothing new found) because he felt he had an obligation to “report” as opposed to “conceal.”  He said he felt “nauseous” with the thought he may have swung the election but that he would do the same thing again.  He said it would have been very bad to conceal the possibility there was something “there.”  On the other hand, he felt no compulsion to announce that the Trump campaign, and presumably Trump himself, was under investigation for colluding with the Russians in the Russian intrusion into the election.  I don’t think I’m the only person who wonders where he came up with the distinction.  And, certainly, to me – a Russian ATTACK on our republic is much more serious than Hillary Clinton having a private email server just like the two previous republicans (Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell) holding the same office – Secretary of State.

Republicans passed their “health care” (again, it’s a tax cut disguised as “health care”) bill, in my view, in response to the ridicule they and Trump have been receiving for getting NOTHING done of significance in the first 100 days.  Now, for all the right wing Christians who think no further than the issue of abortion, the nomination and confirmation of Neil Gorsuch was enough to make them happy.  I believe most of them could care less if it was the Russians who made this possible and, they won’t care about this “health care” law unless it somehow becomes an actual law and it affects their pocket books.  I’m really sad to come to the conclusion there’s so many in America who just can’t bring themselves to care about “the least of these” in the words of Jesus.  Today I got an email from Joseph Kennedy III that put it much better than I ever could.  It reads:

It is among the most basic human truths: Every one of us, some day, will be brought to our knees. By a diagnosis we didn’t expect, a phone call we can’t imagine, or a loss we cannot endure.That common humanity inspires our mercy. It fortifies our compassion. It drives us to look out for the sick, the elderly, the poor, and the most vulnerable among us.

Yesterday’s bill — yesterday’s devastating bill — does the opposite.  The bill is more than premiums and tax cuts. It is a cold and calculated world view: One that scapegoats the struggling, and sees fault in suffering. One dead set on dividing us based on who we love, where we come from, the direction of our faith and the size of our fortunes.

We see it in their tax plan, their budget cuts, their immigration policy, their civil rights assaults — and yesterday, in their cruel health care plan.  We must reject it.  We must decide, instead, to take care of each other — because, but for the grace of God, we will all one day wake up in need of a little mercy.

This nation’s character has never been defined by the power we give the already strong — but by the strength we give the weak.

This is our ultimate test. And it starts right now. Get involved in the fight today:

Thank you,

Congressman Joe Kennedy III

I watched republicans yesterday celebrating something dreadful because it was the only thing they could muster to make it look like they are actually “governing.”  We have a president who’s admitted to being a sexual predator, who’s daily violating the emoluments clause in the constitution, and who clearly has no idea what he’s doing as the “leader of the free world.”  Unfortunately, it appears to me that the republican leaders in Congress see Trump’s incompetence as a major opportunity for themselves.  For example, Paul Ryan has been trying to repeal Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security for years.  He’s had several creative schemes that have always been rebuffed in one way or another.  Now, he’s got a president who will basically “sign anything” if he can be convinced it makes him look good – even if he has NO IDEA what he’s signing. I suppose it’s possible, Trump actually believes this is a good “health care” bill).

I wasn’t sure how to react as I watched Trump claim – while sitting next to the Prime Minister of Australia, who he couldn’t remember his name – that “this is a great plan.  It will lower premiums, lower deductibles, and provide better coverage – ALL demonstrably FALSE statements – which is no surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention to Trump – almost EVERYTHING he says is FALSE.  However, he did then say something TRUE when he looked at Australia’s Prime Minister and said, “Your health care system is much better than ours.”  That’s what those of us on the “single payer” side of the issue have been saying for years.  That comment would leave one to believe Trump actually knows how bad this bill is.

Many Americans are afraid that the Senate will actually pass this through and they will be without health care coverage again.  The blatant inhumanity yesterday’s vote represents puts my complaint about republicans in bold context.  They’ve been protected from “exposure” for the past eight years because President Obama was in the “White House.”  In my mind, it was the FACT that Obama “looks different” that energized the “White Nationalist” base that is Trump’s reliable “firewall” preventing him from going into the “twenties” on the approval polls – I know people who actually say they voted for Trump for “moral” reasons.  (Virtually every one of them get their “information” from Fox “news”)  The sexual misconduct, the three divorces and the adultery that went with them, the strategic bankruptcies that brutalized workers and (foolish) investors, the racism, and the incompetence doesn’t seem to bother them.  For most of these people the issue is abortion and they believe Trump will lead to the repeal of Roe v Wade.  And, Trump is playing the “card” to the hilt – ie “TWO Corinthians.”

Yesterday I watched segments of the Senate Judiciary hearings where James Comey was being questioned and it became clear that republicans are circling the wagons around Trump and they will do everything they can to prevent the TRUTH about the Russian COLLUSION in the 2016 election from becoming public.  A couple months ago I mentioned that it would be courageous republicans who would help “we the people” find the TRUTH about the Trump campaign’s involvement with the Russian attack on our republic and, I mentioned that, as much as I don’t trust them, I thought the ones who would lead the way would be John McCain and Lindsey Graham – two people that I believed understood the reality of Vladimir Putin.  Apparently, all it took was a few BOMBS and McCain and Graham are happy as “clams” with Mr. Trump.  Can you imagine what they’d be saying if it was President Obama and his campaign which had colluded with Russia?  This should NOT be a PARTISAN issue!  The fact that it apparently is causes me to feel a sense of depression.  At this point, I’m hoping to live long enough to see the TRUTH exposed – one way or the other.  Some of the “truth” seems undeniable at this point.

Obviously, Mike Flynn is in a HEAP of trouble.  It shouldn’t be too long before his “lock her up” chant at the republican convention comes back to really HAUNT him.  From what I can tell, the FACT he BROKE THE LAW is pretty much without question at this point – although, technically it’s all “alleged.”  Although, it doesn’t seem “alleged” that he took money from foreign governments without the permission of the defense department which is a violation of (at least) military law.  (obviously, I’m no lawyer and don’t understand what laws the so-called “experts” are [virtually all of them] referring to when they explain Flynn’s legal vulnerability regarding his military obligations.)  Additionally, it’s been reported that he LIED to the FBI, (that’s a bad one – way more than a poor decision on email servers), he didn’t register as a foreign agent, (again, not good) and he reportedly didn’t disclose the MONEY he got from Russia and (presumably, although questions have arisen on the actual source) Turkey.  It was also reported that Flynn conspired to kidnap a Turkish dissident so he could be returned to Turkey without extradition procedures.  (Really, this is ALL very bad)  I can’t help be getting this thought in my head: “Lock him up, Lock him up.”

There’s so many possible “leads” to connecting Trump with Putin and the Russians that the investigators will be busy for quite some time if they actually follow them.  Obviously, Trump feels they won’t do it and he’s going to “get away” with all the “stuff” that he’s doing that could be interpreted as “thumbing his nose” to our laws and constitution.  There’s just too many “coincidences” for me to believe there’s “nothing there.”  I mean, even if somehow we’d find out there was no collusion with the Russians in the election – the amount of money Trump is MAKING via being president (yesterday, he said to the republicans who were celebrating their draconian bill: “can you believe, I’m President?”) is obscene and enough to support articles of impeachment.  That’s not to mention the bill taxpayers are paying to support his “habits” and those of his family which is bordering on STAGGERING already.  If he lasts four years, the secret service tab for him and his family will add a significant amount to the national debt that republicans always complain about (when a democrat is in the white house).

Meanwhile, republicans in Congress will be getting as many tax cuts as they can until Trump is actually fully exposed.  Even with them being in control of virtually everything, the reality is they seem to have no idea how to actually govern.  They don’t seem to have any problem with the Russian aspect of all this and they seem to be getting closer and closer to Trump – even the so-called “never Trump” people prior to his nomination.  It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the words that come from their mouths have little real meaning.

So, here’s what republicans have to hang their “hats” on after the first 110 days of the Trump “era.”  They got their Supreme Court justice (which, again, to many on the right – that’s all they wanted) and they got a HUGE tax cut for the wealthy (and the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies) which will ultimately total $800 BILLION that is disguised in a so-called “repeal and replacement” of the Affordable Care Act (ie “Obamacare”) that will take health insurance from (according to the CBO – that, actually hasn’t scored this form of the bill which is apparently more draconian than the first one) 24 MILLION Americans, it will increase deductibles and premiums, and those in the 50 – 64 age range that can afford health insurance will be paying up to 5 times what they are now.  The estimate that I heard yesterday was a 60 year old person making $26,000 per year would pay $14,000 for premiums and get a subsidy of between $2000 and $4000.  You don’t have to be a Math teacher (which I was) to figure that one out.  And, aside from a lot of executive orders that are attempting to deregulate most of what people like me believe in, that’s it.

It boils down to a lot of DAMAGE, and very little good (I’m working on a post regarding the abortion issue in my head – regarding Judge Gorsuch).  Climate change is an issue that our children and grandchildren are going to (rightfully so) give our generation a terrible grade in the years to come – and this period with Trump at the “helm” will be the worst part of that history.  The deregulating, in my view, will lead us into another major financial meltdown and, personally, I don’t trust Trump and the people around them to pull us out of it – if it happens on his “watch.”  The harm to the environment could be massive.  It’s as if we’re back to thinking about “today” (and “me”) while not worrying about the future (and “us”).

Just the combination of this “health care” bill (tax cut) and the “tax reform” proposed (an even more egregious “tax cut for the rich” – it will benefit Trump himself to the tune of tens of MILLIONS of dollars) will explode the national debt by something in the neighborhood of $7 TRILLION (yes, that’s with a T) and, I’m guessing all these “deficit hawk” republicans will be back to quoting Reagan (like Dick Cheney did in 2003) and saying, “deficits don’t matter.”  Especially, when they’re aimed at republican benefactors.  Trump’s solution to the exploding national debt would presumably “negotiate” a “deal” to avoid repayment in full.  Something along the lines of his repeated business bankruptcies.  This could potentially cause irrefutable HARM to the American economy and our standing in the world.  (Which people like Steve Bannon could care less about)

I have to ask myself: “Is there a solution?”  Well, I’ve been pushing for it for years and that is VOTE these republicans out of office.  They will continue their slide to the “right” and continue bludgeoning “we the people” out of our tax dollars until we STOP them – and, the ONLY sensible way to do this is at the ballot box.  If this vote that happened yesterday, along with all the other crap these people are cramming down our political throats isn’t enough to get both progressives and moderates off their butts and to the polls, then we deserve what we get.  I’ve lamented repeatedly that the damage Trump can do is enormous unless “we the people” make it clear “we’ve had enough and we’re not going to take it anymore.”

I “get” that the democrats leave a lot to be desired (although, I believe the senators in my state, Washington, are outstanding and will fight this graft to the bitter end – and, there’s many others like them) but that’s the only alternative.  If we can “flip” the congress, then it’s time to let democrats KNOW that we expect them to FIGHT for the values their party was defined by back in the days of FDR.  The wealthy elite backing Trump and his party will NEVER go away – but, there’s MORE of us than them, and we need to be active – and encouraging those we know to be active.  For me, 2018 can’t come soon enough.  I’m already praying “we the people” will send a message to republicans that is unmistakable! Enough already!

Final Thought: “we the people” can’t depend on James Comey OR the republican led Congress to find the TRUTH about the Russian/Trump “connection” and, we certainly can’t depend on the republicans to provide honorable, decent leadership – ie everything they do – even “health care” – is designed to funnel taxpayer dollars to the wealthy.  It’s time to take “affirmative action” and put them in the history books where they belong.

I just finished a post discussing my thoughts related to Donald Trump’s “love” for “uneducated voters” and, as I was in the process of putting the post together, Trump had another eventful weekend of LYING and showing his own lack of “education” regarding our government AND the history of our nation.  A month or so ago Trump made a comment – as he was trying to show himself as knowledgeable regarding African American issues – about Frederick Douglas – which PROVED he has little to NO knowledge of African American issues.  He made the comment as suggesting Douglas was still alive and a leader of the Black community today.  Yikes!  Then, this weekend, he suggested that Andrew Jackson could have prevented the Civil War had he come around a bit later – with Comments confirming his lack of knowledge about why there was a Civil War in the first place and also Jackson’s relevance to it.  Additionally, he made comments about the so-called health care bill being proposed by Paul Ryan in Congress that indicated he has no idea what’s in the bill and that he’s got no idea how this government that he’s supposed to be managing works.  Yikes again!

He also made comments that he would be “honored” to meet with the leader of North Korea, who’s widely considered one of the most brutal leaders in the world, followed by inviting the president of the Philippines – considered by many to be close in brutality to North Korea’s leader (Kim Jong-Un) – to the White House and, this morning completed the “hat trick” with a call to maybe the one leader who’s killed more than either of the others mentioned here and, of course, that’s his campaign supporter Vladimir Putin.  Apparently, these are the types of people Trump admires.  He basically gave a “thumbs up” to Kim Jong-Un for being a “smart cookie” as he “eliminated” those around him who might question his power.  And, the 7000 people Duterte (the President of the Philippines) has either killed or ordered killed and the fact he’s got his own people killing each other doesn’t seem to bother Trump.  To him, evidently, Duterte is a “strong leader.”  Of course, if you’ve been paying any attention to Trump over the past couple of years, you know that Putin is the “man of the year” in his eyes and he admires “strong leaders.”

In lamenting his FAILURES during his first 100 days in office, Trump made some comments that would lead one to believe he would love to have the same type of environment to work in as those “strong leaders” he admires.  I wrote many times during the election how Trump’s campaign was similar to a certain German campaign back in the thirties and how his “strategy” of using the “Big Lie Theory” comes straight from the “Third Reich” and he’s shown his authoritarian personality on many, many occasions.  I’m not sure about anyone else, but when Trump’s complaining about the constitution and the Senate rules that would cause him to have to negotiate with those on the “other side of the isle” as “archaic” his authoritarian personality is simply reconfirmed in my mind.

All this kind of makes you wonder what changes Trump would REALLY like to make to our system of government where he’s being constantly questioned and second guessed on all the stupid stuff he says or does.  Of course, his way of fighting back is using the strategies the Russians used to help him get elected – only in reverse.  This past weekend he gave a speech in Pennsylvania where he claimed that CNN and MSNBC are “fake news.”  Yes, “fake news” was prominent in helping him get elected (those “uneducated voters” he loves easily fell for much of it) but Trump accusing the media that’s actually investigating him and his connections with Russia – plus reporting the TRUTH about what he says and does – as being “fake” is presumably his best defense against those who actually think he’s “truthful” from seeing reality.  I suppose if he could get the news to quit reporting on his actions and get the constitution nullified he could get away with his scam of putting even more taxpayer money in his pockets and those of his benefactors.  Everyone knows Trump is a scam artist but republicans have backed themselves into a very uncomfortable corner.  He is in the process of ruining their party.

Already the right wing bastions like Rush Limbaugh are figuring out that Trump is a big bag of “hot air” when it comes to actually delivering on some of his absurd promises – remember, the members of Congress (who still have to vote on legislation) answer to their voters and when the proposals – like the “health care” bill are exposed as huge tax breaks for the wealthy and legislation that would actually reduce benefits and raise costs – well, even republicans vote against stuff like that.  But, Trump’s “base” is expecting a “wall,” they’re expecting non-existent jobs to miraculously reappear, they’re expecting a balanced budget, they’re expecting an “easy” end to ISIL, they’re expecting the repeal of “Obamacare” – with a substitute that provides EVERYONE with health insurance with lower premiums AND deductibles, and they’re expecting Trump to “drain the swamp.”  None of this is happening, none is likely to be happening anytime soon, and “the natives is gettin restless.”  Here’s the republicans’ in Congress dilemma: side with Trump and likely lose your seat.  Vote against Trump and maybe lose your seat.

If only the constitution could be suspended and the media blocked from reporting on Trump’s policies and his behavior the republicans could get legislation passed and no one would be the wiser.  Trump could then be just like his idols: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and Rodrigo Duterte.

Final thought: It’s looking more and more as if democrats will return to control of the House (and maybe Senate) in 2018.

The more I watch Donald Trump as president the more I’m reminded of the statement he made right after LOSING the Iowa Caucuses during last year’s primary season: “I love the uneducated voters.”  At first, once he was in office, each time he spoke or rolled out part of his “plan” or nominated someone to a position I thought, “Does he really think “we the people” are that stupid?”  Well, now it’s gotten to the point where things are getting more serious (if you remember, after the election I lamented on how much DAMAGE would Trump be allowed to do before the Congress came to their senses and IMPEACHED him?) and I’m wondering “how stupid are we?”  So far this week he’s reintroduced a “health care plan” (which is really a huge tax cut for the top 2% – something like $800 BILLION over 10 years) which will cut 24 MILLION Americans from health insurance AND will allow insurance companies to price those with “pre-existing conditions” out of the market.  For example, if you’re a young woman and had a C section for your first delivery, your insurance will potentially be unaffordable. (and, it appears, Trump has no idea what’s in “his” bill)

But, Trump topped that proposal when two of his Goldman Sachs cronies (do you remember how he accused Hillary Clinton of being “owned” by Goldman Sachs?) presented a one page “outline” (I guess) of Trump’s tax overhaul that would presumably simplify the tax system.  After watching the unveiling of the “plan,” this I can guarantee you, Trump will pay MUCH LESS and you and I (assuming you’re in the working class) will pay MORE.  The last “overhaul” of the tax system back in the 1980’s under Ronald Reagan did somewhat the same thing.  It was the result of the initial “trickle down” tax cuts which ballooned the deficit to the point where the republicans even noticed, so Reagan disguised raising the taxes of working people by calling it a tax overhaul.  Now, I get that raising the payroll tax was a good thing for working people because it helped stabilize Social Security, but the problem initially was the “tax cuts for the rich.”  (you know, the tax cuts that would create so many jobs it would lead to a balanced budget.  When are “we the people” going to figure out this scam?)  Over the long haul that (the payroll tax) was a good thing.  But, I didn’t see any evidence of anything like that (helping Social Security) in Trump’s proposal.  What I did see were multiple ways Trump himself will benefit (hugely) if this would somehow become law – which seems almost impossible to me – unless the democrats want NO CHANCE to regain control of the House in 2018 – and, who knows, miracles do happen, maybe they could even gain a couple seats in the Senate – although, that seems unlikely until at least 2020.  I’m guessing they’ll be the “obstructionists” if this proposal ever makes it to the Senate.  (I believe any proposal that creates more debt requires 60 votes to pass in the Senate and therefore requires “bipartisan” support)

Trump’s proposal contains a couple interesting items that would be removed from the tax code.  One, was a provision Reagan initiated to prevent people like Trump from paying NO TAX.  It’s called the “alternative minimum tax.”  For example, in the one Trump tax return that’s been made public (2005) he would have saved $30 MILLION in taxes had that provision been repealed in the Bush Tax Cuts.  Of course, paying only $5 MILLION in taxes on almost $200 MILLION in taxable income would be “smart” in Trump’s vernacular.  The other provision that caught my attention was ANOTHER attempt to repeal the inheritance tax.  Now, for people like Trump that’s REALLY a lot of money that his heirs would save – although, I have no doubt Trump would easily find a way around most of it.  People like the Walton’s, the DeVoss family, the Prince family, the Coors family, the infamous “Koch Brothers,” and on and on are pushing, I’m sure, for this to happen.  The reality is that the inheritance tax affects only a TINY fraction of America families and doesn’t kick in until something like $5 MILLION ($10 MILLION for couples) in the inheritance.  It’s purpose is to discourage an aristocracy.

What we’re seeing with the Trump administration is almost EXACTLY the opposite of what he “ran on.”  I mean, come on, do you seriously think that filling your cabinet with Billionaires and people from Goldman Sachs is “draining the swamp?”  Trump’s tax proposal is an extreme version of “trickle down” (I call it “trickle up”) economic theory that has proven OVER and OVER again to not only NOT WORK, but to – every time it’s been implemented (Reagan in the early 80’s and Bush/Cheney in the early 2000’s) – blow up the deficit by massive amounts and NOT create massive job growth. What may “bug” me the most about those who propose this crap is how they look right into the camera and spew the “talking points” that EVERYONE will benefit from what they’re proposing – while, in their minds thinking something like, “if these fools fall for this again we’re going to funnel even MORE of their money into our coffers.”

Early estimations of Trump’s proposal suggest this, if enacted, would be the “mother of all tax cuts” and would add $7 TRILLION (yes, trillion with a “T”) to the national debt over ten years.  Yesterday I listened to MSNBC’s “fox lite” show with Greta Van Susteren and it sounded as if she really wants a tax cut by the way she was hounding the guests who were pointing out the $7 TRILLION addition to the debt over 10 years.  It seemed strange to me, but she was lamenting the way government auditors make predictions over 10 year periods, so one of the guests said, OK, what that means is $700 BILLION added to the deficit EACH YEAR for 10 years.  That seemed to sink in.  We’ll see how all the “deficit hawks” in the republican caucus rationalize that one to “we the people.”  (I’m guessing the LYING will be put on steroids)

So, now we’re back to where we were in the first years of the Bush/Cheney regime.  It almost seems like deja vu all over again (especially if we start another war – this one probably designed to get “we the people’s” attention off the impending reality that our government is being led by people who gained power via being in cahoots with Russia).  Do you remember Dick Cheney saying, “Ronald Reagan proved that deficits don’t matter?”  This while taking a $250 BILLION surplus that was passed on by Clinton/Gore and was predicted to pay off the national debt in 10 years and turning it, eventually, into multi-TRILLION dollar deficits (that republicans were blaming on President Obama before he took the oath of office – and, by the way that he cut more than in half during his administration despite the republicans’ obstruction) and an economy they passed on to Obama that REALLY was a MESS.  I’ve heard Trump claim that he “inherited a mess” – all the while he’s taking credit for jobs numbers that are a reflection of the Obama administration’s policies (which Trump claimed were phony until he was in the White House) – but, in reality, it appears he’s going to take something that was headed in the right direction and turn it into a mess.

Think about it – if democrats somehow allow him to get away with these proposals – 24 MILLION fewer Americans with health insurance and many of those who have job related insurance paying MORE for it – negatively affecting a higher percentage of his own “base” – and the deficit going UP by $700 BILLION (or more) per year, republicans will find a way to blame the democrats.  Talk about a “mess.”  What will be interesting is what we hear from all the right wing republicans who seem to care about the deficit ONLY when there’s a democrat in the White House – are they going to go along with this or will the “blame game” (meaning somehow continuing to blame President Obama) be enough to get them to turn their heads?  They obstructed President Obama every step along the way in his administration – AND, by the way, complained bitterly about his “executive orders,” – which pale in comparison to Trump’s – they prevented the desperately needed overhaul of our infrastructure, they “nickel and dimed” proposals that would have helped those most in need – ie food stamps, education, unemployment insurance to name a few – and, they voted something like 60 times to repeal “Obamacare.”  Now they’re in control and it appears that, other than the aforementioned “blame game,” they have no idea what they’re supposed to be doing. Here’s what they’re good at: LYING.  (I don’t think members of Trump’s own party believe a word that comes from his mouth – although, those supporting him are finding out the only way to do so is: LYING.

Remember, the “government” IS “we the people” and that includes ALL of us.  I keep wondering how we could have possibly gotten to this point.  I “get” that the “media is the message” as was pointed out years ago by Marshall McLuhan and it seems clear to me that “we the people” have been “brainwashed” over the past (at least) 40 years and, that’s not changing anytime soon.  For example, Fox “news” is not a news outlet – it’s simply a propaganda “arm” of the republican party – in association with the right wing “talkers” that have permeated the radio airwaves for the past 30+ years.  Yes, there are feeble attempts by “liberals” to compete with the right wingers in the media, but the reality is that there’s around 9 or 10 (conservative) corporations controlling over 90% of what “we the people” see and hear.  In fact, in many areas of the nation, from my understanding, there is NO competing interest to the “conservative” point of view (which explains why so much of the south and the “rust belt” are solidly republican).  The other factor that I consider significant and expertly used by “conservative” media would be “wedge issues.”  To me, this is the area where democrats foolishly get “killed” in the public debate.

Republicans are experts at causing people to focus on a “wedge issue” that gains their vote “no matter what” while democrats are shutting out people they should be embracing with rigid positions that have little or nothing to do with governing.  Now, I do have to say that, in most instances, I agree with taking a stand on issues of moral imperative – but, what I find concerning is suggesting I (or you) have to take a certain “stand” to be a part of the solution to a problem.  That leads to people not being able to talk to each other and work through complicated problems that are presented as “black and white” issues.

The foremost issue that comes to mind is abortion.  I have many friends (conservative Christians – I would have to be “labeled” a “liberal” Christian) who have voted for republicans for years because of the abortion issue.  Back in the late 1970’s republican insiders realized they could generate a dependable base simply by claiming they were “pro life.”  (I’m thinking of writing an entire post on this subject soon)  So, over the years, republicans have pushed many political policy issues that, in my mind, should be antithetical to someone who’s “pro life,” but they continue to get away with it because republicans know all they have to do is say they oppose abortion and a large segment will vote for them, no matter what.  Donald Trump is a good example of this.  (I saw an interview with him before the election where he clearly had given the issue little thought – he suggested women should be “punished” for having an abortion)  Trump has a long history of being “pro choice” but we all know by now a single word he says can’t be believed.  However, for the pro life movement, just promising to nominate a “pro life” judge to the Supreme Court was all they needed to hear.

Additionally, there was a brew ha ha about the new head of the Democratic party, apparently – I’ve heard this peripherally, that you MUST be “pro choice” to be part of the Democratic party.  Well, to me that’s STUPID.  So, you look at the two parties and how they deal with this one issue and it becomes easier to understand how we got to the point where we have a narcissistic pathological LIAR as the president and two political parties that don’t talk to each other when they’re on the job and problems never get “bipartisan” solutions.  (apparently, many in Congress get along when they’re not at work)  This kind of stuff explains why our representatives can’t get anything done despite the FACT that on many issues large majorities of “we the people” are in agreement.  And, “we the people” are so – well, as Trump himself said, “uneducated” that we keep voting these people in – AND, we feel we’re “informed” because we watch Hannity (Fox) or Matthews (MSNBC).  Maybe Trump’s correct, “We the people” are essentially “uneducated” which is the key to him surviving the Russian “scandal” and staying in office.

Are “we the people” simply at the point where we have to just accept that the president of the United States is LYING almost every time words come from his mouth?  Today I read in the Washington Post where Trump was saying (or “tweeting”) how ridiculous it is to measure success for a president in the first 100 days.  This, while at the same time he’s pressuring Congress to come up with some kind of solution to the “repeal and replace” of “Obamacare” (The Affordable Care Act) in the next week – you know, before his 100th day in office along with tax reform AND somehow keeping the government “running.”  I still don’t believe he has any idea what’s really in the “health care” bill (if there still is one) despite saying it’s “really, really good” or that he has a clue about how the government runs in general.  At some point the members of Congress who share his party affiliation are going to get REALLY tired of all this.  The LYING is endless and the INCOMPETENCE is suffocating our government’s ability to function.

We’re days away from a “government shutdown” and Trump’s busy trying to create a mirage that would support his previous statement (LIE) that his administration has been the most successful administration in its first 100 days in American history.  This man is in the process of destroying the republican party and it’s really interesting watching how those who’s jobs are now on the line – the republicans up for re-election in 2018 are responding.  Virtually all republicans are facing such brutal town halls each time they recess that I can see two possibilities.  First, like my representative, they won’t have town halls.  She, Jaimie Herrera Beutler, sends out robo calls to people (evidently who’ve been) in contact with her (which would include me) inviting them to “virtual” town halls.  Huge conference calls which allow her to avoid facing the actual people she represents.  Now, I have empathy for Ms Beutler.  She’s a nice, honorable representative.  The problem is she’s a republican and is expected to vote with republicans on EVERYTHING.  Recently, the local republicans attempted to “censure” her because out of something like 500 votes she voted against the “sheep herders” 5 times.  Having even 1% of a conscience is unacceptable to republicans – and, then she would have to face the real constituents who are being harmed by the right wing agenda being pushed by Trump, McConnell, and Ryan.  it’s a real dilemma for her.  The second way they could avoid the Town Halls would be to cancel the recesses.  However, if you know how many days each year they work, you know that option is beyond absurd.  But, I digress.

So, here we go again – fighting to prevent the right wing billionaires and the the representatives in Congress they’ve purchased with BILLIONS in “investments” (thanks to the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” decision) from stripping 14 MILLION Americans, in the first year, of health care insurance (Medicaid), and an additional 10 MILLION over the next four or five years by passing “Trumpcare.”  In addition, Seniors will again be subject to the so-called “doughnut hole” for prescription drugs (which, Medicare can’t negotiate prices on thanks to republicans and their devotion to “big pharma” during GW Bush’s administration) AND the top 2% of American earners will gain almost a TRILLION dollars in TAX CUTS over the next 10 years (yes, close to a TRILLION) – with over half of that going to the top 1%.  These tax cuts are designed to set up further “tax cuts” (aka “revising the tax code”) which will be aimed at destroying Social Security.  I’m pretty sure even all the white 70 somethings who voted for Trump will not like that one.  (full disclosure – I’m white, I’m soon to be 70, but there’s NO WAY IN HELL I would vote for Trump!  I’ve always been “independent” [go Bernie] but the republicans have tilted so far “right” that these days I’m usually simply voting AGAINST them)

What bothers me the MOST about Trump and his “first 100 days” is watching how the republicans are dealing with him.  Many were in the “never Trump” movement as he masterfully manipulated the media on his way to garnering the nomination.  There was a reason people called the 17 “hopefuls” the “clown car.”  No one fully understood the level of intrusion from the Russians prior to the election (even today – we’re all waiting to find out about the level of Trump’s collusion with the Russians) and it still seems unthinkable that James Comey would have interceded just days before the election – effectively swinging the “undecideds” toward Trump.  FiveThirtyEight.com said, with an air of certainty (they’re the most trusted “pollers” in America) that Comey’s announcement that the Clinton “email scandal” was “reopened” is the reason Trump is president.  Yet, all the self-righteous republicans who wanted nothing to do with Trump after the “Access Hollywood” tape was publicized (Paul Ryan, Jason Chaffetz, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Lindsey Graham to name a few) have “fallen in line” for various reasons – not surprisingly all seemingly self serving.

Ryan apparently is willing to support anyone who’s stupid enough to sign the legislation he produces – ie the recent “health care” bill – aka “Trumpcare” or “Ryancare” – neither of them wants their name attached to it – that was a HUGE tax cut disguised as “health care.”  The impending “tax overhaul” will be an attempt to give even MORE tax cuts to the top 1% (his benefactors – somehow he’s convinced the people in his district that he’s working for them) AND, more importantly from Ryan’s “history,” to FINALLY undermine the SOCIAL SECURITY system he’s been trying to undo for years.  If republicans manage to get a “tax overhaul” through congress without Trump showing his tax returns (for the previous 10 years or so) people will be looking for Houdini.  (I really hope and believe democrats won’t allow this to happen)  Something tells me that when it becomes apparent that Trump’s guarantee that he will  protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid was simply one in a LONG LIST of LIES and the “tax overhaul” is aimed directly at destroying SOCIAL SECURITY the “you know what” is going to hit the fan.  Even republican “white guys” aren’t going to like that one!  Then there’s Jason Chaffetz.

Jason Chaffetz was the guy who has been busy trying to ruin Hillary Clinton for as long as I can remember as head of the House “oversight” committee.  The Benghazi hearings were absurd on their face – and, then when I listened to the entire 11 hour of testimony (well, almost all of it) of Mrs. Clinton before the committee (after 3 years of harassment) I fully realized what a political side show this had all been all along.  She proved herself very knowledgeable (and honorable) during the testimony and the committee members (republicans) exposed themselves as political hacks and ill-informed ones at that as they repeatedly made absurd accusations and attacks toward Mrs. Clinton – to which, she responded favorably (to her) each time.  Of course, she made them all look very bad and that was the end of a three year witch hunt designed, as Rep. McCarthy admitted, to reduce Mrs. Clinton’s poll numbers.

Inadvertently, the republicans in Congress were working in tandem with the Russians who were trying to do the very same thing in their intrusion into the 2016 election.  The anticipated outcome of their meddling (they didn’t believe Trump could win) was to damage Mrs. Clinton and destabilize our political process – which is exactly why they (along with Trump) were pushing the “rigged election” narrative.  Of course, they were correct – the election was rigged – because of them, their collusion with the Trump campaign – AND the voter suppression laws passed in several key states that ultimately went to Trump by razor thin  margins.  Chaffetz famously said he couldn’t support Trump and then look his daughter in the face and defend that choice after hearing the “Access Hollywood” tapes.  It took him about two weeks to do a 180 degree “about face,” and – after hearing about all the ethics questions regarding Trump once Trump took office – Chaffetz did exactly ZERO investigating.  I guess Russian collusion and violating the emoluments clause of the constitution aren’t enough to “trigger” Chaffetz’ “oversight.” Now he’s quitting “to spend more time with his family.”  (I’m guessing that means a high paying lobbying job)

Obviously, I could go on and on with this stuff – but, to me the most egregious “flip flops” of republicans regarding Trump come from the dynamic duo of John McCain and Lindsey Graham.  These two guys are not “hidden” war mongers but I was somewhat encouraged that their knowledge of the “real” Vladimir Putin might put them at the forefront of any movement in Congress to end the Trump nightmare prematurely.  However, it appears that all it took for Trump to change their minds was dropping a few bombs and threatening nuclear war with North Korea to get them on the Trump bandwagon.  Graham was “giddy” over all this.  Seriously, I just keep shaking my head as I continue attempting to figure out what has happened to the nation I love.  A White Nationalist in the “White House” is a bad dream that I thought was an impossibility (just as I never thought a person of color would be elected president in my lifetime).  Apparently, it’s going to take James Comey – who is largely responsible for the Trump administration – to end the Trump administration (unless, “we the people” will have to endure this for almost another three and a half miserable years. (I can’t believe I’m typing this – but, GW Bush is looking better to me all the time).  I’m sure McCain and Graham have signaled to Trump the way to avoid accountability regarding the Russian scandal is via war mongering.  Yikes!

I can guarantee you that as the Trump “ship” starts to “sink” – and, it’s inevitable – all these republicans who jumped on after he was nominated – or, some waited until he “won” the election (with THREE MILLION fewer votes than Mrs. Clinton) – will be jumping off the “ship” in record numbers.  I don’t think even they want to stand for re-election after supporting someone who colluded with Vladimir Putin during the election.  If the video of Trump in Russia that was mentioned in the “dossier” published by Buzzfeed actually exists I have to wonder if that would be enough to turn all these self righteous republicans back toward their “family values.”  Obviously, the “Access Hollywood” video only got their attention for a few days – and, with the help of the Russians, Trump was able to turn our media’s attention back to Mrs. Clinton’s “egregious” email “scandal.”  It still shocks me that our media (and, many voters) were more turned off to Mrs.Clinton using a private email server than Trump’s admission of grabbing numerous women by their “p@#^ies.”

Today, I started thinking – with the help of my son’s advice prior to the election (he said that maybe we need Trump in the White House in order to get our race to the bottom over more quickly – or something to that effect) – that maybe it was better for Trump to “win” than Mrs. Clinton (who, again, got 3 MILLION more votes than Trump).  I’ve been trying to imagine what it would be like watching the republican congress dealing with a President Clinton.  I’m convinced they would have continued blocking any Supreme Court nominee AND we’d be almost assured a “government shutdown” next week instead of it may happen with Trump at the helm.  Plus, the republican’s inability to actually “govern” would still be hidden behind all the constant obstruction tactics.  Right now, we’re getting a “ringside view” of their incompetence and their lack of ability to actually run the government (I’m not sure how much longer they’ll be able to “get away with” blaming President Obama for their incompetence).  GW Bush had Dick Cheney – who, despite ALL the negative thoughts that come to my mind when I read or hear that name, knew how the government functions plus, at that time, democrats were still willing to work across the isle.

Now, we have a president who’s surrounded himself with people who have no idea of how the government functions and we have a Congress that is being run by people whose expertise is OBSTRUCTION and that’s all they know.  At this point, I believe most democrats are willing to sit back and watch as the republicans self implode.  The problem with all this is the amount of damage, both internally and internationally, Trump and his surrogates are doing to “we the people” and our nation and how will we be able to “fix” it.  The list is long, but my emphasis here is Trump (and his surrogates) willingness to LIE about virtually EVERYTHING and the republicans in Congress willingness to go along with what they KNOW are a bunch of LIES.  (I’m talking LIES not “spin”) Pundits are actually beginning to call the Lies – LIES (instead of “misstatements” or “alternative facts” or “spinning”).  I know many people say, “all politicians lie” but Trump and his surrogates are in a “league of their own.”  Government can’t function if you can’t believe a word coming from the mouths of the “leaders.”

If “we the people” EVER get to the point where we accept what’s happening right now to be OK then America’s place in the world will be turned upside down.  The people observing us from afar are not stupid and they see what’s happening.  Yes, there’s a right wing neo-nazi movement in Europe (and, America) that has gained “steam” beyond any reasonable person’s  imagination, but I can only hope it causes a backlash that pushes it right back to the “fringe” where it belongs.  What’s interesting is that this movement is being orchestrated by Vladimir Putin and the Russian “oligarchs” right out in the “open,” and WAY TOO MANY American “leaders” are either willing to “go along” or “look the other way.”  The best time to stop this movement is RIGHT NOW and, in America (and other places like France, for example) the best WAY to stop it is at the ballot box.  France has that opportunity in a couple of weeks; to block a Trump/Putin “clone” and the United States can put the “brakes” to this phenomenon in 2018 by voting the republican majorities from Congress and letting Trump know that if he makes it in office until 2020 he’ll, unlike President Obama, be a one term president.

Trump may get stopped by our constitution prior to 2020 (should the republicans in Congress decide to honor their oath to uphold it), but the people like Mike Pense, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell will remain after Trump gets impeached – should that happen – and, they’ve proven themselves of the same ilk.  (liars) Again, if “we the people” accept pathological lying as “normal” in our leaders, it won’t be long before America becomes unrecognizable.  The responsibility to stop this unbelievable assault on our basic values lies with the voters. (pun NOT intended) If “progressives” (liberals) continue to sit on their butts at election time – well, like the old saying says – “you get what you pay for.”  No matter how you think – (yes, even if you somehow like Trump) if eligible you should vote.  If you’re an American and you believe the words coming from Trump and his surrogates you’re likely watching Fox “news” and you’re being duped.  Fact check from multiple sources!

Final thought: As I’ve said many times on this site – rights and privileges are much easier to lose than to regain once you lose them.  It’s time to say “enough already.”  It took a generation to pass and refine Social Security, for example, and Trump and Ryan could, conceivably, undermine it in a period of weeks – damage that would be EXTREMELY difficult to undo.  Trust me, Wall Street will do almost anything to get their collective “hands” on the Social Security trust fund.  Paul Ryan has had Medicare in the “cross-hairs” for years – watch that one as well.  Again, Trump and company can do massive damage to America in a short period of time if “we the people” allow it.

I recently read a book titled “Manufacturing Consent (Content)” by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman that was written during the Reagan years and focused on what they call a “propaganda” model of media coverage in America.  I couldn’t help but think of their premise as I heard that almost every media outlet in the United States gave Donald Trump a “thumbs up” on his ordering air strikes into Syria – a sovereign nation.  Of course, Trump warned the Russians (and Syrians) that the strike was coming so, in essence, it was some kind of attempt to “send a message” without really causing any significant damage in the process.  Apparently no one was killed and something along the lines of 20 aircraft were damaged or destroyed.  The cost to “we the people” in those oh so precious tax dollars that our Congress is continually fighting over (unless it relates to the military) was something in the neighborhood of $60,000,000 (that’s correct, $60 MILLION).

Whatever the “message” was, I certainly hope it was “sent,” because I can only imagine what domestic program will need to be cut to pay for the replacement of those missiles.  (and, one thing we can all be assured of is that they will be replaced and the new ones will be more costly.)  From everything I’ve been able to see/listen to in the past couple of days, just as I had suspected, this was a knee jerk reaction to Bashar Al-Assad’s alleged gassing his own people (again).  These are the same people (the Syrians) that just a few days prior to the attack the Trump administration announced that would determine whether or not Al-Assad stays in power.  Now, please don’t get me wrong here – I’m not in the camp that the United States has any right to be determining who’s in power in various countries around the world.  That seems to be a bad habit of American leaders and it doesn’t seem to be a very productive one.  For example, I believe you could make a very strong (if not undeniable) case that the reason Syria is such a mess goes back to the GW Bush/Dick Cheney/Donald Rumsfeld et al deciding to do “regime change” in Iraq.  Seriously, how did that one work out.

Of course, there’s Iran back in the early 50’s, there’s Chile in the 70’s, Panama, Indonesia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Viet Nam, Libya, and Iraq just to name a few of the countries where the U.S. initiated “regime change.”  We always seem to cloak our corporate led intentions with a series of cliche’s that always have the “ring” of “human rights” or “national security” in them.  And, when you read the aforementioned book “Manufacturing Consent” it’s not hard to understand that “we the people” are constantly blocked from knowing what our government is actually “up to” or the true reasons they’re doing it.  I’m convinced that just as Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld had no real “plan” on what they would do after toppling Saddam Hussein (one of the reasons used to justify their invasion was that he “gassed his own people”) neither does Trump have a cogent “plan” in regard to Syria.  I listened to Trump speak at an impromptu press conference today and all I could think about was how people around the world are using very uncomplimentary terms when commenting on Trump’s intellect.  He is (somehow) the president, so I’m trying to be nice here and you can find the derogatory terms elsewhere – but, suffice it to say that I feel a sense of embarrassment each time I listen to him speak.  Maybe I just hear him at the wrong time, but it’s always that he’s either lying or saying something that he’s ill informed on and I just shudder at the thought of him in the “White House” for another 45 months.

I really don’t believe he will make it the full term.  There’s enough coming out about the Russian “connection” to his campaign that leads me to believe there’s something there – or, his administration wouldn’t be lying about their contacts with the Russians and trying to cover up what actually happened.  The “dots” (that the investigators are trying to connect) are leading in a very “dark” direction.  The Russian government – Putin’s government – apparently operates akin to the mafia in America.  There’s a lot going to be coming out about how deep the Russians have infiltrated the Trump organization and I don’t believe Trump will be able to hide all this for much longer.  The part of all this which maybe bothers me the most is the willingness of the republicans to “go along to get along.”  I’ve been writing for years about my personal frustration in watching the republican party surge to the right.  However, I NEVER thought I’d see the day when they would be OK with ANYONE in our political system collaborating with someone like Vladimir Putin to swing an election.

Of course, the PROOF is yet to come out – one way or the other – but, in treating Trump as if he’s a legitimate office holder is a bit alarming to me.  The republicans held up President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination for a year – they’re experts at spinning the reason why (which makes sense only to them – the truth is they did it because they could – and, they threatened to do it for four years had Hillary Clinton won the election) but, they couldn’t bring themselves to at least wait until we know the TRUTH about Trump’s connections to Russia before voting on his nominee for the Court.  If our worst fears are realized, we’ll have a member of the Supreme Court who was appointed by a president who gained office via collusion with an adversarial power – for the next 30 (or more) YEARS!

Just as Chomsky and Herman outlined in their book our media is bending over backward to convince “we the people” that our government is legit and operating honorably.  It’s almost as if they are encouraging Trump to drop more bombs because it will increase his “favorables” with the general public.  Should it convince Trump he can avoid a “showdown” with the investigators by becoming (as GW Bush once said) a “war president” I can only say I hope he’s WRONG.  To me, the reality is that Trump’s outlandish rhetoric is making the world even more unstable and our media is incapable of viewing his actions from the point of view of others around the world, including the North Koreans.

I don’t question that North Korea is a problem – but, the history of America’s media is that they seem incapable of viewing issues from “the other side.”  For example, how would we expect the North Koreans to respond to some of Trump’s rhetoric.  During Viet Nam all we ever heard about was how this “war” (that we initiated) affected us and our troops as if the Vietnamese were not living, breathing human beings.  The same was true in Iraq.  We, via our media, lamented (justifiably) all of the casualties we took in that fiasco (which we initiated) while failing to acknowledge the incredible amount of death and destruction and suffering the Iraqi’s endured (and, continue to endure) because of the decisions of Bush/Cheney et al.  There’s a long list of nations who’ve suffered negatively because of our obsession with “regime change” and “we the people” NEVER get an honest assessment of the true circumstances.

In the case of Donald Trump and his connections to Russia (and the effect it had on the election) we’ve got the range of options from Fox (“news”) – which is going to be pro Trump no matter what – to MSNBC – which is trying to find a way to support our government despite their misgivings, and those in between.  (Yes, there’s “Free speech TV” – but, I don’t believe it’s got much of an audience compared to the others)  My point is that it doesn’t seem far fetched to me that someone as narcissistic as Trump could easily interpret any kind of positive reaction to his authorizing bombing in Syria and Afghanistan as a way out of his troubles.  He may think that if we’re at war, the investigations will stop.  I truly hope he’s wrong, but I have to admit that I have enough trepidation regarding our Congress and media to not be sure.

Trump knows the TRUTH (whether or not he’ll admit to it – obviously, there’s a reason his taxes have been “under audit” for the past couple of years) and he may be feeling a bit as if he’s backed into a corner.  I’ve heard rumblings that the “Steve Bannon wing” of the “White House” is on “thin ice” and may be on the way out.  That’s a sign to me that Trump is trying to move toward the “center” – probably at the urging of his son in law Jared Kushner – as another way to deflect the focus from the Russian connection.  From what little I know of Steve Bannon (and Stephen Miller – who’d likely get the “boot” with Bannon – he’s the guy who was flashing the “White Power” signs while being interviewed on one of the Sunday Morning “news” shows – I believe it was “Face the Nation.”) should he get “fired” there will be a significant blow-back from the “alt right” which Bannon appears to be the figurehead.

So, Trump is in a delicate situation.  If the investigations proceed he could be looking at impeachment (remember, there’s more than the Russia issue – he’s profiting from his office virtually every day which is a violation of the emoluments clause in the constitution – again, none of this matters if republicans are willing to enable his behavior).  His “drift” toward the “center” is apparently aimed at pacifying the republican establishment that could easily turn on him if their own jobs appear in jeopardy (the 2018 election) and, I’m sure, intended to deflect the “investigations” into the colluding with Russia.  Additionally, the issue with Bannon seems almost like a “can’t win.”  If he allows him to stay, the “center” will continue to be questioning why someone like him is in the “White House,” and if he’s sent packing a large number of Trump’s “base” will be very unhappy.  What’s the old saying? “You can’t win for losing”

I just finished Reading Malcolm Nance’s “The Plot to Hack America” which, interestingly, was written prior to the election and clearly outlines the Russian intrusion into the 2016 election on Trump’s behalf.  It’s hard for me to imagine someone reading this book – which is full of FACTUAL evidence – and still consider Trump a legitimate president.  This is why I have such a concern that our media will lose interest in the “investigations” into the Russian collusion and the bombs falling will cause the truth to be “swept under the rug.”  As I’ve said many times on this site, I hope I’m wrong.  Even if Trump is totally innocent of any collusion I believe there is nothing more important than “we the people” finding out.  And, somehow, we need to be able to believe that whatever the findings are, that they are the TRUTH.  We know that Trump, Pense, and Ryan – the three leaders of the republican party – are willing LIARS.  (I’m suspecting that Kellyanne Conway who is one of Trump’s “spokespersons” is not showing up on TV because people are tired of all her LYING)  We know that Devin Nunes – the head of the House Intelligence committee – was acting as a surrogate to Trump during their “investigation.”  Also, the head of the Senate Intelligence committee was willing to do essentially the same.

FBI director James Comey, who is as responsible for Trump’s “victory” as the Russians, is kind of the “firewall” in this “investigation.”  We can only hope that he’s actually following the evidence (which would include interviewing the former British MI6 spy who composed the so-called dossier published a few months ago by Buzzfeed that suggests Trump is vulnerable to Russian blackmail – for example, Is there a video of the “Golden Shower” out there?) wherever it leads.  If our media actually follows the pattern laid out by Chomsky and Herman we may never know.  I’m already getting the sense that Trump changed the topic in the news with a few bombs.  I listened to John McCain yesterday on Meet the Press and, true to form, McCain, a confirmed war monger, sees Trump in a better light due to the bombings.  “At least he did something,” McCain said as he lamented his frustration with the cerebral Barack Obama.  So, will a few bombs cause people like John McCain and the “propaganda media” to lose focus on the Russian collusion?

OK, the ridiculous is getting even more ridiculous!  Yesterday I only watched a couple minutes of TV and, just as I might have expected, there was another STUPID and RIDICULOUS “tweet” from the man who is impersonating as the President of the United States.  What did he “tweet” this time?  Well, apparently Susan Rice committed the crime of the century.  According to Trump, the crime Rice “committed” will be a “massive, massive story.”  And, of course, he added that the issue of Russian involvement in his victory during the 2016 election is a “hoax.”  I wrote the other day of how Trump’s strategy for manipulating the media can be summed up with, “denial, attack, and deflect.”  So far, they’ve been falling for it, but at some point people are going to realize the consequences if “we the people” don’t come to our senses.  The absurdity of Trump suggesting Susan Rice will be a “massive, massive” story ranks with President Obama “wiretapping” Trump tower, the claims about 3 – 5 MILLION “illegals” ALL voting for Hillary Clinton, thousands of Muslims cheering 9/11 from New Jersey, President Obama being born in  Kenya, and the list goes on and on. (he always says, “The proof will come later” – and, of course, it NEVER comes)

All the while North Korea is a mounting problem and is going to continue testing Trump, Syria just gave the extreme “test” (Sarin attack on civilians) only days after Trump’s Secretary of State announced that, essentially, Bashar AL-Assad’s future will be determined by the Syrian people, (I could write an entire post on that one – plus, Trump had the audacity to blame this gas attack on President Obama), republicans are still scheming on how to take health insurance away from 24 MILLION  Americans (and, presumably blame democrats and Obama), environmental regulations are being routinely discarded (like OKing the dumping of coal waste into rivers and streams, harmful insecticides being approved), Wall Street is being deregulated (evidently, we’ll need another financial “meltdown” before anyone notices this), and Trump’s support among the American people is catering virtually every day.  The last polling I saw said Trump has the support of 35% of the American public.  I keep wondering, “how can it be even that high?”  I mean the circumstantial evidence would suggest that it’s the Russian collusion which will continue to be the MASSIVE, MASSIVE story until the people involved are held accountable.

This all gives a pretty clear picture of why foreign adversaries are referring to Trump as an “idiot.”  On that note, today Trump “tweeted” that his administration has had “the most successful 13 weeks in American history.”  I find it hard to put words to that tweet.  It really tells you how deluded Trump is and confirms the pathological liar analysis.  I’m sure Trump actually believes that.  I still think there’s probably an over and under in Las Vegas as to how long until Trump is impeached.

Shortly after I began writing this post, Trump ordered the US Military to send 59 Tomahawk Cruise missiles in an attack on a Syrian air base.  This, coming two or three days after the Syrians gassed their own people in a “rebel stronghold.”  Supposedly, the Sarin gas had been removed after the last major gas attack by Al-Assad – Vladimir Putin had guaranteed the removal which was one of the reasons President Obama didn’t order a military strike into Syria at the time (among other THOUGHTFUL reasons).  After listening to one republican after another, this evening, gushing over Trump’s willingness to “pull the trigger,” that gagging feeling is returning and I remembered the other reason – probably the main reason – Obama didn’t order an air strike into Syria in 2013.  The best way I can explain this is Bush/Cheney and Iraq.  At least one of the pundits, tonight, claimed this attack validated the approach of President Bush and his “shock and awe” attack on Iraq back in 2003.  These people have a combination of short memories and lack of good sense – I really don’t want to use the word “STUPID” here, but, come on people.

What is it going to take for the war mongers in America to learn anything.  Do they not remember Viet Nam?  OK, that was over 50 years ago when we were lied into that fiasco.  But, certainly the invasion of Iraq has to be front and center in the minds of anyone in a position to be on television talking about this stuff, wouldn’t you think?  The invasion of Iraq is the reason that Syria is now being obliterated.  GW Bush and Dick Cheney had no plan, had no idea what they were doing, had on understanding of the Shia/Sunni conflict – which, by the way has been brewing for thousands of years and, if you believe the Bible, will continue brewing essentially FOREVER.  We’re (The United States of America) not going to solve the Shia/Sunni conflict.  At this point I have to wonder if that will ever sink in.

Now, don’t get me completely wrong.  I would agree that the gassing of their own citizens – including little children and babies – is a terrible war crime.  I just don’t think there was a lot of thought in the response.  The possible after affect of Trump’s actions are many and I, personally, don’t believe Trump has carefully thought through them.  You know, like what happens next?  What if Al-Assad attacks more civilians? (which, based on the last few years seems quite likely)  Will that cause an escalation?  What if Al-Assad sends some scud missiles in the direction of the American troops stationed in and around Syria in the fight against ISIL?  What will the response of the Iranians be?  How about the Russians?

If you remember, after we invaded Iraq Donald Rumsfeld predicted we’d be cheered by the Iraqi people as “liberators” – and our troops would be home in “six days, maybe six weeks, certainly no more than six months – of course, by now most people understand that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al had no idea what they were getting into or what was going to happen.  They had NO exit strategy – hence, the problem is ongoing and has flooded into Syria.  As I was listening to the republican “experts” tonight (on MSNBC) it became clear that these people will NEVER accept ownership of what they did by invading Iraq.  Their fallback position on everything is to blame President Obama.  Trump did that after the Sarin gas attack despite the FACT that just days prior to the attack his own Secretary of State (who’s another person in “over his head”) essentially gave Assad the “green light” by saying America no longer had any interest in “regime change” in Syria.  Removing Al-Assad was up to the Syrian people.  (This after hundreds of thousands have been murdered and something like 5 MILLION have fled the country.  And, remember, it was the Syrian refugees that motivated Trump’s call for a “complete Muslim ban” during the campaign. Likely to be more refugees after tonight’s bombing and the after effects)

President Obama organized an international (of sorts) coalition and used diplomatic sanctions in an ongoing attempt to get Al-Assad removed from power without an invasion of a sovereign nation. (You know, like what happened in Iraq)  To republicans who are always chomping at the bit to use our military might that is a sign of weakness.  It remains to  be seen what the outcome of Trump’s actions tonight will be, but I just hope all the militarists who are “giddy” right now can spend a moment or two in reflection.  Was this a sign of strength? (as some are portraying it) or was this the sign of a president without a grasp of the complexity of the situation who’s trying to get the national focus off of his own political vulnerability from the Russian investigation – which could easily topple his entire administration?

Clearly I don’t trust Donald Trump, I believe he’s a person with no conscience when it comes to integrity, I believe he’s a dangerous narcissist in a position that could cause irreparable damage to this nation in so many ways – but, he is the president and I have to hope that his actions tonight end up being a “measured response” to the FACT that the Syrian dictator is willing to GAS his own people (yes, just like Saddam Hussein).  If, however, this action leads to an escalation in the NON-WINNABLE Middle East Sunni/Shia conflict and if, as I’m thinking, Trump has no idea what happens next, what the possible scenarios are, and what the long term “plan” is – then we’re right back to when is this nightmare going to be over?

The political divide in America is stark and the republicans are the masters at deflecting the blame for how we got here away from themselves and toward the democrats.  (I guess I have to add then, that the democrats are fairly inept at fighting back)  Obstruction has been a republican strategy since (at least) the 1994 “Contract for America” (I always called it the “Contract on America”) and even the so-called “liberal media” (and, for my purposes, I’m thinking of MSNBC) continually allows them to “get away with it.”  Today I listened to an interview with John McCain who was lamenting the FACT there’s no “bipartisanship” in the Congress as he was in a discussion about Syria and, toward the end of the interview he couldn’t help himself but to throw in a “blame bomb” toward President Obama (The one person in Washington DC who’s acted like an adult for the past 8 years).  Of course, McCain is a known war monger, but to put the blame for all this (and just about everything else republicans can’t figure out how to do regarding government) on Obama is absurd – and, you’d think the “liberal media” commentators, at some point, would begin calling McCain, Trump, and the others on this.  How could there possibly be bipartisanship under these circumstances.

On top of all that, (these people are suggesting President Obama should have ordered a military strike back in 2013 the last time Al-Assad gassed his own people) when President Obama was facing the decision of what to do after the Syrian president committed a war crime (gassing people IS a war crime) Congress refused to even vote on what’s called a military use of force authorization to give Obama legal “cover” for striking a sovereign nation and Donald Trump himself was telling President Obama not to take military action in Syria.  In fact, Trump was claiming he wouldn’t take military action in Syria right up to the election.  Yes, people can change their minds and their positions on issues, but these republicans MUST stop blaming Obama for everything they don’t like and start taking responsibility for their own actions.  Is Trump going to blame President Obama if his action into Syria proves to be a major blunder?

Here’s the real question here.  Will Trump manage to DEFLECT the attention on his ties to the Russian oligarchy and their intrusion into our 2016 election by pursuing a military conflict in Syria all while he’s accusing Susan Rice of committing a “massive” crime?  Is our “liberal media” stupid enough to fall for that?  I can assure you of this;  We (Americans) care about the integrity of our elections and understand we are not going to solve the Shia/Sunni conflict.  The more we get involved in Syria and the more Trump lies about the election the worse it’s going to get.  We not only don’t understand the nuances of the conflict itself, but we are seemingly unable to “get” how the people over there view the world all while many Americans question Trump’s legitimacy.  The leaders of ISIL have already publicly referred to Trump as an “Idiot,” and there’s little doubt that Al-Assad is thinking along those lines as he shows his willingness to push Trump’s “buttons.”

On a positive note, I’ve heard several people refer to Trump’s National Security Adviser (General McMaster) and his Secretary of Defense (James Mattis) as being competent and respected. That gives me a small sense of comfort, but the reality is that it’s the president who’s the “commander in chief” and I have NO CONFIDENCE in Donald Trump to think rationally.  The reality is that his administration is embroiled in a SERIOUS controversy that’s not going away anytime soon and a majority of Americans view him unfavorably as president and many question whether he should even be president.  Let’s hope he doesn’t feel the way out is to become, as GW Bush “bragged,” (foolishly, of course) a “war president.”  The closest Trump himself has come to war is getting six deferments from the Selective Service back in the Viet Nam days.  As a (liberal, obviously) Christian I will continue praying for our nation and for peace (“Blessed are the peacemakers”).  Actually, I’ve been praying for Mr. Trump because I would never want our president to fail even though I fundamentally disagree with almost everything he does – but, I have to speak my mind; this man is in over his head and apparently the “you know what” is headed straight for the fan.  (After the “Access Hollywood” Tape was publicized it became extremely difficult for me to stomach listening to our watching Trump – I’m just sayin…..)

Final note: One of my libertarian friends (who is a Christian and loves Trump – go figure – personally, I”m not sure how that’s possible) says I never make positive suggestions (which may be an accurate assessment – I rarely re-read any of my posts) so, here’s one:  Why doesn’t Mr. Trump and his buddy Vladimir Putin agree to take Bashar Al-Assad into custody and have him tried for WAR CRIMES?  I know that would be a bit tricky, because Putin is – well, standing on pretty “shaky ground” when it comes to that subject, also we looked the other way after both Bush and Cheney admitted on NATIONAL TV they authorized TORTURE (waterboarding, among other forms of illegal “enhanced interrogation” – that didn’t work – if you’re wondering, that’s a WAR CRIME), and Trump, himself, has said on several occasions he would authorize TORTURE (waterboarding) “and a whole lot more” – so, I”m not sure how my “plan” would play out.  But, from an idealistic perspective, wouldn’t that be much better than escalating the Syrian civil war and thousands more Syrians being killed?

OMG, I just listened to an interview on MSNBC with Rand Paul and I had to turn it off and write ASAP to prevent myself from throwing up.  Every once in a while I try to at least give Paul the credit of being someone with principles.  Today, he proved me even more naive than I usually feel is an appropriate criticism.  A couple of days ago Paul apparently played a round of golf with Donald Trump (if he ever starts acting like an actual president I’ll give him the moniker) and apparently that was all it took to get him “on board.”  In this interview Paul was pushing the latest Trump strategy of deflecting attention from the investigation into Russia’s “invasion” of our nation during the last election by accusing Susan Rice of collecting intelligence material and using it for political purposes.  Suggesting that President Obama actually did order the “wiretapping” (in quotes :o) of Trump and Trump Tower.

Of course, Trump’s ridiculously STUPID “tweet” of one month ago – which has caused him to lose even more credibility (except for the “uneducated voters” – that he claimed he “loves” after the Iowa primary last year) with those Americans who are genuinely concerned about the Russians not only influencing our election but, quite possibly, the actual functioning of our government under a Trump administration.  I don’t believe Trump will last one term in office – the TRUTH will eventually become public and the republicans who are shielding him right now will no longer be able to do so.  If they decide to push this absurd scenario until 2018 I have enough confidence in the American people that the republicans will be voted out of the majority in the House – and, even though it seems highly unlikely in the Senate – maybe even there as well.  I don’t believe the American people will react kindly to those in our government who colluded with the Russians (yes, I know it’s just “allegations” at this point, but the lying and obfuscating leads me to believe there’s “more to the story”) and my hope is they hold republicans accountable for aligning themselves with Trump.

The sad reality of Trump’s “first 100 days” – which isn’t yet complete – is that while Trump is claiming he’s “keeping his promises” as he signs one executive order after another he’s actually doing nearly the opposite, at least with the first piece of legislation that ALMOST made it to a vote in Congress.  “Trumpcare” would have VIOLATED serious promises Trump made to those who actually voted for him.  While he said he was going to provide “affordable” health care to ALL Americans with lower premiums, lower deductibles, and better quality the TRUTH is that “Trumpcare” would have eventually reduced the number of insured Americans by 24 MILLION, it wouldn’t have reduced premiums and deductibles would have gone up.  In addition, the so-called “doughnut hole” for those on Medicare would have returned – violating his promise to preserve “Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”  In FACT, it was Medicaid that would be bludgeoned by “Trumpcare” – so, right off the bat, he proposed a plan that would VIOLATE his promises regarding both MEDICARE and MEDICAID.  Oh yes, and while those depending on Medicare and Medicaid are among “the least of these” (in the words of Jesus – I point this out periodically because it’s the so-called “Christian Right” which is the bulk of Trump’s “base”) “Trumpcare” would have provided the top 400 earning families in America $7,000,000 per year in tax  cuts.  (Keep in mind, they’re BILLIONAIRES)  The total tax cut “Trumpcare” would provide amounts to something like $600,000,000,000 (Yes, that’s $600 BILLION) with the bulk of it going to those who earn in excess of $200,000 per year.  Someone earning $1 MILLION per year would save almost $55,000 per year in taxes.

What’s clear in all this is that the people who would benefit from “Trumpcare” are those who don’t need it and who are the very people that Citizens United (Supreme Court’s decision to flood our elections with unaccounted MONEY) enabled to further CORRUPT our congress through their “faceless” “donations” er- “investments.”  It was Trump himself who said when he “invests” in a politician he’s expecting a return on that investment.  Now, I have to admit that I too “invest” in politicians.  I’ve given as much as $25 to several members of the House or the Senate – some, I’ve even given money on repeated occasions (ie – Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Patty Murry, and a few others) – However, I’m pretty sure they’re not asking me how I want them to vote on any particular issue and, in fact, I’m confident none of them know who I am.  I give them money because I believe they are fighting for the “little guy,” the person who could be me if I hadn’t been so fortunate as to somehow become a teacher among the various jobs that got me to the age of retirement and to have the benefits of Social Security and Medicare so that I can enjoy some of the remaining time I have on this planet.

They believe in the middle class and the democratic values that many in the democratic party have abandoned since the days of Reagan – the so-called “blue dog” democrats.  It’s the democrats who decided to “go along to get along” who’ve allowed this right wing push that has turned America dangerously close to a corporatocracy.  People like Sanders (yes, he’s an “independent” – like me) and Warren who believe in the “New Deal” values that turned America’s middle class into the envy of the world are willing to FIGHT for “the least of these.” (That’s why I support them)  It took the courage of the “greatest generation” – that is, my father’s generation (WW II) and my grandfather’s generation (The Great Depression) to fight for worker’s rights, human rights, and NUMEROUS benefits that Americans today take for granted and Trump and his cronies want to repeal.  It was Franklin Roosevelt and then Dwight Eisenhower who pushed the first examples of investment in infrastructure that “we the people” have benefited from since the 1950’s.  However, our “leaders” have allowed the roads to deteriorate, the bridges and dams to become – in many instances – unsafe, the schools to be outmoded, and on and on – all because of either political infighting or our addiction to the “military industrial complex” that Eisenhower so presciently warned us about before he left the office of the president. (All while the wealthy in America have been laughing all the way to the bank as republicans legislate one “tax cut for the rich” after another)

President Obama wanted a huge investment in infrastructure during his term in office (when interest rates were at all time lows) but, he was continually BLOCKED by Mitch McConnell and the right wing House – in reality controlled by the so-called “freedom caucus” (ie “Tea party”) – both committed to the “strategy” of “If Obama is for it, we’re against it.”  The good of the nation was never a consideration with the republicans in Congress while President Obama was in office.  Now, we’ve got Trump and he’s proposed an investment in infrastructure, but I’m sure I’m not the only person in America who doesn’t trust anything that comes from his mouth and wonders who is he trying to benefit?  He’s the epitome of the saying, “If his lips are moving, he’s lying.”  For example, during the past month, instead of debating the merits and particulars of a plan to rebuild our “infrastructure” our “leaders” have been embroiled in a debate over whether or not President Obama “wiretapped” Trump.  (Of course, the allegation was absurd on it’s surface – but, Trump and his enablers have spent the last moth trying to figure out a way to justify his “tweet.”)

Of course, we all know that in the end the tweet will still be absurd and ridiculous – along the same level of the “birther” argument or the “I saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering 9/11” argument or the “three to five million illegals ALL voted for Clinton or I would have won the popular vote” argument – but, evidently, Trump’s supporters simply pretend that Trump’s “alternative facts” are real – they actually believe him  (personally I have no idea how they can get duped by this person – today, it was Rand Paul who was working as the enabler in chief – yikes! There was actually a time when I thought he might be one of the republicans who’d save us from this pathological liar of a president)

One thing about Trump that is important for everyone to understand; he’s lied so much that he believes his own lies as they come from his mouth.  That’s exactly why he’ll never admit he made a mistake – he’ll keep pushing the narrative to the point where the rest of us just get tired of dealing with it and we let it lie. (no pun intended)  Take for example, the “Access Hollywood” tape.  Trump claimed his comments were “locker room talk” and as one woman after another came forward to validate the comments Trump made on the tape – he attacked the women, threatening lawsuits, and repeated over and over that it was simply “locker room” banter.  The strategy worked – with the help of the Russians releasing the first of the Podesto emails via Wiki Leaks.  So, it’s denial, denial, denial – attack, attack, attack – deflect, deflect, deflect.  That’s the strategy Trump uses and our media (and “we the people”) keep falling for it.  He’s still in office, he’s still making absurd “tweets” and he keeps the focus of the media off the real issue – which is that his campaign was very possibly COLLUDING with the Russians during the election.  The circumstantial evidence is pretty telling (that which has come out so far) and reports are that there’s much more.  Hopefully, James Comey (who’s likely responsible for the Trump presidency) will stay on the story and eventually anyone who  COLLUDED will be held accountable.  (Comey got Trump in office, maybe he’ll be the one to get him out of office)

We already know that Mike Flynn is in deep enough that he’s seeking immunity so that he might “tell his story.”  It was Flynn, if you remember, who led the “lock her up” chanting at the republican national convention after saying “If I did one tenth what Hillary Clinton did, I’d be in jail.”  Well, it appears that he actually did quite a bit MORE than Hillary Clinton’s using a private email server – in fact, not including the possibility that he, himself, was involved with the COLLUDING with Russia, he accepted MONEY from the Russian intelligence service (RT TV – apparently, in violation of his U.S. Military obligation), sat at the table with Vladimir Putin at a big dinner where Putin was receiving some award (and, Flynn was the first to stand and applaud after Putin finished his acceptance speech), and he was working as a foreign agent (for Turkey) and receiving over half a MILLION dollars for two months work – all while working for Trump as his “national security advisor.”  I’m guessing Flynn will be wanting to tell his story so that those of us who were offended by his speech at the republican convention don’t start chanting “lock him up.”

Getting back to my main point – people like Rand Paul seem to just need a round of golf with Mr. Trump to become part of the enabling republicans.  The strategy, as I said earlier, deny, attack, deflect is something they keep using – I’m sure because they think it’s working.  I’m hoping that those in the media (who are much smarter than me) don’t fall for this and keep pushing to, as most of them keep saying, until we “get to the bottom” of the Russia story.  (Trump, Paul, Sean Spicer, and the other enablers would have us believe the problem is Ms. Rice doing her job as President Obama’s National Security Adviser – I hope the media doesn’t fall for this “trick”) The possibilities with Trump’s connection to Putin and Russia, in my view, makes Nixon and Watergate look like child’s play.  Even though Nixon was a paranoid president who needed to be pushed out of office, the possibility that Americans would work together with the Russians to affect our election process is MAJOR alarming and, in my view, far worse than Watergate.  It falls in the category of Benedict Arnold lore.  This isn’t hard to see and my hope is that either republicans acknowledge what may have happened and they speed up the process of “investigating” this or “we the people” should consider them accomplices if they continue enabling Trump.  Devon Nunes – the head of the House Intelligence committee, for example, should be in line to lose his job, already, based on his actions in the investigation he’s supposed to be conducting.  He’s definitely acting like an accomplice.

And, keep in mind that while all this “stuff” is going on, there’s the normal role our presidents are supposed to play.  For example, the world is in a mess and we’re supposed to be leaders “of the free world.”  So, North Korea fires off another ballistic missile with the plan to be able to send a nuke to the United States – our Secretary of State responds: “We’ve said enough about North Korea, we’ll have no further comment.” (I’m telling you the truth, that’s almost EXACTLY what he said – in fact, it’s the first thing I’ve heard him say since taking office! In case you’re confused – this is BAD).  Then, less than a week after Trump said we would no longer focus on the removal of Basher Asad in Syria, the Syrians attacked the rebel-held town in Idlib province with chemical weapons (Sarin gas) and, instead of blaming the Russian enablers of Asad it was not surprising to me that Trump blamed President Obama.  Yes, that’s  correct – just as he claimed Putin was a great leader during the campaign, he continues to point fingers at Obama after President Obama’s been out of office for three months.  As I’ve said several times on this site, this would be laughable if it weren’t so serious. (100 people, including around 25 children were killed by the Sarin gas).

I’ve wondered many times here as to how much damage Trump will do before the republicans in Congress come to their senses and remove him from office.  Yes, the “alt right” will be angry when that finally happens, but the damage done already will take a mammoth effort to reverse and it’s going to keep getting worse until Trump is gone.  (Trump’s “approval rating” is already down to 35% and he’s still in the “honeymoon” stage of his administration – it’s going to get worse) In truth, I have little confidence in Mike Pense (the next in line – who’s also proven to be comfortable lying to the American people) or Paul Ryan (the next after Pense – and, yes another competent liar), but Trump has no idea what he’s doing and, for the Christians that are supporting him I would remind them of more words from the Bible.  It’s the FOOL who thinks he knows and the WISE man who knows he doesn’t know.  Trump believes he alone can solve America’s problems despite the fact he’s got no idea how to do this. (the classic fool)

Aside from the potential reality that his campaign (and, by connection him) colluded with the Russians during the election, he’s likely violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution (which I don’t believe he understands, either) EVERY day and he has no idea what he’s got himself into.  (ISIL recently referred to him as an “idiot”)  If the republicans continue enabling Trump, instead of impeaching him, they will own the results.  They were blaming President Obama for the Bush/Cheney deficits before he took office and now Trump is blaming him for his own incompetence in Syria three months after Obama is out of office.  Here’s my question:  When will republicans stop blaming President Obama for their shortcomings and begin actually trying to solve America’s problems?

As I’m watching the Trump issues regarding the Russian “invasion” of our political process, (OK, I know some of this was routine) I can’t help but keep thinking of Trump’s “National Security Adviser” Michael Flynn standing in front of the Republican national convention claiming, “If I did one tenth what Hillary Clinton has done I’d be locked up” or something to that light.  Then he started leading the “lock her up” chant that became so “normal” at Trump campaign rallies.  Of course, at the time, Flynn was standing there illegally as an unidentified foreign agent – reportedly having pocketed over 500,000 dollars in a two month period “lobbying” for the Turkish government.  While Flynn was leading the “lock her up” cheer, Paul Manafort was still the campaign manager for Trump and, unbeknownst to most of us, he also had been a foreign agent for Russian interests in a way designed to improve the image around the globe of Vladimir Putin.  According to reports, Manafort was paid in the tens of MILLIONS of dollars for his “advising” in both Russia and Ukraine.

Of course, much of this was known to the Trump campaign and Washington insiders when Trump hired these two guys, who are now like YUGE (in the words of Bernie Sanders) “paper weights” on the Trump presidency due to the FACT they were hired as the two leading voices (originally) in Trump’s campaign.  There are others with sketchy, at best, connections to the Russians in Trump’s “circle,” but from my vantage point it’s time for Flynn and Manafort to get counsel and start trying to figure out how to either LIE there way out of the mess they’re in, OR “cut a deal.”  That last part has to be what might be making Mr. Trump a bit uneasy.  Of course, none of us know how deep Trump himself is into all of this, but the TRUTH is that he’s participated (knowingly) in trying to cover it up (he knew, for example, about Flynn’s involvement discussing “sanctions” with the Russian “Ambassador” for weeks prior to “firing” him.)  The list of LIES involved with the “firing” of Flynn is interesting to say the least, but the reality is that he was “fired” because the news media “outed” him.  Trump, Pense, and the rest were fine with what Flynn did until it became public knowledge.

I keep asking myself, is Hillary Clinton secretly chanting “lock him up” as she’s witnessing what was going on behind the scenes while she was being accused of being a “criminal” for doing what the two Secretary of States before her did – using a private email server.  The reality is that Flynn very well might be looking at being the one “locked up.”  Not only did he fail to register as a foreign agent – even after he was officially hired as Trump’s National Security Advisor – but reports are now surfacing that Flynn conspired to kidnap a Turkish dissident and “whisk him out of the country” so he could be prosecuted in Turkey!  This is very NAUGHTY (or should I say, ILLEGAL) stuff!  This is the guy President Obama had to fire for (essentially)  insubordination and then, probably illegally, hired himself out to Russia itself.  From my understanding, former military personnel are not supposed to take money from foreign countries (especially adversaries) after leaving the service without permission – in this case from the Army.  The guy was a general – he should have known better.

Of course, just like his future boss Donald Trump, Flynn apparently had more regard for Vladimir Putin than our own president – who was his commander in chief.  The hypocrisy from this guy is “off the charts.”  Of course Trump blamed the media for Flynn’s firing (as odd as that might seem) up until the media uncovered his failure to disclose he was representing a foreign nation all the while “advising” our future president on “national security.”  This all just keeps getting more and more bizarre.  For those of us old enough to remember Watergate, this – I’ll call it “Trumpgate” – is looking much more serious.  I’m really concerned that the Trump administration is totally vulnerable to the Russians and when everything actually comes out we’ll find out they’ve had an influence on more than “just” the election. (I put that in quotes because I personally am feeling as if there may be some traitors in the present administration.  Cheating in elections is FAR WORSE than cheating at golf! You know, the “gentleman’s game” – where you’re supposed to act with honor)

Putin is pushing a world wide “White nationalist” right wing agenda that would allow him to reconstitute the “former Soviet Union.”  He wants to “Make Russia Great again.”  Sound familiar?  I believe that eventually we’ll all know actually what took place before and after the election – but, it’s not going to be easy.  There are too many republicans willing to sell themselves out for Trump and my hope is that the voters remember this at the next election.  No one should be arguing, least of all Trump himself if there’s no “there there” as they like to say, against a BIPARTISAN investigation into this situation.  The more Trump fights the investigations, the more it appears he’s going to be caught up in all this as well.

It was reported the other day that Manafort, Flynn, Carter Paige, and Roger Stone have all “volunteered” to testify before the House Intelligence committee.  The first thing I’d say is that ONLY if it’s under oath.  The second thing I’d say is that as long as Devin Nunes is the chair of that committee the chances of a “bipartisan” investigation are slim and none.  The guy is unbelievable – which is apparently why he was hired as part of Trump’s transition team.  He’s already shown his lack of competence in how he’s been dealing with “intelligence” and his committee members AND his inability to pull himself away from his loyalty to Trump.  It doesn’t take a “brain surgeon” (my apologies to Ben Carson) to understand you don’t take evidence to the “target” of an investigation DURING the investigation – if you want to be perceived as unbiased.  That’s now impossible for Nunes. (Evidently, the evidence Nunes reportedly “took” to the White House, he actually was given at the White House.  Yes, you’re correct, Nunes got the “evidence” that Trump claimed proved President Obama “wiretapped” him – from someone in the White House while he was IN the White House.  Maybe we are all STUPID – if they get away with all of this)

Why might Flynn and the others want to “volunteer” testifying?  Well, I suspect they’re trying to find creative ways to head off the FBI’s investigation in which director Comey used the term “criminal.”  The only people, besides Comey, who knows what these people have actually done – that is the level of their involvement with the Russians – is themselves and their counsel.  I’m guessing their counsels will be attempting to get them to give congressional testimony that will prevent the FBI from being able to criminally charge them with actual crimes.  Nunes could be part of that plan – I wouldn’t trust that guy “as far as I could throw him.”  And, personally, I believe this all goes way beyond these four guys.  There’s an old saying that it’s not a crime unless you get caught.  Well, there’s now people all throughout the Trump “team” who seem to be looking at the possibility of “stuff” being exposed that no one would have given a second thought to had they not joined Trump’s campaign.

Take Manafort for example.  He’s now being connected to a bank in Cypress that is KNOWN as a center for Russian money laundering – evidently, he may have collected MILLIONS of “dirty” money along the way according to reports I’ve seen and his connections to the Russian “Oligarchy” (mob) is beginning to see the light of day.  My first thought was, “I wonder if Manafort claimed all that money that came from Russia and Ukraine on this tax forms?”  Of course, I doubt if anyone in Trump’s circle would cheat on their taxes, but “I’m just sayin …….”  And the head of that bank in Cypress is now Trump’s Commerce Secretary – his name is Wilbur Ross I believe – and, it should be interesting to find out more about this guy’s dealings.  He apparently was a partner in that bank with a Russian Oligarch with close ties to Putin – I guess just one more dot to connect between Trump and Putin.  Do you, as I do, wonder what kind of financial dealings Trump has that are connected in some way to Russia?  I’m guessing, at some point, Mr. Trump will be forced to release his tax returns – although, at this point, nothing Trump does causes me to believe he’s being honest and I’m not sure I’d trust anything he released. (Maybe the FBI could force the IRS to release them once the never ending “audit” is completed :o)

Trump himself encouraged all the “lock her up” chants that constantly rang out at his campaign rallies.  Do you see the irony in all of this?  It appears to be getting deeper and deeper as we progress into Trump’s “first 100 days.”  Many people I’ve talked to suggest the Russian government is run like a mafia organization and you have to wonder how much it will bother Trump’s die hard supporters when it all comes out.  He was down to 37% approval 58% disapproval in the last poll I saw – which are startlingly (bad) numbers for a president in his first two months in office.  Could it get worse?  I believe it could.  As I’ve said before on this site, I believe the republicans in congress will “pull the plug” before things get to the point where Trump is jeopardizing their reelection chances (in the “safe” districts) and we’ll have Mike Pense as the 46th president.  Each week that day seems to be getting closer.  I’m worried that Pense is damaging his own “brand” as he attempts to sugarcoat the “Trump reality” to the point where he won’t be much more effective once he’s in the White House.

If democrats are smart (something I’ve never accused them of) they’ll be working to find candidates in EVERY district they possibly can for the 2018 election.  I would love it if they chose to fight it out in so-called “red states” and “red districts.”  Somehow, I get the feeling that they don’t even attempt to win elections in places that have really weird representatives (aka Louie Gohmert)  MOST of the American people have become involved since Trump’s election – including many who voted for him only  to realize the first thing he was going to do was take away their health insurance.  The opportunity to take back the House in 2018 is looking democrats right in the eye – we’ll see if they can mobilize and actually put up a FIGHT that has its foundation in traditional democratic principles.  Bernie Sanders proved last year that there is a LIBERAL “base” to the democratic party that’s been “silent” for years because the leaders have allowed themselves to believe the right wing attacks on the word liberal itself.  Every great advance in this nation’s history could be considered “liberal” at the time it took place.  In virtually every instance the “advance” required courage, persistence, and a willingness to stand on principle.

Democrats have the opportunity to get the young people of this nation mobilized and I firmly believe if they do this, we will be looking at a return to the ideals of the New Deal.  I don’t know of anyone, for example, that doesn’t believe our infrastructure is in bad shape and needs to be “brought up to code.”  That, in itself, would be a great investment that would create probably MILLIONS of good paying jobs.  Yes, the wealthy would have to pay more in taxes, but that’s the way it was when our highways were originally built along with all the other infrastructure that is now so in need of repair or replacement.  We have the opportunity to turn America’s energy system progressively greener and wouldn’t it be nice if our leaders finally internalized that we’re not the “world’s policeman?”  Instead of spending more on the military (our leaders have made Dwight Eisenhower a prophet regarding his warnings about the “military industrial complex”) wouldn’t it be nice if we worked to rebuild our cities, improve our education system, help all our veterans (especially all the homeless ones), and basically use our wealth for humanitarian purposes instead of WAR.  OK, I know I’m an idealist –  but, the reality is there’s an opportunity staring us in the face thanks to Trump’s incompetency – I guess that’s what it is going to take to get people’s attention.  However, this will take a commitment that will last years – I’m not sure “we the people” have the attention span to do it – AND, you can be sure the “right wing” will be kicking and screaming all the way.  (They’ve been plundering taxpayer dollars to the tune of TRILLIONS since the 80’s.)

Democrats and Republicans SHOULD be able to talk to each other and work out issues with each other in a way that is fair to both sides.  But, the reality is that republicans have been nothing but obstructionists and LIARS for the past 20+ years and those who instituted that “strategy” (Gingrich, McConnell, et al) will probably need to be purged before “bipartisanship” will have a chance to return.  You can see it from those who’ve been in the streets since Trump took the oath of office – the “base” doesn’t want democrats cooperating with Trump, Ryan, McConnell in any way.  Personally, I look forward to the day when we can talk to each other respectfully and work out differences in a way that leads to the most good for the most people.  However, as I stated above, when I think about Trump and his surrogates, the picture in my mind is Michael Flynn leading the “lock her up” chant.  Before any of my “wishes” have any kind of a chance to become reality, people like Flynn, Manafort, Stone, Paige, Ross, and even Trump need to be fully investigated and any “hint” of Russian involvement in our democratic republic needs to be vanquished. I’ll end by asking once again, do you think there will become a time when Hillary Clinton is leading a chant, “lock them up?”

Final note:  Do you find it as curious as I do that republican “oversight” committees were so eager to investigate Benghazi and seemingly have such little interest (they’re being forced by media reporting) in investigating a Russian cyber ATTACK on our nation – with the distinct possiblility (likelihood) of collusion with the Russians and Trump’s campaign not to mention Russian influence post election?  It appears to me that for PARTISAN reasons they’d be happy to just “look the other way” and let the Russians get away with this.  And, remember, the Russian “plan” goes way beyond destabilizing the United States.  As I stated above, Vladimir Putin’s plan is to “Make Russia Great again,” and he can’t do it if “we the people” are still in control of our government.  “Just sayin……”