The 2016 Presidential election might not be one for people to be excited about, but it sure stands a chance to be one of the most interesting elections – certainly of my experience as a voter (almost 50 years).  I’m presently reading a book titled “American Amnesia” by Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson and it really gives the reader a good perspective on how we (Americans) have evolved to such a state in our political process.  To me, the reality that someone such as Donald Trump could even make it to the top of the “ticket” of one of the two “main” political parties in America is sobering.  (of course, as I was writing that last sentence the thought that Sarah Palin was on the ticket for Vice President just 8 years ago flashed through my mind :o)  I’ve heard so much coming from Trump’s mouth that validates the thesis of Hacker and Pierson’s book that makes me even more discouraged regarding America’s voting public.  It’s becoming more obvious all the time that Americans don’t understand what made us a great nation in the first place.

I’ve stated (almost endlessly) how much I believe the Republican party, in its present form, needs to be “history,” and the FACT that Donald Trump is the “leader” of the party says it all, from my vantage point.  Today, I finally heard a reference (from a political pundit) to the “Big Lie Theory” (if you’re not familiar, that’s the theory put forth by Joseph Goebbels, the head of Nazi propaganda, back in the 1930’s as Hitler rose to power – and, by the way, Hitler’s campaign slogan was “Make Germany Great again”) and how Trump is taking this theory to the extreme.  What’s interesting is how he’s playing the political pundits on the cable “news” channels as he throws out one controversial, absurd, and, by many accounts, STUPID remark after another in his attempt to dominate the media.  Then, of course, he BLAMES these same pundits for their reaction to his remarks (as he speaks at his rallies) as if the negative fallout is their fault and his surrogates, when asked to explain his remarks, switch immediately into the “but Hillary” attack mode.

I believe Trump has hardly any money, from the standpoint of what it takes to run a presidential campaign and his “ground game” is woefully weak.  So, these absurd, ridiculous comments will continue to “flow” out of his mouth – because it leads to massive “free advertising.”  Some of his statements are so absurd that the media “pundits” I’ve listened to – both the ones who are trying to be “fair and balanced” (yuk, yuk) and the ones who are leaning to or supporting Hillary Clinton seem to be searching for words to deal with Trump.  The past couple of days Trump has been calling Barrack Obama and Mrs. Clinton the “founders” of ISIS.  This morning I listened to Chuck Todd (if you’ve been around my site you know he’s not one of my favorite “news” commentators) trying to carry on a conversation with one of Trump’s surrogates about this absurd claim by Trump (that, apparently, he’s now calling a sarcastic comment – whatever that might mean) and his minion responded to every opportunity Todd gave her to explain the comments by attempting to switch the conversation to an attack on Hillary Clinton.

I can’t bring myself to watch, or listen, to much coming from our “news” media, so I can only hope that someone explains a little history to Mr. Trump and those supporting him (the other day I saw Rudy Giuliani on “Hardball” on MSNBC – and, it’s as if Trump’s surrogates are programmed and they’re following the “Big Lie Theory” to a tee – they’re going to switch EVERY conversation about Trump to attacks on Mrs. Clinton – most of them unsubstantiated) about, in this instance, the formation of ISIS.  I’m pretty sure one of his surrogates claimed that President Obama “formed ISIS” when he lent support to rebels fighting Assad In Syria.  Presumably, he’s talking about the rebels that posted an online picture of themselves with John McCain a few years back (when republicans in Congress were pressuring Obama to support these “rebels.”  It’s true that some of the rebels fighting Assad are part of ISIS, but the reality is that ISIS is essentially “Al Qaeda in Iraq” which formed as a result of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al invasion of Iraq back in 2003.  It’s also true that republicans in Congress supported arming the rebels in the fight to overturn Assad.  To say otherwise is patently FALSE! Whether or not this was a wise decision is entirely another matter)

I suppose Republicans can argue about how President Obama has attempted to neutralize ISIS (or, as some say – including I believe the rebels themselves – ISIL) but, to call Obama (and Clinton the founders, is absurd, it’s STUPID, it’s careless, and, because Trump is presumably a possibility for the White House and the “world is watching,” it’s incredibly dangerous. Donald Trump has people around the world shaking their heads wondering what on earth is happening in the United States of America.  (Of course, apparently, Putin and others of his ilk are happy as clams to see the U.S. dealing with this, and, if it was up to them, Trump would be the next President of the United States.  (It would make their jobs so much easier)

People like Trump use a strategy that most people don’t understand and it’s called political projection.  For example, Trump is calling Mrs. Clinton something along the lines of “Crooked Hillary.”  And, he seems to be getting away with this.  He also (along with his “team”) then complain that Mrs. Clinton isn’t being “vetted” fully by the press while he’s being treated “unfairly.”  All of this is clearly designed to MAKE SURE the media doesn’t snoop around to discover how “CROOKED” Donald Trump really is.  Every time I hear him use that pejorative on Mrs. Clinton I think of the saying, “That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”  However, Trump is so good at manipulating the media that they are struggling on how to deal with him and they’re letting him get away with this.  (we should be talking about “Crooked Donald”)  It’s a great way for Trump to attempt to hide his “issues.”

I do believe many in the “mainstream” (including many Republicans) are beginning to understand how dangerous the man is.  Just do a little historical research on 1930’s Germany and the parallels might get your attention as they got mine.  Today’s Republican party has been inching its way toward a total commitment to what would amount to a corporate/government partnership (ie a Mussolini type fascist government) since the days of Ronald Reagan.  I’ve written about the so-called “Powell Memo” written in 1972 (by future Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell) that laid out the plan for “conservatives” to enable the interests of our corporate elite and diminish the influence of labor (working class people) in our electoral process and history will show their plan has been enormously successful since then.  The “plan” was “jump started” when Ronald Reagan won the White House in 1980 and, by all statistical data, it’s obvious that corporate interests have blossomed and worker’s interests have, at best, stagnated – and, by many measures, deteriorated – since then.

“American Amnesia” the book referenced at the beginning of this post, is one of many books I’ve read that confirms that America’s “middle class” hit its peak in the late 1970’s and has been getting “squeezed” ever since – which was the goal of Powell’s “memo.”  Republicans have been masters at brainwashing the American public (at least a sizeable portion of it – using the aforementioned “Big Lie Theory” – “if you repeat a lie over and over enough, people will believe it’s true) that “cutting taxes on the wealthy” is the key to economic success – despite the FACT that virtually ALL the data would prove OTHERWISE!  With the help of our “liberal media” republicans have fostered an environment where the public  has “forgotten” what got us here in the first place and where many still believe that government is the “enemy.” (despite the FACT that the government is us – meaning “we the people”)  And, Republicans have intimidated many in the media to the point where they get away with many of their lies without even a “whimper” of a challenge.  (believe me, Trump is counting on this to continue)

Donald Trump has taken all of this republican push toward fascism to new levels.  He is a dangerous candidate for president and even rational republicans are beginning to understand this.  My hope is that Trump is so outrageous that he gets the attention of enough Americans to realize we need to purge this nation of the present day republican party (they nominated him for heaven’s sake).  If there are any republicans with the GUTS to stand up and push back on those who’ve been attempting to turn their party into a bastion of fascism I hope they will do so – BEFORE the election.  Maybe, then, the party could re-form in a true “conservative” sense (in the tradition of the moderate republican leaders of the post WW II era (Eisenhower et al)  who understood that success in America is founded on a true blending of government and business (Hacker and Pierson call it a “mixed economy”) and a willingness for republicans to find ways to COMPROMISE with democrats in order to “get things done.”

Today I heard Donald Trump claim that he’s a “truth teller.”  Of course, when you hear someone characterize themselves in that manner – well, all I can say is DON’T BELIEVE THEM!  I find it interesting that Trump (and his surrogates) are claiming Hillary Clinton to be a “liar” and yet, I don’t see much reporting on the actual “vetting” of the comments coming from the candidates.  I did see a report during the primary campaigns where a website (I believe called “Politico”) “fact checked” all the candidates for the veracity of their claims.  Surprisingly, Hillary Clinton came out about at the same level as Bernie Sanders – both of them being considerably more “truthful” than ANY of the Republicans in the so-called “Clown Car.”  And, of course, the person at or near the BOTTOM of the list (all 17 republican candidates were “vetted”) was Donald Trump.  I haven’t heard people like Chuck Todd or Chris Matthews or the others on MSNBC (that’s what I listen to when I can stomach it) reference Trump’s veracity.  I’ve long since learned that politicians “spin” reality to their own advantage (actually, I think most all of us do this) but there are instances where you just have to call something a lie.  And, I believe that if the TV pundits truly vetted Donald Trump, his claim that he’s a “truth teller” would simply be ONE MORE LIE!

One more thing:  After publishing this post, and while continuing to read “American Amnesia” I read something referring to the republican “strategy” of obstructing EVERYTHING President Obama was “for” – a strategy “hatched” prior to his inauguration (Do you think the color of his skin had anything to do with that??? But, I digress……).  What I found interesting, after just writing about Trump and his use of “political projection” – projecting your own issues onto your opponent in an effort to prevent people from “getting” the truth – and, I noticed the word “fascism” was used to characterize President Obama repeatedly as he put forth his “plan” to pull the nation from the abyss that GW Bush/Dick Cheney left as their legacy.  (speaking of “American Amnesia” – it didn’t take long for our “public” to “forget” what the result of 35 years of “trickle down” left us as Bush/Cheney fled Washington DC “with their tails between their legs”).  While I could characterize President Obama as “pragmatic” – certainly not as “progressive” as I had hoped when I first voted for him – but, fascist???  That is as absurd as claiming he’s the “founder” of ISIS.  These people (republicans) are very sophisticated in their attempt to brainwash enough Americans for them to continue their pillaging of our economy and, much to my chagrin, they are “inching” way too close to fascism for me – but, to hide their true “plan” by putting it on President Obama is just one more example of why this version of the republican party needs to be SOUNDLY voted out of power in November 2016.  The scariest part of all this, to me, is that, had they been able to come up with a credible candidate in this election they may have achieved their “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  I guarantee you that Trump’s defeat (unless Congress is “turned blue” – AND, democrats move toward Bernie Sanders and his “revolution”) will only temporarily sideline the “moneyed interests” who are bankrolling this “push to the right” that’s been happening since Powell’s “memo” in 1972.  Unless, or until Americans understand what is happening to them (I’m talking about those of us in the middle class) this push towards a “corporatacracy” (fascism) will continue.

I’ve pretty much stopped watching (and listening) to what is considered the “main stream media” because I’m convinced they’re giving Donald Trump so much free air time simply to create “excitement” to push up ratings.  I’ve been saying for years that it appears to me that our so-called “news” outlets are more into creating news than reporting news.  What’s driving my thoughts on this subject today is the reporting I heard (briefly) yesterday on the latest “scandal” where apparently Ruth Bader Ginsburg expressed her true feelings about Mr. Trump.  What I heard was Trump’s response, so I have to assume Ms. Ginsburg’s remarks were not complimentary.  Trump was (as usual) calling her names.  I was listening to MSNBC (on my XM radio while driving my car) and I couldn’t help but think that the commentators, even on MSNBC, are almost like programmed robots.

First you hear the “scandal” – or whatever topic they’re “discussing,” (I maintain “we the people” are under a constant barrage of brainwashing by the “liberal media”) – then they provide you (as the listener – or viewer) with two totally partisan (hacks) pundits that put the spin from the right or the left on the subject.  And, I have to admit here, the pundits (hacks) representing the “right” seemingly are better prepared to push the narrative.  In this particular instance – I can’t remember who was “representing” the “left” – but their argument was totally defensive.  I pictured myself in their place and wondered why they didn’t, at the very minimum, ask why Ms Ginsburg’s speaking out about Trump was worse than Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas participating in the Koch Brothers’ summit meetings – you know, where all the billionaires converge in their attempt to turn America into a corporatist fascist state?  To me the hypocrisy is stark.  It kind of summarizes my disgust with the democrats and the so-called “liberal media” that have allowed Fox “news” (and their “followers”) to have convinced a large number of Americans  that liberals (like Ms.Ginsburg) are the problem.

I have to agree that it would be better for all Supreme Court Justices to remain as neutral (politically) as they can – of course, they have their fundamental beliefs like anyone else – and to avoid the media.  But, again, it irks me that the “right” is allowed to get away with condemning Ginsburg for speaking out, yet the corporatists on the Court cavort with the right wing cabal and nothing is said.  To me, Scalia and Thomas at a Koch Brothers “convention” is far worse than Ginsburg speaking her mind!

This follows close behind the latest “scandal” regarding Hillary Clinton and the email server issue.  I really have to wonder if anyone else will be asked to submit tens of thousands of their emails to the government to be scrutinized.  We know, for instance, that both of Mrs. Clinton’s predecessors in the Bush/Cheney administration exchanged “classified” information in private email accounts but neither were ever asked to submit ALL of their emails for scrutiny.  We also know that Jeb Bush had a private email server when governor of Florida.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to read all of his emails as himself and his secretary of state were manipulating the voting in Florida so that his brother could become president.  And, of course, all these people who are now claiming that Ruth Bader Ginsburg would have to recuse herself if she’s in the position to hear a “Clinton v Trump” case following the election were completely silent regarding Scalia and Thomas helping to vote in George W Bush – and, we all know what the real consequences of that decision was.

I’ve been disgusted with our media more than ever since I saw that their dereliction of duty was leading to the possibility that someone like Trump might actually win the White House.  I have written ad nauseum about the damage Bush/Cheney did to this nation – it’s really difficult to quantify because we are a resilient people and we “keep on keepin on,” but both militarily and economically the damage was severe.  Barack Obama has managed to kind of “stabilize the ship,” but the bigger problems still exist – and, they’re getting worse.  For example, if “we the people” are unable to reverse the “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision and re-establish the heart of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 it’s just a matter of time until the corporatacracy “wins.”

There’s estimated to be something along the lines of 15,000 lobbyists in Washington DC.  It’s common knowledge that when a congress person loses their job, they simply move across the street to a lobbying firm into a job that usually pays as much as 10 times their congressional salary.  It’s also public knowledge that these lobbyists have essentially “bought” the majority of our Congress persons and our nation’s political process has thusly been corrupted to the CORE!  Our “liberal media” turns a “blind eye” to all of this.

The reason Trump did so well on the republican side and Bernie Sanders did well on the democratic side is that a large segment of the American population is disgusted with the level of corruption in our government.  Sanders very eloquently pointed out the issue of income inequality that has been growing since the day Ronald Reagan took the oath of office.  I have friends who complain about this (the inequality in incomes and also the demise of unions) and then turn around and vote for republicans.  I wrote in my previous post about a good friend of mine who is a Fox “news” devotee who is going to vote for Trump for “moral” reasons.  Honestly, when I heard him say that, I was speechless.  He said to me, “no matter what you say you’re not going to change my mind.”  (Actually, at that point, I hadn’t said anything – obviously, he’d had a similar conversation with someone else prior to our meeting)  I can understand him not being enamored with Mrs. Clinton (although his reasoning was straight from the mouths of O’Reilly and Hannity), but to vote on “moral” reasons for Donald Trump is – well, again, I’m struggling to find words.

That gets me back to my main thought, which is the hypocrisy (on steroids) of the Trump campaign and it’s enabling treatment by the “liberal media.”  I’ve heard Trump refer to Mrs. Clinton as “Crooked Hillary.”  Not once after hearing that have I heard one pundit point out the absurdity of Donald Trump referring to ANYONE with that “moniker.”  If that’s not the “pot calling the kettle black” I don’t know what is!  Come on Donald, show us your taxes!  (that’s just for starters)  If Trump manages to make it to the election without disclosing his taxes he should be disqualified just for that (of course, would that make Gingrich or whomever decides to be his running mate  the candidate?).  Then there’s “Trump University,” There’s the three or four bankruptcies and three wives.  (I’m throwing that in just in case my friend would read this to help him with his morality judgement)  I’d love to see Trump turn over all of his emails just to make sure he’s not “crooked.”

Have you ever been to a casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City?  If you have, did you notice the type of people “running the show” – so to speak?  I’d love to see all of Donald Trump’s business dealings vetted to the degree Hillary Clinton has been “vetted” – both her public life and her private life.  I almost get angry when I hear Trump refer to her as “Crooked Hillary” and the commentators say NOTHING.  To me, it’s disgraceful that we’ve even gotten to this point with someone like Trump running for president.  It couldn’t happen without complicity from the so-called “liberal media” – I’ve actually stopped watching and listening to MSNBC (with occasional relapses) because of their willingness to allow Trump to dominate their air space.  I’d love to see how much FREE publicity he’s received just from them.  The man has repeatedly made racist, misogynist, and outright absurd remarks that imply fascist tendencies while making baseless comments about his opponents (it’s now down to him and Mrs. Clinton) and our media continues to let him “get away with it.”

The fact that Fox “news” has “made up” with Trump is no surprise to me, but the reality of MSNBC (and presumably other cable “news” outlets) kissing up to him is what is so disturbing.  I can guarantee you, as I’m writing this, the right wing “establishment” (that Trump so effectively ran against in the primaries) is “educating” him on how he’s going to run his campaign. I’m sure he realizes by now that he can’t “self fund” a run for the presidency and he needs their money and their endorsements.  (Personally, I hope any politician who endorses him gets the opportunity to work on K Street shortly after the next election)  Likewise, the “never Trump” movement among republicans, I’m sure, now realizes they have to work with him in order to make sure they keep their jobs.  Kind of an awkward situation, but totally predictable.  It’s all about the POWER and the MONEY.

With the help of our enabling media, all the racist comments, the misogynist remarks, the ridiculous foreign policy comments, concerns about his taxes, concerns about his business practices (crooked?), and his phony attempts to claim he’s a “Christian” will all be “water under the bridge.”  The American public proved after the Bush/Cheney debacle that they (I have to say “we” because we’re all part of this) have “short term memory issues.”  The rest of the world is watching in almost shock – and, the damage that a Trump presidency would conceivably cause will last beyond my lifetime.  The right wing of the republican party has been doing to our nation, since the election of Ronald Reagan, what people like Trump (and the last republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney) do to their businesses.  They bleed out all the assets and leave the remnants of what they inherited (or, in the case of business, purchased) in a heap of worn out infrastructure and a mountain of debt.  They (and their associates) walk away with the money and that’s all that matters.  Evidently, corporations in control is what will “Make America Great again.”  The great irony of all this is that people like my friend keep voting for them (republicans) based on “moral” reasons – republicans claim to be “pro-life.”  It’s worked since 1980, why change now?

Virtually every time I think of “The Donald” as the “presumptive” presidential nominee I’m reminded of the saying “be careful what you wish for.”  Of course, many in the republican party who’ve willingly “attached their star” to the so-called “tea party” are now running for cover.  The combination of the racist make-up of the “tea party” – I’ll never forget the signs at one of the first rallies I witnessed where Jim DeMint was speaking to a crowd of “Obama haters” – and the policy of “divide and conquer” that was put on steroids during the Newt Gingrich “heyday” (and, it wouldn’t surprise me if Newt was Trump’s choice for VP) eventually was destined to “come back to haunt” the republican party.  It appears that Trump’s nomination is speeding up the process.  My hope is that when people realize what the republicans stand (or don’t stand) for, the process of purging them from the American political scene will begin.

Now, please, don’t get me totally wrong.  From a practical point of view, we need two parties for a two party “system.”  It’s just that the republican part of the “equation” has drifted so far to the “right” that I believe the only way to pull it back is through a purging.  Just think of the so-called “clown car” at the beginning of the 2016 presidential campaign.  There was a reason it was called the “clown car.”  I mean, the final two “standing” were Trump and Ted Cruz.  That should tell you all you need to know about where this party has gone.  While we all (well, now I’m talking about “progressives” or “liberals”) bemoan the Citizens United Supreme Court decision – and, it was, in my view, one of the WORST decisions in my lifetime – followed closely by the McCutcheon decision and the gutting of the Voting Rights act, the unintended consequence from the republican point of view is that it enabled people like Charles and David Koch to FLOOD the electoral process with mountains of money in a surreptitious attack on the basic fundamentals of American government as it evolved from the Great Depression.  And, thus was “born” the “tea party.”

The Koch’s (and their brethren – of whom there are many “well healed” Americans who can’t seem to get enough money and power) have latched on to the fears of the older white working class Americans and used their wealth to manipulate the process so that many, many Americans go to the polls bound and determined to vote against their own self interest.  I’m sure that from an historical perspective it’s an interesting process to watch unfold – but, from my view, it threatens the very foundation of the great middle class I was fortunate enough to be a part of as I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s.  People like me who came from “humble beginnings” always felt as if moving up the social ladder was possible – which is not how young people of today feel.  This is EXACTLY why Bernie Sanders has such a robust following of young people who would otherwise not be participants in the political process.  Sanders is speaking about the issues that give young people hope for the future.

I was reading the Op-Ed page of the New York Times the other day and I noticed an article by Thomas Friedman that made me think he’s been reading my blog.  For years I’ve been railing against the republican party – not because I’m “anti republican” – I’ve been an independent my entire voting life (almost 50 years) – but, because the party has become almost unrecognizable from the standpoint of what turned America into world leaders after World War II.  Republicans now mirror the right wing “establishment” that was considered “fringe” during the years leading up to the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in 1981.  Moderate Republicans of that era are persona non grata in today’s right wing environment.  That all being said, the truth is that this radical right wing faction has been present throughout America’s history.  “We the people” have had to “repel” this group of greedy militaristic people over and over during our nation’s history.  Their “fore fathers” hated the New Deal and passed that hate down over the years and they’ve been persistent in their battle to turn America into a fascist corporate dictatorship.  They call it the “permanent republican ‘majority'” which is designed to be a stranglehold on the courts, the congress, the media, and the White House.  When I think about it today it seems as if they have only been stopped because of George W Bush’s inability to put a complete sentence together.

Bush did give those behind this movement (whoever they are) a great boost when he nominated two corporatist judges (John Roberts and Samuel Alito) to the Supreme Court.  Little did “we the people” know that these two judges – who both railed about “activist judges” in their confirmation hearings – would be among the most egregious “activist judges” in America’s history with their aforementioned “Citizens United” decision (opening the floodgates of secret corporate money into the political process – further corrupting an already corrupt congress), the gutting of the Voting Rights Act and McCutcheon which also allowed more freedom for wealthy Americans to buy political influence.  Combined with a republican controlled Congress (and, due to gerrymandering expertise, a House that will be difficult to “turn blue”), and a media that is controlled by about 9 or 10 right wing corporations, the only thing preventing this “permanent republican ‘majority'” (in the words of Karl Rove) is control of the White House.  Then along comes Donald Trump!

George W Bush turned out to be an incompetent buffoon, but he had enough political acumen to convince people he was a “compassionate conservative” and, with the help of the Supreme Court (and, his brother in Florida) he gained control of the executive branch of government.  As I write this the thought that comes to my mind is that Americans apparently have really short memories.  The other thought is how important the media is and how easy it is to manipulate public opinion if you have control of the media.  I mean, when you look at what Bush/Cheney did to this nation it’s hard for me to even imagine that republicans could conceivably be back in control – even the control of congress is hard to imagine.  Do we not remember the incompetence in Afghanistan, the illegal intrusion of Iraq (along with torture and all the rest), and the melting down of our economy via encouraging reckless behavior on Wall Street?  There’s more, I mean I could go on and on – Hurricane Katrina, “No Child left behind,” politicizing the Justice Department (new hires had to make a pledge to be a republican), outing a CIA agent, Abu Ghraib, Massive debt,  etc. etc.  That was bad, but now republicans are thrusting Donald Trump on America.  I mean, it was either Trump or Ted Cruz!  Are you kidding me?

So, let me say this again – it’s not the republican party I’m railing against, it’s the present day version of the republican party.  “We the people” CAN NOT allow this version to succeed.  I realize that the Democratic party leaves much to be desired (thank you to Bernie for forcing the Democrats closer to their foundation) but Trump and the republicans are unacceptable.  The republicans were unacceptable prior to Trump – as I’ve stated before, but, I believe Trump is the result of the republicans latching on to the “Tea Party” as a way to regain control of Congress.  We’re talking about a segment of the American population that is still holding on to the old “White privilege” reality that Ronald Reagan tapped into in his rise from “fringe” candidate to being the epitome of what republicans look up to.  What I’ve called in the past the “puppet masters” (that is, whoever is “pulling the strings” behind the scene) seem to be a group of corporate dominated people who can’t get enough when it comes to money and power.  The only word that comes to mind is GREED!  Unbelievably (at least to me) they’re still saying they’re going to “cut taxes and balance the budget.”  That was “fool’s gold” in the days of Reagan, and it still is – but, with the help of a media that is shamefully silent on political nonsense it’s still the mantra of the republican party.  Hopefully, now that they’ve evolved to Donald Trump, this will be the end of it.  (although, I doubt that – a quick reminder that Bush/Cheney should have been enough to do the “trick”)

These right wing republicans continue to “haunt” America like a bad dream.  We MUST realize that there are unlimited resources available to them.  People Like Charles and David Koch have untold BILLIONS they’re willing to spend to manipulate the political scene to one where it’s easier for them to make even MORE money – with less regard to the rest of us.  They are major polluters and they have a history of a lack of concern for “we the people.”  It’s the very regulations that can force them to be “good citizens” that they hate and they’re doing everything in their power (which is immense) to wipe environmental and economic regulations from the books.  And, the Kochs have many others who are “walking” along side them as they push to repeal whatever is left of the New Deal.  What many of the “tea partiers” don’t understand is that Social Security and Medicare are directly in the sights of those aligned with this right wing cabal.  Of course, many in the “tea party” who’ve complained about the Affordable Care Act as “socialized medicine,” also were quoted as saying, “Keep your hands off my Social Security and Medicare.”  America’s political reality, in 2016, makes no sense – and, Donald Trump is the exclamation point!

I’ve been trying to motivate myself to write lately and, I’m not sure if I’ve had too many thoughts in my head to focus on one topic or if I’m just so disgusted with where the U.S. has evolved politically that I’m turned off.  I keep reminding myself that back in the day when Ronald Reagan was first elected I saw the evolution to a selfish nation taking place and I didn’t say anything. So, I’m trying not to allow myself into that same space again.  As I watch the political situation moving toward November and all the “moneyed interests” (who made up the “stop Trump” movement) moving toward funneling their money to Donald Trump it just reaffirms that the republican party is focused SOLELY on POWER.  I’m guessing these financiers believe Trump, should they succeed in (the seemingly impossible) getting him elected, will do what he’s told in return for all their money.

Of course, all along Trump was claiming he would fund his own campaign – and, while I never believed a word of it (I don’t believe ANYTHING Trump says), Trump doesn’t have nearly enough money (even if he’s been truthful about his net worth) to run a general election campaign for president.  That being said, there are some definite “red flags” I’m seeing in regard to what should be a landslide victory for whoever the democrats put up against Trump.  First, as I just said, the “stop Trump” movement has become the support Trump movement.  That isn’t what bothers me the most.  I expected it – as I just said, with republicans it’s all about the POWER.  More bothersome to me: I used to listen to MSNBC on my XM radio as I drive around, but I simply got sick of them giving Trump an unbelievable amount of FREE publicity in what is beginning to appear to me a very surreptitious attempt to support Trump’s candidacy.  I wrote a while back that I’m beginning to think that MSNBC is more dangerous than Fox, because the general thought is that they are the “liberal” alternative to Fox.  I turned it on again the other day and there was “Trump, Trump, and Trump” dominating the discussion.  In the time I listened – not one word about the democrats – who, if I’m not mistaken, still have a campaign in progress.  My third red flag is the voter suppression that’s been pushed by republicans for the past few years that could block enough democratic voters from voting to swing the election and doesn’t seem to get much “play” in the “liberal media” Fox “news” has America so worked up about.

I read the other day where Newt Gingrich’s former “sugar daddy” Sheldon Adleson has committed $100 MILLION to Trump’s campaign.  I can virtually guarantee you the rest of the “money changers” (including the infamous “Koch Brothers”) will fall in line.  The fact that Trump shows a startling resemblance to a famous German politician back in the thirties will not deter any of those operating behind the scenes in the republican party.  Again, it’s all about POWER.  I’ve mentioned in earlier posts about the so-called “Powell Memo” written in 1972 by a future Supreme Court justice (Lewis Powell) setting out a plan to subvert the labor movement and promote corporatism – a plan put in place by the United States Chamber of Commerce  plus the Supreme Court – and those in the republican party who’ve been pushing this “plan” will do anything to win the White House this November, because it potentially fulfills their dream of the so-called “permanent republican ‘majority.'”   (control of Congress, the Courts, and the White House) Trump will have BILLIONS in support – even from those who think he’s a wack job – because, as I’ve said, they believe they can manipulate him should he win the election.  I shudder to think what this would mean to my children and grandchildren.  The available money (including foreign money – sorry Sam Alito, but President Obama was “right on” when he predicted this soon after the Citizens United DISASTROUS decision! (Just imagine Trump with the nuclear codes!)

Regarding the media,I’ve been writing for years about how absurd it is that the general “consensus,” as portrayed by the media itself, is that we have a “liberal” media.  This is the result of Fox “news,” (GOP “news”) and all the republican “talkers” – either on the radio or the “pundits” who make the rounds on various cable TV formats spewing the same talking points that are directed from some secret part of the republican caucus.  I’ve pointed out many times these people have latched on to the Joseph Goebbels “Big Lie Theory” and it works really well for them.  The general public is unsuspecting and NO ONE in the “liberal media,” that I’ve heard, EVER even mentions this reality.  Honestly, you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to figure this out.  (apologies to Ben Carson)  Just watch different sources on the same day and you’ll see a plethora of republican “experts” spewing the same lie OVER and OVER again.  The theory is; if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it’s true.  In a society that is made up with the busyness of America, the people are susceptible to the “sound bite” world that seems to be defining us.  Since Bill Clinton (unfortunately) signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 our media outlets have contracted to the point where something like 9 (right wing) corporations CONTROL over 90% of America’s media outlets.  As a nation, we’ve been BRAINWASHED!  Do you honestly believe these RIGHT WING corporations are supporting a “liberal” agenda on the rigidly controlled airwaves?  Yikes!

Donald Trump did say a couple things that I saw (and heard) during the primary campaign that I believe were “right on.”  First, when he was in Iowa I heard him say that America’s voters are “stupid.”  Personally, I’d characterize it with a different word (I’ve called them “low information” voters) – in my mind, for the most part, America’s voting public means well, I just think they are unsuspecting recipients of the brainwashing I referred to above.  The other thing I heard Trump say a couple of times was that he “loves the uneducated voters.”  I once referred to America’s “uneducated voters” (again, I used the term “low information”) and was accused by a second rate right wing “talker” (Lars Larsen who operates locally to me) as being an “elitist.”  Of course, he and the others of his ilk made the same reference to Barack Obama – and, I’m sure none of them understood the stupidity of that characterization either.  The truth is that the republicans DEPEND on uneducated voters (low information) – otherwise they would be “history.”  Personally, I’m hoping that by nominating Trump they speed up their demise, but the red flags I’m writing about tonight are all there to help continue the charade.  (Remember, they managed to get both Ronald Reagan and GW Bush, two “low information” politicians into the White House)  Our “liberal media” has given Trump MILLIONS worth of free publicity – way beyond ANYTHING I’ve ever seen in my 40 years of voting – and combined with my other two “red flags” I’m writing about this evening, who knows, maybe America’s voters will vote us into a fascist corporate state.

The third “problem” as I see it is the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the same Supreme Court that allowed all the secret money into our elections via the Citizens United decision.  I’ve heard estimates that as many as 10 MILLION (mostly) democratic leaning voters will be denied the right to vote by a conspiracy nationwide of republican “insiders” to make it more difficult, or impossible, for certain voters to participate in the election.  For years, republican leaders have claimed that the fewer the number of voters the greater their success at the polls.  Within days of the Court’s gutting of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act several states had “plans” in place to make it more difficult for (mostly poor, old, and/or young) people to vote – people that largely favor democrats.  Some politicians were even quoted as saying this would be the reason republicans would gain control of their states in the ensuing elections.  Combine this with the gerrymandering which has made it almost impossible for democrats to gain control of the House (in the last election, democrats had over 1.3 MILLION more votes than republicans yet were in a sizable minority in the House) and you can see the result of the republican expertise in manipulating the political process.  They believe the “end justifies the means.”

Unfortunately, for those of us who want to see this version of the republican party rejected and given its rightful place in America’s history books along with the “Robber Barons,” the “Trusts,” and the eerily similar republican party of the 1920’s, it seems as if stopping their “free market” agenda should be a no-brainer.  I mean, we’ve been down this path before.  The problem, as I see it, is that the alternative is the democratic party and, as I’ve said before, I often think they don’t have the courage of their own convictions.  This election year the democrats have Hillary Clinton (someone who’s been absorbing “body blows” from the “liberal press” for something approaching 25 years) and Bernie Sanders, who’s not a Democrat at all, he’s an independent running in the Democratic primaries.

The greatest irony, from what I can tell, in this election is the similarity between Trump and Sanders.  No, not their individual positions – those are like night and day.  What’s so similar is that, in my view, both men are representing the overwhelming number of Americans who are TOTALLY “fed up” with American politics.  And, thanks to that “liberal media” that Fox “news” so adroitly defines for us all, most Americans have no idea who’s largely at fault for the gridlock in Washington D.C.  It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this out, (sorry to Ben Carson) but the republicans have been following a policy of OBSTRUCTION since the days of Newt Gingrich and the so-called “Contract for America.”  (I’ve always called it the “Contract on America”)  In a “nutshell” this “obstructionist” approach to politics has defined republicans since the early 90’s and when they actually are put in a position to “govern” they have no idea what to do.  They “gin up” their base when they’re in the minority – blaming democrats for the nation’s “ills,” and, when they have control of Congress or the White House, they mess things up “royally” and – do the one thing they’re really good at – blame democrats!

The result of all this is that the republican “base” got sucked in by Donald Trump (as if he’s an “outsider” – who knows how many politicians Trump has “bought” over the years – but he’s no “outsider.”  What he is, essentially, is an ignoramus when it comes to how the government actually functions – this will become clear in the general election.  On the other hand, Sanders is the result of the democratic “establishment” ignoring the BASE that made the country (and the party) great from the 1930’s to the 1970’s)  You can see (looking at all the statistics that are readily available online) the great economic divide that we’re experiencing today and that Sanders is campaigning against which began around the time of Powell’s memo in 1972.  Reagan put the “free market” “corporatist” philosophy on “steroids” in the 1980’s (the height of the anti-worker anti-union movement, the “trickle down” [I call it “trickle up”] economic ripoff, the military mega-buildup, and the massive push for deregulation, just to name a few of the strategies to turn America into a corporate oligarchy) – a push which is nearly complete as I write this.  Bernie Sanders “gets it” and MILLIONS of “liberal” Americans are supporting him.  I believe Sanders’ supporters are similar to Trump’s supporters in that they are virtually COMPLETELY disillusioned with our present government and it’s lack of resemblance to the constitution which is its foundation.

While I philosophically “side” with Bernie Sanders, I in no way buy into the 25 years of attacks on Hillary Clinton.  Yes, she is a moderate (although Bernie has succeeded in “pulling” her toward the “left”), but she’s in no way what Fox “news,” Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of the right wing propaganda machine makes her out to be.  I watched her in the so-called “Benghazi” hearings, and she was as knowledgeable a person regarding the machinations of our government as any person I’ve ever heard. This could not be said for the republicans who “grilled” her for 11 hours.  The only thing they proved to me is that you don’t need to understand how government functions to be a member of Congress.  And, the reality is that it’s going to be Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump in November.  I’m one of the MILLIONS who’ve given Bernie small donations (I believe I’ve sent him around $60) but, I have to say that I stopped giving him money when I sensed he was willing to destroy Clinton in order to win the nomination.  The tenor of his campaign changed along the way and it really bothered me.  Hillary Clinton is not a bad person and my hope was always that the democrats would campaign solely on pertinent issues.  When that started to change, I backed off from Bernie.

The bottom line for me is to defeat the republicans, not only for the White House, but for control of Congress as well.  I have good friends who I have to listen to as they characterize Hillary in the same terms as Fox “news.”  They say she’s a liar (but, can’t give one example of why), they say she is untrustworthy (again, without a shred of evidence).  One of the members of the Benghazi committee admitted the purpose of the hearings was to destroy Hillary Clinton’s “poll numbers.”  Republicans have been focused on this for years, and they’ve, to a certain extent, succeeded.  Their problem is that their “base” came up with Donald Trump as the alternative.  And, if you think Hillary Clinton is “stupid,” I believe you’re going to be surprised as you see her debate Trump in the general election.

As I turned on the TV tonight (not sure why I do this) I could see the movement to deny Donald Trump the republican nomination for president is running on all cylinders.  The republican party created the circumstances that make Trump relevant, but they don’t like the outcome.  They locked onto the “Tea Party” movement when it was convenient but they apparently don’t like the “base” that came along with that “movement,” because one after another they are scheming on how they can deny Trump the nomination.  This should be interesting.  The election of 2016 is, from my vantage point, the most significant election in my lifetime. (with the possible exception of 1980 – Ronald Reagan and 2000 – the Supreme Court’s “crowning” of Bush/Cheney – so, I guess, I should say this is one of the most significant elections in my lifetime)

The main reason I’m feeling the importance that republicans LOSE this election hearkens back to the books I’ve read which place the “blame” on America’s (deplorable) state of corporatacracy to a memo written by Lewis Powell all the way back in 1972.  (Read: “Who Stole the American Dream” by Hedrick Smith)  The next president will be selecting the deciding vote on the Supreme Court and, in my view, that decision is FAR MORE important than the one determining who the next president might be – although, both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz could do incredible damage to the image of the United States if our people are STUPID enough to vote for either one of them to the point they would inhabit the White House.  The next Justice on the Court will be with us for at least another 20 years and I don’t believe we can withstand 20 more years of corporate activist judges turning America more and more into a corporate run fascist state without giving away our heritage.

Conservatives always are lamenting “activist judges” and then they give us John Roberts and Sam Alito who (along with Antonin Scalia and his shadow Clarence Thomas and Justice Kennedy) have unleashed an unimaginable flow of (unaccounted) corporate money which is coming from who knows where (and, yes Mr. Alito, much of it is UNDOUBTEDLY foreign money – determining our elections) and is aimed at fulfilling the dream of Justice Powell and those corporatists who’ve followed him to turn America into something every day Americans still can’t conceive.  The money, however, is allowing our CORPORATE media to BRAINWASH working class Americans into believing people like Trump and Cruz (and the rest of the right wing republicans) have their best interests at heart.

Powell’s “memo” laid out a plan, that was “internalized” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was (and is) intended to blunt the impact of working Americans on the political process and empower corporate interests in a way that would allow them to dominate our nation politically.  Karl Rove calls the intended outcome the “permanent republican ‘majority'” and the republican party has been dangerously close to “success” in the last 16 years.  First with Bush/Cheney and a republican Congress – that part of the plan was “foiled” because Bush ultimately showed his lack of intellect as he stumbled through one sentence after another while trying to deal with critical issues – plus, at the same time, he and his VP (Dick Cheney) essentially were destroying America’s military, the country of Iraq, destabilizing the Middle East, bumbling crises like Hurricane Katrina, and leading our financial system into near default in a way that even the “low information voters” of America could understand was not good.

Barack Obama was elected to reverse all the damage done by Bush/Cheney but one of his first actions in office was to block ALL the investigations into the lawless (and War criminal) behavior of Bush/Cheney et al which was a classic and MAJOR blunder.  That was like telling the republicans “I’m weak.”  And, they’ve responded with the nastiest, most obstructionist and irresponsible congressional behavior – maybe in the history of the country.  (although, in reality, our country has some deplorable history that we all try to ignore)  Of course, their full out attempt to ensure that President Obama FAILS has led to a historically bad “do nothing” Congressional Record – and, with the help of the so-called “liberal media” republicans have been allowed to “get away” with this.  With the encouragement of America’s racist elements in the highest places ( Charles and David Koch, Limbaugh, Beck, McConnell, DeMint, and I could go on and on) the republicans have “hitched their wagon” to those who make up the “Tea Party.”

And, now, the “upper echelon” of this “Grand Old Party” doesn’t like what the “rank and file” are doing.  The reality of a Donald Trump candidacy is finally sinking in and it’s very interesting watching all those involved, who allowed this to get to this point in the first place, squirm.  I’d call what the republican “establishment” is doing “circling the wagons.”  They’re planning to do everything in their power to block Trump and they plan to do this somehow without turning off the MILLIONS of Americans who’ve voted for him.  And, here’s the real rub – if they’re successful, they could end up with Ted Cruz as the alternative.  I’m guessing there’s nearly as many who are gagging on that alternative as who are having stomach issues thinking of “supporting” a Trump candidacy.  (Personally, Cruz makes me gag more than Trump does)

Tonight I had turned on MSNBC and a couple things struck me in a way that makes me almost cry when thinking about what is happening to this nation?  First, MSNBC, who I believe has played a major role in giving Trump ENDLESS free airtime because of the entertainment value of his campaign is part of the “establishment” that is, as mentioned above, circling the wagons.  I believe MSNBC is going to put a MAJOR effort into promoting John Kasich of Ohio – a personal friend to Chris Matthews – who (Kasich) is a bit less of a right wing wack job than both Trump and Cruz.  Of course, Kasich has garnered a few scant votes along the way (with the exception of his home state of Ohio – his only primary victory) and it will be interesting to see where all the Trump supporters and Cruz supporters go when the reality that they don’t represent the “establishment” of the republican party becomes evident.  Kasich has less than 1 out of every 10 republican votes cast so far.  (who said “majority rules?” – I’m hearing republican “leaders” explain that no one really knows what the “rules” are)

The other thing that I noticed tonight was that, on the Democratic side of the ledger, which has garnered far less attention – even on MSNBC, the supposed “liberal” network – the democrats will undoubtedly find a way to “shoot themselves in the foot.”  I do like Bernie Sanders (he’s really an independent) but I worry that his campaign could lead to many democratic voters staying home in November should he not gain the nomination.  I hope he gains the nomination, but the chances, at this point, are not good – and, I don’t trust our “liberal media” to clearly identify the true consequences of a republican victory in November.  I really can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve felt a democratic victory is more important than 2016 – whether it’s Bernie or Hillary.  I love that Sanders is pushing the debate to the “left” but I fear many of his supporters simply don’t understand the “stakes” of this election.  They’ve shown themselves in 2010 and 2014 that they will stay home if not excited.  This year, the stakes are too high for that kind of an attitude with any of them.  Democrats should be pushing hard to retain the White House and REGAIN control of Congress. (and, then do something progressive with the opportunity)

Whether it be Trump, Cruz, Kasich, or someone else the “establishment” manages to “put before the voters,” moneyed interests will be BOMBARDING “we the people” with disingenuous (at best) propaganda over the airwaves designed to fulfill Powell’s dream – which is a government TOTALLY under CORPORATE control – in the form of BILLIONS in expenditures as people like the Koch brothers “invest” in their “future”  – A republican controlled Congress, Court System, and White House – will make, now, thanks to Citizens United, an exponentially more difficult task of reversing the “trend” as the corporate money will continue to BRAINWASH Americans into believing in things like “Trickle Down” (I call it Trickle up) economics and perpetual war.  We can look forward to more “private prisons” – I can’t believe “we the people” have allowed that one – EVER – lower taxes on the wealthy, higher deficits (and, they’ll somehow continue to blame President Obama – count on it) and a continued deterioration of working class America.  This really is a BIG DEAL!

If you don’t understand, for example, how politicized the Supreme Court is, for example, you’re not paying attention.  The FACT that republicans are REFUSING to even consider President Obama’s choice to replace Scalia on the court should send a strong message to all Americans of exactly what I’ve been writing about for years.  These Republicans MUST GO!  People of all persuasions SHOULD participate in a MASSIVE anti-republican march to the polls in November and purge these people from the “halls of Congress.”  And, in case you haven’t read many of my posts – I’m no fan of the democrats.  They have proved time and again they don’t have the courage of their own convictions when “push comes to shove.”  However, in my view, they are far less dangerous than the republicans and “we the people” would be sending a message to both parties that the days of the “moneyed interests” corrupting our Congress are OVER!  One of Bernie’s MAJOR plus points is his commitment to appoint a judge who is committed to reversing the DEPLORABLE Citizens United decision.  Getting corporate money out of our politics is a necessary first step in “we the people” reclaiming what we’ve lost since the Powell memo.  (I’m guessing that if Bernie wins the democratic nomination and it appears he will win the election, you’ll see McConnell change his “tune” regarding the nomination of Merrick Garland – a much more conservative judge than Sanders would nominate)

Most Americans have NO IDEA of Lewis Powell’s memo to the Chamber of Commerce and they still believe everything in “the land of the free” is on the up and up.  In the early days of this blog I referred to America’s “low information voters” and got a response from a local right wing “talker,” Lars Larsen, accusing me of being an “elitist.”  This is the same term that was applied, astonishingly, to our first African American President – a man who is the epitome of “the American dream” – because these right wing zealots will say anything and do anything that allows them to continue this almost 50 year “march” to their “permanent republican ‘”majority.'”  So, now people like Larsen are “stuck” with either Donald Trump (fascist tendencies) or Ted Cruz (a Dominionist – look it up!) or a republican “base” that realizes they are simply the “tools” of the moneyed “elite” and, despite the FACT they created this mess (republicans are very good at creating “messes” – see Bush/Cheney et al), they clearly don’t like it.  The “establishment” of the republican party is looking for any way they can “stop Trump” and still have a viable party.  I’ve been lobbying for the demise of the present day republican party for a few years. (this push for a corporate/fascist state) Just, maybe, the time is nigh.

I have a couple really good friends who are “conservative” Christians and who, a year or two ago, felt a sense of identity with the so-called “Tea Party” movement of the republican party.  At the time I tried to point out the level of racism that existed in that “faction” and both of my friends were unable to see this.  I had witnessed the deplorable signs and comments that were commonplace at “Tea Party” rallies – disrespecting President Obama in the most disgusting of ways – and the “Tea Party convention” that led to a group of fringe right wing fanatics winning elections all across America in 2010 – supported with the funding of the now infamous “Koch Brothers” – and subsequently this group, for all intents and purposes, taking over control of the House of Representatives.  I’ve been pointing out the OVERT racism of this group of republicans since that election – and, I’ve been lamenting our “liberal media’s” reluctance to “tell it like it is” – to the point where I got tired of pointing this REALITY out OVER and OVER.

Well, what I’m now finding quite interesting is watching the republican “establishment” falling all over themselves trying to figure out how to stop this movement in its tracks.  It was fine while it provided them with a majority in the House of Representatives (and, subsequently in the Senate as well) but, now, with the emergence of Donald Trump as the “presumptive” republican nominee for president the “leaders” of the republican party are showing their “mettle” in a very public way.  I put it in those words because I’ve been pointing out for years the TRUTH about the republican party and those who are pulling the “purse strings” since the days of GW Bush and Dick Cheney.  This is a group of people who’ve been trying to game the American system of government in an attempt to bypass the intentions of our “founders” by “outsmarting” the system of “checks and balances.”  Their plan is crumbling right before their (and all of America’s) eyes!

When the American constitution was being debated, the “father” of the constitution, James Madison, along with the likes of Thomas Jefferson and many others, were adamant in their determination to prevent “factions” (groups of people who put their self interests above the well-being of “we the people”) from gaining a stranglehold on America’s government.  For the past 40+ years the republican party has been actively attempting to do an end run around the system of checks and balances designed to prevent one group from controlling those who don’t agree with them.  In this instance, we’re talking about the almost 45 year (secret) plan, originally put forward (in 1972) by soon to be chief justice of the Supreme Court Lewis Powell, for corporate interests to be able to dominate America’s political landscape.  A person would have to be one of the MILLIONS of “low information voters” in America not to realize that the republicans have been dangerously successful in this plot for almost total control of our government.

Donald Trump refers to these “low information voters” as “uneducated voters” and he points out that he “really loves the uneducated voters.”  Obviously, many of these voters are now choosing to vote for Trump and the republican “establishment,” which has “courted” these people since the days of Ronald Reagan, are in a state of near hysteria.  They are realizing that a national campaign with Trump as their “standard bearer” could do to their party what I’ve been proposing should happen since John McCain somehow thought that Sarah Palin was qualified to be a “heartbeat from the presidency.”  (and, of course, McCain has a heart that could have been a problem had he been elected)  Their plan for a “permanent republican ‘majority'” is teetering.

Here’s the problem: (from the republican standpoint) I believe the damage has already been done.  We’re talking about 40% of the so-called republican “base” supporting Trump.  Interestingly, Ted Cruz – who I find almost more dangerous than Trump – has about 25% of the votes in the republican primaries.  Cruz was referred to by Lindsay Graham – one of the “establishment” republicans who’ve said NOTHING about the racist rhetoric of the “Tea Party” while it has been providing congressional majorities for his party – in a comparison to Trump as the difference between death by poison or murder.  Trump and Cruz represent well over 50% of the republican party.  The party “establishment” wants neither.  It’s all coming home to “roost.”  What are all these voters (who support Trump or Cruz) to do when the “establishment” finds an alternative candidate in a “contested” convention?  Trump is suggesting riots.  Wouldn’t that just make everything clear to the American people as to the “legitimacy” of our republican party?  There’s an old saying: “If you mess with the Bull, you get the horn!”

I long ago got to the point where I couldn’t stand to watch Fox “news” even for a minute – for a while I’d watch it just for the sake of being informed – but, they are so dishonest and so involved in creating the mess the “conservatives” are now stuck with – that my stomach could no longer stand any of it.  I started watching MSNBC in an attempt to get information back when Keith Olberman was giving us “The Worst Person in the World” on a nightly basis” and looked at them as a reasonable “balance” to Fox – MSNBC was clearly tilted to the “left.”  However, along comes Comcast and soon Olberman, then Ed Schultz, and others are “gone” and MSNBC is showing signs of tilting back toward the “right.”  (Yes, there’s still Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes, and Lawrence O’Donnell)

In what appears to me a blatant attempt to capitalize on the spectacle of Donald Trump I’ve had to listen to (or watch) MSNBC give Trump what amounts to MILLIONS of free advertising as they’ve covered his “campaign” in a way that I’ve never seen before (and, certainly helped to prop Trump up) – in some instances showing entire speeches – and, in many instances referring to Trump in a way that would suggest he’s an qualified candidate for president.  I’ve heard several commentators comment that Trump will make the election “entertaining” – as if that’s important.   (I’m talking about episodes I’ve heard or seen where Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd – the so-called political “experts” on MSNBC – have appeared to be attempting to give Trump’s campaign “legitimacy”) Now that the reality of a Trump candidacy is “setting in” I’m getting the impression that the commentators on MSNBC have “changed their tune.”  Are they being “guided from the corporate headquarters?”  It appears that MSNBC is joining the “anti-Trump” bandwagon.  Go figure!

Here’s what I expect from Matthews.  He will be lauding John Kasich as the “positive” alternative to Trump.  Kasich finally won a primary (in his own state, Ohio) – with the help of (by some estimates) about 25% of Ohio democrats who “crossed over” to vote for Kasich in an attempt to “stop Trump.”  Reality is setting in for the republican party.  Tonight on MSNBC Rachel Maddow referenced a recent PBS episode where they (PBS) interviewed a family of Trump supporters in North Carolina.  Whoever was reporting for PBS was obviously not “up” on the tattoos of the “White Supremacist” community as the Mom of this family had Neo-Nazi tattoos all over her body. (well, basically, all over her hands)  As I’ve been claiming here for years, the “Tea Party” has a dominant “streak” of racists at their core.  Our “liberal media” has been reluctant to call this out since the election of President Obama, but it’s simply not deniable.  And, these people are gravitating to Trump in droves.

Remember, Mr. Trump was a leader in the “birther” movement and has questioned President Obama’s right to be president since the day he won his first election in 2008.  However, this crap has been obvious since Jim DeMint stood on the capitol steps addressing an early “Tea Party” rally with a plethora of signs depicting President Obama in all kinds of different RACIST manners.  I watched some of this on TV and was shocked that the commentators avoided the subject of racism as they marveled at this new “populist” movement in America.  To me, it was the racists in America emerging from under the rocks where they were “hiding” until we elected a Black President.  To this day, I don’t understand why America’s “liberal media” can’t come to terms with this reality.  Trump is simply more OVERT than his two predecessors – John McCain (who referred to Obama as “that one” in one of the presidential debates – with NO blow-back)  and Mitt Romney who famously commented about the “47%” of Americans who “depend” on government – I’ll let you interpret the “code” – in republican inability to accept the reality in America that “White privilege” has basically “run its course” – and, a new day is on the horizon.

I’ve been saying for years that the present day republican party needs to be nothing more than a memory in our history books.  We have a country that has functioned for over two hundred years with a two party system.  We need a two party system.  It’s just that the republicans have evolved into surrogates of the corporate interests that Lewis Powell schemed about back in the early 1970’s and who have “bought” virtually every politician who caucuses with republicans in this nation.  (Yes, the democrats are not innocent here)  These people (republicans) clearly believe in the philosophy “the end justifies the means.”  They, for years, have aligned themselves, knowingly, with the racist segment of our population and now the reality is setting in.  They are up in arms that this “base” would choose an overt RACIST to represent their party in 2016 (as opposed to the “covert” racists of the recent past).  I have to surmise: Why would anyone be surprised?  I mean, Rush Limbaugh has been kind of a republican “standard bearer” as he’s been brainwashing millions of “ditto heads” every day since the 1980’s.  (They actually willingly adopt that moniker)

Charles Koch has been a long standing member of the John Birch Society (White Supremacists) and along with his brother they are responsible for the “Tea Party” and much of the money that is corrupting our political process.  I could go on and on, but I’ll end by saying once more, “the rooster is coming home to roost!”  I’m guessing there are many republicans, including my two good friends I mentioned above, who are grudgingly allowing this sad reality to settle in.  Republicans have a plan to gain a stranglehold on America’s government.  They want to eliminate as much government over-site on corporate interests as they can get away with.  Until Antonin Scalia’s death republicans had control of the Courts, the Congress, and the media.  All they need for their “permanent republican ‘majority'” is the White House.  With the help of the HORRIBLE Citizens United Supreme Court decision (the ultimate prize of the “Powell” memo scheme) gaining the White House theoretically would give republicans the control of our government that Madison and Jefferson were attempting to make nearly impossible.  Donald Trump may actually “make America great again” – it will just be in a way that no one could have imagined when he first uttered that message!  He may accomplish what I’ve been wanting for years, and that is the destruction of this version of the republican party!

Driving home today I listened to an interview with one of Donald Trump’s sons regarding the upcoming “Super Tuesday” primaries and the hyped up attacks on his father by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.  During the interview I found it interesting that Chuck Todd (and Trump’s son) mentioned the “excitement” in the republican primaries and, in particular, they mentioned Massachusetts where “Democrats and Independents” are voting for Trump.  I couldn’t help but think that there must be many democrats around the country who, if given the opportunity, would vote for Trump just to make sure he’s the republican nominee.  I’m sure I’m not the only person “out there” who believes that a Trump candidacy will be the final “dagger” in the republican party which has been tilting so far to the right in the last 8 years that it is making the John Birch Society appear mainstream.

To top it off, both Cruz and Rubio (if the Democrats are not totally stupid) are making the campaign commercials for the general election as I’m writing this.  I can’t help but think of the saying “It’s the pot calling the kettle black” as Cruz and Rubio accuse Trump of being a racist.  OMG – have both of them failed to actually LOOK IN THE MIRROR each morning as they’re getting ready to go out and LIE to their unsuspecting constituents?  Honestly, to me, both Cruz AND Rubio are WAY MORE dangerous than Trump.  And, if you’ve read my previous posts, you know that I’ve found alarming similarities to Trump’s campaign slogans and those of Hitler in Germany back in the thirties.  I didn’t see Cruz and Rubio standing in shock as Trump was talking about rounding up “illegals” with some kind of door to door “border patrol,” or when he suggested that Muslims should be “registered,” or when he suggested NO Muslims should be allowed into America (shockingly, including members of our military who are overseas serving the nation) “until we figure this out” – whatever that means.

As Cruz and Rubio blast Trump over some phony “Trumped up” (I couldn’t resist :o) claim that he didn’t reject the endorsement of David Duke I basically gagged.  This is how the republican party has worked for as long as I can remember.  My first thought was, “Let’s take a look at those who are endorsing you” – meaning Rubio and Cruz.  The entire right wing of the republican party is infested with racists – so, are we now questioning which racists are acceptable and which are not?  I predict Trump will come out of this “the winner,” Rubio will come out of this “episode” as the “whiner,” and Cruz……? Well, someone might start vetting Cruz at this level – like who are his “supporters” – and, all I can say is it will probably be very interesting.  Can you imagine if any of these guys get “vetted” as Hillary Clinton has been “put through the ringer” what will come out “on the other side?

Of course, Rubio is the perfect candidate for the so-called republican “establishment” – which, unbelievably at this point in time, may include the infamous “Koch Brothers” – Charles and David Koch.  (That, alone, should tell you why the republican party needs to go)  Rubio is the kind of “empty suit” that will do and/or say whatever he’s told to say by what I call the “puppet masters.”  I can really picture him, similar to GW Bush, should he succeed in gaining the White House, being kept from public appearances where he might have to say something “off the cuff” for fear of exposing his difficulty with complete sentences relating to real topics.  And, as far as Cruz is concerned, I thought his former college roommate put it best when he said, “I would rather randomly pick a person from the phone book for president than to have Ted Cruz as president.”  That is from someone who went to school with Cruz.  The reports I’ve heard is the only success Cruz has had in Congress (he won his Senate seat thanks to Sarah Palin – yikes!!) is to absolutely TURN OFF everyone who works in the Senate – and, this is one thing in American politics right now that is bipartisan.  Even his republican colleagues reportedly HATE him!

I can’t believe I’m kind of defending Donald Trump, but in listening to Cruz and Rubio these past couple of days I’m thinking “Trump is looking better and better” as far as republicans go.  Honestly, regarding the accusations that Trump didn’t “deny” the endorsement of David Duke (in time, or ?????) is absurd to me.  Is it not obvious by Trump’s comments regarding Latinos, Muslims, and African Americans that he’s got an issue with race?  Of course, isn’t it obvious that SO DO both Cruz and Rubio?  I’ve listened to these guys for the past few years making one racially insensitive remark regarding our sitting president after another – and, when anyone calls them on it – they, of course, accuse the other person of “pulling the race card.”  It’s a slick game they play, but my point is here that Cruz and Rubio are no great improvement I’m sure from the standpoint of “minorities” over Mr. Trump.  And, this should make my point, both Cruz and Rubio are of Cuban descent and yet Trump is BEATING them in the Hispanic vote (although, most Hispanics – surprise, surprise – are voting for Democrats.  There’s a reason why something like 80 – 90% of African Americans will vote democratic and it won’t matter whether it’s Cruz, Rubio, or Trump.)

There’s also good reason why a large segment of the republican voters have rejected both Cruz and Rubio.  One of the more disgusting parts of the republican campaign, to me, was when Trump (I’ve seen this on at least two occasions) stood in front of a cheering “throng” saying he would commit WAR CRIMES – waterboarding, “And a lot worse.”  I’m not sure which bothered me more – Trump making the claims or the people in the audience wildly cheering a candidate for President of the United States promising to commit WAR CRIMES! Unbelievable, you might think.  But, of course, not to be outdone, withing days I heard BOTH Cruz and Rubio, in reference to the torture chamber at Guantanamo Cuba, known as “Gitmo,” not only calling on keeping it open, but expanding it.  And, I didn’t hear either one of them condemning Trump’s remarks regarding a PROMISE to authorize TORTURE.  Now, had they condemned those remarks as opposed to “suggesting” Trump is a racist (again, I’m reminded of the “pot calling the kettle black”) they may have been able to claim just a bit more credibility.

I’ve stated this a couple times in recent posts, but I’ll say it again:  I believe the republicans embracing the so-called “Tea Party” movement after Bush/Cheney almost destroyed our nation with the “fiasco’s” in Iraq and Afghanistan along with the bludgeoning of the economy – among other failures – was a short term “fix” (in the republican’s “thirst” for power any way they can get it) that is coming “home to roost.”  I believe it is the white, lower educated, working class Americans who’ve been duped by the right wing media who make up the “base” of the Tea Party movement AND Donald Trump’s supporters.  They are ANGRY and Trump, Cruz, Rubio, and the rest of the republican party are ginning up the anger.  This election is going to FORCE the true agenda of the “puppet masters” to the forefront and I’m hopeful that the propaganda scheme of Fox “news,” Rush Limbaugh (and, the other right wing talkers – and, yes, that includes you Lars Larsen), and the “conservatives” in Congress who’ve been OBSTRUCTING our government in their quest that Barack Obama would “FAIL,” would be fully exposed.  In reality, I don’t see a lot of difference between the people who are supporting Bernie Sanders and those supporting Donald Trump.  Both groups are ANGRY that the government, in its present state, is unable to function.

Our “corporate media” (you know; what they have convinced you is the “liberal media”) has failed miserably to properly report on why our government can’t function.  The FACT that republican leaders stated UP FRONT upon President Obama taking the oath of office that their NUMBER ONE goal is that he would FAIL should have been part of every discussion regarding why our government can’t function.  And, does that cause you to think a bit about why they would want Obama of all people to fail?  Do you think the color of his skin has anything to do with it?  (If you answered “no” to that last question I have to wonder where your head is at)  The FACT republican governors and republican legislatures ALL OVER  THE COUNTRY were ready to file voter suppression legislation within days of the right wing Supreme Court (inexplicably) gutting the Voting Rights Act should give you a hint about where republicans are “coming from”  in regard to race.  (I didn’t hear either Cruz or Rubio standing up for those dis-enfranchised by this horrible Court decision)

So, despite the fact that Donald Trump is probably the worst candidate for president in my lifetime (well, right in there with George Wallace) there’s not much difference between him and Cruz and Rubio.  Of course, the republican “establishment” is ganging up on Trump as I write this (I began this post prior to “Super Tuesday” and I’m finishing it the next day) and, it will be interesting to see how the republican voters react to their “leaders” pulling out all the stops to prevent the voters from having the “say” on this nomination.  Obviously, the gloves are off as far as the amount of “mud” that will be coming Mr. Trump’s way – and, as I said earlier in this post, I believe that Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are auditioning for anti-Trump commercials that will play prior to the general election in November!

As a sixth grade teacher I see this kind of whining and name calling all the time.  Honestly, this entire republican campaign has reminded me of middle school drama.  I have to believe that democratic “insiders” are recording everything each of the remaining candidates are saying and it’s going to get a lot of air play come the fall.  So, to sum up my thoughts – the scheme to blast Trump for “when” (or if) he disavowed an endorsement by David Duke (former head of the Klu Klux Klan if you’re not aware) by Rubio and Cruz seems to be the height of hypocrisy to me.  Both Cruz and Rubio, on the stump, claim to be avid Christians.  Their comments remind me of the scripture which says, “Don’t worry about the spec in your neighbors eye until you take care of the log in your own.”  Enough said!

I have a “progressive” friend with whom I was sharing my apprehension about MSNBC and my thoughts that they are seeming more dangerous to me than Fox “news” in what I’m seeing as the push from the “right” for ANYONE calling themselves a republican winning the “White House” in 2016.  My friend defended MSNBC as if they’re “progressive” and giving a fair treatment of the candidates for President on the republican side of the “isle.”  Of course (I’m assuming you’ve read some of my previous posts) I don’t see it that way.  Yes, there are two or three “commentators” “hosts” or whatever you call them that are clearly “liberal,” but the station is owned by a right wing corporation and I’m concerned that its “tilt” to the right is so subtle that it’s giving an almost subliminal message that legitimizes republican candidates that any true “liberal” would be doing everything they can to expose.

For example, MSNBC is presenting John Kasich as some kind of “positive” “moderate” alternative to the Trumps and the Cruz’s and Rubio’s of the world.  He my well be more moderate than them, but that does NOT make him a moderate.  They interview Kasich (and the others) by what many would call throwing “softballs.”  They avoid the HARD questions and they do a disservice to their audience (which, presumably, is “liberal”) by failing to do ANY investigative reporting which would expose the FACTS about each and every candidate.  I’m not a Hillary Clinton supporter (although, if she’s the nominee, I will vote for her over ANY of these republicans from the so-called “clown car.”), but it would be interesting to see MSNBC “vet” these republican candidates even half as much as Clinton has been “vetted.”  The amount of absurd attacks on Clinton is causing me to take a second look – she must be better than I thought if the republicans are spending this much money attempting to uncover some terrible piece of news that will “undo” her.  (Is this simply Deja Vu all over again circa the 1990’s?)

As I stated in a previous post, Kasich is a war monger (he wants to start a war with Russia if his words are not complete bluster), he is anti-union, anti-women, and he was pushing a voter suppression law in Ohio shortly after the Supreme Court (unbelievably) gutted the Voting Rights Act.  John Kasich is no moderate.  He came to office in Ohio in the same “Tea Party” surge that brought us Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Rick Snyder in Michigan (who’s instituted – somehow – a mini – Nazi regime in the state of Michigan which has resulted, in one instance, with the people of Flint Michigan being poisoned by their own water).  Do a little research on these people before you start believing MSNBC that John Kasich is a “moderate.”

Then there’s Donald Trump, who clearly is espousing rhetoric that is Nazi like.  In fact, Trump’s main campaign slogan, “We will make America great again” mirrors the words of Adolph Hitler as he rose to prominence in Germany back in the 1930’s.  (If you check it out, there are some “eerily” similarities between Trump and Hitler – I know that’s not “politically correct” – but check it out for yourself).  If your as old as I am, you might remember the “code” Ronald Reagan used to get the right wing (which includes the white supremacists) to “know” where he was coming from when he initiated his candidacy from Philadelphia Mississippi – infamous ONLY because of the civil rights workers slain there back in the 1960’s.  You don’t find this type of information on MSNBC or any where else for that matter – but, the right wing “surge” has evolved to the REALLY dangerous stage for those of us who wish to preserve America’s “democracy”  and I keep waiting for the “Muckrakers” (circa 1900) who are true investigative reporters willing to uncover the corporatism which is pushing America toward fascism.  In my mind, Trump’s “coded” messaging is alarming, to say the least.

Honestly, the ONLY reason I can see for Trump to be the “front runner” in the republican party is the field of candidates he’s been running against.  Now, it’s down to Ted Cruz (every time I write that name my little voice says, “Are you kidding?”), Marco Rubio (he’s trying to PROVE you can be president by doing NOTHING substantial but KISSING UP to the right people), and the above mentioned Kasich.  (I suppose Ben Carson is still holding out hope, “It might be me”)
When Trump addresses his audiences after his primary “victories” (I believe his highest “winning” percentage total was in Nevada where he managed over 40% of the republican votes) he thanks his supporters by sub-groups.  And, (each time) when he gets to what he calls the “poorly educated” his arms go out and up (as if he’s worshiping in church) and says “I love the poorly educated!”  I will only say to that, I’m sure he does.  He’s relying on voters who don’t “vet” their candidates to turn out in large numbers so that he can (somehow) “Make America great again.”  (What on earth does he mean by that?  I’m pretty sure it means get a white MAN back in the “White House.”  I’m just sayin……)

What’s becoming really interesting with Trump is that reality is setting in with the so-called “establishment wing” of the party.  They conveniently nurtured in the “Tea Party” after Bush/Cheney virtually destroyed republican credibility in 2008 with the disastrous wars, the bumbling handling of emergencies – ie Hurricane Katrina, and the destruction of our economy (actually, the world economy) which was “saved” via the TARP bailouts.  (I guess that’s the republican version of “free market economics”)  Of course, the republican propagandists, expertly using the theories of Goebbels, convinced their “brethren” that the bailout, the resulting deficits, the disastrous war effort, the job losses in the MILLIONS, and the bloated national debt were ALL caused by and the FAULT of Barack Obama!  They were blaming the deficit and the debt crisis on Obama before he took the oath of office – and, the republican base, so lovingly referred to by Trump as “poorly educated” bought into the propaganda “hook, line, and sinker.”  (The now infamous Koch Brothers saw an “opening” and took advantage – and, we ended up with a “Tea Party” controlling the republican congress – including Ted Cruz)

In the early primary states in the 2016 race for the republican nomination for president, something like 60 – 65% of republican voters, as per the exit polls, still believe Barack Obama is not an American citizen – they believe he was born in Kenya (or some such nonsense), and an even higher percentage believe he’s a Muslim.  What’s interesting to me, is that President Obama was a member of a Black Church in Chicago for something like 20 years before running for president and, if you’ve ever been in a Black Church you know that it is an intense religious experience.  All I can say is that if you haven’t experienced this, you shouldn’t be judging the Obama’s faith.  The best way I can put it is that when you’re in that setting you discover that “Jesus is in the House” – in the words of my good friend who’s a minister in a Black Church where I live.  I find it interesting that these republican “Christian” voters reject Obama’s spirituality and Trump holds up a Bible and says, “I’m religious” and the “evangelicals” flock to the polls to support him.  When I heard Trump quote from “2 Corinthians” at Liberty University I thought, “Well, that should undo him with the ‘religious right'” and, instead his poll numbers went up.  Go figure.

Maybe MSNBC is so focused on Trump because they want to help him get the nomination to ensure a democratic victory in November.  Personally, I’m a little more cynical.  The other day I watched Chris Matthews, the “Bill O’Reilly” of MSNBC, do an one hour interview with Bernie Sanders (I believe) at the University of Chicago.  I’ve seen Matthews interview Kasich and Trump prior to the interview with Sanders.  The difference in the questioning was stark.  It was as if Matthews was attempting to undo Sanders.  He almost seemed belligerent in pressing Sanders with questions like “what have you ever accomplished” and, when Sanders (you could tell he was taken aback by the tone of Matthews) would attempt to answer him, Matthews would cut him off in the middle of his answer and blast him as if this was a debate.  Compared to the interviews with Trump and Kasich I was left to wonder what is Matthews up to?  I’ve written several times about him (and Chuck Todd, another of the MSNBC commentators who seems to be promoting republicans) regarding his legitimizing republican candidates by treating them with “kid gloves.”  It seems to me that Matthews (and, MSNBC) is more interested in ensuring there is an exciting “race” for president than actually exposing the side of these republican candidates that ALL progressive voters should be aware.

In 1980 Ronald Reagan was a “fringe” candidate, and the republican propaganda machine, along with “the end justifies the means” philosophy of campaigning led to him winning the White House.  Republicans hold Reagan up as an almost “god-like” figurehead while blaming (for the past 35 years) the burgeoning deficits and national debt on democrats and I don’t doubt that, with the help of the nearly $1 BILLION the Koch Brothers will invest in Trump (or anyone else who’ll follow the company line), along with the voter suppression that republicans have been instituting since the right wing Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, AND the FACT that 80% of the election will take place on electronic voting machines owned and operated by right wing republican corporations, republicans can win an election with someone as unqualified as Trump, Cruz, or Rubio.  (remember, they managed – with the help of the Supreme Court – to get Bush/Cheney into office DESPITE losing by over 500,000 votes and LOSING Florida had the Supreme Court allowed the recount)

The depressing part in all of this is that, for people like me, we feel helpless as we watch what is happening.  Every day I hope that I’m wrong in my gut feeling that this election will be as rigged as Bernie Sanders continually points out our economy is “rigged.”  When you start getting your information from places besides the corporate media, things look a lot different.  My optimistic naive side wants to continue to believe that our “liberal media” will actually start acting as if they’re a “liberal media.”  And, in this instance, I’m pretty much talking about MSNBC.  The more I watch (it’s getting harder and harder to do so) the more I wonder who’s side are they on.  (of course, they will suggest they’re not on anyone’s side, but I certainly don’t buy that)  I simply didn’t understand the contrast, for example, between Chris Matthews’ interviews of Sanders vs. Kasich and Trump.  To me, if MSNBC is truly “liberal” they’d be pointing out the real consequences of a republican victory in 2016.  They’d make sure “liberals” who might be watching their station understood the importance of EVERYONE participating in the process – and, what happens when only 35% of America’s voters show up at the polls.

When the subject is gridlock and the fact that people are angry with a government that is getting virtually nothing of significance done, they’d be reminding people of the 700 – 800 filibusters in the senate by republicans, they’d be reminding people that republicans have been blocking President Obama’s nominations to important positions in the government needed for it to function efficiently by the HUNDREDS!  They’d be pointing out that, due to republican obstruction, there are agencies without agency heads.  They’d be pointing out that the main reason there’s a crisis in the VA health system for our veterans is because republicans REFUSE to fund the VA sufficiently for them to hire enough doctors and nurses to meet the demand (a demand, by the way, caused by two republican led incompetent misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan).  They’d be reminding voters OVER and OVER again that republican leaders stated PUBLICLY (not my opinion but FACT) that their NUMBER ONE goal (as of January 20, 2009) was that President Obama would FAIL.  They’d be pointing out the absurdity of the republicans stating (before the body was cold) that they would not even consider a nomination for the vacant Supreme Court seat – due to the death of Antonin Scalia – during the term of President Obama.  And, they’d be pointing out all the code words used in the past 7 1/2 years that make it clear why they want our president to FAIL – as when John McCain referred to then Senator Obama as “That one” in a debate – and that shows the embedded racism in the republican party.  If MSNBC was truly part of the “liberal media” I wouldn’t have to find all this out by reading book after book on what is really happening in America.

As I’m writing this I’m thinking why would you have to be “liberal” to point all this out.  It’s just the reality of what is happening in America.  Someone might want to defend what’s happening from the republican “side of the isle” but we shouldn’t be ignoring it.  lets have a real debate.  And, it all leads me to believe that the republicans (who, by the way are supported by white supremacist groups all over America – not the least of which is the John Birch Society of the Koch Brothers) hate our president because of the color of his skin.  They just can’t get past that.  I still remember just shaking my head when I heard people on Fox “news” (and Rush Limbaugh in an apparent concerted effort) calling our president an “elitist” a few years ago.  Using their projectionist tactics they’ve often accused our president of using the “race card” while they’re giving their coded messages. It’s really disgusting (I can’t remember off the top of my head – which is where my rants come from – all the times I’ve heard racist remarks coming from the Fox people and Limbaugh and some of the other “right wing talkers,” not to mention the republicans in the Congress – do you remember “you lie?”  I’ve just gotten to the point where I can’t even listen to them anymore.

All of this doesn’t even broach the subject of some of the actual “policy” statements of the republican candidates who seem to be each trying to outdo each other in the few areas of their rhetoric which actually relates to policy.  For example, Mr. Trump has on more than one occasion (that I’ve actually seen) suggested he would authorize “Waterboarding and a lot worse.”  (You can read my posts of a few years ago lamenting President Obama’s choice to allow Bush/Cheney to “get away” with authorizing WAR CRIMES of which waterboarding is one which the USA prosecuted Japanese soldiers post WW II for subjecting American troops to this TORTURE that violates the Geneva Conventions AND American civil AND military law – a decision which I predicted, at the time, could ultimately lead to another American president following suit because Bush/Cheney did it and were not prosecuted for their actions)  Every one of the remaining republican candidates wants to not only keep “Gitmo” open, they want to EXPAND it – and, in the words of Marco Rubio, find MORE “terrorists” to put there.  MSNBC should be telling the truth about “Gitmo” and should be pressing these candidates in their interviews about these issues.  Why wasn’t Trump, for example, challenged on his public announcement that he will commit WAR CRIMES while Bernie Sanders was aggressively challenged on “when have you ever gotten 60 votes for anything?  Why aren’t they challenged on why they believe we should keep a facility open that EVERYONE (who’s chosen to research it) knows is full of people who should NEVER have been put there and which is UNDENIABLY a “black mark” on America AND a recruiting “tool” for ISIL and other “terrorist” organizations who want to target the US.  Americans should know the TRUTH about Gitmo and Abu Ghraib – to help them understand why so many in the Arab world HATE the United States of America.

Donald Trump on at least a couple of occasions accused America’s voters of being “stupid.”  (and, of course, the next day his poll numbers rose – go figure)  Additionally,  he’s very clearly stated that he appreciates his “uneducated supporters.”  In fact, he repeated himself one time by saying, “I REALLY like the uneducated voters!”  I believe it’s the job of the “4th Estate” – the press – to help educate the voters.  And, I also believe that, the more educated the voters, the less chance of a republican president in 2016!  I almost believe MSNBC (and, maybe others, because I’m pretty much not watching TV anymore) is purposely NOT educating voters because their bottom line is enhanced by the “uneducated voters” that Mr. Trump is so thankful for because it leads to a more contested election.  When you get exit polls where 75% of republican voters believe President Obama is a Muslim and 65% still believe he wasn’t born in America you KNOW there are a LOT of uneducated voters out there. They are easily manipulated via FEAR mongering.  As FDR once said, “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.”  Trump, Cruz, and Rubio (and the republican party) are successfully exploiting fear.

And, I place the blame for a lot of that on the media.  They’ve allowed the misinformation to FLOW and just like the republican establishment is probably second guessing themselves at this point for embracing the “Tea Party” movement, should Trump or Cruz or Rubio (I almost feel as if he’s the sleaziest of them all) win the “White House” it could take a generation (or more) to overcome the damage.  I’ve said this before and I’ll probably say it again, the rest of the world is watching and they’re wondering, “What has happened to America?”  I truly hope our “liberal media” doesn’t find itself second guessing their failure to educate the American voters about the TRUTH of the republican party.  (bring it on for the democrats as well – although, I can’t imagine what else they can do to Hillary Clinton, for example)

I’m sure you wouldn’t need to be around this site long to surmise that I’m not a “fan” of Donald Trump (despite the fact I hope the republicans nominate him).  However, today as I was driving to work, I couldn’t help but think that some of his recent comments are in TOTAL agreement with many of mine over the past 10+ years – and, of course, they could be the comments that finally lead to his undoing.

In the last republican “debate” Trump said something along the lines of (in response to Jeb Bush’s absurd claim that his brother “kept us safe”) how can you claim GW Bush kept us safe when 9/11 happened on his watch.  I actually managed to listen to some of the comments and Trump CORRECTLY pointed out there was fair warning and that the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA had sufficient intelligence to prevent the attack – but, they basically weren’t speaking to each other.  And, despite the protestations from Dick Cheney himself (the next day to Trump’s comments?) the Bush “regime” had repeated warnings from the CIA and others in intelligence that an attack was imminent and that planes might be involved.  And, they responded to the warnings by doing pretty much NOTHING.  I’ve read this in more than one book authored by people who were “in the know” at that time.

Trump also (CORRECTLY) pointed out that GW Bush (along with Dick Cheney – and all the surrogates who willingly or unwittingly participated in the scam – sorry Colin Powell) LIED the United States into the Iraq war which has had a more profound NEGATIVE affect on America than virtually any foreign policy decision in the history of this nation.  (that last part is my characterization)  Trump is CORRECT when he lays the present dysfunction in the Middle East at the feet of Jeb’s Brother (and, because I have a good friend who might read this and admires GW I have to add we’ll probably never know how much of all this should fall directly on Dick Cheney).  Of course, Trump is doing this as a way to attack Jeb (and probably not thought out all that well in the face of a party which has already spent years in rewriting their history in a way where they can blame President Obama for all this – AND, of course, EVERYTHING else in the world they can portray in a negative light.

One of the things, in my mind, that makes Trump so dangerous – should he somehow become president – is his tendency to “shoot from the hip” in making comments that appear to have no rational thought behind them.  The contrast the other day when I happened to be watching TV (hard for me to stomach) “news” where excerpts from campaign speeches by Trump, Cruz, and Rubio were followed by a press conference given by President Obama was stark.  My impression of Obama was that I’m thankful we have an “adult in the room” dealing with the complex issues any president in today’s world will be facing.  Trump, on the other hand, was claiming that – evidently, because he’s “smart” and “a good negotiator” – the rest of the world will bow down in – fear? respect? I’m not sure what he’s thinking? You pick the word – to the way he’s going to “Make America Great” again.  Evidently, that’s a sound bite that’s enough to get about 30% of republicans to believe Trump would be a great president.  The reality: people around the world don’t “fear” Trump, they fear “we the people” might vote him in as president.

Of course, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio – to me, are almost worse.  I’ve read that Cruz was the master debater in college and it’s clear he’ll take whatever side of an issue that’s going to “work” for the audience he’s speaking to and, apparently, he’s good at it.  I’m not sure if the traditional republicans – who, by now, are – I’m guessing – finally realizing the results of allowing the Koch Brothers and the “Tea Party” (and all the Billions of dollars) to hijack their party feel any better about Cruz than they do about Trump.  Either one of them will, I predict, generate a MASSIVE turnout among Democrats based exactly on the human emotion Trump (and Cruz) imply would be how they would operate as President – and, that is FEAR.  Cruz portrays himself as a Christian.  Is that the word that comes to your mind when you hear his name, or hear him speak?

And, Marco Rubio?  Is he the third alternative?  I guess the exposure he got from Chris Christie in Christie’s “last stand” wasn’t enough for the republican “establishment” – whatever that is.  I saw Nikki Haley on stage the other day with Rubio – I have to believe that will be more of a downer for her than any help for him (outside of South Carolina) – but, the truth is (and, you won’t get this on the “news”) that both Haley and Rubio, along with virtually ALL the other’s on the so-called republican “clown car” (with the notable exception of Trump) are “regulars” at the “fund raisers” put on annually (maybe semi-annually now with all the money floating around politics) by Charles and David Koch.  Trust me, those two guys are going to go down in history for what they’ve done to this nation – and whether it’s eradicated in 2016 or it takes more time for people to understand the reality of the “Koch Brothers” – they will not be able to hide from what they’ve done.  And, they will have brought the focus on themselves by trying to actually BUY the government of the United States of America.

I wrote the other day about my impressions of the kid glove treatment the so-called “liberal” alternative to Fox “news” – MSNBC – is giving the “positive” or “moderate” republican candidate, John Kasich (another of the republicans feeding at the Koch trough) .  And, he probably is the most “moderate” of the bunch.  Of course, he’ll bring as another round of “boots on the ground” in the Middle East PLUS a confrontation with Russia for good measure and working class Americans could expect more voter suppression and union busting in a “Kasich administration.”  That’s “moderate” in today’s republican party.  Honestly, I don’t understand how any working class American could vote for any of them.

When I listen to the voters expressing themselves I can’t help but thinking a couple of things – and, one is an indirect indictment on my life’s calling.  First, Trump – on more than one occasion (and, I heard this my self, it’s not “second hand”) referred to America’s voters as “stupid.”  In listening to some of the reasoning of people supporting him, I’m leaning in the direction of agreement – although, in my heart, I’m with President Obama in believing that – overall – the American Voting public will NEVER vote someone like Trump (or Cruz) into the White House.  Often, I hope my instincts are wrong, but NOT in this case.

The second thought, which is unflattering as I’ve spent the last third of my working life teaching 6th graders, is that Americans are allowing themselves to be brainwashed by our 24/7 cable media cycle.  People are regurgitating sound bites and talking points they are exposed to on network “news” that is often time pure misinformation and too often LIES without fact checking.  I wrote the other day on my disappointment (and alarm) at MSNBC – the so-called “liberal” alternative to Fox – with their lack of vetting and investigative reporting as they continue to expose members of the republican “clown car” to their “liberal” audience in a way that gives credibility to people who don’t deserve it.  For example, it would NOT be hard to show the RACIST leanings, through outright comments, innuendo, or – even worse – the “code” that’s permeated republican “talking points” since President Obama took the oath of office – from virtually ANY of the candidates in the republican primaries. I’m as guilty as anyone else in expecting the media to do honest investigative journalism – but, absent that, it’s incumbent on “we the people” to do the investigating ourselves – with multiple sources.  (That’s what I teach my 6th graders)

In my mind, if you’re a republican candidate you DON’T get a pass from comments made by many republican “leaders” when they claim their “number one goal is President Obama’s failure” unless you publicly repudiate the comments.  If you’ve participated in a RECORD number of filibusters as a way to OBSTRUCT every initiative of the President – without an alternative proposal – you should be held ACCOUNTABLE (here, I’m referring to Cruz and Rubio).  If you’ve been part of the “birther” movement, you should have to explain your motivation.  And, investigative reporting SHOULD be exposing all the code to the American people as part of the vetting process.  Cruz, Rubio, and the others (and probably more-so, Trump) have made a plethora of coded comments that they’re getting away with ONLY because – EVEN MSNBC is letting them.  If you claim to be a “strict constitutional” candidate, you should have to explain why you’re going to prevent President Obama from nominating a replacement for Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court!  I could go on.

They want to “take our country back.”  What exactly does that mean? (I think you probably know)  President Obama has been called by many of them a Muslim – explain how you KNOW this – SOMEONE should call them on that.  Bernie Sanders calls himself a “democratic socialist” so that’s “fair game.”  However, for those republican candidates who have referred to President Obama as a socialist, communist, or even fascist – they should have to explain themselves.  Where’s the evidence?  And, I’ll use myself as an example of what I’m talking about.  I’ve, myself, said that I believe that the republican party is pushing America toward fascism.  If I was running for President (actually, even just “because” I’ve written it) I would expect to be able to back up my comments with “evidence.”  That’s what I’d like to see (at least) MSNBC demand from these republican candidates if they’re going to continue causing me to have to stomach the interviews.  I’m OK with exposing the audience to all the candidates, but why do we have to be so nice to people who are anything but nice.  Why allow them to hide the “real” them?  Yes, Trump continually refers to himself as “nice,” but do you actually believe an African American, or a Latino American, or a Muslim American, or – I could go on and on – actually believes him?  What does he mean by nice?

I watched the republican “Benghazi” committee spend a very long day attempting to sabotage the campaign of Hillary Clinton a while back.  In the process they allowed Clinton to defend her actions as Secretary of State, to demonstrate an incredible knowledge of how our government functions (knowledge the republicans on the committee – surprisingly – lacked), and to show that she’s got the experience to run this government.  I would love for the republicans who want to be president to have to endure a similar “vetting.”  I’d like them to have to answer for comments made years ago, I’d like to have their emails made public, and – basically – give each of them a chance to PROVE they are capable of being given the “keys to the safe.” (and, by that I’m talking about the nuclear codes)

America didn’t know what it was being “gifted” when the Supreme Court (RIP Justice Scalia) somehow decided they should choose our president giving us the GW Bush/Cheney disaster.  (and, if you don’t like that characterization, I can argue for hours with you – Bush/Cheney were possibly the worst EVER – I realize many republicans have short term memory issues – but, just a reminder:  Bush/Cheney gave us 9/11, the Iraq War, the disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina, and the TARP bailouts – to name a few of the notable disasters)  If America’s voters want another republican DISASTER (re: Bush/Cheney) at least we should know what we’re getting beforehand!  Trump told the TRUTH about 9/11 and the Iraq War to republicans. It will be interesting to see how many of them “jump ship” in the face of such a rarity in republican politics: honesty!  “We the people” need to know the (complete) TRUTH about Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Kasich, and any of the others (including Bernie and Clinton – although, I can’t imagine there’s much more about Clinton that’s not already in the public domain) so, if a republican wins the White House, the war with Russia – for example (via Kasich and ?) – is not a surprise.