As Bad as it Sounds...

Yeah, it is as bad as it sounds.

McConnell persuaded his GOP Senators to keep their heads in the sand

I continue trying to wrap my head around what the GOP Senate heard in voting to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial:

1.The President of the United States withheld Congress- and Pentagon-approved funds from a desperate ally in its battle against Russian aggression, merely to solicit help for his 2020 campaign by coercing it into opening investigations against the Democratic party and his chief political opponent (specifically told beforehand by federal election commission chair Ellen Weintraub such an act would be illegal). 

2. Numerous US officials and departments expressed concern--alarm, actually--about the funding delay as a matter of defending US national security interests (found to be illegal by the non-partisan GAO).

3. Diplomatic and national security experts found Trump's ask of a favor at least grossly inappropriate, and possibly illegal.

4. The investigations--the Biden matter was never considered for investigation by the once-GOP-led House, and the Ukraine election interference was itself debunked by a Trump administration investigation in 2017--didn't even have to be conducted, just announced enough, it appears, to smear Trump's opponents.

5. Trump and his secret "corruption force" (led by-- intrepid do-gooders?--Rudy Giuliani and Lev Parnas) advocated for continued employment of an internationally-recognized corrupt Ukraine prosecutor while, at the same time, orchestrating a smear campaign to oust the US career diplomat who backed official US policy in the matter instead of Giuliani's wishes.

6. In addition to asking for Ukraine's help in smearing his 2020 opponent, Trump said he'd accept future such help if someone offered it--just as he would in asking China in 2019, and in the 2016 campaign, asking Russia. Establishing a pattern of his disregard for the law and ethics.

These are the facts. There really isn't any dispute. They're facts.

And the GOP Senators said, "This isn't so bad." And the GOP Senators said, "Other people did bad things, too!" And the GOP Senators (except for courageous Mitt Romney) said the facts weren't enough--and they refused to search for any more.

So, I still can't process what the GOP heard.

Because, yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.

Game not over...yet

People in my GOP-laden world are positively giddy at the inevitable outcome of Trump's

It's only "game over" if the people say it is.

impeachment not leading to his removal from office. They claim exoneration (again) despite Senators such as Rubio and Alexander insinuating that the House proved its case.  And they claim (as does a currently-pinned tweet on Trump's account) that it's "game over."

But it's not.

No, Trump should not be tried for his multitude of acts of corruption and abuse of power (that will now no doubt continue unabated for the foreseeable future), but the "game over" really is most important pertaining to the fate of the country.

If Trump's term (which scarily may extend to eight years) is just a blip, a temporary stain on democracy as was Nixon's, then we'll be okay.

If, however, it's the beginning of a run of Trumpian candidates elected as a result of the red-meat thrown to his base, then we're in trouble.

Institutionally, Trump has attempted to systematically dismantle the media--long known as a watchdog against political corruption (i.e., Woodward and Bernstein). He has purposely and unremittingly cast into doubt the dependability of our own Intelligence Community. He has questioned and criticized the judiciary. His actions and obstruction have stymied reasonable oversight from the co-equal Congress. He has isolated us from allies and sidled up to dictators of brutal regimes to, perhaps, assuage his power or his ego (or both).

Personally, he derogates anyone that disagrees with his opinions (including his own staff). He continually lies to the American public (I think the Washington Post count is near 16,000 so far). He has espoused or implied racist and misogynist views. He has claimed he is "The Chosen One" (supposedly jokingly in the face of those who have claimed it for real).

But I think this country can be turned around. As more comes out about Trump's corruption in office (just today, the DOJ shows that Trump was purposely withholding Congressionally-approved aid in at least June), more of the reasonable public will see he's not the savior. He is, in fact, a vile human being, and a man not worthy of leading the United States of America. Those Senators that so shamelessly backed this aberration will also be called into question (especially my state's own Trump lapdog, Ron Johnson).

And therein lies our country's future--truly cleaning up the horrific mess and chaos caused by Donald J. Trump.  And that includes any politician that has so supported him.

For them, I hope--for the sake of the country--that such is the real "game over."

Trump's impeachment: Couldn't Be Clearer

It's all about Trump

Trump's impeachment comes into clear focus when you look at it through the proper lens: Trump asked a foreign government to do something to benefit himself. Not our country. Not the world. Just himself.

Couldn't be clearer.

Trump's massive ego can't stomach the fact that Hillary Clinton defeated him in the popular vote.

So he asks Ukraine to investigate a debunked (even by Trump's own people and a 2017 GOP committee) conspiracy theory about a hidden (in Ukraine) server that could cast light on fraud that minimizes Clinton's success.

Side note: He also assembled a voter fraud commission that found nothing, and incredibly claimed that people put on disguises to cast multiple votes in the 2018 midterms.

And that is a benefit--not to our country, not to the world--to no one but Donald J. Trump himself. Couldn't be clearer.

In 2020, Trump wants no part of losing his grip on the presidency.

So he asks Ukraine to investigate former VP Joe Biden, his chief political rival  for the 2020 presidential election (leading virtually all the polls at the time).  Trump insinuates that Biden committed crimes in his Ukraine dealings (despite no evidence ever being presented, and despite no investigation from the US House, even when it was GOP-led) to minimize Biden's success.

Side note: Trump claims he's a corruption crusader that doesn't use the word corruption with the Ukrainians and has never broached the subject of corruption with any other government (including China's crackdowns on Hong Kong, or Saudi Arabia's murder and dismemberment of an American journalist, or Putin's or Kim's maltreatment of their own people). 

Oh, yeah, and did I mention that Trump illegally (according to the non-partisan GAO) withheld approved aid to Ukraine during the time he was asking for the "favor" of these investigations?

And that is a benefit--not to our country, not to the world--to no one but Donald J. Trump himself. Couldn't be clearer.

So when Trump claims to be a hoax victim, or a corruption fighter, or a hunted "witch," just remember to look at his actions through the proper lens.

Couldn't be clearer.


Check out an earlier take on Trump's impeachment: The Case for Impeachment

Deep State? Just plain nuts.....

Donald Trump and his supporters maintain there's a "deep state" (federal workers actively working to sabotage his presidency).  When you see the list of all the entities that Trump thinks are working to undermine his administration, it's incredible. About the only ones that they haven't blamed are Mr. Peanut and the ghost of Martha Washington (btw, Trump should get on his knees and thank any entity that questions or prevents his rash and unconstitutional decisions). It's not just "deep state," it's--how can I put this politely?--nuts, actually. So, um, who exactly is in this conspiracy?

Well, first, obviously, the media, which Trump has now elevated from "fake" to "corrupt." Even polls on once-darling FoxNews are supposedly out to get him (51% support impeachment and removal from office).

Next, there's the CIA...and the FBI..and, um, the National Security Council...and, oh, yeah,  Trump's DOJ.  Trump has publicly accused their members or leaders (with no evidence) with everything from gross incompetence to criminal activity. Even the Homeland Security Chairman Senator Ron Johnson (to the shame of Wisconsinites everywhere) says he STILL doesn't trust them--which is especially interesting because, for most of Trump's term, they've all been headed by Trump appointees.

And, of course, the Democratic Party--the party that he thinks intentionally keeps its server in Ukraine (seriously?) to hide the information that reveals Trump really should have won the popular vote, I guess.  And the party umbrella includes everything from Obama's (again) never-any-evidence "ordered wiretapping" of Trump Tower, to Hillary Clinton's e-mails, to Joe Biden and his son, Hunter (whom Trump has publicly denounced as a "loser.").

The House Democrats play a part, too. Trump has regularly and forcefully called for the "impeachment" of numerous members, including House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for "treason." (side note: House members are not subject to impeachment).

Members of Trump's hand-picked staff are suspected of sabotage, too, so much so that Trump's phone calls with foreign leaders (including those of Russia and Saudi Arabia) are put on a codeword server usually reserved for top-secret information, so no one can ever find out the true content of the calls.

The courts are crooked, too.  Trump has called them, even at his most tepid, broken and unfair.

Don't forget any civil servants--people that swore to uphold the Constitution and pretty much put country above all--that worked for Obama, well, or Bush, or, um, whomever can be blamed for the latest leak, or whomever has perhaps reported irregularities or possible illegalities committed by the President of the United States.

Oh, gosh, yes, there are also trusted allied countries that work against him, and it appears that intrepid do-gooder Rudy Giuliani has even uncovered sabotage from--yes--Ukraine.

These don't even include the Never-Trumpers or GOP members that speak out against Trump's words or actions (like John McCain or Mitt Romney), or the 20+ women that have accused him of assault or harassment.

Whew.

And doesn't that sound nuts to you?

The Case For Impeachment

"I have an Article 2 where I have the right to do whatever I want as president."  
"If somebody called from a country...'We have information on your opponent'--oh, I think I'd want to hear it."                                                                                                                                  --US President Donald J. Trump

Image from nbcchicago.com

This is corruption at its core--we have a President who doesn't view his unconstitutional acts as anything more than doing normal business.

It's incumbent upon the impeachment inquiry to not only investigate the Ukraine call (in which the US President asks a foreign government to open an investigation on his chief political rival), but to establish clearly his continuing pattern of, as House Speaker Pelosi calls it, "lawlessness."

First off, this isn't about Joe or Hunter Biden--as much as Trump supporters want to deflect. And it's not a continuation of the Mueller investigation or revisiting the 2016 election. It's about corrupt actions of the US President to maintain his hold on power. 

And it's a pretty easy, and quick, case to make.

Earlier this year, Federal Election Commission chair Ellen Weintraub tweeted this: "Let me make something 100% clear to the American public or anyone running for public office, it is illegal to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election."

1. Trump--even without the "quid pro quo" words he was too sly to speak--clearly asked the Ukraine President for something of value to attempt to disparage his chief political opponent. That there is evidence that Trump tied it to a meeting with Zelensky is the "quid pro quo," and even Trump's allies (including WI Sen. Ron Johnson and his diplomat William Taylor, Jr.) expressed their concerns that approved Ukraine aid was tied to Ukraine's willingness to investigate the Bidens.

Trump's self-released "transcript" of the call even bears that out.

2, That Trump, then doubled down (with cameras rolling) by reiterating his request to Ukraine, and then inviting another foreign government--arguably our number one adversary, China--to open an investigation into his chief political opponent was merely fuel to the impeachment fire.

And that should be enough.

But there's more. And it's a pattern of corruption that began before, and continued into, the White House. All for Donald Trump to achieve and maintain his hold on power.

3. Candidate Trump "joked" an invitation for Russia to find opponent Hillary Clinton's missing emails. Within 24 hours, Russia hacked into the DNC.

4. He praised the release of the hacked emails on Wikileaks--which the US had previously declared an "enemy of the state."

5. As President, during the Mueller investigation, Trump's personal desire to hold power included at least ten actions that Mueller concluded might constitute obstruction of justice--including orders or actions to fire those conducting the investigation.

6. His public derision of the federally-approved probe was magnified in tweets in which he praised those who did not offer testimony against his Russia narrative and excoriated those that "flipped" on him (including those he had previously praised or those he claimed really weren't connected to his campaign). This type of witness intimidation (I'd term it tampering) has continued to include the Ukraine call whistleblower.

7.His lies to keep hold on his power included such varied things as denying business in Russia as he pushed a Trump Tower Moscow to not knowing Stormy Daniels to having "no involvement" of the false explanation of Don, Jr.'s Trump Tower meeting (which he had, in fact, dictated).

And it's all a story of a man trying to hold on to his power.

It's evident.

And it's corrupt.

And it's the President of the United States of America.

It is not normal business.

And it's time to say, "No more, Donald Trump."

Q

Hey, Q. Yeah, I'm talking to you.
Most people know nothing about Q.
Q is, as best I can tell, an anonymous entity that provides information designed to make people aware of/prevent the destruction of our civilization, both constitutionally and morally, at the hands of liberal elites. A quest to, literally, save the world.
Q, ostensibly someone or someones with insider information, provides tweets with insights and advice (which some believe really foreshadow political events) that need to be interpreted by his followers, many which post on/tune into message boards such as 4chan and 8chan, now infamous because of ties to manifestos for racist-inspired murders such as in El Paso, and for the comments from the human filth that cheer such acts.
From my research and discussion with some who follow Q, things such as changing gun owner requirements (via "staging" supposed slaughters such as Sandy Hook), illegal immigrants, voter fraud, the Russia investigation, child sex rings, and many others, are threatening what the pure life of a US Patriot should be, and will destroy all that is good about the US of A.
Seriously.
One of Q's past messages pegs Hillary Clinton (yes, that Hillary Clinton) as responsible for the death of John F. "John-John" Kennedy when he piloted a plane carrying himself, his wife, and his sister-in-law tragically into the Atlantic Ocean. Q cites decades-old notes about surface-to-air missiles, and the "fact" that Kennedy supposedly was considering a run to be NY's US Senator. Kennedy's "accidental death" was necessary, it implies, so that the way could be cleared for Hillary's Senator post and her ascension to power.
For reasons I have not been able to discern (and none of the Q messages or messengers have told me explicitly), President Kennedy seems to be some hero in this Q pageant. His son "John-John's" friendship with Donald Trump, it appears, elevated Trump to a hero as well, as someone who would stop at nothing to save our country from immigrants, the loss of freedom, and child sex rings (this twisted conspiracy network STILL peddles the ideas that Democratic Washington "elites" such as Hillary Clinton--yes, that Hillary Clinton--are engaging in pedophilia in a pizzeria).
And Donald Trump is going to be the hero.
Yes, that Donald Trump.
And Trump, along with the band of Q followers, amazingly, are the ONLY ones to see this large-scale corruption and destruction of our country. Q "reveals" info in cryptic tweets and posts, leaving it to his followers to interpret. I'm thinking if he really had something to say, um, maybe he should just come out and say it?
The conspiracy they see is incredibly large-scale. From a logical perspective, it is staggering.
The conspiracy against Trump's fight against corruption involves taking on the FBI, the CIA, military intelligence, local law enforcement officials, some allied countries, some Republicans, many Democrats, Hollywood celebrities, the "mainstream" media, Jews (such as Dem political donor George Soros and, for instance, numerous members of the New York Times), a "Deep State" that is purposely undermining Trump's "good fight" from within Washington and the administration, and, I believe, a one-armed man, and a purple unicorn.
And Trump is the only one to see it?
Trump?
C'mon, you're kidding me, right?
The scary thing is that non-whack conservatives peddle it, too. Rush Limbaugh, the once-respectable Lou Dobbs, the son of our one-time National Security Director Michael Flynn (well, okay, maybe they are whack, but they're putting this out in the public forum, not under the dark appliances of the Internet, where it barely belongs).
My God. I am all for freedom of speech. I really am. But when someone takes obviously trusting and disillusioned members of the public and twists them into a Nazi-Germany-like frenzy, well, that's just wrong.
Someone BETTER save the US.
It's not Q.
And I'm sure as heck not betting on Trump, either.

Weasel-in-Chief

Donald Trump's dance with conspiracy and obstruction for most will come to an end with the Mueller report. And while it can't prove anything criminal, it certainly shows Donald Trump is a weasel--not just the garden-variety liar as is shown in his tweets and press conferences, but a man who lies to manipulate others and cover his own butt. That, is a weasel.

Maybe Trump has a lot on his mind.

This likely isn't news to most Americans who have seen evidence of this behavior in his CARAVAN! proclamations or his disparagement of personal and political foes. It is painfully and horrifically apparent, though, in his written answers to the questions asked by Mueller's team during the investigation.

Trump pulls up phrases like "I don't remember" an astonishing 36 times in his responses (seemingly to EVERY question), even ones that were in public domain--such as being told the Russians were trying to influence the campaign (imagine your teenager answering your questions in that manner). And he's done this ALL THE TIME, whether in his countless depositions for business lawsuits such as Trump University, or his misremembering events such as US Muslims cheering 9/11. Which points to one of three things: he doesn't have the self-proclaimed "world's greatest memory," he isn't the self-proclaimed "very stable genius," or he lies.

Although most could simply argue that the first two points are easily disproved, it isn't that simple. This man is a propaganda machine, designed to serve the interests of his associates and himself (not in that order). And his lies and conspiracy theories have obviously resonated with a populace fed up with previous Washington dysfunction, and looking for a savior. It's mind-boggling to think that they think that savior comes from Trump Tower.

And now that Mueller's report has not been able to prove any conspiracy, or would not clear Trump on obstruction, the value of the report now has shown, under oath, and for all the world to see, that the President of the United States is a Liar. Capital L. And a Weasel. Capital W.

Read the report. See if you don't find this man a weasel of the greatest degree.

And then go do something about it in 2020.