The Tale of the Dictator Who Cried Wolf Too Many Times

Today I want to share a classic Aesop's Fable about a bored shepherd boy who tricks villagers into repeatedly thinking a wolf is attacking his sheep. 

When a real wolf finally appeared and the boy called for help, the villagers ignored him, resulting in lost sheep.

As the story goes:

One day a young shepherd grew bored watching his flock on a hillside. Just for kicks he shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!" and the villagers quickly responded by running up the hill to help. 

When they got there and realized he was shining them on and there wasn't any danger, they were pissed.

Not being particularly bright and still bored with his job the shepherd boy tried pulling the same stunt the next day. 

When the alarmed villagers ran up the hill a second time and discovered they were being punked they threatened to kick his ass if he did it again.

Wouldn't you know it? That wolf showed up after the angry villagers left and dined on the flock. The shepherd boy panicked and cried out but the villagers ignored him.

The moral of the story is "Liars are not believed even when they speak the truth." It shows how constant deception destroys trust.

Which brings me to a modern-day interpretation of the famous fable but instead of a shepherd boy we're talking about a dictator.

Instead of a flock of sheep there's Trump's BIG LIE. He's been crying election rigging for six years and people are finally realizing its bullshit. The 2020 election wasn't stolen as Trump constantly claims. 

Instead of villagers the American people are fed up with Trump's outrageous claims and that was never more evident than when he gave a primetime speech Thursday night. After viewing Trump's disjointed rant, the majority of people's comments were about how crazy and what a brazen liar he is.

Many media outlets didn't even cover the dictatorial speech because they were aware that it was going to be evidence free accusations and a thinly disguised political rally. State regime platforms like Fox, OAN, and NewsMax carried the slurred speech in its entirety.

Overall, it looks like American voters - polls show him at an all-time popularity low - are rejecting Trump's desperate cry to cheat in the midterms. Judges have been turning back his corrupt attempts at disrupting the November election since he got back in office a second time.

As it Stands, Aesop's fable was a clear warning not to believe a liar, and it applies today in Trump's case.

Defending Democracy: Judges Who Push Back Against Corrupt DOJ

Looking at the totality of court cases brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ) since Trump's second term one thing stands out; judges are increasingly fed up with the frivolous and unconstitutional lawsuits that the DOJ has filed in federal courts.

Here's one recent example of what I'm talking about.

A federal judge admonished the DOJ after finding that a legal filing in an immigration detention case appeared to cite a nonexistent court decision, suggesting the citation was likely generated by artificial intelligence, according to court filings on July 16th.

What makes this case so interesting is the judge was a Trump appointee (a rare case) who warned that AI-generated legal research has fueled a "rash of cases" involving fabricated authorities, noting that courts increasingly face briefs containing "fake, hallucinated cases that do not exist."

One of my theories is the DOJ has such incompetent lawyers they need any help they can get, and AI has become their latest backup. Others involve using Trump loyalists willing to lie and risk humiliation and worse to please Dear Leader. The above is one of many bogus filings used by the DOJ in their desperation to get convictions.

Let's take a look at the DOJ's track record since Trump slithered back to the White House.

The regime's success rate in court varies significantly by judicial level: there was significantly more pushback in lower federal courts, but the regime maintained a high win rate at the Supreme Court that Trump controls.

An analysis by the New York Times revealed that on final merits rulings, and plaintiffs challenging the regime's policies won 48 times and only lost 5 times, giving Trump a roughly 25% success rate on his initial policy challenges.

The regimes success rate improved at the circuit court level, to around 51% with Trump appointed judges voting in Trump's favor 92% of the time, according to the New York Times.

The most appalling statistic is Trump's ownership of the Supreme Court where he won about 90% of the cases testing the bounds of presidential power.

There's one statistic that is encouraging, however. Across all federal challenges to major regime rules, they prevailed in only 23% to 31% of cases. That's compared to past presential administrations DOJs that typically won in 70% of their cases.

I would also like to point out that the justice department has lost a quarter of its lawyers, the lowest number of employees in 40 years after Trump lackeys purged it. 

The best lawyers, with the longest tenure were shoved out the door when the Trump regime ascended to power last year. Now there's backlogs and staff shortages, with senior leaders looking for new jobs.

Epilogue.

Since its founding in 1870, the Justice Department has occupied elevated status in American democracy, sustained through transitions of power by reliance on facts, evidence and law. 

That's no longer the case.

As it Stands, democracy is still being defended by judges who risk threats from the regime for sticking to judicial standards that made this country great.

Trump's Prime Time Speech Was a Cry for Help

Did anyone really believe Trump's much anticipated prime time speech was going to have shocking evidence of election tampering in the 2020 presidential election?

After years of making false claims about the 2020 election that he lost being rigged one would think Trump had a smoking gun or two. That he would come out like a ringmaster parading such damning evidence Americans jaws would drop.

No one should have been surprised that THE SPEECH was a plea to believe in his Big Lie. To that end he pushed his SAVE America Act like a used car salesman trying to get someone gullible enough to buy a junker that doesn't even run.

Trump reminded me of a famous used car salesman in the 1960s and 70s in LA named Cal Worthington (Go Call Cal!). In every TV commercial he brought out an exotic animal like an elephant and called it his Dog Spot. It might be an alligator one time, or Zebra in his next commercial. Didn't matter. It was like an inside joke and helped sell a lot of used cars with questionable warrantees.

Trump looked just like Cal intent on selling Americans lies about our electoral system being rigged in 2020. I know it's not nice comparing a scoundrel like Cal with a convicted felon, sexual abuser, Pedophile, and con man, but there it is.

How about Trump's claim that China tried to undermine him in 2019? Let's put that in context. Russia, China, and Iran all pulled election propaganda stunts online with bots but... Trump's own administration at the time concluded none of them actually affected voting machines. 

I can't help wondering how this sudden accusation against China will go down with Chinese President Xi Jinping who is scheduled to visit Donnie on September 24. They'll probably compare notes and co-author a book called The Art of the Steal.

Seriously, I can't wait for Trump to humiliate himself by praising one of his favorite dictators and taking back his accusations when they actually meet.

Circling back to the sad spectacle Thursday night, Trump is desperate. He feels his power draining out of his tiny hands and people are laughing at him all the time now. 

You know what's funny? I didn't hear Trump talk about the significant cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including to its election work that he recently made. Must have been an oversight.

To be clear, there was no voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia or any other states because they were litigated to death with 60 court cases right up to the Supreme Court. Not one iota of truth behind any of the claims was ever presented.

Yet here we go again. Another last-ditch effort to derail the midterms by dragging out old baseless lies that he still thinks most Americans will buy - despite his low polling numbers.

Trump had a whine time. He accused ABC, NBC, and CNN of refusing to cover his speech "because they know how corrupt our system is and they don't want to reveal it" he claimed as his face bronzer slowly melted onto his tie. TV networks took different approaches in covering Trump's remarks.

Fox News ran the speech unedited; MS NOW and CBS aired some portions live but then cut away for analysis and factchecking from their correspondents. Trump concluded his rant against the media by saying they were all plotting against him. Sure Donnie.

As it Stands, one of the biggest tells of the pathetic speech was Trump didn't provide any specific evidence that any vote was changed or altered in the 2020 election. I wish I could say this is the last we'll hear about it, but I know better. Trump can't admit he's a loser.

Trump is Boldly Letting His Inner Dictator Come Out

After two murders in one week ICE leadership decided that didn't look very good. 

So, DHS secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the agency was, "having a temporary suspension of most Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle stops."

Mullin felt pressure from lawmakers like Sen. Susan Collins and halted most non-urgent vehicle stops.

So far, so good. Maybe there's hope yet.

BUT NO!

When Trump heard about Mullin's order, he expressed fury, blew out his double diaper, and then publicly overturned the pause.

Was this the moment of truth? Was a Trump appointee actually going to stand up to his dictatorship? Not in this life.

Mullin saw that "daddy" was pissed at him and he did what every Trump appointee does... fell to his knees, kissed his feet, and immediately rescinded the order and shamelessly reposted Trump's statement slapping him down.

After listening to the House confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche and Jay Clayton - both Trump toadies - I saw their slavish devotion to the Big Lie when they wouldn't say who won the 2020 election because that would make Trump cry!

By confirming Todd Blanche as Attorney General Trump is further solidifying his power. The same goes for confirming Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence. Both can be counted on to keep Trump in power. One way, or another.

So far, in about 18 months Trump has transformed the government into an authoritarian state and has openly taken on the mantle of a dictator. There are no restraints on his regime because of the crooked Supreme Court.

Americans are getting increasingly worried about Trump's efforts to rig the midterms in order to protect himself from an inquiring Congress that could potentially impeach him for the third time.

Meanwhile Trump is stuck with an illegal war that he started and is now crippling our economy. Rumors of a ground invasion of Iran hang over Washington D.C. like dark clouds.

NATO doesn't trust Trump for many reasons beyond his open lies. His love for Vladimir Putin is a public humiliation for the entire nation and a good reason not to trust Trump and his goons.

As it Stands, I hope I'm wrong and the fix isn't in on confirming Blanche and Clayton despite their crooked past histories. I'm not holding my breath until the outcome, however. 

Whose Lying About McConnell's Health? Damning Photo Exposed

It appears both Republicans and Democrats are questioning a photo released by Mitch McConnell's staff purportedly showing the senior Senator sitting up in bed smiling with his wife next to him.

There's a problem with the photo. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson questioned the authenticity of the photo and suggested it was an older photo.

McConnell who has been hospitalized since June 14th when he reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest according to emergency dispatch audio obtained by media outlets, is now claiming he just had a fall and was unconscious. So, why did the medics have to give him CPR according to the news reports?

In a written statement Sunday McConnell said he did not break any bones and did not endure a heart attack or stroke. He did say he has a mild case of pneumonia. What? That doesn't add up any way you look at it.

What made far-right activist Laura Loomer claim a source had told her the senator was "brain dead" and "not coming back." My guess is that she might know something, but it's just as likely a way to get hits on her website. 

NewsNation asked a House Republican whether McConnell was still alive. Rep. Marlin Stutzman's response was telling; "I don't know if he's alive or has passed away." He said that in spite of the release of the photo circulating in the media.

A career counter-terrorism intelligence officer, Malcolm Nance, came out and said, "I think he's dead. It's very clear. I heard that 911 tape and I was an EMT when I was in the military. One of the things they teach you about CPR is the probability of coming back from CPR is very, very, very small."

Several days ago, prior to the supposed proof of life photo, a couple of Republican senators, John Thune and John Barrasso, attempted to dampen speculation by claiming the each talked with him for 20 minutes. They've been silent since.

To put this situation in prospective McConnell's resignation or death would create a problem for the GOP party. Any vacancy would trigger a special election. Depending on when a vacancy occurred, his seat could potentially remain empty until the new Congress is sworn in next January.

That's the last thing the GOP wants to see. One less vote for the majority.

As it Stands, it would be interesting to find out who is behind the controversial photo and coverup. My guess would be Trump who has claimed he doesn't know what's going on with McConnell.

ICE Attack: Another Murder in Maine

Two men have been murdered by ICE agents in the last week.

The most recent murder was Monday in Maine where an ICE Officer mistook a Hispanic man for someone else and shot him in cold blood.

A witness, Daniel Boucher said he looked out his third story window after hearing a "pop,pop,pop" sound and saw a small car "turned 90 degrees to the curb" with an SUV behind it. The driver was wounded and the car started moving down the street until the SUV hit it again.

"His face was bloody. His head was bloody," Boucher said, getting choked up. "I clearly heard the victim say, 'I tried to stop' clearly heard him say that."

It's not a coincidence that the agent didn't wear a body camera. When another agent murdered Lorenzo Salgado Arajo in Houston, Texas he wasn't wearing a body camera either.

That's because the new ICE director Markwayne Mullin hasn't made the officers wear body cams, despite legislation stating that all ICE agents wear them.

The Maine murder was a repeat of the Texas murder where unmarked vehicles chased innocent people. In both cases ICE's claim of the suspect weaponizing his vehicle and endangering the agent were trotted out as fact.

In fact, witnesses in the Houston attack said that there was no agent in front of the suspect's vehicle. ICE opened fire from the side of the truck. 

Afterwards they blocked the city from investigating the murder. A tactic ICE regularly uses to destroy evidence. There were three witnesses in the back of the van who were taken into custody. ICE is currently trying to get two of the men to self-deport before testifying in court.

The Maine man that was murdered was from Columbia and U.S. authorities are working with the Colombian embassy to get the individual's identity. According to the Maine immigrants' Rights Coalition and Presente! - the man was authorized to work in the U.S. 

Another case of mistaken identity (after all Hispanics all look alike. Right?)  as Mulllin confessed the warrant was NOT for the man they killed. Opps! The hell with that!

These murders are only going to continue until ICE and its director, are stopped. Congress has a duty to hold both to account and make some big changes soon. 

Justice might have to wait until after the midterms when the Democrats take back the House and possibly the Senate.

As it Stands, no one is safe in America today if their black or brown. Shame on the authoritarian government that encourages these murders.

Surprise News: McConnell is Alive Amid Conspiracies, Coincidences and Corruption

                     Where to start?

Two prominent Republicans have cardiac arrests within 30 days. One is dead. The other disappears in a hospital where his status has been unclear for three weeks. 

Coincidences?

Mitch McConnell was reportedly taken to the hospital after suffering a reported cardiac arrest and getting CPR. No one knew if he was dead or alive and speculation was swirling around every media platform.

That suddenly changed today when McConnell made a public statement and appeared in a photo (AI?) with his wife Elaine Chao. The same day Lindsey Graham died.

He claimed he didn't have a heart attack or a stroke and had suffered from a fall and was "briefly unconscious," and that he was recovering in a rehabilitation center.

Senator Lindsey Graham visited Ukrainian President Zelensky on Saturday to assure him of America's support, then dies of a cardiac arrest on Sunday. Reports suggest he had a lingering health problem. But what?

Moving on.

Corruption.

It's obvious the Trump favors Russian dictator Putin over democratic world leaders. 

Why else did Trump stop the oil sanctions against Russia? Why did Trump roll out the red carpet in Alaska for Putin's visit? He hasn't done that for any other world leader.

How did Trump earn $2.2 billion in the first year of his second term? The Trump clan increased their wealth four-fold by getting U.S. contracts worth billions and through crypto currency schemes cooked up by Trump and his money minions. 

The Department of Justice has become a wholly owned subsidiary that follows Trump's illegal orders. Every major position in Trump's cabinet is filled by loyalists willing to walk on glass for dear leader.

America's 250th anniversary has become a honey pot for Trump and MAGA as they cash in on their twisted interpretation of patriotism by holding expensive stunts funded by Trump's billionaire buddies (and taxpayers) seeking more influence with America's mob boss.

Conspiracies.

Hands down, the most dangerous conspiracy in America today is Trump's attempt to rig the midterms and his never-ending lie about the 2020 election being stolen.

In his return to office Trump has been conducting a witch hunt and going after his perceived enemies. The DOJ openly denies that. But privately it's open game time as evidenced by the numerous lawsuits filed.

The Pentagon is going out of its way to withhold information regarding the war with Iran. Secretary of War Defense Pete Hegseth has done everything in his power to muzzle reporters. Trump doesn't want to talk about the war or the Strait of Hormuz.

No one is sure if we're still at war (what happened to that Memorandum of Understanding?) or if there's a cease fire. Every day brings a new surprise/attack as the hostilities grow unchecked.

As it Stands, in this age of Trumpian lies and misinformation no one can be sure about anything. Every day is so full of challenges that Americans are in a state of continual stress.

Who Will Be Left Standing After Lies About McConnell's Condition is Exposed?

Do you believe "Moscow Mitch" McConnell is still alive?

It's a fair question considering the lack of information about his health for three weeks now. What little we do know would make anyone wonder why no proof of life has been reported yet.

You can't count the three MAGA morons who claim they talked with him just days ago. Republican Senators Thune and Boraso both claim they each talked with McConnell for 20 minutes since his hospitalization. I suspect their going to regret their stories when the truth comes out. 

The third MAGA moron is Scott Jennings at CNN. In an interview with Kasie Hunt Jennings claimed he talked with McConnel and was relieved he was doing so well. Hunt didn't let him off of the hook however and asked him to call McConnell on air. He declined the offer.

There was a reason Hunt asked Jennings to make the call. Simply put, she didn't believe him. Maybe because he's been caught lying on air before with false claims like "Almost 5 million able-bodied people on Medicaid simply choose not to work. They spend six-hours a day socializing and watching TV." 

Being a competent journalist Kasie Hunt must have heard from inside sources that there was something rotten in Denmark. That McConnell was dead. The challenge for Hunt and other journalists is determining if he's brain dead or deceased. It's a fine line that MAGA is sure to exploit and claim when the truth gets out, and we discover he wasn't technically dead.

Being a cynical kind of guy I'm waiting for the Republicans to prop up McConnell's body for a photo shoot in a scene from Weekend at Bernie's Mitch's.

The reason for all the lies is a political calculation. If McConnel can no longer do anything but lie in bed until relatives pull the plug, the Republican party is afraid Democratic Gov. Andy Beshar will appoint a Democrat in his place (one who can run as an incumbent during the midterms). Worse yet, they fear Thomas Massie may run for the Republican party in November.

It should be interesting watching Jennings, Thune, and Boraso try to back pedal on their conversation claims. If Jennings had any credibility, he shredded it. As far as I'm concerned Thune and Boraso lost any credibility when they kissed Trump's ring a long time ago.

As it Stands, Trump probably knows the truth about McConnell and that's why he's taking "executive time" for several days to redecorate the Oval Office with a coating of Ketchup. 

If Trump Gets His Way Residents and Tourists Will Be Unable to See the White House

You better take a quick trip to Washington D.C. if you want to see the White House and take a photo or two.

Trump is planning to fence off parts of Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House, shutting down a historic space for political protests. 

The Washington Post reported that the regime and the Secret Service plan to put fences where Pennsylvania Avenue crosses 15th and 17th streets NW, allowing them to close pedestrian access if they decide there are security risks.

What do you want to bet any protests will be viewed negatively? If not a protest, then just at the whim of the big baby in the Oval Office if he's feeling insecure. Easy access will be a thing of the past.

The concealment of the people's house will also extend to Lafayette Square (a public park across from the White House and another historic protest space) where the regime is going to put up permanent fencing. 

Trump's plan is to plant 47 maple trees in Lafayette Park to make sure the White House will be further obscured to visitors and foreign tourists.

The fences on Pennsylvania Avenue will affect multiple organizations that are located on the street, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery and the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

The new fencing will cut off the public's view of the White House and deter, if not outright ban, pedestrians from getting through. The irony is thick. Americans will be deterred from pursuing the American Dream.

To put a cap on it, Trump doesn't give a damn about the public's opinion on his ravaging of Washington D.C.s monuments and the White House itself because he's remaking the city in in his own hateful image.

As it Stands, a paranoid convicted felon and sexual abuser is making the White House HIS HOUSE and so far, he's getting away with it. 

Dying from Laughter?

There's nothing like a good laugh, right? 

Laughter is generally beneficial for your health, promoting stress reduction, improving your mood, and boosting your immune system.

In describing how hard someone laughed you may have heard the phrase, "He was dying from laughter." It's often used hyperbolically but what if there was some disturbing truth behind that phrase.

The fact is you can die from laughing. Death from laughter is a rare form of death, usually resulting from either cardiac arrest or asphyxiation, that has itself been caused by a fit of laughter. Dying from laughter has been recorded in ancient Greece right through modern times.

Three Recorded Examples...

Chrysippus, also known as "the man who died from his own joke," was a 3rd-century Greek philosopher who reportedly died of laughter after he saw a donkey eating his fermented figs; he told a slave to give the donkey undiluted wine to wash them down, and then, "having laughed too much, he died," according to Diogenes Laertius a local scribe.

Ole Bentzen was a Danish audiologist who found a scene in the movie A Fish Called Wanda so sidesplittingly funny that his heart rate rose to an estimated 250-500 beats per minute, leading to a heart attack as he laughed his way into the afterlife.

Alex Mitchell, from King's Lynn, England, died on March 24, 1975, laughing while watching the "Kung Fu Kapers" episode of The Goodies. After 25 minutes of continuous laughter, Mitchel slumped on the sofa and died from heart failure.

Three examples In Fiction...

"The Three Infernal Jokes," short story in The Last Book of Wonder (1916) by Lord Dunsany, is about three jokes "which shall make all who hear them simply die of laughter." 

"The Stand In," was an episode of the American comedy Seinfeld, which featured Jerry Seinfeld telling a joke to a hospital patient who then suddenly dies from laughter.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a 1988 fantasy comedy, had a scene where the weasels of the Toon Patrol literally die laughing.

So now that we have determined laughter is not always a good thing in large doses, we can take the necessary precautions although I don't know what that would entail. Stop laughing? I don't think so. Check with your doctor before going to see a comedy? Not practical. 

As it Stands, when you think about it dying from laughter may not be such a bad way to exit this life. I can certainly think of worse ways. 

A Mitch McConnell Mystery: Is He Dead or Kicking Back in a Hospital Bed?

I would love to see Mickey Spillane's take on the McConnell mystery.

 

The famous crime novelist has been called the "king of pulp fiction" and is best known for his character Mike Hammer.

What would Hammer say about the longtime senator's silence? His investigation would begin with McConnell's sudden hospitalization on June 14th when he was found unconscious in his home and reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest. No one has heard from him since.

McConnell's staff keeps claiming the 84-year-old is "continuing to improve." That's it. No evidence. On Wednesday two top Republicans, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. John Barrasso claimed they actually talked with McConnell on the phone for 20 minutes each. "He's eager to come back to the Senate," both men assured reporters.

Hammer would have called bullshit on both Trump cronies. For starters he'd ask why McConnell can't speak to the press if he was able to hold two twenty minutes conversations with his fellow senator's? You know. Proof of life. Not another MAGAified cultist who is trying to hide something.

Even Kentucky's governor publicly asked McConnell to share his health status. 

On top of Hammer's list would be the suspicion that the ruling regime is trying to avoid any political insatiability. Under Kentucky law, if a Senate vacancy occurs, the governor cannot directly appoint a replacement. That means a special election must be held. MAGA is afraid it could lead to a long, drawn-out political or legal fight.

Hammer would also have known the critical date of Aug 3 is approaching. If McConnell is dead, brain dead, or otherwise not able to continue to serve, they have to turn his resignation in to the Senate. That means a special election where MAGA fears ousted congressman Thomas Massie could win it.

However, Mike Hammer, being an inquisitive sleuth, would have delved deeper into the mystery. Like why McConnell's wife Elaine Chao decided to go to China three days after her husband's hospitalization? It seems odd for a loving wife. She met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on June 17 in Beijing according to Chinese state media service Xinhua. What they really talked about is anyone's guess.

Why was Chao, who plays no role in the government, there to suddenly talk about "further efforts to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and China?"  Hammer would have noted Chao had a good relationship with the Chinese elite and urged her husband to make concessions to the Communist nation for decades.

As it Stands, it doesn't just take a fictional character to suspect something's rotten in MAGA land. The truth is out there.