Friday, March 31, 2023

Indicted! Humpty Trumpty Has a Bigly Fall!

Humpty Trumpty sat on a Mar-a-Lardo Wall

He got indicted and had a great fall

All the corrupt lawmakers

and all of the MAGA minions

Couldn't do a damn thing about it!

So, the hammer finally dropped on the most corrupt president in history who has been charged with crimes in Manhattan, New York.

Yesterday came as a shock to Trump, his weasel lawyers, the rest of America, and the world. 

The Teflon Don was held accountable by New York DA Alvin Bragg for crimes committed. Who thought it would ever happen?

The myth has been dispelled. Trump is not above the law. In bears keeping in mind that this will only be the first criminal indictment filed against his Orangeness. Multiple indictments are still ahead this year.

MAGA world is melting down. MAGA lawmakers like Kevin McCarthy are ready to defy the Constitution to save Trump's fat ass. The rest of the Seditious Caucus in the House and Senate is already waging war against the rule of law to keep their lord and master free. 

Here's the thing; despite years of running interference for Trump MAGA Republicans were not able to stop him from taking one of the most historic falls from grace an ex-president has ever experienced in American history.

This court action is the first shot at Trump's mug (and ego) in what will soon be a series of blows delivered by other prosecutors in Georgia and Washington DC.

Is Trump's great fall a precursor of what's going to happen to the Republican party as they continue to defend him?

As it stands, this indictment is proof that no one is above the law in America. 

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Batter Up! Baseball Season Underway

America's game is back. 

A new season starts today with 15 MLB games on tap. All 30 teams will be engaged in this annual rite of Spring.

Among the best MLB games today is the defending champion Houston Astros taking on the Chicago White Sox. It'll be on ESPN TV at 7:00 PM ET.

My favorite team The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing The Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. The Boys in Blue are looking for pitcher Julio Urias (L) to get their season off to a good start. He'll be facing Zac Gallen (R).

This season is special because there's some new rules in the game. 

1. Pitch Timer - in order to create a quicker pace of play, there will be a 30-second timer between batters. Between pitches, there will be a 15-second timer with bases empty and a 20-second timer with runners on base.

2. Defensive Shift Limits - The defensive team must have a minimum of four players on the infield, with at least two infielders on either side of the base.

3. Bigger Bases - The bases, which traditionally have been 15 inches square, will instead be 18 inches square. Home plate is unchanged.

The game is afoot!

As it stands, Go Dodgers! 

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Blog Break! I'll Be Back 3-30-23- Meanwhile... Here's Some Links

Take a walk on the wild or poetic side HERE at the Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff

Go HERE to view my As It Stands column in the Eureka Times-Standard, a NorthCoast daily newspaper. It ran for five years.

Look to the right of this page and you'll see links to all of my posts in this blog going back to 2013.

If you like novellas, you may enjoy my first one: RAFTER'S REDEMPTION - A Vietnam veteran's story about living in Humboldt County in the 1970s. Think communes and pot farms.

That's it for now.

I'll be back on Thursday. 

As it stands, have a masterpiece day like my good friend and author Woody Woodburn would say.

Saturday, March 25, 2023

In the Trump Era Judges Allow Jurors to be Anonymous

It used to only be special cases where jurors needed to be anonymous for their own safety. 

Secret jurors were necessary to protect them from criminal mob bosses like John Gotti who would go to any lengths to intimidate witnesses and jurors to avoid jail time.

Only the most dangerous defendants required the confidentiality that spurs a judge to make a ruling like that.

This winter there were two trials that required anonymous jurors. 

One of the two trials involved a convicted New Yorker in an Islamic State extremist group in Syria. The other was a former cabinet-level Mexican official convicted of shielding violent drug cartels from police for huge bribes.

That's why I'm so amused to see that jurors' names will be kept secret at the upcoming civil trial (not even a criminal trial) against Trump in a rape lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan was concerned that Trump and his minions will subject them to harassment and worse from Trump supporters.

According to Kaplan, "On the basis of the unpresented circumstances in which this trial will take place, including the extensive pretrial publicity and a very strong risk that jurors will fear harassment, unwanted invasions of their privacy and retaliation there is string reason to believe the jury needs the protection."

I think that's pretty clear. Trump is getting the mob boss treatment, which he deserves. I'd also be willing to bet that all of his future trials in New York, Georgia and Washington DC will require anonymous jurors.

As it stands, Trump is the biggest criminal in America today and he's a clear and present danger to democracy and the rule of law.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Swimming in a Polluted Society

America is awash in an extremist tide of lies and misinformation. 

What started as a storm in 2017 is now a flood of hatred, racism, and a cult that threatens democracy.

Truth and reality have been thrown into a flotsam of fascism that's spreading in the Republican Party daily.

Today a former president whose been impeached twice and is facing civil and criminal investigations on the state and federal level is holding a rally in Waco, Texas.

----------------------------------------------------

Opinion: "Trump's Visit to Waco is a Provocation of Historic Significance" by Nicole Hemmer 

----------------------------------------------------

The venue holds 50,000 but there's a chance it won't be filled thanks to Trump's niece Mary Trump who has urged her podcast followers to call in a flood of requests for seats... and then not show up on Donnie's big day.

I'm not saying it will happen, but it's quite a statement coming from Trump's own family.

The choppy waters that Americans are swimming in is a sea full of perils like book bans, sentencing pregnant women who had abortions to death, and attacking the others such as the LGTBQ community daily.

We're all still facing the leftover putid waters of a coup attempt two years ago. Instead of uniting Americans after turning back the assault on the Capitol by domestic terrorists, the country split into extreme factions taking on mainstream America.

However.

Rivers of lies will dry up under the harsh light of reality and the truth. Facts will always stay afloat while fiction eventually sinks under its own absurdity. 

As it stands, we all have a choice. We can swim upriver in defense of our hard-earned democracy, or we can swim downriver with the MAGA scum seeking to overthrow our republic.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Place Your Bet: What Are the Odds of a Trump Indictment?

               The question of the day.

Will Trump be charged in relation to hush-money payments made to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels?

He thinks so. He just doesn't know when.

So, what are the odds?

Unfortunately, you can't bet on politics in the United States. But don't despair. With the popularity of betting on politics skyrocketing across the globe, there is no shortage of odds on different political outcomes. 

Thanks to the bookies in the UK there's still a way to bet on Trump's fate with the court. Taking a look at the latest Trump odds the probability of an indictment is very high.

As of this writing indictment odds are 92.6% that he's charged. Here's a chart by ODDS CHECKER:

-Trump to be indicted in Manhattan in 2023

odds -1250 - implied chance 92.6%

--------------------------------------------------

-Trump to be extradited from FL to NY in 2023

odds +300 - implied chance 25%

---------------------------------------------------

-Trump to be a defendant in a criminal trial in 2023 - odds +275 - 26.7%

---------------------------------------------------

To clarify, these odds are only for the Manhattan criminal case, not the rest of the cases pending against Trump.

Despite denying American bookmakers a chance to bet on politics I strongly suspect there's plenty of betting places like office pools to wager on anything - including politics.

As it stands, I'm looking forward to more criminal indictments and seeing what the odds will be with them.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Spring Songs: Political Loons Are Tweeting Fresh Lies

As spring unfolds across the country making flowers bloom and right-wingers tweet gloom, we take the good with the bad.

A recent book release, "Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Militias" written by Kevin Cook describes how a new generation of Branch Davidians called The Branch, The Lord of Our Righteousness has emerged from the ashes of the Mt. Carmel compound.

The new church, sells pro-Donald Trump merchandise, including flags and t-shirts. Without David Koresh to rally around the new generation of loons has adopted Trump as their new savior.

This updated center for wanabee insurrectionists is blooming right now and expecting a visit from their new messiah this Saturday.

Trump purposely picked the 30th anniversary of the siege of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas to hold a rally there. What better place to gather with insurrections and trolls than Waco? 

The rally comes at a time Trump is reportedly facing criminal charges in New York, and multiple other criminal investigations this year.

The thing to take note of is that Trump has totally swung over to the most dangerous right-wing groups in America and is not even pretending to be moderate or mainstream.

In his desperation Trump has cast off his semi-civilized cloak of sanity and is going all out to get domestic terrorists votes. Whether it's Nazi's, Proud Boys, Three-Percenters, or the Klu Klux Klan, he's unrolled the welcoming mat.

By staging his hate rally at the site he's carrying on a tradition of anti-government activities there. Political pundits are saying this was on purpose. Of course, it was.

"Waco is hugely symbolic on the far right," said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, in a recent interview.

"That's not another place in the U.S. that you could pick that would tap into these deep veins of anti-government hatred - Christian nationalists' skepticism of the government - and I find it hard to believe that Trump doesn't know that" she concluded.

As it stands, the good news is Trump is totally outed as a supporter for domestic terrorists and that's not a good profile for someone seeking the presidency.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

No Indictment Today: Trump's Fake Forecast Was a Test Run

For days now Trump has been feeding his minions fake news about Tuesday being the day he would be indicted by a New York grand jury.

He never had the knowledge of when the indictment would be handed down but that didn't bother the biggest liar on the planet. His announcement to the base was a warmup for when the criminal indictment actually happened.

Trump was testing his students in crime in Congress and on the streets to see if their responses were properly loyal. So far, his minions have been protesting as programed.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy immediately announced an investigation into the Manhattan attorney general's office and prosecutor AG Alvin Bragg. He learned his lesson well from Trump on how to misuse government offices in order to protect his supreme leader.

Trump's congressional cronies on the so-called Weaponization of Government Committee, led by Gym Jordan, are weaponizing the powers of government for partisan political ends - the very thing the committee is supposedly trying to stop.

By turning the whole atmosphere into a circus with his fake prediction Trump is following his own rule book on preemptive strikes when cornered by the courts.

The fact of the matter is there's no real assurance of when the indictment will be handed down as authorities say it may be this week, but more than likely next week. 

Meanwhile Trump's power play in calling for protests will simmer but will come to a boil when the announcement does come.

As it stands, what gets me is the general public knows what Trump is doing and wondering if he'll ever be held accountable for his criminal activities.

Monday, March 20, 2023

Spring Has Sprung - Enjoy!

 
When it comes to the spring season, it seems to only last for a short time as nature paints the world in a frenzy of color. 

Birds sing beautiful songs to welcome the season and the air is warm, not too hot, and not too cold.

It makes one feel as if the whole environment is covered with green sheets to see the greenery around you. All plants and trees experience new life and form fresh flowers and leaves. 

Also, the plants are fully mature in the garden, looking very much like real gold everywhere.

After a long silence in winter, the birds roam and begin to sing near the houses or in the sky. 

When spring approach's it often makes people feel more comfortable because they can go outside without warm clothes.

In addition, parents enjoy having picnics during their children's vacations.

Flower buds bloom fully, embracing nature with their smiles, and bloom to give romantic feelings by spreading the scent everywhere.

So, this measure of weather and cold spring weather makes people do a lot of work without getting tired. 

The season brings new crops to farmers as a reward for long months of hard work. 

Benefits of the Spring 

1. Heaps of Sunshine

After a dark and cold winter, the sunlight in the spring comes bringing smiles. 

2. Better Temperature

Spring is in the middle of the two worst seasons: hot summer and heavy winter. 

This is the reason why this great time brings people an excellent opportunity to look for new outdoor businesses.

3. Projects and Hobbies

It's the time to enjoy long days and short nights. This is why spring is an excellent season to start a project or a hobby. You can also think about farming and take this time as the last season of opportunity.

4. The Cutest Baby Animals

Like ducks, chicks, piglets, and rabbits, baby animals are cute beyond comparison. You can search for photos or videos of these little ones.

5. Flowers, Flowers everywhere

After a harsh and long winter, the reward of spring awaits with glorious flowers. Their colors painting fantasy landscapes across the land.

Plants and trees get a new green look with their blossoms. Everything looks so good at this time of the year.

6. Fresh air

The spring season brings refreshing and strong winds, which illuminates the emotions for a few milliseconds.

You can leave your window open to allow warm air circulation into your home rejuvenating it.

As it stands, Spring has sprung. Enjoy it!

Sunday, March 19, 2023

My Great Uncle Was Rescued in The Famous Los Banos Raid

               A change of pace today. 

Here's a snippet from the history books. The Los Banos Prison Raid by Philippine guerrillas and American paratroopers.

My Great-Uncle Leo Stancliff from Bakersfield, California was a civilian POW during WW II. This account mentions someone from Hydesville in Humboldt County, California.

His name was Herman Beaber and he (with foot notes from his son John) wrote a book about his experiences titled: "Deliverance! It Has Come!" 

In late 1941 war broke out in the Philippines with the Japanese. Many endured imprisonment, including some ministers who were interned at the Los Baños Internment Camp located about 40 miles south of Manila in the Philippines.

They were Willie Jamieson from Chirnside, Scotland; Ernest Stanley from England (internment at Santo Tomás); Leo Stancliff of Bakersfield, California; Cecil Barrett of New Zealand; and Herman Beaber of Hydesville, California, who kept a diary during their time as prisoners of war (1942-1945).

On January 6, 1942, Herman and his fellow ministers were picked up by the Japanese and were taken first to the Rizal Memorial Stadium where they were registered. Then they were bundled back into the car and taken to Santo Tomás University grounds.

They later were released and allowed to continue their church work. (With the exception of Ernest Stanley who chose to remain in Santo Tomás as an official interpreter for the Internee Government). 

They were allowed to have religious services on Sundays only, from January 15, 1942, until they were taken to prison at Los Baños on July 8, 1944, along with all the other American missionaries in the area.

Los Baños was the former University of the Philippines. The Agricultural School at Los Baños was located in a town on the island of Luzon.

It had been converted into an internment camp. It was a plot of about 55 or 60 acres with a barbed wire fence around it, for more than 2,000 civilians who had the misfortune of falling into Japanese hands at the beginning of the war.

As time passed and as the Japanese began to lose the war, things became very desperate at the Los Baños prison camp. While Herman Beaber's diary does not record that they were tortured, they nearly starved, and many in the camp died from disease and slow starvation.

Herman wrote in his diary... "Naturally there is theft of food in camp. It is considered a major crime. We see people (respectable people) looking into garbage cans for banana skins, etc. (If you want a real delicacy... Fry some banana skins in rancid coconut oil.) People going to points in camp several blocks away will have to sit down to rest. Fights occur in the food lines. Some have eaten bugs and beetles - so they say."

Herman left from the United States for the Philippi in 1940 weighing 202 lbs. at 6'3" and he weighed 140 lbs. when he was finally rescued on February 23, 1945. 

On that day American soldiers freed over 2000 prisoners at Los Baños in a daring guerrilla and paratrooper rescue, just one day before they were all to be executed by the Japanese.

Former Army Chief of Staff General Collin Powell proclaimed, "I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival the Los Baños prison raid. It is the textbook airborne operation for all ages and all armies." 

Former Army Chief of Staff General Colin Powell proclaimed- "I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival the Los Baños prison raid. It is the textbook airborne operation for all ages and all armies."

Herman Beaber wrote..."Let me say that you who have never been deprived of seeing Old Glory and all she stands for, for three long years, cannot understand what that sight would mean. We feel heavily indebted to our rescuers. (No greater love has a man, than to lay down his life for another) We are mighty proud to be citizens of a great country like the United States. On the other hand, we are grateful to God for His care and protection, and now that He has spared our lives... we feel more inclined than ever to give Him our best."

As it stands, my Great Uncle Leo passed away on Oct.29th, 2005. Herman Beaber passed away on Feb. 5th, 2001. This article first ran on June 12, 2009, in this blog.

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Regardless of Trump's Threats There Will Be Accountability

Huddled in a corner in a faux Oval Office in Mar-a-Largo a desperate criminal is crying out.

Coup Coup Trump is sending out the call to his minions that it's time for a "regime change" today after posting on his ironically named Truth Social that he will be arrested next Tuesday.

He knows he's going to be criminally indicted for his handling of a hush-money payment during his 2016 presidential campaign.

What prompted Trump's prediction of a Tuesday indictment is questionable. 

Was there a leak from the Manhattan Attorney's office? 

Were Trump's lawyers informed that Tuesday would be Donny's Big Adventure and they told their client?

Or is this just Trump's preemptive attempt to rally his minions and make sure their frothing properly by next week?

One thing is for sure. Trump is ready to attack America, democracy, and the rule of law. Right now.

Local authorities are preparing for the worst when Trump has to come to a federal building to get fingerprinted and his mug shot taken for posterity. I hear there's already bids going out to get the first copy of that photo session.

The response from McCarthy's merry band of morons in the House has been predictable. "The justice system is politically motivated," the MAGA lawmakers whined to their mindless base.

One of the most hypocritical cowards among Republicans (he's right there with McCarthy), Mike Pence told the extreme right media outlet Breitbart that, "It (the upcoming indictment) reeks of the kind of political prosecution that we endured back in the day of the Russian hoax and the whole impeachment over a phone call."

But as we all know now it wasn't a hoax. Mueller's investigation was strangled by Trump's corrupt AG Bill Barr.

No one put the current situation better than Rep. Eric Swalwell when he tweeted (in response to McCarthy promising to investigate Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg), "The guy who created a committee to look into 'weaponization of government' is using his powers in government to stop an independent prosecution of his boss."

With those seditionist lawmakers and the mindless minions of his cult Trump is declaring war on democracy and the rule of law in a desperate attempt to avoid justice and accountability.

Anyone with an IQ over 100 knows that. 

When the dam bursts with this first criminal indictment of the former president others will be following in the months ahead. 

As it stands, somehow in all of the chaos caused by the most corrupt president in US history there will be accountability. Regardless of Trump's threats.

Friday, March 17, 2023

The Time Fox News Was 'Out Foxed' By a Veteran Group

Fox News has been polluting military bases for years with lies and hard-right propaganda. 

The rise of military personnel going MAGA is alarming. There were even active-duty military veterans storming the Capitol on Jan.6.

Now a group of military veterans are doing something about the poison being spread by Fox hosts to the country's military personnel and their families.

At first the group, VoteVets, tried to run an ad on Fox but were roundly rejected. That didn't deter them however as they went around Fox and talked directly to the military about running the ad.

VoteVets went to the military's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation department which is responsible for providing services and activities to support the well-being of military personnel and their families.

Many military bases have their own cable TV systems, typically run by the military. The ad is going to run on those bases. It calls for Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham to be removed from military installation TVs. The ad will run during those three hosts broadcasts.

In other words, Fox was out foxed by a group of veterans.

According to VoteVets, "Fox host's lies and disinformation splits the ranks, hurts cohesion, and weakens American's national defense. They must be removed from all TVs on military installations NOW."

Kudos to my fellow veterans!

As it stands, it's great to see pushback against the Republican propaganda machine. It takes these kinds of efforts to combat the enemy within and protect democracy.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Here's a Novel Idea: States Banning Political Parties

In another episode of Romper Room politics from Florida a GOP legislator wants to ban the Democratic Party from the state.

Really.

Right-wing state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia filed a bill to cancel the Democratic party recently. This comes after proposing fining bloggers for speaking bad about DeSantis and his minions.

Both of the bills are nothing more than a publicity stunt. Ingoglia admitted the bill was designed to get back at Democrats and "leftist activists" who he claimed have been trying to cancel people and companies for things they said or did in the past.

Fittingly the bill - SB 1248 - is called The Ultimate Cancel Act.

If passed the bill would require Florida officials to notify all registered voters who are Democrats that their party no longer exists in the state. 

Any sane person knows that disenfranchising five million voters is lunacy and unconstitutional. But it's red meat (pun intended) for MAGA maggots across the country.

Don't be surprised if you see other states with a Republican majority legislature introduce the same ridiculous attempt to own the libs.

Remember... it's all about theatrics in the hard right-wing cult that claims to be the Republican party.

As it stands, Florida has turned into a training ground for fascists under DeSantis.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Take Your Pick: 'Patriots Row' or 'Seditionist Square?'

          There goes the neighborhood.

According to US House member Jaime Raskin, ...there's a massive real-estate coming-out party for the extreme right going on in Washington DC."

A conservative nonprofit led by Mark (Spineless) Meadows - The Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) - has been quietly going on a shopping spree that added up to 41 million for four commercial properties along a single Pennsylvania Avenue block.

CPI said the goal is to be a "platform" for the "conservative movement." 

A quick note about CPI; the organization has promoted MAGA stars like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. It's stocked with election deniers and seditionists.

True to form CPI remained unknown to most of the sellers. I suspect they knew if they were associated with the radical nonprofit front, they might have a hard time acquiring the properties.

So, they did what most corrupt organizations (think Trump Crime Family) do, they set up shell companies with names like Clear Plains Holding, Brunswick Partners, Houston Group, Newpoint and Pennsylvania Avenue Holdings.

Do you love irony? I do.

Here's a dose for you.

This troll driven organization's transformation of prime real estate into a campus is being called Patriots' Row.

I like Rep. Raskin's suggestion of Seditionist Square. It certainly seems more fitting.

Just look at one of the numerous grants CPI has doled out. It went to former Trump advisor and Nazi, Stephen Miller, who leads America First Legal which got $1.3 million from CPI in 2021.

Ready for some more irony?

America First Legal bills itself as a check on "lawless" executive actions and the "Radical Left." 

Election denier attorney Cleta Mitchell runs the organization's "Election Integrity Network," which has cast doubt on the validity of President Biden's 2020 victory.

One more ironic thing and I'll stop.

For decades Republicans have referred to Washington DC as the "swamp" and a liberal stronghold for snowflakes.

Yet here we are, watching the extreme hard-right MAGA morons set up camp in the middle of the swamp

As it stands, I like Rep. Raskins suggestion, "Maybe Marjorie Taylor Greene can be their advisory neighborhood commissioner!"

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

A Look at Real World Reality Shows

      Since reality shows became popular

50 years ago, their format has had few changes. The interesting part of this form of TV entertainment is that it operates on the fake premise of real unscripted dialogue and scenes.

The fact of the matter is all reality shows are scripted, regardless of what the producers would have us believe. 

What happens is viewers suspend their disbelief and pour themselves into other people's dramatic lives because it's more fun than reality. Viewers become personally involved with the cast's challenges.

In the Real World

We have a political party that stages reality shows daily. MAGA supporters thrive on the lies and misinformation coming from hard right GOP forums put on by insurrectionist lawmakers and activists.

The leading clown for these real-world shows is our former twice impeached president and traitor Donald Trump.

He just put on a performance in Iowa where he sliced and diced what was really happening in the world and served up blatant lies and racist tropes to his eager audience.

It helps to understand that the far-right followers who enjoy these real-world shows aren't interesting in facts... they're just looking to be titillated and infuriated by performers.

Unlike the reality shows on TV where viewers step away after each episode and go on with their lives, the MAGA community lives in a perpetual state of foul fantasies. The show never ends for them.

If I were to use three words describing our society today, they would be Denial of Reality.

Americans are still shell-shocked by the pandemic and years of Trump's corrupt regime where fake news was a mantra for domestic terrorists and MAGA morons. It still is.

It's understandable that millions of people want to escape the reality around them, it's pretty grim at times.

The difference between the reality shows on TV and the MAGA shows in everyday life is you can turn off the TV if you don't like an episode, but there's no way you can turn off the daily performances by right-wingers attacking democracy.

As it stands, it's okay to watch a TV show and suspend reality for the sake of entertainment, but when you suspend reality in the real-world bad things can happen.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Banks Collapse: Trump's Garden of Poison Seeds Showing Results

Malicious farmer Don the Con has been planting seditious seeds in America's garden since he slithered into office in 2017.

One of those seeds recently bore fruit when two banks collapsed last week. During a span of 48 hours the Silicon Vally Bank foundations crumbled sending shock waves through the United States and Europe.

The reason was clear. When Trump tore up the regulations for the banking industry, he opened pandora's box unleashing financial chaos in the country.

It was the largest failure of a US bank since Washington Mutual in 2008.

Once again President Biden is forced to deal with one of Trump's poison legacies. From mishandling COVID 19 to widespread government corruption, his administration has been putting out fires since day one.

One of the deadliest seeds was the Big Lie that continues to have violent consequences in our country today.   

Trump has cultivated the crazies that have sprung up in his garden since he first claimed an election was rigged (prior to the election) if he didn't win.

As the poison seeds sprout into grown plants the results are all challenges against democracy and our republic.

The Biden administration is doing its best to deal with the contents of Trump's MAGA garden, but it looks like there's a long road to hoe.

As it stands, even as Trump faces several criminal indictments, he's busy planting more poisons seeds that he hopes will sprout up before the 2024 presidential election.

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Their Own Language: Republicans Employ Coded Words to Titillate Right-Wing Traitors

I recently read a fascinating article about how chimpanzees have their own language with almost 400 words.

Wow!

It immediately brought to mind how MAGA minions have their own language, however it consists of less than 400 words.

One of the astonishing things about chimpanzee's vocal repertoire, when compared to other non-human animals, is the extreme flexibility in which they can combine their limited amount of signals/language into meaningful sentences.

The MAGA dictionary is a foul swamp of words that relies on one-word insults and lies. Stringing together sentences beyond four words is nearly impossible for right-wing lunatics. (Lock Her Up is a prime example)

Researchers report that human language evolved from a limited use of words much like the chimpanzees use. It's obvious that MAGA morons aren't able to advance in their discourse because they are living in a toxic bubble.

Right-wingers need to keep things simple.

Less words. Ignore reality. Project. Deny. Lie. Deep State. Wokeism. Rino. Snowflake. Misinformation. Groomers. Rumors. Brandon. Libtards... and a host of other coded words to stir up the sociopaths in our society.

Some may say, "Gee Dave, I don't know if I'm okay with comparing chimpanzees to right-wing Republicans... it's an insult to the monkeys!"

I apologize to those chimpanzees and humans who were offended by the comparison between MAGA minions and monkeys. 

As it stands, the country fast forwarded the clocks today, but right-wingers turned their clocks backwards.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Stop the Stupidity! Make Daylight Savings Time Permanent

One year ago on March 15th, the US Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act which ends the twice-annual changing of the clocks.

So why are we having to turn our clocks one hour forward tonight?

The reason is simple, the House never passed the legislation, and it never made it to President Biden's desk for signing.

I don't understand. Who would be against enabling children to play outdoors later or reducing seasonal depression?

I know of at least one group that opposes the change, The National Association of Convenience stores. There are others that want things to remain as they are. Despite no good reason to keep playing with the clock in the 21st century.

The Sunshine Protection Act which was sponsored by senator Marco Rubio last year was reintroduced by Rubio on March 2nd. The senate passed the bill by unanimous consent, but it stalled in the House last year.

This is a great chance for the House to pass a bipartisan bill that will truly help Americans out.  As Democratic senator Ed Markey, a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a recent press conference, 

"It's past time for Congress to broaden its horizons and finally make Daylight Saving Time permanent. With the Sunshine Protection Act, we can shine a light on the darkest days of the year and deliver more sun, more smiles, and brighter skies."

Background on Daylight Savings

America first adopted daylight savings time in 1918 to save oil and electricity during World War I. But now, it isn't associated with energy savings.

The benefits of a Permanent Daylight Savings Time (DST)

-In a recent meta-study by Rutgers researchers they found that DST would allow more people to commute during daylight hours and decrease the risk of car accidents.

-Also having fewer hours of darkness would help reduce crime. 

-Other studies have shown that more daylight means less energy usage. An extra hour of daylight over winter will keep houses warmer for longer.

-A study by the American Council projected a decrease in carbon emissions by 10.8 million metric tons.

-Losing sleep. Instead of waking up at 8:00 a.m., we're waking up at an hour that our body says is 7:00 a.m. Briefly put, it messes up our circadian clock which is an internal clock that tells us when to go to sleep and when to wake up. The cognitive consequences or lack of sleep, tend to hit students really hard.

With all these benefits it's hard to understand why we haven't made a permanent DST in the USA a long time ago.

As it stands, I suspect the reason is partisan politics and that some businesses don't want to see a permanent change for financial reasons.

Friday, March 10, 2023

Beware the Ides of March - Will Trump Become the First Former President in US History Tried for a Felony?


No one saw this coming.

Trump's hush money payment to Stormy Daniels six years ago may get him his first criminal indictment from the looks of things.

The Manhattan district attorney's office told Trump's legal team that he could face criminal charges yesterday stemming from his role to bribe Daniels from talking about their affair.

Prosecutors issued Trump an invitation to testify and tell his side of the story before the grand jury. I highly doubt Trump's lawyers will let him because he's such a liar he'd perjure himself while spinning his tale.

Some court observers think Trump's lawyers might try to meet with prosecutors in an effort to fend off criminal charges. Good luck with that. It appears the DA's office is locked and loaded for this big game hunt.

I have to admit, when the new DA Alvin Bragg took over the case five years ago it looked like he was going to let Trump off the hook, especially since two prominent lawyers on the case claimed there was enough evidence to charge the former president back then.

It looks like a lot of people underestimated Bragg. Critics even thought Bragg was afraid to take on Trump. Or he was in someone's pocket. Obviously, they were wrong.

This trial is going to be historic in many ways. The United States has never seen a former president indicted for a felony. Trump better beware the Ides of March.

Most political wags have suggested Trump's first criminal indictment would come out of Georgia for his attempt to overturn legitimate votes in the state in his favor.

When the day comes, and the Manhattan DA's office announces Trump's indictment a dam will burst. It seemed like no one wanted to be the first to try Trump. 

When it happens, it'll be the opening overture for the rest of his criminal cases that will follow this year and next year.

It's still hard to believe that accountability is finally coming for Trump and that there's a possibility that if convicted of a felony he'd get up to four years in prison.

As it stands, I can't get too excited about the possibility of Teflon Don being put behind bars because no one in his crooked life has ever held him accountable. Hopefully this will be the first time.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Gun Safety News: Colorado Lawmakers Introduce 'Assault Weapon' Ban

Somewhere in Washington DC Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert is suffering a near breakdown. She heard about a Democratic-Sponsored Bill involving gun safety for the residents of the "her" state.

As MAGA's AR15 poster girl Boebert is one of the most vocal gun advocates in the country. The idea that the bill (HB 23-1230, also known as "Prohibit Assault Weapons in Colorado") may become law in her state is like acid dripping upon her tiny brain.

The bill was introduced by Democratic state Representative Elisabeth Epps of District 6 in Denver and state Senator Rhonda Fields of District 28 in Adams and Arapahoe counties.

The debate surrounding the bill stems from what can be considered an assault weapon. But it goes deeper than that. Citizens of Colorado are sick of mass shootings and murders committed with AR15 style platform rifles.

It safe to say all Americans are tired of mass shootings with assault rifles. As of mid-February, the Gun Violence Archive has counted 100 mass shootings this year as of the first week of March. That's more than the days of the year and this disturbing milestone doesn't show any signs of abating.

It's going to take other states (ideally all 50) passing gun safety laws to begin to slow down the slaughters that our society has tolerated thus far. 

There has been a growing movement across the country to do more about addressing gun violence. However, fierce resistance is still coming from MAGA lawmakers in bed with the NRA and gun manufacturers in the country.

The day the bill was introduced Denver high school students marched to the Colorado Capitol building to protest gun violence after a student was shot dead outside of the city's East High School last month.

If the bill passes Democratic Governor Jared Polis will sign it into effect immediately. Gun traders would have until July 1 to sell or transfer their unsold firearms to non-Colorado residents.

As it stands, it's time some meaningful gun control was passed, especially a ban on assault weapons.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Hard-Right House GOP Preparing to Gut Programs for the Poor

                  It's war on the poor, 

but the Republicans don't care as long as they slash programs and make cuts somewhere in our national budget.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sold his soul to the minority MAGA Republicans in the House and promised them he'd create a debt ceiling crisis by not compromising with democrats.

One of the many sick things about this push is those MAGA Republicans concede their going to cause political pain and blowback from their colleagues and poor Americans. But they don't care.

"There is going to be a gnashing of teeth. It is not going to be a pretty process. But that's how it should be," said Ralph Norman, an arch-conservative member of the House Budget Committee.

In the MAGA mindset going after food stamps is a lot easier than cutting Social Security or Medicare. Calling the Biden administration, "a woke and weaponized government," Norman wants to see deep spending cuts on social programs and foreign aid. 

But the crap doesn't end there. The MAGA morons want to eliminate the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Pentagon.

On top of that they want to eliminate Obamacare expansions to Medicare.

Claiming it takes courage, Rep. Josh Brecheen on the Budget Committe rationalized the assault on the truly needy Americans by noting he has to go after them because there's no other options.

So far, no plan or agenda has been forthcoming detailing the exact cuts they're going to make.

Democrats are eagerly urging them to share their dark vision, but McCarthy is refusing to until the poison package powered by MAGA clowns gets voted on.

For good reason. McCarthy knows Americans are going to be infuriated at having a slice of federal programs they rely upon slashed, effecting all incomes.

There is no talk of compromise among the MAGA minions who are on a search and destroy mission.

When it comes to voting on the plan it's not a slam dunk because...

1. The GOP has a narrow House majority.

2. Securing 218 votes needed to approve the budget is going to be extremely hard.

3. Some Republicans risking political harm in swing states do not want to be attached to something so vile. 

Every proposed budget has to have someone who can translate the agenda. MAGA morons have Russell T. Vought (a former Trump administration budget director) who now leads the far-right Center for Renewing America.

As it stands, have you ever noticed that when it comes to making cuts Republicans always go after the most vulnerable?

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Enemy Within: Part 1 - Tucker Carlson

This is Part One of a series of posts on individuals who are subverting democracy in any way they can. Each individual I introduce is a major player against American freedoms and an outright liar and traitor.

Part One:

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson has been hosting his own show on Fox News since 2016. From the very start he pushed right-wing conservative talking points.

Carlson is not a reporter. He is a clown for hire. He is also a propaganda puppet for the MAGA crowd best known for pushing lies about what happened on Jan. 6.

Despite being publicly outed during Dominion's lawsuit against Fox for knowingly telling lies about the 2020 election - promoting the Big Lie - he continues too knowing there will be no repercussions from Fox News management. 

He colluded with traitor and insurrectionist Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, who gave Carlson 41,000 hours of videos showing the attack at the Capitol. No other media source has been allowed access to the videos put together by the Jan. 6 Committee.

Carlson's insider influence on Republican lawmakers has led to unfettered access to information he should never have been allowed to see. There's security footage that Carlson can now share with his pals in dark places.

He has already come out with his first special report based upon cherry picked moments where people are calmly walking down a hallway "respectively touring" the Capitol.

Of course, at the same time there is absolute chaos in other hallways and rooms...but Fox viewers will never see that. No, they will hang on to every lie Carlson spews like it's the gospel.

The shameless right-wing host seems to be immune from pushbacks against him in the courts and other TV news stations and social media. This deeply flawed individual is only a part of the conspiracy against democracy today.

There are other equally vile people who have chosen to ignore reality by spreading incendiary lies designed to undermine our freedoms and the rule of law. I will be featuring those other enemies within in the coming weeks.

One last thing. Carlson is not doing what he does for money (he was born with a silver spoon in his big yap). 

He's doing it for the power he can wield and because he's a narcissist. Both qualities that traitors are known for.

As it stands, the common denominator for the individuals I'm featuring is just how powerful and what a threat one person can be to our democracy.

Indicted! Humpty Trumpty Has a Bigly Fall!

Humpty Trumpty sat on a Mar-a-Lardo Wall He got indicted and had a great fall All the corrupt lawmakers and all of the MAGA minions Couldn&#...