Hunter Biden Indicted on Gun Charges

After five years of constant harassment of President Joe Biden's son Hunter, Republicans are seeing some of the fruits of their pursuit today.

Special Council David Weiss charged Hunter with three counts in connection to a gun he purchased in 2018.

The charges include making a false statement on federal firearms form and possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. The original plea deal collapsed for a multitude of reasons.

For five years Weiss (a Trump appointee) investigated the president's son for money laundering, felony tax evasion, illegal foreign lobbying, and other matters tied to Hunter's overseas business deals.

And this is what they're going after him for? Lying on a federal gun form and having a gun when he was prohibited from owning one due to his mental condition. I should point out coincidently (or not) that the stature of limitations for these charges was set to expire in early October.

The real damage is the fact Hunter made history as the first son of a president charged with felony counts. That's a smear that Joe is going to have to carry for the rest of his political career.

While corks are being popped in MAGA world right now they're far from done with him. The crazies in congress smell blood on the waters now as they ramp up a campaign with Hunter as the poster boy for the corrupt Biden crime family.

Again, coincidently (?) attorneys for Hunter Biden filed a civil lawsuit against former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler, alleging illegal hacking in violation of federal computer privacy laws.

The suit, filed in federal court in California, accuses Ziegler of "accessing, tampering with, manipulation, altering, copying and damaging computer data that they did not own and that they claimed to have obtained from hacking Hunter's iPhone data and from scouring a copy of the hard drive of what they claim to be Hunter's "laptop" computer.

MAGA morons please note that there is NO LAPTOP. Their talking about a hard drive. You'll have to ditch the evil laptop bullshit.

As it stands, one of the many things about this pursuit that really galls me is the fact that the Trump family grifted Americans for years (in and out of office) and yet none of the former president's kids were investigated for their crimes.

Republicans Pre-Emptive Strikes Against Laws Shows What Losers They Are

An increasing trend among GOP lawmakers is setting up their agendas with pre-emptive strikes.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Gov. Ron DeSantis are two blatant examples of what extremist Republicans can do with the help of MAGA legislators to enact their corrupt agendas.

The one big thing they have in common is they cover their asses with GOP legislatures that slowly eat away at people's rights. 

Take Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders latest example of how these MAGA minions protect themselves by withholding information from constituents.

She's colluding with her Republican cronies to create massive gaps in the Freedom of Information Act by trying to pass a bill that would shield her from public exposure on her actions.

The plan was to close off all access to her records, including any "reflecting communications" between the governor's office and her cabinet secretaries. 

It also would have created an attorney-client privilege exemption from the open-records law and change the standard for awarding attorney's fees in lawsuits over open records.

But Sander's first attempt to weaken government transparency was watered down when Arkansas lawmakers voted to NOT go lockstep on the scheme and ditched the more far-reaching proposals.

She is still getting her way to a lesser extent because legislators narrowed the bill down today to just shielding her travel and security records in a House vote. A final vote is set for Thursday. Local politicians say it's a done deal.

The issue isn't going to go away for long. The plot to hide all transparency of GOP lawmakers who dominate the state is now underway with the opening of this pre-emptive strike against Arkansas citizens freedoms.

Abbott and DeSantis have perfected the early strike scheme to a science. They're both turning their states into undemocratic banana republics.

Look no further for pre-emptive strikes than the crazy caucus in the House who are busy with fake investigations against President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

They're throwing up flak for their leader the disgraced former president who is losing his battle with the courts which intend to hold him accountable for his coup attempt and stealing top secret documents (to name a couple of the 91 felony charges against him in four jurisdictions).

To be sure, Trump is a loser. He's proved that since losing the 2020 election by trying to destroy our republic, the constitution, and to form a fascist government with him as leader for life.

Trump's campaign of grievances and martyrdom is playing well with his base, but more importantly it's not stopping the courts from pursuing him with evidence regardless of his sob stories and lies.

As it stands, the Republican party is history and now conservatives/MAGA morons have chosen to cast their lot with a loser.

Deep Sea Fishing: GOP House Dives into Impeachment Inquiry of Biden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy took the much-anticipated deep dive today and announced his goons will head committees to try and find dirt on President Joe Biden.

Anything Democrats do looks fishy to MAGA morons who live in a perpetual state of multiple conspiracies and fear.

Quick quiz - what does inquiry mean in Trumpese?

A. A fishing expedition. 

B. Another way to say they don't have facts but by gosh they'll keep looking.

C. A way to run interference for their great orange whale Trump.

D. All of the above.

Watching the visibly shaken McCarthy telling the press he authorized a full-scale fishing expedition was like looking at a person with Stockholm Syndrome.

He didn't have a choice.

If he didn't genuflect before the crazy caucus and open a major fishing expedition into Biden, they would have made him walk the plank. 

The reality is any one of the 35 hardline representatives could have called for his impeachment if he didn't go along with the charade.

But the coward isn't out of the doghouse yet with his crazy cohorts. They have other demands that McCarthy must somehow make happen. To keep his job, he'll plumb the depths of every red herring that the poorly named Freedom Caucus casts out.

As for the rest of the confused Republicans in the House they're acting like a school of pilot fish following a shark and hoping they don't get eaten.

I think the real irony in McCarthy caving into the right-wing fringe that lurks around the House like barracudas, is the fact the whole exercise is a futile attempt that will backfire in the polls by motivating Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans to turn on them at the ballot box.

As it stands, the ship of fools wallowing in Congress is headed for turbulent waters with their fact-free accusations against President Biden and his family. 

The House Will Not Be in Order: Returning GOP Members Making Sure It Won't Be

They're back!

Once upon a time in the distant past members of the House of Representives came back from their summer break and addressed the nation's challenges. 

This year returning Republicans are ready to shut down the government and take another vacation. The only thing holding them back is they're waging a war among themselves on how draconian they will go to achieve their undemocratic goals.

House Speaker, and Trump lackey, Kevin McCarthy is in the middle of the hot mess between the Freedom Caucus and the Mainstream Caucus (I just discovered there is actually a group of Republicans not gulping down Orange Trump Aid although some do take frequent sips).

The confused and angry Republicans in the House may try to kick McCarthy out, although that's not a given...yet.

McCarthy's challenges seem insurmountable at the moment. It's going to take some real wheeling and dealing to avoid a government shutdown at the end of this month.

The bitterly divided majority GOP members don't want to send more aid to Ukraine, and they want a Biden impeachment inquiry. And that's just for starters.

Imagine what it must be like trying to navigate a deal with extremists who don't give a damn about the country in their corrupt attempts to undermine our democracy?

McCarthy's office is pushing for a short-term continuing resolution, or spending stopgap of a few months in order to give Republicans more leverage in the spending negotiations.

It's a sensible position but probably will be rejected in the inter-party cage fight atmosphere hanging over the House right now.

Scott Perry, the leader of the roughly 35-member Freedom Caucus doesn't think any GOP spending bills could pass this week without getting rid of McCarthy. 

The chances of successfully sending McCarthy down the road with empty tin cans trailing behind him depends on multiple actions. It's not clear how much support he does have if the ultra-MAGAs attempt to take him down.

As it stands, it appears that Republicans in the House are already bracing for a shutdown that they know will happen regardless of McCarthy's efforts to avoid it.

MAGA Assault on Wisconsin Voters Part of a Sick Pattern

Maga Republicans aren't even waiting until a newly elected democrat judge has her first case.

They went on the attack just five days after Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz took her seat on the court.

The plan, part of a national war on democratic lawmakers, is to cancel her. They want to stop her from doing what the majority of Wisconsin voters elected her to do.

This effort to sideline a duly elected judge is part and parcel of what's happening around the country. It no longer matters to conservatives that they are thwarting the will of American voters. They just don't care.

Their scorched earth policy being carried out springs from Trumpism and the denial of reality if it's not convenient for the right-wing.

Impeachment is the latest threat Trump minions are raising against elected democratic lawmakers even when there's absolutely no evidence to do so.

Look no further than their fevered attempts to impeach President Joe Biden. It's obviously a blatant partisan attack because they've been trying for years to get something on him, including pursuing his son Hunter like honey badgers.

Doesn't matter. It's looking like that weak-kneed jellyfish House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is going to bow before the crazy caucus and carry out an "Impeachment inquiry" like there's ever been such a thing, especially without any evidence to warrant it.

What we see in Wisconsin is part of a hateful agenda designed to weaken our freedoms and laws. Wisconsin Republicans know Protasiewicz hasn't committed any impeachable offenses but that doesn't matter. 

The real reason the MAGA lawmakers are afraid of her is because her overwhelming election victory gave the liberals a majority on the state Supreme Court. That translates into throwing out a gerrymandered state legislative map and legalizing abortion in Wisconsin.

Our country has never seen a political party that is carrying out such bold assaults against our basic liberties and rights. And doing it with impunity.

There's only one political party fighting for the majority of Americans - Democrats. They don't want fascism to take hold in our republic. Voting democrat in 2024 will save our democracy against Trump and his homegrown terrorist cult. 

As it stands, in the next year we're undoubtably going to see more calls for impeachments of democratic lawmakers because MAGA Land is growing more desperate every day as Trump faces 91 felony criminal counts in four different jurisdictions.

Conservatives Have Always Hated College Students: Even in Colonial America

Conservatives are busy launching "woke attacks" daily against college students and liberals like it's the latest cultural complaint.

Wokeism is not new. 

Young people complained of the dictatorial tendencies of academic authorities and often linked them with the tyrannical British in colonial times.

It was Thomas Jefferson who tried to provide students at his new University of Virginia with more intellectual autonomy, allowing them to choose classes. But the students had other liberties in mind and rioted for more freedom from college supervision.

I grew up during the 1960s when young people spurned the world of their parents.

I remember the rights battles and the acceleration of the war in Vietnam. 

Students rejected the idea that campuses should be separate from society and embraced the principal that their political action mattered. The whole anti-war movement engaged in civil disobedience to stop the evils produced by "the system."

The older generation were very conservative and anyone rocking the boat was looked upon with suspicion and yes, hate, for their opposing world views.

Nothing has changed today.

We see the same dynamic as students demand that colleges address systemic racism within the institutions themselves, including examining their histories. 

When conservatives and liberals both denounce cancel culture, I hear the echoes of the 1960s.

Today young people are being accused of being censorious, illiberal and careerist - as well as woke.

The Founding Fathers complained about drinking in the dorms; in the 1960s musical "Bye Bye Birdie," parents sang, "What's the matter with kids today?"

It's fair to say that students will always question obstacles and opportunities in college. It's only natural for young people to experiment with expectations and limits surrounding them as they try to think for themselves in a chaotic society.

As it stands, when I graduated from high school the last thing I wanted to do was go to college. Luckily for me, I changed my mind years later.

The Unity Myth Exposed: It's Americans versus Americans

As Americans brace for a presidential election next year they are also preparing for a civil war.

Cartoonist Walt Kelly's character Pogo once said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us." The phrase's origins go back to Oliver Hazard Perry's famous report where he bragged that "We have met the enemy, and they are ours." 

The irony of that statement rings like a bell in hell. We are our own worst enemies. Not Russia. Not China. Not North Korea. Not Iran. No. 

We are on a destructive path that started seven years ago when Trump was elected president and he set out to destroy democracy and the rules of the land. 

After losing the 2020 election Trump dropped all pretense of caring about Americans needs and went on a personal vendetta and spread the Big Lie. He's still doing it in his campaign to get reelected in 2024.

You know whose fault Trump is? He's our fault. That crazy segment of Americans that elected him crawled out of their basements and caves to give Trump the opportunity to take down our republic and turn it into an authoritarian country.

When Trumpism became a full-fledged cult in the last three years the country plunged into chaos and divided America into two tribes that hate each other.

One could argue that social media opened the doors to lies and misinformation that plagues the land now. But it's more complicated than that.

It didn't help when the country was fighting COVID-19 that extremists took advantage of people's fears by denying the science of vaccines and telling followers that it was bad for them. 

The lingering effects of those lies is still slithering through conservative circles who seek to destroy the constitution and everything this nation was founded on.

Historians say Rome fell from within. There was no country that could defy them and get away with it. But internal politics doomed the mighty empire.

The comparison to America's plight is obvious. Americans are so entrenched in political camps that compromise seems impossible. That's leading to the gradual deterioration of democracy and the world we grew up in.

What could possibly unify Americans during these terrible times? Would a war where an enemy attacks us galvanize Americans to come together in the spirit of freedom?

Frankly I'm not sure. 

As it stands, the way Republicans are embracing Putin and other world dictators is alarming. The Trump cult may end up siding with the enemy. 

Why Are the Russians Doxxing Info of Trump Grand Jurors?

Russia. Russia. Russia.

Every time Trump has faced legal challenges or spread misinformation the Russians have come running to his aid.

They were there for him in 2016 and continue to defend him until this day. 

Exhibit one:

A Russian company doxxed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the grand jurors involved in the 2020 election case against Trump.

According to Atlanta cops the company has refused U.S. federal government orders to remove the information. The Russian host site has ignored all demands and apparently feels safe on the dark web.

The results? The doxxing led to Trump supporters harassing the grand jurors, Fani Willis and members of her family.

This is only one example of how the Russians are currently attacking Trump's foes. They never left his side since helping him get elected in 2016.

Growing numbers of the Trump cult are embracing Putin and advocating for an authoritarian state with Trump as a permanent dictator.

When Trump twisted the Mueller report around - with the help of AG Bill Barr - and claimed he didn't collude with the Russians it was a bald lie.

The Russians Doxxing information of Georgia grand jurors and Willis is a continuation of a relationship that seems to have deepened over the years. 

Putin wants Trump to win. Trump is willing to do anything to regain his power in Washington. That includes a deal with the devil and his henchmen.

As it stands, we've yet to see the Russians succeed in their efforts to get Trump re-elected. He lost in 2020 but the attacks continue going into the 2024 presidential election.

Live Court Hearings: Democracy on Trial in Multiple Cases

There were two live trials where democracy was at stake yesterday.

There are more trials with the same importance that are likely to be shown live next year. 

Meanwhile...

In Georgia's Fulton County former president Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants have been charged under RICO with interfering with the state's electoral system with a false elector scheme.

Presiding Judge Scott McAfee decided that two of the defendants - Kenneth Chesebro and Sydney Powell must stand trial with the rest of the defendants. It's a complex trial to say the least.

And it was boring. No drama between lawyers. It was like watching a tea party.

News update: Judge denies Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro motion to sever.

However...

...the other live trial that took place in Texas is another story.

Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing impeachment from a Republican dominated Senate and his lawyer is fighting like a honey badger. He objected to every other sentence the prosecution made by crying out "Hearsay!" 

The judge overruled him every time. It was obviously a harassment designed to rattle the witness who is testifying about what Paxton did in an illegal act that has led to the charges against him.

The case centers on allegedly corrupt relationship with real estate developer Nate Paul.

What really makes this historic state trial interesting is that the judge Dan Patrick (who is the state lieutenant governor) is presiding as the judge despite the fact that he has contributed substantially to Paxton's campaign.

It's surprising to see this total Republican effort to oust an Attorney General. It's only happened once before in Texas history.

One of the employees that worked for Paxton testified that he and others were wrongly fired when Paxton discovered they blew the whistle to the FBI and other agencies about his corrupt actions in office. 

This trial will probably stretch on until the end of the week. If you like watching historic live trials, it is the best show in town... right now. Stay tuned to next year when Trump will be the star in at least one live hearing.

As it stands, America's judicial system has never faced so many historic trials that could decide if democracy and the rule of law will continue in this country.

Idiots on Parade: Here's Some Recent Stupid Quotes in the News

There's no shortage of idiots being featured in the news every week.

Here's a look at some recent entertaining quotes that will leave you shaking your head.

1. Political loser extraordinaire Kari Lake said this about the former president in a conservative outlet; Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize..."  

Wow! For what? Making billionaires richer? Trying to subvert democracy? 

2. A conservative group - Project 2024 - is gearing up for the potential reelection of Trump by recruiting people to fight the "Deep State." 

A spokesman for the extreme group said, "The next conservative president must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors." 

Translated that means gutting climate protections to dismantling checks and balances to put maximum power in the hands of the president.

3. Right-wing Christain podcast host Rick Rene urged his followers to see the "Sound of Freedom," but he complained after the movie was out that it wasn't "nearly as expansive" as he hoped.

"The film didn't get into Hollywood and the elites and the Adrenochrome and harvesting - and all the ugly stuff. And it didn't show any of the real gross stuff either," the disappointed extremist bemoaned.

4. A New Jersey state Senate candidate who has made criticism of offshore wind energy the center of his agenda in his campaign represented a company that sought to build the power lines to bring that wind power ashore.

The hypocrite, Steve Dnistrian attended an anti-offshore wind demonstration and called out to Gov. Murphy, "Listen to the people of NJ. Just put things on pause with offshore wind until we can understand what's happening to our ocean."

New flash. Scientists do know what's happening with offshore wind power and the sea. This is the kind of stupid comment that epitomizes science-free Republicans.

5. When it comes to stupid quotes few outdo Margorie Taylor Green when it comes to being clueless.

She recently told the Right Side Broadcasting Network that "global warming is beneficial to humanity."

She went on: "We have already warmed 1 degree Celsius and do you know what has happened since then? We have grown more food since then, which feeds people."

It's almost enough to make a grown person cry to think she's a member in the House of Representatives.

6. It's easy for Texas Gov. Abbott to say stupid things on a daily basis. Recently he made up a story about country singer Garth Brooks while trying to make a point about "woke" politics from the musician.

"Go woke. Go broke" Abbott bleated while claiming Brooks was booed off the stage at the 123rd Texas Country Jamboree in the city of Hambriston. Both the festival and city are fake.

"Garth called his conservative fans 'a**holes. Good job Texas," he gloated.

He later deleted what he said on X (formerly known as Twitter) when people kept pointing out it was fake. Now that's just plain stupid.

As it stands, there's never a dearth of examples when it comes to stupid people saying stupid things in our media saturated society.

Running a Presidential Election from a Jail Cell: It's Already Happened Once

You may have heard the speculation that Trump may end up being convicted in one (or more) criminal cases and have to go to jail.

Which leads to this question:

Has a presidential campaign ever been run from a prison cell? The answer is a resounding yes!

This won't be another unprecedented moment for Trump because 100 years ago Socialist Party leader Eugene Debs ran for the highest office in the land from his prison cell.

How did that go?

Actually, it went quite well as Debs received nearly a million votes, about 3% of the national vote share. Being a prisoner was no shame to him or the Socialist movement. As a matter of fact, he relished his incarceration, and his followers used it as a way to get their message out.

Rallies were held for him, and supporters held picket signs with his prison picture and proudly wore lapel buttons that said, "For President: Convict No. 9652." Does that sound familiar to you? Look what Trump did with his mug shot.

There are some parallels between the campaigns when it comes to elections. Both campaigns were unfazed by criminal indictments. The two men's messages were however directly opposite from one another. 

All similarities end there.

Eugene Debs was fighting for the common man. Trump has been fighting for the wealthy minority in America.

Trump's legal attempts to subvert democracy are blatantly un-American. Debs wanted democracy to work for the common man by establishing unions and other ways to promote freedoms. 

Debs was imprisoned for anti-war rhetoric on behalf of the working class. If, and when, Trump is put behind bars it'll be for subverting our electoral system, stealing top security documents from the government and trying to overthrow Georgia's election results in 2020.

What is interesting is the examples of how imprisonment can code politically to the electorate, and the awkward logistics of running for president while stuck in a prison cell.

Compare the two men's political platforms for more insight.

Debs believed the only way forward for most Americans were reforms - such as old age pensions, support for health benefits, women's suffrage, a ban on child labor, and state support for kindergartens.

Trump's platform is anarchy-based cult followers who want to destroy the Constitution and plunge our country into an authoritarian state with a dictator for life.

Debs was unique with his then-radical foreign idea like socialism and presenting it to Americans. He was comfortable talking about socialism in the context of the Declaration of Independence and Tom Paine and Walt Whitman and John Brown.

The government was very confused about how to handle Debs imprisonment. Authorities ultimately agreed to allow him to write a 500-word letter to the newspapers, once a week. In fact, very few publications printed the letters.

Trump is unique for subverting laws and inciting a coup attempt to stay in office after he lost the 2020 election. Speculation is rampant in his case on what it's going to look like if Trump has to take up residence in a prison.

Some think he'll have a faux White House interior and complete access to the media that Debs never dreamed of getting.

What we have here are two populists that have made a major impact on the United States of America. One fought for the common man, and the other is fighting to disenfranchise the poor and middle class to benefit the wealthy.

As it stands, the battle for hearts and souls of Americans is a never-ending story.

There's Got to be One Thing Americans Agree On: As Soon as I Find It, I'll Tell You

I can't help cringing when I hear about The United States of America when I know damn well we aren't even close to being united.

You'd think that a nation of 340 million people (with more being born every day) would find more than one subject that is nearly universal, or at least one thing that unites us.

Once a slam dunk, patriotism no longer unites us because the word has become bastardized by the far-right. It's meaning has been drug through the fever swamps of MAGA followers and distorted.

Remember when America was united against Communist Russia? It was viewed as a threat to our democracy. 

Now we have political extremists who say Putin and Russia are not our main enemy in the fight for freedom.

Americans can't even decide if women should have the right to their own bodies.

I remember when libraries were treated as a boon to the American people and had everyone's respect. Every town wanted a library because they represented knowledge and freedom to learn. 

Today libraries are under fire by flame-throwing conservatives who want to ban books or to shut them down (like they did in one county in Texas) and turn them into discipline centers.

Growing up I was taught to respect teachers like the rest of my peers. They held a position of authority and importance in the society: even while getting low wages.

Pursuing science has always been a noble gesture in every culture where truth is sought about the world we live in and a way of confirming facts that everyone with an education could agree on.

In the last eight years science has become suspect with Trump's supporters shining lights up their butts to get rid of COVID.

Instead of recognizing that wearing face masks were a scientifically proven way to slow down the spread of a virus Trump cult members refused to wear them in order to prove how stupid they were.

Once upon a time the majority of Americans wouldn't even have considered a presential candidate that carried the heavy baggage Trump does. 

Now Republicans say they'd vote for him no matter how many times he was convicted of crimes. They'd even be okay if he has to run his presidential campaign out of a jail cell.

Traditions, norms, laws and civility have become casualties in our cultural wars that have left us with red and blue states. 

As it stands, if there's one thing, we can all agree on, I haven't found it yet. I'm still looking.

No "Gym" Jordan: Real Americans Believe in Science and Facts!

Because he hasn't been in the news enough to satisfy his fragile ego lately Jim "Gym" Jordan made another one of his stupid proclamations during Labor Day weekend.

Spewing his bullshit on X Jordan wrote: The Left is desperate for COVID to come back. Real America says No Way!"

That prompted the dumbest Americans (MAGA) in the country to make comments like "We're done with it!" and "I won't comply."

New flash! You can't just ignore a deadly virus like COVID because it doesn't care what you think. You could die anyway. 

Proclaiming that they won't comply with proven measures of protection against the deadly virus just shows how stupid these science deniers are.

Jordan just resurrected one of the worst conspiracies that have come out of the Trump regime to get some national attention. 

His reference to resisting mask mandates and vaccines is just a fever dream that won't go away as long as there are morons like him to perpetrate the conspiracy.

It was heartening to see the feedback from both sides of the aisle questioning Jordan's outlandish claim - that anyone would desire COVID's return.

A Trump-supporting Registered Nurse replied: "Why would anyone want COVID back? People died. That's sick."

And.

"Are you really this inanely stupid, or do you just dismiss your constituents as this inanely stupid?" political commentator Keith Olbermann asked on the thread.

During a holiday where Americans are celebrating our labor history with bar-b-ques and traveling, we have a sick MAGA toady trying to harsh everyone's high with lies concerning a health challenge that is re-surfacing in the country today.

As it stands, enjoy your weekend. Jordan will face justice some day for his role as a wrestling coach at Ohio State and his part in Trump's coup efforts.

Americans Are Mocking Trump's Mug Shot that He Took to the Bank

A fool and his money are not always easily separated despite the proverb that claims otherwise.

That Trump is as dumb as a rock is a given, but he still manages to make wine from vinegar when fundraising.

His now infamous mug shot made his campaign about $10 million dollars. It's also earned him the scorn of a nation that doesn't believe a presidential candidate should be making money when he's been indicted on 91 felony charges in four separate criminal indictments.

I'm impressed by the deep stupidity of both Trump and his cult. They've managed to create an alternative reality that is fact free. But it's certainly good for laughs.

So, you have a photo of Trump proudly holding up a tee shirt with the logo - Never Surrender.

Take a second look at that $34 dollar tee shirt he's touting on his Truth Social website. It's a photo of him surrendering to the Fulton County court system! What's with that? Doesn't Trump and his minions understand that he had to really surrender to authorities?

Pundits on X, formerly known as Twitter, had a field day with Trump's tee shirt grift.

- "Buy your Never Surrender tee shirt of me literally surrendering. Act now!!" one wag suggested.

- "He's like one of those guys outside a concert selling the knockoff tour t-shirts," another pundit said.

-  "Remember, that picture was only taken *because* he literally surrendered to law enforcement," another person wrote.

- "Rock bottom: A former President of the United States hawking tee shirts online. Wow. Just wow," said another person.

- "Who's going to sell the upcoming photo of Trump in his orange jumpsuit? I don't think it will be him," another commentator noted.

- "What billionaire sells tee shirts and begs for money from poor people?" one outraged pundit asked.

As it stands, perhaps the saddest part of this latest grift is that those who can't afford to shell out money are doing it and not even realizing the irony in their actions.

Congress is Where Politicians Go to Retire

It's time we quit kidding ourselves.

When a politician becomes a senator or member of the House of Representatives their main goal is to stay until they retire or die.

No one believes that malarkey about them wanting to serve the American people. Or the sacrifices they supposedly made for their country. 

That's not what we see. We, the people, see lawmakers led around by their noses by special interest groups. There are three lobbyists for every member of Congress. The only thing they serve is their own interests.

The Republicans and the Democrats are both guilty of having members that probably should be in retirement homes instead of making laws that affect over 320,000 million lives.

Two examples:

Republicans have a situation with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell because he's having brain freezes. 

Two have happened in front of news cameras this month as he was taking questions from reporters. They happened after he took a fall and got a concussion last month.

McConnell is 81 years old and hasn't been in the best of health in recent years. If he were a bus driver that demands real-time responses the company would insist he get a medical examination.

His handlers say he's fine. And maybe they'll have a doctor check up on him. After all, the Capitol Hill doctor said he was clear to work. Anyone who witnessed the two incidents knows that Mitch's once sharp mind is turning to mush.

Meanwhile the Republican party is paralyzed with indecision. What to do about their leader? So far, the consensus is that if they have to wheel him around in a moveable lectern (think Saturday Night Live's episode where Sarah Huckabee Sanders went after the pressroom reporters in a motorized lectern) they will do it.

The Democrats geriatric champion is 90-year-old Senator Dianne Feinstein who is tied with Sen. Chuck Grassley for the oldest member in Congress.

She fell in her home and went to the hospital for a short time during the first week of August.

Before that, she had trouble with shingles. She was hospitalized in San Francisco in March and treated for shingles. She's been basically communicating with her staff who are carrying her workload as much as possible.

There have been uncomfortable conversations among her peers about how her advanced age and cognitive abilities are hurting the party. Every time she has to take a medical absence Democrats get more nervous.

So, there you have it. Two examples of members in Congress who should have retired at least a decade ago.

What is the age demographic of Congress?

The median age of voting House lawmakers is 57.9 years down from 58.9 in the last Congress which can be seen as progress for younger members.

The new Senate's (the 118th) median age, on the other hand, is 65.3 years, up from 64.8 years. At the rate they're going the median age for senators will increase in the next Congress (119th). Nearly 25% of Congress is older than 70 right now.

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Related story: Congress is older than ever. It hasn't always been this way.

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It should be obvious that 70-year-olds and upward aren't going to be as sharp mentally as someone in their 50s or early 60s. Maybe there should be a mandatory cognitive test as a working requirement when members reach a certain age.

When politicians accuse people of ageism when it comes to being concerned about mental abilities, they're missing the point.

As it stands, growing old is natural. There's no shame in not being at the top of your game. That day will come for us all. And when it does, we should accept it.

Project 2025: Conservatives Plan for Authoritarian Regime if Trump is Re-elected

Dozens of right-wing organizations are busy boasting about dismantling the government and what things will look like in America if Trump defies the odds and gets re-elected president.

Their dystopian view for the future is being funded by the Heritage Foundation and fueled by Trump and his cult.

Here's their plan:

The groups have merged into a coalition called "Project 2025" a far-reaching effort to essentially form a government in waiting for Trump's return.

Project 2025 has a nearly 1,000-page handbook for an "army" of Americans who want to destroy our civic structure and reshape it into an authoritarian state with a lifetime leader.

They intend to disable the current government bureaucracy by firing as many as 50,000 federal workers. 

Project 2025 conservatives want to gut the "Administrative state" from within by ousting federal employees they believe are standing in the way of Trump's agenda and replacing them with like-minded officials more eager to do Trump's bidding without question.

"The president Day One will be a wrecking ball for the administrative state," bragged Russ Vought, a former Trump official involved in the effort and president of the conservative Center for Renewing America.

A return to the political spoils system

In the bad old days of 19th century patronage this all would be par for the course. Watching it unfold in the 21st century shows how little progress this country has made in politics.

Trump wants to bring back an executive order he made - Schedule F - while in the White House that reclassified tens of thousands of the 2 million federal employees as essentially at-will workers who could be fired more easily.

When Biden came into office, he immediately rescinded the executive order.

Historical note: The civil service was overhauled during President Carter's administration in an attempt to ensure a professional workforce and end political bias dating back for over a hundred years.

Project 2025 plans on a "top to bottom overhaul" of the Department of Justice, particularly curbing its independence and ending FBI efforts to combat the spread of misinformation.

It even calls for stepped-up prosecution of anyone providing or distributing abortion pills by mail.

The group plans to make the Pentagon "abolish" its recent diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, what the project calls the "woke" agenda, and reinstating service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

Two of the things I find most chilling is the "reexamining" of the tradition of providing workspace for the press corps, and ensuring the White House counsel is "Deeply committed" to Trump's agenda.

These authoritarian fever dreams are just some of the things the GOP has in store when their messiah returns. If he returns. Which is unlikely when you consider the four felony indictments he faces.

The Heritage coalition has taken their recruitment efforts on the road to fill federal jobs by inviting them to be trained in government operations. 

As it stands, that's how crazy these people are forming a shadow government that will never see the light of day.

Republicans Better Start Looking for Another Presidential Candidate Before it's Too Late

Let's set the table.

The main dish is Trump ala mode and is being served up in four criminal trials in state and federal courts.

Halloween may start early for Trump (Oct. 23) and his 18 co-defendants who tried to overthrow the state's voter choices in the 2020 election if Fulton County DA Fani Willis gets her way.

Four criminal indictments. Two state and two federal cases with a total of 91 felony counts face Trump while he's also running for president. Odds are he is not going to beat every indictment. More than likely he'll be convicted in at least two of them.

And that's before everyone votes in November 2024. In other words, he'll be a convicted felon running for the highest office in the land by that time.

The last time I looked that's not exactly a positive endorsement for the leader of the free world.

I realize the Republican party is full of gutless Trump minions willing to throw their own lives and credibility away to follow their supreme leader but at some point, they are going to be forced to look at reality and see his presidency isn't likely in the real world.

C'mon! Isn't there any sane members that don't lick Trump's boots every morning? Seriously, you cowards need to make a move now before it's too late.

What will you do when Trump gets disqualified to be on the ballot in a state or multiple states, which will likely happen when he loses the Jan. 6 trial?

His primary wins will shackle the GOP into a toxic relationship unless the party starts seriously looking for an alternative to his Orangeness.

C'mon! Conservative think tanks and state party leaders need to circle the wagons and look for someone who isn't a convicted criminal and having trouble getting on state ballots if they want to give their flock a choice.

Don't ask me who that would be? If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say Nikki Haley.

The Republican party still has a chance to pick someone other than Trump. There're more primaries ahead and things could change as Trump's court battles wage on.

As it stands, this is a warning to the GOP that time is running out to find a viable candidate. Break out the smelling salts and take a deep whiff and wake up!

They're Doing it Again: House Republicans Plan on Holding the Country Hostage

Trump's real defense team is in the House of Representatives as GOP members look for ways to target the criminal investigations against him by using the annual appropriations process to hold the country hostage.

Their diabolic plan, introduced by crazy Andrew Clyde (R-GA) is to introduce a pair of amendments that will prohibit funding from being used for the prosecution of any major presidential candidate ahead of the 2024 election.

Can you say red herring? How about pure bullshit soaked in malicious lies and topped off with a healthy helping of hypocrisy?

The measures will come up before the Commerce, Justice, Science, and related agencies appropriations bill. It's one of 12 spending bills that Congress must pass ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government.

Shamelessly using terrorist threats against our justice system, the House Freedom Caucus clowns are pulling out all of the stops in an effort to keep Trump out of jail for his numerous crimes.

What they're doing is overt election interference designed to undermine both our Republic and our fair system of justice.

The irony of a full-on MAGA member (Clyde) in Congress claiming it's imperative for Congress to use its power of the purse to "protect the integrity of elections" and prohibit prosecutors from coming after top presidential candidates is as thick as a brick.

It's still too early to know the specific language for the amendments because they haven't been drafted yet. It's also not clear if all the House Republicans will back it.

Clyde's warning was a symbolic shot across the bow to the American people. When the House Appropriations Committee reconvenes for its CJS markup in September they are prepared to shut down the government to get their demands and take the heat off of Trump.

To be concise, the House Freedom Caucus has vowed not to support a stopgap spending measure unless it is tied to a number of policy wins.

It's all or nothing for MAGA lawmakers who have no qualms about making millions of Americans suffer until their corrupt demands are met. 

By defunding Trump prosecutions House extremists will be violating their oaths of office. Not that it seems to matter anymore.

As it stands, seeing how lawmakers aren't returning to Washington until Sept. 12, that only leaves 18 days until the Republican party is going to bring our economy to a halt and cause financial hardships for millions of Americans. The prognosis looks bleak.  

Trump's Biggest Grift Yet Capitalizes on His Criminality - Who Says Crime Doesn't Pay?

How much sense does it make when an indicted criminal can make money off of being booked and charged with multiple felonies - including trying to overturn the election results in Georgia?

It doesn't make sense. It's all wrong.

But Trump has turned all four of his criminal indictments into record-breaking fundraiser hauls. His last one in Fulton County Georgia was his biggest grift to date by raising $7.1 million in 24 hours after getting his mug shot. 

Imagine if Al Capone had a savvy group of media influencers that were publicity wise and could muddy the waters of the investigation against him with conspiracies.

Would he have gone to prison? Would he have gotten away with blatant verbal attacks against state persecutors like Trump does? Would the Chicago mob boss have made money off of his mug shot back then? I doubt it.

Yet in the world we live in now a mob boss backed by a cult can damn near get away with anything because of his wealth and dark connections with elite extremists who want to destroy our democracy and turn the country into an authoritarian state.

Who says crime doesn't pay?

Trump is parlaying 91 felony charges into a cottage industry. He's raised nearly $20 million in the last three weeks.

His campaign is also being powered by merchandize (shirts, posters, bumper stickers and beverage coolers to name some) on his online grift site.

The site's landing page includes his now infamous mug shot and asks supporters to "make a contribution to evict Crooked Joe Biden from The White House and SAVE AMERICA during this dark chapter in our nation's history."

Oh! The irony! It's a dark chapter alright with Trump threatening our freedoms by tearing up the Constitution if he gets back in office.

This latest grift is Trump's greatest at this point in his life. It's the culmination of decades of cheating and lying his way to the top of the dung pile.

As it stands, Trump will always hold a unique position in the history of American crimes by being the only former president with a mug shot.

Faces of Desperation: The Republican Party's Melt Down

It hasn't been fun to watch.

The Republican Party has become a cult in the last seven years. 

All vestiges of what the party once stood for have disappeared and have been replaced with sheer lunacy.

The Trump cult has stripped away the Law-and-Order mantra that began with Ronald Reagan. Now they attack lawmakers and the judicial system daily.

Here's three faces of desperation within the cult that's trying to take America hostage.

Donald J. Trump.

Our former twice-impeached president is desperately running for re-election to stay out of jail.

He's been indicted in four criminal cases that add up to 91 felony charges. State and Federal jurisdictions.

He's made it clear he wants to change the Constitution, if elected, and turn the country into an authoritian hellscape. 

To think that elected lawmakers have jumped to the dark side like spineless jellyfish and are backing him is truly disheartening.

Ron DeSantis.

This is a man with no soul who smiles like a robot about to take a dump. He desperately wants to be president. 

See Ron run. 

See Ron make an ass of himself during the GOP Primary debates by claiming (if he's made president) that the first thing he would do would be to send in military special forces into Mexico after the drug cartels.

Doesn't Ron know that would really piss-off Mexico and could possibly start a war with our southern neighbor? 

See Ron attack Mickey Mouse. 

See Ron turn the state's school systems into MAGA indoctrination centers. 

Watch the libraries burn thanks to Ron. 

See how Ron has rigged the election system in Florida and how he disenfranchises LGBTQ and minority communities.

All for power. He's so desperate that he's running for president against his role model Trump who is crushing him in the polls. 

See Ron court Trump's base by acting like a tough guy.

Kevin McCarthy.

This pathetically weak-minded excuse for a man is the Speaker of the House who has sold his soul and who also sold out the majority of Americans by being a MAGA puppet.

He's slimier than a fish in a crude oil spill and is known for his flip flopping on everything from Trump to stripping Social Security. 

But McCarthy will forever be known as the weakest speaker the House has ever seen. Watching him licking the boots of the so-called Freedom Caucus or bigly Trump defender Marjorie Taylor Greene is enough to gag a maggot.

Desperation pours from his brows every time he holds a press conference and claims he's got the goods on Hunter Biden and President Biden.

These three characters are joined by many others in the GOP willing to destroy democracy in order to put Trump in charge of our country.

They are all desperate and dangerous. None of them have any guard rails of reason or honesty to go by. They are all shameless. 

As it stands, the death knell of the real Republican Party starting ringing in 2017.