March Madness and Sports Betting is a Bad Combination for Gambling Addicts

Straight up.

The Supreme Court screwed up big when they struck down the ban on sports betting in 2018.

Now Americans who fight gambling addictions are facing massive sports betting temptations on a scale that would make the old-time bookies lose their cookies!

Not so long-ago watching sports on TV or listening to them on the radio were a fresh break from the evils of corporate gambling. Stars like baseball's Pete Rose were banned from the game and denied a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame because they betted on sports events.

Now look at March Madness where the best men's and women's college basketball team challenge each other... and have been contributing to the skyrocketing legal sports betting industry since 2018.

For decades March Madness betting in office pools offered employees a chance at winning a jackpot. A harmless event that didn't make headlines in Las Vegas sporting parlors.

According to the American Gaming Association, which promotes gambling, Americans made $120 billion in sports bets in 2023.

This year the group predicts Americans will place $2.7 billion in legal bets on March Madness alone!

How did we come to this place where the love and integrity of sports has been diluted into another get rich quick scheme?

Jay L. Zagorsky is an associate professor of markets, public policy and law at Boston University who has been studying March Madness and sports betting for years. He offers an explanation of why legal sports betting became acceptable.

"Studying sports betting has shown me how valuable it is for states short on cash. Unfortunately, it also has significant drawbacks, especially for gambling addicts and their families," Zagorsky said in a recent article on the subject.

So, it's a money-maker for cash-strapped states and gaming companies but not so good for one segment of Americans - gambling addicts.

As of this month, 38 states allow some form of sports gambling, and six more are debating the issue. The need for more revenue for these states is an appealing option to politicians.

Apparently, to my surprise, state revenues from so-called "sin taxes" have flatlined after adjusting for inflation. People are smoking and drinking less, reducing revenue from cigarette and alcohol taxes. Even lottery revenue has flattened out after growing for decades, according to the experts.

As it Stands, sports betting is a gamble to save states (it too will flatline someday) at the expense of vulnerable Americans.

'Crazy Days and Nights in the USA' Would Make a Good Book

Think of the potential.

If someone wanted to write a book about the year 2024, they'd have a wealth of characters and sub plots regarding this year's presidential election.

Every good fiction book I've ever read has believable heroes and great villains who provide a clear contrast of good and evil.

Setting the scene...

The Republican party has folded up its tent and is now the party of one of the greatest con man in history - Donald Trump. In our fictional account we'll call him Thump. He's running for re-election in November after losing his last attempt in 2020.

Thump's resume includes being the first US president to be impeached twice and charged with 88 felony counts in four different jurisdictions for (among things) trying to overthrow the last election and stealing top secret documents from the government.

Throw in Thump's recent conviction for being a rapist, and his major fraud conviction, and you have the foundation for a great villain.

President Biden - we'll call him President Goodman - is Thump's foil. He stands as a bulwark against the MAGA cult, representing sanity, honesty, and a conviction to help all Americans regardless of their skin color and gender.

Think about the cast of characters you as the writer can draw from in Congress, our judicial system, state and federal politicians, crazed activists calling Thump "Our Lord," and so much more.

You could describe how Thump's followers left their caves and basements in 2016 to elect Thump and the ruinous effect they've had in this country for the last eight years.

Talk about a thriller.

Will our Constitutional Democracy survive if President Goodman isn't re-elected?

Will America become a fascist state with a supreme leader for life?

This book would have all the elements of a great novel. The suspense caused by a corrupt Supreme Court, and the fact that millions of Americans are under the spell of Orange Jesus, would keep any reader on edge waiting to see the results of the election.

As it Stands, speaking of books... my good friend journalist and author Woody Woodburn just released a new book titled "The Butterfly Tree: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations." 

I highly recommend it. It's now available at Amazon and other online stores or ordered at your favorite local bookshop.

I'll be writing a review of it in the near future. Stay tuned. 

A Gene-Edited Pig Makes History: First-Ever Kidney Transplant to Human is Successful

Somewhere in an undisclosed Midwestern location there is a special farm that raises genetically altered pigs.

One of those pigs made medical history recently when it was flown to Boston for a transplant procedure where it donated its life and kidney to Richard "Rick" Slayman of Weymouth, Massachusetts.

It was the first time a genetically modified pig kidney was transplanted into a person.

It was also the first time someone survived with that organ from another species.

Mr. Slayman is due to be released from the hospital within a couple of days. After a four-hour surgery he managed to walk 20 laps around the hospital's transplant unit.

Researchers have been working for decades trying to find a way to use pig organs as replacements for human ones. 

That day has come.

Pig organs make sense for transplant because they are roughly the right size for people, are relatively similar biologically, and are already being bred by the billions for food, so sacrificing them for the organs raises fewer ethical concerns that using primates would.

Now that researchers have overcome one of the most formidable barriers to transplantation - rejection - it could be on its way to FDA approval someday for routine use.

The modification of pig genes has made them more compatible with people by improving the drug regimen to reduce the risk of rejection, and by providing enough evidence through animal-to human transplants to make researchers and patients feel comfortable testing in people.

Another historical note, Massachusetts General was the site of the first human-to human organ transplant, in 1954, when an identical twin donated his kidney to his brother.

The future for animal-to human transplants is a lot brighter now than it was, but there's still a long way to go before most Americans will benefit from it.

As it Stands, I can't wait until animal-to-human brain transplants are available. It would be a huge upgrade for Donald Trump!

Protecting A Legacy: Kennedy Family Backs Biden

Imagine for a moment that a member of your family, the real crazy one, suddenly appeared on the national scene spewing conspiracy theories and running for president.

That's what happened to the proud Kennedy clan when Robert F. Kennedy decided to run for president as a third-party candidate this year.

Having established his right-wing credentials by being a top vaccine denier, RFK Jr emerged from the swamp of conspiracy theorists and QAnon as a chief disseminator of misinformation about the deadly COVID virus.

Kennedy Family Fights Back

Photo: President Biden greets Kennedy clan on St. Patrick's Day at the White House. Kerry Kennedy, the seventh of Robert and Ethal Kennedy's eleven children and president of the family foundation, played a lead role in organizing the family photo to support President Biden.

Kerry Kennedy has also taken the lead on helping President Biden's candidacy by organizing family member's political work.

Stephan Kennedy Smith posted the Rose Garden photo afterwards, warning that his cousin could hand the election to Trump and "put our democratic process at risk."

The Democratic National Committee announced this week that Mary Beth Cahill, a former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Kennedy will serve as senior advisor in the party's efforts to counter third party candidates.

The Kennedy family is doing everything they can to preserve their legacy, even going after one of their own in favor of democracy.

As a kid I idolized John F. Kennedy. He was a military hero and president of the United States. When he was assassinated, I was crushed.

To think a member of his own family is now threatening to help a wannabee dictator by being a political spoiler, is beyond the pale.

As it Stands, Biden is going to need all the help he can to stay in the White House. Hopefully the Kennedy clan's efforts will make a positive difference.

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City.

Convicted rapist and former president Trump is unable to post the bond to satisfy the $464 million civil fraud judgement against him.

Now it's time to pay up. Time to grab Donnie by the wallet and watch him whine. 

His lawyers, in another last moment appellate court filing pleaded with the judge to secure the bond in a lesser amount. 

Alina Habba and Clifford Robert - Trump's lawyers - proposed a far lesser amount to a skeptical Judge Arthur Engoron.

Habba and Robert claimed, "Obtaining such cash through a 'fire sale' of real estate holdings would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses - textbook irreparable injury."

The judge said no. The full amount must be posted in order to file the appeal. Period. End of the story.

No one should be surprised that Don the Con is having such a tough time securing bond.

The surety companies have not allowed the Trump Organization to use its properties as collateral, leaving the company with the only option of posting 120% of the bond in the form of cash and cash equivalents, totaling $557, 491,716.

Trump's attorneys, while claiming the company is in a strong liquidity position, admit Trump does not have that much in cash or equivalents. Isn't that too bad?

No amount of whining and wailing will change Trump's situation. For the second time (the E.J. Carroll case cost him 91 million) in his life Trump is the one paying the piper for his corruption.

As it Stands, I will be watching with pleasure when the state puts up Trump Tower (and his other properties) for sale. It'll be the fire sale of the century.

Stay Away from My Decaf Coffee!

Quick backstory.

My name is Dave, and I was once a caffein addict. 

I drank it morning noon and night. If I could have, I would have had a permanent caffein drip inserted into my arm.

I started drinking coffee around 1966 when I discovered it as a sophomore in high school. Since then, I developed into an addict that was very grumpy when I didn't have my caffein fix the moment I opened my eyes.

Then I had an epiphany - along with my wife - last year and cut the caffein and replaced it with decaf coffee. That artificial buzz was taking a toll on both of us, especially my wife who has heart issues.

It wasn't exactly like quitting cold turkey because decafe still tastes good. You still feel like it's the real deal, but without the ill effects of consuming too much caffein.  

On Decaf Coffee

Now that I've found a good substitute I've discovered there's a significant coffee controversary brewing between two activist groups and a California lawmaker who have petitioned to ban European Method decaf - the most common form of decaffeinated coffee in the country.

The controversy centers on decaf because its produced using chemical solvents, including methylene chloride, which bind to the caffeine and extracts it from the beans.

In January California Assemblymember Eloise Reyes proposed new legislation that would expressly prohibit a "person or entity from using methylene chloride in the process of decaffeinating coffee" starting in 2027.

The bill was introduced in Feb and has yet to be heard in counsel.

Here's What I Learned

The European Method decafe is authorized as safe by the rigorous standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and other food authorities around the world.

According to the National Coffee Association, 26 million Americans drink decaffeinated coffee every day and the majority of it was made using the European method for more than 50 years.

As it Stands, decaf coffee is the best of two worlds. I don't want to see some clowns change that. Just stay away from my damn decaf!

Mainstream Media is Doing a Disservice to American Viewers

I can't trust the so-called mainstream media these days because it's looking more like the lamestream media when it comes to coverage on Trump's bid to overturn our Constitutional Democracy and become America's first dictator.

It seems the news organizations didn't learn their mistake the first time when Trump ran for the presidency, and they gave him carte blanche coverage - lies and all. That's where the problem began when it came to factual and credible reporting about Trump.

This massive mistake by editors has taken its toll on journalism in America, muddying up the truth to the point no one knows what to believe. By giving a malicious sociopath so much coverage - without constantly fact-checking him - news organizations are doing a disservice to their viewers and readers.

Here's the most recent example...

CNBC made a curious decision to WELCOME Donald Trump onto its airwaves for an extended live telephone chat Monday.

Squake Box news line, hosted by Joe Kernen, allowed itself to be taken over by the twice-impeached, four-time indicted, insurrection-inciting former president who immediately launched his trademark "fact free" rants.

Kernen didn't even make the slightest attempt to correct the lies Trump was spewing to thousands of listeners. Listening to the CNBC host brushing aside the insidious comments and outright lies told me that this wasn't a serious interview.

There was one or two feeble attempts to ask him a question, but they were turned aside as Trump dominated the broadcast with his rambling and laundry list of lies.

The whole thing was a disgrace. Not one attempt to live fact-check the biggest liar on the planet. The station running their Mea culpa acknowledgement stating the facts about Trump's claims AFTER THE FACT was a useless attempt to cover up the damage inflicted.

How many people won't see or hear this admission they let loose lips Trump tell lies live on the air? It's a typical Trumpian tactic that only works if a network is complicit - like CNBC was this time.

Why is this happening?

I think it's obvious. Trump is a money-maker who every time he gets a platform his cult tunes in like the loyal minions they are. These once-respectable news outlets have made a decision - milk Trump mania if it continues to bring in readers or viewers - and damn doing the right thing.

What happened at CNBC was the host surrendered the channel's air to Trump, allowing the convicted rapist to abuse the platform and mislead its audience of influential viewers - by phone.

It wasn't a "perfect phone call."

As a former newspaper publisher and editor, I'm aghast at what's happening to journalism in this country today.

I remember when publications and social platforms couldn't get away with blatantly lying because their viewers and readers would call them out. 

Some listeners may call out CNBC for letting Trump spread propaganda, but their concerns will go unanswered because the channel waited until AFTER the damage was done to correct Trump.

And that seems to be the new terrible norm in journalism today.

As it Stands, if this trend continues Trump could very well win and then credible journalism in this country will be totally crushed by that orange ape.

Trump Now Owns the Republican National Committee and is Rebranding It

It's official.

Like termites, Trump's handpicked team of loyalists have taken over the Republican National Committee and fired most of the staff in order to completely re-brand the party.

The RNC has chosen a new leadership team, chair Michael Whatley, and co-chair Lara Trump to carry out Donald Trump's every wish.

I'm waiting for Trump to officially rename/rebrand it the Party of Trump. It's inevitable. The man's ego is bigger than a blimp filled with toxic flatulence.

I can imagine the MAGA morons swarming into offices where the last of the conservative Republicans had Ronald Reagan's photo on the walls being quickly replaced with a 24-hour TV monitor hawking Trump merchandise to the faithful.

The elephant symbol for the party will be replaced with golden painted statutes of Trump in assorted ridiculous poses.

The one thing the new Party of Trump doesn't have a lot of is money. According to a January campaign finance filing the GOP had an historically low $8.7 million cash on hand while the Democrats had $24 million.

Then there's that little matter of coming up with millions of dollars to pay Trump's legal fees which will be foremost on the new party's agenda. 

The legal fees in his criminal cases are literally increasing every day, and the coffers can't cover that big a cash drain for long.

Like everything Trump gets his tiny hands on he's blown up the once proud Republican party whose last real conservative members are leaving Congress in droves.

I almost feel sorry for the ousted Republicans, but then I consider they probably voted for the orange ape and are getting their just reward.

Trump is a loser. He has solidified a following of losers who live in an alternate world and are untouched by reality and facts. This dangerous segment of zombies in our society are directly challenging yours, and mine, freedoms. 

As it Stands, the question this November is do we want a Constitutional Democracy? Or do we want an autocracy? We'll find out at the polls.

Remember When?

Do you remember when presidential candidates weren't convicted rapists?

I do.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane in America before chaos set in and a cult that worships dictators that overthrew the Republican party took hold like a cancer in our society.

Remember when there were consequences for trying to overthrow an election? 

Today we have a candidate who not only attempted a coup but who also promises he'll tear up the Constitution if he gets into the Oval Office again.

Remember when it was safe to go to the grocery store or movie theatre? 

Mass shootings have become common in every public space possible - including schools.

Remember when politicians that had extramarital affairs couldn't get elected for president? Think Gary Hart.

Today we have a man convicted of rape, fraud, and charged with 91 felony counts in four jurisdictions, who is the party nominee for president.

Remember when Americans all watched the same news programs on three television stations? ABC, NBC, and CBS. We trusted newscasters like Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow in those days.

Today there are so many news sources with misinformation that people no longer trust what they hear, unless it's a platform featuring things they want to hear. Millions of Americans are living in news silos that gratifies their personal desires.

Remember when there was only one interpretation for the word patriot?

Now the word has been demeaned by the far right and is used to portray followers of the Trump cult. 

Remember when Republicans believed in our Constitutional Democracy?

Now they believe in an autocratic state ran by one man with no limit to his powers.

Remember when it was shameful if you were caught lying in public?

Now it's a badge of honor for Trump's minions who have learned how to double down on lies.

As it Stands, I'm deeply disappointed with the current state of affairs in our not so United States of America. Despite that, I still believe there's enough good people in this country to reverse the negative trends we face today.

Why is there so Much Hostility Against Churches?

A new report has found that there is a growing "hostility and distain" for Christians in America.

Note that the report, coming from the conservative Family Research Council, is only about Christian churches and does not address the violence against Jewish Temples and other minority religions.

According to Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Grham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse. the report showed how far-left ideologies have infiltrated the culture and increased "distain" for Christians.

On Christian Churches in America 

When you talk about Christian churches in America they are really divided in their interpretations of God's laws and Jesus's mission among the people.

The majority (42%) of Christian Americans are Protestant, though there are significant numbers of American Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations such as Latter-Day Saints, Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Off shoots to the church like Baptists and Evangelicals are becoming dominate among the religions groups and are more likely to get involved in politics. Nationalist Christians are on the rise.

Which brings us to the question of why there's so much hostility against churches?

With the emergence of the Trump cult congregations, we're seeing a war against other religions and secular citizens across the nation.

Evangelical pastors are worshiping Lord Trump and preach hatred against anyone who defies the wannabe dictator.

How Trump managed to pollute and indoctrinate so many pastors is a mystery to me. The result has been a rise in antisemitism and anti-government propaganda spread by gullible parishioners who think taking a stand for Trump is what God wants.

The narrative these fake pastors pass on is that socialism is taking over the country and they fear "true Christians" will be locked up and prosecuted by the liberals. That doomsday scenario appeals to these false representatives of God who spread lies instead of the gospel.

In the Bible there's a passage warning about "false prophets." They are here now spreading the seeds of hate.

Today's false prophets are pushing for anarchy instead of talking about love and forgiveness. 

MAGA pastors complain they are experiencing a "white collar persecution," such as threats, government harassment, and efforts by politicians or activist groups to silence the church.

What's happening is there's resistance to these prophets and their deplorable followers who would like to run the government and install their Lord Trump as a lifetime dictator. Most Americans aren't happy with the chaos these false prophets have brought to our society.

As it Stands, there's other reasons why church attendance is down in America and why violence against all denominations is at an all-time high.

Trump Entertains Autocrat Who Hates Democracy

Since Trump moved into Mar-a-Lago it's been a hot spot for autocrats, racists, Nazis, crooked politicians from every level of government, and people who hate minorities and people of color.

In other words, a MAGA paradise where bad actors gather from around the world to plot against our Constitutional Democracy.

The latest scumbag to visit Mar-a-Lago was the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who hates democracy and loves Trump. And why not? Trump loves dictators and strongmen who have complete control of people's lives.

It marked an extraordinary move: a foreign leader paying a visit to the United States, including making a stop in the nation's capital (the same day of the State of the Union Address), without meeting with the sitting president and instead meeting with his political rival.

What are Orban's credentials? He's known for championing what he terms "illiberal democracy" complete with limits on LGBTQ+ rights and immigration.

Orban posted videos of the events where Trump could be heard praising the Hungarian leader as the "boss" and also a "great" and "fantastic leader of Europe."

Orban joins Trump's list of heroes which include, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This rogue's gallery has given Trump inspiration to be America's first dictator.

Dinner at Donnie's is every dictator's dream.

What surprises me is these vomit-worthy visits to Mar-a-Lago largely go unreported. I guess the press is just numb after eight years of Trump disrupting the country.

No other president in American history so openly admired anarchy than Trump. He's gotten more extreme every year and his cognitive abilities are rapidly turning to mush.

Yet here he is. Running for president. Blatantly telling us what he's going to do if he gets re-elected. From shredding the Constitution to a revenge tour throughout the land against his perceived enemies, Trump's agenda spells carnage for America.

It's been reported that Trump has a book of Hitler quotes in the drawer of the stand next to his bed. The only reason I doubt it - unless it's a book of illustrations - is that Trump can't read. When he was president, he proved that in briefing sessions.

In another time a presidential candidate that openly supports destroying our government would have been laughed off as a lunatic with no chance of winning an election.

That was then. This is now. Our freedoms are at stake. The American dream can't be allowed to disappear because of one malicious sociopath.

As it stands, President Biden is fact-checking Trump relentlessly in this campaign for America's soul. There is hope. Vote Blue.

Republican Profiles in Stupidity

I'm going to take you down a path littered with Republican profiles of stupidity to share with your friends and family.

Inquiring minds must know what challenges lie ahead of us.   

Foremost among the MAGA lunatics in Congress is Marjorie Taylor Greene. She will do anything to get attention and really has no interest in actually serving her constituents.

She proves how stupid she is every time she opens her big mouth and starts talking about Jewish Space Lasers.

Her antics during two State of the Union Addresses have solidified MTG's place as a needy idiot lusting for the cameras gaze.

Her goal in life is to be Trump's foot stool.

Then we have little MAGA Mike Johnson who rolled his beady eyes throughout the State of the Union Address like a broken puppet in protest.

He couldn't afford to clap regardless of what President Biden was saying because his master Trump was watching his every move. I did see one aerial shot that briefly showed him clapping under the dais before the camera moved away.

The we have Alabama Sen. Katie Britt who gave the MAGA response to President Biden's speech. She proved two things: one, she's stupid to think people will fall for her bad acting job, and two she's a hypocrite and liar.

Britt was one of the senators who worked on the bipartisan border deal and voted for it, but her tune changed after President Biden's fiery speech when she claimed Biden's border policies were "senseless" and a "disgrace" during her staged kitchen delivery to Trump's base.

What changed? Trump didn't want a bipartisan border bill passed because he wanted to use the border as a campaign issue. So, Britt stepped away from doing the right thing for Americans and kowtowed to a convicted rapist who tried to steal the 2020 election.

Perhaps one of the most amusing profiles of Republican stupidity is George Santos, the disgraced GOP House member who was expelled from the House by his peers. He is also facing a criminal trial with numerous charges later this month.

Guess what? Santos is back in the spotlight as of yesterday when he announced he was going to run for Congress again. Now that is stupid.

Then there's MAGA Mama Kari Lake who has perfected how to lose in court cases after losing her election bid a couple of years ago. She has a perfect record with the Arizona courts... she's lost every case she filed, and her lawyers were even fined for filing frivolous lawsuits.

To prove how stupid she is she's running for the Senate this year despite her unpopularity in the red state... and reputation with the courts. If she somehow does get elected the voters were stupid for thinking she'd serve them instead of her own agenda.

As it Stands, stupidity is an acquired trait that takes very little effort if you ignore truth and reality.

America? Or Amerika? You Decide

      The gauntlet has been thrown down.

The challenge issued.

Americans are going to have to decide what form of government they're going to have after the November election.

A Constitutional Democracy? An Authoritarian State? A Dictatorship? A Banana Republic? 

Americans face a stark choice this fall between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Both have low ratings in the polls because of the polarized politics dividing our country.

Americans don't know who to believe anymore. Once trusted institutions like our judicial system (in particular the Supreme Court) and Congress have the lowest approval ratings in the history of the republic.

As a Vietnam veteran I have seen this country torn apart over the undeclared war in Southeast Asia. I, and my returning comrades, faced a wave of hatred among young politically active students. 

As bad as that was, I was never worried that our republic would ever face a nationwide referendum on our Constitutional Democracy. That America would teeter on becoming an authoritarian state. 

But here we are.

It seems unreal that one party's candidate for president is a convicted rapist, was twice impeached as a former president, and is facing four criminal trials - with 91 felony indictments - for trying to overthrow the election he lost in 2020 and stealing secret government documents.

What kind of candidate is that? Trump is the complete opposite of law and order and he's a worshipper of dictators and strongmen around the world.

In what kind of world could this happen? 

In our world. Like it or not we're going to have to fight to preserve our democratic way of life by calling out MAGA lies and using truth and facts as weapons. 

There won't be any beach landings on other countries shores for this war to preserve our American way against Trump and his cult supporters. The battles will be fought in the voting booths of every state. 

The front lines are the mainstream media versus right-wing disinformation stations like Fox News and Newsmax. For every daily salvo of lies there needs to be the return fire of truth backed by facts.

We can't count on the courts holding Trump accountable for his crimes. His influence with the Supreme Court puppets he appointed along with a legion of MAGA judges in the federal and state courts, has been an effective counterattack against justice being served.

We have to fight for freedom at the ballot box like never before. Our votes are the ammunition against tyranny. What shall it be? America... or Amerika? You decide.

As it stands, it's not hyperbole saying this election will decide the fate of freedom in the United States of America.

Just What Americans Didn't Want - President Biden Versus Trump

After Super Tuesday's results it's official, Biden and Trump will be facing off for the presidency in November. 

Just what the majority of Americans didn't want to see.

Were there ever two opposing candidates more unpopular than President Biden and Trump? I don't think so. Voters will be holding their noses when they cast their ballot for America's next Commander-In-Chief this election.

Age plays a big factor in both men's profiles, but it goes much deeper than that. Biden doesn't need to take cognitive tests like Trump who apparently gets them quite often. 

Fun fact, doctors don't give cognitive tests to people that still have their marbles. On top of that he acts like his "passing score" means he's a stable genius.

Here's what we do know. Trump is a malicious sociopath who wants to be the country's first dictator. President Biden has a proven track record of improving the economy and fighting dictators around the world.

These facts should convince any sane person that Trump is a threat to our Constitutional Democracy. The key word is sane.

While President Biden is backed by the Democratic party, Trump is backed by a cult that was once the Republican party.

You can already see how awkward this contest is going to get when there's alternate realities vying for votes. Throw in the fact that Trump is facing four trials with 91 felony counts charged against him and it gets even crazier.

How is this going to work? The short answer is no one knows.

Trump's game plan is to delay his trials until after the election, which he's counting on winning and being able to shut down the criminal cases, and to pardon himself if he is convicted by any of the courts.

Special Counsel Jack Smith has had his hands tied behind his back when it comes to some judges like Aileen Cannon in the stolen documents case. Cannon has gone out of her way to accommodate the Trump team and has been admonished by the 11th District Court for violating rules twice.

Then there's the Supreme Court's "Trump Justices" obstructing state laws to keep him on their ballots. Legal experts are anxiously awaiting the Supreme Court's oral hearings on presidential immunity.

If that supposedly august body decides it's okay for a president to order Seal Team 6 to kill his political opponents, the results would be catastrophic for the republic. 

It would effectively shatter the Constitution and open the door for a fascist state under a twice-impeached former president and convicted rapist.

The Democrats need a resounding victory in November. I'm convinced there are more sane Americans than crazy cultists.

As it Stands, Democrats and Independant's are going to have to swallow their distaste over President Biden's age in order to preserve our freedoms and democracy.

MAGA House Members Find Another 'Perfect Witness' for Biden Impeachment Folly

GOP House chairmen Jim Jordon and James Comer have gotten themselves another "smoking gun" witness in the never-ending quest to harass President Biden and his son Hunter.

For the record they've already presented a wanted international arms dealer and a rogue FBI agent working with Russian intelligence in their prior endeavors to discredit the Bidens, making absolute clowns out of themselves.

But Trump's three main butt boys in the House, Jordan, Comer, and Andy Biggs are completely shameless and there's no way they're going to let facts interfere with their disgusting mission to please their master.

So, who is this NEW smoking gun in the saga of liars, thieves, and miscreates that have paraded through House committees?

Here's the story...

the above-mentioned trio of MAGA morons held a transcribed interview with a guy named Jason Galanis who they expect will be their next star witness in their conspiracy theories.

Who the heck is he?

Jason Galanis is a federal inmate sentenced to 15 years in prison for scamming a Native American tribal entity out of tens of millions of dollars. Period.

The new prospective witness pleaded guilty in January 2020 to charges of multiple frauds, among them funneling about 8.5 million of Wakpamni Lake Community Corporation funds into his personal bank account, according to a lengthy release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

Here comes the best part, however. Galanis was part of a notorious New York crime family whose patriarch was targeted by then-mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Sounds like a perfect witness to me. Such credibility. But where's the connection to the Bidens?

Galanis was a partner with also convicted felon Devon Archer. Archer was a former business partner with Hunter Biden - who was not involved in the alleged bribery scheme.

But Hunter's name came up during the investigation as an unpaid member of the Burnham Group, of which both Galanis and Archer were also members, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hunter was not charged.

Going back full circle, the trio of idiots sent out angry letters to the Manhattan-based assistant U.S. Attorney Negar Tekeei and Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Collette Peters - demanding information why Galanis' 2023 early release was denied.

Why are the three stooges so interested in this felon? I'll tell you, in their twisted minds he could be a backdoor to attacking Hunter and allowing them to continue their assault against the Bidens. Something to keep the false narratives alive as it were.

You'd think they'd be too embarrassed to introduce another "key witness" straight from a federal prison. But no. Like I said they are shameless and without honor.

As it Stands, when it comes time to vote in November, I hope the American people remember what the conspiracy ranting Republicans did to the House this year and our country in general.

Creep in the House: MAGA Mike to Release GOP Video Version of Jan. 6 Security Footage

      Speaker of the House Mike Johnson 

...is a creep, a disciple of the Nationalistic Christian movement, and the coffee boy for a disgraced former president who wants to destroy our Constitutional Democracy.

"Why a creep," you ask?

For starters, I watched an old video of MAGA Mike taking his preteen daughter to a purity ball. 

"So?" You reply.

Do you know what a purity ball is? Extremist Christian fathers take their preteen daughters to an affair that looks very much like a wedding. The father gives his daughter a corsage and they dance around the ballroom full of groomers disguised as doting fathers.

In the climax of the creepy event the father puts a wedding ring on his daughter's finger and has her sign a covenant that states her father owns her body and she's not allowed to have sex until she gets married upon which time daddy's ring comes off.

There's more. The above is a brief summary.

In MAGA Mike's world it's okay to openly monitor his son for porn use on the computer, and the son monitors MAGA Mike's online surfing. This bizarre behavior is supposed to make them both more godly and good Christians. 

It sounds more like they have a porn addiction, and both are trying to quit. It's got creepy written all over it.

Why Release Jan. 6 Security Footage Now?

A few months ago, MAGA Mike told reporters that he and the GOP leadership team were going to release Jan. 6 security footage, though the videos would be slightly ...altered before reaching the public.

MAGA Mike explained that they had to blur the faces of persons who participated in the events of the day because "we don't want them to be retaliated against and be charged by the Department of Justice."

So according to MAGA Mike suspected criminals had to be protected from possible accountability, so he and his colleagues decided to take deliberate steps to obscure the identities of those who entered the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack.

The idea of misusing cherry-picked scenes to justify a vast array of false claims and conspiracy theories about Trump's coup attempt, has been percolating for months in MAGA world.

Here's an interesting twist. I just found out that MAGA Mike said efforts to produce the videos have been going slowly because it takes extra time to blur faces - thus the delay before the big day. The unveiling as it were.

So MAGA Mike decided not to blur faces. Meanwhile the far-right fanatics are getting restless for results, so I expect to see the videos fairly soon.

As it Stands, the Creep just keeps rolling along believing he's Moses and parting the red sea of stupidity.

Gambling Pandemic Sweeps America: No End in Sight

Welcome to the golden age of gambling in the good old USA.

Once upon a time gambling was looked upon as a cultural scourge. You couldn't openly bet on any sporting events like you can today. 

Most states didn't allow slot machines or public card games with the exception of Las Vegas, Nevada, that reveled in being called Sin City where gambling was legal.

That attempt to separate the seedier side of gambling from wholesome family driven sporting events - like baseball - is now dust in the wind. 

Odds for betting on games are shared by sports hucksters/announcers who are in the pockets of giant betting companies like Draft Kings and Fan Duel.

Here's a fun fact, gambling is addictive. That's one reason why it - along with the profit - has become legal in all forms today. Greedy politicians have gleefully accepted donations from gambling lobbies to make restrictions on gambling disappear.

Fact: less than six years ago, betting on sports in the United States was prohibited under federal law except in Nevada casinos and a smattering of venues in other states.

But in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal prohibition was unconstitutional and opened the floodgates to a field of fantasy sports companies that allow gambling on all sports.

The New York Times investigated the dark underbelly of these gambling companies a couple of years ago and discovered that state lawmakers were showered with money, gifts and visits from sports luminaries.

In addition, the article pointed out that the gambling lobby was using deceptive arguments to extract generous tax breaks and other concessions.  

Sports-betting firms cultivated friendly relationships with lawmakers and regulators who didn't have the taxpayers and people at risk of gambling problems best interests at heart.

This pandemic of gambling has spread to 31 states and Washington D.C. and isn't going away soon. Sports gambling is permitted online or in person. There are also five more states that will allow such betting in the future.

A study at the University of Connecticut showed that as many as three in four pre-teens that are exposed to internet gambling become addicted.

I've heard the saying "Money is the root of all evil," and I'm convinced it's true. A new generation of gamblers will suffer financial setbacks that will eventually land them in the streets with the other homeless Americans wondering how they got there.

As it Stands, I understand the attraction to gambling because it's a human thing. However, it's not a smart thing.

Why is Justice So Damn Slow in America?

Exhibit A: Donald J. Trump

After decades of dragging the justice system around by the hair one man has eluded, mocked, and used it with impunity.

Yet we claim no man is above the law.

Forget about Trump's ghost-written book The Art of the Deal... he should have written The Art of the Steal. Or "The Art in Delaying Justice in America.

Delayed justice didn't suddenly become a problem when Trump ambled upon the court scene. He just mastered the art.

Corrupt lawyers and judges have always infected our judicial system. It's a foul byproduct polluting our system of law from the earliest of days. There will always be bad actors in the courts because the world's not perfect.

Some decades are worse than others. Politics plays a major part in polluting both our government and judicial systems. Our Constitutional Democracy is struggling with the biggest challenge in America's history.

Can our republic stand up to a lunatic leading a cult that was once the Republican party?

With Trump judges in the Supreme Court, federal, and state courts, justice is slowly being choked via delays by corrupt judges. 

There's no excuse for the courts to move like arthritic turtles when it comes to making decisions.

Instead of the old hard copy searches for evidence and information, there's these newfangled things called computers that move with astonishing speed.

The Constitution supposedly guarantees everyone the right to a speedy trial, but when's the last time you saw that happen? Trials today are political minefields where lawyers plant delays to avoid adverse judgements for their clients.

Trump's masterclass performance in delaying justice sets new lows in America's court history. It has become the blueprint for MAGA crooks for the foreseeable future.

As William Gladstone said, "Justice delayed is justice denied."

As it Stands, because of justice delayed - all four of Trump's trials that should have begun two years ago - a sociopath is running for president in November.

MAGA World Offers 2024 Trump Trial Tour

                            Welcome!

I'll be your Trump Trial Tour guide today. First off, make sure you've purchased your tickets in advance for all the locations on this nationwide tour of the country's court houses. All proceeds will go directly into Trump's coffers.

As you know we're offering save spaces across from the nation's court houses that Trump will be visiting on a rotating basis the rest of the year.

In addition, there will be street vendors offering Trump merchandize from gold sneakers (now 50% off at all tour sites), Trump trading cards, and clothing with Trump's orange mug peeking out from behind bars with the saying, "Never Surrender."

Also, just a gentle reminder, there's no refunds if you can't attend due to the weather - like a 100-year blizzard, or you get arrested for rioting. However, the organizers will provide legal assistance at a Special Tour price. All proceeds go to Trump's coffers. 

For your convivence the Trump Tour Association has chartered a Trump train that will have stops at all of Trump's court appearances. Fees will vary from state to state. All proceeds will go to Trump's coffers.

I can promise you will enjoy numerous personal sightings of Trump as he shambles in and out of court rooms. Don't be surprised if there's a bonus rant - especially if he gets convicted of some ruling goes against him.

Consider this, most Americans aren't going to have the opportunities you have to follow around the second coming of Jesus Christ. Orange Jesus, as Trump's referred to by loyal minions like yourselves.

By the end of this tour, you'll be able to share memories with friends and family who'll be wondering why you don't have any money and why you have to keep making so many personal court appearances.

As it Stands, "Gullibility is a knife at the throat of civilization," - David Wong.

Supreme Court Scheme & Photo Ops on the Border While Texas Experiences Worst Wildfire in State's History

Okay. I'm back despite my posting that I was taking a blog break. 

I just couldn't ignore what the Supreme Court has done with the Trump immunity case. The justices handed Trump his first clear victory for delaying his coup trial until after the election in November by postponing the case until April 22nd to "hear oral arguments."

To be clear the justices shouldn't have taken the case into consideration at all. They should have kicked it back to the federal courts who all ruled Trump can't order Seal Team Six to kill his political opponents.

SCOTUS has given a corrupt and treasonous man a free pass to be above the law. It's nearly impossible to hold the coup trial before the election with the obstacles that still lie ahead.

Looking back this was a foregone conclusion when Clarence Thomas didn't recuse himself despite his wife's efforts to overturn a fair election. The scheme to help Trump was baked in after he made three new puppet justices his lackies.

Wildfires and Photo Ops

Nothing can stop political photo ops... not even the worst wildfire in Texas history that has already consumer a million acres and currently is raging out of control.

President Biden and Trump are both campaigning on the southern border with conflicting visions for solving the immigration issue. 

Changing his narrative somewhat, President Biden talked about tougher border security measures while Trump took his usual racist message to his base ... "We don't need these people from other countries invading our border!" 

Meanwhile catastrophic wildfires are ripping across the Texas Panhandle and have killed at least one person and threaten to destroy more homes, cattle and livelihoods as it engulfs more land every minute.

To make matters worse Texas governor Abbott won't excerpt federal disaster help after declaring a state of emergency in the Lone Star state. Why? Because of politics.

As it Stands, watching border photo ops while the state burns are like watching Nero play a fiddle while Rome burns.