Trump's America: Look At The World in the 1930's To Understand What's Happening Today

Good Day World!

As we watch the ugly face of fascism surface and spread in Europe and now America, it's a good idea to take a little history lesson.

The 1930s and Now

Fascism was founded on the principal of nationalist unity, against other ideologies like Socialism and Communism. 

Adolf Hitler's rise to power came amidst the turbulent 1930s in Germany. Benito Mussolini, another fascist strongman at the time asserted that "National Pride" has no need of the "delirium of race."   

Look what's happening today in Europe and America. We're watching the rise of nationalism and racist rhetoric directed at foreigners.

Understanding What's Happening

In a nutshell: Republican institutions (like American Democracy) don't protect us against tyranny when powerful people start defying political norms.

The result is tyranny can flourish even while maintaining a republican facade.

The rise of Trump proves that. His ascension to power parallels Hitler's and Mussolini's.

Other strongmen have taken over countries like Russia's leader Vladimir Putin, and Turkey's leader Recep Tayip Erdogan. 

In Austria, a nationalist candidate came within three-tenths of a percentage point of becoming the first far-right head of a state elected in Europe since World War II.

In Hungary, an authoritarian government has clamped down on the news media and erected razor wire fences to keep out migrants. 

There are worries that Poland may follow suit. 

Traditional parties in France, Germany, Greece and elsewhere have been challenged by nationalist movements amid an economic crisis and waves of migrants. 

In Israel, fascism analogies by a former prime minister and a top general have again inflamed the long-running debate about the occupation of Palestinian territories.

Americans are used to the idea that other countries may be vulnerable to such movements, but while figures like Father Charles Coughlin, the demagogic radio broadcaster, enjoyed wide followings in the 1930s, neither major party has ever nominated anyone quite like Trump.

Related: How Fascism Comes to America

How Republics End


Time for me to walk on down the road...

Swift and Stupid: Immigration ban catches everyone off guard including airport authorities

Good Day World!

Forget "Fast and Furious."

We're faced with "Swift and Stupid," after Trump sprung an immigration surprise on nearly everyone in the world. 

Chump's actions were so well-thought out that the country, and the world, are in chaos trying to implement a ban that no one seems to fully understand.

One frustrated Custom and Border Agent at JFK told two Iraqi men being detained to "Call Donald Trump" if they have a complaint.

The chaos created by Rump's ill-conceived plan of action has resulted in numerous legal challenges, airport protests, and condemnations from politicians and advocacy groups.

Trump Travel Ban Sparks Protests at Airports Nationwide

Donny Little-Hands suspended all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days (that can be extended), and halted the admission of refugees from Syria indefinitely.

His executive order bars entry for three months to residents from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

They are: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen (this list may be expanded in the days ahead). 

To fan the flames, Chump said it would be okay for Christians in those counties to come to America.

Terrorist groups like ISIS are celebrating the Orange Vulgarian's swift and stupid actions and words.

Reportedly Rump said "Things are going nicely" as chaos broke out in airports around the world. 

Frump has been in office one week and just look at the havoc he's wrought.

From trying to force-feed people into believing "alternate facts" about his election, to thoroughly pissing off two trade partners; China and Mexico.

Throw in his Nazi-style of implementing the refugee ban, and you have to admit...he's well on the way to Making America the Evil Empire! 

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Truthful Hyperbole, Alternative Facts, and Damn Lies!

                                           Good Day World!

If you've ever wasted your time (and money) reading Trump's book "The Art Of The Deal" you discovered a term called "Truthful Hyperbole."

Trump uses the term to buff up his image and to make a larger point.

Truthful Hyperbole is nothing more than a lie dressed up in a con man's tuxedo.

It's the forerunner to Trump's Alternative facts as per his new Press Secretary Spicer.

But we all know alternative facts are naked lies. Even though the Emperor doesn't have on any clothes, his minions look the other way like dumb sheep.

How long is Trump going to get away with serial lying and rewriting laws to benefit his billionaire buddies? 

That's a question only time will answer, but I'm seriously thinking about placing my bet in Vegas where the odds are 50-50 that he won't last a year before his compounded lies get him impeached.

Even some Trump supporters, like Lindsey Graham are asking Rump to stop lying.  

But how can you stop a serial liar? At 70 years-old any hope of embracing the truth is long gone. But that doesn't mean his lies should go unchallenged.

It's going to take brave men and women who really love this country to hold Chump's feet to the fire and to expose his lies in real time.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Betsy DeVos Is The Most Unqualified Education Secretary Ever Nominated ...Period!

Good Day World!

In the latest attempt to put a wolf in the chicken coop, Trump's nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is having a hard time getting confirmed.

After her dismal performance in front of the Senate Health, Labor and Pension Committee (HELP) on January 17th, she found herself up against ethics violations.

Here's the report. Talk about conflicts of interest! Her investments (in 102 companies) sheds new light on her ethics.

Fact: Billionaire Betsy and hubby have spent millions advancing radical school privatization, including taxpayer vouchers for private and religious schools, and helping politicians get elected across the nation who were willing to advance their elite agenda.

Fact: Betsy doesn't have an ounce of experience for the job. Imagine if you were to apply for a position this big and you didn't have ANY experience. None. Nada. You'd be laughed right out of the room.

Senator Elizabeth Warren grilled Betsy and exposed her total lack of credentials during the hearing. 

 "It is already unquestionable that Betsy DeVos is the most unqualified Education Secretary nominee in our nation's history, but it is clear that if she is confirmed, she will make the student debt crisis exponentially worse," said Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now, who has pushed for meaningful solutions in the state of Wisconsin. 

Trump's attempt to undermine public education by nominating DeVos is a blatant attempt to deny education for the poor and minorities. 

His love of under-educated supporters is a matter of record.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

1984: Trump's Road Map To Riding Over Our Rights

                                      Good Day World!

It's no wonder that George Orwell's book about a dystopian future has shot to the top of Best Sellers on Amazon.

Orwell's warning about what could happen to a society when a dictator takes over has resonated thousands of times since it was published in 1949.

Right now Orwell sounds like Nostradamus.

Trump's alternative facts and outright lies have sent sales of the classic book through the roof.

Instead of Winston Smith, a drone working in the so-called Ministry of Truth, rewriting and distorting history, Trump has Sean Spicer.

But unlike Smith, Spicer isn't someone with a conscience trying to remain human under a fascist regime. 

Trump is busy attacking the media that he plans to control someday. His desire to be Big Brother is deeply rooted in his lust for power.

He wants everyone to love and obey him. Those who do not will become victims of The Party. 

Reality is Trump's enemy. And now he has four years to try to fully implement a regime that will keep him on as permanent President Big Brother.

In the end of the book Winston finally loses his battle to be human and agrees 2+2=5 if Big Brother says it so. He's fully brainwashed, just like Spicer and other the other puppets Trump has installed in our government.

Meanwhile Spicer doesn't seem to have any moral qualms about spewing his master's lies and distortions. The mainstream media is now at the front line of freedom, facing a fascist regime that seeks to crush it.

Once Trump convinces everyone that only his tweets are the truth, it will be 1984.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

GOP Legislators Seek To Stop All Peaceful Protests in America

Good Day World!

Maybe it was the massive Women's March protesting everything Donny Little-Hands stood for.

For sure it was a case of massive butt hurt by being slapped with reality as Trump watched women throughout America AND across the world stand in solidarity against him.

But I bet Chump is smiling about what some Republican legislators are doing to curtail peaceful protests by quietly introducing a number of proposals to criminalize and discourage them. 

Trumpanzee Republicans know their master is going to be faced with many protests in his illegitimate presidency and anything they can do to stifle them will be looked upon favorably by His Orangeness.

In North Dakota a bill was introduced that would allow motorists to run over and kill any protester obstructing a highway...as long it was accidental.

Say what? Suddenly there's going to be a lot of "accidental deaths" when protesters dare to march  North Dakota.

In Minnesota, a bill introduced by Republicans last week seeks to dramatically stiffen fines for freeway protests and would allow prosecutors to seek a full year of jail time for protesters blocking a highway. 

Republicans in Washington state have proposed a plan to reclassify as a felony civil disobedience protests that are deemed “economic terrorism.”

In Iowa a Republican lawmaker has pledged to introduce legislation to crack down on highway protests.

The anti-protesting bills have alarmed civil liberties watchdogs.

Via the Intercept:

“This trend of anti-protest legislation dressed up as ‘obstruction’ bills is deeply troubling,” said Lee Rowland, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, who views such bills as violations of the First Amendment.

“A law that would allow the state to charge a protester $10,000 for stepping in the wrong place, or encourage a driver to get away with manslaughter because the victim was protesting, is about one thing: chilling protest.”

Donny Little-Hands hopes to see an end to protests in America with the help of his loyal Trumpanzees. 

Stifling protests (and violating the First Amendment) is another controlling component in Trump's lust for complete power.

Stay alert America! Your freedoms have never before faced such a serious threat!

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Poll Shows Majority of Americans Want To Know What's in Trump's Wallet

Good Day World!

Let's get this straight Donny Little Hands...are you going to release your damn taxes or not?

Your puppet Kellyann Conway told ABC last week that "People didn't care about seeing your taxes. They were litigated throughout the election." 

She wrongly claimed "Most Americans are very focused on what their tax returns will look like while President Trump is in office, not what his looks like."

A national poll conducted by ABC showed 74% of Americans would very much like to see what's in Trump's wallet. Republicans and Democrats.

Conway was later cornered by respondents to a petition on the White House website calling on you to “immediately” release you're tax returns.

So she flip-flopped the very next day. Why the reversal Donnie? Should we believe what your puppet Conway is now saying, that they'll be released after the so-called audit is done?

One question however. Why don't you release the paperwork showing us you are being audited? We just have your slippery words of assurance that there is an ongoing audit.

One more thing. The IRS has repeatedly said you are free to release your taxes anytime. 

And if there isn't an audit...what have you been hiding???

Time for me to walk on down the road... 

Trump's New Minister of Propaganda Sets Course for Alternative Facts

Good Day World!

A few thoughts about our new White House spokesman Minister of Propaganda, Sean Spicer's first official press conference.

Wow! This on Day One to the American people..

Trump puppet Spicer wants people to believe in alternative facts (that's what Trump adviser Kellyann Conway calls it when lying about the crowd attendance) that paints an entirely different picture of reality.

Fact:

Despite actual photos and expert crowd watchers, Spicer wants us to ignore what they show. The same goes for the Nielsen Ratings numbers which showed Trump's inauguration was watched by far less viewers than Obama's, and the last five presidents!

The Department of the Interior's twitter account was abruptly blocked when Trump's minions saw that it was reporting on the true crowd size at the inauguration.

The alternative facts crazy Conway is pushing are
nothing more than an alternate universe where everyone believes anything Trump says regardless of reality.

Adolf Hitler's Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, would have been proud of Spicer's slavish devotion to his master Trump.

It's all about suspending reality and creating a new one. 

To do this you have to attack the reporting of the mainstream press in an effort to discredit reality. Trump's hatred of the press is well documented, along with his desire to control all media outlets reporting on his activities.   

On one hand Spicer says no one knows how many people attended. Despite that, he turned right around and said it was the biggest inaugural attendance ever witnessed.

The man has no shame.

Just so you know; estimating crowd sizes is easier now than ever before with the use of drones and other means.

To learn more about alternative facts all you have to do is follow future Spicer speeches when he attempts to cover for the latest controversy caused by his master.

Speaking of Trump (the master con artist), how about when he addressed those CIA officers and told them that the rain stopped and the sun came out when he was speaking at the inauguration???

No Donny...those were raindrops falling on that thing on your head and all people have to do is view the video to know you lied again. 

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Trump Dumps: The Price I Pay For Following Trump's Antics

Good Day World!

I reached the saturation point on Trump stories nine months ago. 

Yet, I'm still blogging about the orange vulgarian every.

That's because I try to discuss and share things that are topical. But I'm paying a price for reporting on Herr Trump. 

I have bouts of Trump dumps (see toilet paper above) where I get depressed thinking about him in the Oval Office. 

As an old school journalist who didn't have to deal with the fake news explosion on the Internet, I was able to maintain a neutral stance when writing news stories back in the day.

When I wrote opinion pieces, I always made sure to back up my facts (just like the news stories) and to present a reasonable argument.

After retiring (I was a newspaper editor and publisher) in the early 1990's I pursued a number of new hobbies. However, I still had that itch to communicate with the written word.

So I started this blog.

Nowadays I have to admit it's hard for me to be neutral when I'm dealing with Trump news stories, or opinions. The Fifth column has collapsed thanks to the Tweeter-In-Chief.

Trump's attacks against the press feel personal to me. When I watch him lie without blinking an eye, I know he's a sociopath.

I also know he's taking this country down a dark path. And that's why I'll continue to write about Chump and hold his orange ass to the fire!

I intend to document Donny Little Hand's days in office - however long that may be - so that future generations don't make the same mistake.

In that effort, I'll be joined by millions of other Americans who plan to resist Trump's tyranny through protests and other ways of getting the message out.

As for those Trump supporters who keep saying "get over it," I would remind them of the last eight years that Republicans have spent complaining about Obama.

In case anyone has forgotten, the GOP pledged to resist Obama's presidency from Day One. Can you say Democratic Deja vu?

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Trump's Tweet Threats Against US Car Makers Are Backfiring

                                           Good Day World!

Since day one, Trump has assured his followers that he would bring back American manufacturing jobs. 

He claimed the big corporations would whither when he told them he'd hit them with a 35% tax for going out of the country with their jobs.

Guess what? Trumps tough tweets about Mexican imports have had an unexpected result. Instead of driving companies away from doing business in Mexico, the opposite may happen.

Here's why; Mexico's peso has taken a dive because of Trump's terrible tweets. That now means it's even cheaper to do business in Mexico than ever before.

Several high-level auto industry officials recently told NBC News that the sharp slump in the price of the peso could offset any import tariffs, leading them to consider new manufacturing options in Mexico. 

This unexpected consequence was highlighted by former U.S. Treasure Secretary Lawrence Summers during a speech last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In essence the experts say the decline of the peso is a dagger at Ohio.

This is a good example of class populism being counterproductive for those in whose name it is offered as a policy regime.

It gets worse.

There was a study released last week by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) that warned of the possibility of eliminating or sharply scaling back on NAFTA could seriously impact the U.S. auto industry, especially in the Midwest, where most of the manufacturing takes place.

"Counter to the incoming Trump administration's goal of creating manufacturing jobs, the withdrawal from NAFTA or the implementation of punitive tariffs could result in the loss of 31,000 U.S. jobs," said a summary of the report by CAR, a highly respected automotive research firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

As a result, manufacturers can save substantially by using Mexico as a central production base for global distribution.

Remember Trump's tweets hailing Ford's decision to cancel plans for a new Mexican assembly plant? The Detroit auto maker actually did not reverse its plan to move small car production to Mexico.

The Focus model will simply be built in another, existing and underutilized Ford plant in Hermosillo.

Finally, despite a series of announcements about new U.S. factory investments in recent weeks, there has been little actual movement of manufacturing back to the U.S. — but for a small axle line by General Motors.

To all of those Americans who thought Trump was going to invigorate manufacturing in the U.S., this is going to be their first major disappointment with his regime.

Stay tuned. More will come.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Trump Inauguration: The Day The Music Died

                                             Good Day World!

Today the music dies and all the good 'ol boys gather to celebrate their master's ascension to the throne of the Divided States of America.

But they won't be alone.

Protesters will surround the triumphant Trumpanzees.

All the big names in Hollywood have passed on attending. Musical groups, like the E Street Band backed out because they didn't want to be seen as supporting Trump's illegitimate presidency.

Has there ever been a more unpopular incoming president?

Trump's inauguration is being protested in all 50 states and 32 other counties. 

A recent survey by the Washington Post/ABC News showed that only 40% of respondents approve of the way Trump handled the post-election transition, making him the least popular incoming president of the last seven chief executives.

People are skeptical of Trump. Sixty-one percent of Americans lack confidence in him to make the right decisions for the country's future.

His transition has featured frequent clashes with intelligence agencies, political opponents, and reporters, particularly over evidence that the Russians interfered in the election by hacking emails from Democrats close to Hillary Clinton. 

Sixty Democratic senators are not attending the event (the most ever not to attend an inauguration).

Tomorrow an expected 200,000 women will march on Washington to protest everything Trump stands for.

I'm reminded of Don McLean's iconic 1971 song "American Pie."  

The song, a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, was written after they were all killed in a plane crash.

The tragic event was described in the song as "the day the music died."

Today is the Day That Freedom died.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

All Aboard The Greed Train!

Good Day World!

Tickets please! All aboard the Greed Train!

It's never been better to be a millionaire or billionaire than it is now. 

Under Trump's regime greed has become good again, reminiscent of the 1980s.

Corporations are clamoring to fund Trump's inauguration in return for favors they know he will grant. They've already raised a hundred million for the event.

The heavy hitters - those donating six-and-seven figures - will get inauguration packages, including exclusive dinners, tickets, concerts and inaugural balls.

The thing is there are no legal limits to their donations so the bigger they are, the more influence will be granted.

Funny how Trump claimed throughout his campaign that he wouldn't take money from others because he was so rich he didn't need to.

So how much is The Donald spending on his inauguration? Are you ready for this? Zero. Nada. Nothing. If that doesn't give a clue for what lies ahead nothing does.

A complete reversal of what he claimed. Better get use to it however. All those promises he made during his run for the presidency will be broken and forgotten.

All that will remain is a billionaire president getting richer than he even dreamed of. With his two sons running the Trump show (despite the ethical conflict) it's going to be like discovering a new gold mine.

As for the average American who voted for Trump, I'm sorry to say there's no room aboard the Greed Train, and if it slips off the tracks they better be prepared to pay for it.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Eliminating Ethical Constraints is Mission One for Trump Team

Good Day World!

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) has been under assault since Trump won the election with the help of Russian hackers and FBI director Comey.

Two weeks ago the Republican dominated House made a sneak play to eliminate the office, but had to give up the idea after a massive bipartisan response condemning the bill.

Trump knows that he's going to be violating numerous rules and even the Constitution, and that it's imperative he doesn't have a government watchdog snapping at his heels.

So the Trump transition team is taking another tack and is going after the OGE director Walter Shaub Jr., for publicly raising questions about him and the people he's chosen for his Cabinet. 

On the same day of Trump's first press conference, where he addressed his potential business conflicts, Shaub gave a speech at the Brookings Institution explaining that Trump's action was meaningless.

Then Shaub sent a letter to Senate Democrats warning them that all the nominees hadn't completed their ethics review. 
Missing was required financial disclosures. Just like Trump's refusal to release his tax information.

In retaliation, Republicans threatened Shaub and have ordered him to appear before a committee before the end of the month.

The Democrats don't want his hearing to be held in secret and are pushing for a public hearing. The top Democrat on the Committee, Elijah Cummings, said in a recent statement to the press (regarding the investigative committee);

"The Oversight Committee has not held one hearing, conducted one interview, or obtained one document about President-elect Donald Trump's massive global entanglements.

"Yet this committee is now apparently rushing to launch an investigation of the key government official for warning against the risks caused by President-elect Donald Trump's current plans."

There's no doubt Trump's team is on a mission to eliminate any ethical restraints that will cause him problems in the next four years.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

White House Renovations Raise Eyebrows But Tough Sh*t!

                                           Good Day World!

January 21st - Americans are still in shock.

No one could of imagined that Donald Trump would remodel the entire White House in such a short time.

Dump tweeted about the progress as each new gold fixture was installed in the bathrooms and the main kitchen. Perhaps one of the most controversial changes he made was adding another floor.

When asked by the press why the extra floor, Trump explained that the top floor was for Barron, his spoiled 9-year old who enjoys telling his classmates "Your fired!"

"It's what he grew up with in Trump Tower. He has his own floor there," the new president noted. "When Barron and Melanie move in after his school term in New York, they're both going to feel at home." 

Meanwhile American historians cried when the Oval Office was remodeled and turned into a tiny golf course complete with racks of tiny golf clubs designed to fit Trump's small hands.

No one was particularly surprised when all of the paintings of past presidents came down and were replaced by paintings of Trump in a variety of imperial poses.

Some eyebrows were raised when Trump's daughter Ivanka immediately moved in with Daddy and assumed Melania's position of First Lady. 

It took a lot of threats before the Republican dominated House and Senate agreed to capitulate to his demand of having a gold-plated statue of himself put in the front of the redesigned White House.

Trump's new intelligence directors wasted no time in preparing a secret room for Putin and Trump to have sexual liaisons when the Russian dictator made state visits. 

Really though...no one should be surprised by the changes. For those of you who didn't vote for Trump and don't like them there's not a damn thing you can do.

For those who did vote for Chump, and don't like the changes to the White House Trump House...tough shit!

The Trump House is here to stay...for four years (unless he's impeached, tarred and feathered, and tried for treason).

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Comrade Trump Goes To Washington Instead of Mr. Smith

Good Day World!

Remember that classic movie "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington?"

It was about a naive political outsider who got appointed to the United States Senate.

The difference between Mr. Smith's trip to Washington and Donald Trump's arrival there is that the two men are complete opposites.

While Mr. Smith fought corruption, Trump brings it with him like a dark cloud.

Mr. Smith was a real patriot. He knew the Russians weren't our friends.

"Comrade" Trump can't wait to get sworn in so he can have a slumber party with Russian dictator Putin. 

Mr. Smith was well-spoken and sincere.Trump talks in jingoistic monosyllables and 140 word tweets (usually with misspellings).

Mr. Smith was out to stop greedy Congressmen who cozied up to corporations. Trump has formed a Billionaire Boys Club for a Cabinet, stocked with the greediest men on the planet.

There were no scandals (despite his enemies attempts to create one) about Mr. Smith's life. Trump's scandals are so numerous that you need to categorize them alphabetically.

Mr. Smith was all about honesty. He refused to tell lies to further his career. 

Trump has never done anything honestly in his life. Try reading his book "The Art of the Deal." He praises any means it takes to get one's way.

Lying is second nature to Trump. As the Leader of The Boy Rangers (same as the Boy Scouts) Mr. Smith stressed that the truth must be told at all times.

Mr. Smith eventually helps "Drain the Swamp" in Washington and there's a happy ending. Democracy won again.

Trump drained the swamp of alligators and replaced them with crocodiles (who are significantly bigger than the the alligators). 

Mr. Smith's story had a happy ending.
Trump's story may be the prelude to Armageddon...

Time for me to walk on down the road...