Countdown to Meltdown: Congress Puts Off Prison Reform Bill

Good Day World!

Business on Capitol Hill is on hold, as the GOP led Congress had to refocus their attention on doing damage control for the country's Liar-In-Chief.

What could have been good PR for the Trump Administration, passing a bipartisan prison reform bill, had to be put off until the midterms are over.

Why?

A couple of reasons have been given: 

1) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell just didn't want the headache right now, according to one insider. The White House described McConnell's view as, "if you have a strong whip count but a few vocal critics after the election, then I'll care less about the vocal critics then."

After decoding McConnell's explanation you come up with the real reason...
Trump is under such intense pressure from the recent political bombshells that it's rocked the Republican's world. They know his very name is toxic right now. Some may also see the writing on the wall...Trump is going to get into trouble. How much is still speculation, but recent revelations suggest his plate is overflowing with possible future criminal charges.

Trump Organization CFO Granted Immunity by Prosecutors in Cohen Investigation

National Inquirer Kept Safe With Damaging Trump Stories

National Enquirer publisher David Pecker Granted Immunity


2) The biggest reason however is Trump is busy attacking his attorney general publicly, according to a source familiar with McConnell's reasoning for cancelling the legislation until after the elections. 

Interestingly enough, some GOP insiders say delaying the bill was an "unequivocal" win for Sessions who had problems with it.

Trump, oblivious as usual to the political implications that go with attacking his attorney general, has been in a meltdown mode this last week. 

His ego is bruised and he's defaulted to getting revenge against his critics (see John Brennan security clearance grab), and returned to his favorite refrain that Sessions should have not recused himself from the Russian investigation. Hence, the tension on Capitol Hill and the West Wing.

The GOP is in a survival mode as they wait for another shoe to drop with the increasing probability of campaign violations, and obstruction of justice charges Mueller may file against him at any time.

Chances are, you'll read or see another revelation of corruption committed by Trump today, even as you read this post.

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

Sessions Shows Some Spine As Truth Bombs Fall on Trump

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Who would have thought, Keebler Elf look-alike, Jeff Sessions, would stand up to Trump...for even a moment?

It appears he grew some dingleberries (not big enough for balls yet) when he announced the DOJ wouldn't be influenced by politics. And he refuted Trump's claim that he's never been in control of the department, saying he has since Day One.

It was the mouse who roared, even while noting he's carried out Trump's agenda like a good puppet. Stay tuned for this example of a hostile work environment in the West Wing.

Trump needs to hole up in a bomb shelter. 

There's been so many truth bombs dropped recently revealing his corruption in (and outside), that the White House lawn is covered in craters.

Another bomb dropped yesterday. Trump's long-time buddy, David Pecker, publisher of The National Inquirer, is cooperating with authorities (he's been granted immunity) regarding the whole payoff scandal with a porn star and playboy model. 

It's looking like Trump's buddies are becoming his worst enemies. Michael Cohen's testimony incriminating Trump for campaign fraud (misuse of campaign funds), is only the tip of the iceberg melting under Trump's fat ass.

What Trump really needs is a 24-hour bomb squad, not a battery of lawyers, because the bombs are going to continue dropping. 

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

GOP Circling Wagons as Trump's Corruption Catches Up To Him

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He's down, but not out.

Yet.

It's going to take more than a charge of fraudulent use of campaign funds to hogtie America's Liar-In-Chief. It's kid's stuff compared to the scale of his other lies.

As a nearly paralyzed GOP Congress is trying to cope with each new revelation of corruption Trump brings into the party tent, they're forced to set aside legislative business and go into a defensive crisis mode.

In the beginning, there were two men in congress that endorsed candidate Trump for president: GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter and GOP Rep. Christopher Collins.

It's obvious what kind of political backers Trump got early on...corrupt individuals who saw a kindred spirit. 

1) Yesterday, GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter, and his wife, were indicted on 60 counts of corruption - misuse of campaign funds to the tune of $250,000. 

2) Recently, Republican GOP Rep. Christopher Collins of New York has been indicted on charges that he used inside information about a biotechnology company to make illicit stock trades.

That was a warm-up. Let's get to the meat...

Trump's fixer, Michael Cohen flipped on him in court yesterday and pled guilty of 2016 campaign violations that were carried out under Trump's instructions.

Trump's one-time campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was convicted on eight felony counts two days ago. Next, he has to stand trial for more felonies in another court, which will involve his Ukrainian and Russian connections. Mueller may have plans to get involved in this trial.

Consider this; Trump is going to have to talk with Mueller - in one way, or another, before his investigation will wrap up. The stonewall (not to be confused with THE WALL) game played by his crazed lawyer Rudy G., and the White House lawyer team, won't go on much longer.

Gutless House Speaker Ryan, when confronted with Cohen's guilty plea that incriminated candidate Trump of campaign finance fraud told the press:

"We are aware of Mr. Cohen's guilty plea to these serious charges. We will need more information than is currently available at this point."

The rest of the spineless GOP jellyfish are staying quiet, hoping they'll somehow survive the upcoming midterm elections.

It hasn't been easy with the tide of corruption Trump brought into the West Wing, and his non-stop attacks against the free press.

Trump is running out of time before the court's, and congress, send him to a very bad place in the penal system. If he's lucky, he may end up in a cell with that "...very brave man," he admired in the media yesterday...Paul Manafort. 

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

Trump in Wonderland: 'Off With Their Heads!'

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America went down the "rabbit hole" in 2016, and is struggling to get back out into "the real world," after Trump's emergence as our first wannabee dictator.

In Alice in Wonderland, a classic novel by Lewis Carroll, there was a character, the Queen of Hearts, whose trademark phrase was "Off with his head!" which she uttered at the slightest dissatisfaction with a subject.

Which quickly brings to mind Trump's version of Wonderland; a swampy world where he rules like a King, and can silence his detractors using the president's bully pulpit and ignoring laws.

In his world, Trump can call for his perceived enemies heads without rebuke. Without consequences. When courts go against his draconian attempts to divide this country he lashes out like the Queen of Hearts.

In the book, the Queen is so cold-hearted at one point she orders her Cheshire Cat to be beheaded. When the executioner complained that it was impossible to behead the cat when all that could be seen of him was his head, the Queen was furious.

When Trump realized he couldn't get away with stopping the Russian investigation, under special counsel Robert Mueller, with threats and intimidation, he became furious. His tweet storms have increased in intensity in recent weeks. 


One of the highlights of Trump's swamp world was when he visited Saudi Arabia and was literally treated like visiting royalty. If there's one country on the planet Trump really likes it's Saudi Arabia.

Beyond the corrupt business ties Trump established with the Saudis, and with the help of his son-in-law Jared Kuskner, he has turned his head away from the human rights violations that the "Kingdom" constantly flouts. 

The most recent example is the possible beheading of a female political activist, Israa al-Ghomgham, who goes on trial in October. Trump and King Salman bin Abdulaziz bromance was no accident.

Trump's admiration for complete power and the King's methods of beheading detractors, fits nicely in his swampy wonderland.

Saudi Arabia remains “one of the most prolific executioners in the world”, beheading at least 100 people in 2017 alone, according to Amnesty International.

Trump continues to bide his time with verbal attacks, hoping the day will come when he can get away with calling for Mueller's head, and it's carried out by his minions in the swamp.

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

Sociopaths in Politics: Grabbing Pussy's and Promoting Racism

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Politics have always been the unruly child of America's Republic. 

Democracy demands organization. Therefore leaders emerge from the masses to represent the majority.

Unfortunately, we have a leader who doesn't represent the majority because of the trickery in our Electoral College.

Laws have brought some accountability into our system of government, but they are challenged constantly. The arena of politics involves, deceit, lies, rhetoric, hyperbole,and broken promises. Liars and con men go back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

What is new, is that we now have sociopaths in high places that are breaking laws and societal norms who were voted into office.

Trump of course is the most obvious example. 

He's cold, callus, and calculating. He lies daily. He's irresponsible, and manipulates people like puppets. His lack of emotion and his ability to look into a camera and lie without batting an eye, are textbook examples of a sociopath.

So how did he become our president? There were others like Trump in the past who fell short of the presidency because the timing wasn't right.

But Trump road a wave of "Birtherism," racism, conspiracies and fear after eight years of an African-American president. Whites in America never felt more threatened before. 

When Trump, the ultra con man and sociopath, stepped up to the fore for the alt-right, he found a base of believers who follow him like the disciples of Jim Jones. 

We live in pivotal times. Our free press is under assault by the nation's leader and his minions. The alternate press is media platforms like Fox News, InfoWars, and Brietbart, that are bringing in converts daily.

Political pundits look into cameras with a steady gaze, as lies drip off their tongues like honey. Most Americans are horrified at how polarized the country is during these dark times with a sociopath holding their future ransom.

Historians aren't going to be kind to Trump and his enablers in congress. It's just a matter of time before justice will prevail and, hopefully, we'll move on to a better administration that doesn't worship a sociopath who brags about grabbing women's pussies!

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

In The Future Will People Know What Truth Is?

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The war against reality, and what's true and what's a lie, began the day Trump was sworn in as our president.

I, like millions of Americans my age,was raised with a clear understanding of what a lie was. The opposite of truth. Lies were bad. Truth was good. There was no in-between. No such thing as alternate truths or realities. 

That's no longer the case. Point in fact; Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was on TV yesterday and told the host "Truth isn't truth," when it comes to Trump talking with special counsel Robert Mueller.

I'll let you digest that for a moment. " Here's the video.

This is just another milestone in the decline of truth under Trump. His daily lies, via tweets and in public, have been growing like a cancer on democracy, justice, and free speech since Putin helped him get elected.

Trump has finally earned the coveted "Biggest Liar on the Planet" award after other world leaders have had to deal with his lies. He went from a national to an international liar in spectacular fashion.

U.S. Image Suffers As Publics Around the World Question Trump's Leadership

Looking beyond Trump right now, and into the future, I fear there will be a whole generation that no longer distinguishes between the truth, and a lie. 

They will have no foundation to build on, unless our current congress stops enabling Trump, and recognizes the danger he poses for all Americans. His all-out assault on truth is not the legacy any sane person would want their children,or grandchildren to have.

One of the ways a dictator stops truth from being spread is to attack the free press, like Trump does. Another way dictators assault truth is to stop those who are speaking it. 

Leon Panetta Warns Security Clearances Could Be Used As A 'Political Tool' By Trump  

I want to leave you with some positive thoughts.

Two-thirds of Americans don't like Trump. That's a majority. 

As for congress, I expect we'll see the Democrats take back the House in November. Then Trump will be taken to task for obstructing justice and abusing his power, among a host of other high crimes.

Trump and his minions can say the sky is green and the land is blue, all they want. As Americans who believe in this great country, we just don't have to believe them.

The clock is ticking...

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

Trump's End Game: When Cornered Start a War

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Trump's latest attack against our democracy involves retaliation against retired intelligence officials who have criticized him, by putting them on an "enemies list." 

By taking away security clearances from people like former CIA Director John Brennan, Trump has made another desperate (and stupid) move to stop the groundswell of evidence coming out against him in the Russian/Trump campaign investigation.

Trump lied and said his "enemies list" was in fact made up for the sake of national security violations, without offering a shred of evidence.

Make no mistake, Trump's legal problems are closing in and it's just a matter of time before he's going to end up in a court to answer for his corruption and treason.

Criminal profilers suggest that when a megalomaniac and egotist in power is cornered, there's nothing they won't do to save themselves.

When Brennan warned that Trump may use a "wag the dog" strategy to distract from his legal troubles, my blood froze. Is it possible? If an ex-CIA Director thinks so, then I'm afraid the worst is yet to come.

It wouldn't be hard for Trump to start a war with Iran. He's already laid the foundation for future hostilities.

Trump's supporters like to say that when you hit Trump,"he'll hit back ten times harder." It's not hard to picture Trump when cornered by his crimes, going for his biggest defensive diversion since he slunk into the White House. War.

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

Trump Plays Political Dodge Ball To Divert Critics

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Here's Captain Bone Spurs (aka Trump's) rules of engagement for his version of dodge ball.

Rule one: dodge, divert, distract when under fire from critics for corrupt behavior.

Rule two: lie with impunity and call the press the enemy of the people.

Rule three: attack his critics at every opportunity by throwing raw meat to his extreme base. 

Examples:

1) Taking away ex-CIA Director Brenna's security clearance for criticizing him. Trump also has a hit list of 9 other former Obama employees that he plans of stripping security clearances because they too have been publicly criticizing him, and he blames them all for starting the Russian/Trump Campaign investigation.

2) Trump's mouthpiece, Sarah Sanders got caught lying about black support for the president when she cited some pie-in-the-sky statistics based on faulty information. Trump claims that blacks really like him despite the fact that every credible poll in the nation disputes that.

3) Trump and his Interior Secretary puppet, Ryan Zinke, claim wildfires are caused by environmentalists and there's no such thing as global warming. 

Oh yeah, Donny's still saying California's wildfire problem is because of rivers running out to the sea, so there's not enough water to fight fires. Sad and stupid.

This whole presidential thing is a game to Trump. It's about personally winning and tearing down and disgracing government agencies and the intelligence community if they're not in lock-step with his desires.

One last thought:

Trump had to cancel his military parade because the cost was outlandish, $92 million. So who does he blame? Washington DC for not making his dream parade less expensive. Those real world facts keep biting Trump's fat ass.

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

Profile of a Trump 'Mini-Me' Reflects Where the GOP is Today

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Those Republicans that have chosen to become Trump-Mini Me's for the midterms are a snapshot of where the party is under our Liar-In-Chief.

Here's a brief profile of one of the leading mini-me's, Bobby Wilson:

1) He's running for the Arizona State Senate and hoping his adulation for Trump gets him more votes.

2) He was initially charged, at the age of 18, with homicide after confessing to murdering his own mother and sister, then setting the house on fire.

3) His lawyer, after the murders were exposed, convinced the court Wilson had amnesia and didn't know what he was saying when he confessed.

4) On the campaign trail he brags about killing his mother in self-defense, after claiming his memory returned years later, and she was going to kill him with a semi-automatic weapon. 

According to his story his 49-year-old mother was standing over him one night with a locked and loaded rifle and shot at him six times before he dived under the bed, retrieved his single-shot rifle and shot her between the eyes... from underneath the bed(?) 

Then his sister rushed him and he used his rifle to bash her head in. A fire was started by a stray bullet hitting a gas can inside the house and he managed to get outside before being overwhelmed by smoke inhalation.  

Note: Anyone who believes that story is probably a QAnon follower.

5) The local newspaper account at the time reported the charred bodies of his mother and sister were found lying together in bed 'in a perfectly relaxed' position, indicating they died in their sleep.

6) During his campaign he often talks about the murder and claims it's an example of "a good guy killing a bad guy."

7) Wilson is not his real name. According to court records his last name is listed as Wiste. The family was living under an assumed name.

8) After dodging authorities for years with his amnesia story, he came up with his own version of what happened when he suddenly got his memory back. After the courts gave up on his seven-year-old investigation, he went on to write a book that made him look like hero for killing his mother and sister.

9) There's still local investigators that believe he murdered his family and got away with it.

10) The murders were never solved thanks to the court's acceptance of his amnesia ploy, suspending the proceedings for nearly a decade, before the case was thrown out.

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

A United Press Strikes Back: Will It Hurt Trump, or Help Him?

Good Day World!

Today, in case you haven't heard or read, over 350 newspaper editorial boards across America are united on one central theme; opposing Trump's constant press-bashing.

As a former newspaper editor, and publisher, I have mixed feelings about what this day will accomplish. It will certainly show that America's mainstream press will not be pushed around by Trump's attacks. But aren't they already doing that?

It will also demonstrate something else, an entirely different message to Trump's base. It'll be proof, in their small brains, that there is a "Fake News" and that the press is corrupt, and that's why Trump gets so harshly critiqued by the Fourth Estate.

It will be a compelling agreement for Trump supporters, and Trump himself will probably feel vindicated for attacking the press from his first day in office.

Consider this, Trump supporters don't read or watch mainstream articles. They're too busy watching Fox News and reading Breitbart's daily conspiracies online.

That fact alone makes me wonder if this is just all about "singing to the choir?" Two-thirds of Americans think he's a moron, and degrading the office of the president. When they read or listen to today's backlash against our deeply unpopular president, it will only ensure the validity of their feelings.

No minds are going to be changed. No Trump supporters are going to miraculously "see the light" after reading or listening to the potpourri of resistance being offered today.

While I support the journalistic community, I have to question if this is the way to start changing hearts or minds. When most of America's press suddenly starts playing the same tune, I get nervous. 

Maybe it's because I'm an independent thinker, and having everyone write about the same subject on a certain day seems like a homework assignment to me.

I believe that every newspaper should have independent editorial boards. When I see over 200 newspapers rally around one subject, it seems to me they're all ignoring their own diverse readers on the county and state level they publish in.

I'm not particularly worried about galvanizing Trump's base. They're already on board the crazy train. I'm more concerned about our independent free press coordinating their messages to the people. It smacks of something un- American, and is a road I hope my colleagues don't take again.

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

Fear and Loathing 2018: If Hunter S. Thompson Covered the White House

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Imagine a young and vibrant Hunter S. Thompson driving his "Red Shark" down 1100 Pennsylvania avenue and stopping at Trump's monument to emoluments, Trump Hotel and checking in as a guest.

He's there on behalf of Rolling Stone, and it's his job to write about Trump and his corrupt minions in power. Like his famous novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson's narrative will delve into the surreal (only to later find it is real) atmosphere surrounding Trump in the West Wing.    

The original story was seen through a drug-induced haze. This follow-up won't disappoint Thompson fans, because their hero will once again be reporting through a rabbit-hole maze of designer drugs that weren't available back in 1971.

Here a couple of scenes from Fear and Loathing 2018.

Scene: 
Thompson roars up to the front of the White House in his Red Shark and throws open the passenger door for Omarosa Manigault Newman, one-time top African in the White House, to get in.

He offers her a handful of pills while secret services agents swarm toward them, takes a hit from a bong, then slams his foot down on the gas pedal and plows through everyone, and out the gate while singing God Bless America!

Omarosa can be heard shouting, "I have the tapes!"

Fade out.

Scene:
Hunter S. Thompson can be seen prowling around the White House grounds in the middle of the night after taking LSD, Ecstasy, Meth, and drinking a bottle of tequila. It's a dream-like sequence where Trump is seen skipping naked on the West Lawn as Thompson follows behind trying to get an interview.

It becomes hard for the viewer to tell what's really happening as other members of the West Wing join the frolicking Liar-In-Chief in a Congo line that snakes halfway around the White House.

In a moment of lucidity, Thompson turns toward the audience and shakes his head in disbelief. 

"This is crazier than anything I ever dreamed of during my lifetime of illegal drugs and alcohol. WTF! You actually elected this lying gasbag racist, misogynist to lead the country?" 

Fade out.

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