GOP Senators Suddenly Faced With Reality After Bolton Bombshell

Good Day World!

The Senate's majority leader, and chief hypocrite, Mitch McConnell, hates surprises. 

He's use to being totally in control of events around him.

So when word got out Monday morning that a copy of John Bolton's new book has been in Trump's hands since Dec. 30th, and was being reviewed by the NSA, Mitch pitched a bitch. Why didn't someone tell him?

Related: Bolton Manuscript Revelations Thrust Little-Known White House Office in Spotlight

Apparently Trump and some tight allies didn't let Mitch in on the secret because they knew a Bolton testimony would be devastating. They counted on suppressing witnesses and ending the trial before Bolton's bomb dropped.

Meanwhile Mitch had gone around boasting he was working "hand-in-hand" on the senate impeachment trial with Trump and his lawyers.

How embarrassing. Trump played Mitch like everyone else around him. However, Mitch being a canny old bastard, will go into damage control quickly. 

The central defense of Trump went up in smoke when Bolton confirmed Trump's desire to withhold aide until Ukraine's president opened up an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden and his son.

I suspect Mitch will have a response to the turn of events today after meeting with his nervous caucus.

Realistically, despite this new damning first-hand account, the odds of convicting Trump are still long, even if more evidence continues to drip in. 

Pressure on GOP senators running for re-election will increase with every new revelation.

The result of this trial will reverberate in the polls in November... if Trump gets acquitted.

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

Trump Defense Team Takes Floor on Day Two Under Fire From Bolton Bombshell

Good Day World!
_______________
Breaking News:
Bolton Bombshell
_________________________
Do you remember seeing 3-D movies in a theatre when you were a kid? They were usually passed out for free when you paid for your ticket.

At certain moments the audience was cued to put on their 3-D goggles to watch the movie suddenly pop off the screen. Monster movies were the best for shock value.

Since those early days of using a filter (of sorts) for dramatic effect, the experience has been greatly enhanced.

Take politics for example.

In the age of fake news and alternate universes, real time events are being filtered in real time for consumption of a select audience.

For example, Fox News viewers don't have to put on a special pair of glasses to get their news through a false filter that confirms their beliefs.

Trump's impeachment trial in the senate is being played out in the real world, but his supporters aren't seeing all the evidence being presented because they're watching Fox News.

During most of the trial thus far you can turn to major news stations across the country and follow it as it unfolds in it's entirety.

But...

Fox News saves it's viewers from those boring facts and offers up entertaining dog-and-pony shows instead, featuring political hacks performing in real time.

Trump's Dweeb Team will perform again today, but no one knows for how long. Their first day of defending his highness lasted about two hours. Probably the limit of focus for busy extremists always searching for another conspiracy.

By the way, each side gets 24 hours to put on their case over three days. The Democrats used 23 of those hours, and Trump's Dweeb team only used two on their first day. 

The Dweeb team get three days to state their case. Today is day two. It'll be interesting to hear what they have to say after the Bolton bomb dropped yesterday!

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

A Sports Icon Has Died: Longtime Laker Fan Bids Goodbye to Kobe Bryant

Readers of this blog are use to my political chatter and know that I seldom stray from the topic...

but today is different.

A basketball sports legend's life was abruptly cut short.

Kobe Bryant is dead.

Killed in a helicopter crash.

I'm having a hard time putting words to my grief over this young man's life. 

I remember when Kobe entered the league as a brash teenager. 

My wife and I were impressed by his absolute confidence despite the fact he was making history by playing in the pros right out of high school.

Full disclosure: I've been a Laker fan since the team came to Los Angeles (the first West Coast team) and played their first season in 1961.

As an old school fan of the Lakers, I have my pantheon of the greats consisting of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, and too many more to mention here.

Shaquille O'Neil and Kobe Bryant entered my personal Hall of Basketball Fame recently.

I'll be straightforward here...

I'm shocked, and deeply saddened, by Kobe's abrupt death. For some reason, which I can't fully explain (I didn't even know him) his sudden demise touched me at several levels.

He was too young. Only 41. That's a man's prime. 

He was a husband and a father to four girls. One, Gianni (shown with Kobe on right), died with him in the crash.

It shakes me up to realize how fast Kobe's iconic 20-year career flew by. 

Where was I? Was it really that long ago?

I'm feeling my mortality right now.

Basketball has always made me feel young at heart. I loved playing it when I was younger, and wish my body would allow me to now... but that's another story by an old man who already misses...

Kobe 'Bean' Bryant

Rest in peace with the rest of the basketball legends in American sports lore Black Mamba!

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

What's Really Important in Our Society Today?

                                      Good Day World!

Despite the fact that most Americans are divided in this Age of Trump there's still common ground to be found.

What do people who embrace Trumpism think is important?

What about the rest of the country?

I think the answer to both questions is healthcare. Every poll I've read on the subject strongly suggests that conservatives and liberals agree it's a number one concern.

Let's pause here for a moment...

Even though I pointed out how divided our country is right now, it doesn't mean there's no hope for the future. There's building blocks, like the commonality for the need of good healthcare that can re-unite this nation.

For example, another common rallying point for most Americans today; is climate change and the need to do something about it.

Most Americans believe it's urgent that we invest in repairing our roads and bridges and do something about our infrastructure. 

Most Americans believe in justice, and in freedom of speech.

Most Americans hate dictators (it wasn't until too late that we discovered we had one in Trump), and wouldn't willingly consent to live under one.

Most Americans want to live peaceful lives, and to avoid wars.

There's more examples of what is really important to the majority of Americans. I'm confident you could add to this positive list.

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

Trump Defense Team Case Today Comes After Another Coverup Surfaces

Good Day World!

Trump's Dweeb Team is going to present their case that Trump can do no wrong today. 

That in itself, promises a walk through Trump wonderland where truth is the first casualty. Alternate reality fans will be treated to some novel defenses for their entertainment.

But that's not the biggest story today.

Trump has been caught in another cover up involving the Pentagon.

Remember when a reporter asked Trump about American causalities after the January 8th attack on the US base in Baghdad?

He flat-out said there were none. Furthermore, he claimed that's why he didn't hit Iran back after the missile attack.

But a week later the Pentagon reported that there were 11 service members who were being treated for concussion symptoms.

Trump's idiotic and condescending reply still resonates in my head,

 "I heard some of the service men and women had experienced headaches after the attack. I don't consider them very serious injuries..." 

Having Cadet Bonespurs downplay injuries to members of our armed forces, is despicable, but predictable.

Yesterday, we found out that it was worse than initially reported. The actual number of US troops hurt were 34. They were all diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) following the attack.

A Pentagon spokesman admitted Friday that eight of the affected soldiers have been sent back to the US for further treatment while the rest are being treated in Germany.

"No serious injuries!"

Related: Veterans of Foreign Wars Demand Apology After Trump Said Traumatic Brain Injuries Are 'Not Very Serious'

As Trump's Dweeb Team attempts to make excuses for not convicting their corrupt client, I suspect there's veterans, like myself, that know how serious TBI is and are disgusted with his cavalier attitude. 

It's just another reason to convict that orange slug in the White House.

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

Senate Trial Day Four: Digital Detox, Fidget Spinners, Evidence, and Lots of Milk!

Good Day World!

With the sake of our nation's democracy at stake, some senators simply cannot sit still and listen for hours on end about Trump's corruption since slithering into office.

It's boring. Especially if you already have your mind made up like the Republican senators do.

Despite strict senate impeachment rules about sitting silently and paying attention to the counsels on both sides, that's not exactly what's happening.

After really adhering to the rules on Day One, the slippage started on Day Two when senators started to exchange notes and crude hand signals.

By Day Three games started appearing. Rand Paul was playing a crossword puzzle. Other senators were secretly playing with Fidget Spinners. Then they resorted to walking around the room to stay awake.

It wasn't long and the senators were abusing their potty breaks and standing around in partisan clicks drinking bad coffee in the cloak room.

Comments from senators on their situation:

Sen. Marco Rubio on the subject of no talking, "That sucks!"

Sen. John Cornyn warned that "Frustration is starting to build."

Milk was the popular beverage for senators who grew tired of water. Why milk? Here's why. 

Perhaps the hardest thing for the senators to stomach is that they can't play with their cell phones during the trial. At least one psychologist suggested that the senators are suffering from phone withdrawal.

This should not be surprising.

National studies have shown the average American spends three hours a day on the phone. But, when it comes to politicians, all bets are off. They spend twice as much time on their cellphone.

Furthermore, Global Web Index found that 7 out of 10 people recognize their dependence. In other words, they're hopeless slaves to the digital universe.

Back to the restless senators...

Their pain is real. A sudden digital detox is dragging the senators into the here-and-now of the trial, and that's just no fun.

It's too bad that those senators who are in a hurry to end the trial couldn't get a glimpse of the future to see what their inattention, and partisanship, has wrought upon our republic.

The least those sorry excuses for GOP jurors could do is to try to pretend they're paying attention.

In essence, the Republicans are okay with having a president shake down a foreign power for his own political gain. Asking for help in defeating political opponents will no longer be a crime. 

The most treasonous of all acts against the United States of America will have the green light in the future. Foreigners will be deciding who leads our country.

Someday those senators who played away their time instead of listening to the truth, will have to face their friends and family and say, "I'm sorry, I put partisanship before country, and because of that we now live under a dictatorship."

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

Day Three: Deja vu All Over Again

Good Day World!

To sum up Day Two:

Baseball legend Yogi Berra once quipped, "It's deja vu all over again."

Everything the House managers said yesterday, was exactly the same as Day One with the exception that it was in a narrative form. 

They presented a well-reasoned argument with mounds of evidence to prove Trump abused his office and obstructed Congress.

But their performance didn't really matter. 

Trump's team could have consisted of chimps with MAGA hats to guarantee a good show and be just as effective. Republican senators have already sold their souls. They're just waiting for Moscow Mitch to bring the sham trial to an end. 

To further illustrate the point Trump bragged yesterday, "We honestly have all of the material. They don't have material." 
He was so confident of the outcome that he didn't realize he was admitting he was obstructing evidence again... as in Article II of his impeachment papers.

But that doesn't matter. Trump is unchecked in his power thus far, and if the impeachment process doesn't stop him our 2020 elections are in jeopardy.

Allowing Trump to stay in office will be a nod to Putin, who has played Trump like a chump, and who brazenly interfered in our 2016 election and intends to do the same in this upcoming one.

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

Day Two: It's Not About What They Know. It's About Who They Know

Good Day World!

Republicans in the senate impeachment trial have been herded into a corner where facts are absent, and unswerving loyalty to McConnell and Trump are paramount.

Regardless of how much evidence the House presented it did not change any GOP senators minds. They already know Trump was guilty as hell. They've decided to live with it.

For those spineless Republican senators toeing-the-line, it's not what they know... it's who they know will destroy their career... Donald J. Trump.

Anyone watching Day One could see how McConnell is doing his best to cover up for Trump. For those Americans who tuned in to watch the drama one thing was obvious...

Trump's legal team got their ass kicked!

Political pundits from both parties agreed Trump's defense team offered no real defense for what he did. No evidence. Nothing but a diatribe of how the impeachment proceedings weren't fair in The House. 

Trump's Dweeb Team diverted to procedures because they literally had no other argument. There were no witnesses for Trump. No transcripts proving his innocence.

Yet, no one doubts the trial is going to end with Trump being acquitted. In other words, no amount of facts will take down the biggest liar in American history.

As long as those Republican senators fear Trump, they're going to break their oaths and let him get away with shredding the Constitution and every law in the land.

Re-election means that much to those GOP cowards that they are going to shamelessly aide Trump dump on our Democracy with impunity.

The American public wants a fair trial. After Day One they saw it's not going to happen. 

They also saw how the GOP senators were voting... and ignoring evidence.

They'll remember that at the polls in November.

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

Day One Senate Trial: Republicans Are Taking a Misguided Leap of Faith

                                       Good Day World!

A Pennsylvania woman was out driving around the other day looking for something to test her faith.

She told the cops who later arrested her that God said she should "Drive through another vehicle," so she turned her 2017 KIA Optima into the opposing lane of traffic.

Fortunately, no one was killed, but two of the people who were in the car she ran into were hospitalized. The woman, Nadejda Reilly, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment along with several vehicle charges related to the crash.

Her leap of faith endangered others. Afterward, she showed no remorse for the injured who she said God would take care of.

Meanwhile...

Senate Republicans are also taking a "yuge" leap of faith to back Trump during his impeachment trial. 

They know Trump is guilty as hell for abusing his power and obstructing Congress. They know he's a chronic liar.

They know there's no evidence to back Trump's claim of searching for corruption in the Ukraine. They know he wanted the new president to dig up dirt on his political rival Joe Biden.

The know there's ample evidence to back that charge up. There's also open evidence Mitch McConnell is making sure it's not going to be a fair trial.

The public won't know for sure until the trial is underway and McConnell's game plan is unveiled today.

Those GOP senators who choose to ignore the evidence and take a leap of misguided faith by not convicting Trump of his crimes, will have to answer to their constituents, and their own conscience.

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

Trump's Latest Diversion: Fanning the Flames for a Civil War in Richmond On MLK Holiday

Good Day World!

They came from all over the country. 

Militia groups...

white supremacists...

and anarchists. 

All determined to start a civil war over gun rights in Richmond, Virginia, today.

At first, groups called on thousands of their members to stage a protest on Capitol Square over losing 2nd Amendment Rights, because the new Democratic majority in the General Assembly planned on passing gun safety laws.

It was hard to tell how many people would attend. Organizers were hopeful for a big turnout.

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency and issued a ban on firearms or other weapons on Capitol grounds after numerous threats, and the FBI's discovery that a white supremacist group called "The Base" was planning on murdering people.

Related: Three More Members of White Supremacist Group Arrested

Despite challenges from gun rights groups, the state Supreme Court upheld the ban. 

Just when it began to look like authorities had things in control, Trump stepped into the controversy and ginned up his Twitter followers:

"Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia, he tweeted.

"That's what happens when you vote for Democrats, they will take your guns away," Trump claimed.

It was a perfect diversion from his upcoming senate impeachment trial tomorrow. 

Just rile up his base, who like him, have a short memory span.

Knowing that the FBI had arrested three alleged members of a white-supremacist group for planning to attend the rally and incite violence, should have been Trump's cue to back off and not throw fuel on the fire... 

but, hell no.

Since his encouragement, more national militia and extremist groups have mobilzed, invigorated by what they see as Trump's approval of their activities.

The leader of the rally/protest is a familiar figure among extremists, Christian Yingling. 

You might remember him from Charlottesville. He was responsible for that debacle that left one woman dead. He, and his group were banned from ever returning there again while armed.

Trump the political pyromaniac starts fires for a reason. 

If what happens today in Richmond ends up in chaos and violence, people will be talking about that - and 2nd Amendment Rights - instead of his senate trial.

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

Trump's 'Dweeb Team' Unveils Strategy: Hear No Evil, Say No Evil, See No Evil

Good Day World!

The reality star that stole the White House (with Russia's help), has gathered a Dweeb Team" to defend him in his Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday.

No one was surprised when Trump picked Fox News contributors like Kenneth Starr (convicted of running a $35 million Ponzi scheme on celebrities in 2011) and Alan Dershowitz (pedophile Epstein's pal, and O.J. Simpson's counsel) to defend him.

Related: Trump on Kenneth Starr in 1999: 'He's a lunatic.' 

The one thing the Dweeb Team has in common is their willingness to sell their souls in Trump's defense. While that's what is normally required by Trump, it doesn't mean he put together O.J. Simpson's Dream Team, because he brought an aging feeble-minded Dershowitz and Starr into the mix.

I know, I wouldn't want the crazy bastards to defend me any more than I would want Trump's unhinged attorney Rudy Giuliani too.

If the trial turns out to be a solemn affair - like many hope it will be - that's going to cut down on the TV production value of the Fox News hosts who intend to provide Trump's defense on prime time.

Trump needs drama. It's the beginning, and the end of his very existence. Like all good con men, he knows the value of a good show.

Even though the majority of Republican Senators have already prostrated themselves before Trump, he needs to entertain his core base... and that means, "lights, camera, action!"

The Dweeb Team's strategy of "Hear no evil, say nor evil, and see no evil" is going up against a mountain of facts provided by government testimonies, transcripts, and the courts.

It's going to be a battle of facts versus fiction.

In any other trial Trump wouldn't stand a chance, and would be easily convicted with the evidence already provided. The defense team would lose with nothing to discredit, or to counter, the facts.

However...

It's hard to see how justice can prevail in a rigged hearing designed only to exonerate the most corrupt president in American history.

However...

You never know. The fate of our republic is on the line and those Republican senators know it... it's either democracy or a dictatorship. They get to chose know history is looking over their spineless backs.

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