Friday, October 2, 2020

Trump's Army: Who are these People Ready To Defy Democracy?

 


Pandemic Diary

Day 202

Dear Diary,

One of the things that came out of the last presidential debate was that Trump is openly counting on white supremacists and militias to vote for him.

His pathetic attempts to clean up his coded comment to the Proud Boys (an extremist right-wing hate group) "Stand down. Stand by" was a chilling call to arms.

Unsurprisingly, the leader of the Proud Boys is also the head of a Pro-Trump grassroot organization to re-elect him.

Republicans and Democrats have roundly criticized Trump's inability to say anything negative about the violent fringe groups that are on the FBI's list of domestic terrorists.

FBI Director Wray recently testified under oath to Congress that white supremacists are the biggest domestic threat in the country today.

Unfortunately, the public has been getting a crash course on extremist groups with names like The Proud Boys; Patriots Front; Bugaloo Bois; QAnon; and Oath Keepers. 

It's fair to say that these groups, especially the Proud Boys, after Trump's coded message to them, all believe he supports them, and that they're willing to fight for him on the streets of America.

These groups all have one thing in common: they hate anyone that doesn't look like, and act like them. Another common theme is racism. 

The most dangerous of all the right wing groups are the militias. Every state has militia's dedicated to bringing down the current government and establishing their own racist rule. 

Because these paramilitary groups support chaos and anarchy, Trump's encouragement to riot if he loses the election is the signal they've all been waiting for.

Finally, who are these people that are so ready to destroy democracy and everything our Constitution stands for? A common denominator among militias is fear.

Fear that someone will come to take their guns away. Fear that people of other races are out to take over THEIR country. Fear that liberals will force them to stop marginalizing the LBGT community. Fear motivates their every decision.

As all Americans know by now, Trump has always, and will continue, to motivate people by the use of fear. He has that in common with authoritarian leaders worldwide.

Quote for the Day: "Fear cuts deeper than swords." -George R.R. Martin

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Commission on Presidential Debates Should Be Ready for Trump Next Time

 

Pandemic Diary

Day 201

Dear Diary,

Short of putting a Hannibal Lecter style facemask on Trump when it's not his turn to speak, debate organizers had to come up with a way to muzzle him when he interrupts Biden, and the Moderator during the next debate.

No sane American wants to see another performance like the last debate.

It's going to take a long time for the rest of the world to stop laughing...and to stop worrying about about the fate of Democracy in America after that humiliating performance.

The debate event organizers should institute a "kill the mike policy" when Trump won't shut up in the next round. There's already talk of that and we should know the results tomorrow.

The commission is trying to ensure an "orderly discussion" for the next round. I wish them the best.

I realize Trump will just talk louder when he's disconnected. There's probably a good chance he'll throw one of his famous tantrums the first time the mike goes silent amid his ranting.

That's okay. Undecided voters won't have any trouble making up their minds after another disastrous debate displaying Trump's ignorance and blatant racism. If there are any undecided voters still wandering around in the hinterlands.

I suspect they're as rare as unicorns. 

It's sad that the only way to go forward is for the organizers to make necessary changes because Trump's camp would never allow any restrictions on his antics. That would be taking baby Donny's rattle away, and that'll never happen.

These are not normal times. Long-held traditions have been trashed. Morality and civility are just two of the causalities in our society during the Trump regime. 

Truth is the biggest causality as a president who lives in an alternate reality refuting facts from experts, whether scientists or doctors, squats in the Oval Office.

Trump the grifter pulled off a long con (with the help of the Russians) in 2016 that's nearly brought our republic to ruins in the short period of three years, and eight months. 

The Russians are back again, following Trump's lead to discredit our electoral process. The very foundation of a free nation is in jeopardy.

We must vote Trump out of office, and begin healing the country that he's divided so deeply. Vote for Joe Biden, and you'll be voting for America's future.

Quote for the Day: Authoritarian political ideologies have a vested interest in promoting fear, a sense of the imminence of take over by aliens and real diseases are useful materials." -Susan Sontag

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Debate Analysis: The Most Disgusting and Embarrassing Moment in American History


Pandemic Diary

Day 200

Dear Diary,

Last night's presidential debate was a shit show.

There's no other way to put it. Trump went off the rails within moments of the first question. It was like watching a kindergartener debate with an adult.

What was supposed to be a debate was nothing more than a shouting match with Trump ignoring the rules of the debate his side had agreed upon. 

Watching Trump's orange makeup glisten under the hot lights highlighted the impression of a mad clown as he contorted his face in expressions of rage and constantly interrupted Biden.

There was no attempt to address any real issues on Trump's part. Instead he practiced being an asshole with Chris Christie's help prior to the debate. 

Last night was the super bowl of politics for Americans...and the world. It was also deeply embarrassing to watch. Our allies cringed. Our enemies celebrated. Our standing in the world community took another hit.

What all the viewers saw was a democracy in crisis. The polarization and division in this country was laid bare for all to see. It was obvious the incumbent president was crazy with desperation because he knows he's losing in all of the polls.

When the debacle finally came to a close one of the first questions to come up was, should the other two debates be canceled? The idea of seeing a repeat of last night was a popular concern.

I think they should go on however. People need to see Trump outside his protective bubble to understand how deeply stupid and evil the man is.

Quote for the Day: "There is one thing that has disappeared, not just from the U.S. but from the entire world, is the idea of ever being embarrassed by anything." -Fran Lebowitz

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Stay Calm: Don't Play Trump's Game and Give Up Now

Pandemic Diary

Day 195

Dear Diary,

Election experts and lawyers saw it coming for months.

Republicans were filing lawsuits disenfranchising voters and suppressing their vote in so-called swing states. 

But what really worried them was Trump's assault against the United States Postal Service.

With 30-days to go before election day, Trump has managed to create voter confusion throughout the nation. States are fighting off Trump's attempts to slow down the USPS. Striking back, two federal judges ordered state ballots to be prioritized in November.

This insidious game is going to greater links every day, reflecting Trump's desperation. 

When FBI Director Wray testified there was no evidence of mass mail fraud or cheating anywhere in America, Trump exploded. 

His chief of staff (and professional ass wipe) Mark Meadows mocked Wray saying he couldn't find emails in his own FBI, let alone figure out whether there's any kind of voter fraud. It amazes me how low this idiot will go.

His complete lack of respect is par for the course for Trump lackeys. Speaking of lackeys, Trump had Barr look into an alleged mail fraud case based upon a suspicious circumstance where nine military ballots were found discarded in a northeastern Pennsylvania county.

It was apparent he was hoping for a major scandal but was sorely disappointed to hear the ballots were actually "incorrectly" tossed by as temporary seasonal independent contractor who started work sorting mail at the Elections Bureau. He threw out a small number of military and overseas ballots.

The county elections director found out what happened two days later, and had all the trash from the three-day period "placed in a dumpster and secured."  For the record, the temp lost his job.

The distractions don't stop there. Trump has thrown out the best scientists in the country and is telling America to ignore their expert advise and to just go about their business while the pandemic kills more than 1,000 Americans daily. 

Meanwhile he's shoving through a confirmation for a new Supreme Court justice before election day despite the majority of Americans (71 percent) who think the winner of the election should make that important pick. 

There's more distractions on the way. But, we can't let them take our eyes off the prize... a massive blue wave drowning out Trump and his minions. 

It'll cleanse our government, restore civility, sanity, traditions, broken laws, and the rest of the damage Trump's toxic regime has wrought upon this nation.

Quote for the Day: "There's a difference between playing and playing games. The former is an act of joy, the latter-an act." -Vera Nazarian

Thursday, September 24, 2020

No More Pretense: Trump Intends To Destroy Democracy and Embrace Authoritarian Regime

Trump's most fervent dream is to be among the pantheon of former and current world dictators. He's counting on qualifying this November.

Pandemic Diary

Day 194

Dear Diary,

If you are living in America today, you're facing the biggest crisis to ever happen to the republic. America's fate will be decided on November 3rd... or not!

The founders of this country are turning over in their graves wondering how one con man can come so close to destroying everything they helped create - the United States of America. Equality for all. Justice for all. And, above all, making sure the nation never has a king (the equivalent of a dictator for life).

At this point in Trump's presidency, he feels empowered to violate laws and rules with impunity. No one has been able to stop him since he was impeached for seeking foreign help in an effort to discredit his political opponent Joe Biden. 

Trump didn't pull off this extraordinary coup against our democratic system alone. His enablers in the Republican-controlled Senate are complicit. Without those GOP senators help, we wouldn't be wondering if there's going to be a peaceful transition of power right now.

Because of a spineless senator majority, Americans are wondering if their mail-in votes will be counted. Republican propaganda and voter suppression efforts have caused confusion among voters in many states. With Trump mega donor Postmaster DeJoy in charge, the USPS (and Congress) has been fighting against efforts to slow down the system before election day.

This kind of blatant obstruction of the upcoming election tells me that Trump is confident he's going to get away with his power grab. As long as the jellyfish in the senate stick together he has a slim chance of doing just that.

It's not enough to just win this election. 

Democrats have to turn out at the polls, and the mail, in historic numbers. The landslide has to be so apparent in the first 48 hours it'll defuse the avalanche of lawsuits GOP operatives are going to launch. Trump has made it clear he's not going to accept Biden's win, possibly setting the stage for the ugliest court fights ever witnessed in our judicial systems.

Democracy is at stake. So are lives. American's are living during a pandemic without leadership. Instead, we have a corrupt president whose only goal is to get re-elected. His disbelief in science, and safety recommendations from the USAs most prestigious healthcare professionals, make him more dangerous.

Freedom in America faces its biggest challenge yet. Not from an outside enemy, but from within by a malicious narcissist and sociopath. 

The FBI and the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency are putting out public messages urging the public not to panic if they hear about election hacking. The larger goal is to explain why voters shouldn't believe disinformation about vote-stealing hacks if they see it. 

We've never encountered a president who wouldn't agree to a peaceful transition of power. We've never had a Congress with a bigger pack of ideological cowards who have repeatedly broken their oaths to defend Trump's predations on our Constitution.

The key to recovery is Americans turning out to vote in numbers never seen before. I'm talking such a powerful mandate that Trump's lies will shrivel in this winter of our discontent.

Quote for the Day: "Pretense cannot sustain blind power." -Dejan Stojanovic

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Why Johnson/Grassley's Bombshell Revelation Was a Dud

Pandemic Diary

Day 193

Dear Diary,

There's two traitors nestled in the Senate who have been doing everything they could to discredit Trump's opponent Joe Biden for over a year. 

These snakes-in-the-grass are Sen. Chuck Grassley, and Sen. Ron Johnson.

Johnson has been exciting Trump's base for months now, teasing that his committee is going to expose Joe Biden's corrupt dealings with the Ukraine. 

The report, titled "Hunter Biden, Burisma and Corruption," was nothing more than a reprisal of years-old claims that were disproved numerous times. If the report was released to change minds of voters in the 11th hour...it failed miserably.

There was no evidence against Joe Biden of abusing his power to help his son Hunter. This bogus report compiled by two traitors was fueled in part by foreign actors linked to the Kremlin and whom U.S. officials said were interfering in the 2020 election.   

This blatant attempt to influence the election didn't go unnoticed after Johnson released his flawed bombshell revelation. 

Sens. Gary Peterson of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon, accused Johnson of publicly hyping a damaging report on Joe Biden only to have to issue a report that included no such evidence.

What has emerged, at taxpayer expense, is Johnson's actions aided Putin's attack on American elections. What's more the two traitors were working with a Russian agent who was a pro-Russia Ukrainian lawmaker, Andriy Derkach. 

After the Treasury Department released evidence against Dekach the two slime bags pushed back and claimed ignorance. Personally, I agree...they were ignorant, but their actions were corrupt and meant to re-elect Trump.

After months of repeated lies designed to put heat on Biden, their feckless lies have been exposed to the public. Johnsons jaw-dropping claims that it wasn't a political investigation have dissolved under facts and evidence.

First and foremost Sen. Richard Burr - the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committed - met privately with Johnson last year and warned him his probe could aid Russia's election-meddling efforts. As history shows, Johnson chose to ignore him. We now know why.

Quotes for the Day: "Truth cannot be constructed. To live in ideology is, as Havel so eloquently reminds us, inevitably to live in a lie. Truth can be revealed. We cannot be creators, only receptors." -James W. Sire

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Trump's Alternate Universe: Red States, Blue States, White States, Black States and Gray States Too!

Pandemic Diary

Day 192

Dear Diary,

Back in 2018 Stephen Colbert came up with a funny book about Trump that helped raise funds for disaster victims of Hurricane Florence.

The title was "Whose Boat is this boat?" It was comprised of Trump quotes and Colbert boasted it was "perfect for young readers and presidents."

The book's publisher, Simon and Schuster, put out a press release that really cracked me up; "Research suggests this will be the first children's book ever published that demonstrates what not to say after a natural disaster."

Flashback to the present.

Trump has upped the odds from being befuddled by a natural disaster. He's currently dividing up the country into blue states and red states. It's his version of the Civil War and his mindless minions are buying in.

In his alternate reality Trump has been carving up the US into sections that will vote for him. Race is a major factor in the process as he tries to scare white suburban women into voting for him by claiming "coloreds" will move into their neighborhoods and rape and pillage them. 

It gets even simpler. Trump's white states, that can also be Confederacy gray, can be counted on to follow him off a slippery ramp to hell. Black states are bad because minorities are plentiful and they don't like Trump. But Trump's dialogue about red and blue states is particularly menacing.

It transforms two political parties - Democrats and Republicans - into active combatants that are more concerned with their ideologies than the wealth or health of the American people. Transforming cities into battlegrounds where protestors on both side of the spectrum endlessly attack each other is crippling our nation's ability to survive these chaotic times, and cling to democracy in a united nation.

Somewhere in the Oval Office as I write this, Trump has wooden building blocks with states names and colors on them.

It gets hard for even his own staff to watch him play with those blocks...sometimes throwing them across the room in a tantrum, and at other times stacking them up as high as he can before they fall. Squeals of delight usually ensure when that happens. 

Trump's minions, one and all, are happy to see him build a wall. Building blocks in the Oval Office are fine, or a few miles of real wall somewhere along the southern border...it doesn't matter. It's all about entertaining Donny...the man child.

Quote for the Day: "Some people's immaturity is intensified by their stupidity." -Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Monday, September 21, 2020

'California Dreaming' Has Turned Into a Nightmare

Pandemic Diary

Day 191

Dear Diary,

During my teenage years in the 1960s, Californians celebrated the great outdoors and beaches fostering a popular culture about the state that made it sound like a surfing paradise. 

"Apache" is still played regularly by nearly every surf band in the country. What's interesting about that is the song had nothing to do with surfing. It was that trebly, clear, bright Fender twang, suitably soaked in heavy reverb; that staccato picking of strings and driving bass and drums that made it pure surf.



Jan and Dean's "Surf City" in 1963 was the first surf song to hit #1 on the U.S. charts. 

The 1964 hit "California Sun" was pure surf - from the driving beat and its verby guitar, right through to its thoroughly sun-soaked lyrics. The Beach Boys rocked the nation with "California Dreaming."

Getting closer to the point...

Growing up in southern California was a kids dream. Easterners looked upon California with envy because of it's great weather and beaches. West was best. 

It offered the whole package, including exploring groves of the largest trees on the planet - California Redwoods. I even lived among those majestic giants in the 1970s in Humboldt Country. Tourists came from around the world to drive along the Avenue of Giants.

My point...

California Dreaming is a bygone story, poignant with happy memories and facing a sad fate. 

Those dreams have fled in this apocalyptic summer of record-breaking temperatures, raging fires that have forced thousands to flee their homes up and down the state, unprecedented lighting strikes, rolling blackouts that have left millions in the dark, and ghostly orange and Martian-red skies.

Californians have always been blasé about earthquakes despite the loss of lives and infrastructure they sometimes cause. It was an accepted flaw in the dream. But the massive wildfires and drought from climate warming have been catastrophic for the Golden State for six straight years. 

It's only going to get worse according to the National Climate Assessment, a major "state-of-science" review of climate change and it's projected impacts on California and the rest of the West Coast. 

This year may be the tipping point for Californian's. They're leaving in greater numbers than ever before. My wife and I left the state seven years ago, and moved to southern Oregon. 

Now we're experiencing too many wildfires in Oregon in the last couple of years. We even had to evacuate our home when a wildfire got too close. Fortunately, our house was still standing when we returned. We're not sure where we'll go if it continues here.

The sad truth is "California Dreaming" has turned into a nightmare. Oregon, and Washington, don't appear to be far behind California's fate.

Quote for the Day: "Which is the true nightmare, the horrific dream that you have in your sleep or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?" -Justin Alcala

Trump and Supporters: Images Tell the Story

 Pandemic Diary

Day 190

Dear Diary,

Sometimes it's best to let photos tell a story. As the saying goes, a photo paints a thousand words. The following collection of photos tell the story of Trumpism in 2020.


 Celebrating white supremacists and racists are a common theme at Trump rallies.


Trumpsters think nothing of defacing the American Flag

Perhaps one of the most puzzling thing about Trump supporters is the fact that his policies pander to the wealthy but most are middle class and poor.

Trump has proved to be the biggest con man in American history, casting a spell over a large portion of Americans.


While the majority of women in America loath Trump there is a small contingent that do follow him... despite his well-documented poor treatment of them.

This segment of Trump minions surprises me the most. It's hard to believe any woman would follow the orange sex fiend who brags about grabbing pussies. 


After extensive research I simply couldn't find any intelligent people who supported Trump.

Trump's super powers only seem to affect the ignorant and racist elements who have elevated him to a divine status in a mockery of religion.


Trump supporters like to mock attributes like empathy because Trump rejects it in his hateful dialogue.

There is no sympathy for most Americans plight, just a plot line that promotes Trump as the supreme leader. 

Honesty is a casualty of Trump's regime.

This is a president with few human attributes and an ego the size of the Titanic. 

There's only one thing Trump cares about - himself. His followers suspend reality to ride the Trump train of stupidity.

Quote for the Day: "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." -Albert Einstein

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Trump/McConnell/Graham Power Play is a Naked Display of Hypocrisy and Corruption

Pandemic Diary

Day 189

Dear Diary,

Ruth Bader Ginsberg's body was barely cold before Trump was celebrating and tweeting orders to move "without delay" to replace her. 

No doubt it was the last-minute surprise that he's been hoping for. Something had to happen to gin up his failing campaign and RBG's death was a lifeline.

Picking another conservative Supreme Court judge is a big deal. Especially for conservatives who want to overturn Roe vs Wade. Trump sees this sudden opening as a way to win the day. With the help of shameless hypocrite Mitch McConnell, the mission is to confirm a nominee before Election Day - or if necessary, after the election regardless of the results.

McConnell, whose stance in 2016 on advancing supreme court picks during an election year was wait for the new administration to make that selection, did a complete about face two days ago. Now, suddenly it's okay to shove a pick through weeks before election day. Talk about gall.

Second only to McConnell for the master hypocrite award, Lindsey Graham's neck is swiveling 360 degrees like Linda Blaire's in the exorcist. He too is on record (and video) saying that it's wrong to pick a supreme court judge during an election year.

But surprise. As chairman for the Senate Judiciary committee lying Lindsey thinks it's a great idea, because his master Trump want's it done.

In the coming days there's going to be delays, legions of lawyers trying to prove their cases for one side or the other, and an all out brawl between Democrats and Republicans. 

Granted, it already seems like an all out brawl, but apparently we haven't seen anything yet. Just the thought of this new challenge is like listening to someone scratch a blackboard with their nails.

I've witnessed administrations coming and going since Truman, and I honestly can say I've never seen a more dangerous political power play than the one Trump and his minions are attempting right now. They're lust for power destroys the boundaries of ethics, morals, and equal justice. But the three stooges traitors don't care.

I'm heartened by what happening the morning after RBG died. News videos showed Virginians showing up hours before polling places opened.

The state started early voting last Friday. People formed a long line that went on for blocks. They stood there for hours, determined that their vote would count. 

So what encouraged me?

When I looked at the people in that long line, they were all wearing facemasks and social distancing. That suggested to me they were democrats because they believe in science. 

As if to confirm my suspicion news videos showed a group (maybe 25) Trump supporters - without masks and shoulder-to-shoulder - standing in front of the polling place waving Trump flags, shouting, blowing horns, and acting like asses dressed up for Halloween.

Some people in the line were intimidated by the groups actions and had to be escorted out of the polling place by officials. But they persevered in order to see Trump and his minions run out of Washington DC on November 3rd. 

The pathetic little group of Trump supporters looked lonely as they played out Trump's reality show amid thousands of democratic voters. It was another one of those surreal moments 2020 has become known for.

Quote for the Day: "One thing you can't hide - is when you're crippled inside." -John Lennon

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...