It's Haunted House Season: Expect Some Really Scary Shit This Year!

Last October the Haunted House season was canceled by the pandemic.

Nothing was more scary than COVID-19 which was killing thousands of unvaccinated Americans daily. 

The Grim Reaper of reality was more than enough fear for most. Somehow, being scared to death by students dressed up like monsters in haunted houses just didn't seem right. Or, safe.

The Haunted House season is back this year and a lot of people intend to make up for last year's pause in horrific fun.

The king of all the haunted house events - Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Hollywood - is ready to serve up ghoulish experiences for cash.

As expected, the production value of the "scare rooms" is excellent as visitors cower from Michael Myers of "Halloween," and Leatherface from the "Texas Chain Saw Massacre."

Local fundraising events sponsoring haunted houses will once again open up across the nation. 

Yes, the experience will be a little weirder as face masking is practiced indoors to slow the spread of the Delta variant.

The scariest haunted house this season - by far - will be a private affair for Trump minions at Mar-a-Lago holding a fundraiser (what else?) to overthrow democracy.

Giant Trump-O-Lanterns will look down (according to one insider) at the gathering of Trump supporters wearing sheep, ostrich and chicken costumes.

The faithful will be channeled like a snake through a maze of rooms that will be a collection of all of their fears.

Visitors cries of horror and surprise will ring throw the rooms like a symphony of lost souls as they see the BIDEN ROOM, where it shows him as the current President of the United States.

Politicizing the Weather: Spurred By 'Sharpiegate' Trump Supporters Gleefully Deny Science

Remember "Sharpiegate?"

On September 1, 2019, as Hurricane Dorian approached the U.S. mainland Trump displayed his ignorance of weather conditions and tracking by using a Sharpie marker with his own prediction.

The former reality star altered the real forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and claimed the tropical-force winds from Hurricane Dorian could impact Alabama.

Reportedly he told his aides to obtain an official retraction from NOAA, supporting his version of the hurricane's path.

NOAA produced an unsigned letter in support of Trump's lie. Since then multiple agencies have investigated the possibility that political influence was exerted on NOAA.

Two reports were released in 2020. Both found political influence was a factor. Hurricane Dorian wasn't going anywhere near Alabama. In fact, it headed up the Atlantic coast.

The committees found that Neil Jacobs, the acting NOAA administrator and Julie Kay Roberts, the former NOAA deputy chief of staff and communications director, twice violated codes of the the agency's scientific policy.

There's a third investigation being done by a committee from the House of Representatives that has not been released yet. I think we all know what that committee will find.

The whole incident was met with scorn and mockery from the scientific community and the general population. Memes mocking Trump with his sharpie can still be found on the internet.

But, and this is where the wheels hit the road, Trump supporters backed his version (even though it never happened), thereby cementing a foundation for the cult's platform of science denial.

It's no surprise then that this one-man cult has embraced lies about climate change, and made it a mission to spread disinformation about the environmental disasters that plague the planet daily.

It's also no surprise that Trump minions won't get vaccinated in defiance of 98 percent of scientists in the world that have determined vaccines and safety measures (face masks for instance) are the best way to combat the virus.

This is one time however where the Trump faithful are literally dying for their master as they fill up hospitals in red states. 

In the end, science catches up to the Trumpies who will still deny its existence right up until their last tortured gasp for oxygen.

Some Scary Halloween Costumes: What Would Happen If There Wasn't a Dress Code in Congress?

Inspired by Rep. "Gym" Jordan's refusal to wear a suit jacket in the Capitol (or anywhere else), I have a stunning prediction regarding post midterm election dress codes.

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I've run this same post for 5 days now. It's not something I normally do.

But popular demand dictates it; over 12,000 visitors per day have enjoyed this post. Yesterday 13,600 viewers stopped by. 

FTR: I normally get a couple of thousand visitors per day.

Let's keep it going...

Thanks everyone!

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The prediction is only good if the Republicans get back the House, and/or, the Senate in 2022. Otherwise, it'll just continue to be the fashion free Jordon trying to make a statement.

Actually it works. It shows the world he's an idiot that doesn't report young boys being molested in college. 

But, I digress.

The new norm for a GOP dress code would toss out conventional attire, opening the door for right-wing Trumpian lawmakers to dress - for what they think - is success. 

In other words, it's going to look like a Trumpian cosplay event in the halls of Congress if the Democrats lose next year.

It should not come as a surprise to observers when they see the prima Trumpies dressed up in outlandish costumes stalking the "People's House," and making a mockery of our democracy.  

Can you imagine that? The asylum taken over by the patients. In this case Republicans who swear fealty to the biggest loser in our political history...Trump.

As Halloween nears, I have some examples for scary costumes that may even be a preview of post midterm dress codes by Republicans in Congress and the Senate.

-- A full regalia Nazi outfit worn by Marjorie Taylor Greene was a smash with the white supremacists embedded in the party. 

-- An oversized diaper with "Don't Tread On Me" was modeled by Devin Nunes between bouts of bawling because no one likes him.

-- A Red-White-and-Blue Onesie with "I blow Trump Whenever He Asks" was written on the front, and was seen on "Gym" Jordon in the men's bathroom.

-- A 1920s style Gold Pimp Suit with a big floppy hat was spotted on Matt Gaetz leaving the Little Girl's bathroom.

--A Red MAGA inspired straight-jacket was seen on Andy Biggs who was aimlessly roaming the halls of Congress looking for someone to help him piss.

--A fiery red jumpsuit with QAnon messages on the front and back was Lauren Boebert's contribution to the clown show.

BACK TO REALTY

Yeah. It's fun to fantasize about the ridiculous world of politics today. But there is an underlining dark warning in this post...

anything could happen if the democrats don't hold on to the House and Senate in the midterms. 

Going Through the Motions: House Select Committee Approves Bannon's Contempt of Congress Report

Straight up.

I have my doubts about the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 holding anyone accountable for Trump's coup attempt. The chances of seeing people go to prison are about as much as a typhon tearing through Alaska. 

The House voted last tonight on holding Steve Bannon in criminal contempt for not responding to a subpoena. But don't expect Bannon to cooperate no matter what.

If forced to appear before the committee legal experts say Bannon will cite his 5th amendment rights and sit there like a content walrus.

Here's the thing that really frosts me; no matter what the committee finds the chances of persecuting offenders is nearly impossible.

Trump's minions have taken their cue from him and are tying things up in court with the expectation that time for justice will run out with endless appeals.

Let's be realistic about what's going to happen when the committee concludes its investigation. Nothing.

Republicans will continue to grovel before Trump and promote the Big Lie. No right-wing troll is going to change their mind because of a slew of facts gathered by Democrats. 

So why even have an investigation that's doomed to go nowhere?

The answer is simple; no matter what Congress can't ignore there was an insurrection attempt at the Capitol. 

What we'll witness in the days and weeks ahead will be a political drama that will further inflame both parties.

The committee will go through the motions to seek justice with little chance of achieving it.

Confessions of a Former Republican

I admit it.

I once voted Republican and even considered myself one.

Go ahead and laugh. It's true. I voted for George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States.

The late 80s and early 90s were a challenging time for me. I was a newspaper editor dealing with PTSD and did little - if any - research on national politics. I worked for small newspaper groups that stuck to the local news. No national news at all.

I registered myself as a Republican without really understanding that much about the party. It's my mea culpa. 

In my defense the Republican party back then wasn't at all like the GOP is today. There's a vast difference between then and now, and it hasn't been for the good.

I came to my senses after four years of senior Bush, and voted for a democrat, Bill Clinton. Since then, I've hovered between being an independent and a democrat.

The Republican party -in name only - has devolved into a cult with a sociopathic narcissist as it's leader. It's why I'm embarrassed admitting I ever voted Republican.

Before capitulating to a former reality TV star, the GOP wasn't this crazy. 

Right-wing, Trump-loving trolls are now embedded in Congress like parasites. Lovers of the Big Lie, these corrupt politicians have ties with white supremacists and groups like QAnon.

Our government, and Constitution, are under siege from the enemies of democracy who claim to be Republicans. If the party seems like the enemy within...it's because it is now, thanks to Trump.

Holding On To Reality In This Golden Age of Disinformation

    Trump is the Star of the Golden Age of Disinformation.

It's not easy.

There's so much disinformation on major issues facing the nation that it feels like a doomsday movie. Staying sane has never been more challenging.

The reason for this is because we're in the Golden Age of Disinformation. The Golden Calf has morphed into a narcissistic sociopathic former president and reality star intent upon destroying democracy.

The Age of Reason is long gone. We have the internet now. With it, comes a dank flowing sewer of lies, hate, conspiracies', and disinformation that empties out into millions of homes. The stench of stupidity is strong enough to make a maggot gag.

Please. Don't tell me how good the internet can be. The bad far outweighs what's happening today.

Don't think for a moment that all of the trolls and wackaloons would have come this far in disabling realities in your life without the massive digital octopus connecting them to each other.

Simply put, there has been no other era in our country's history where a cult of one man has brought us so close to defeat. The irony of getting rid of a sole ruler - crazy King George - to form a free nation is lost upon Trump and his followers. That's what happens in cults.

It's up to you, and I, to cling to reality and believe in science; to believe that we are all equal, to let evidence guide our decisions, to fight against the onslaught of disinformation around us with research and facts.

Abusive Appeals Tangle The Courts Up In Knots: Why Delayed Justice Is Hurting Democracy

Thanks to the former president's strategy of delaying justice with appeals - often for years - the courts in this country are in chaos.

One bad thing that's happened is Trump and the Republican Senate appointed and confirmed 220 Article III judges, and most are acting like Trump's disciples.

The cherry on the cake was appointing three supreme court justices who were lackeys of the Federalist Society; effectively assuring an extreme conservative agenda for at least a generation.

From early on Trump was taught how to take advantage of the court system with mentors like Roy Cohn and various mafia thugs. He teethed on filing appeals to create confusion that often ended with his accusers running out of money and the cases getting dropped.

Gaming the courts has always been one of Trump's favorite pastimes, so when he had the power of the presidency behind him it was inevitable he'd get his sticky fingers into the whole judicial system.

Throughout Trump's regime his minions have been encouraged to file frivolous lawsuits and to gum up court systems with endless appeals to thwart any investigations on them.

Steve Bannon is one of Trump's prize students whose loyalty has been tested in Congressional investigations numerous times. Most recently he's refused to respond to the House Select Jan. 6 Committee's subpoena to testify.

That refusal will effectively tie things up for an undetermined amount of time. And that's the idea. Republicans are hoping to run the clock out on the Jan. 6 investigation by retaking the House and possibly the Senate in the midterms.

Delayed justice may end up being no justice at all meted out to those involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The appeals process is so badly abused by criminals and politicians that nothing short of a complete overhaul is needed.

What would that look like? I'm not sure, but the promise of timely justice should be the guide to restore the validity of the appeals process. Remember, we're all supposed to have the right to a speedy trial. 

The longer cases are slow-walked (more like low-crawled) through the judicial system the more likely justice won't be served and democracy will suffer for it.

Chants, Rants, and Corrupt Confidantes

              The Gang of Four: Meadows, Scavino, Bannon, and Patel

Chant overheard at alt-right rallies across the country during these troubled times, "You will not replace us!" 

Ghosts of the Confederacy ride the rhetoric of hate being spread by the GOP in states seeking to suppress minority votes.

It's fear and loathing in Trumpland as the former reality star and president has his followers believing ANYTHING he says.

In a recent Trump rally in Georgia the crowd gleefully ranted, "Fuck Biden! Fuck Biden! Fuck Biden." Try, for a moment, to imagine what that sea of stupidity looked like - hundreds of red baseball caps bobbing up and down joyfully.

Speaking of corrupt confidants, did you hear Trump's buddy Steve Bannon defied Congress when subpoenaed to testify before the Jan. 6 Select Committee?  

The committee's response was swift as they moved forward today to hold Bannon in criminal contempt for refusing to comply with the subpoena. 

I admit I'm looking forward to hearing from a parade of Trump's corrupt confidants testifying before the select committee in the coming months.

I suspect the star of the investigation is going to be Mark Meadows. 

He's been recorded chastising Trump on Jan 6, then doing the complete opposite by making a pilgrimage to Mar-a Lago to kiss Trump's ass a week later. Or, was it days later?

Kash Patel who Adam Schiff described as a "demonstration of the principal in the Trump administration that the more willing you were to do anything the president wanted, no matter how unscrupulous, the higher and the faster you could rise," could give a sensational sleeper testimony.

I'm placing a side bet that Dan Scavino will be the most contentious of the reluctant confidants. He's the slimiest of the quartet.

Be ready for the long game, as the select committee continues to corner more Trump confidants, and make them testify under oath.

I'm stocking up on popcorn right now because of the supply issues we're all experiencing.

Seriously. Stocking. Up. Right. Now.

A Veteran's Insight Into Being Recruited By Extremists

I was listening to a Congressional hearing about how veterans are seduced by extremists to join antigovernment groups/militias yesterday with interest.

As a Vietnam Veteran (1970) I have a few insights to contribute to this discussion.

The first is not much has changed since I served in the Army. The transition from being government property to a free civilian is as rocky as ever.

Despite veteran groups doing what they can - and I applaud them all - the basic problem lies in acceptance. 

Most young people who go into the military form a bond of sorts. When they get discharged that bond is ruptured and there is a period of drifting in a sea of civilians who can't relate to their military experiences.

Secondly, everyone who signs up for the military is not necessarily being patriotic. Many get out of school and don't know what to do with themselves. College may not be an option.

The draft was going on when I went into the Army, and the majority of people I met simply didn't want to be in the military, and especially didn't want to go to Vietnam.

I suspect that was a major catalyst for a lot of members in the military to take on an antigovernment stance that carried into their civilian lives.

Today the inner core of most militias are Vietnam veterans mentoring each new generation, and instilling in them a total distrust of government.

Prior to Korea and Vietnam, the majority of Americans who signed up in the military did it out of as sense of patriotism and duty to country.

I'm not totally blaming Vietnam veterans for the current state of affairs. There's other reasons why veterans get involved in antigovernment activities. 

Which brings us to today. A populist/fascist has arisen among the dissatisfied  in the last five years that caters to all of their (antigovernment citizens) fears motivating them to violence.

When I saw how many veterans were involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection I was nauseous. It's one thing to be antigovernment and it's another to try and overthrow our government. 

Some good points were brought up in the hearing, but at the end of the day no real solutions were offered. Awareness is good. Action is better.

Lunatic Love: Moonie Cult 'Freedom Festival' Set For A Weekend of Anarchy

Remember that wacky cult of Moonies back in the 1950s?

(Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast)

You may not hear much about them anymore but the cult is busier and crazier than ever before. And it's now a threat to all Americans.

The ultra-rich Korean family (the Moons) put on an annual so-called "Freedom Festivity" that attracts NRA officials, gun enthusiasts and the type of people who attach "Don't Tread On Me" flags to the back of their trucks.

This year's festivities is expected to bring out "sovereign citizens" (aka domestic terrorists), alt-thruthers, and a slew of hardcore Trump minions seeking to steal fair elections and causing chaos in the schools, the medical community, and wherever there's a place to violently demonstrate their demands.

The Moon family also runs a Doomsday Church in Pennsylvania (where the Freedom Festival is held) that attracts lunatics like flies to shit.

(Photo: Reverend Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon, posing with his gold AR-15 "rod of iron" at home.)

Attendees are armed with semi-automatic rifles which they clutch while praying. Their all adorned with metal crowns which signify individuals have ultimate sovereign authority over themselves.

Steve Bannon is one of this years top speakers, along with chief strategist for Trump, Dana Loesch.

In an interview with the Daily Beast, Ryan Busse, a former gun industry executive turned self-described whistleblower, said "...the presence of such high profile speakers lends a dangerous credibility to the armed American fringe that is increasingly angry, vocal, and demanding of government policies that cater to their politics."

What all this comes down to is there's an active American Fascist movement led by a former president who doesn't believe in unity, science, or democracy.

Events like this faux Freedom Festival are reminiscent of 1936 Germany in a symposium. There's been other doomsday cults but this is the first one that a former spokesperson (Loesch) for the NRA is speaking at such an extreme event.

With a former reality star, and president, encouraging people to buy guns to take matters into their own hands, we're one step closer to becoming a fascist state.

The event will be held this weekend in Greeley, Pennsylvania, near the company headquarters of Moon-owned Kahr Firearms Group, a relatively small gun manufacturer.

The highlight of the weekend hate festival happens when they give away a Trump AR-15.

How fitting.

Here's a link to Ryan Busse's new book GUNFIGHT

Trump On The Loose: A Deranged Johnny Appleseed in the Garden of Democracy

As the holidays approach with an historically backed-up supply system, I'm more concerned about what the Trump cult has been up to lately.

It's looking like Trump plans to run again in 2024, if you can take his word for it given at a rally in Iowa a couple of days ago.

Author and Pastor John Pavlovitz recently wrote a timely essay that I highly recommend you read, and pass on:

"For the first time in America's history the latent ugliness in people was revealed and validated and celebrated by a sitting president — it was officially normalized. And what we're experiencing now; this staggering, insensitive posturing in the face of so many people's suffering, is the late-ripening fruit of something that has been set into the bedrock of half our nation. It is the malicious entitlement that MAGA was designed to nurture from the beginning....

This quickly metastasizing moral cancer is something we've never experienced on this level in our lifetimes and it's something we're going to have to reckon with regardless of the political outcomes of the next four years. If the former president somehow takes that office again, these stories will surely grow exponentially more violent and more commonplace, but either way, the ugliness is here now.

The Trump Effect on America, is that once reasonable, rational human beings whose prejudices, fears, and phobias were all bound by some baseline decorum and common courtesy that kept them from intentionally harming others - have been empowered to revel in the worst of themselves. They believe cruelty is their birthright."

Despite the massive evidence of his corruption in the last five years, Trump is still the biggest threat to democracy, and a free country. Even after being booted out of office. 

He's still free to sow the seeds of discontent like a deranged Johnny Appleseed in the garden of democracy.

However, I have to think there's hope for America. 

That in the end justice will be served, and Trump's quest to destroy our republic will be rebuffed by those who still believe in freedom and democracy.