Do Americans Deserve Democracy?

Any democratic country that allows a person like Donald Trump to hold their nation hostage might not be deserving of the freedoms they currently enjoy.

Despite not actually being in government, Trump owns GOP members of Congress in the House and Senate. He pulls his lackey's strings to help his campaign for president.

How could we have let this orange clown's cult thrive when it's based on lies? The political chaos Trump has caused is almost impossible to quantify.

Look at the damage Trump has done to our political, electoral, and judicial systems. The negative effects will probably carry over to the next generation. The Constitution is under attack daily from MAGA lawyers carrying out their leader's wishes.

One man.

How did the once respected Republican party dissolve and turn into spinless cult members? How could that happen in the oldest democracy in the world?

It's our fault. 

Americans have taken their freedoms too lightly for far too long. We just expect the good guys will win and life will go merrily along. We may or may not vote.  Reality has a way of catching up however, if we don't pay attention.

Now we have someone like Trump who came and convinced millions of Americans that the idea of living in an authoritarian state with a dictator was more attractive than our 250-year democracy.

I know you have heard it already - that this is the year democracy may die at the ballot box - but I can't repeat it enough. We're going to need a voting record turnout among real patriots who want to preserve our republic. 

We need a resounding victory for our freedoms and for the rest of the world to see how we turned away Trump's efforts to dismantle our democracy.

It's still possible to redeem ourselves from past mistakes by standing up for the truth, and challenging the lies spread by the MAGA cult whenever or wherever their told.

We can't count on the courts stopping Trump despite the four criminal cases and 91 felony charges he faces this year. 

His judicial appointees are running interference for him hoping he'll get re-elected president and can pardon himself for the numerous crimes he's committed.

As it stands, we'll find out if we deserve a democracy in November. Vote Blue.

Crocodile Tears for Donny: Court Slaps Down His Immunity Appeal

Full disclosure: I have to admit that when I found out Trump's immunity claim was thrown out of the 11th District Appeals court, I did a funny little dance around the Livingroom.

At last! We find out that Trump is not above the law. I suspect, and agree with, the constitutional scholars that say the Supreme Court won't even take up his last appeal.

But if they do...I'm slightly concerned that the three Trump appointees, and already extreme Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, will let Trump off the hook. 

That would be the moment democracy died.

In this age of extremism, it's hard to predict what the judges will do. It should be a slam dunk case, but we shouldn't bet on it.

Meanwhile Trump's team of idiot lawyers will have to file their last-ditch appeal(s) by Monday to block the ruling.

The judges flatly rejected Trump's arguments that he shouldn't have to go on trial on federal election subversion charges.

In a scathing 57-page unanimous opinion the panel of three judges wrote that the public interest in holding a potentially criminal president accountable outweighs any potential "chilling effect" on the presidency.

The judges were clear that the charges against Trump are serious and left no question they believe he can be prosecuted.

It's important to know that Trump's team can also appeal to the full DC Circuit to take up the case en banc, meaning the case would be heard again, but by the full panel of circuit judges.

Because Trump's team is trying to delay every step of the way, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to go this route before settling for the Supreme Court Hail Mary.

There's one paragraph in this new ruling that gives me hope for another ruling Trump faces. The Colorado challenge to keep Trump off the ballot may have gotten an enormous boost.

The court ruling refers to the president as an "officer." Anyone following the 14th Amendment cases revolving around the theory that the president was NOT an "officer" thus he couldn't be banned from the ballot should take note of this paragraph.

There is an open legal question - being argued Thursday before the Supreme Court - over whether the presidency is an "office... under the United States" and whether the presidency is an "officer" as described in the insurrection ban under Section 3.

Turning back to today's ruling, it was a big step in the right direction, but there's more challenges are on the way as Trump tries to delay justice until November when (if elected) he can pardon himself of the numerous felony charges against him.

As it stands, Trump's election subversion case must be tried in advance of the election to give voters second thoughts about re-electing the most corrupt former president in US history. Polls show that 62% of Republicans would shy away from voting for a convicted felon.

MAGA is a Joke Without a Punchline

Average Americans cringe when they see a Trump supporter decked out in full cosplay dress (a mangled American flag with Trump's mug on their shirts, jackets, hats, and flags.)

It's understandable because MAGA morons live in an alternate reality that threatens other people's very existence and freedoms.

The MAGA movement was formed in 2016 but as the years went by rabid followers have slowly defected and moved on to QAnon or other conspiracy groups.

The once powerful cult following has been floundering as Trump keeps losing elections. Despite the appearance of being everywhere the MAGA movement is all smoke and mirrors. MAGA is not unstoppable.

They have loud influencers who puff up the strength of MAGA, and there are, sadly, many in the political press who buy in and amplify that belief.

Time has exposed the extreme group as a comically disorganized and useless parade of con artists and the conned, drifting from one apocalyptic grievance to the next.

The latest MAGA flop involves a "God's Army" convoy that was touted by organizers as a mighty force of 700,000 or more people from every corner of America attending. 

The convoy of trucks, buses, and cars descended on a town near the southern border to protect against an invasion. What happened is a couple hundred vehicles parked at a rural ranch in Quemado, Texas and the MAGA morons were disappointed not to see an invasion of migrants.

It always amazes me how Trump followers are so easily grifted. The God's Army group ended up being bored but the hucksters selling MAGA merch made it look like a little country fair for the damned. 

One of the convoy-goers, Misty Gregory, told CNN, "It's not what I expected, but then again I don't know what I expected. I can tell you it's not as bad as I thought, so that's kind of eye opening in itself."

Residents of Eagle Pass, where the group were assembled to protest, were furious at the political theatre by the outsiders.

Jessie F. Fuentes of Eagle Pass told WOAI Channel 4, "The reality is that it has brought dangerous, violent groups into our beautiful, peaceful city. We don't appreciate these staged events that dramatically misrepresenting our reality on the border and that invite extremist group that pose a real danger to the people."

This kind of stunt would have been more successful had it happened in 2016-17. But it's 2024, and MAGA is a joke without a punchline.

Thus, it came to pass that God's Army's foot soldiers who came, in underwhelming numbers, accomplished little beyond showing everyone how tragically gullible they are and making the locals nervous.

As it stands, Americans need to understand that the MAGA movement is not serious and is nothing more than a rambling wreck of a cult following the world's biggest conman.

Divinely Corrupt Republicans Who Claim God Annointed Them

When election denier Mike Johnson became Speaker of the House, he said he was divinely appointed by God. 

He quickly followed that claim up by comparing himself to Moses as he parted the MAGA waters and was put in charge of Trump's defense team in Congress.

Fun fact, MAGA Mike belongs to a hardcore Nationalist Christian sect that advocates against the LGBTQ community and minorities.

Co-opting God into the Republican party has been a corrupt tactic for decades. With him on their side they can claim to make righteous restrictions on our freedoms. 

Take the newly elected Arizona GOP party chair, Gina Swoboda, for an example. She was on extremist extraordinaire Steve Bannon's podcast recently telling listeners that God talks to her, she has daily visions, and is on a mission to reclaim America for Christians.

In the dreary wastelands of MAGA there's not a clear difference between God and Donald Trump. 

That was illustrated by the golden statue (not real gold) of Trump that has been displayed in Republican conventions around the country.

Supporters genuflect before the statue's presence and take photos alongside of it. Some followers in Congress call Trump the Orange Jesus. See what I mean? It's confusing because 53% of Republicans think Trump is a "person of faith" according to a poll by Deseret News. Talk about brainwashed.

Pure Perversion Conversion

Pastor Jentezen Franklin of the 25,000-member megachurch Free Chapel in Georgia, has been Trumps spiritual advisor since 2016. "You cannot be a Christian and vote for democrats," Franklin claimed at a recent Trump rally in Coralville, Iowa.

What's really blasphemous is some of Trump's most enthusiastic believers are pastors who share his dark view of U.S. politics - or who've touted him as they've risen to prominence on social media.

Paula White-Cain is a prominent pastor who backs Trump is popular in the Christian prosperity movement. (Basically, a scam to fleece faithful followers.)

South Carolina televangelist Mark Burns praises Trump's every word and action and claims he the second coming of Jesus.

Darrell Scott, an Ohio pastor and radio host goes out of his way to promote Trump every day.

And the list goes on.

What's concerning is Trump is having an easier time reaching evangelicals now than in the past two election cycles, in part because of the changes in the evangelical world, according to Tim Alberta, author of "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory."

As it stands, there's a reason why America's Constitution firmly separates church and state. We believe a secular government is fairer to all Americans...not promoting one religion over others helps assure that.

The 2024 Election is All About Putting on a Good Show

 
"All the world's a stage, and all men and women merely players." - William Shakespeare

Politics involves the art of performance.

Politicians stage rallies that rival Broadway plays with stories about how they're going to make everyone's life better if they vote for them.

None of this was lost on Trump when he went down the elevator in Trump Tower to announce his candidacy for president in 2016.

There was a small, but enthusiastic group of people who greeted him after he descended. It seemed spontaneous at first, but later the truth came out.

Trump's campaign paid the people $50 each to cheer and hold up signs so the media could see how popular he was. 

That was the first time Trump's campaign used the tactic and as time went by his rally/productions were salted with paid fans sitting (or standing behind him) supposedly representing minority groups and organizations.

The whole idea of creating an illusion became the hallmark of Trump's 2016 winning campaign, and when he lost in 2020 reality sent him into a cognitive tailspin.

His campaign for re-election in 2024 has invested in every corrupt tactic possible to re-capture the Oval Office. Including such productions as train derailments where he flew in for a photo op in East Palestine, Ohio and paid a group of locals to stand around and cheer his ridiculous rant about trains.

In a knee jerk reaction to Joe Biden joining the picket line this past September for the United Auto Workers (UAW), the Trump campaign scurried around like rats to counter the move.

The Trump campaign paid Drake Enterprises, a non-union auto parts shop in Clinton Township, $20,000 to stage a fake event with people holding up "Union Members for Trump" signs behind him to make it look like he was holding a rally with union workers on strike.

During the paid for rally, he rambled nonsense that if he wasn't elected the entire American auto industry was going to move to China. 

For the record, the media confirmed there were no UAW members in attendance.

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"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. - Edward R. Murrow

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Trump's TV performances on The Apprentice for five years built him a fanbase that morphed into MAGA, and they have never left him regardless of the crimes he's committed since.

In spite of his loyal base Trump needs more votes which means he has to keep up the illusion of being there for all Americans. That leads to casting paid actors for his rallies which haven't shown any resemblance to the size they were in the 2020 election. 

This presidential election Trump is holding rallies in high schools and small auditoriums that he's not even filling every time. It seems his act is growing old.

With all the court cases against Trump his calendar is full until election day and beyond. It's getting harder to stage his shows because he's pouring millions into lawyers to defend himself in four criminal trials.

As usual, Trump will continue to grift his supporters and entertain them with misinformation and lies as long as he can get away with it.

As it stands, "Any politician who can be elected by turning Americans against each other is too dangerous to be elected." - Thomas Sowell

If Hypocrisy Could Be Sold in the Stock Market Republicans Would All Be Rich

      Congressional Republicans continue to take hypocrisy to new levels as they defend a twice-impeached president who has 91 felony counts against him in four different jurisdictions.

Oh yeah! Let's not forget. He's also a convicted rapist. Does that sound presidential to you? Well, it does to Trump's lapdogs in Congress.

Watching MAGA morons like Rep. "Gym" Jordan serving a subpoena on Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis today over a trumped-up charge of misusing government grant monies is like taking a step into The Twilight Zone.

Jordan, like his other MAGA cohorts chairing committees, are trying to muddy up the waters in Trump's RICO case in Georgia. It doesn't end there, however. Jordan has still not responded to a legal Congressional subpoena he received and ignored three years ago.

These traitorous Republicans have bought into the Big Lie and have formed a Congressional defense team to fight all of Trump's indictments and felony charges.

Politicians like Jordan hope people won't recall what they did during the Trump presidency and how they participated in trying to overturn the 2020 election.

The GOP House majority has adopted an unfettered "whataboutism" on the question of whether Trump engaged in insurrection after he was voted out of office.

Not only is hypocrisy highly valued in the Republican party it's an intricate part of their arsenal of misinformation and lies. They feel free to defy reality and facts because of their loyalty to Trump who has given them free rein to be the worst they can be.

The only way to combat the rampant hypocrisy the Republicans have adopted is to call them out every time. Tell the whole story. Not a MAGA soundbyte.Tell the truth. Show proof they are hypocrites.

As it stands, the point is: Vote Blue in November if you're fed up with the Republican party's hypocrisy... and lies.

MAGA Moron Suggests Securing the Southern Border with Alligators

(Photo of American alligator taken near Eagles Pass, Texas, by U.S. border patrol.)

Despite being a myth, there's numerous stories about how medieval monarchs constructed moats around castles and stocked them with alligators and crocodiles to discourage unwanted visitors.

It just never happened.

Today however, MAGA moron Lauren Boebert is talking about stocking the Rio Grande (or Rio Bravo) with alligators to kill those invading immigrants seeking freedom in America.

Grinning like a brain-dead zombie, Boebert told reporters she would gladly sign legislation that included "alligator moats" to secure the southern border.

Apparently, the idea of men, women, seniors, and children being savagely torn apart appeals to Boebert and her MAGA cohorts. That lack of humanity is pervasive in what was once the Republican party, now the party of Trump.

This is not the first-time alligators have been brought up as a deterrent to immigrants. In 2022 Mexican media reported that "giant alligators" were being released by the U.S. border patrol into the Rio Grande.

People grew alarmed when U.S. border patrol agents photographed an enormous alligator swimming near Eagle Pass, Texas, which is a regular crossing point for migrants.

The official U.S. Border Patrol Facebook page displayed their cruelty and grim sense of humor that year. 

The page stated: "Alligators ask a lot of questions! So much so that they would make great interri-Gators... or even an investi-Gator...or if you need directions, a navi-Gator..."

The Mexican newspaper Excelsior reported that the reptile in the photo was a "crocodile," claiming it was there to scare migrants from crossing to the U.S. side.

Native to Texas, alligators are found in wetlands, marshes, lakes, and marshlands along most of the areas along the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Texas state government.

In 2019, then President Trump wanted to build "alligator moats" along the border. He also suggested using snakes to secure the border. Luckily cooler heads prevailed in that instance.

How any human being, let alone a member of Congress, can be so hateful and cruel baffles me. The scary part is Boebert is not alone when it comes de-humanizing people - whether they're migrants, or minorities.

As it stands, immigration is the hot topic of the day and if MAGA Republicans get their way the chaos on the border won't go away... until their idol Trump gets re-elected in November.

Impeachment Fever Gripping MAGA World

"Off with her head! Off with their heads! - The Queen of Hearts in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

A GOP fever dream infection began three years ago and is openly festering today in the House of Representatives.

Current calls for impeachment echo throughout the corridors of the People's House every week. 

They're baseless calls spawned by MAGA World who see impeachments as a way to help Trump's election campaign.

Impeach President Joe Biden, and his son Hunter.

Impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

Impeach Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Who's next?

(Despite not being elected officials)

Impeach Taylor Swift?

Impeach Mickey Mouse?

Impeach Stephen Colbert?

Impeach Jimmy Kimmel?

Impeach LeBron James?

Ever since MAGA morons found out about how much chaos they can cause by abusing impeachments they've gone out of their way to impeach someone... anyone.

House Republicans are getting closer to impeaching Mayorkas. If they do, it'll never get past the Democratic majority Senate. 

The MAGA morons know this, but they're preforming for an extremist base who'll dance around in their basements and caves with glee.

"Owning the libtards!" They'll chant around little orange statues of Trump. And that will be the extent of that false impeachment.

Extreme conservatives infected with impeachment fever plan on using what power they have in Congress to keep filing frivolous impeachments up until election day in November.

What else have House Republicans got to brag about? Certainly, there's no legislation they can tout as an accomplishment during their reign in the House. 

Pathetic as the fake impeachment efforts are they still provide fodder for MAGA World which is constantly in need of new lies.

On a more positive note, Republicans are going to reap what they sowed when they lose the House next year. Karma has no menu. You get served what you deserve.

As it stands, the only reason Trump wasn't impeached in the Senate was Mitch McConnell and a group of corrupt senators saved his orange ass!

Republicans Are Pushing Another Big Lie

In so-called conservative circles the main mission has been to promote the Big Lie that Trump won the 2020 election.

There's another Big Lie that has been gaining traction this year - the false notion that diversity makes industries and institutions less safe.

Recently Republicans have been hammering military officials, accusing them of crippling the Defense Department's military capabilities by promoting diversity and inclusion in its ranks.

Don't ask me how treating our military members equally and with respect is affecting their fighting ability. It's not. Period. It's a ridiculous lie to feed Trump's base more raw meat. 

Right-wing Fox News hosts are coming up with absolutely stupid theories like host Maria Bartriomo who suggested the three soldiers recently killed in Jordan died because of DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion).

"Maybe the military is focused too much on DEI," Bartriomo told viewers. There's no low too low for Fox and Friends.

It's so ironic hearing right-wing messengers claim to be deeply concerned over the military readiness and capabilities after putting our nation at risk when Sen. Tommy Tuberville had a month's long blockade against the approval of military appointments over his opposition to the Pentagon's policy of reimbursing service members, veterans, and dependents for travel expenses related to abortion and reproductive health care. 

That traitorous stunt hurt our military's readiness a hundred times more than the imagined harm of diversity.

The MAGA cult - aka the GOP - would have us think Wokeness, DEI, and Critical Race Theory (all fever dreams) are ruining the country. They're not. MAGA is with their messages of hate and racism.

A constant stream of anti-diversity boogeyman nonsense saturates right-wing media and Congress. 

Earlier this month, conservatives began boycotting various airlines, citing bogus claims that the aviation industry's DEI initiatives were allowing unqualified pilots to captain planes.

Instead of blaming Boeing for the recent malfunctions, including a door flying off an Alaska Airlines plane mid-flight, conservatives chose to attack female and non-white pilots for safety problems.  

Un-American piece of crap, Elon Musk, asked his 170 million followers if they "want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over safety?" 

As it stands, America has always been a diverse nation. The grand goal (not yet achieved) is total equality and freedom for all.

Georgia Residents Resist Massive Monkey Farm in their Backyard

Bainbridge is a rural outpost in Georgia that is destined to have more monkeys than humans in the near future.

Some sneaky local officials got together with Safer Human Medicine, a newly organized company that intends to build one of the largest monkey breeding facilities in the nation... behind the townspeople's back.

County and city officials involved in the project had to sign nondisclosure agreements, so the public wasn't notified until the day the deal with Safer Human Medicine was signed.

Angry residents held meetings expressing their concerns about the large 200-acre Monkey Farm in their backyard. Finally, during a public meeting at the county commission chamber there was a ray of hope towards stopping the project.

The agreement granting Safe Human Medicine tax breaks would be voided because the commission didn't properly notify the public before approving it.

Unfortunately, it didn't halt the project or nullify the land lease deal because the city of Bainbridge owns the land, not the county.

What the Local Citizens Fear

People fear that monkeys might spread diseases and - in the case of a major hurricane or tornado - escape.

They're concerned the massive facility's waste may damage the environment. Especially the nearby Flint River, which flows into Lake Seminole and whose waters are a prized jewel where residents swim and it's a nationally recognized place for fishing competitions.

There are 15,000 residents living in Bainbridge. The Monkey House's goal is maintaining a residence for 30,000 monkeys that will be experimented on. In other words, tortured for the sake of science.

The project's organizers say it'll bring in 250 jobs, but residents are more concerned about preserving their way of life.

Using Animals as Research Subjects is Immoral

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine claim they have no alternatives that can fully replace using nonhuman primates and dogs.

I call bullshit on that excuse!

In this day of artificial intelligence advancements, I can't believe there's no viable alternatives. They probably cost too much and its cheaper to slaughter primates and dogs in the name of science.

As it stands, the citizens in Bainbridge have banded together and are getting help from organizations like PETA to fight for their town. As one lifelong resident was quoted as saying, "We can't give up now. We got to keep telling them we don't want this in Bainbridge."

 

It's a 'Catch-22' Situation on America's Southern Border

If you describe a situation as a Catch-22, you mean it is an impossible situation because you cannot do one thing until you do the other, but you cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing.

This is exactly what's happened on our southern border.

Everyone in both parties agrees that something has to be done about the un-checked flood of migrants crossing our southern border.

But taking action is an entirely different story. There's a bipartisan bill in the Senate that will address the immigration problem. It's stalled now because Trump told Mitch McConnell and Mike Johnson NOT to pass any legislation that will solve the problem so Trump can campaign on the hot button issue.

Even if the Senate does pass it, MAGA Mike said he won't even bring the bill to the floor, effectively paralyzing the House. 

To be clear, the Republican party is prepared to make the border situation even more perilous in order to get Trump re-elected president. So now until November there would be no hope for a solution.

Meanwhile Texas Gov. Abbott is preparing to go to war with the federal government. Abbott ignored the Supreme Court's ruling to take away the concertina barbwire in the river and to let federal agents resume their monitoring duties on the border.

In an act of total defiance, Abbott has refused to obey the Supreme Court ruling and has declared Texas has the right to defend itself against an invasion. Twenty-five GOP governors are supporting Abbott, and some are sending (or already have) their national guard units to join the rebellious state.

Trump is smiling right now. His operatives in Congress are obeying his every demand and MAGA governors are defying the Supreme Court in order to keep the chaos level high. In his tiny lizard brain Trump sees himself solving the border problem with draconian legislation.

On Monday a convoy of MAGA big rigs are going to travel along the border, starting in California, then Arizona and finally Texas. Tune in to your news and count the Trump flags. 

Blocking the Biden administration from being able to solve the dire situation is one of Trump's many corrupt schemes to become America's first dictator. He could care less about the continued chaos.

Hopefully sane Americans who love their country will somehow prevail against this deadly Catch-22. I believe average Americans can see what's happening right now. Trump is no longer hiding his authoritarian vision for our country.

As it stands, the bottom line is to vote blue in November. It's that simple if you want to save democracy and your own freedoms.