Breaking Heads and Hearts in Chicago

 You can say many things about the current Trump administration, but you do have to admit that when it comes to creating absolute chaos, they are real pros. Well, what else should we expect from a guy who used to show up as a guest at WWE wrestling extravaganzas and promises to stage a MMA fight at the White House next year.   

The Department of Homeland Security launched, "Operation Midway Blitz," in Chicago during the first part of September. Since then, the situation in the Windy City has been, let's say, fluid.  Or, if you prefer, bat shit crazy.  It is exactly the effect Donald Trump, his bizarre and hateful toady, Stephen Miller, and the head of the DHS, Kristi Noem had hoped for. So much so Trump, taking full advantage of the noise, called up National Guard units from as far away as Texas. They really don't have anything to do yet, except stand around outside federal buildings, but hey, sometimes it's the image that counts.

The Blitz has caused Illinois Governer, JD Pritzker and Chicago Mayor, Brandon Johnson to howl in protest. They also launched legal action to block use of the Guard. The whole ICE and Border Patrol thing is a different animal. Tensions have risen so much that the other day, as Border Patrol agents were being surrounded by an angry crowd (they became enraged after the agents shot a woman who allegedly rammed one of government's vehicles with hers) the Chicago PD was ordered to, "stand down." 

After the incident Trump posted on social media that both Pritzker and Johnson should be investigated, arrested, and thrown in jail because they failed to protect his masked band of merry pranksters. At the same time, the police chief of Broadview, IL, a Chicago suburb, accused ICE and Border Patrol agents of indiscriminately gassing civilians and his own officers who were there to do just that. He also claimed the feds were making so many unnecessary calls to his town's 911 system they were clogging the lines and stretching the resources of his department to the breaking point.  

It doesn't help that ICE is currently interpreting Trump's "worst of the worst," promise as meaning anyone walking down the street who even remotely appears Hispanic. Such was the case with a 53-year-old Hispanic woman who was going to the grocery store the other day. She was confronted by ICE agents on the sidewalk who demanded to know if she was a U.S. citizen. She said yes, but they didn't believe her because, you know, dark hair, eyes, and skin, so off she went to an unknown destination. The incident was recorded on video. When her teenaged daughter saw the recording, she began sobbing unconsolably. 

She wasn't the first. When ICE recently raided an apartment building--using Black Hawk helicopters to prove some sort of point--they pulled everyone, children and infants included, out of bed. They had launched the raid in the middle of the night in order to exploit the element of surprise.  Practically every occupant of the building was cuffed and detained, no matter what their status. A statement released by the DHS later claimed, none of the children were hand cuffed and they were later released to relatives or put in state custody. In other words, see, all we did was pull them from their beds, then order them and their parents out on the street at gunpoint, and finally cart Mom and Dad off into the night. How is that cruel? As a parting gift the agents ransacked the apartments, saying they were searching for, "evidence," and broke out more than a few windows, presumably because it's fun.   

Yes, it seems current ICE policy is a slightly less lethal variant of the old saw which first made the rounds during the Vietnam War: "Kill them all and let God sort them out." 

And while that policy might make Donald Trump and Stephen Miller feel like they have big balls it isn't great public relations campaign. Just ask Kristi Noem. The other day she and some of her boys showed up at a Chicago police station and asked if they could come in to use the restroom facilities. They were told in no uncertain terms, absolutely not. 

Now that's the way to tell someone, get out of town.

We all know where this is going. Donald Trump's increasingly unhinged behavior is going to become worse and worse. Instead of trying to reign him in there are people in the administration who are not just enabling him, but encouraging him to push things further. They might not admit it yet, but it's time to understand many of them can be categorized not so much republican, but rather Christian White Nationalists--despite their complete lack of Christianity. 

We are quickly approaching a moment when election results won't matter anymore. If an outcome isn't to their liking they will, just like they did in 2020, scream fraud and attempt, by any means possible, to deny the will of the voters. However, unlike back then, the ultra-right will have an armed paramilitary--and perhaps units of the American Militia--in place to make sure the real insurrection works. 

What we are seeing in Chicago and other locales isn't Constitutional, legal, and it certainly isn't morally justifiable. It's the equivalent of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers turned loose by Trump's regime to break heads and hearts. 

10-9-25

Troops in the Streets and Russ Vought's Grand Plan

 Over the last few days Donald Trump claimed Portland, OR is, "a war zone," and that over the weekend in Chicago 50 people were murdered. In both instances he has used these apocalyptic visions as his reason for sending in National Guard troops. (Which one supposes is better than Pete Hegseth's idea, which was to send the 82nd Airborne into the Windy City--the idea failed because others convinced Hegseth and presumably Trump the resulting publicity would be overwhelmingly negative.

In the, "Portland war zone," this weekend a total of two protesters were arrested. Over the last few months, depending on who is reporting, somewhere between 28 and 36 people have been busted during protests in front of the local ICE office. In Chicago during the same time, 19 people were shot--way too many, but hardly the Battle of the Bulge--two of them fatally. It's unclear where Trump came up with 50, but the odds are he just made it up. Hey, it's a nice round number and high enough to scare the bejeezus out of white people who don't actually live there. 

If the President is successful--both Oregon and Illinois officials have taken the feds to court over the deployments--that would mean, there are units of National Guard troops preparing to occupy two American cities. They are already in a third, Memphis, TN, which is the only place the state's governor has willingly agreed to it. 

All of the cities mentioned have democratic mayors and large minority populations. And all of them, Memphis included, will vote heavily for democratic candidates in 13 months. Unless of course everyone is in a federal prison camp somewhere, locked down due to martial law, or prevented by the United States military to vote for some other reason Trump's authoritarian cabal comes up with. Indeed, when it comes to rigging elections it's best to begin early and strike often.

As Woody Allen once reportedly said, "It isn't paranoia if they really are out to get you." And increasingly to millions of Americans it is it appears they really are out to get us. 

It is doubtful Donald J. Trump came up with this plan. In fact, it is equally doubtful he has plotted out the mass firing of career federal civil servants so they can be replaced by MAGA loyalists. That doesn't mean he isn't fully on board with it--after all, what better way to prove the size of your cock than declaring martial law--but the Mango Mussolini simply doesn't have the eye for detail required for such undertakings. It is even a stretch to think his bellicose and xenophobic hit man Stephen Miller could handle it. (Let's face it the fucker is too weird. Besides he's best at execution, not planning.) Elon Musk might have been the guy, but his ego was too big for Trump to handle. The stage has to be solely Trump's, no other over cooked hams wanted.

No, Donald Trump has needed a surgeon who can slice and dice behind the scenes and who is smart enough to come up with a coherent plan to render Congress impotent while consolidating all power in the Oval Office. It would seem Trump has settled on his Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought. Vought is the primary contributor to the Heritage Foundation's "Project 2025." That would be the same Project 2025 candidate Donald Trump repeatedly denied knowing anything about during the last presidential election. 

Vought and Trump aren't strangers. The Director held the same position during the first Trump administration. Fortunately, back in those innocent days the President was held in relative check by others who actually understood how the American government works. As we all know too well, Brother Don no longer operates with those constraints. As a result, he has unleashed Vought to erase American democracy as we've known it.   

According to a report by MSN since January, Russ Vought has, "Eliminated hundreds of regulations on the environment, health, transportation, and food and worker safety." He has also stopped the work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In addition, he is behind the slashing of foreign aid programs and is pushing for even more. Vought is also attempting to set up a legal battle in the courts to challenge congress' power to decide where and how federal money is to be spent. 

The end game is plain to see. Russ Vought, through the cult of Donald Trump wants to make sure a far-right macho man remains in the White House eternally while Congress is reduced to a symbolic body kept around just for old time's sake. Meanwhile all real power flows from the President and the President alone. The rest of us, every man, woman, and child are on our own no matter what calamity befalls us. 

Yes, it may not matter if Donald Trump is suffering simple cognitive decline, or in the throes of full-blown dementia. Thanks to people like Russ Vought the grand plan to perpetuate right wing power is quickly coming together. When Trump does go, the oligarchy will simply plug in a younger model.   

Ladies and gentlemen, unless there is some meaningful political resistance to this right now, we are, quite decidedly, fucked.

10-6-25

The Latest American Monster, the Government Shuts Down, and Slowly Donald Trump Turned, Step by Step, Inch by Inch...

 I swear by God this holy oath: That I shall render unconditional obedience to the Leader of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the armed forces, and that as a brave soldier I shall at all times be prepared to give my life for this oath.

The oath required of every member of the German military beginning in 1934--commonly referred to as the, "Hitler Oath."

No, we aren't there yet. But let's face it, it feels like every single day during this regime we edge a little closer toward that fateful moment. Or, as the old Three Stooges bit began, "Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch..."

The last few days have been an all too familiar reminder of what 21st century America has become. On Sunday a guy rammed his pickup truck into a Latter-Day Saints church in Grand Blanc, MI. The suspect's name is Thomas Jacob Sanford of nearby, Burton. He was well armed--hey it's America, everyone is--and the truck, festooned with two large U.S. flags, was chock full of explosive devices. He set the church on fire and opened up with a semi-automatic rifle. Four members of the congregation were killed and a fifth remains in critical condition. 

In the immediate aftermath of the nightmare social media wags began playing hysteria filled blame games. Those on the right blamed the, "radical left," and those on the left blamed the, "radical right." Donald Trump posted that the mayhem was, "...another attack on Christians..." hinting that it was inspired by left wing rhetoric. Everybody appeared to ignore the obvious (besides the fact liberals don't usually run around in pickup trucks with American flags flying from the bed) that Thomas Sanford belonged to that uniquely American organization known as, "Bat Shit Crazy Guys With Guns." His only known philosophy, at least at this time, is that he considers all Mormons anti-Christs.

Then last night the government of the United States ran out of funding. The main reason, as usual, depended on who you ask. The cost of American health care is the primary sticking point. Democrats say they won't budge, although a few of them already have. Republicans say pretty much what they always say. "If you can't afford decent health care it's not our fault. You should have been born in Europe." The Trumpster is promising massive furloughs of government workers and possible permanent cutbacks, finishing the job his former pal Elon Musk started. The end result being, at least in the President's mildew ridden mind, is he will have the opportunity to consolidate even more power for himself.

Then we come to the Generals and Admirals who were called into a meeting yesterday. These weren't just Pentagon pencil pushers and analysts. They were field commanders, many of them with 20 plus years of combat leadership experience. They sat in silence as Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense--oops, now the Secretary of War (the SOW?)--explained to them that Defense was too woke of a word, that War had the Machismo he was aiming for. 

The Secretary went on to tell them that all the DEI shit was over and done, there would be no more promotions of women, or minorities unless they were uber qualified. That the Department of War wouldn't tolerate fat Admirals, Generals, or NCOs. He told the officers that they and their men wouldn't have to worry about things like accusations of sexual harassment, or war crimes ever again. That's right, a lean, mean, fighting machine unfettered by any sense of morality when it comes to either an enemy, or itself. Oh, and ladies you might want to rethink any idea you might have had about joining this man's armed forces.

The attempted pep rally caused many commentators to wonder aloud why the whole thing couldn't have been done through emails, or other forms of communications. At least one officer reportedly said, "I flew 8,000 miles for this?" 

Then came the Commander in Chief, Donald J. Trump. He was 20 plus minutes late and seemed taken aback that when he was met with stone cold silence. He even commented that he was used to applause. Then he made a joke about anyone who didn't like what he was saying could leave the room. "Of course," he added, "if you do you'll get demoted." The response was a low ripple of what could be described as cynical chuckles. 

Most of Trump's address was the same old campaign bullshit every American has heard before. Biden was bad, he is good. It included the usual meandering side trips--"I like my signature. A lot of people like my signature. I personally sign all your promotions and commissions. I don't use an auto-pen." He droned on about tariffs and at one point even dragged out the bizarre idea Canada should become part of the United States. As he rambled aimlessly the continued lack of vocal approval and applause seemed to drain him. It was as if we were watching him slowly run out of oxygen.    

Finally, he got to it. He told the United States' most experienced combat leaders that they and their troops would have to become "a major part of fighting, "a war from within." He noted that this enemy from within was a problem that had to be taken care of quickly. He speculated that their troops could use places like, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles for, "training," before being deployed overseas. He was in fact prepping them for a time in the near future when he would order this audience to break the law--to violate an oath which they, unlike him, actually believe in and live by. Every person in that room had to know it.

Anyone who witnessed the deranged spectacle had to also. 

The President of the United States didn't say who exactly the, "enemy within," was, or is. He did say, however they would be harder to identify because they, "don't wear uniforms." One can hazard a guess though. It doesn't take much. All many of us have to do is look in a mirror. 

Step by step, baby, inch by inch...

10-1-25

Bye-Bye Ryan Walters: We Knew You Too Well

 Never one to think of himself as a small fish, Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Schools, went on FOX national news Wednesday night to announce his resignation. That's right baby, when Ryan Walters does something, it has national ramifications--at least in his own mind. 

According to Walters, he is leaving to become CEO of a right-wing non-profit group, The Teacher Freedom Alliance. Exactly how non-profit it actually is remains a little cloudy. The organization isn't quite a year old and hasn't filed any paperwork with either state, or federal agencies.  What is known is it's affiliated with the Freedom Foundation, which describes itself as a, "conservative think tank." In his announcement Walters said one of his main goals as the CEO will be to, "...destroy the teachers unions." He added, "We have seen teachers unions use money and power to corrupt our schools, to undermine our schools."  

Of course, that was one of Walters' main goals while he was Superintendent, although many have argued, with ample evidence, the head of Oklahoma's public schools chief aim was to destroy public education itself. During his term he failed to destroy the teachers' unions, but when it came to corrupting and undermining public schools, he did a bang-up job all by himself. During his watch the state has now fallen to 50th in education out of 51. (The District of Columbia school system is counted in the rankings.) 

Despite his spectacular lack of success as Superintendent--his bible in every classroom order is still unfulfilled and his mandate requiring districts to report the addresses of pre-teen immigrant students was so odious even Oklahoma's ultra conservative governor railed against it--Walters was considered a rising MAGA star, at least locally. Most of his abbreviated stay in office was spent shamelessly indulging himself in what can only be described as over the top, yet decidedly cheap, performance art. However, the man did know how to blow smoke up asses and make a lot of noise. In 21st century American politics those are two indispensable qualities.      

Up until Wednesday night Ryan Walters was considered a serious player in the 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial race. His name recognition was through the roof and his bi-polar like behavior--he can go from bellicose bully to self-pitying martyr at the drop of a hat--has a genuine Trumpian feel to it. Not to mention in this state if you are a republican, any sort of republican, winning the GOP primary means you are in. There isn't a democrat currently alive in Oklahoma who can win a state-wide race.  

At the moment the highest profile republican candidate for governor is state Attorney General, Genter Drummond. He knew all too well the political threat Walters presented. He has been taking shots at the Superintendent and current Governor, Kevin Stitt for months now. Stitt is term limited so can't run again, but Drummond won't let anyone forget that Stitt appointed Walters as Secretary of Education back in 2020. The Governor has spent much of his time in the intervening years trying to get the beast he set loose on the public school system back in the cage. 

Then in July came the scandal which might have set all this in motion. During a state board of education meeting a TV in Walters' office was on and two members were stunned to see a couple of naked women on the screen. It wasn't the sort of thing expected from a guy who once demanded every student and teacher in Oklahoma watch a video of him praying. ("You may join me, or watch quietly," he told them.) The shit immediately hit the fan. 

An investigation was launched by the Oklahoma City Police, Sheriff's Department and the local DA. Walters called a news conference and claimed the whole thing was a plot hatched by Governor Stitt. That the board members were liars who should resign immediately. That yea, dark forces were out to stop him and his crusade. 

The investigation found that yes, the TV was on and yes there was female nudity, but it wasn't a porn movie per se, and Walters wasn't at fault. The police said the television had been turned on and automatically went to a default channel. Walters, to this day, still claims the board members were lying and any reporting to the contrary is, "false." Questions remained. The main one being, why the fuck is an elected official watching TV in his office first place? Especially one with a default setting to a cable movie channel featuring imported martial art films and nudity.

Yes, it could well have been that loyalty tests for incoming teachers, or asking the state to buy thousands of bibles from a company Donald Trump is invested in. It might have even been the falling test scores, or all the money he spent on out of state PR firms to make him a national figure. However, it wasn't any of that. What might have ended Ryan Walters political ambitions was an Asian made martial arts flick that had one, or two scenes with, nekkid women in them.

Or, maybe it wasn't. In March of this year--four months before the TV debacle--a state legislator accused the Superintendent of ethics abuse. (Not the first time by any means.) The claim was that he improperly used the Department of Education's official letterhead to publicly applaud and endorse that brand new anti-union group, The Teachers Freedom Alliance. Even Genter Drummond didn't think it was anything at the time. He dismissed the complaint out of hand. 

Was that endorsement a coincidence? Given what happened Wednesday it turns out it might have been a job application. Maybe the whole TV thing was just the final straw for Ryan Walters. During his tenure he burned a lot of political bridges. According to many reports practically everyone at the capitol complex hates his guts. Maybe he knew that even if he did become governor, he'd never be able to get anything done. Maybe he simply got tired of working in a place that wouldn't let him do exactly what he wanted when he wanted, someplace where he had to answer to others. Or--and this is my favorite; it's the romantic in me--maybe he is just another con man who knows when the scam has run its course and is blowing town before he gets nailed for good.

In any event, bye-bye Ryan. We knew you too well. 

9-26-25

Eulogizing Charlie Kirk

Friends, Romans, countrymen; lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar.

From Antony's speech in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene II.

Of course, despite those opening lines, during the remainder of Antony's speech he does indeed praise Caesar in ways that are both subtle and not so subtle. 

There was no such pretense at Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Glendale, AZ this past weekend. During the six plus hour service many came to praise Kirk without reservation, and no one dared hint he committed an evil that would live after him. The official count of the crowd was 40,000, although knowing Donald Trump who was among them, it will quickly grow exponentially, at least in his own mind. 

Kirk's pastor, Rob McCoy set the tone for the affair by telling the faithful, "Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus. He knew if he got all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you'd come to its source, and that is the Lord."  

Vice President J.D. Vance reinforced this notion that religion and politics are inseparable, despite what it says in the Constitution by saying, "He is a martyr of the Christian faith." Then he added, "Heavenly Father give us the courage to live as Charlie lived." 

The one truly Christian moment came when Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, forgave her husband's murderer, Tyler Robinson. Her act of kindness was met with a fair amount of cheering in the crowd. She explained her forgiveness by saying, "Because it was what Christ did and what Charlie would do." While it is what Christ did, no one can be absolutely certain what a man who once said homosexuals should be stoned to death, really would do. Her only cryptic reference to that part of Charlie's philosophy was when she said one of her late husband's goals was, "...to save the lost boys of the West." 

To prove the peaceful nature of Charlie Kirk's message she noted that after his assassination there hadn't been any rioting in the streets. Well, no there wasn't. However, the truth is probably because the only time that happens is when Donald J. Trump asks the mob to do it. (i.e. Come to Washington on Jan. 6th. It will be wild!)   

Other speakers were a tad more, let's say, blunt. Donald Trump's low-rent version of Heinrich Himmler, Stephen Miller told the gathering, "Our lineage and our legacy hails back to Rome, to Athens, to Philadelphia, to Monticello. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened." (The only thing missing was an orchestra playing Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries.") Herr Miller didn't specify who the, "you," was, or is but we can assume it wasn't anyone in the stadium. Right now, though the overwhelming odds are the unidentified, "you," is pretty much everybody who pisses off his boss--just ask Jimmy Kimmel. 

Speaking of the boss, Donald Trump let everyone there know his mindset when he told them. "Charlie didn't hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents. And I don't want the best for them." In other words, Kirk was the martyred saint, Trump, on the other hand, is the righteous retribution--the avenging angel. The cheers and applause he received for the line ran a dead heat with the cheers and applause which greeted Erika Kirk's pledge of forgiveness. It was a perfect example of MAGA duality. 

Despite what one might think, not every MAGA hot shot was there. Candace Owens, who served as Turning Point USA's Communications Director for two years, spent the weekend complaining she hadn't been invited to the memorial. Owens, who is African American posted in part on social media, "I would hope she (Erika Kirk, who has replaced her husband as head of Turning Point U.S.A.) is in full control, but I don't know. Because I'm hearing some stories about donors that are pushing things."   

There have been reports Ms. Owens lost favor with some MAGA conservatives, including Kirk himself, when she took one too many walks in the conspiracy theory swamp. A while back she also, posted a "like," to an online meme depicting Jews participating in a "blood libel," ritual. It is unclear if that was a step, or so over the line for some pro-Israeli conservatives. Or, it might have been when she said there was no way she would allow herself to be given the Covid-19 vaccine. That would be the same one Trump is so proud he rushed out there. Who really knows?  What we do know, however, is Kanye West once posted that he liked the way she thought. 

In the end, the insult to Candace Owens, whether real, or perceived, just proves that when it comes to the MAGA crowd, the only people they hate more than each other are democrats and those labeled RINOS. (Any republican who pushes back ever so slightly against a Trump proposal.) 

So there we have it. Charlie Kirk is now officially a martyr who died for God, America, and Donald J. Trump--although not necessarily in that order. And unlike what Oberfuhrer Miller might say, or think, not everyone to the left of Sean fucking Hannity was in on the hit. However, we already have proof that isn't the way Miller and Donald J. Trump are playing it. 

Would Charlie Kirk approve? As with everything MAGA it probably depends on who you ask. Or who speaks last at the podium.

9-22-25

Free Speech in America Depends on Who You Are and What You Say

The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. In between the finger-pointing there was grieving. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.

Jimmy Kimmel on his show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Okay. That was--I guess--a little insensitive. Although, to be honest, there isn't anything there which celebrates the killing of Charlie Kirk, or even condemns his political beliefs, or speech. (Kirk is on record saying, "Jewish money is ruining U.S. culture." and empathy is a made-up new age term." It's unclear if he said those things before, or after he claimed former President Joe Biden should be imprisoned and/or executed for committing crimes against America.) Kimmel was simply saying Tyler Robinson's craving for political violence mirrored that of many in the MAGA movement. And, rightly, or wrongly, accused Donald Trump of seizing on Kirk's death for political gain. It was, in the end, a matter of opinion. Something Kirk is now being canonized for expressing.

The next day Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Brendan Carr said this, "This is a very, very serious issue for Disney (The owners of ABC.) They have a license granted by us at the FCC and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest." 

It wasn't exactly an, "offer they can't refuse," but the message was crystal clear.

Literally within minutes, Nexstar, a corporation who owns a boat load of ABC affiliates announced their outlets would no longer air Kimmel's show. A message from the company said, among other things, "Kimmel's remarks were offensive and insensitive." What Nexstar didn't say is they are in the middle of a $6.2 billion deal to acquire a rival company, Tegna. The whole thing is dependent on, that's right, FCC approval. 

Hey, Nexstar didn't become the self-proclaimed, "nation's biggest local television and media company," without knowing how to read between the lines. 

Within mere moments of Nexstar's announcement, ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live," for the "foreseeable future." Carr was quick to congratulate both Nexstar and the network for, "doing the right thing." Thus, lowering the collective blood pressure in a couple of different boardrooms.   

When the news reached the grieving Donald Trump, he immediately began dancing his version of the, "Jelly-Belly Jig." He paused just long enough to post, "Great news for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible." Then to make sure we all know where this is headed, the President added, "That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth (Myers) , two total losers on fake news NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT." 

So, in memory of a guy they claim epitomized freedom of speech in America--Kirk once said if  he had a ten-year-old daughter who was raped and became pregnant he would want to deliver the baby and all homosexuals should be executed--Donald Trump and his toadies are doing everything they can to get rid of freedom of speech.

Which, of course, confirms the dark suspicion many hold that for Trump and his outfit freedom of speech exists only as long as they like what they hear.  

Well, we've known for a long-time irony escapes Mr. Trump and his crowd. We've also known they are oblivious to all manner of hypocrisy. And, now we know, ultimately, Jimmy Kimmel was right.

Former District of Columbia police officer, Michael Fanone, who was savagely beaten by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2001, probably said it best last night. He told MSNBC's Chris Hayes, "I think that no American politician has done more to normalize political violence in this country than Donald J. Trump." 

Fortunately, former officer Fanone, can't be cancelled. Trump's Proud Boys already tried, but it didn't work. 

9-18-25

Oops: The Epstein Birthday Note Exists and Donald's Signature Looks Genuine

 Forgive my language, but this story is complete and utter bulls***. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. Where is the letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?

A social media post written by Vice President J.D. Vance in July after the Wall Street Journal first reported the existence of a birthday note from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.

Indeed, where is the letter? The WSJ's initial report described it, but never actually published it. When Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch for about a bazillion bucks the President's lawyers, under oath, swore to the court the letter didn't exist. 

Then yesterday democrats on the House Oversight Committe published this: "HERE IT IS. We got Trump's birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said didn't exist. Trump talks about a 'wonderful secret' the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files." What followed was a shot of the actual note, drawing included, which is signed simply, Donald.

Oops.

It took what amounted to mere minutes for Trump's cadre of fixers, enablers, and toadies to shift gears. They are now ignoring their previous denial that it ever existed to, the signature isn't his. It is a forgery Hey say. Some have even posted his signature online to prove it. There is a major problem with that tactic though. 

If the signature on the note is a forgery, it's a pretty fucking good one. It looks just like everything else the man has signed--his name barely legible, written in a way which resembles the stylus on a seismograph registering an 8.6 earthquake down the street. It is for all practical purposes an exact match to what they've put online. 

That won't stop the Trump people from trotting out all kinds of hand-picked, "experts," who will claim it isn't the same. After all, as Trump knows so well, everyone has a price. However, we can be equally sure the oversight committee, or at least some of them, will call on their own group of analysts. Anyone who has watched fictional courtroom dramas knows it will happen. It will be a duel of handwriting hot shots and their credentials.  

Vance was right about one thing. The text of the message doesn't sound like the Donald Trump we've come to know and loathe. The whole concept of writing a fictional conversation between he and Epstein is beyond him. He doesn't have that sort of imagination. Just because he doesn't, however, doesn't mean the signature isn't his. 

I've always maintained that when Ghislaine Maxwell approached Trump with the request for a birthday book message, he handed it off to someone else to compose--perhaps Maxwell herself. When whoever wrote it was done, Trump took a look at it, then signed it. By doing so he gave his approval of the content, including the drawing of a naked woman's torso. The truth is, given his taste for all things crude, at the time he probably thought it was funny. Although not so much now.

Of course, the oversight committee members didn't get the, "birthday book," from the Department of Justice. They are still doing everything in power to delay the release of those hundreds of thousands of pages the President is so petrified of. The committee did an end run around the DOJ and through subpoenas received it from the estate of the late, unlamented, Jeffrey Epstein. God only knows what else the estate has on hand, but one has to guess the possibilities make Donald Trump squirm more than the prospect of Stormy Daniels dancing in the East Room of the White House.

Not one victim of Jeffrey Epstein who has spoken publicly about her trauma has accused Donald Trump of inappropriate, or criminal behavior. Given his past willingness to throw former associates under a variety of vehicles we can assume Trump's objections to releasing the files have nothing to do with personal loyalty to guilty friends. All of which increases the suspicion there is something there so damning, so God awful, that not even his devoted base will give him a pass on it. And that something is far worse than his signature mimicking pubic hair on the drawing of a nude woman. 

In his latest online fund raising appeal Trump solicited $15 contributions from the rubes who still believe in him. The subject line at the top of the email read, "I want to try to get into Heaven." Well, Don, given what we know and what many of us are currently imagining--thanks to your Epstein obstruction efforts--you might need more help than $15 donations to get inside the gate of that club.

The old adage is that, "confession is good for the soul." As the man with the bruised hands knows, however, it isn't good for your political agenda, or the legacy you are carefully attempting to craft for yourself. Just ask the ghost of Adolf Hitler. He built the German Autobahn system, but he's remembered for other things.

9-9-25

Trying to Keep Up with the Outrages

 Sometimes--okay, practically always--it feels like Donald Trump isn't a president, but rather the leader of a meth fueled biker gang. One that rampages through the streets with flame throwers torching things just because they can. Indeed, the outrages happen so fast and, in such numbers, it is hard to keep up.  

Take for example the case of Nory Sontay Ramos and her mom, Estela Ramos Baten. Years ago Ms. Baten fled Guatemala because her life was being threatened by a powerful gang. She naturally took her daughter with her. They settled in the United States where Nory enrolled in school and by all reports became an excellent student. She also developed into an athlete who once she hit high school ran on the cross country team. Neither have been in any trouble with the law, or immigration authorities.  

Baten had made a bunch of trips to the immigration courts desperately trying to get her status changed, but a final decision was always put off. Then, during her last attempt she was told to return on June 30 of this year with her kid. Nory was gearing up for her senior year in high school and being an honors student, she became suspicious. Hey, she knew what was going on, especially in Southern California. Stephen Miller's personal Gestapo, ICE, was rounding up people left and right. And despite Trump's claim to only go after the worst of the worst criminal element in the immigrant community they were snatching everyone. When she told her mother she was worried, Ms. Baten reassured her kid that everything would be okay, and, "They had to do things the right way."

You know where this is going don't you? Of course you do.

After hours of being stuck in the federal building, the men in black showed up and carted them both to the airport where they were flown to a camp in Texas. Then it was off to Guatemala, the very place Estela had escaped from because her life was in danger. It's a country Nory Ramos, who had been scheduled to attend cross country practice later that day, barely remembers. In fact, she had been in the U.S. so long she doesn't even speak Spanish. There was no hearing, no chance to speak to a lawyer, and neither of them were allowed to make any calls. To make sure of it, both their phones were confiscated. They arrived in Guatemala City with only the clothes on their backs. 

One can only imagine what Stephen Miller's Eastern European Jewish immigrant grandparents are thinking about their descendent now.

Meanwhile, Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. facilitated the firing of Dr. Susan Monarez--head of the CDC--because she wouldn't sign off on his proposed Covid vaccine restrictions. Other CDC senior officials resigned in protest over the firing. In addition, over 1,000 former and current employees of the Health and Human Services Department sent a letter to Kennedy and members of congress saying the Secretary was putting the nation's health at risk and demanding he resign. A Kennedy spokesperson responded to the letter with a statement which said, in part, "Secretary Kennedy has been clear; the CDC has been broken for a long time. Restoring it to the world's most trusted guardian of public health will take sustained reform and more personnel changes."

Kennedy, of course, has the job because Trump felt like he had to reward that sizable part of his base who are convinced all vaccines are a commie plot to poison true Americans.  While not completely an anti-vaxxer--it depends on who asks him--Kennedy is the closest thing to one they'll ever get.  

The Secretary, who has claimed his use of heroine improved his school grades and once dumped a dead bear cub in the middle of Central Park in NYC has been described by democratic strategist, James Carville this way. "There is," Carville said, "somethin' wrong with that boy."

Then we have a quick flashback to PragerU's America First Test for teachers who are new to Oklahoma. One which slipped under the radar in the last post read, "What cause is Martin Luther King Jr. best known for?" (Notice it didn't say, Dr. Martin Luther King.) The correct answer according to PragerU is, "Advocating for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion."  (DEI) That's right, one of the 20th century's greatest civil rights icons--a strict adherent to the philosophy of non-violent civil disobedience to achieve the ideals set out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution--a Nobel Peace Prize winner--is best known for supporting a buzz phrase which wasn't coined until decades after his murder.    

Those of us who were alive back in those days tend to remember Dr. King for a tad more than advocating for DEI. However, you have to hand it to that right wing indoctrination machine, PragerU. They do know how to trivialize the monumental. 

Finally, we get to the El Supremo himself, Donald Trump. Tuesday and yesterday a small portion of Jeffrey Epstein's victims told members of congress and the media about the horrors of Epstein's depraved abuse and how Ghislaine Maxwell had not only abetted him, but at times joined in. Most of the women who spoke yesterday weren't even 15 years old when their nightmares began. All of them demanded that Donald Trump's Department of Justice release the entire Epstein file immediately. They weren't the only ones. Trump loyalists like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene agreed with them. Ultra right Congresswoman, Nancy Mace was so disturbed by their testimony left the hearing in tears. 

When asked about Epstein in the Oval Office Trump said the scandal is a, "...democrat hoax that never ends." He went on to tell reporters, "They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success we've had as a nation since I've been President."  

None of the women who spoke to the press and Congress have ever accused Donald Trump of committing crimes against them. In fact, one told Lawrence O'Donnell she voted for him last November in part because she believed he would do what he said he would do. One of those things was release the file. 

No one knows, except perhaps for Pam Bondi and Trump himself, how many times his name is mentioned in the files, or in what context. We can be absolutely sure though, there is something in them he desperately doesn't want the public to see. And that's no hoax.

It us, however, most certainly the current American Leader, Donald John Trump. 

9-4-25

PragerU's 34 Questions

 Attention all you woke teachers from California and New York who are trying to sneak into Oklahoma to subvert the minds of the state's young students. (One report claims there are at least five a year from California alone.) The America First Test prepared by public school Superintendent Ryan Walters and PragerU is either done, or almost done. PragerU just released their part, 34 questions, which leaves 16 still unidentified. Presumably those 16 were left for the Superintendent himself to formulate. It's unclear at this time if he has done so, or not. Perhaps they're ready to go and are currently sitting on his desk next to his TV remote control.

Many of the PragerU questions seem innocuous enough. Question 10 asks, "What are the two parts of the United States Congress? Question 11, How many total U.S. Senators are there? Number 21, When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? This is stuff any 7th, or 8th grade civics student should have down pat. Okay, except in Oklahoma where, under Walters' leadership, the public education system has sunk to 50th in the nation. 

Other questions seem a bit idealistic in nature given who is currently in the Oval Office. Number 19 asks, What is the supreme law of the United States? The correct answer is the Constitution, although Donald Trump might disagree. Number 34 is, From whom does the United States government derive its power? According to the test the answer is, the people. Again, they might want to check with Donnie Trump on that. 

The first question actually appears tougher than it really is. First the entire test is multiple choice and second, if you know even a little bit about Ryan Walters you know what he wants to hear. . Question one reads, According to the Supreme Court cases, Meyer v Nebraska (1923) Pierce v Society of Sisters (1925) who has the ultimate right to direct a child's education? The correct answer is the parents. The problem being there are a whole lot of MAGA parents out there who don't give a rat's ass about their children's education. Not to mention a huge bunch who are more concerned their kids might learn something they don't want them to--evolution comes to mind as does a true history of the institution of slavery. However, one supposes that's the point of the question. That's right pal. Just remember a jury of parents found John Scopes guilty and he had Clarence by God Darrow as his attorney.    

Then there is question 9 which seems a little odd given the Superintendent's painfully obvious beliefs. It asks, "Why is freedom of religion important to America's identity? The answer Prager is looking for is, it protects religious choice from government control. Really Mr. Superintendent? is that why you have mandated that every Oklahoma classroom have at least one copy of the King James Version of the Christian bible on hand? (His original plan to have the Lee Greenwood-Donald Trump version was thwarted.)  Is it why you insist teachers stress America was founded on New and Old Testament principles instead of the tenets of the enlightenment? 

Hell, Ryan, none of the first three presidents (another question.) were your sort of Christian. Washington was a deist who refused to take Anglican communion. Adams was a Unitarian who didn't believe in the holy trinity. And Jefferson, when he wasn't knocking up his slave, Sally Hemings, was writing letters praising those who doubted the presence of a divine Creator in the earthly affairs of mankind.

Finally, there are questions 2 though 7. What are the fundamental biological differences between male and female? How is a child's biological sex identified? (Pedos everywhere, rejoice! The answer is visual anatomical observation.) Which chromosome pair identifies the biological sex in humans? Why is the distinction between male and female considered important in areas like sports and privacy? Should teachers be allowed to express their own political viewpoints in the classroom to persuade the students to adopt their point of view? What did the Supreme Court rule in the 2025 case Mahmoud v Taylor? Then answer to that last one you can't teach anything about the LGBTQ community without allowing parents to pull their kids from the lesson if they want to. 

Has anyone else seen the most obvious flaw in this attempt to cement the MAGA hold on Oklahoma's public education system? Here is a hint. When you give a test, you don't tell the people who have to take it the fucking questions and answers in advance. It pretty much defeats the definition of the word, test.

Well, no one ever said there are geniuses running this place. And now, thanks to PragerU and Ryan Walters, we just proved it. 

9-1-25

American Exceptionalism Strikes in Minneapolis

We've all seen it too many times before. The disaffected loner consumed with hate, obsessed with firearms, and death finally boils over and commits an unspeakable crime against children who had nothing to do with his, or her miserable life. While it happens in other nations on rare occasions, in America it has become a tragic routine--a gruesome example of, American Exceptionalism.

This exceptionalism reared its horrific head again yesterday in Minneapolis, MN. Yes, another under the radar, lone wolf killer ran amok. As students aged pre K to 8th grade knelt in prayer at Annunciation Church, located next to their school which bears the same name, a lunatic opened fire through the windows. Two students were killed, 20 others, mostly students were wounded. The shooter then blew his, or in this case, her own diseased brain out in the parking lot.   

Robin (nee Robert) Westman identified as a female and at age 17, applied to a court to legally change her name. Her mother signed off on the request and it was granted. It is unclear if, besides the name change, ever took any other steps to facilitate the transition from male to female. Photos and videos of her don't appear to show any physical changes in her body. In addition, she retained a couple of traits usually reserved for young men who wallow in self-pity and anger. There was an all-consuming obsession with guns and a dark fascination with the perpetrators of mass shootings. She also had grown to hate--a lot. 

Some are pointing to her antisemitic rants, but the truth is she hated practically everybody. On that lengthy list were Jews, Catholics, African Americans, Donald J. Trump and others. Most of all it appears she hated herself. Yesterday, not long before opening fire in Minneapolis she published a string of videos on You Tube which highlighted her hate, not to mention her insanity. (One video is of her doing nothing but silently reading the manual that came with one of her weapons.)

Another featured her cache of guns, knives and ammunition. She had taken the time to write messages on some of the guns and many of the ammo magazines. One read, "Kill Trump," another, "six Million wasn't enough." On the barrel of one weapon was the name, "Brevik," which referred to Anders Brevik, the Norwegian mass murderer who killed 77 people in 2011. Another message on an ammo magazine read, "Where is your God now?" Then there was one, which pretty much summed up the nightmare at Annunciation Church yesterday. Westman wrote on the clip, "Well, you were here."

Never ones to miss an opportunity to attack the gay and trans community some on the far right immediately began posting on social media. Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote, in part, "If they are willing to destroy themselves and how God made them then they are willing to destroy others, and we saw that today." Benny Johnson, a MAGA influencer with nearly 4 million followers on X posted, "One thing is VERY clear: the trans movement is radicalizing the mentally ill into becoming violent terrorists who target children for murder." 

Another ultra conservative pundit, Toni Lahren wrote, "To all those on the left and right who support red flag laws, would you concede transgender dysphoria is a red flag?" Then came my favorite, Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk posted, "If you are crazy enough to want to hormonally and surgically change your sex you have a mental disorder, and you are too crazy to own a firearm."

That's right America, while Robin Westman will always remain a a despicably cruel child killer, she accomplished something no grief-stricken parent of a murdered baby, or screaming liberal politician has ever been able to do. She has convinced some segments of the MAGA army that there is, in fact, a slice of the American population that, should never be allowed to buy and own a gun.   

Of course, we can presume those clowns are still fine with people like Adam Lanza, Dylann Roof, Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, and other equally infamous mass killers who aren't trans to own as many as they want. However, any crack in that red, pro-gun, wall, no matter how small, is worth noting. 

Hey, who knew that for some on the right edge, over the top homophobia trumps the previously sacrosanct second amendment? 

That doesn't mean they'll do anything about it though. We never do. It's why these horror shows keep happening over and over again. Yes, it is the severely deranged among us who commit these outrages. But it's our unwillingness to regulate guns, any type of guns, which enables them.   

And, until we do, there aren't enough National Guard troops, in the country to stop it or even slow it down.

8-28-25

Ryan Walters' Test and the PragerU Factor

 Meanwhile, back in Oklahoma the Superintendent of Public Schools, Ryan Walters says his, "America First," test for prospective teachers arriving from California and New York will be released to the public, "soon." The test has been prepared presumably by Walters and his staff in partnership with an outfit called PragerU. The test is 50 questions long and has been described by some as a MAGA loyalty test. Walters doesn't go that far, at least not publicly, but does say it is designed to make sure Oklahoma schools aren't infiltrated by a bunch of radical left subversives hell bent on destroying America by teaching kids to hate the nation and, if they're white, themselves.  According to Walters if teachers from either state want to work here they have to get all 50 answers correct. He is a little fuzzy on who will do the grading, but one can probably assume there won't be any democrats involved in the process. Maybe the PragerU people will handle it. After all, Walters is quite proud of the collaboration, he brags about it every time he mentions the test. 

Which, of course, begs the question those of us unfamiliar with all this anti woke rigamarole should ask. What the fuck is PragerU?

Well, among other things, despite its somewhat misleading name, it isn't a university at all. It doesn't offer any online classes per se, it doesn't award any degrees, and it certainly doesn't have a campus. It was founded in 2009 by former right wing radio host Dennis Prager and radio producer and script writer, Allen Estin. Neither of them have any background in education, but both are well versed in over the edge right wing politics. 

PragerU is listed as a non-profit and is financed almost exclusively through private donations.  Wikipedia reports the biggest donor is the Linde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and prior to his death, Sheldon Adelson, who used to privately grill GOP presidential candidates to see if they were worthy of his huge contributions. Billionaire brothers Dan and Ferris Wilks--who made their cash manufacturing hydraulic fracturing equipment--are also major contributors and both of them sit on the board of directors. 

 TheU's chief products are child friendly cartoon videos showcasing the far right's version of history, politics, culture, and the climate. Wikipedia explains the videos contain, "misleading and factually inaccurate information," while promoting creationism and climate change denial. The videos are also accused of glossing over the history of the European colonization of the Americas, slavery and racism both current and during the past in the United States. As you can probably guess some of the videos are virulently anti LGBTQ in nature. (Which explains the questions regarding gender identification on Falterers' test.) As of 2023 Prager's You Tube channel contained 2,200 videos which cost anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000 each to make. 

Obviously, there is a lot of money being shoveled into PragerU by some really, really rich people. People who think the United States is a great place, but only so long as they're running it. 

Many of the toons are narrated by various right-wing luminaries such as, Tucker Carlson, Nigel Farage--even though he is a Brit--Michelle Malkin, Ben Shapiro, and Candace Owens among others. One of the videos featuring Owens was so incendiary and false--at one point she claimed trans people are schizophrenics--Face Book labeled it, "hate speech," and removed it from the site. You Tube found the climate denial videos so misleading and outright wrong they started adding fact checking messages to them. In all You Tube restricted the viewing of 21 PragerU productions. The U sued the site claiming censorship, but two courts threw the litigation out. 

No wonder Ryan Walters likes them so much. They're his kind of people.

For those wondering, the top 10 public education systems in the United States are, 1. Massachusetts, 2. New York, 3. New Jersey, 4. Washington, 5. Pennsylvania, 6. Vermont, 7. Minnesota, 8. Connecticut, 9. Virginia, 10. Wisconsin.  

Notice anything there. How about every one of those states are either blue, or purple. There isn't one ruby red republican stronghold listed among the bunch. The same ranking shows California at 37th, which is still 13 spots ahead of Oklahoma. 

That's right, under Ryan Walters' stewardship the Oklahoma public education system has sunk to 50th in the survey. Maybe that's because, unlike those other states, Walters and PragerU are far more concerned with the politics of teachers rather than their actual qualifications. 

Hey, it has to be something, right?

8-21-25

Shopping for King Crab in Anchorage and Not Much Else

 Is it piling on to remind everyone that last fall Donald Trump promised us all he would end the war in Ukraine in a single day and now, just shy of seven months into his term, there is still no end in sight? After all, to be fair, Trump said he could end it in a day, but he never said which day. It is a detail so stunningly simple it is surprising the man hasn't brought it up himself. I mean it does sound like the sort of cheap-jack excuse either he, or one of his staff of toadies would come up with. 

A couple of days ago the American President met with Russian strongman, Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, AK to hash out the details of a Ukrainian peace plan. Just to make sure there weren't any impediments to a potential, "peace in our time," deal the Ukrainians weren't invited. (Hey, ever since the Russians invaded, they've been an unreasonably hysterical bunch, especially their President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.)  

The meeting was originally scheduled to be a one on one between the two leaders. At the last minute, literally, it was announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio, real estate dealer, turned special enjoy, Steve Witkoff, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent would sit in. Some of Putin's people would also be present. The change went unexplained, although in the week leading up to the summit there had been a great deal of trepidation on the American side that Mr. Trump would emerge from a one on one with Putin wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. 

Thankfully a public depantsing didn't occur. In fact, on the surface at least, nothing happened. No agreements were reached, no ceasefire was declared (To prove it, the Russians launched a few missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets while both men were enroute to Anchorage.) and no land swaps were proposed. In truth, the whole thing was a waste of time and money. Apparently, nothing was said that couldn't have been said over the phone. Who knows though? Maybe some good came out of the trip. During the negotiations perhaps a few low-level aides from both sides made runs to a local market to score some Alaskan king Crab for the rides home. 

Obviously, last Friday wasn't The Day Donald Trump decided to end the war. It became just the latest in an ever growing number of days he hasn't.

Others, however, have pointed out one man did accomplish something. His name was Vladimir Putin. Despite the not surprising lack of progress, the Russian imperialist kleptocrat landed at an American military base. Then he was greeted on a red carpet by the supposed, "leader of the free world," with a hearty handshake, and was able to tool around in Trump's armored limo, smiling and waving to onlookers. In many other countries he would have been immediately arrested and dumped in the local clink to await trial for crimes against humanity. One can only imagine how that tape will play on Russian TV, not to mention in NATO capitals from Ottawa to Warsaw. 

In addition, he was able to return home, knowing both his public and military understand he faced down the American President without making a single concession. He, Vladimir Putin, exuded strength while Donald Trump, the President of the United States was left mumbling, "There isn't a deal until there is a deal." On Saturday, during The Daily Beast podcast Trump biographer, Michael Wolff put it this way, "This is, you know, really, really a loss for Trump and potentially a loss for Ukraine." He summed up the meeting this way, "Trump got fucked."

Both Putin and Trump made brief statements after the summit, neither saying much. The President did give an interview later in the day to FOX News guy, Sean Hannity--probably the only, "journalist," he could trust not to ask him something along the lines of, What the hell were you thinking, you stupid son of a bitch? During the chat, Trump said, in part, "Now it is really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done." 

In other words, That's right, Mr. Roosevelt, the Japanese just sunk the American Pacific Fleet at Pear Harbor and invaded the Philippines, but don't dwell on your losses. Get over it. Call the Emperor and make peace. If you do they promise not to occupy Venice Beach.

Now that's the Donald Trump we know and loathe so much. It's also the Donald Trump, Vlad Putin has counted on time and time again. 

8-17-25

The Great Escape From Texas

 A few weeks ago, on July 21st, KWTX a television outlet in Waco, TX reported the special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abott was beginning over in Austin. The online report noted the session's agenda included items not taken care off during the regular session. They included things like cannabis regulations and a student testing program. The most important item however concerned the flooding recently experienced in central Texas which killed over a hundred people, many of them children. Included were improvements to flood warning systems and emergency communications. Funding for relief aid to the victims of the July flooding was also on the table. The outlet said that state legislators wore green that first day in remembrance of those lost during the disaster.

Notice anything missing from the menu of that soon to be contentious get together? How about redrawing the entire state's congressional district map in a way that will deal the republican party a sure-fire hand to win an additional five seats in the 2026 elections.

Yes, it seems at some point either immediately before, or just after the special session began, Donald Trump made a phone call to Governor Abott and others. He had come up with a bright idea to help preserve republican control of the House next year. (Actually, it was probably someone else who came up with the idea, Trump himself is incapable of bright ideas.)

 In other words, fuck all that disaster preparedness and humanitarian shit. The Mango Mussolini had told them to jump on his behalf and the only question asked by Texas republicans was, "How high, boss?"

Currently republicans hold a seven seat majority in the house. It could be down to five by the year's end. .There are two vacant seats which were held by democrats who are now deceased. The vacancies will be filled by special elections later this year. Given what normally happens in mid-term congressional elections--the political party holding the White House usually loses seats even when things are going well--Trump can't count on the electorate. He has to pull the puppet strings in order to gerrymander the living daylights out of a place like Texas, which has 13 democratic members of congress out of a total of 38.

Now, instead of flood relief, Greg Abott and the rest of Trump's merry pranksters in Texas are screeching about the 50, or so democratic legislators who have fled the state in order to stop Trump's power grab by denying the legislature a quorum. In fact, to put it as mildly as possible, Abott and his pals have gone ape shit crazy over the walk out.

Democratic legislators are being fined $500 for every day they are gone. (Most took it on the lam to Illinois, while others are hunkered down in New York and Massachusetts.) Abott has threatened them with arrest, going so far as claim he has State Troopers out hunting them down. He is also threatening to remove them from the legislature, although to do so he needs the State Supreme Court's help. In addition, Texas, U.S. Senator John Cornyn called up the Director of the FBI, Kash Patel and asked him to use his agents to track the missing democrats down. One report says Patel agreed even though there is no evidence of any federal crime being committed. Of course, in this administration things like the law are considered nothing more than mere inconveniences. Patel probably just asked himself, "What would Donald do?" Or, more likely, "What does Donald want me to do?" 

In the end this is a battle Trump will win. Texas law says special legislative sessions can last only 30 days. Democrats promised to return to the state when the 30 days are up. However, Texas law doesn't limit the number of special sessions the Governor can call. Abott has already promised to simply call another one as soon as everybody is back in town. And he'll keep doing it until the Big Man gets his way. 

In Texas anyway.

In other states the lunacy might go a little differently. California Governor, Gavin Newsom says if Trump is successful pulling off this cold-blooded manipulation he and his state will respond, by making sure they add the same number of democratic seats republicans stole in Texas. There have been rumblings in Illinois and New York of doing the same thing. In short, the nation is on the brink of a gerrymandering war. 

Well why not? After all, it's just the voters everyone is taking about. It isn't like they're screwing with the victims of natural disasters. 

You know, like the ones in Texas.

8-10-25

God Emailed Gene Bicknell and Told Him to Pay a Lot for His Sins

 Gene Bicknell is by all accounts a deeply religious man--a genuine born again, fundamentalist Christian. He is, or at least was, a really rich guy. Unlike many these days he actually did start on the economic ground floor and then worked his way up. Gene Bicknell was born in Picher, Oklahoma, but his family moved to southeast Kansas--a short trip from Picher--when he was young. According to his bio he worked his way through what is now, Pittsburg State University in his adopted hometown.  Depending on the source he either sold insurance locally or was a s sales rep for a couple of national concerns. What everyone can agree on is in 1962 Bicknell opened his first Pizza Hut franchise in Pittsburg. 

It was the first of many. By 2006 he was the largest franchisee in the chain owning close to 800 stores spread across 26 states. In the same year he sold them all to Merrill Lynch and Associates for what has been reported to be $615 million. 

Brother Bicknell had other interests besides tossing pizza dough. He wrote TV screen plays, did some part time local radio and TV sportscasting, and even scored a few acting gigs. (In 1979 he played a rival gang member in Walter Hill's, "The Warriors.") He also became involved in politics. He ran for Governor of Kansas twice, although both times he lost in republican primaries. In addition, he owned a plastic container manufacturing firm and an entertainment venue in Branson, MO known as the Mansion Theater. The company that was created to run the theater was called, Mansion Entertainment Group. Mr. Bicknell hired Larry K. Wilhite, a flockless pastor, to lead the group.

Then things began to go sideways.

Sometime during, or before 2022 Wilhite hooked up with Richard, call me Rick, Silanskas and Stephen Hedrick.  Silanskas had been involved in three failed amusement/entertainment proposals in the past. Two were in the Ft. Worth, TX area and one in Muscle Shoals, AL. Hedrick, was a former design executive for Disney who one supposes was slated to be the head, "Imagineer." When things got rolling, however, he ended up being the group's front man.    

In 2022 the three of them began to hit up Gene Bicknell for money--lots and lots of money--to finance a sure fire success. It would be called American Heartland Theme Park and Resort, a $2 plus billion adventure in capitalism at its most daring. They told the aging Bicknell, who at the time was 90 or so, and anyone else who would listen the planned venue would be a world class destination rivaling anything the Disney people had built. They also insisted, at least to Gene Bicknell, the project was not just divinely inspired but had been enthusiastically endorsed by the Lord God Almighty. Bicknell, who despite his riches didn't have anywhere near $2 billion, took the bait.

By 2023 Hedrick, accompanied by Vinita's Mayor and other dignitaries announced to the world the construction of American Heartland would begin soon, and the park would be open for business in 2026. As proof they pointed to a chunk of land which had been purchased that was now fenced in and accessed by a recently built gravel road, presumably for construction vehicles. 

Over the next year Hedrick, Wilhite, and Silankas kept running to Bicknell for money. When he seemed reluctant, they went to places not even Nigerian internet grifters would dare go. Bicknell began receiving emails and texts from someone who claimed to be, "Sister Catherine." She told him in no uncertain terms God in heaven had decreed the park should be finished. Bicknell also got messages from a, "medium," saying in her visions the Lord had advised her the same thing. 

You know where this is going, don't you. Finally, God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen, began directly messaging Gene Bicknell via electronic devices. One such message is reported to have said, "This mission will not tolerate anything but ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE and ABSOLUTE CLIFF-DIVING FAITH FROM THE HIGHEST MOUNT ABOVE THE SEA. NOW LISTEN. I AM INSTRUCTING YOU TO EMPTY THE WAREHOUSES AND ACCELERATE THIS MISSION WITHOUT DELAY. TRUST THEM COMPLETELY AND AVOID INSERTING DISTRACTIONS OR DOUBTFUL QUESTIONS."

That's some pretty heavy Old Testament shit for a 90 year old guy who is trying to repent for his sins. Sins like acting in an 80's slasher flick which featured a college aged girl getting her head cut off while she is--yes--giving head.  (Hey, we all have a past.) 

Needless to say, the whole scam is falling apart now. As of this year the park remains an empty plot of land. The only construction that has ever taken place is that fence and the gravel road. Bicknell, probably thanks to his family, recently filed suit in federal court seeking $60 million from his three, "partners." (At one point God had instructed him to give Hedrick, Wilhite, and Silankas complete control of the park if it ever did get built.) The suit includes allegations that while Wilhite and Silankas were forging the name of the Lord on divine messages, at the same time they were forging Bicknell's signature on checks and other paperwork.  

It's doubtful Gene Bicknell will ever see a dime of that money. If those tens of millions he kicked in haven't been spent already--large portions of it paid the salaries of the three guys who supposedly were running the project--it is probably sitting in some offshore bank. Besides,a lawsuit like this can take years and it has been reported that last year, Gene Bicknell suffered a, "crippling," stroke. Combine his age with his health and it's a safe bet he doesn't have a long time left.

The Tulsa World reports Hedrick and Wilhite have left the project--possibly for an extended trip to the Cayman Islands. Meanwhile there was no word on the whereabouts of Rick Silankas. The World recently received an email purportedly from Hedrick saying that currently millions are owed to design consultants and architects who have worked on the park's plans. 

If true, that revelation proves really only one thing. When you're running a con this big you have to go all the way.  

Well, that and there are a lot more suckers than just one born every minute.

Sic Vita Est

8-5-25

Ryan Walters Redux: Vintage Porn, Conspiracies, and a Possible Opportunity

 Late last week all hell broke loose after the State Board of Education met in an executive session. The meeting was held in Superintendent Ryan Walters' office. During the private session, which included among other things, discussing the revocation of teaching certificates for inappropriate conduct, board members, Becky Carson and Ryan Deatherage claim they witnessed nude women cavorting on a television located there. Carson demanded that the Superintendent, "Turn it off!" Deatherage noted that the people on the screen who were clothed appeared to be wearing fashions out the 1960's. (One of them had a hat on, "similar to the one worn on the old sitcom, "Gilligan's Island.") Walters, after fumbling around with the remote control for a painful moment, finally cut the TV off. Other members, who claimed they couldn't see the images, said in the immediate aftermath Walters appeared, "Shook up" and "flustered." '

This past Tuesday Walters held a press conference in front of the Governor's office in the capitol building. (No doubt because in conspiratorial demagoguery, like real estate, location is everything.) He told the media, in part, "These board members have a lot to answer for--and so does the Governor of the state of Oklahoma. Did he direct these board members to lie about me? Did he direct them to go in and disrupt everything in these board meetings? What exactly were they told to do?"   

Indeed, what were they told to do by the Governor? According to Ryan Deatherage he hasn't spoken to Governor Kevin Stitt in about two years. In other words, Stitt hadn't told him anything. Carson has also denied receiving instructions from the Governor. Undeterred by facts, Walters took a trip further into the deep end when he claimed the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office, who is investigating the incident, had already exonerated him. The next day, during an interview on the local CBS affiliate Sheriff Tommie Johnson was asked if Walters had actually been exonerated. His answer was a simple, "No." He went on to say his department had just begun its investigation and anyone suggesting the inquiry could be wrapped it up in a single day was insulting both the process and the team looking into it. 

Oops.

Back in front of the Governor's office Walters finished with, "We will continue to make sure these board members are held accountable. They should resign immediately in disgrace for the lies they told. We should get back to work for the people of Oklahoma." 

Well, God knows we need it. Walters has been in office for two plus years and the state now ranks 50th in public education. Only New Mexico is below Oklahoma. (The District of Columbia was included in the survey.) That means the state even ranks behind Mississippi, which until the Walters' Wild West and Magic Act showed up, didn't seem possible.

Blaming board members, the Governor, and the press--yes, he claimed the media was also in on the plot to, "subvert the will of Oklahoma voters," is so Trumpian in nature we should have expected it. However, the accusation that these people--republicans all--just made this shit up to get rid of him might serve another purpose.

Earlier in the week Walters announced the state would, "partner," with American Virtual Academy, an Arizona based online school. According to Walters the, "Academy is focused on bringing, patriotism and American values into education." What Walters failed to say is American Virtual Academy is also focused on making its founder and CEO, Damien Creamer a boat load of money. According to one report in the Oklahoman, since 2015 Creamer has raked in $24 million in personal salary paid in full by the taxpayers of Arizona.   

When someone sitting in on the announcement asked about the school's stunning lack of academic success, Walters claimed the media had it confused with another online Arizona school which had run so afoul of educational authorities in Arizona they lost their charter. He was talking about what was called Primavera Online School. Before losing their charter only 9% of their students tested proficient in math, as compared to 32% of the students in the rest of the state. 

For those who haven't figured it out yet, a Phoenix media outlet reports Primavera Online School and American Virtual Academy are the same thing, run by the same guy, Damien Creamer. Apparently, those American values don't include figuring out the answer to 2 plus 2. But hey, Ryan Walters assured everyone there the state of Oklahoma would advise parents how to qualify for financial assistance if they want to enroll their kids into this latest adventure in private education. As the Superintendent said, "Oklahoma is the friendliest school choice state in the nation."

Yeah, and look where that got us, Ryan.

When asked the Superintendent was proud to inform the audience that he alone had worked out this deal. He didn't need help from the board--you know, the people who are supposed to have a say in such things. For the record, no one has said it yet and I'm not saying it now, but it is certainly a possibility Mr. Walters didn't want the board involved for reasons that are, shall we say, a tad shady. Let's face it, no one, except perhaps for Ryan Walters himself, can deny it appears that opportunity is there. Especially when you consider the shaky record of American Virtual Academy and its founder. 

In an op-ed piece for the Oklahoman, Christy Taylor wrote, "Instead of focusing on educational outcomes, Walters prioritizes culture war theatrics, mandating bible instruction, adding 2020 election denial language into curriculum, and threatening teachers from other states--all while using state money for national news appearances to boost his political profile. " She summed it up succinctly, "It's clear Ryan Walters is unfit to lead our schools."

Amen to that, Sister.

8-1-25

Ryan Walters Forgets to Change the Channel

After a while all the talk, rumors, and speculation about Donald Trump's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein becomes exhausting. It is rather like that dream during which you are trying to get somewhere, but your feet keep sinking into the carpet, or sidewalk and each step is a monumental struggle. Indeed--let's take a break from the alleged salacious behavior of the rich, famous, and powerful to focus on something else for a moment. 

That's right. Let's look into the alleged salacious behavior of that wannabe rich, famous, and powerful apostle of Donald Trump, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Schools, Ryan Walters. There is now evidence the same man who has mandated that every classroom in Oklahoma have at least one bible in it--the man who ordered every state student and faculty member to either pray with him, or watch him pray on video, has a taste for watching what he, himself would classify as pornography. And not in the privacy of his own home, but rather in his state funded office while serving the people of Oklahoma, Donald J. Trump, and Jesus Christ, although, not necessarily in that order.

This past week members of the State Board of Education, chaired by Walters, met in what is known as an, "Executive Session." (It is a meeting where they decide things in private--no press, or public allowed--before they go out and pretend to decide the same things in public.) The meeting was held in Walters' office which apparently is spacious enough to seat everyone involved. One of the furnishings in the office is a television. As the meeting began the TV was on, but muted. Board members, Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson had perfect views of the screen, which was to Walters' back, while others in the room didn't.

As the meeting progressed, both Deatherage and Carson told the media they saw naked women on the television. Although neither of them described in detail what the naked women were doing, Carson was quoted as saying in part, "I'm sorry I even have to use this language, but I'm like, those are nipples. And then I'm like, that's pubic hair." Deatherage, apparently, an amateur historian of such things, was quoted as saying, "It looked like it was made in the '60s maybe. Carson said she used her sternest mother/teacher voice to demand Walters, "Turn it off now!"

At that point Walters got up and in what seemed to be a flash of panic fumbled around for a moment or two (It always happens at the worst of times doesn't it?) before finding the off button. Board member Chris Van Denhende told The Oklahoman that while he couldn't see the screen when Walters sat back down he was, "shook up." Another member Mike Tinney also claimed he didn't see the screen, but said that after Walters turned off the TV he was, "Obviously a little flustered, or embarrassed."

According to everyone involved, after what we can presume was an awkward pause, the meeting then proceeded as if nothing had happened. In other words, it was another case of, "Nothing to see here, move on." On the agenda that day was Walters' planned test for licensing teachers coming in from other states which ensures they are, let's say, unwoke and loyal to the Donald Trump dogma of, "America first." 

So far Ryan Walters hasn't issued a statement. However, his mouthpiece, Quinton Hitchcock called the story, "..a junk tabloid lie." He added, "Any number of people have access to these offices, you have a hostile board who will say anything except the truth, and now NonsenseDoc is reporting on an alleged random TV cable image." 

In short, the whole thing is a conspiracy. How wonderfully Trumpian. 

State legislators are currently lining up to demand an investigation which includes the seizure of any and all electronic devices in Walters' office. Many on both sides of the aisle have waited for years to bring down what they consider a self-righteous, extravagantly arrogant, pompous asshole. Because, in the end, Ryan Walters is the local incarnation of Matt Gaetz--a man so personally reprehensible, everyone, no matter what their politics, hates his guts.

The chances of Ryan Walters resigning from his office over this incident are zero. His ego won't allow it. In fact, right now he is probably convincing himself the whole thing is a conspiracy. And no matter how much legislators despise him, it's doubtful they'll impeach the guy. What will more likely happen is Walters' days of running roughshod over the board are finished. From now on they and not the Superintendent determine policy take the decisions. In addition, that run for Governor Walters was planning on next year could well be in jeopardy. Even Oklahoma republicans have limits to their hypocrisy. At least we hope they do.

Otherwise, this sordid little moment did accomplish one thing. It validated my firm belief that deep within every one of these high profile hyper-fundamentalist Christian political Kahunas dwells the soul of a dirty old man. And sometimes all you have to do to find it is wait for the silly sons of bitches to forget to change the channel. 

7-27-25

Banquo Takes a Seat at Donald Trump's Table

 Six days ago it was predicted here that by this weekend we would all be talking about something other than Jeffrery Epstein. Obviously, that was a bad call. Not only is everyone still talking about this increasingly sordid episode, but Donald J. Trump is promising to sue the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch for billions of dollars because of it. (Which is, as someone might have pointed out to El Don, is not the best way to get everyone to stop talking about the Jeff Epstein files.)

According to the Journal in 2003 Epstein's girlfriend and fresh talent recruiter, Ghislaine Maxwell asked a bunch of his pals to send him greetings and congratulations on his 50th birthday. She collected all the responses and put them into a leather bound scrapbook. Donald Trump's alleged contribution to the collection opened with, "There must be more to life than having everything." Then it wandered off into a fictional conversation between Trump and Epstein with Trump saying, "Yes there is, but I won't tell you what it is." Epstein responds, "Nor will I, since I know what it is." Trump's next line is, "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey." Epstein answers, "Yes, we do, come to think of it." Then Trump adds, "Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Epstein's answer is, "As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you." The note ended with Trump writing, "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday--and may every day be another wonderful secret." The WSJ reports this text was framed by a hand drawn outline of an anatomically correct female torso. It was signed, "Donald," where the pubic hair should be. 

Almost at the same instant the Journal piece hit the internet a quote by Trump given during a 2002 interview with New York magazine became public. At that time Citizen Trump said of his friend, " I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said he likes beautiful women as much as I do and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it--Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

Adding insult to injury a couple of days before the WSJ story appeared Trump caught wind of it and called his old pal, Rupert Murdoch, asking him to kill it. The President now claims Murdoch agreed to, but the publication ran it anyway--which leads us to one of two conclusions. Either the most powerful media mogul in the world can't control his own staff, or Rupe Murdoch flat out lied to Donald Trump. Personally, I prefer the latter, it appeals to my appreciation of irony.  

Suffice it to say, our man in the Oval Office went ape shit crazy. So much so it appeared he tripped off into full blown dementia. In Pittsburgh Trump claimed his late uncle, John Trump, who was a long time professor at MIT, told him a story about having Ted Kaczynski as a student. The problem being, Kaczynski, who is better known as, "the Unabomber," was never enrolled at MIT. In addition, dear old Uncle John died before Kaczynski was even identified and caught. Mr. Trump also claimed Joe Biden appointed his arch enemy du jour, Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell. Scads of media outlets showed that clip, then gleefully followed it with one of Donald Trump, "...proudly introducing my nominee for Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell." 

Donald Trump vehemently denies he wrote the birthday note to that, "terrific guy," Jeffrey Epstein. In an interview he said, "This is not me. This is a fake thing." A moment later he added, "I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It is not my language. It's not my words."

While we have stone cold proof Donald Trump is a crudely obscene man and a sexual predator, when it comes to the Epstein birthday note, I actually believe him. That whole fantasy conversation between Trump and Epstein requires an imagination, not to mention literary knowledge and talent far beyond anything demonstrated by Donald Trump in the past, or present. (For God's sake, the guy said, "I never wrote a picture...") That, however, doesn't mean he didn't see it, approve it, and personally sign it. 

What probably happened is Trump got a call, or email from Maxwell, then handed off the job of composing it to someone else--maybe even Maxwell herself--then read and signed the final product. Whether the artwork was his or not really doesn't matter. Why not? While Donald Trump has denied writing the note, he has never said he didn't see it or sign it. 

Whatever the case, the issue, which Trump is desperate to get rid of now has new legs. We have the  hard core conspiracy wing of MAGA, the Wall Street Journal, and Trump's pending lawsuit to thank for it. Indeed, this story is becoming oddly Shakespearian in a way. In it, Jeffrey Epstein has become to Trump what Banquo was to Macbeth. The former friend turned terrifying ghost who is now seated at the banquet table. 

7-20-25

The Week the Monster Turned on Its Creators

 As Victor Frankenstein learned in Mary Shelley's novel, sometimes you lose control of the monster you have created. Such appears to be the case with the Donald Trump administration--at least for the moment. For years Trump and his sycophants have preached the gospel of conspiracy theories and nefarious plots concocted by that amorphous cabal known as, "The Deep State." Even if they didn't explicitly endorse the wilder ones, they never disowned them, never condemned them. They simply let them fly, no matter how outlandish they became.

This past week, or so--much to the entertainment of many and seemingly to their stunned surprise--Trump and his merry band of pranksters learned they can't just turn off all the craziness when they want to. In fact, you can almost hear Brother Don thinking to himself something along the lines of, "I can't believe these idiots actually believed that shit."

This past weekend the reaction to the DOJ's statement that Jeffrey Epstein didn't really have a client list and that he really did commit suicide in 2019 became so negative and loud Trump felt he had to take to social media to calm the troops down, "What's going on with my boys and, in some cases, gals? They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB. we're all on one team, MAGA, and I don't like what is happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD and selfish people are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein."

Perhaps the President was referring in particular to his former pal, Tucker Carlson who appeared the night before the post at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit down in Tampa, FL. During his time at the podium Carlson claimed the late, unlamented, Mr. Epstein as a Israeli asset working with the Mossad to blackmail American power brokers. His job was to lure them in so they'd participate in his private island orgies involving underaged girls, then take names and videos. According to Carlson, "Everyone in Washington D.C. is talking about it."  Carlson also questioned how Epstein made all his millions to pay for the parties, the island, and his and private jets. The very ham-handed hint was this ill-gotten evidence was the real reason, "the client list," disappeared. 

Other speakers at the get together demanded the heads of Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. The crowd, for the most part, roared their approval. It didn't help that there were reports of Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino throwing a screaming fit in Bondi's office, or in his office, or somewhere. Then not showing up for work on Friday to protest the lack of a list release. Well, who can blame the guy? The only reason he got the job is because his conspiracy driven, pro Trump podcasts made him a darling among the MAGA faithful. Now he has been made to look like either a liar, or a fool, or both.

So, what do you do when it looks like many of your own people are beginning to think your administration is starting to look deep statish? Obviously, you do what Donald Trump does best. Go fucking nuts. In the same social media post he also wrote, "For years it's Epstein over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoa, 51 'intelligence' Agents, THE LAPTOP FROM HELL, and more? The created the EPSTEIN FILES, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called friends are playing right into their hands." (Hey, the punctuation, use of caps, and syntax are all his. I can't make up shit like that.)

That's the ticket Don. Hit the bastards with more conspiracies and delusions of past grievances all wrapped up in one semi-coherent paragraph. Distract the mob and get their focus back on, The Others.

In the end this will all blow over. As one TV analyst said on Sunday, "We're all talking about Jeffrey Epstein this weekend. Next weekend we'll be talking about something else." She is right. If we've learned anything about Donald Trump it is that he never gives us time to dwell too much on any one thing, no matter how insane it is.  

It is, after all, what has made him the man he is today--the mad King.

7-14-25

List? We Don't Have No Stinking List

 It began a long, long time ago. In fact, in this day and age of constant hysteria, xenophobia, blatant presidential corruption, and what looks to be the inexorable slide into authoritarianism the year 2016 feels almost as distant as 1916, Like many past ages it is hard to remember the minutia of what happened then. For instance, while many do remember 2016 was the year Donald Trump won the Presidential election, most of us have probably forgotten how the news cycles were fascinated and consumed by a loose band of conspiracy, let's say, enthusiasts, collectively known as QAnon. 

Indeed, they seemed to be everywhere that year, especially at Donald Trump's campaign rallies. Dozens, if not hundreds of them would show up wearing tee-shirts that said, "I am Q." Some carried large placards in the shape of the letter Q. At the heart of their fears and rage was the firm conviction a vast cabal of political, Hollywood, and British royal elites were running a worldwide child trafficking ring. It involved molestation, slavery, and in some instances child sacrifices and cannibalism. The believers were sure everyone from Tom Hanks to Prince Andrew, and most importantly, democratic Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton were in on it.

The QAnon aficionados even claimed the headquarters of this diabolical conspiracy was located in the basement of a Washing D.C. pizza joint--apparently because some hidden away estate was beyond the means of this gang of fabulously well to do perverts. The first time the whole thing came to a head was when a guy from North Carolina named, Edgar Welch entered a restaurant in D.C. called, Comet Ping Pong. He was armed with an AR-15, fired a shot into a closet door in the restaurant's storage room, but failed to find the rumored headquarters. Actually he couldn't even find a basement, because there wasn't one. He quickly surrendered to police admitting he might have been wrong to believe the Q party line. (Later Welch would end up doing time in North Carolina and in January of this year he was killed by the cops when they tried to pick him up on a parole violation.)

After Trump's victory and the whole Comet Ping Pong thing QAnon began to fade and the remnants drifted off into increasingly bizarre notions--that's right, bizarre even for them.

However, many on the far right still had their suspicions about wildly famous people involved in child trafficking. Then, a guy named Jeffrey Epstein hit the news. Tales of wild parties, private island retreats, and most shockingly decadent, unhinged orgies involving underaged girls emerged into the light. There was even video tapes of some of the guests enjoying the music and views. The most famous one included a guy named, Donald John Trump. 

Trump denied knowing anything about teenaged girls and he insisted he certainly didn't have sex with any of them . He wasn't alone. So did former President, Bill Clinton, celebrity defense attorney, Alan Dershowitz, and others. The ultraright bought Trump's excuse, but they weren't having any of it from the rest of those elitist sickos. It was Q all over again and now there was proof. Epstein's girlfriend and his chief procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested and so was Epstein. Pretty quickly rumors began to circulate Jeffrey Epstein had a, "client list" of the people he provided underaged girls to. Trump's supporters and many who aren't began to demand the list be made public. It didn't seem to matter to the MAGA crowd the only real big shot caught on video, swapping jokes, with Epstein was Donald fucking Trump. By God, we want those names!

In February of this year newly minted U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi was asked about the list. Her response to Fox News was not only did the list exist, but, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review." Then she added, "That's been a directive by President Trump. I'm reviewing that." 

Now, a couple of things here. The American public will forgive a lot, especially when it comes to Donald Trump. His fans don't care if he sells everything from Teslas, to bibles, to bit coins while on the job. A lot of them even think it is a good thing when he ignores the rulings of federal judges. Some go so far as believing a life time Trump Presidency is a great idea, no matter how old he is. Let's face it though--and trust me El Don knows this as well--if that list proves Jeff Epstein was supplying him with 15, 16, and 17 year old girls to tap it all that forgive and forget shit will go right out the window. Too much of their political motivation is invested in, "protecting the children" (Gays are indoctrinating young kids into the homosexual lifestyle. Transgender athletes are subverting young girls sports. Latin American gangs are heavily involved in child trafficking.) 

There is a reason Elon Musk claimed the President's name was on the list when they had their messy divorce. There is also a reason that the other day the Department of Justice said, despite Bondi's previous claim, there is no such, "client list." There never was one and yes, Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in a federal facility while on suicide watch. In other words, "Nothing to see here. Keep moving. Nothing to see."

Bondi was immediately forced into an awkward song and dance number. She issued a statement saying that back in February she actually meant she was looking at Epstein's file, not the list per se. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referred any media questions to the Attorney General then announced an ongoing investigation of former CIA chief John Brennan and former FBI head, James Comey. It didn't take long to figure out she was talking about their role in the 2016 Russian election interference claims. It was an issue settled by investigators and grand juries close to eight years ago. Trump himself went all--well--Trump, on a reporter when asked about the list. He told her in no uncertain terms there were more important things to talk about than, "...that creep Jeffrey Epstein."

The hard core right is outraged the list won't be delivered as promised. Laura Loomer posted, "Bondi lied. She was always lying." Ultra conservative hot shot, Robby Starbuck wrote, "Was she lying then, or is she lying now? We deserve answers." Turning Point USA mouthpiece Savannah Hernandez said, "Pam Bondi should step down as Attorney General for lying to the American public." 

None of these clowns will admit, or probably even allow themselves to think, the reason the list suddenly disappeared is because someone at the DOJ decided there was no way to release it without implicating Donald Trump. Even the idea of simply erasing his name from it is probably out of reach now. Too many people have seen it and, in a pinch, someone will spill the beans. Let's face it, in this administration the concept of honor among thieves ranks right up there with the tooth fairy. 

Alas, Jeffrey Epstein's list, if it ever did exist--who knows, maybe it really never did--is gone forever now. Our salacious dreams will go unfulfilled. However, as many of us watch all this go down, amused to no end by all the uncomfortable squirming and caterwauling on the right wing we must keep one thing in mind. It's the not so enjoyable truth that the most despicably corrupt human being on the planet, Donald John Trump, has slipped the hook again.

sic vita est

7-10-25