Bushwhacking Volodymyr as the United States Becomes a Heel

 What happened last Friday in the White House Oval Office might be, actually probably is, the single most shameful event ever perpetrated by a President and Vice President of these United States of Ameria. There have been past Presidents who have fucked over people and nations, but none have ever gone out of their way to insult, lecture and berate them to their faces while doing it. 

Despite the despicable behavior, Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Fox News and others closely linked to the sellout of Ukraine, are demanding Volodymyr Zelenskyy apologize for his responses to the vile horseshit he suffered through at their hands. The only thing even remotely comparable that comes to mind happened back in 2006. In February that year then Vice-President, Dick Cheney accidently shot Henry Whittington in the face and chest. As he was being released from the hospital days later, Whittington apologized to Cheney for ruining his day by getting shot--well--by Dick Cheney.  

Of course, everyone connected to that south Texas incident claimed what happened was an accident. The same cannot be said of what transpired last Friday in the Oval Office. In fact the entire ugly affair reeked of a deliberate bushwhacking staged to please Donald Trump's love buddy, Vladimir Putin. 

That might explain why Trump's people allowed Russian state media into the White House to cover the incident. It also might explain why a guy named Brian Glenn was allowed in so he could accuse Zelenskyy of disrespecting America itself by not wearing a suit and tie in the Oval Office--you know like Elon Musk does. Glenn works for an ultra-right wing platform called, Real America's Voice. In his spare time he is Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's main squeeze. Less than three days after he questioned Zelenskyy's fashion choice, Greene's boytoy claims he has received, "thousands," of death threats. 

While such threats, if true, are regrettable, it's tough to feel sorry for Brian Glenn when the man he insulted, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had the entire Russian army actively trying to kill him for the last three plus years. 

One Fox News commentator told her audience that it was obvious Donald Trump wants peace no matter what. (So did Neville Chamberlain and all it got him was World War II.) She also declared that Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. She added that if he doesn't get it, they should stop awarding it altogether.

Who needs to read George Orwell anymore? The age of Newspeak has arrived.

If the rest of the world hadn't figured it out before, Friday's shameful betrayal of democracy proved the United States has turned into what the pro wrestling business refers to as a heel--one of the bad guys in the ring that the fans boo because they cheat and use dirty tactics to win. The sort of person you never turn your back on. 

Indeed, from Europe to Australia and all points in between, thanks to Donald Trump, the world now knows the United States is not their friend and cannot be, under any circumstances, trusted. If that is Donald Trump's idea of strength and respect, then last Friday he nailed it.

Congratulations America, you got what you voted for--full-fledged membership in what Ronald Reagan called, "The Evil Empire." Enjoy your new global role.

3-3-25

Selling Out Ukraine is a Historical Re-Make and Pure Nonsense is Reality

 A quick history lesson for those MAGA faithful and members of the current generation who either skipped class or were too busy on Tik Tok to pay attention. In 1938 Germany was run by a guy named Adolf Hitler. He had his eyes on a part of what was then, Czechoslovakia known as Sudetenland. His excuse for wanting to take the area was that there was a sizable ethnic German minority living there who wanted to be part of the German Reich. 

Adolf was a bit of a loose cannon and the two largest western European powers; the UK and France didn't want to tangle with him over someplace that really didn't have anything to do with them. In the fall of 1938, the Prime Ministers of Britain and France met with Herr Hitler and basically said, go ahead, take it. The Czechoslovakian government hadn't been invited to the meeting, but realized they were fucked, so signed on to the agreement. British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain went back to the UK and told everyone the agreement guaranteed, "Peace in our time." Hitler made a speech during which he claimed he had and Germany had no more territorial claims in Europe.

Chamberlain was wrong and Adolf Hitler lied. 

In March of 1939 Germany annexed the Czech portion of Czechoslovakia while the Slovak part be--came a subservient German satellite state. In September of that same year Germany invaded Poland and--hopefully you've heard of it--something history calls World War II began. 

Reports from the time indicate Hitler was genuinely shocked Britain and France declared war after Germany marched into Poland. Why wouldn't he be? They had backed down over the Sudetenland. He was convinced they'd do the same when it came to Poland.

Fast forward to the 21st century. The real start of the war in Ukraine began way back when Barack Obama was President. The pretext used by Putin to invade the Crimean Península was it was full of ethnic Russians and it had traditionally been Russian territory. The whole ethnic thing was also the excuse he used to finance and arm separatists in easter Ukraine. Mr. Obama slapped some ineffectual sanctions on Russia, then everyone, except the Ukrainians, stopped thinking about it. 

If you are thinking what has happened in Ukraine is starting to look like some weird and awful re-make of history, don't worry, it isn't just you.      

When Russian tanks began rolling down the highway to Kyiv one of Putin's field officers predicted the war would be over in five days. That was three years ago. They were initially stopped cold by Ukrainian grit and determination, terrible logistical planning--like forgetting to bring along enough gasoline to get them to Kyiv--and massive amounts of military aid from Europe and the United States.  

Now, thanks to Donald J. Trump, the U.S. is, "negotiating," a peace deal with the Russians to end the war. And guess who isn't there during the talks? Why it would be the Ukrainians, of course. Although in all honesty, if we've learned anything about the Ukrainian government it's that they won't go quietly like the Czechoslovakians did. Tragically, now they'll have to fight without American help. 

The President of the United States has spent the last few weeks trying to drum up domestic support for this sell out. He has called the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator and claimed Ukraine started the war. In his never ending campaign to isolate Ukraine and dismantle NATO he has also told us the European powers are getting paid back for their aid while we aren't. He has even said the war in Ukraine is Europe's problem, because, "we are protected by a big, beautiful, ocean."    

There are some out there who say, without any proof, Trump's fanboy worship of Putin is because the Russian has something on him. Others think Donald Trump is just too stupid to figure out once the Russians finish off Ukraine they'll turn west into Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, then finally Poland. 

Concerning the first thought, one has to wonder what could Putin have on Donald Trump that is so devastating? Let's face it, the guy shrugged off a public act of treason when he tried to overthrow the 2020 election. He has been convicted of fraud and found to have committed sexual assault in different courts. When his wife was home caring for their newborn son he was fucking a porn star. And he as survived it all. Shaming Donald Trump might well be an impossibility. 

Saying he is the ultimate naive isolationist doesn't really wash either. Having designs on Greenland and Canada, not to mention at least the middle third of Panama doesn't feel very isolationist. In fact it sounds downright imperialistic. 

Others might even suggest his apparent hatred of Zelenskyy is directly linked to the Ukranian President's refusal to cave into extortion by framing Hunter Biden. Given Trump's petty vindictiveness it certainly sounds like the sort of unnecessarily cruel and brutish behavior we've come to expect from him.

It could even be a combination of all those things. Let's face it, the man's mind goes all over the place at 900 miles an hour, 24/7. However, none of them, on their own anyway, feel grandiose enough for our man Donald. Like prophets and serial killers, he is a true dreamer of elaborate megalomaniacal dreams. 

It could be Donald Trump is thinking of a 21st century Triumvirate which will rule the world, or at least the desirable parts of it. In this fantasy of strongmen and their global power, Russia gets Europe, China gets Asia, and the United States gets the Americas, plus Greenland. The middle east and Africa is negotiable, well, except for the beach front property in Gaza.

Trump probably hasn't even told Putin and Xi about this vision, but once the Russians take Ukraine and the Baltic States, China plants the flag in Taiwan, and we do the same in Greenland everything will begin to fall into shape. At that point the Russians and Chinese will figure it out on their own. Sure a few wars will break out, but it won't be anything the three of us can't handle. Besides it will give everyone here something to think about other than runaway inflation and absolutely no affordable medical care. 

Hey, all it will take for it to work is a triumph of the will. And, by the time it is done, just like in Orwell's novel, "1984" the world will have a manageable number of governments--three. 

Pure nonsense you say? God, I hope so. But then when was the last time we saw a President of the United States firing military leaders because he deems them politically disloyal? Or is in the middle of an attempt to not just circumvent the Constitution of the United States, but to nullify it without due process? And when was the last time you saw the United States vote with Russia, North Korea, Vietnam and others against a U.N. resolution condemning unprovoked aggression?

See there, these days, pure nonsense isn't just paranoid fantasy. It is pretty much our reality.

2-27-25

One Month and a Day In: Lies, Fantasy Polls, and the Roswell Incident

 We are one month and one day into the second Donald Trump administration, but for many it already feels like a lifetime. Perhaps it's because of the utter confusion and chaos. After all, name another modern American President who has fired everybody in charge of overseeing the nation's nuclear stockpile by mistake, then in the mad scramble to re-hire them, couldn't find their phone numbers. Or, in the name of cutting government spending, cans a bunch of IRS agents who are out there hunting for tax fraud. You know--the very people who are trying to make sure there is more money coming into the federal treasury rather than less.  

Yes, there are many things unclear and uncertain at the moment. 

Like it is unclear why the President thinks insulting every Mexican and Canadian in the world is a good idea. Has renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America made our southern border any safer, or more secure? Has pissing off the Canadians so much they now boo the U.S. national anthem at sporting events done anything to improve international trade? 

Maybe the President believes convincing our allies to hate us is the same as having them respect us. Maybe he has come to the conclusion inciting fear in others is a sign of strength. In the end, it might be simply his management style. Or, of course, it could be the guy is just fucking cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Let's face it, there is ample evidence to support that last possibility. The other day, Donald Trump spoke to a gathering of republican governors and told them one poll shows his approval rating at over 70% while another has it at 69%. "I've never seen numbers like that," he said. Neither has anyone else, including the people who take those polls. While many recent results have been mixed--some showing Trump above water, some showing him under--none show his approval rating anywhere near those percentages. In other words, the polls Donald Trump cited were ones conducted only in his own head.

Bizarre, right? Yeah, but it might help explain why, after he promised to insert the federal government into a local New York City issue--regulations attempting to limit traffic congestion--he posted a photo of himself on social media wearing a crown with the line, "Long Live the King." This, after he hinted he was above the law by quoting Napoleon Bonaparte on the same site.  

The President has been and still is abetted since his inauguration by the right wing propaganda mills, led by Fox News. When Trump's hatchet man, Elon Musk eviscerated USAID, CNN and MSNBC focused on the agency's humanitarian work, Fox however immediately fixated on a couple of ill-advised culture issues USAID was involved with. 

If one's only source of news is Fox, it would be easy to believe the agency spent its entire budget of taxpayer funds on comic books in South America with gay characters and an African version of Sesame Street promoting transgenderism. The notion of cutting the offending programs and leaving the ones that include eradicating malaria and treating AIDS patients, not to mention feeding a whole lot of really hungry people, escapes them. 

There are small signs though that all this cutting, slashing, and remaking might not be going as swimmingly well as Donld Trump thinks. Republican Congressman, Rich McCormick held a town hall meeting the other night in his Georgia district. The meeting could well be described as the Roswell Incident, because of the town it occurred in. McCormick was there to explain and promote the administration's current rampage when he ran into buzz saw of angry constituents who just figured out all those government cuts are going to affect them, not a bunch of Africans they don't know, or care about. 

Stunned by the crowd's hostility, McCormick asked them, "You don't think I'm going to stand up for you?" The question was answered with a thundering cascade of boos. The vociferous outrage was such, later he was reduced to telling Georgia voters, "No one can hear when you are yelling."  

Oops. But hey, don't fret, MAGAVERSE, McCormick, Fox and Trump will write it off to, "outside agitators."  Listen, if using that excuse was good enough for Lester Maddox it's good enough for Rich McCormick, et al. Besides, give this administration some time and they'll make the ugly little episode disappear, like they did with the January 6th insurrection.  

And just think, I haven't even touched on the whole horror show of bullshit Trump spewed about Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week. Not to mention what he said on Fox about circumventing the constitution so he can rule for a third term.

Indeed, the month has seemed endless. 

Tragically it is just the beginning. We have three years and 11 months to go. And, if it is up to him, even more. But, not to worry America. Those voices in Donald Trump's brain only speak to him at night--well, most of the time anyway.  

2-21-25

Saving the Country and Not Violating Any Law

 He who saves his Country does not violate any law.

Donald John Trump, 47th President of the Unted States of America

Our Leader, Donald posted that tidbit of political philosophy Saturday on social media. He didn't come up with himself. The saying is commonly attributed to the man who crowned himself Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, although no one really knows for sure. Ultimately, like many famous quotes, it falls under the heading of, "it sounds like something he would have said."  No matter the source, we do know for a fact Trump repeated it, therefore we can assume he believes it.

The response from the anti-Trump crowd was swift, with one wag calling it, "the most un-American thing she has ever heard." Obviously, the woman is living in the past. Since America voted the son of a bitch into office, you can justifiably argue such a sentiment is completely American--that it perfectly reflects the will of the majority, not to mention their idol and his henchmen.

Of course, that doesn't mean the majority is always right. A lynch mobs, in its own, quaintly repulsive way, is also a majority.  But let's not stray into a debate over morality. Here in 21st century America it is a subject which has come to resemble the proverbial Mobius Strip. 

As he was writing those words, Elon Musk, Trump's toned-down version of Levrentiy Beria, ordered his social media platform, "X" to disable all links to what is described as a "messaging service" called, Signal. A report states that clicking on the link will get you a couple of different messages, the gist of which claim X and its, "partners," have identified the site as, "unsafe and spammy."  

It turns out Signal, which is described as an encrypted, truly secure way of messaging, is a favorite tool of reporters messaging sources. Now, it is also being used by government employees and officials to communicate with each other privately, unseen by the prying eyes of Musk's spies at DOGE. It turns out killing the links is just Elon's way of limiting messages between opponents of his ongoing purge, while the warnings are all a cheap excuse to cover up his real motive. 

Elon Musk also wants to kill government sponsored media, which is not really a new right wing wet dream. However, Trump's nominee to head the Voice of America, Kari Lake--a former TV personality and failed MAGA political candidate--wants to keep it around. One suspects her primary reason is she needs the job. Her stated rationale, however, is she wants to reshape the VOA, Radio Free Europe, and the other entities into sources of, "pro American," news. She denies it, but everyone with a brain understands that when Kari Lake says pro American she means, pro Trump. Although the U.S already has private sector Trump propaganda mills, Lake is pushing for an international version. You know--to convince the world invading Greenland and Panama, plus annexing Canada are great ideas that will benefit everyone from, Cuba to Pakistan and beyond.

Over the weekend one of MSNBC's talking heads said the problem with Donald Trump is he doesn't understand how a democracy works. He thinks a leader should lead without restraint. That might have been the case in his first term. In this one though he knows exactly how it works. It's just that he and the fuckers he has around him hate it. And now, as any good dictator does, he is moving to castrate the courts and to control the flow of information and communications. 

That's the ticket. Throw those bastards at CBS in prison and yank MSNBC's broadcasting license. Then make sure no one hears or reads anything one of the boys doesn't approve of. Why not? After all, a dead French Emperor who was thrown into exile on a small island in the middle of nowhere and was probably poisoned by the guards, might have said, no matter what we do, we don't violate any laws.      

It is almost as if Donald Trump is aware of another quote he hasn't shared with us yet. It reads:

Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident, they are acting on their own free will.

There isn't any confusion over who said that. It was Naxi party media whiz, Joesph Goebbels.

2-17-25 

The Bell Begins to Toll for Ryan Walters

 For the last two plus years, ever since he took office, Oklahoma's state superintendent of public education, Ryan Walters has made sure, 1: the state board members go along with whatever he wants and 2: his name is constantly in the media. During this time, he has plowed on through lawsuits (right now 18 and counting) brought by parents, teachers, local school districts, and superintendents. He has spent thousands of taxpayer dollars, not for stuff like science textbooks, but rather to PR firms who worked to get him booked on national cable news outlets. His pursuit of headlines is so all consuming, when he found out he was under investigation by the state ethics commission he made a big show of arriving at the door of the Oklahoma House of Representatives so he could dare them to impeach him. 

In every instance Walters has adopted the language and attitude of the Ultra MAGA right. All opposition is met with terms such as, "radical leftist," and "promoter of woke agendas," or the latest, "pleasing the swamp." He also loves to invoke the name of his Lord and Inspiration, Donald J. Trump. 

In fact when he demanded students, no matter what the age, and their parents provide not only proof of their immigration status, but also their addresses and phone numbers--raising the specter of ICE raids at places like Grover Cleveland Elementary School--he claimed he was doing so because he supported the policies of Donald Trump. The not-so-subtle hint being anyone not in favor of dragging second graders off of school playgrounds is betraying the President. 

The truth is, everyone who lives in this state realizes Ryan Walters' primary goal isn't improving Oklahoma's schools, (And God knows our kids have the standardized test scores to prove it) but to become the Sooner State Donald Trump. Unfortunately for the Superintendent, during this process he has managed to become not, a mini-Trump, but our version of Matt Gaetz. 

Indeed, Ryan Walters' taste for bellicose, self-righteous bull shit, his relentless self-promotion, and his firm belief that he and he alone should decide what goes on around here, has pissed off everyone. And that's not just we, happy few, band of democrats, but almost every republican in state politics. 

Earlier this week, lame duck Governor, Kevin Stitt decided to act. He replaced three sitting board members who had rubber stamped all of Walters' decisions. He let the two most recent arrivals to the board stay, while the remaining seat was left open. Ryan Walters was, let's say, miffed. He fired off  a post on social media, which in part read, "Governor Stitt has joined the swampy political establishment that President Trump is fighting against."

Walters' mood worsened when Oklahoma Attorney General and current gubernatorial candidate, Gentner Drummond jumped into the argument. Drummond sent letters to Stitt's three nominees (they have to be approved by the state senate) basically telling them not to pay any attention to Walters, but to vote for things that might actually improve Oklahoma's schools. Drummond, who isn't a fan of Stitt either, went on to condemn the Governor for putting up with Walters this long. Walters' response was, "Liberal Gentner Drummond needs to stop pretending to be Governor and start doing his job." Later he added, "Teacher's unions have a new ally in Drummond to support their corruption and undermining of our schools." There was more, but you get the drift.

Needless to say, even though he hasn't announced it yet, there is little doubt Ryan Walters is going to run against Drummond during the 2026 GOP gubernatorial primary. Let's face it, his run amok quest for power and fame isn't going to stop at the state board of education. The Governor's office is the next logical step since he won't have to challenge an incumbent for the seat.

The question though is, has Walters' complete fealty to all things Trumpy gone too far? In January he showed up at a demonstration of the state capitol steps which was protesting against wind driven power turbines. Trump's public opposition to them is based on the number of birds they kill. Since this compassion for wildlife seems a tad fraudulent, we really don't know why Trump doesn't like those giant windmills spinning in the western skies. But, hey, if Trump doesn't want them then Ryan Walters doesn't either. Kevin Stitt, on the other hand does and more importantly, so do a lot of big dollar Oklahoma investors and business types. 

Those same business leaders love to recruit new corporate investment into the state. A poor public education infrastructure--which Ryan Walters is delivering--is a detriment to their efforts. A while back, the City's daily paper, The Oklahoman, sponsored a meeting of these movers and shakers. They rose to their feet in applause when one speakers told the room, "This guy (Walters) has to go" 

And despite all of his slavish adoration of Donald Trump, it remains unclear at this time if the Mango Mussolini has even heard of Ryan Walters. In other words, a Presidential endorsement in 2026 isn't a sure bet. Trump may like devotees, but if push comes to shove and the payoff is right, he'll sell them out every time.

Yes, it now feels like the bell has begun to toll for Ryan Walters. He may well have pushed his act too far. And, as ee all know, these days there is only one guy who gets away with pushing things too far--and he currently resides in Washington D.C.

2-14-25

Ellen Weintraub Says She Won't Go, but the Polls Say She Will

 Late last week the chairperson of the Federal Election Commission went on social media to let the public know Donald Trump had fired her. Ellen Weintraub posted a terse email which was dated, January 21. It read, "You are hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission." 

A little gruff, but perfectly clear, right? According to Ms. Weintraub it is also perfectly illegal. Her written response to the note was: "There is a legal way to replace a FEC commissioner--this isn't it. I've been lucky to serve the American people & stir up good trouble along the way. That's not changing anytime soon." In other words, "Dear Mr. President, Fuck you, I'm not leaving."

FEC commissioners serve six year terms, although if no one replaces them they can stay longer. The Commission, by law, is comprised of three democrats and three republicans. They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, just like cabinet members. Unlike members of the cabinet they are not, "at will employees," of the President. In theory they can only be removed, "for cause."

Apparently, Donald Trump's only cause is that Ellen Weintraub is a democrat and he doesn't like her. 

That's where we get to one of those gray areas Trump and his mob of fixers exploit so well. The President can name a new FEC Commissioner whenever he wants. The existing precedent is he does so, then, only after that person is confirmed by the Senate, the sitting commissioner steps down. Unfortunately, we know what Donald Trump thinks of precedent and there is no written rule which states a President has to do it that way. 

So Ellen Weintraub's only viable legal argument is that Trump hasn't given a legitimate cause for her termination. She may say she is staying, but she has been locked out of her Commission computer and phone. In addition, the FEC website now lists her as a former commissioner. Knowing the efficiency recently displayed by the President's hit men we can also assume the locks on her office door have been changed.

Ms. Weintraub says she is exploring all her legal options which really can mean only one thing--a lawsuit and the accompanying judicial morass that we've come to know so well. 

Meanwhile, if the soon to be former commissioner is hoping for some sort of public outcry over the President's actions she is going to be sorely disappointed. 

. A recent CBS/YourGov poll shows Trump's current approval rating at 53% among voters. The survey shows Trump's strongest approval rating, 59%, comes from his bellicose deportation policy. The biggest number, however, was more of a neutral one. 70% said Trump, is, "Doing what he promised," during the campaign. To be honest, the question was an absolute no brainer. We all knew he would keep his campaign promises. That's why so many of us didn't vote for the son of a bitch in the first place. 

His one semi-weak spot so far is named Elon Musk. According to the poll 23% of Americans think that band of happy hackers and juvenile delinquents at DOGE should have, "a lot," of influence over government spending. while 28% said it should have, "some," influence. 18% thought it should have only a, "little." 31% of those asked thought DOFE should have, "no," influence and presumably believe Elon Musk should take a hit of his favorite brand of amphetamines and fuck off.

If we believe in this poll's numbers Donald Trump is winning, although a lot of it has to do with his high profile deportation policy--a policy which has actually deported fewer illegals on a daily basis than Barack Obama ever did and roughly at the same rate as Joe Biden, although at a much higher cost to taxpayers.  

You don't see Elon and his boys all over that one though. It's because they know what Ellen Weintraub doesn't. Not only does Donald Trump carry grudges forever, but, for years, with only a precious few exceptions, he has owned the court system. And now, according to that CBS poll, he has the United States of America in his big ol' fat wallet.

sic vita est

2-10-25

Donald Trump and Two Weeks of Chaos

 It has been two weeks and a day since Donald J. Trump--or, as author John Wooley likes to refer to him, the Mango Mussolini--returned to the White House. During this fortnight of chaos, as promised, Trump and his henchman, Elon Musk, has launched an all out blitzkrieg against not only agencies who might get in his way (nearly all of them) but the constitution itself. 

During this brief time frame, thanks to a republican party full of fascists and cowards, he managed to get a second string Fox News host, Pete Hegseth named as head of the Department of Defense. Hegseth, is by many accounts, a raging alcoholic and serial abuser of women. His main qualification for the job seems to be his unflinching willingness to do whatever Donald Trump wants him to do. That includes gutting the military of all women and people of color who are in positions of responsibility and leadership. This purge comes to us under the guise of ridding the nation of the dreaded DEI rules which addresses hiring and promoting qualified candidates no matter what their gender and race. 

Trump and his supporters consider these rules unfair to hard working white guys, not to mention dangerous to our military might and national safety. They are firmly convinced only these types are qualified to run the armed forces. You know, because white dudes like Walt Short and Ed Kimmel did such great jobs at Pearl Harbor and the name George Custer is synonymous with tactical wizardry.  

Then there is Kristi Noem, the newly minted head of Homeland Security. She is a former Governor who managed to get banned from Tribal Lands in her home state, gained fame for killing her dog, and most recently toured the southern border on horseback while dressed as a rodeo barrel racer. 

There are others, of course, Robert Kennedy Jr. who, according to his first cousin used to dump baby chickens and mice into a blender so he could use the remains to feed his hogs. In the past he gave kids a little scholastic tip by telling everyone his grades in school improved dramatically after he started using heroin. Then there is Tulsi Gabbard who has blamed Europe and NATO for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While in Congress she also cozied up to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad--a man so ruthless and corrupt even the Russians refused to save him from being forcibly ousted. 

Then there is South African, turned Canadian, turned American, Elon Musk. Musk's office was created by Executive Order. He has never been elected to anything and is, if you believe him and Trump above Congressional oversite and approval. He is head of the Department of Government Efficiency which was created by Donald Trump to purge any department, or personnel who won't do exactly what he wants. Musk's latest attack was on the United States Agency for International Development. It was established by John F. Kennedy during the middle of the cold war with the Soviet Union. Its mission was and has been to not only deliver medical and infrastructure aid to developing countries, but to prove to them the U.S. was the model to emulate rather than a totalitarian state. 

Kennedy came up with the idea, but the department was created and funded by Congress. In theory only Congress can eliminate it. In a social media post Musk called USAID a criminal enterprise and ordered all assistance to developing countries to cease immediately. In support of the move Donald Trump said his pal Elon wasn't doing anything he didn't approve of, as if that made the action legal. The new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, sensing a potential constitutional problem, quickly announced the agency would now become part of the State Department. How long it lasts once the noise dies down is anyone's guess.

All of which brings us back to the Mango Mussolini. His weapon of choice the last two weeks has become the Executive Order. He hasn't the time, or the taste for Congressional approval. In the first fourteen days of his second term he has only signed one bill approved by both houses. Everything else he has done, or tried to do, with the exception of cabinet secretaries, has been thanks to Executive Orders and Presidential Pardons. He and Musk are, in effect, saying to the nation, "Congress, we don't need no stinkin' Congress." 

And it's working. Despite the outrage displayed by the ever shrinking number of left leaning media outlets (who are owned by corporations, or billionaires who don't want to cross him) Donald Trump is getting away with this mad dash into authoritarianism. He has the full backing of the right wing propaganda machine and online, "celebrities and influencers."

Tragically, that means more than you might think. We now live in an age when most members of Gen Z and a huge chunk of the Millennials get their news, not from TV, or print sources, but rather social media sites. Those would be sites owned and operated by the same bunch of robber barons who were sitting in box seats during Trump's inauguration. 

Indeed, Trump's power grab is working, at least in part, because he and his allies now control the flow of information to millions of people--people, who, either through ignorance, or prejudice, are increasingly convinced a dictatorship sounds like a pretty good idea. Or, at least one which couldn't hurt and is worth a try.

To many of those clods it is time to move on to a new paradigm--or as Kellyanne Conway might put it, "an alternate democracy." Yeah, that's right baby, fuck the Danes and everyone else. First Greenland and Panama. Then, by God and Donald, onward to Ottawa!

The ghost of Herr Hitler is proud. 

2-4-25

A Family Tale: Do I Need a Lawyer?

 This is the policy text of Donald Trump's executive order revoking birthright citizenship for some Americans: 

Section 2. It is the policy of the United States that no department or agency of the United States government shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship, to persons, (1)) when that person's mother was unlawfully present in the United States and that person's father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth, or (2) when that person's mother's presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person's father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person's birth.

Now, let me tell you a true tale of Howard family history. My paternal grandparents were both Canadian citizens. My grandfather was born there while my grandmother's family immigrated there from the UK when she was four years old. They lived in Montreal and were married there. The company my grandfather worked for sent he and his wife to the United States so he could represent them as a cotton buyer.

What their visa status was has been lost to history, but neither became American citizens until well after my father was born. To complicate things one summer, while they were back in Montreal visiting relatives my father arrived a tad early. So, he was also born in Canada to non-American citizens. Shortly after his birth the family travelled back to Oklahoma where they owned a home and my grandfather worked. 

George and Alice Howard didn't become U.S. citizens until the late 1930's when my father was a teenager. As far as we know, because he was underage, my Dad automatically became one also. At least no one questioned his citizenship when he joined the navy during WWII or later went to work for the state of Oklahoma. Or, for that matter, when he voted in elections, which was always. 

Thank God Donald Trump wasn't running things back then. If he had been who knows what the status of the House of Howard would have been? In fact, who knows what my status would be right now. Yes, I was born in Muskogee, OK, but my father was born in Canada to Canadian citizens and never thought to apply for American citizenship during his lifetime because he just assumed he didn't have to. 

Fuck. Do I need a lawyer? Or, maybe more importantly, a moving van?

Well, thanks to a federal judge in Seattle, at least not yet. Judge John Coughenour took one look at Trump's executive order and said it was, "the most blatantly unconstitutional thing," he had ever seen. He put a temporary halt to its enforcement until further arguments could be made both for and against  it. Coughenour has been on the bench for over 40 years. He was put there by that ultra woke President, Ronald Reagan. 

That's the good news. The bad news is earlier today, GOP South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham told NBC's Meet the Press he believed that when Trump's people drag the issue to the Supreme Court a majority of the justices will side with the President. Hey, why not? Trump and his pals have paid those justices boatloads of money to vote their way and by God, it's time to deliver. 

Besides, as one comedian said the other day, "The only thing in the Constitution Trump's supporters believe is the part that says they can own guns."

So that's where we stand at the moment. Apparently, Donald Trump and the Supreme Court are going to declare the Constitution is unconstitutional. My father, the sub rosa Canuck, might have committed criminal acts when he voted for everyone from Harry Truman to Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton. And I, much to the glee of several people who know me, might be considered an illegal alien if Donald Trump had been on the throne a few decades ago.  

Ah yes, who says America isn't great again?

1-26-25

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde Asks the President to Show Mercy: The Agent of Darkness Responds

 On the day after Donald Trump refused to place his hand on the Holy Bible while he took the oath of office (Who knows why, perhaps he was afraid he'd burst into flames if he did) he showed up at the National Cathedral for what is billed as, the national prayer service. During the ceremony Episcopal Bishop, Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a brief sermon directed toward the President, who was seated in the front row. 

Among other things, the Bishop told Mr. Trump, " Millions have put their trust in you. And as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God I ask you to have mercy on the people of our country who are scared now." She went on to mention that those who are, "scared now," include members of the gay community, immigrants, and refugees fleeing war zones and political persecution. She also pointed out the vast majority of immigrants, no matter their documentation issues were decent, law abiding, taxpaying, good neighbors. 

After the service ended Donald Trump's immediate response was terse. He said simply he didn't think it was a good one. Late that night, however, or rather early the next morning--once again reinforcing the suspicion he is, The Agent of Darkness--the real Donald Trump took to social media.

He wrote: The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone and not compelling, or smart. She failed to mention the large number of illegal immigrants that came into our Country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements the service was a very boring and uninspirational one. She is not very good at her job. She and her church owe the public an apology." 

For those wondering, the extent of Bishop Budde's "hard line Trump hating," came when she was critical of him for holding a bible upside down outside of a church for a photo op immediately after he ordered peaceful demonstrators to be tear gassed during his first term. According to Budde the death threats have already begun to arrive. One GOP Congressman, Mike Collins of Georgia demanded her name be, "added to the deportation list." (Budde was born in New Jersey, so deporting her to there seems a tad useless) Evangelical minister, Robert Jeffress--perhaps looking for a place in the clergy at the First Church of Our Savior Don--said Budde should be condemned for having, "insulted rather than encouraged our great President." 

As weird as Jeffress statement was--I mean since when is asking for mercy an insult--he probably nailed the true source of Trump's rage. Let's face it, the man has really gotten used to "Christian," clergy fawning over him, blessing him, and praising him no matter what he says or does. When he finally ran into one who didn't his big ol' fucking head simply exploded. 

We could go into the lies and misinformation in that social media post. I mean has he ever given us a single stat telling us how many are the many illegal immigrants who have been let out of prisons, or mental institutions, or even committed violent crimes?  Or where is that giant crime wave he talks about when every crime statistic available says violent crime in the nation has gone down the last few years running? Indeed, just how many dogs and cats did those crazy Haitians really eat in Springfield, OH? 

We will never hear those numbers, even if he actually knows them. Donald Trump's politics depend on fear and hatred. Take away either and all of it falls apart. Does he believe in God? Probably, even the devil knows God exists. The real question is, does the 47th President of the United States have any real Christian faith, like he has convinced so many he does? Or, does Donald Trump cold bloodedly manipulate and use the faith of others just to benefit himself? 

Well, he is the one with his hand off the bible when he was sworn in. And he's the one who couldn't handle a plea to show mercy coming from a true Christian--not one in it for the television exposure and money.

1-23-25

Trump Wars, Part III: The Revenge of Darth Donald

So this is how liberty dies...with thunderous applause.

Star Wars, Part III

 Or, going another way, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, "Here we go again."

A little earlier today Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the nation's 47th President. During his inaugural speech he told us that after a would be assassin's bullet, "ripped through my ear," he became convinced God saved him for one reason and one reason only. So he could become President once more and, "Make America Great Again." Mr. Trump failed to mention that the same bullet which nicked his ear killed a supporter seated in the crowd. He also didn't speculate on why the Lord felt that saving him meant some Pennsylvania firefighter had to die.

Well, sometimes it is best not to question the motives of the Almighty. Some of us who had to knock back a Canadian whiskey, or two this morning (Hey, who knows how long it will remain Canadian) just to survive this nightmare of self-serving lies and bullshit learned that lesson in November.

Donald Trump's speech today was sort of like listening to the pronouncements of the Oracle of Delphi. It could be taken in many different ways by different people. He promised to become a peacemaker and a unifier and to make the nation known for the wars we refused to engage in. Then he pretty much promised he would start one when he told the crowd in the Capitol rotunda, we are going to take back the Panama Canal. He also claimed he would declare a national emergency on the southern border and deploy the military in order to secure it once and for all. In addition, he boasted he was going to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Apparently just because he can and Mexico doesn't appreciate us, or how powerful we are. 

Perhaps he was speaking as Max Hailstone once did when he told other world leaders Moronica wanted peace...a piece of this country and a piece of that country. At least one can take solace, of sorts, that he failed to bring up his designs on Canada ad Greenland, although he did state the nation would resume expanding, like we did in the 1800's when Americans conquered deserts and mountains to reach the west coast. Presumably the Americans he was talking about weren't the native ones who already lived there. 

The new President promised not to, "weaponize," the justice system to go after political enemies. That came after he found out that at the last minute, Joe Biden had pardoned Anthony Fauci, the entire January 6th investigation committee, including Liz Cheney, General Mark Milley, and his family from prosecution. It was an act Trump immediately described as disgraceful.    

He didn't say anything about those bird killing windmill farms, but he did promise to make the United States the worlds largest producer of oil and gas. (Since we already are, that seems like a pretty easy one to keep.) The moment did move MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell to say afterward, "In our lifetimes we have gone from "Ask not what your country can do for you," to, "we're going o drill baby drill." 

In order to get God directly involved in the occasion there were a couple of invocational prayers. The one by Franklin Graham was pretty much a campaign speech. One of the benediction's was a from a MAGA  type evangelical who basically thanked God for making Donald Trump President again. 

The Bidens, Clintons, Bushes, and Barack Obama sat through all of it. Including the trips deep into xenophobia--you know, countries are sending us their murders, rapists, and insane asylum patients and the numerous overt inferences they had all made the nation a worldwide laughingstock. By doing so the former Presidents afforded Trump the honor he refused Joe Biden four years ago. The incongruity fascinated the working press who pointed it out time and time again.

There was a second speech. It was made to a low rent crowd who couldn't get into the main event. Unlike the first it was an unscripted, rambling miasma of acknowledgements, first term anecdotes, and grievances--most far more unhinged than those made in the first. So much so at one point Trump told the hall that it if it hadn't been for mass voter fraud, he would have won California in last year's election. The whole thing was so disjointed it caused Rachel Maddow to wonder what the newly minted oligarchs thought of it.

The answer to her question is, if they did hear it, they probably didn't give a shit. Those movers and shakers are on board now. They have, as Hunter Thompson used to say, "bought their tickets." How else can you describe it after Trump promised them their businesses would no longer be subject to, "government censorship," (A moment in the first speech which brought them to their feet, applauding.) 

 All of which led us to the moment after the first address ended when a military choir sung, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It was a stirring musical ending to Donald Trump's return to power for many witnessing the event. For others though, despite his promises of becoming a peacemaker and unifier one line in particular took on an ominous new meaning. That would be the one which says, "He hath loosed the fearful lightning of His terrible swift sword." 

Indeed, his truth might be marching on, but for a lot of us, Donald Trump's truth has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual truth. Not to mention we recognize him for what he really is--a feral madman who could well be the Antichrist.

1-20-25    

The Great LA Fires: Woke Inner-City Posses, Geoengineering, Conspiracies, and a Befuddled Lara Trump

 As the greater Los Angeles area continues to burn republican politicians and right-wing types everywhere have filled the media with all sorts of comments. Most of them are laced with the type of compassion shown by Alabama GOP Senator, Tommy Tuberville. Speaking on the ultra-right propaganda outlet, News Max the Senator, in part, said, "California has many republicans" who are good people and I hate it for them. They are just overwhelmed by these inner city woke posses with the people that vote for them. I don't mind sending them some money, but unless they show they're going to change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the maintenance with brush and trees--everything that everybody else does in the country and they don't do it--they don't deserve anything, to be honest with you, unless they show they're going to make some changes."

It is unclear who makes up those massive woke inner-city posses, but the, Tuberville was a little light on those details. However, The Senator's message was clear, start voting for republicans, or rebuild all on your own. 

Georgia Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ever obsessed with the notion the government controls everything, wrote, "Why don't they use geoengineering like cloud seeding to bring down rain on the wildfires in California? They know how to do it." 

Cloud seeding has been on Greene's radar before. She blamed the Biden administration for using it to cause massive floods in western North Carolina back in late October. At the time Greene claimed it was an attempt to prevent Trump voters from casting their ballots. 

On the bright side, Ms. Greene has made progress of a sort though. Before she was in Congress Greene accused Jews of starting wildfires in northern California with satellite controlled lasers. According to the future Congresswoman those crafty Jews wanted to build a high speed rail system along with accompanying stations and needed to clear the forests out of the way.

Conspiracy theories aside, Ms. Greene's understanding of, "geoengineering," is a tad suspect. In order for cloud seeding to work there has to be moisture present in the atmosphere--you know, clouds. In the last six plus months LA has received 0.8 inches of rainfall. All of that fell before October 1st. In short, you can't seed what isn't there.

Speaking of conspiracies, actor Mel Gibson went on Fox News to say, "In the events like this you sort of think , well is it on purpose? It's an insane thing to think. But one begins to ponder whether or not there is a purpose in mind." Salon reports Gibson also speculated the state's movers and shakers wanted to empty out the state, comparing them to the, "old cattle barons," who wanted to clear people off the land. Mr. Gibson apparently didn't offer up a reason why these unnamed few wanted to empty out the state, or if Tommy Tuberville's woke, inner-city posses would be included in this Golden State diaspora. 

Finally, we have Lara Trump, former RNC chair and daughter in law to Big Don. She was on Sean Hannity's show and said, "I would really love for somebody out there to explain to me how climate change is the reason the reservoirs are dry, that there was no water in the hydrants." 

Her comment moved one social media user to post, "These are the people who want to scrap the Department of Education." 

Other than Marjorie Taylor Greene's cloud free cloud seeding idea no one on the right has proposed any solution to the problems in Southern California--although Donald Trump recently said, "Canadian water," could help. Meanwhile, at least one Fox wag celebrated the disaster, saying the state's voters would now turn on democrats with a vengeance.  

There can be no doubt that somewhere out there someone is saying the Los Angeles fires are God's retribution on a sinful place. Those who are and the others looking for political gain thanks to this nightmare need to keep something in mind though. The Lord doesn't really discriminate when it comes to disasters. At the moment California is burning, but that doesn't mean somewhere down the line Florida and other ruby red states won't get slammed by a massive hurricane, or tornado. 

When it happens--and it will--just remember what all you MAGA wankers are saying to Californians right now. Because sooner than any of us can imagine some of you are also going to need help and answers, not politics and, in more than a few instances, unabashed glee. 

1-15-25

Los Angeles is Burning and Donald Trump Tells Us Why

 As large portions of Los Angeles County burned to the ground, President-elect, Donald Trump had this to say. "Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way." 

Trump even tells us why, California Governor Newsom would do such a thing, "because he wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called the smelt. Now there is no water for the fire hydrants." Later the man who will become President once again posted, "One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It's ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!"

Ah, yes. It was vintage Trump, all the way down to the juvenile, derogatory, nickname. But why? What has Gavin Newsom ever done to Donald Trump, besides being a democrat? Does the Trumper see him as a potential opponent in 2028? (Hey, I don't care what the 22nd amendment to the Constitution says. If Donald Trump is alive in any way, shape, or form in 2028 he is going to want a third term. Fuck what the Constitution says now. The Supreme Court is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump Org. and somehow, someway they'll get around it. Trust me.) 

Maybe, but probably not. For one thing it is doubtful Donald Trump thinks that far ahead. He has always been more of a, "what's in it for me right now," sort of guy. Actually, this most recent torrent of bile is the opening act of, "Donald's Great and Glorious Revenge and Retribution Tour."

That's right, the President-elect is pissed off at the California Governor because Newsom opposed Trump's plan during his first administration to redistribute water to farmers in the state's Central Valley. Newsom was successful and even collaborated with Joe Biden during his term to, in effect, erase what Trump had thought he'd accomplished. 

But wait, wasn't Trump trying to help farmers irrigate their fields and fill fire hydrants in Los Angeles? Well, yes and no, First, we aren't talking Ma and Pa Kettle farmers. We are talking about huge corporate growing operations owned by the sort of people who contribute scads of money to Donald Trump. Second, the water that would have headed to LA would have been minimal at best.

As Ryan Teague Beckwith stated online, "Well remember that Trump wanted more of that water to go to nut and fruit farmers in areas most of whom support him and not to the residents of Los Angeles, most of whom don't." And, as Beckwith also pointed out. right now, Los Angeles has enough water to fight the fires, what it doesn't have is the infrastructure to get it to all those hydrants. 

In this case Trump's lust for retribution led him to post outright fiction. According to Newsom, that "water restoration declaration," El Don mentioned is not a real thing. It never has been. He simply made it up, probably to make it sound like the ongoing disaster in LA is directly linked to Newsom's environmentalism. You know, "See there, if he had just signed this non-existent paper, Pacific Palisades would have been saved instead of those damned fish."  

For those wondering, shit like this is going to get worse. Think not? The guy wants to invade Greenland for God's sake. Saying Donald Trump is erratic is like saying Norman Bates had some bothersome Mommy issues. 

You elected the crazy son of a bitch, America. Here is hoping enough of you are left by the time he is finished to regret it.

1-9-25

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, A Home Grown, Old Fashioned, All-American Homicidal Maniac

Timothy McVeigh was born and raised in western New York. He was of Irish descent. He joined the U.S. Army and served honorably. After he was turned down for Special Forces Training, he left the service and meandered around the country picking up a few bucks here and there at gun shows and down in Waco, TX during the infamous, Branch Davidian standoff. (He sold anti government bumper stickers out of his car.) In April, 1995 McVeigh, with help from his pal, Terry Nichols, blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City with a huge home-made bomb he had stashed in a rental truck. The explosion killed 168 people, including 19 young children who were attending a day care center in the building. 

Shamsud-Din Jabbar was born and raised in east Texas. Although he is not of Irish descent, like McVeigh he is an Army veteran who served honorably. After he spent nearly ten years active duty and another couple in the reserves Jabbar's career, which remains a tad fuzzy, is reported to have been in real estate. Unlike McVeigh, Jabbar was married. In fact he was married twice, both of them ending in divorce. He was paying child support to one of the ex-wives, while the other had hit him with a restraining order. 

At some point in his life he apparently started to buy into the hate filled rhetoric of the organization known as ISIS. There is no proof, at least at this point, he ever had any contact with ISIS leadership--if there actually is such a thing--or if any of them even knew he existed. As we all know, Jabbar acted on his new found philosophy of disenfranchised reality in New Orleans. Early New Years morning he plowed his rented truck through the crowds on Bourbon Street, killing at least 14, although that number may rise. New Orleans police killed him after he came to a stop and opened fire on them.

On the other hand, the U.S. Government killed Tim McVeigh after a trial, a short stint in a federal prison, and a last meal which included chocolate chip mint, ice cream. 

There are a few other differences in these two cases of heinous terrorism. The main one being after McVeigh was identified prominent politicians didn't start howling open borders were allowing Irish white guys to enter the country to perpetrate savage crimes.     

The gruesome fact McVeigh had actually killed a lot more people didn't matter. As soon as Shamsud-Din Jabbar had been ID'd and the news about his ISIS flag had been reported, President Elect Donald Trump posted on social media, "When I said the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals that we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true. The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Our hearts are with all the innocent victims and their loved ones, including the brave officers of the New Orleans Police Department." 

Never one not to take a hint from Donald Trump, or to create a conspiracy, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted in part, "Terrorist attack in NOLA similar to the one in the German Christmas market. What did we expect would happen with wide open borders and millions of gotaways?" 

Thursday morning Trump doubled down. He wrote, "With the Biden Open Border Policy, I said many times during rallies and elsewhere that Radical Islamic Terrorism and other forms of violent crime will become so bad in America that it will become hard to even imagine or believe."

Again, Shamsud-Din Jabbar was born in Beaumont, TX and up until the moment of the attack he lived and worked in Houston. Before he drove the truck down Bourbon Street, he had posted on social media he had planned to kill his family, but changed his mind. All of which begs the question, which open border does Trump and Greene want to shut down? That one between Texas and Louisiana? It is a known crossing point for criminals--the most notorious one being Lee Harvey Oswald who used it to get to Dallas from New Orleans before he assassinated President John F. Kennedy. 

Jabbar might have had an ISIS flag on his rented truck, but in truth he was one of us: a home grown, old fashioned, All-American homicidal maniac. ISIS and their twisted interpretation of Islam was simply an excuse to explain his rage and madness. Things weren't working out the way he wanted, or had hoped, so like McVeigh and even Oswald he chose not to blame himself, but rather the country he once defended. 

To paraphrase Marjorie Taylor Greene, what did we expect would happen when these fascist wannabes found out Jabbar's name? Well, we can expect, as one wag on CNN put it, "No matter what happens politicians will always politic." 

Amen to that, brother.   

1-3-25