PLANET TRUMP?

You know, more than 50 years ago another megalomaniac "leader" began a quest to take over his nation first and then the world all based on his world view.  We all now know how that all played out... and the outcome too - millions of lives lost, communities an nations destroyed, and treasures squandered.  Donald Trump's distorted view of the nation and the world was on full display last night during his speech accepting the nomination of the Republican Party for the Presidency of the United States.  Wow.....

Donald's "dark" view of America - and the world - reeks of dangers around the corner and around the globe.  FEAR is his goal.  And, the belief that ONLY HE can keep us safe in our neighborhoods and from the global existential threats that exist, is his ticket to the White House.  Or, at least that is what appears to be the strategy coming out of the Republican Convention.  Trump describes himself as the "law and order candidate" that will infuse new approaches to keep our streets safe.  And, on the global stage, in addition to making our allies pay up for their obligations to NATO and other alliances, he will force "them all" to pay up - OR ELSE!  Want us to live up to our decades-long treaty obligations?  Well, pay us and we just might.  If we want to invades some godforsaken place on the planet because they had the gall to bad-mouth the USA - right or wrong - send troops, planes, and bombs or WATCH OUT!  We just will not be there when you need us.... say in Poland or Estonia or Lithuania or Ukraine when Putin and Russia do the saber-rattle or actually step over the border to "protect Russian citizens."  Or, Should China or North Korea violate International Law or their treaty obligations in the South China Sea, South Korea, the Philippines, or other neighbors in the Far East, we may help - if the bills are paid, or maybe we would just encourage Japan and South Korea to develop their own atomic weaponry (in violation of our own Non-Proliferation Treaty agreements) and what happens, happens.  And, in the Middle East?  Well, according to Trump, any dictator is a good dictator, regardless of how brutal and non-democratic their reign may be, as long as they keep their own chaos at home and not bother us.  Again, our allies are another question - depends on whether they are paid up or not. Taken together, sounds like the Trump plan is to put all of our alliances into a blender, add a dash of guilt and some cash, spin on high for a bit and see what comes out. Wow....

How is this for a "wow" factor?  Discriminate against any member of a particular religion - Muslims - and discriminate against them on that basis alone.  Keep them out of the US, and closely review all of the Muslims already here ("enhanced verification") to determine if they are loyal Americans or not.  I am not sure if we interrogate all Muslims in the US, round them up into camps and only let them out after water-boarding, or simply send them a questionnaire with their tax forms. Hmmmmm......  Build a tall wall on the southern border of the US to keep Latin American immigrants out. And, then there is the issue of the INS enforcement squads tasked with rounding up more than 11,000,000 immigrants - mostly from Latin America - fleeing political repression or poverty and seeking no more than to participate the promise of America - and sending them all back to their country of origin.  Now, this is Law and Order, right? Sure, many of these immigrants are illegals, but is this the solution?  Or, are we looking more an more like an intolerant and unwelcoming nation totally contrary to our history, our traditions, and our immigrant heritage? Have we become the generation that believes that once we are here, enough is enough - raise the draw bridge?

Last night, Jon Stewart, appearing on the Steve Colbert's Late show, described the Republican plan to make "America Great Again."  Stewart described the plan as "No. 1, jail your opponents; No.2 Inject Rudy Giuliani with a speed ball and a Red Bull enema; and, No.3, spend the rest of the time scaring the holy bejesus out of everybody."  Stewart noted that the Republican Party has issues with minorities and women "fighting for their place at the American table."  He said, "if you have a problem with that, take it up with the founders - "We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL MEN are created equal."  He said, that divisions in the American political landscape are not being caused by "those fighting to be included in the ideal of equality", but by "those fighting to keep these people out."

All this from the Republican candidate for President of the United States.  Please.  The very same Donald Trump has suggested that Bill and Hillary Clinton somehow murdered Vince Foster.  Ted Cruz dad conspired with Lee Harvey Oswald in the murder of JFK? Obama is a Kenyan Muslim? The same Trump that said that he "saw and heard thousands of new Jersey Muslims cheer when the World Trade Center came down on 9-11."  Vaccines cause autism?  The Mexican government is "shipping their worst - murderers, drug lords, and rapists" to our shores?  Justice Scalia was murdered? If that was so, who did it?  Maybe the wealthy conservative Republicans who hosted him on that hunting trip on a private estate.  And, he attacks the US Supreme Court for doing their job - making decisions based on the law and legal precedent - and calls for the removal of  Justice Ginsberg for exercising her constitutional right of free speech. But, don't restrict the free flow of guns and weapons of war on the streets of America through common sense gun control measures that even the members of the NRA support. Do we really want this person - Donald Trump - who believes and advocates these screwy notions....  and, is currently in federal court for perpetrating a FRAUD on thousands of students with a fake college - Trump University?  A person who will not release his tax returns in spite of his pledge to do so and proudly states that he declared several bankruptcies ... because he could under the rules?  And, before the Republican Convention, the man who released a list of potential Supreme Court nominees who, if appointed, would gut much of the progressive agenda adopted over the past 70+ years - from the New Deal forward, including Roe v. Wade.  Is this REALLY who we want in the Oval Office?  Women, Hispanics, African-Americans, and even our long-time international allies around the world are all rightly concerned that this megalomaniac could possibly become President of the United States. Do we need yet another off-balance, self-centered, power-hungry person at the switch of the most powerful military that the world has ever seen?   And, here we are today - with today's poll data in the battleground states indicating that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are dead even. Who will be at the switch and who's finger will be on the nuclear button come next January?  Worrisome...... don't you think? 

As this past week was the "Donald Show", next week will be wall to wall - the "Hillary Show" as the Democratic National Convention moves to center stage.  We will see if the Democrats can put front and center a better Convention, and provide a platform, an agenda, and good cause to elect Hillary and down-ballot Democrats this fall.  Let's hope that common sense and confidence in a better America can defeat bigotry and fear as the defining emotions of campaign 2016.  My fingers will be crossed......  Stay tuned.....