UKRAINE...UKRAINE.... UKRAINE.... RUNNIN' AROUND MY BRAIN.....

Ukraine... runnin' around my brain....   Yup.... But, the original sound was about New York and Cocaine....  and, at my age, I cannot help but experience old "rock n' rock" song lyrics "runnin' around my brain" as well.  The song lyrics hint at a "painful headache" "in the rain"....  In this case, the HEADACHE that began on January 20, 2017 with the Oath of Office - hmmmm..... IN THE RAIN....  resulted in a giant migraine headache....  OK.. so, it doesn't "rain" every day...  but, daily pain infliction on the nation comes from the TWEETS and LIES that come on a daily basis.  The "downpour" of mistakes, lies, outrage, racism, destruction of democracy.... etc., etc.... goes on each and every day...  The cure is displayed in the predicted future cover of TIME Magazine....  and accurately describes an appropriate end to the Trump nightmare. 

As I described in the last posting, my "nightmare"... and "brain pain" began when Trump announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the fall of 2015 - 4 years ago.  That's what prompted me to author this blog.  Along that path, I documented his absurd statements, ridiculous policy positions, and his display of governmental and constitutional ignorance.  Trump had no idea at all or knowledge of the constitution, governmental structure or function, or a legitimate political process and debate.  His goal, in my view at the time, was simply to lay his name on stage, get the spotlight focused on him to "burn" and "tattoo" his Trump-brand across the minds and in the far reaches of America and beyond, and, when all was said and done, cash in through the expansion of his "market."  Early history of the Trump Campaign suggests that he informed his family that he didn't expect to be elected and, in fact, that was not the plan.  He simply wanted to maximize his time in the spotlight and the importance of the Trump "brand."  When all was said and done, perhaps an ally would become President and the Trump "brand" would rank right at the top of the Marketplace.  Melania, as the story goes, was crushed when election night resulted in the family requirement to move into the White House.  According to the press reports of the time, she delayed... and she cried....  Now, back to the title of this article....

Like many Americans, I have suffered headache after headache and, like Milania, was often extremely upset at the goings-on in DC.  Eliminate Healthcare?  Abandon Climate Change policy and international compacts?  Attack and erode NATO?  End NAFTA with no follow-up?  Destroy the American farm community with international trade wars?  Befriend North Korea and Moscow?  Threaten many other nations who have been our allies for decades?  Provide massive tax decreases for himself, the wealthy 1% of the US Population and big corporations and, in so doing, in-debt working families and the Middle Class with the abandonment of food resources, sustainable energy expansion, and expanding the US military and the related war threats and risks abroad. The large corporations became big winners... and, instead of sharing their tax relief - well below the global average of government tax support - with their workers - with increased benefits, factory and job growth, and increased pay that would result in a substantial growth in spending and demand, the cash was handed to the stockholders as shares were repurchased and the value of shares rose. Benefiting the Trump family and others in their economic and wealth rank who hold large number of stock shares, the rest of the nation suffered from a growing chasm between the wealthy and the working; between the rich and the Middle Class... No increase in the minimum wage, no expanded benefits, no family leave adoption or the increase in health coverage or a reduction on the costs of medicines with massive wealth going to big Pharma. Today, we see a massive General Motors strike underway.  Why?  The closure of 5 US plants in the Midwest... and the layoff of more than 5000 workers. The GM Corporate Tax was cut in half!  So, as once was splashed across our TV screens, "Where is the beef?" The answer is - in the toilet! Domestic policy, also missing infrastructure repair desperately needed and job productive, was, like the Trump business history, became a "bankrupt" effort.  Lots of stage presence, many claims and lies, and a complete failure. Sound familiar?  

The other side of the Presidency is the management of International Relations.  Build on the experience and knowledge of  history, the President is the head of the Executive Branch of the American government, and the head of State.  Translation - the key player and manager of foreign relations.  Over centuries, and, especially cruising through the past decades, the US had traveled a global path with some potholes along the way.  We have allies, and we have enemies.  Some are stronger and more valuable or a greater threat.  For the most part, you know which nations are on which side of the fence.  For example, you are well aware that Russia has been our enemy and primary competitor for decades, while others have been allies since World War II - like Great Britain, France, Canada and other European locations, including Germany.  Some, like Ukraine, have cozied  up with us and distanced themselves from their former USSR "bosses" that had to cut them loose when the USSR entered the history books in the 1980s and 90s. On the eastern frontier of Europe, along with Belarus and Poland, Ukraine is on the border of Russia.  In fact, Russia invaded a bordering part of Ukraine - Crimea - in 2014 as a strong message from Putin to Ukraine not to ally themselves with the US and NATO.  Since that time, the invaded and captured territory has been held by Russian troops. Given the illegal and illogical invasion of the Ukraine, and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Moscow was eliminated from the International G8 membership - now G7 - due to the aggression displayed and denounced.  The US and its NATO allies have covered Ukraine with financial and military equipment support for the past 5 years to prevent any further "invasion" by Russia or the loss of other territory to Putin.  In fact, the US and NATO, along with some other nations, have insisted that Moscow return the occupied territory (Crimea) and withdraw troops.  If complied with, G7 will again expand to G8, including Russia.  That has been the Western European and US position since Ronald Reagan demanded, "tear down this wall."  Over the past 5 years we, along with our European allies, have supplied Ukraine with the arms and resources necessary to prevent a further intrusion by Moscow, ever threatened.  Well... until now....The Trumpster, has reversed course.....

Over the past 5 years, Ukraine has been dependent on the US and our allies for the resources to resist Moscow.  This year, Congress voted - and the president signed into law - an extension of our support for Ukraine that was $1.5 billion in the past 5 years.  Trump called the newly-elected president of the Country and issued an "extortion" plot.  Trump put the brakes on and suspended the $400 million in foreign aid funding measure after the new Ukrainian President took office this Spring. In a phone conversation, President Zelensky asked Trump to resume the funding for military support in their struggle to defend against Russia.  After all, the Congress just passed an extension of that support by a wide bi-partisan vote in both houses.  Trump, instead of assuring Zelensky that support for Ukraine would continue, he responded by saying that he needed a "favor."  That "favor" was an "investigation" and an intervention in the 2020 election by Ukraine through an attack on Joe Biden's son and the Ukrainian company that invited him to sit on their board and advise them how best to keep the US satisfied with their corporate independence as well as their services for the nation. Like the Sopranos on TV (a favorite of the Donald, himself a TV personality), he had suspended the financial support for Ukraine and to resume it, asked for a favor - an illegal favor.  Both a quid-pro-quo to hand over $400,000,000 in military support, in return for a smear on the Biden family through Joe Biden's son, Hunter. And, a violation of American law based on foreign influence or funding for US national elections. 

TRUMP - "I AM THE LAW"  

Never mind that the Trump sons - Junior and Eric - and the daughter - Ivanka - are all growing wealth and managing the Trump businesses - millions and billions in accounts, including marketing and "branding" while the Donald steers business and cash into the cash registers at each one - from golf courses, to hotels, and to condo sales. The goal - ignore the rules, forget the law, and enrich the family, including himself, through the "brand" and the businesses.  AGAINST THE US LAW?  Trump's view is, "I AM THE LAW."    

So, now you can see.... why the IMPEACHMENT DEMAND has accelerated...  as the Whistleblower lit a fuse, protected by the DNI testimony of yesterday, and was admired for his/her motivation to protect the nation.  That person - man or woman - revealed the improper, illegal behavior and, potentially, "high crimes and misdemeanors" committed by Trump....  The Whistleblower fueled a vote on "Articles of Impeachment" that could very well happen before 2020 in the House of Representatives. Ukraine extortion = Trump impeachment....    

You see... it's all about the call made by Trump to the President of Ukraine.  And, all about the head of the American "Mob" - Donald Trump - the White House version of The Soprano's Tony Soprano - demanding an illegal "favor" in return for agreeing to hand over $400 million....  Now you know why......  Ukraine.....  is runnin' around my brain.....

It's time.  Stand Up! Speak Out! March On! Tick-tock.... 2020...

Bobby J                                         
                                                      TRUMP AND FRIENDS

Maybe those citizen "mobs" should... MARCH ON!  

THE ANSWER, MY FRIEND, IS BLOWIN' IN THE WIND...... FOR NOW.....

OMG....  I began this blog in the fall of 2015 - 4 years ago.  The motivation was the announcement by "the Donald" that he would seek the Republican nomination for the office of  President in the 2016 election.  Having watched, read, and witnessed Trump's behavior for a good number of years through press reports and TV interviews, his announcement after travelling down the escalator a Trump Tower in NYC... and paying a number of "actors" to assemble and cheer him on, I was shocked by his description of immigrants like his family and mine.  But, at this point he described immigrants of darker skin from Latin America, as "rapists, drug dealers, gang members, criminals... and, "some as nice people."  "Nice people..." ....  Trump's clear inference was that those who seek shelter, protection, education, and a better future for their families - just like his family and mine - were "criminals, drug dealers, and rapists...." What a disgrace...  And, I assumed that a respected and level-header Republican candidate, not a demented whack-job "Head Birther," would gain the Republican  nomination and run against Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.  Concerned, I launched this blog.....

Since the fall of 2015 and with the tremors and shock that I - along with many others - endured, I wrote article after article in this blog.  Visually illustrated with cartoons or photos (mostly cartoons), I underscored the absurd statements and outright lies that Trump marketed along his route to capturing the nomination.  And, on the Dem side, after an uncomfortable primary season Hillary captured the Democratic nomination as expected... but, she came away with some wounds that would later re-appear in the fall race. The Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, focused on the fall race. She joined with Michael Flynn, seated at the main table with Putin in a Moscow "RT" dinner.  Is Russia a leader in the Climate Change movement?  Why would Jill Stein, the Greene Presidential candidate, be enjoying herself at the Putin table accompanied by Michael Flynn, a Trump Campaign operative and a "lock her up" cheerleader at Trump events....  And, the "her" was not Jill Stein... it was Hillary.


Flynn was paid $45,000 to speak at the 10th Anniversary of the Russian TV Network (RT) dinner.  He was seated next to Putin at the gala.  Stein was just 4 seats opposite Putin and enjoyed the prestige of being seated with the Russian Leadership.  And, I am sure, that Putin and Flynn celebrated her performance months later when Stein scored enough votes in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin to hand Trump the narrow - Electoral College only - selection as President.  Had Jill not been in the election, would the Green Party voters had aligned with Michael Flynn and Trump - Climate Change deniers?  I doubt it......  To this day, I still cannot fathom why Jill Stein was invited, attended, and was seated at the Putin table. Take a guess....  Perhaps the Russian engagement in the fall election was, at least in part, dependent on diverting Hillary votes for either this reason or that reason to someone other than Trump.... or just stay home....  Those actions, and a variety of social-media-based other Moscow interference actions, resulted in a narrow Electoral College win for Trump in spite of losing the popular vote. Hillary carried 3,000,000 more votes than Trump across the nation... Had the Greene party votes carried by Jill Stein in three states - PA., MICH., and WIS. - gone to Hillary with 46 Electoral Votes, and not Trump, she would have broken the proverbial last "glass ceiling" as the first woman ever elected to the most powerful office on the planet. So, the question is -  one other woman running against Hillary as the Greene party candidate and the "lock her up" chant-master, Michael Flynn sharing dinner with Putin who's government and social media experts launched an attack designed to elect Trump sat together in December, 2015 after Trump had declared.  Was this outrageous interference by Russia in our election given birth at that table that night?  Was a "treasonous triumvirate" gathered together to hatch the plot that played out over the course of the following year?  Perhaps this sounds like a fictional mystery?  Or, is it a description of recent history.

LIES, LIES, LIES........

Since the start of the Trump campaign - and this blog - I have written 100 articles raising issues and telling the tales of treason, lies, and the continuous dismantling and destruction of our democracy by one person who sees himself as the American Monarch.  Moscow Mitch McConnell sees Trump as "King" and his role as husband to one member of the Trump Cabinet and Leader of the "House of Lords", loyal to the King.  That combination must be diminished... defeated....and politically dismembered.  It is time to save the American Democracy and cast out those who would conspire to invent a Dictatorship led by a Despot - Donald Trump.


Join in this effort.  Get on the 2020 train - NOW.  Work out the details for next year and smooth the kinks that you see this fall.  Next year will be the penultimate effort to save the American experiment launched in 1776, drafted in 1781 as a set of Articles, and cured in 1789 with the adoption of the US Constitution.  Tweaked a mere handful of times in 230 years, the Constitution serves as a model of democracy and freedom for those seeking liberty and prosperity around the globe. Trump's administration, on the other hand, stands for extremism, and worse. Those given the authority to steer the ship of state in  the Trump Cabinet and as White House staff and advisers, are steering for the edge of the earth.  Just as bad or worse in foreign relations, Trump is encouraging conflict and abandoning our decades-long allies through trade wars, weakening alliances like NATO and others, abandoning the Global Climate Change effort, and threatening others with attack or impoverishment.  It's time....
Join us.  Stand Up!  Speak Out!  And, March On!  Tick-tock.... 2020....

Bobby J

President Trump - Executive Time with his motivators....

TTW - TRUMP'S TRADE WARS... AND THE AMERICAN "WAR" CASUALTIES NEGLECTED BY TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS

mo·ron

Dictionary result for moron

/ˈmôrˌän/

noun

INFORMAL

1. a stupid person.

   
   

   "we can't let these thoughtless morons get away with mindless vandalism every weekend"

   
   

   synonyms:

   fool, oaf, nincompoop, clown, dunce, dolt, dullard, ignoramus, simpleton; informalidiot, cretin, imbecile, nitwit, halfwit, ninny, dope, dimwit, dumbo, dummy, ass, jerk, nerd, dumdum, loon, chump, goon, jackass, fathead, blockhead, numbskull, dunderhead, meathead, dipstick, bonehead, chucklehead, clod, goop, knucklehead, lamebrain, peabrain, pudding-head, pinhead, airhead, birdbrain, dumbbell, donkey, stupe, noodle,clot, pin-head.

2. 
   

More than two centuries later, an orange-skinned MORON sits at the "Resolute Desk" in the Oval Office.  Elected with Electoral Votes, but having lost the popular vote by 3,000,000, Donald "dimwit" Trump watches TV, calls "friends" on FOX, and tweets out a true horror show every day.  Sadly, his hallucinations color his view of the nation, its neighbors, its inhabitants, and the world. 

From day to day - absurd insistence, government shut-downs, program cuts and elimination, ridiculous  appointments to high offices that "administer" government through dismantling their jurisdictions and/or reversing course, Trump has inflicted dismantling as his method of governing as president. From being a Climate Change and Science denier, to launching attacks on government regulations that have evolved over decades to protect American citizens and the method of protection that has gradually been adopted in a bi-partisan history, Trumpology erodes our democracy.  Appointing a Pharma CEO who skyrocketed the cost of medicines by 100-500% or more unchecked in just two years, to abandoning American protected wilderness to mining and oil exploration, turning his back on the history and pride of protecting our nation for our children and grand-kids, is a national embarrassment. Attacking our long-term allies, NATO, NAFTA, TPP, Law enforcement, the judicial system, the FBI, the DOJ, the Free Press, immigrants seeking asylum from life-threatening at-home violence, minorities, and those who advocate for sensible gun control, women's rights, workers rights, and higher wages for working class Americans has resulted in serious damage to our system and our government. One example is his impact on farmers and farming across the nation through the US Department of Agriculture.  

Growing up and attending school in an East Coast urban complex - the second largest city in New Jersey - Jersey City, I became an "urban kid."  No... not too much street gangs as a young teen, but all play and sports virtually asphalt and concrete.  A city-kid through and through.  Bicycles, buses, and trains were my transport methods and hanging out in Greenwich Village in New York City became a late-teen habit. Farms?  What are those?  I always thought of the NJ Suburbs as "the country" as a young man and, years later, understood more and more that the rural farming environment was the essential element of this nation that fed us all.  There is no more important asset in America than our food production and the health of our "bread basket" states and communities.  Western Europe, China, Russia, South East Asia and Latin America have experienced farm failures, food shortages, long lines for little food, and some shortages and starvation.  Many times, American farm production not only satisfied the needs of our own folks, but were able to package and export supplies to many others off-shore. We fed ourselves and built a system and farm output that could feed much of the world as well. Scoring a Master's Degree, I finally understood the relationship of our farm output, America being well fed, and farming exports around the world.  Moron Trump says that he not only understands the role of the farm industry, but is a towering "expert." Nonsense! You may recall that the Bush family lived on the middle floors in the Tower of Wealth but George H.W. Bush didn't know the cost of milk or bread and had never been in a food store.  Trump, living in the Tower's Pent House with a golden toilet seat, has little clue about supply, shopping, and food supply. A total fool.

 According to a USDA report submitted on February 21, 2019 by the agency’s Chief Economist, Robert Johansson at the annual “USDA OUTLOOK FORUM” in Washington, DC, farm exports are expected to plunge $1.9 BILLION in fiscal 2019 compared to 2018!  This is largely due to President Trump’s Trade War (TTW) with China.  Our Trade War has resulted in numerous casualties, some fatal, resulting in farm bankruptcies and factory closures. Aside from all farm outputs, the Trade War substantially impacts soybean exports.  China’s import of US Soybeans have “plummeted by 22 million metric tons, or over 90%”, Johansson said in the report.  In fact, China is buying only 6% of all US exports presently compared to 18% in 2014. The USDA report estimates a net farm income of $66 billion in 2018 compared to $134 billion in 2013, as reported in the Huffington Post.

China has turned to Russia to in-fill farming imports previously secured from the US.  Russia’s soybean exports to China more than doubled last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Overall, Russia’s trade with China rose by more than 27% - to over $100 Billion last year.  Even worse, the Trade War is linked to the highest number of Midwestern farm bankruptcies in a decade, according to the Journal.  Johansson warned that export recovery has been “dimmed” in the near future due to the South American soy harvest increase. Sadly, the Trump Trade War and our withdrawal from the TPP trade system has advantaged Russian farmers and disadvantaged the US.

Against that backdrop, USDA has accelerated investments – not in farming but in jails! Since 1996 the USDA has invested more than $277 million to fund local jail construction - not in corn, wheat, dairy, or soybean production.  Of the 36 total loans provided under that program, seven (7) were provided in North Carolina ($66 million), five (5) in Michigan ($43.5 million), and just one (1) in New York State ($51.4 million).  That one preliminary loan approval made in NY State – Greene County at $51.4 million – is the largest single low-cost loan ever assigned to any state or local jail project in the nation!  Second in amount at $30.9 million is Monroe County, TN, and third at $20.0 million is Braden County, NC.  Please note that the USDA jail loan/grant inventory form attached reflects both House and Senate Members who represent the district that was awarded funding. 

JOHN FASO (R) FORMER HOUSE MEMBER - NYCD 19 

All of that suggests that the Trump Gang lured Republican Members of Congress to support his cracked policies and necessary Congressional votes with cash "bait." John Faso, NYCD19 Republican House Member fully supported the Trumpology program.... and lost re-election in 2018 to Antonio Delgado. Faso was lured, baited, and LOST after one term!  

I share this current information to make the case that our farming communities need USDA support and investment in counties and farming enterprise like ours. Utilizing agricultural grants and low-cost loan funding to build jails and prisons as outlined is off the mark and off base in not supporting farms and farming.  

                 As the Chair of a local Mountain Top Progressive Jail Project Committee, I have worked for a Congressional intervention to prevent inappropriate USDA funding of jails and, instead, to re-direct these assets to farm investments.  Congress must stop this waste of agricultural support dollars that can better be used to expand and enhance rural economic growth, development, to promote agricultural communities, and to grow rural job opportunity.  And, of course, feed the nation!

               

                Along with the membership of MTP, I encouraged our new Congressman, Antonio Delgado, to engage as a Member of the House Agricultural Committee to prevent a misapplication of funds intended to help farms, help farmers, and assist those consumers who depend on them.  We encouraged “a transparent public hearing and a full review” of this particular Greene County issue. The assignment of nearly 20% of all the jail funds available since 1996 at USDA as “rural economic investments” to the unnecessary Greene County Jail project, and not to projects designed to protect and/or advance the economic well-being of rural communities, is both wasteful and is opposed.  

                The reported crash of the farming community, the closing of industrial manufacturing plants, the dismantling of our global alliances and trade agreements must stop.  The national and inter-national leadership and strength of this nation that led to global peace and American prosperity cannot be abandoned.  Working together - for the advantage of us all and not simply for the American "Oligarchy" as a reflection of the Putin Process - we must re-build our democratic governing process and keep the promise that Lincoln stated at Gettysburg. That "this nation shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."  Instead, what needs to "perish" from the presidency is President Donald J. Trump......  

 Stand Up!  Speak Out!  Resist! Insist! March On!

Bobby J

  

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.... A CRIMINAL ACT... THIS TIME WITH CO-CONSPIRATOR MC CONNELL!

Hi Folks: Been thinking about the Offer of Trumpology at this time... You know - the one that attempts to switch the blame for the government shut-down to the Democrats who reject what Trump and Pence describe as a fair offer to open negotiations so that Trump gets the BRIBE err.... I mean, the allocation and appropriation of $5.7 billion for wasteful spending on "THE WALL." After King Trumpo took great pride in taking the blame for the shut-down of 800,000+ federal employees over the last month, his FINGER-POINTING became casting blame on the Dem Leadership - Pelosi and Schumer - for failing to pay the demanded BRIBE. So, lets take a quick look..... 

   1. Trump kidnaps Dreamers by an Executive Order abolishing DACA; Dreamers held hostage....

   2. Trump kidnaps those seeking protection and admittance to the USA under "Temporary Protection Status" - TPS - for amnesty admission consideration - also by Executive Order. Those at risk for lost life - now being held as hostages....

   3. Add the thousands of hostages mentioned above who are being inflicted with pain by Trump - to the initial child “hostages” separated from their parents at the border... and held in cages as forced orphans. SHAME! 

   4. Trump presses the Court buttons - (after despoiling them with appointed Trumpology judges) - by filing suit against “Dreamers” and DACA to destroy and eliminate the program protections for children brought into the US by their improperly migrating parents. Today, they are and long-time American residents growing up as “American” students and young adults - learning, yearning, working, and paying taxes who are desperately seeking a way to become US Citizens.

   5. After the Senate unanimously passes Trump approved Republican appropriations bills to keep government open, Trump objects err... after agreeing ... because some Right-wing NUT folks - Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter - insist that King Trump NOT SIGN.... so, Trump reverses his position and, unnecessarily, “royally” screws 800,000 federal employees. In addition, thousands and thousands of federal contract workers also are laid off or furloughed.... and many essential services closed down... Again, TRUMPOLOGY increases the "hostage” headcount by MILLIONS MORE!

   6.  Senate Leader McConnell refuses to post any legislation or solutions to this issue unless MADMAN TRUMP approves doing so....  Will Trump "dictate" his message to the Senate?  Is Trump our first AMERICAN DICTATOR? Or, does Trump have something seriously important on McConnell and is EXTORTING HIM TOO?  Or, is McConnell simply someone that got everything that he wanted - including his bride being appointed as Secretary of Transportation and holding a legitimate vote for Prez Trump's ability to govern....  or, maybe.....  

...McConnell is simply a SLOW-MOVER... AND is hidden inside his shell seeking cover from pressure and embarrassment in his dismantling the federal government and the public services provided across America? Seems like McConnell is the "Court Jester" and will perform any trick, sing any song, or act out any behavior that King Trump tells him to do....?  And, McConnell rejects the US Constitution's clear ARTICLE 1 definition of the co-equal branches of government who shall govern EQUALLY....  and not at the single-handed decisions and instructions of the American DICTATOR!  As with other members of the Congress, McConnell swore an OATH to uphold and support the Constitution of the United States.  He abandoned that oath.   

   So, the kidnapper - King Trump - now demands the payment of a $5.7 BILLION DOLLAR RANSOM - a PERMANENT APPROPRIATION.... And, will all of the hostages and kidnapped victims be returned? NOPE! Just the caring parties will be able to visit with them for 3 years.... TEMPORARILY.... And, well, except for the federal employees who will be returned to their jobs and paychecks after more than a month held as hostages with all the others.  

THIS IS NO LESS THAN A KIDNAP CRIME DEMANDING FULL PAYMENT IN RANSOM for just visiting the victims for a short period..... A COMPLETE DISGRACE!

STAND UP! SPEAK OUT! RESIST! INSIST! MARCH ON!

Bobby J

LIAR, LIAR.... HAIR'S ON FIRE! A BOARDER HERE... A BORDER THERE... WHAT???

LIAR, LIAR.... HAIR'S ON FIRE!!!

TRUMPOLOGY, GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND IMMIGRATION FANTASY...

It goes without saying that Trump has been lying his way throughout a campaign for president - virtually every day lying over and over.  Since he lied his way into the White House in 2017, more than 6000 lies have been uttered - many of the most recent ones regarding immigrants - those seeking safety and refuge through admittance to the US. The Trumpology demands, related to our southern border, are related to gangs, drugs, and rapists that began in his campaign in late 2015.  Since then, Trump has repeated over and over that he would build "A WALL" to seal off the southern border from the "infiltration" of "criminals" and "terrorists" and.... (ready with a drum-roll???) - PAID FOR BY .....M E X I C O!!!  Absurd, of course... and denounced by the President of Mexico. Most Americans - and certainly many members of the Congress - know that Mexico will not pay for "the Wall." Nevertheless, Trump continues to mumble that conclusion one way or another and Pence and other Trump allies make up some absurd and confused reasoning that somehow, some way, we will make that happen....

The current debate and dispute taking place between Trump and the Democratic Leaders - Pelosi as House Speaker and Schumer as Dem Senate leader - to resolve the hostage-taking of the federal government workers engineered by the conceived and connived Trump Shutdown, both sides have hardened in their positions. The Democrats refuse to fund construction of a ridiculous southern wall as a complete waste of tax dollars and Trump continues to make up stories about terrorist "caravans" heading for the border, deploys military troops to repel the "invasion" of "rapists, drug lords, and terrorists", and uses exaggerated lies on the issue urgency and "national emergency."  HUH?  Lets take a peek.....

The most recently announced basis for a "National Emergency" that Trump has used as a basis... is an "INVASION."  This, without saying, is a complete mystery... and an outright fantasy, a made up story and.... a GIANT LIE!  Along with Vice President Pence, Trump was quoted as commenting that some 4000 "terrorists" had been detected crossing the southern border with Mexico in the last year. Trump stated this as a FACT?  Frankly, it is either an "alternative fact" or a complete LIE. The actual Homeland Security report for the last 6 months indicates that only 6 individuals were stopped at the southern border due to the fact that they are on the "watch list."  An additional 41 were stopped at the northern border with Canada for the same reasons.  No alien terrorist or criminal arrests were made, however. Of all of those intercepted - 47 - 41 were US Citizens and, seems like, they were stopped and questioned because they are on a list generated as a result of their travel route histories. Actually, Homeland reports that there were 2554 "encounters" with those ID'd with suspicious travel patterns over a year.  Of that number, 2170 were arriving via air, 335 by land,and the balance by sea.  According to the State Department, there was no evidence that any of those delayed were a threat to the nation. VP Pence reduced the number from 4000 to 3000 "suspicious" entries that still does not match any numbers generated by Homeland Security and Boarder Patrol - both of which are currently on furlough due to the government shutdown. SO, WHERE IS THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY???

Then Trump announces that other presidents have counseled him that he should build "the wall" and that they should have done so when they were at the switch.  All of those alive today - Carter, Clinton, Bush, and Obama - commented that no such conversation ever happened.... Just another lie.... And, needless to say, Trump accuses the Democrats of supporting "open borders' that just let anyone into the USA. Nonsense. Democrats have supported considerable investment in Border Patrol, immigration protections, amnesty policies, and additional technological investments in border security like satellite inspections and un-manned drone patrol with fence projects to prevent improper entry. 

Of course, the issue that is the greatest challenge are those immigrants who enter legally and, upon expiration of their short-term visa - visiting, education, temporary employment or vacationing - they fail to depart.  That makes them "illegal" in presence, not upon entry.  The number of "illegal aliens" present in the USA is - by far - a result of this visa practice.   

The Democrats have called for and support legislation to solve the "Dreamer" issue - children who were brought here by their parents, legally for a short visit or illegally passing the border, and have been in residence for years and years. These "near-citizens" have earned citizenship as have their families. Democrats want to provide them with a "path" to citizenship - better and shorter than other "illegals." Just a year ago, the Republican Senate along with Democratic Senators passed such legislation with the indication that Trump would sign the bill. Sadly, the Tea Party right-wing House Republicans sank the legislation in Ryan's House, and Trump abandoned the issue as well. Even worse, right now "children" in the company of those seeking asylum from the horrors of their home country, a separated from their parents and caged in military-styles camps, out of touch with their parents for months... or, perhaps, years.  Ordered by the courts to re-unite parents and children, it remains an issue as Homeland Security has the kids under lock and key and has failed to locate the deported parents.  These are now "Homeland Orphans" in cages.

So... what is the "NATIONAL EMERGENCY?"  Southern Border "invasion"?  No....  just 6 persons in 6 months and no arrests.  The need for a tall WALL?  Nope.  A 12th Century strategy to surround the castle preventing the peasantry from entry?  Silly..... and an expensive failure going forward.  Perhaps the high wall that will protect America from assault, financial ruin, war with allies and enemies, and destruction of democratic traditions and history for this nation is an attractive explanation....  Perhaps a court action is necessary... or, pursuit of the Mueller Report.... or impeachment and Senate trial.....  or, simply election defeat in 2020.  Yes, we need a salvation - from lies, from the erosion of democracy, and by the want for dictatorship by an nihilistic ego maniac that sits in the Oval Office right now... a "wall" well earned and deserved...... 

March On.... to the day that we will rise to save the nation, restore our democracy, assure our allies that we will be back on track, and invest in advancing our working families and middle class - not the Moscow Model - Trump's "Oligarchs" of America....

Bobby J     

LOOKING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL... 2019 PREDICTIONS AND FUTURE EVENTS FORETOLD.... DO YOU AGREE?

2019 PREDICTION OF EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN WASHINGTON DC.

                                                            JANUARY 2019

WHEW!  The past two years have been quite the roller-coaster ride in our nation’s capitol.  From the Women’s March on January 21, 2017 through today – with the swearing-in of a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives and our new Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, we have traveled quite the bumpy road to a safer landing.  Although the Trump Party (note – not the traditional “Republican Party”), still holds power in Trump’s White House and the US Senate under Mitch McConnell, 2019 will be quite the political scene along the way…. And will evolve into a new chapter in US history – far more bizarre than we have experienced in the past. 

The following contains my predictions for 2019. One year from now… as we enter the cycle for the election of 2020 and a national determination regarding our future course - both national and international, at home and abroad - 2019 will become an extraordinary and shocking evolution impacting our future.  Buckle up, hold on tight, and take a deep breath….  Here we go!  2019…..

2019

2019 will take on the role of evolving into shocking US history.  Those of us who have paid attention to the workings of Washington DC over the past two years have witnessed the devolution of our democracy.  In retreat from our leadership of the world order, we have also abandoned a carefully built social, economic, and political safety net.  From mangling  voting rights and dismantling healthcare coverage by imploding the ACA, Trump and his allies are inflicting wound after wound on the great role that the US has played both at home and abroad.  From withdrawing from the Climate Accord, the Iran Anti-Nuclear Agreement, the distant but gigantic Far East Trade Agreements (the Trans-Pacific Partnership), and, closer to home, the NAFTA Agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada, to instituting trade war and tariffs that have closed American factories and wounded our farming communities - especially soy beans and others with extensive exported foreign sales that have suffered most, Trump and his gang have dis-assembled relationships that had been carefully build over decades. These forward steps were crafted and implemented by both Democrat and Republican Presidents and adopted by our US Senate as well, regardless of dominant party.  This INSANITY must stop.  This year - 2019 - not 2020 - will result in the sinking of the Trump presidency and the evaporation of his unskilled, inexperienced cabinet. Here are my 2019 predictions that will result in this outcome.

1. The US Government will re-open after a long and painful Trump Shut-down. The “heat” rises from this day forward as a result of the Dems taking charge of the House.  Watch for a blizzard of House Committee investigations and subpoenas issued by a long list of House Committees probing violations conducted and the laws broken or ignored by the Trump gang.  The infliction of these investigations - and negative headlines – will be negotiated a bit to re-open the government and provide the needed services to the public.

2. Robert Mueller, Special Counsel investigating Trump and his goons for nearly two years, will bring forward his findings and a report in early spring, 2019.  In spite of the rules that have him submit the report to Trump’s “acting” Attorney General who then hides the report in a closet, House Dems subpoena Mueller and the Report along with recommendations - likely at the House Judiciary Committee headed by Jerold Nadler (D-NY). The Report is then released or leaked to the press creating a tidal wave of controversy drowning the Trump gang in scandal.

3. Insofar as Trump has an overload of “acting” Cabinet members or Department leaders, and the Senate is still in Republican hands, the negative tidal impact on Trump will impede progress on getting approval for appointments, but for those directly recommended by Republican members of the Senate.  The necessary nominations will attract considerable negative response to such nominees early on and result that the Senate Hearings on these appointees will be awash in negative press. In fact, negative out-pouring will threaten the nominee’s reputation and may result in self-withdrawal to avoid being covered in Trump “mud.”  By the way, when the 25^th Amendment was adopted in 1967, in addition to the Vice-President, a simple majority of the Cabinet can declare that the President is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” The Vice-President becomes President immediately upon delivery to the Senate.  Here is a good question….  Are “Acting” Cabinet Officers empowered to ‘act’ as “official” Secretaries of each Department?  Can they vote on Trump’s ability to govern?  Hmm….. Perhaps remaining as “Acting” Secretary of HUD or Attorney General would not permit their participation in a “finding” that the President is no longer able to “discharge his powers and duties.”

4. Given the growing presence of investigations, accusations, House-passed legislation attracting headlines in addition to their investigations, and the embarrassing confirmation proceedings on Cabinet nominations by an administration under attack for illegal and unethical behavior, the Trump Administration grinds to a near-halt.

5.  Sometime mid-year, if not before when the Mueller Report hits the press and the impeachment hearings commence, the Trump Gang is completely crippled.  The Republican Senate, while hinting that they will NOT “convict” Trump of Impeachable charges adopted in the House and sent to the Senate for “trial”, McConnell’s members realize that they will SINK in the 2020 elections if they do not create some responsible and defensible position or action.  After all, 2/3 of the US Senate up for election in 2020 are Republicans and see themselves on the edge of a political cliff! Assuming that Trump runs and maintains support by the Republican base (currently at 80%) to win the 2020 primary elections, McConnell realizes that somehow Trump needs to depart before election year, or else Republican Senators on the ballot will WALK THE PLANK! Under threat of the 25^th Amendment removal possibility, or the potential to be saved from impeachment by the nervous Senate, Trump considers RESIGNATION.

6. The first six months of 2019 turns up the heat with House Committee investigations, the Mueller findings and report, and the impeachment process underway.  With both he and his family members exposed to improper behavior allegations, including criminal charges and convictions, “the Donald” seeks protection.  In return for a PARDON from his successor, Mike Pence - for him and his entire family and arrangements made with Democrats regarding state-level charges exposure, Trump steps down.  Pence becomes President, names a VP with voting support from the Senate Republicans, and settles in to head the Republican 2020 ticket.  Impeachment proceedings evaporate, House Committee investigations shrink down as a new Pence Cabinet is appointed replacing the Trump Gang, and Pence sets up for 2020 with changes in personnel and policy and with a “Save the Senate” election plan.  Pence recalls the Gerry Ford pardon and the fact that he was not able to secure a follow-up election as the incumbent Republican President. It goes without saying that Pence and McConnell are worried… Who will the Democrats run? Pence is on the phone.... hello, Vladimir???

Add some comments if you agree/disagree.  

Meanwhile... celebrate 2019... and March On!  

Bobby J