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.
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| 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
TRUMP AND FRIENDS
Maybe those citizen "mobs" should... MARCH ON!
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