(#4959) trump will fall because trump is his own worst enemy

      It is obvious that trump is no stable genius despite his own utterances. He commits crimes and then leaves the evidence for everyone to easily discover. He is no Houdini, nor some master strategist. Damn, he even leaves his fingerprints on the evidence that he leaves in place sight. This is not someone who should be admired instead he should be pitied for his colossal ineptness. But only for an instant because his crimes are chock full of danger for too many serious American patriots who are now in the service of laying their lives on the line for our democracy.
     We Americans should be highly embarrassed at getting him into the highest public office possible and we should wear that shame for the rest of our lives. Germany had it's hitler, Italy it's mussolini, and even now Russia it's putin. We Americans had our trump and even though he is disgraced and twice impeached he is still stirring the pot here in American politics. Those days are coming to an end though as there are too many legal justice procedures coming for him. Like I said earlier here he is no master at hiding his crimes.
     All other delusional egoists of the past who wrought suffering and death by large degrees in the modern world have been toppled because they over reached their worth. They got away with it for a relative while but eventually their egos led them into traps from which there is/was no escape. Such as it is foreseeable with the end of putin and his over reach into Ukraine; the same downfall awaits trump because he couldn't keep his fingers off of Americas secrets when he had no legal right to touch them. From Capone going down through tax evasion to now trump going down from espionage and theft; the standard of law and order is the mechanism that will eventually win out against the egos of unworthy men!

(#4958) Stop coddling the republicans!

      I am sick and tired of the people who keep giving republicans the benefit of the doubt. Take for instance kemp in Georgia. He stalls his subpoena to appear before that state's grand jury and is rewarded with only having to testify after the November election. It is all about gamesmanship with republicans not about being truthful to crimes committed. They want power and will never stop delaying, obstructing, and outright bullshitting anyone who would hold them to account. It doesn't matter that an election is 70 days away. There is always going to be an election that is close enough for the republican party to manipulate. We should all follow normal processes and procedures and then let the course of justice prevail.
     The republican party has many crimes to answer for and the sooner we get to those crimes the better off our democracy will be. It doesn't matter about the individual republicans who are caught up in the conspiracies that they themselves perpetrated. No democracy can survive when individuals are given dispensations others cannot employ. Our politicians are not the end all to anything deserving special treatment when the rest of us are subjected to no special privilege. We are not a two class system where one class gets justice and the other doesn't. We all live under the same rule of law. However that understanding is not clear when republican politicians keep getting a higher class of protection from their crimes.
     People can easily be replaced in our government and established bureaucracy. When we don't do that and start to protect certain people more than our democratic principles then that is when we notice that our form of government has changed into one where privilege and advantage are the foundation and not equality and justice. So stop protecting the trumps of the republican party and start protecting the rule of law as it is applied to all of us and not to just most of us. With kemp not testifying before the coming election we the people are being deprived of information that would help make us a more informed electorate. So where is the sense to that unless the sense is to protect the dishonest within the republican party.

(#4957) Global warming is going to kill us all if we don't stop our part in it!

      It is going to be over 110 degrees here in Sacramento, California this week in the early part of the month of September. I cannot tell you how crazy this is. In the past days approaching 100 degrees were not as frequent as they are now. So by saying that I am trying to establish in your minds that the temperatures here are steadily rising. Now it may be just a natural occurrence as weather patterns historically have fluctuated. Yet in those historical studies the natural occurrence mode is not alone in determining our heat indexes. We have physics, science and math to help us as tools to discover the actions of  we ourselves and how that effects our ecosystem.
     Those tools have been telling us for decades that greenhouse gases that are trapped in our atmosphere are causing the heat from the sun to reflect back down onto the Earth more frequently. Normally those heat rays from the sun would bounce off the Earth and head back out into space. Not anymore as we keep burning fossil fuels and gases that reduce the excess heat from traveling back out into space. This is how the greenhouse effect came to be know in climate studies. In a greenhouse, temperatures can be raised artificially to help grow plants at managed temperatures. Well in our climate example this inadvertent creation of a greenhouse effect shielding in our atmosphere is causing the temperatures to rise above what is relatively normal.
     When we burn carbon products the residue from the burn is left in our atmosphere to act as an enclosure for keeping heat in. We need to stop adding to that enclosure so that heat can begin to travel back out into space and thereby reduce atmospheric temperatures back to traditional normal ranges. We have to turn the heat down and to do that we need to stop adding certain carbon based fuel to the fire. Of course we need to wean our industries off of fossil fuels but we have known this for generations now and the major industries are not being good stewards of our planet so our government must help us to transition away from eventual death and back toward healthy air, water, and soil.
     

(#4956) Live your life but advocate for what is correct

      I get how people are busy with their lives and that takes a lot out of us. Yet the foundation from which we exist in our democracy is being threatened by the republican party. Pay attention for however long it takes to understand the significant threat to how we live in our democracy. Being busy living in our democracy must not take all our time. We have a civic duty to pay attention to how some citizens of our nation who are negatively forcing how we all must live. That is not democracy, that is autocracy, or more clearly a tyrannical form of representation. Our political leaders are our servants but too many have lost sight of that. Instead of being good stewards to all of us, too many republicans are making us beholden to them.
     I always thought that once people realized what a con job the republican party was pulling on us that we would quickly vote them out and be done with them. But no, we seem to be oblivious to making our own minds up about what is good and bad in society. It isn't that overwhelming to understand that if people being hurt is the gist of a policy, then that party that forwarded that policy is not practicing democracy. The idea of representative democracy is one in which the will of the majority is upheld. The reason being is that that good policy is supported by the political party that has the backing of a majority of Americans. If democrats were the party of treason and making the working middle poor class suffer then I would quit them and either join the republicans if they were better at being good or start a new party.
     This incessant belief to stick with a political party even when they are putting targets on their supporters backs is stubborn and irrational. Why would anyone associate with a gang of thugs and thieves who are out to get anyone who isn't them? If you are a thug or thief then sure stick with the republican party because you would fit right in. But if not then either join the independents and vote accordingly or join us democrats and be welcomed. This democracy destroying attempt by the current ego driven republican donors and politicians is unworthy of honest and decent folks who have held prior allegiance to republicans but cannot find themselves as reflected back from this current stable of frauds and brutes.

(#4955) With trump flailing democrats are surging

           The timing couldn't be more perfect for we democrats. It is not like we democrats made this up and are trying to sell anyone a bad lot of goods. The republican party has done this to themselves and instead of facing that reality they too are now flailing around trying to pin blame anywhere other than on themselves. They backed trump all the way to the White House and then voted with him to give the ultra wealthy billionaires a huge tax break. Why you may ask? I will tell you why. They don't like government that helps all of its people and would just as soon not have to tax any of their donors at all.
     Which shouldn't be a shock to anyone who is even halfway aware of the current republican agenda. So if you extrapolate out what kind of world we would live in think about this: If the wealthy are allowed to accumulate more of our resources, then the rest of us will see less resources. Because resources are finite, there is only so much money for instance that can be allowed into society. If the wealthy are allowed to continue to amass our resources the rest of us will continue to expand the poor class away from the middle class and above. Poverty is directly linked to our wealthiest here in America. While the pandemic was raging the wealthy nearly doubled their wealth while you and I struggled to pay bills and got closer to official poverty status.
     All this to say that in the time between the election, 73 days, and now, the contrast between a really deplorable republican party and the striving efforts of democrats to accomplish goals will be highlighted tremendously. All the political reporting analysts will have to readjust their prognostications because trying to defend the criminal malfeasance of the republican party and letting go of their traditional scoring will be in play. Most Americans can see the stench of republicans no matter how much the news outlets try to maintain an equivalency between democrats and republicans. The republican party is dying and needs to be put out of its misery. This is the time for democrats to lead our nation and clean out the rats nest that trump and his republican cabal manipulated into our democracy!

(#4954) Approaching 50,000 dead Russian soldiers

      With that many dead Russian young men it is hard for putin to hide the fact that his war in Ukraine is not going well. In fact with all the many more returning injured soldiers the Russian society on whole is getting a much murkier picture that this invasion of Ukraine will be successful. Which may explain the internal Russian dissent increasing their activities to hold putin accountable. With the recent spate of car bombs and ammo dump fires it is clear to those of us on the outside of Russian society that a ticking time bomb is about to explode. Not only does putin need troops for his murderous invasion of Ukraine but now his personal security is becoming an issue.
     Those who bought into the lie that putin fed them about routing nazis in Ukraine and bringing Ukraine into the Russian fold have new information to consider. The world has basically stopped cultural and trade activities with them and although putin blames everyone else for this he cannot keep thinking his web of lies will further resonate. Russia has become a pariah, synonymous with North Korea. The Russian people have got to be wondering just how much more of this they can take. 50,000 dead Russian soldiers, many  more injured and over a million have left Russia for safer borders. The brain drain in Russia is among those million who have left.
     What kind of future can Russia have if putin is allowed to collapse the Russian society down to North Korean levels? How so many Russians could just sit there and do nothing to stop him is my question. Either putin is removed or the body count for Russian soldiers keeps increasing and the reason for it will be the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Because Ukraine will not stop until every Russian is out of Ukraine and then a more in depth reckoning will occur for the nearly 40,000 war crimes that are and were committed under putin and his regime. Better for the Russian people to get out ahead of putin and end his leadership now so that life afterward will be much more manageable.

(#4953) Arrest him now!

      The conventional wisdom at the moment is not to arrest the criminal trump now before the midterm elections. Since doing so would agitate and stir up his base. But I say the law does not play favorites arresting him now is what the law demands. We cannot play politics with the criminal trump. Regardless of what his base does, him playing by the same rules the rest of us have to play by is what is more important. The fact that we are not playing politics is the reason we are the democratic party. We are straight shooters not bought and sold to the highest bidder. arresting him now will give everyone the relief needed that the rule of law is not to be trifled with.
     I actually think the opposite may be true as well. His followers will be demoralized and those who are still, I can't believe I am saying this, undecided will have the fact of his guilt to work out in their minds with enough time before the midterms for them to settle on a more "enlightened" vote. The end of the trump crime spree must be ended now and all assessments to the damage he has done needs to be evaluated. He needs to be hoisted upon the center stage of criminal charges and pursued with a vigor that leaves no doubt as to his guilt. The funny thing is that we all know trump is guilty of more crimes than we can keep track of it is just putting it out there with all the proof to be seen.
     The sooner we put this monstrosity trump in the rearview mirror of history the more efficient and effective we will be to righting the wrongs of his appointed presidency and his attempted overthrow of our government. As to the confidential secret documents, they are the fire that's been causing the smoke for all the entirety of the trump reign. Like Capone, who got caught out because of tax evasion, trump will also get caught out by the theft of our national secrets. Whatever it takes to end the madness of his crime spree and the seemingly inability of anyone to stop him.

(#4952) The House can be saved by democrats

      We know the senate is looking favorable as a democratic hold because the polling has been consistently in our favor for at least a 2 seat pickup, possibly 4 or 5. Yet the house has been the worry considering all the state laws passed to discourage democratic turnout and as well the outlandish gerrymandering to favor republican candidates. But last night in a house seat that is truly considered a bellwether district was called for we democrats by almost 4 percentage points. The reason this was an upset victory even though a democrat had vacated the seat is that the polling had shown a 4 point republican advantage going into this special election.
     So a nearly 8 point reversal that favored we democrats. If there had been a red wave that was growing for this coming election in November it would have shown itself in this particular race. But it didn't and instead the race showed a mounting blue wave. All the recent special elections coming since the overturn of Roe v. Wade has shown democrats performing better than expected and republicans performing worse. This tracks with the gut punch too many of us felt when women were subjected to a lesser level of freedom because of republican overreach. So a confirmation that is hardly inconsequential was delivered last night in the form of a democratic victory that in normal times should not have happened given past history.
     So the analysts who measure these things like voter sentiment and motivation are going to have to rejigger their formulas to account for a greater involvement for democratic/independent voters in the face of punched and staggering republican voters. A knockout blow was not administered last night but a haymaker was landed. Given that not so long ago Kansas voted overwhelming to affirm abortion in their state constitution the republican party is in danger of seeing it's midterm expectations fall by the wayside. Not only are they looking at losing the senate but now the house is in doubt. The numbers haven't been crunched yet that I know of but it may well be that the states individually may be looking for more democratic leadership to quell the rights and freedom denying republican party,

(#4951) Great things will happen for America when Democrats win the midterm elections

      Think about this. When we democrats got the house, senate, and presidency in 2020, we thought that the world was going to change dramatically because of all the policies we wanted to implement. Then we democrats got a rude awakening with manchin and sinema nixing our policies out of some unfathomable duty to the archaic discriminatory senate filibuster rule. All things looked bleak and the discouragement felt by our fellow liberal/progressives was akin to a gut punch. Well we were able to pass some of our legislation and that was very good however short sighted and watered down it was. But now we are poised to grow our senate majority to a point where voting the filibuster out is almost a done deal.
     So when we get our new democratic senators the votes will be only by majority, which is 51, not the current 60 vote threshold just to begin a debate on a bill. So with the senate shaping up nicely for a democratic enlargement, the house takes on a critical focus as well. We democrats currently have 9 more house seats than republicans do but with gerrymandering and too many corruptible state election laws in place the republicans are favored to retake the house in November. However, that model for the house being ripe for republican takeover is not formulated on the corruption of republicans nor their unfavorable policies of killing off freedoms and rights.
     So although Nancy Pelosi navigated passage of some great bills that were obstructed by most every republican senator and the aforementioned manchin and sinema, she has a lot of work cut out for her to somehow hold onto the House leadership. But if anyone can fight the good fight for democrats to hold the house it is Nancy Pelosi. The rest of us liberal/progressives must do our part in supporting house and senate campaigns and most importantly getting out our voters. There is a vast voting pool of eligible voters out there who haven't voted for whatever reason and getting the message out about how republicans are destroying our democracy while dismantling the rule of law for the wealthy, needs to be made to them so that they engage with their vote this coming November.

(#4950) The republican party is who we should never be!

      What do the republicans stand for? Racism, misogyny, selfishness, lawlessness, and the desire to end democracy that instills equality, fairness, and justice. I know I left some things out but in a general sense any of these republican party platforms should be enough for a respectable decent human being to dismiss republican candidates from holding public office. That we have so many nefarious reasons to dismiss them is beyond any comprehension of overlooking to their favor! It used to be that republicans had a least a minimal resect for those who are in the working middle poor class but nothing like that exists in their party today.
     Which surprises me no little amount when I see polling that has them competitive with democrats in too many national races. To me instead of running for office they should be running to get out of the country before the law catches up with them. Yet here we are in a world where the non informed is such a vast portion of out voting electorate that republicans are still in the hunt to lead our government. To say that I am embarrassed by this is an understatement. Why am I embarrassed by the raw ignorance and lack of accountability being displayed by my fellow countrymen? Because I am an American who takes some pride in our history.
     So what am I to do? I can keep advocating for the truth of things and explain as best I can why the truth of things is the only way to live our lives. I can show by example the correctness of living by the law as well as possible to show that the rule of law is a fine and mighty equalizer in a society that has so many different moving parts. I can never stop fighting for courage when cowardice is easy and acceptable to too many. I can believe that when reality does force our attention that it will unite us as the best of what humanity can become. I will just never quit believing in us despite too much evidence to the contrary.

(#4949) Another day closer to putin being gone!

      It is not easy learning to type on a larger keyboard but over time I will get better. It took me well over a minute to type that first sentence after correcting for way too many errors. Yet my Cadillac problems notwithstanding given that people are dying all over the world is trivial. The horror that continues in Ukraine is unbearable. Innocent people being murdered for wanting to live in their country under a democracy that gives them freedoms is beyond criminal. That beyond criminal is putin and his slavish cabal of tyrants and psychopaths. Which is why putin and his sycophants need to be stopped however and whenever they are vulnerable.
     There is no coming back to society for these murderous thugs. They are truly branded as the worst of what humanity can produce. Such that their lives are now in the null and void category. They can never pay the full price of their crimes to humanity but pay they must in the most punishable way. The thousands of screams from their victims should never leave their ears. The damage they have caused to body and soul can not be allowed to continue. I see some who are in ways beholden to putin, that is not to be confused with honor, have tried to broker a peace that would allow putin to save face as it were. But that is not going to happen because the evil men do should never be rewarded.
     The attacks into Russia are more frequent and the counter measures aimed at forcing putin to defend his own ground is mounting. As well it should because there is no abiding rule that accounts for the hideous genocide putin and his ilk have devised. This invasion by putin into sovereign Ukrainian territory is to be met with overwhelming force. A trouncing of the Russian military is required and no mercy for their assault can be entertained. The hard reality of this warring invasion by Russia is not going to be given mercy when the time comes to push them out of Ukraine. The Russians have a choice, stay and fight to the death, which is what will happen to them, or turn tail and tun back to whatever safety they can find!

(#4948) The madman in Moscow is living on borrowed time

      Every step putin takes both literally and figuratively is cautionary on his part. From the swagger he employed in February to the tepid steps now the days of putin are winding down. He overstepped in his swagger and put himself above humanity to the point where he could not back down. His ego wouldn't allow it and for his grave miscalculation the ultimate judgement awaits. The deserves he has coming is based upon a lifetime of a disregard for the respect of life. His actions of late will seal his ate but he began down this road when he failed to lead with compassion, and instead like a tyrant.
     The war criminal he is being exposed as in these last 6 months is but a reflection of his past deeds o murder and mayhem. He has survived his ruthless rule due to eradicating the weak and the powerful. To do like what he has done is similar to mbs and the sanctioning of the torturous murder of Jamal Khashoggi. They won't do the abhorrent murders themselves but they have enough psychopath/sociopaths around them to do their dirty work. What will happen to these despots who are full blown tyrants is a reckoning, a deserves, that will follow them all the days of their lives. Such is the case now with putin. He has gone full circle on his brutish decisions and now his time is coming for the ending of it.
     He bit off too much more that he could chew and now putin is going to feel the pain and suffering in some small measure that he has caused. His tyrannical days are coming to an end and the end of putin can't come soon enough. Either someone in the kremlin will dispose of him or Ukraine will catch up to him. Either way the days of putin are winding down. It cannot come soon enough as he is not done murdering for his pleasure. It will give the many of us pleasure not to have to see him around anymore.

(#4947) The future belongs to the brave!

      For all those worry warts who sit around wringing their hands about upsetting tyrants around the world you need to just stop. If you aren't going to help those of us who will never back down from bullies at least stay out of our way! The only way bullies can get anything out of life is for good people to do nothing or cower in the face of their threats. Look to Ukraine right now for an example. the putins of the world thought they could put this mighty army on the Ukrainian border and bluff their way to victory. Even though they had the Ukrainians outnumbered in practically every facet the Ukrainians said no way putin and while you are at it fuck off!
     Fast forward about 6 months and we see a Ukrainian military force about to rout Russia and embarrass their murderous leader for all to see. How did this happen? Easily explained. The Ukrainians refused to be bullied by putin. They stood up to him and forced putin to do his worst while defending against it. Now the shoe is on the other foot with Ukraine getting help from the west in armaments and mobilizing their people to protect their culture and sovereignty. The bully putin is now scrambling to save his own skin and the Russian image as a super power has become a laughingstock of a joke.
     Same here in the United States. The bullies of the far right have been promoting civil war if they don't get their way and those who keep worrying about their threats are not what we need. We need our people to confront those who would bully and then force them to try their foolishness. There is no clean way to avoid a fight when a fight is brought to your doorstep. Stand tall and make the bullies back down and then we will be who we think we are. The future does belong to the brave and no one is immune from having to test their own courage when it comes to living in a democracy where freedom is earned and needs to be defended.

(#4946) Loose the hounds!

      Now is the time for the ending of the murderous Russian invasion of Ukraine. The pieces are in place for Ukraine to put an end to putin's dream of world domination. Funny how putin and his ego couldn't tame the untamable Ukrainian spirit. So how did he think he could do that and more? I suppose his ego told him that nothing could stop him if he just murdered at will and scared his opponents into submission. Well that murdering and scaring part of his strategy did not work and his troops morale for killing members of their own extended families was also not considered.
     As to the Ukrainians, the will to survive in a free and democratic society was too much for putin to overcome. Especially since the western alliance of NATO was firmly in the corner of the emerging powerhouse Ukraine. The Russian folly of putin's grandiose mind is destroying the fabric of the Russian society but they seem to be okay with their fascist leader. Which is a shame since I had thought they would revolt against him and his war crime methodology. It seems that the Russian people are too afraid of him and instead of standing up for the better and best of human nature they shriveled to his glare and begged him for a by your leave.
     Now the word is given by the allies of Ukraine that the pieces of the victorious Ukrainian campaign are in place so they may go about doing their deed to liberate Ukraine from the illegal occupation of Russia and putin in particular. The get out of our house yell to the Russian invaders is now underway and the force behind that call is immense and strategically efficient. In other words when warned to get out the getting out had better become the priority because the not getting out will end very badly for the non leavers. The coming barrage will leave few survivors so occupying Russians have to ask themselves, is staying in Ukraine worth me dying here?

(#4945) Within the next few days expect the Ukrainian forces to begin the rout of Russia!

      The pieces are just about in place so expect the Ukrainian forces to begin tearing into their Russian occupied territory. The escape rout has now been closed in Crimea by Russia so those Russians living in the occupied territories will be involved in the fighting as Ukraine advances to their traditional borders. Those who stayed in the occupied territories and didn't return to Russia have chosen to be targets for the Ukrainian forces that are coming to reclaim their land from the Russian invaders. They had their chance to leave yet stayed so no mercy for them as they are now deemed enemy combatants.
     All this to say that the casualties that are about to occur have no defense from the infliction of death and injury that is about to malign them. There will be no halt for civilian corridors nor any mercy for those who defiantly think that Russia is allowed to steal and commit war crimes at will. They have chosen their fate and for that will be given their just deserves. In Crimea and the Donbas regions the fighting will be intense and targeted. For those who stay, they can expect nothing less. The fighting won't stop until those regions are secured by the Ukrainian people. Those who surrender will be treated fairly but those who don't will be fired upon with no mercy!
     For what Russia, through putin, has done to Ukraine there is little to no appetite for mercy or forgiveness. The Russian occupation of Ukraine will end and the death and destruction that it takes will be the cost Russia pays for not leaving voluntarily. Overall Russia will pay monetarily for the damage it has done to the blood and treasure of Ukraine and it will all really start to begin in a couple of days more or less. I am grateful to Ukraine for standing up to the bully putin and making him the laughingstock of the civilized world. If putin is not dispatched from our planet he will instead live a life of little movement and with his head on a swivel for all those who would love to put him into space.

(#4944) When will the trump nightmare end?

      I can see why this guy is called teflon don. He never seems to have to pay for his crimes. They are obvious crimes and yet he still seems to be able to slither out of having to pay for them. It is both infuriating and disgusting. I am sick and tired of this guy dominating headlines and narratives. He is a loser and a crook, yet he is still being heralded by too many nincompoops! The day that he is hauled of to prison will be a very happy day for me, and I more than suspect for a lot of others as well. He is currently under criminal probes now and for one to stick and actually come to a sentencing would be beyond great.
     I don't care what his dismal followers threaten if trump is incarcerated. They can fuck off and never come back. But for the rest of us the relief to getting back to some kind of normalcy would be really appreciated. Our society is in need of intelligent conversations but as long as the corrupted orange buffoon is the talk of the day we are falling further behind in our hopes of creating a better society. The mess in Ukraine with putin killing at will is another troubling war crimes event that must come to an end as quickly as possible and as well making China understand that they are no match for the will of the west to defend democracy, even when it is 100 miles from the shores of China.
     I am hopeful that enough good career prosecutors will win the day against trump and put his sideshow out of practice. There are others in the republican party that are ready to claim trump's spot but they are amateurs compared to the worst person who ever could have been appointed to our presidency. While I am at it the electoral college system must be abolished along with the senate filibuster. Two archaic racist systems that have long outlived their degradation to our society. The idea that democracy has to take a back seat to these rules of oppression and the willingness of the republican party to undermine the rule of law is not to be allowed and must be stopped quickly if not sooner.

(#4943) Ukraine is moving forward in the south

      The middle of August has long been the time for the counter offensive to activate. Well we are in the middle of August and the Ukrainians are moving into Crimea and have about 20,000 Russian troops trapped without help from putin. Just as you knew putin was a piece of shit he gets to prove it by leaving his troops to death or surrender. There is no honor with putin so the quicker he is dealt with the better the world will become. The armaments have been arriving in Ukraine for the last several weeks that will allow Ukraine to finally begin the takeback of their land.
     I know it has been a slog to get to this point but the Ukrainian army has been exceptional keeping their losses down while inflicting punishing daily harm on the invading Russian horde. But now is the time for offensive actions instead of only defensive ones. That Russia could not take any more land and actually lost some from a month ago is heartening and inspiring to know that the Ukrainian forces are that stout and stalwart. So beginning an offensive where the Russians are depleted and demoralized is an encouraging facet for Ukraine in this war crime infested illegal invasion by putin!
     Once the slaughter of the non surrendering Russian troops is accomplished there will be little to stop the Ukrainian march toward securing their own traditional borders. As well putin will be disgraced for causing the wholesale slaughter of his countrymen with no reward for it. In fact the only reward putin should qualify for is a negative one that will end his reign as the madman of the Kremlin. Surely the defeat that is on the horizon for putin will be devastating while the victory for Ukraine in defeating the once mighty, now little, Russian bear will be celebratory in all corners of the freedom loving world.

(#4942) The trump sideshow only increases our democratic wave

      The criminal acts of trump are non stop because that is how trump rolls. Which for the moment isn't all bad since he still has sway in republican primaries. His preferred candidates that have won are now vulnerable to being beaten badly by democratic opponents in the general election this coming November. But that is about all the good I can find coming from the worst person who was ever been an appointed president. I see polling where democrats are actually leading in the generic congressional preference category by .4% as of August 13, 2022. Which is quite remarkable given this is an off year election where historically the party out of power, republicans, gain seats in both chambers of congress.
     With the vote in very red Kansas we saw an attempt by republicans to enshrine a draconian abortion law into the state constitution be surprisingly defeated. Not just defeated but beaten badly. We have seen two house races for special elections in red districts be surprisingly close although still republican holds. Yet the mood is that democrats are on the march and republicans are reeling. Given the situation with trump's daily exposure of law breaking and the incessant attempts by republicans to instill strict abortion laws into several states the people of America are showing that they have had enough of the nonsense that republicans are so all in on.
     With questions now about espionage and traitorous violations being alleged the republican party cannot stop shooting itself in the foot. Not only are trump and his acolytes being scrutinized for horrendous violations of constitutional malfeasance but they are fighting the forces of our government designed to protect our democracy. They are calling for defunding of the FBI. They are exposing the personal data of agents who are doing their duty. They are calling into question the viability of government at all when it is aimed at their obvious crimes. The republican party would be happy to destroy our democracy so that they can install themselves as permanent rulers and that is exactly what they are trying to do.

(#4941) All quiet before the dawn

      Dawn is coming to Ukraine. The quiet that is now is in opposition to what is coming. The Ukrainian people are about to unleash their will on the Russian invaders and it won't be a pretty or quiet time. For those in the occupied territories of Ukraine who have not already fled their fate will soon be sealed. An avalanche of warriors is coming their way and they won't be able to stop them. That putin has dwindled his army down by trying to nitpick his advances in Ukraine will come back to haunt him because his troops and armaments have been reduced to a shadow of what he had started with.
     This month of August is when Zelenskyy is poised to send his troops into the fray as a final solution to end the Russian occupation. His war strategists have a plan and it involves the accumulation of western weapons to backfill his awaiting offensive forces. Once the strategy is in place and ready to reclaim Ukrainian territory the order will be given and the end of Russian occupation by force will begin. The Russians have wisely removed most of their family members from the occupied territories because they know some mighty horrific battles will be waged there. What they don't understand is that the Ukrainian people are done with them and will never stop destroying them as long as they are on Ukrainian soil!
     So as the defensive positions of Ukraine are continued to stave off Russian advances a Ukrainian advance is on the threshold of being deployed. The Russians will be on the defensive and their will to fight for Ukrainian soil is much less deep and devoted. They will be overrun and destroyed. Those who see the writing on the wall about their doom will turn tail and run if they want to survive this desperate, failed attempt at genocide by putin and his acolytes in Moscow. Once this Ukrainian retake of it's occupied territories is complete the end of putin is nigh. Which is how this sad chapter of a deranged tyrant should be!

(#4940) The breaking of the far right republican fever.

      As trump is the catalyst for all these right wing lies and conspiracy theories, his involvement with classified documents stolen from the White House will prove to be the end of him and his following. I say that with a bit of reluctance because as you know it is difficult to separate him from his cult. But if proven true that he not only had sensitive classified information but sensitive nuclear information then that will be the final straw that breaks the Camel's back. His followers will be faced with the reality that trump truly is a traitorous lout and for them to continue to back him will associate them as such as well.
     I know that previous claims about trump and his behaviors and actions have not put a dent in their adoration of him but backing a traitor will likely be a bridge too far for too many of them. Some will still claim that it is still all a deep state fake and follow trump right of the cliff like a lemming but that crowd will only be his die hard impossible to dissuade acolytes. Too few to make a difference in our politics and actually good for America as they will be exposed as the bottom of the barrel where trump resides. The breaking of the republican right wing fever is upon us and we can thank Joe Biden and Merrick Garland for allowing the process of the rule of law to operate.
     The timing is excellent in that the election is only 88 days from today. What that means is that all those trumped backed candidates that won primaries in the states are going to be saddled with the baggage of a traitor. They used glowing words to describe their fondness for trump and defended his actions against all logic and common sense. Well they will not be able to backtrack their support for trump and instead they will be linked to his downfall and lose many races because of him. Which is what our nation needs. A purging of trump backed candidates while enhancing democratic opportunities. We democrats need to take the midterms convincingly in order to continue the Biden agenda of bringing equality, fairness, and opportunity to all of Americans!

(#4939) The republican party is destroying America from within and without!

      It is bad enough that at home here the republican party is working over time to destroy the fabric of our democracy by taking away rights and liberties long enjoyed by our citizenry. But as equally horrifying is their promoting the fracture of our democracy abroad to the very dictators and tyrants who would also enjoy taking our freedoms from us. The republican party has devolved into an insurrectionist authoritarian theocracy with a King at the helm. The very idea that they have a shot at controlling any branch of our government come this November is head shakingly astounding!
     By now I had expected the polling to reflect the insane and corrupted republican party at the lowest ebbs of support ever recorded but no, it is still favored to win the House although by less than 6 months ago. Yet still in the running to win the House is beyond my comprehension. I know they have gerrymandered themselves so may districts that favor them that it would have been unthinkable a year ago that they could lose the House. But for them still to be leading in the odds to win the House is to me beyond logical or rational. They have lost the Senate and for that I expect a real big advantage now for democrats there but the House is still in question.
     If after all the republicans have done to strip away rights and liberties from us and even tried and are still trying to overthrow our democracy and they win the House I will never understand how they pulled it off. They are the scum of human nature. The worst of our evolving into an enlightened species yet have a real shot at being our leaders. I have always believed we humans are an amazing species who have only our own doubts to stop us from expanding into our Universe with a boldness not ever seen from a biological being. Yet if republicans win the House I will forever be changing my best hope for us to a lesser hope of just hoping to survive our worst natures.

(#4938) Too many think our democracy is free to keep

      I have been slowly removing too many people on my Facebook page who keep telling me that standing up to tyrants is not the job of America. It makes me cringe with disgust! The tyrants of the world will never stop trying to destroy democracy because democracy is a direct threat to their authoritarian form of governments. They like be the sole rulers of their nations and would love nothing more than to be the ruler of ours. So why is it so important to stop tyrants from attacking other nations and sovereign classifications? Because once the tyrants see that they can absorb other cultures and societies into their sphere they are emboldened to go after more.
     Tyrants are like a virus. Unless you stop them they keep growing on the body politic. So we help Ukraine from the Russian invasion to dominate and what now seems to be liquidate them from existence. Same with China and it's obsession to absorb Taiwan. Taiwan is about 100 miles from the Chinese coast. As an example, Cuba, who is a sovereign nation, is only 90 miles from the coast of America. So the idea that China would think that Taiwan is theirs is even worse than if we Americans said that Cuba was ours. That alone should be enough for all Americans to be alarmed at the Chinese provocation.
     Despite the facts of tyrannical obsession, we here in a democratic nation must never lose sight that our democracy is not ordained nor immune from overthrow. Just look to the insurrection by trumps last year. So fighting for our democracy is not some outlandish concept, it is mainstream. So anyone standing back in a democracy and it's values while saying that fighting to keep it is not their concern is naive, foolish, and undemocratic. I can think of more piercing adjectives but I will refrain. Something is amiss when our citizenry are not united in defending democracy. I suppose the entitlement of deserves is much too prominent among too many of us in this current era of not sacrificing anything for the good of all.

(#4937) It's on now! :)

     The other shoe has dropped and it dropped hard on former appointed president trump's hideaway home in Florida. A search warrant was executed on his property yesterday and for 9 hours a "large group" of agents from the FBI gleaned through his records. No doubt this has caught trump vulnerable as he surely did not see this coming with any advance notice to clean out his archives to avoid being caught out. That trump was not given a subpoena to bring in records at his leisure or at a predetermined date and instead had a search warrant executed on his property speaks to the unwillingness of trump to be above board and honest about his activities and the content of the documents hopefully being retrieved.
     What this also does by going directly at trump is make those who have been under him protecting him much more vulnerable to facts being disclosed that will catch them out as well. Given that they may well become more cooperative now so as to get out from under the bus trump just put them under. There is no loyalty among the criminals in our society so trump may well be on his way down the road of justice being served. I will mark the date August 8th as the day the dam broke on the conspiracy by trump and his acolytes who will begin paying for their crimes and insurrection. I did not see this coming but I am just happy that he is now being investigated in a very thorough way.
     The ending of the trump campaign to undermine our democracy is aligning with the ending of the putin invasion on Ukraine. Both are stains on the rule of law and the health of democracy. That trump is also exposed now as evidence is being accumulated from his own records bodes well because enough evidence had to already exist for the federal judge to issue the search warrant. The federal judge, appointed by trump, no doubt was extra careful about the evidence offered and it's truthfulness. The evidence that was used by the Dept. of Justice to apply for the search warrant plus whatever was obtained at trump's home will surely be enough to charge trump with a crime(s).

(#4936) putin is all in on destroying Ukraine

      The sooner everyone accepts the fact that putin will never quit trying to destroy Ukraine the sooner we get to the final solution on putin. He will not be stopped diplomatically so what other way can he be stopped? Defeating him on his invasion is the only way to stop him from murdering any more Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. So what do we do? In the past when the question was too difficult to answer we quit and let things play out. Like quitting is a solution that justifies itself. No, that is what we should never do again. What we have to do is for now give Ukraine everything they need to end the Russian occupation of Ukraine. Even if that means Ukraine goes onto Russian soil to do it!
     As to putin a quicker and much neater solution for everyone is to do what needs to be done. Whether through Russian dissatisfaction or outside intervention the doing needs to be done. As well putin sympathizers who have been enabling him must be identified and dealt with in a way that stops them from carrying out putin's plan. The time for wringing our hands and worrying over what may come must be ended now. There is only one way to live life and that is with conviction and courage. Life is a hard thing that we try to make better but the genesis of life won't ever change. Life is hard and to continue living is to make hard decisions.
     Those who would just let the killing continue are not worthy of being listened to. They are the worst of what humanity can respond as. What is needed is for all of us to stand firm and tall and say to the bullies and tyrants of the world that you are not allowed to exist on our planet. Our planet is for humans who strive to be the best of humanity and will not suffer the indignant nor uncaring about this principle. That is what we need to do and for Ukraine. They should not have to keep putting up with a deranged, tyrannical, madman who is intent on obliterating them and is totally beneath the respect and dignity we demand for ourselves.

(#4935) The Ukrainian liberation is near because of their strength

      The will to keep fighting is crystal clear from the Ukrainian side. The Russian side not so much. With over 40,000 Russian troops dead and figure at least 100,000 to 200,000 more injured, the Ukrainian battlefield is clearly wiping out the Russian army. They are trying desperately to attract foreign fighters to their side in Ukraine but when you are losing it is hard to make the case for fighters to join your side. The other side of the equation is the Ukrainian army and its partisans. They have been mostly holding strong defensive positions, and are now infilled enough to commit to an advancement.
     What they need are the armaments to deploy what is needed to rid the Ukrainian soil of the Russian invaders. The time for Russia to be pushed out of Ukraine is now and although some logistic and long range planning aspects need to be accomplished the moment is near when the command of charge is initiated and Ukraine begins an all out push to end the occupation of Ukrainian provinces. The final solution is to end the occupation of Russia and reinforce all borders that are vulnerable to future Russian interference.
     Nothing is more important in the world right now, not even the bluster of China. The end of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the rebuilding of Ukraine is of the highest priority. Russia will have to solve its own internal disgrace and hopefully punishments will be dealt with harshly. There are war crimes to answer for and that will follow after the dust has settled on Ukraine's reestablished sovereignty. Getting the world back to peace has required strength and Ukraine is a fine example of that. No backing down from bullies and allies showing what they can do when they actually pull together. As to Russia and China, they had better heed their lessons learned. Strength will defeat the bullies and tyrants of the world.

(#4934) Big day today

      I have been waiting for today since Thursday, when on the Senate floor, Chuck Schumer on Cspan2, said that at 12 noon eastern time the Senate would gavel back in to begin work on the reconciliation package among other things. Those were magical words to my ears. Then on Friday more magic as Sinema said she would support the overall package. Now we have all 50 democratic caucusing Senators ready to vote Aye on a final package arrived at hopefully before the end of Sunday night. If not Sunday night then sometime Monday. For me the climate provision is huge because it finally means we are officially as a nation going to be turning to alternative energy as our main source of power.
     This will be the beginning of the transition from fossil fuels to wind, solar, wave, and battery domination. Sure the fossil fuel industry will get a boost out of this legislation as well but at this time in our current predicament the need for fossil fuel is somewhat critical. However that will only be for a short period of time and then the transition will have taken hold and start moving us away from the need to have fossil fuel as our main driver of energy. The need for fossil products won't end it will just be curtailed in order to revive the atmosphere of our planet.
     So today for me is like when I was a child and christmas morning had finally arrived. Somewhat giddy and happy to watch as our democratic party does the hard work of getting legislation passed in a very difficult way. The republican party will not allow themselves to be part of this historic moment because they are beholden to the fossil fuel industry and therefore put those profits above the need to save our planet. Don't ask me why they refuse to accept the dangers of destroying our atmosphere with continued fossil fuel use, but just know that they do and in November vote accordingly. Save the planet and join we democrats in doing so or stay with republicans and help them destroy the very air that we breathe to survive. Your choice!

(#4933) The reconciliation package is now on track

      Tomorrow the fun begins in the Senate at 12 noon eastern time when the Senate gavels in to address, among other things, to start the process of completing the reconciliation bill in the next few days. I will be tuned into it on Cspan2 as if it was a championship football game. The reconciliation process of getting a bill passed from the Senate to the House is a convoluted one but one that is assured of passing because all 50 Democratic Senators are on board. In reconciliation, a budget process, there is no filibuster rule that applies. So the 50 Democratic Senators, 2 Independents caucus with Democrats, King and Sanders, will be able to move the legislation quickly although not without some gimmickry.
     Of course the gimmickry will be from the republicans who don't want this reconciliation bill to pass at all. So they will likely make the Democrats read the entire bill on the Senate floor as a delaying tactic, over 700 pages, poor Senate clerks will suffer the republican abuse not the Democratic Senators. But that is the way of republicans, make others suffer at their discretion. But the bill will be read and the amendments of idiocy will be attempted but when all is exhausted the bill will pass with all 50 on the Democratic side voting for it. Then next week Nancy Pelosi will gavel back in the House from the August recess to pass the reconciliation bill and immediately send it to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.
     So sometime next week Joe will sign the bill and then the effect of the bill will begin to reshape our society. Green energy will start to dominate our transportation and manufacturing, Medicare, the largest group of prescription drug users, will finally get to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies the price of prescription drugs. Also extending subsidies for Obamacare expansions. The final bill has yet to be shown but the basics are there for many now to start getting excited that a slimmed down build back better bill, now known as the Inflation Reduction Act, will pass. After much wrangling this process of reconciliation will advance and Democrats will have achieved yet another policy victory over the uncaring republican obstructionists!

(#4932) I am no warhawk, but I damn sure won't back off from bullies!

      I have been accused of being a warmonger of varying degrees for my stand against putin and xi who to me are an imminent threat to our democracy. Both actively work to undermine our government and try to influence our elections. Besides that they are trying to capture land from democracies that either border them or are in close proximity. Now I am a peace loving soul who wants the whole world to be happy and have opportunities. Yet, there are some in our world who do not share that vision and instead want to rule the world with their own brand of telling me and others what to do with our lives. I won't accept that nor will I condone it.
     So I get my fighting shoes on and stick my fist in the air and tell the world that I am not here to be suppressed nor dominated by bullies who are selfish tyrants. I will engage in war like tactics to stave them off and promote others who share my sense of danger in a currently dangerous world. There are those who would stick their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is okay. Fine but don't get in my way or call me out for embracing the courage to fight the bullies. I live my life as a free human being and that is how I will die if that is the outcome over this. At least I won't have gone down without a fight and instead if we the many prevail in our quest to defend and protect democracy then we will have displayed the same courage that our founders displayed who initially gave us this democracy.
     Let me reiterate, I am no warhawk but when it is time to stop the bullies in the world who are going to take no matter what then I will fight like the warrior I am. I didn't choose to be in a era of bullies but I am so there is only one choice for me. I would rather there be peace and harmony amongst us but until the bullies are displaced with good souls then fighting is what needs to happen. Because bullies only know how to stop if they are actually stopped. No amount of pleading or hoping they will stop will make them stop. Once you understand that bullies are not rational nor kind then you will reach the same conclusion as I whether you like it or not if logic and common sense is your methodology for deciding.

(#4931) A great day for democracy yesterday

      The day started off with Nancy Pelosi dismissing threats against her for visiting Taiwan. The threats came from China who sees the island of Taiwan as theirs. they think that since Taiwan is a relatively small island nation that they are vulnerable to being bullied into the Chinese sphere. Well Nancy was having none of that and instead deified the Chinese tyrant with a calm and steady rebuke. She took the trip and had the appointment with the Taiwanese president. Meanwhile China was fuming and caused a bunch of belly aching on their part. But now the trip is done and Nancy is on her way elsewhere. So a big fuck you to xi the bully leader of China. Nice job Nancy, you make us patriots to democracy proud.
     Then the next thing to happen was in the senate. The burn pit toxin bill written to help veterans deal with toxic fumes they were subjected to during their enlistments. the republican party had thrown a fit over another a democratic action that had nothing to do with veterans and the relief they needed. So republicans held the senate bill hostage after only 6 weeks ago overwhelmingly voting for an earlier almost exact version. With Jon Stewart coming out and blasting republicans for making veterans suffer even more to no apparent reason the republicans in the senate last evening decided that getting their asses kicked on this issue wasn't helpful so they voted heavily for the bill last night and now the bill will become law when president Biden signs it.
     So first Nancy stands very tall for democracy, then senate republicans come around on the veterans toxin bill after being humiliated. But what happened last night in Kansas was the icing on the cake. The deep red state of Kansas just voted overwhelmingly to keep the right to abortion instilled in their state constitution. It wasn't even close and the pundits were beside themselves trying to understand how they couldn't see this coming. Of course with pundits hindsight is 20/20 so they did find their footing and realize that the abortion issue is a simmering almost explosive one that is far and away a very prioritized polarizing get the vote out issue. The degree by which this abortion protection vote defeated the abortion restrictors was undeniable. Yes, a great day yesterday.

(#4930) Pelosi, full steam ahead!

      If any lesson can be taken from the Pelosi trip to Taiwan it is this. The will to do the correct thing despite the threat of life is always worth doing. Freedom is on assault here by nothing less than a dictator from China. If we ever let the bullies of the world dictate our actions, those of us who will never stop fighting for freedom, equality, and fairness, then we lose the precious gift of democracy. Not on my watch and as it appears neither on Nancy Pelosi's watch either. Joe Biden is in the background part of this and he as well should get kudos for doing the right thing and giving Nancy space to stick her middle finger out at the bullies!
     Because it isn't just xi from China that is getting her message it is also the dead man walking putin who is also seeing that the resolve of the United States isn't transitory. It is solid and unwavering which is a blow to putin who thought he could push the west around with his threats like all bullies try. So as Nancy gets to Taiwan the fact that she wasn't dissuaded should not be lost on our allies either. They should in no way ever back down from the bullies of the world and commit their own resolve to pushing back at them knowing full well that where democracy is defended there the US will be to offer any support needed.
     The mighty career of Nancy Pelosi as a leader who leads is established once again with this trip. For weeks before she made it the threats from the bullies were fast and furious but Nancy as she does so well just ignored them and pushed forward with the wind of democracy at her back. She just faced down xi from China much like her mentor JFK did with Russia in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Another fine example of right makes might! Not all can pull off an utter embarrassment of a bully like Pelosi just did with xi but we need more like her and with this trip Nancy just gave inspiration to both young girls and boys as to how to deal with the enemies of truth, justice and the American way!

(#4929) If you don't stand up to bullies they will rule your life!

      I am tired of weaklings telling the rest of us that we shouldn't stand up to power. I will never be anything less than a free person and no amount of bullying by putin or xi will change that. Both of these bullies think they can tell us Americans what to do well up theirs with their bullshit! Those who would rather cower and shrink from conflict are what keeps us from ending the reign of tyrants. Being afraid is okay but it should never stop one from going ahead and confronting the fear. We all feel the fear of consequences but those of us who say fuck that anyway are tired of those who instead shrink to cowardice.
     Every person has the duty to protect any one of us from harm when possible. Not to shy away as if fear is greater than courage. Courage is forwarded even though fear is present. That is a choice. Make the choice to fight back no matter what and then experience the beauty of life as it should be not the hollowness of being unworthy. So stop with the fear mongering and trying to get others to live in your fear. Instead be an example of courage and promote the value of well earned rights. You are not just given rights as a gift you must protect them as if they were gold. No one will lay down their life for you if you won't do the same for them.
     How are our children going to be able to understand the value of freedom if all they see is cowardice? How can one live in cowardice and still be dutiful to democracy? If you would rather live under the thumb of a dictator who says whether you live or die then go ahead and move to Russia or China and lower your head when danger is about. Or, you can raise your fist and say hell no to those who would deny you your right to exist as a free human being then stick around with the rest of us and help us make sure that the tyrants of the world are put out and the freedom loving among us are installed.