Category: Commentary

While Donald Trump is ranting and raving about how he will never give up trying to prove election fraud, we can already feel the air around the Democrats. They know they have won, so they have only one thing left to do. Hand a victory to the Republicans.

Our political system is an abusive relationship. The GOP beats the Dems around for as long as they can. They gaslight. They verbally abuse. They slap us across the face in blatant disregard for the rules they create. Then, when the Dems score some form of victory, the GOP plays the victim and demands the Dems play nice with them while they work through their emotions.

In the meantime, the GOP is just using that time to plan their further abuses. The Senate approval of Cabinet postings has long been considered a political formality, so long as the candidate is just plain not qualified. However, Mitch McConnell has already stated that he plans on dictating who he will accept even in these positions. I am fairly certain that he will only consider Republicans acceptable. It is just another way the GOP, and McConnell personally, has held the country hostage for well over a decade now.

Do the Dems fight back? No. An abusive boyfriend is better than no boyfriend at all, apparently. In fact, the Dems are already trying to find ways to give the GOP a pass.

Today, I read an article that suggests we should forgive the GOP and then work to help them build their self-esteem through building up their economies. In this way, they will stop being taker states and start becoming giver states, and they will feel better about themselves. The article uses the rebuilding of Germany and Japan after WWII.

However, the article completely leaves out the insanely germane fact that, before there was rebuilding, there was a reckoning. We (the Allies) imprisoned and, in many cases executed, the leaders of both nations. We also held to account the most egregious actors in each country to account. Only after this happened did we help rebuild their economies. In this way, both countries have been staunch allies ever since.

But, the Dems say things like, “heal the nation.” They use words like “unity.” They give the GOP a pass. The GOP doesn’t even pretend they won’t do it again. But, for some reason, the Dems cannot accept that the whole ‘hug your bully’ strategy has never worked in the history of the world.

What the Dems seem to be glossing over is that the next autocrat that takes power in the GOP will be much worse than Trump. Why? Because they will be smarter than Trump. Power will not come by accident. This person will learn from the mistakes of Trump.

Our democracy cannot survive the next attempt.

I did not want to really get into anything during the vote. The whole point of this blog was to remind people of who Trump really is. I asked myself if I wanted to continue with this, and the answer is yes.

Aside from anything else, Trump will be in office for the next almost three months. It is safe to assume that the interregnum will be the darkness before the dawn. There is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal.

First, Donald will NEVER concede the election. He will fight it, tooth and nail, until he is dragged from the White House. Do not doubt for one minute that he will pack up and leave voluntarily. Ironically, I expect Melania to leave long before Jan 20^th.

The biggest problem right now is that Trump was not truly excoriated by the nation. In fact, Trump may well have won this election. Fully half the nation seems to still be behind him. I can only imagine that, without the pandemic, he may have won a second term by a landslide.

Because of this, a large percentage of his cult-like followers will never accept that he lost this election through anything but cheating. We have all seen the protests at ballot counting stations. Chants of “stop the steal” echo in every location.

These political zombies have also turned on Faux News since they called Arizona for Biden. Even the Proud Boys have announced that ‘stand by’ is now over. So, there is a very strong possibility that we will descend into violence in many areas of the country.

Even with all this, Trump is stoking the fire. He is doing everything he can to delegitimize the election. I never thought I would live in a country where the President worked to damage democracy and our democratic institutions.

I could talk all night about this, but I don’t want to bring down the joy. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the President and Vice-President elect. This is a good start.

Celebrate for now. But, be ready for what comes until inauguration day.

There is little more I can say at this point that has not been said a million times. Today’s column is going to be short and sweet.

Tomorrow is our official election day. VOTE!

Do not be intimidated by the fake Trump poll watchers. They will try. If, for some reason, you are denied the ability to vote, ASK FOR A PROVISIONAL BALLOT TO FILL OUT. GET A RECEIPT.

If you can, take someone else to your polling place so they can vote.

Finally… Breathe. There is nothing more we can do at the moment.

Maybe, go to the grocery store and stock up for a couple of days. Violence is probable. Stay home on November 4th.

May the odds be ever in our favor. See you on the other side.

In two days, the actual election day will be upon us. I used to look forward to election day. It filled me with excitement for what may come. Honestly, that stopped sometime around the Clinton administration. I finally had to admit that I was voting against someone instead of voting for someone.

This year is no different. I am voting against Donald Trump. I have discussed this before, but, Biden is not meant to be a fix to our national problems. He is just supposed to return us to our previous course. It is easier to fix a corrupt democracy than it is to fix a corrupt dictatorship.

But, before we get there, we have to move past the election. We will not move past the election without violence. The violence has already begun. Anus Tangerinus is absolutely encouraging it.

It starts with him calling for his supporters to “poll watch.” What he wants is for armed militias to show up at the polls to intimidate Biden voters. There was actually a security company that was recruiting military veterans to “guard” the polls. Luckily, that was shut down.

But, it has not stopped Trump from his rallying cry. There are militias that are flat out stating that they are currently training to bring harm to non-Trump supporters and voters. Believe them when they tell you what they are trying to do.

This is all political violence. Psychological violence. But, the stakes are raising. A convoy of vehicles in Texas attempted to run a Biden campaign bus off the road on its way to a rally near Austin. At least one Biden campaign vehicle was damaged when a Trump supporter’s vehicle collided with it.

Then, a large group of Trump supporters shut down a highway in New Jersey with a road block. I find this ironic considering they have previously spoken out against BLM protesters shutting down roads. I suppose it is just another case of do as I say and not as I do.

Early voting is over as of today. This means we have one day to gird our loins and prepare for election day. I expect voter intimidation. I expect violence. More violence. We cannot forget police officers who pepper sprayed a crowd of voters who were marching to a polling place in an effort to encourage voting. Several arrests were made. Why? Who knows?

Trump will not go quietly into that good night. Trump has a new plan to declare victory on election night. This will do nothing but create more confusion and violence. This is what he wants.

When Biden does not acquiesce to this, Trump’s supporters will riot. It will only get worse as numbers begin ticking towards Biden as votes are counted in the days after. There will be calls that the election is being stolen. An election is not over until all votes are counted.

As well, Trump has an army of lawyers who will challenge any result that is not positive for his campaign. In this, he hopes to put the election into the court system. This way, he is banking on a conservative Supreme Court to hand him back the presidency. Biden has his own army of lawyers, but this would all be fraught with peril.

We must all be ready for this. We must be ready for the violence. We must be ready for the intervening months between the election and the inauguration of, hopefully, Trump’s successor.

It is a question that countless Americans have been asking themselves for four years now. The answer is multi-pronged, but not complicated at all. The short answer is because Americans are really prone to mob mentality. As we all know, IQ’s lower as mobs grow bigger.

As voters, we are a fickle bunch. We no longer understand the process. We insist on a candidate who gives us everything we want right away. Compromise is not an option. If we don’t get our way, we threaten, and in many cases follow thru, with not voting.

How many times have we heard a friend say, “My candidate did not get nominated, so I am not voting.” We have forgotten that politics are not a sprint. It is a marathon. As long as the needle is moving in the right direction, we can keep pushing for what we want.

When we decide not to vote, either out of spite or disinterest, the needle moves the wrong way. How much damage has Trump done that will take forever to fix? How far back has the needle gone in the wrong direction?

How else does a Trump happen? Let’s talk about that disinterest. How many times have we heard someone say, “Politics are hard.” or “Politics are boring.”?

This is what politicians want you to feel. If you do not show interest in politics, they get to do what they want. They get to corrupt the system. When we don’t care enough to pay attention, massive wealth is transferred to the rich and powerful. Corporations are declared people. Wages stagnate and the middle class dies.

Finally, at least for this article, a Trump victory happens because we are just plain gullible. EVERY SINGLE DAY, I see someone sharing the Facebook equivalent of the chain letter. In a few cases, the same stupidity gets shared year after year because people recycle it. I think we all remember the Facebook post that has circulated 2-3 times a year about how all your posts and photos will become Facebook property unless you post a nebulous statement saying they can’t. It lists a UCC code and the Rome Act, both of which have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with this stuff.

The same people post the statement over and over again. Each time you point out the bullshit, they say, “Well, just in case.” Just today, a scam involving Lebron James went out. Somehow, by answering an easy and stupid question, he is going to give you $10,000.

Sometimes, I check these out just to see what the scam is. In this case, it is a phishing scam that tries to get you to provide personal and bank information to the scammer. How many people are going to lose their savings because of this? Or the Nigerian scam? Or any phishing scam? But, we do it… just in case.

And that is how Trump wins. Remember when he said, “What have you got to lose?” Democracy. That is what we have to lose.

Today, the Senate, on a completely partisan vote, confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. We all knew it would happen. It was inevitable. Still, it is a gut punch to every Dem and liberal in the United States.

The Courts are supposed to be non-political. This is the supposed reason for lifetime appointments. We do, however, know that this is not how things work in the real world.

Justices may refuse to speak about anything “controversial,” but it is not hard to figure out the biases of a nominee through their decisions and their writing. It is quite obvious why Amy Coney Barrett was nominated to the Supremes.

Next week, there is an important vote on the survival of the ACA, better known as Obamacare. Without Barrett on the Supreme Court, it is very probable that Chief Justice Roberts would have voted with the liberals on the bench, creating a 4-4 tie. When that happens, the decision of the lower court stands. That would mean that the ACA would survive.

Trump’s ego could not stand that. His signature move for his entire presidency was nothing more than to destroy Obama’s legacy. If the ACA survives, no credible claim to that end can be made.

There is another, far more sinister (if that is possible), reason Trump needs her on the Court. Trump hopes that, if he loses the election, it will be by a close enough margin that he can challenge the result in the courts. This way, when it goes to the Supreme Court, he can “legally” steal the election, much in the same manner George W. Bush did.

None of this happens without a tie-proof court. In other words, none of this happens without Amy Boney Carrot. Two GOP Senators opposed the nomination in the first place. Only one, Susan Collins, voted against her final nomination. I will assume this was a choice to try and keep her seat.

Susan Murkowski, who voiced her dissent on the nomination so close to an election, decided that she needed to vote to affirm her in the full Senate vote. In an interview, she tried to play circumspect about it. She noted that, in her opinion, the ACA should survive. She also felt that Barrett was a qualified choice for the court, even though she has minimal experience as a judge.

Basically, one of two things are happening with Murkowski. One thing for sure is that she is walking a tight rope. She is polling at a loss in a tightly contested Senate race. She may be pandering to Trump’s base, which is, for the most part, her base, to gain momentum. If so, she has lost any left-leaning, and some independent, constituents who may have voted for her in the past. The other possibility is that she knows she will lose and has decided to join in on the scorched earth policy.

None of that really matters. The Dems can take the White House, the Senate, and keep the House. However, the devils deal the GOP made with Trump ensures that the courts belong to them for the next 20 years at a minimum.

Trump’s latest executive order should really freak everyone out. Donald Trump now has the ability to do serious damage within the government service. If he wins the election, he effectively controls the government narrative ala 1984. If he loses the election, he poisons the well for Biden coming into office.

Trump has signed an order that moves many career government employees into a new category that strips them of employment protections. The new category affects government scientists, economists, managers and other key decision makers who would have previously been in protected career positions. Now, Trump would be able to fire them at will.

For those not paying attention, this would include Dr. Fauci, who has been able to push back against Trump because of the current protections for his job. Now, Trump could just fire him for not towing the government (read: Trump’s) line. That should terrify everyone.

Basically, if Trump wins the election, this allows him to create a government filled with his political appointees. Appointees that will fill positions once held by non-partisan, career employees. This will also allow Trump to control the government narrative. His reality will be the reality that the government feeds us. 2020 and beyond will all become 1984. Remember, Trump has already stated that we should not believe our lying eyes.

If Trump loses the election, this executive order allows him to create chaos on a level we have never seen. The election is Nov. 3, 2020. The new government would not take office until Jan. 20, 2021. In the intervening months, Trump could fire anyone in the government he wants and shut down the entire apparatus. He could cripple government services for months.

Yes, there would be no doubt that Biden will reverse this, and many other of Trump’s executive orders, but he will not be able to prevent the damage, especially during a pandemic. We already know the GOP will just sit by and watch him do it, providing the cover he needs. Given that they are about to take the same shellacking from voters, they have no impetus to do anything but help him.

In the city of Baldwin Park, in LA County, an arsonist tried to destroy an official ballot box. The did manage to set the box on fire, but they did not destroy it completely. Unfortunately, there were somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred ballots in the box.

How many were damaged beyond use has not yet been reported. What has been reported is that this was not just an act of childish mischief. Whoever did this had to work to get the box open enough to set the fire.

I imagine, as early voting continues, this will not be an isolated incident. It should be noted that most people who use the ballot boxes are likely Democratic voters. Donald Trump has never let up on his rhetoric about mail-in voter fraud. As well, when the State of California sent a cease and desist letter to the CA GOP, in regards to the ballot boxes they set up, the state Republican party just said no.

There is no longer a sense of order within the GOP. They take their lead from their “dear leader” and his only instinct is to foment violence. Well, he is succeeding. There is mental violence, physical violence, and moral violence against all established norms.

If you can, drop off your ballot at an early voting location. Drop it off at your local election commission. Trump will only ramp up the rhetoric in the next two weeks. That means the craziest of his followers will ramp up their efforts to disrupt the election process. We already know they are willing to use violent means.

Too many of my friends have told me not to watch Trump’s town hall on NBC. Watching it would give Trump a win by giving him ratings. Let me be the first to say… Shut the fuck up.

I love my friends. However, most of them don’t pay attention to politics outside of Presidential elections. Some of them pay attention every two years for Congressional elections. However, only one of my friends comes anywhere near as close as I do to paying regular attention to the politics of the United States.

I pay attention to what happens in Washington DC EVERY SINGLE DAY. It might be why I am always so morose. The majority of our nation either finds politics too hard or too boring.

That is the problem. That is why our politics are so corrupt. That is why a Donald Trump can find his way into the White House. We are asleep when it comes to our national, and local, politics.

It is also why we are so divided. We live in political bubbles. What we understand about “the other side” we get from commentary made by talking heads within our respective bubbles. To some extent, I fall into the talking head category. My audience is liberal Democrat and progressive. I do not pretend that I am trying to talk to conservatives. But, I listen to them.

To defeat an enemy, you must understand an enemy. So, yes, as hard as it is, I will listen to Donald Trump when he holds a town hall. He is not a smart man. He is, however, a cunning man. He knows that people underestimate him. He hates it, but he knows how to use it. This is the secret to his success over the entirety of his career, in business and in politics.

Oh, and for the record, it was the more entertaining of the two town halls. My only complaint with it is NBC deciding to go head-to-head with Biden. But, if you want to feel better tonight, the Trump town hall is the way to go.

Savannah Guthrie was an amazing moderator. I have a real political news crush on her right now. From minute one, she put Trump on his heels, and she kept him on the defensive for the entire town hall. She gave him no quarter to freely spew the bullshit we have grown so tired of. She has done, in one night, what the news should have been doing since he came down the escalator: making him justify himself. It was beautiful.

If you think you are not in a bubble because you have conservative friends and family on your Facebook friends list, you are living a delusion. Please stop. Most of all, please stop telling people, especially me, that I have to follow political rules designed to put me into your bubble.

I am a progressive. I see Trump as the second most dangerous man in the USA. (McConnell will always be #1) As far as I am concerned, voting for Biden is a moral imperative. But understand, Biden is a means to an end. If you think I am hard on Trump, wait until Biden gets into office and I begin to push a progressive agenda designed to help ALL Americans.

In the meantime, vote for Biden and shut the fuck up about ignoring “them.” That is why we are where we are in the first place.