No, everything will not be okay!

 

There are those who think that our troubles with Trump and the Senate will work itself out and everything will be okay.
Sorry, this is not true. Everything will not be okay.

It is not okay, it is not all right, for the following things to happen:

   It is not okay for a president to bribe a foreign nation.
   It is not okay to have a trial with any witnesses or evidence.
   It is not okay to pay Senators to vote your way.
   It is not okay to lie to the American public.
  
Recent events have revealed many disturbing truths. Bigotry, racism, xenophobia, ignorance and even stupidity are deeply rooted in America. It is not the majority that is this way, it's the active and committed. This is dangerous. This was at the root of the fall of Rome. In the book The Fire Before the Storm, Mike Duncan says:

"Through the centuries, Rome's model of cooperative and participatory government remained remarkably durable and unmatched in the history of the ancient world.
In 146 BC, Rome finally emerged as the strongest power in the Mediterranean. But the very success of the Republic proved to be its undoing. The republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled: rising economic inequality disrupted traditional ways of life, endemic social and ethnic prejudice led to clashes over citizenship and voting rights, and rampant corruption and ruthless ambition sparked violent political clashes that cracked the once indestructible foundations of the Republic.

Chronicling the years 146-78 BC, The Storm Before the Storm dives headlong into the first generation to face this treacherous new political environment. Abandoning the ancient principles of their forbearers, men like Marius, Sulla, and the Gracchi brothers set dangerous new precedents that would start the Republic on the road to destruction and provide a stark warning about what can happen to a civilization that has lost its way."

Empires do not last forever. In fact, the duration of empires has decreased. The empires of the ancient world, Egypt, Persia, Rome, etc. lasted for several thousand years. Contrast that with Nazi Germany, Japan, the USSR. Dictators come and go quickly. Do not be under any illusion that the American Empire, and yes, we have one, will buck current trends.

Sitting on your ass and thinking it will all work out is delusional.

Why Trump "can" win

 

For those of you who still watch real news, you'll notice that in many countries and places--Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Chile, Bolivia, etc.--you hear of citizens in the streets by the thousands protesting threats against civil rights.  Is there any news about Americans in the streets. No, nada, zip.

Americans no longer care. It's all about the show, not the substance. Is that a gross generalization? I hope so. But one thing is certain, those who you know will vote for Trump, will vote. Those who oppose him, may not.
--Trump supporters could care less about impeachment, especially since there's no chance the Senate will convict. They believe in the "witch hunt" scenario.
--They don't care about the Saudis. They have oil, good enough. And, since they don't really watch the news, one more dead journalist is no concern.
--They don't care or even believe in climate change science. To them, it's all about the weather today and not what evil climate changes cometh. In all likelihood, they don't understand the terminology so ignore it. For that matter, probably most science is beyond their understanding.
--Their total take on economics is "if I get a paycheck and can buy a beer and can go shoot something, life is good." Tarifs have no meaning and if Trump says China is paying them it must be true.
--Health care? Damned socialists.
--Education? "We don't need no education ...." And besides, education creates liberals.
--Pollution? Water doesn't taste any different. Skies still blue, sometimes, and who cares about bugs and birds?
--Immigrants? You've got to be kidding. They take our jobs and don't speak good english.

You see, it's about the antics, the show, the Archy Bunker factor. The guy swears and makes fun of people. He's just like us.

These people WILL vote.

If the Democrats do not vote Blue No Matter Who, Trump wins. If they don't vote Blue because the nominee doesn't promote all the things they want. Trump wins. If they don't have the most massive, biggest, best of all time voter turn out, TRUMP WINS.

Keep in mind, Trump, et al want a disruptive election. They want to claim voter tampering by "whoever" if the election is close so they can nullify it.

Trump can win. Polls will be purposely misleading (remember the Boris Johnson election). News will be skewed. Fake news and websites will be everywhere. Lies and deceit will be rampant. Intimidation and voter purges abundant. 

There are few protests in the US. Is this apathy? If so, we're in trouble.

There can be no rest until the "forces of tyranny" are clearly and overwhelmingly defeated. Otherwise, Trump WILL win.

Why the Only Issue That Matters is Impeachment

Image: https://signsofthetimes.org.au/2019/02/dystopian-future/

I listened to an NPR report in which numerous people interviewed stated that they were more concerned with issues like health care, education, wages, jobs, etc. than the impeachment of Donald Trump. This made me laugh and then sigh. Why don't those who aren't concerned with impeachment get the fact that all else revolves around the crimes, misdimeanors, negligence, and destructive actions of Trump?

The current administration has been on a quest, a Sherman's march, to gut public education, environmental protection, affordable health care, national public land treasures, voting rights, LGBQT rights, the rights of the disabled, worker rights, women's rights, programs to feed those in need,  the rights of asylum seekers, programs to support small scale farming, safe drinking water water protections, our relationsip with allies, treaties that prevent nuclear proliferation, the constitutional separation of powers and the right of oversight, to name a few. Nothing positive has been enacted, unless you consider billions of dollars in tax breaks for the rich to be positive. And, his plans for a second term, if, God forbid he actually gets that far, are too scary to even contemplate.

When someone says Congress should not waste time on impeachment it syas to me, We should not waste time protecting American democracy and the health and welfare of its our citizens. Instead, we should sit idly back while Trump inplements his distopian agenda for the rich and powerful while the masses just do what they're told and get whatever the rich decide they should get.

This is why impeachment is the only issue that matters.

It Matters

I pledge allegiance to freedom in America

 


The current administration is butting into private industry and our personal freedoms.
In a democracy, aside from the laws that we have created through our elected representatives, government does not tell us how to think and how to express our beliefs. That's why we have a constitution, to protect us against government dictates and fiats.
If a person wants to stand during the national anthem, so be it. If they don't, so be it. Our flag is supposed to be a symbol of our democracy, the right of freedom of expression, press, religion, and freedom from oppression. If an individual feels that the flag does not currently stand for those ideals, then expressing discontent by kneeling is a right guaranteed to all. To say otherwise is to say that the flag no longer represents our ideals, but rather stands for demagogery. That is not America.
Respect must be deserved. When it wasn't there was the American Revolution. There were the suffragettes. There were civil rights and war protests.
That is America, people standing up to be free. Or kneeling when those freedoms are abridged.
So yes, I pledge my allegiance to freedom. I will stand when my country is right, and kneel when it's wrong.
If this is not the way you think, I won't ask you to leave this country. You have to right to believe what you want. However, you don't have the right to force your views and beliefs on me. That's what democracy requires.

Under the cover of disaster, DJT

 (ABC NEWS photo)

Under the cover of disaster unfolding in Texas, DJT pardonned Joe Arpaio.
This action clearly demonstrates that the President has no respect for our constitution and the rule of law, the very foundation of our democracy.
What Arpaio did was to ignore and violate a  Federal Court order. For DJT to excuse a blatant violation of the power of the court is a slap in the face of our system of government. Law enforcement officers are meant to do just that, enforce the law. When a judge issues a ruling, it is the responsibilty of officers to enforce, not ignore the ruling. The presidential pardon basically says that it's okay to ignore our judicial system and by inference, the very structure of checks and balances and separation of powers.
Is this a trial run by DJT to see what he can get away with? Is this a foreshadow of future pardons for those implicated in the Russian probe, including himself?
The actions of DJT are deplorable and inexcusable. If the members of congress do not act to curb such reckless actions, our entire system of government will be subject to collapse, spiralling into chaos and decay.
If actions are not taken immediately, there may be no time left for action for the system will have fallen. We cannot accept racism, bigotry, and abuse of our legal system as SOP.
Inaction is not an option.

Donald "Goebbels" Trump

 

Donald Trump: Ban all Muslim travel to U.S.

CNN

Some of the Goebbels' principles of propaganda:

"Propaganda must be planned and executed by only one authority."

"Credibility alone must determine whether propaganda output should be true or false."

"Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans. "

"Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred. "

"Black rather than white propaganda may be employed when the latter is less credible or produces undesirable effects. "

"To be perceived, propaganda must evoke the interest of an audience and must be transmitted through an attention-getting communications medium. "

"Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level"

There was no point in seeking to convert the intellectuals. For intellectuals would never be converted and would anyway always yield to the **er, and this will always be "the man in the street." Arguments must therefore be crude, clear and forcible, and appeal to emotions and instincts, not the intellect. Truth was unimportant and entirely subordinate to tactics and psychology.

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/1393155

 “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

 “It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and a psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is in fact a circle. They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe ideas and disguise.”

 "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.”

“Success is the important thing. Propaganda is not a matter for average minds, but rather a matter for practitioners. It is not supposed to be lovely or theoretically correct. I do not care if I give wonderful, aesthetically elegant speeches, or speak so that women cry. The point of a political speech is to persuade people of what we think right. I speak differently in the provinces than I do in Berlin, and when I speak in Bayreuth, I say different things than I say in the Pharus Hall. That is a matter of practice, not of theory. We do not want to be a movement of a few straw brains, but rather a movement that can conquer the broad masses. Propaganda should be popular, not intellectually pleasing. It is not the task of propaganda to discover intellectual truths.” 

There was no point in seeking to convert the intellectuals. For intellectuals would never be converted and would anyway always yield to the **er, and this will always be "the man in the street." Arguments must therefore be crude, clear and forcible, and appeal to emotions and instincts, not the intellect. Truth was unimportant and entirely subordinate to tactics and psychology.

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/1393155

There was no point in seeking to convert the intellectuals. For intellectuals would never be converted and would anyway always yield to the **er, and this will always be "the man in the street." Arguments must therefore be crude, clear and forcible, and appeal to emotions and instincts, not the intellect. Truth was unimportant and entirely subordinate to tactics and psychology.

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/1393155

There was no point in seeking to convert the intellectuals. For intellectuals would never be converted and would anyway always yield to the **er, and this will always be "the man in the street." Arguments must therefore be crude, clear and forcible, and appeal to emotions and instincts, not the intellect. Truth was unimportant and entirely subordinate to tactics and psychology.

Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/1393155