Our Representative System of Government Is Broken

The majority of Americans want common sense gun reforms. The majority favors taking military style assault weapons out of the hands of the public. Americans also want a woman’s right to choose to be a decision made between her, her family and doctor. Very few Americans think it’s okay to have the state literally monitoring private bedroom and family decisions.

But nothing gets done and it seems like since forever. Why is that? It’s easy to blame mental health for gun violence and not the guns. Honestly I get that, though I don’t interpret the constitution as saying Americans inherit a right to own assault weapons due to the 2nd amendment. The 2nd specifically mentions a need a need for guns related to war with other countries, because we had no army back then, so we conscripted citizens with theor own guns to fight wars.

What is supposed to happen in representative government is: people tell their reps what they want to do about an issue, and the representatives re-present the ideas of the majority of their constituents during Congressional voting sessions. That is why they are called re-presentatives. We the people present, they represent. And these days, with social media and polling, it’s very easy to find out what people want. “The majority of Americans want common sense gun reforms” is a fact.

However,what happens in reality is that too many representatives ( aka lawmakers, because they make the laws we have to live by ) don’t vote for the things their constituents want; they vote for the laws that favor people who pay them to vote the way the bribers want. Lobbying is just a euphimism for bribing in a world where our supreme court had ruled ( because they had to ) that corporations are people and money can legally remain “dark”. With respect to gun laws, the NRA has a stake in arming the USA to the nines, so they lobby ( bribe ) mostly GOP congresspeople to vote for thier business to stay alive, as they see in many countries the guns per capita rate is much lower than in the USA. The whole thing adds up to America becoming a place where innocent people, are mowed down at one of the highest rates on the planet. And that is sad, scary and fixable, – but only one way on the fixing. ( More on that later . )

The same can be said about a woman’s right to choose. Almost no young woman wants to be forced to carry a child that she does not want to love and raise. But “lawmakers” in many states and in Congress are being paid to vote against the wishes of the majority of American citizens.

When questioned about this, Lauren Bobert, representative from Colorado, said the quiet part out loud: Boebert: “We’re not a democracy. So quit with that. Maybe that’s where you’re getting it wrong is saying we’re a democracy. We’re a constitutional republic.”

She is right about that. But what is a constitutional republic? It implies adherence to a constitution, regardless to what the majority of people want. There is nothing in the constituon about abortion.

In reality, the key difference between a democracy and a republic lies in the limits placed on government by the law. Both forms of government use the representational system. Citizens vote to elect politicians to represent their interests and pass laws that reflect their wishes. In a “pure democracy,” the majority imposes its will on the minority. In a republic, a constitution protects certain inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government, even if it is wanted by a majority of voters.

Right now, women have a right to have an abortion in the USA as per Roe v Wade. But many Republicans in Congress want to take that away.

So that line about the USA not being a “pure” democracy is correct. But Bobert and many lawmakers use that line to defend their right to vote against the collective will of their constituency and vote for what is good for their own pocketbooks. Selling your vote to the highest bidder is not any part of a constitutional republic. It’s congressional corruption. That’s why I often refer to Congress as Coingress. We end up with the best government money can buy.

This will not change until we change the qualitfications for holding office in the USA change. And no one is talking about that on either side of the divide. To be president you just have to be thirty-five and a citizen born here. Donald Trump can run from jail if he so chooses. We vet our babysitters better than our presidents and representatives. Prior public service is not required. It should be. As a result of this low bar for qualification, many in Congress are there for self service, not public service.

It takes millions to win office these days. As long as the uber rich are paying for political campaigns, the uber rich will choose representatives that promise to vote their way when the chips are down.

And then there is the 14th Amendment which clearly says no person who have taken part in an insurrection, aided an insurrection, or even “comforted” those who have taken part in an insurrection can be in office, state or federal. The entire GOP has at least comforted insurrectionists. One judge on the Supreme Court is married to an insurrectionist caught in the act. But we do nothing about this as well. Democrats know all this and do nothing. It must be because they have some dark sold out secrets in their closets and are afraid to shun 50% of the Congress.

People are the same over time. Their toys and environments change, but being a human is pretty much the same as it was since forever. We are born. We rely of help from adults to become an adult. We procreate ( or not ) and then, we move out of the way as all living things do. That’s what one has to navigate as a living human. We all prey on each other in one way or another during our journey through life. Some fare better than others. Some are larger predators than others. Some find ways to help others as they serve them. Live and let live seems to be the best philosophy.

It seems to me humans are not the right beings to be trusted to care for the masses when their instinct will almost always be to put themselves first.

I wondered if AI would do a better job of government, so I asked it “what are the best ways to curb gun violence in the USA?”. This is what I got in a few seconds.

Here are some of the best ways to reduce gun violence:

Universal background checks: Implementing universal background checks can help ensure that firearms are not sold to individuals who are prohibited from owning them, such as those with criminal records or mental health issues.
Red flag laws: Red flag laws allow law enforcement to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.
Stricter gun control laws: Implementing stricter gun control laws, such as bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and bump stocks, can help reduce the number of mass shootings and gun-related deaths.
Education and awareness: Educating the public about responsible gun ownership and safe storage practices can help prevent accidental shootings and reduce the number of firearms stolen and used in crimes.
Mental health support: Providing accessible and affordable mental health services can help individuals with mental health issues get the help they need and reduce the risk of gun violence.
Community-based violence prevention: Investing in community-based violence prevention programs can help address the root causes of gun violence and provide support to those who are at risk of being involved in gun violence.

It’s important to note that there is no single solution that can completely eliminate gun violence in the USA, and addressing this issue will require a multifaceted approach that takes into account the complex social, cultural, and political factors that contribute to gun violence. End AI report.

It all makes perfect sense to me but almost none of this will get done because unvetted humans, many of whom can be tossed out tomorrow by the DOJ via the 14th, still have their seats and their secret bank accounts.

It seems to me that the two warring party system will eventually, and perhaps soon, bring the USA to its knees or into a state of live civil war. ( We are already in a cool cyber civil war – a war of words. )

All I can fathom as a solution, one party needs to get complete control of the government and clean house. If it happens at the ballot box in 2024 that would be great. But I don’t think the uber rich are going to let that happen. They killed two Kennedy’s to stop the people from having a real champion for justice in office. And now, another Kennedy, RFK Jr., is getting ready to run.

Dems have shown they are willing to eat their own. I did not agree with ousting Al Franken but at least dems have shown they have standards. This GOP has shown they are okay with criminals, rapists and traitors to the constitution in high office. They seem to prefer it. Romney is shunned. And that’s because a good boy scout will rat on the sold out in Congress so it’s better if they are all sold out. Thick as thieves is the GOP’s secret mantra. And I am sure there is a percentage of Democracts that are okay with protectting lawmakers right to stuff their pockets and work against the people they are supposed to represent.

The USA’s greatest threat to survival come from the sold out in Congress and two men named Vladimir and Rupert. The majority of Americans know which of our warring two parties is the lesser of two evils. It is the party that gave tax breaks to bilionaires, is okay with 18-year olds owning assault weapons and wants to end Social Security, Medicare and a woman’s right to choose.

The only solution left is for one party needs to get complete control of all three chambers of government and clean house. 2024 is closer than we think. The vast majority of Americans will fare better if the crazy party that is aligned with billionaires, Qanon and the NRA is put out to pasture. A split Congress will not police itself nor advance any meaningful reforms to better life for working Americans and thier children.

Speaking of children, the active shooter drill generation is being groomed right now. When they come to power in 20 years, well – you tell me what you think they will do. I think they will reject both parties – if these parties still exist. The will reject the GOP for letting so many kids die, and the Dems for being too scared to take the steps to even try to end the madness. And I will be with them, if I am still around.

Photo from the NRA Convention 2023. Grooming much?

The 14th Amendment Protects Us from Renegade Statesmen

The 14th Amendment addresses many aspects of citizenship and the rights of citizens. But it also gives us the power to remove Senators, Representatives, judges, candidates and even Presidents for behavior that violates certain sacred American principles. XIV contains five easy-to-understand sections. This post reviews sections one and three. They are very pertinent to our times. (Bolds for emphasis.)

Section 3. Protects us from Big Lie and Insurrection Supports taking any part in our government for the people

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. *But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. ( The GOP does not have a majority to remove disqualified members.)

Section three of the 14th protects American citizens from renegade government officials. It clearly says those who have engaged in insurrection shall not be Senators, Representatives or President. It does not say they cannot run for office. It says they cannot be in office. It means the Constitution instantly voids all powers of one’s governmental office the moment one takes any part in or supports an insurrection against the state. The 14th does not say one must physically be part of an insurrection either. Words certainly can be construed as being part of an insurrection. When Benedict Arnold passed secrets to our enemies, he used words.

Section three also says one cannot give aid or comfort to the enemies of the United States and remain or be in office. Can we define Donald Trump’s Capitol speech on January 6th, 2021, as offering support to insurrection? I don’t see how it is not exactly that. The same logic applies to the incendiary speeches made by Mo Brooks, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Greene and to all the congressmen who support the Big Lie. And does not Judge Clarence Thomas comfort his wife by sharing the same house with her? It’s all unconstitutional folks.

You can be sure the GOP will oust Dems for far less, if we give them the chance again. The GOP only cares about staying in power now. If they get back in power, who among us thinks they will not use it? Yes, it’s driven by Donald Trump who fears jail time for his crimes – but it’s not only him. They are talking about jailing people, closing down polling stations, undoing elections and even killing democrats.

So what is the solution for this? Actually, I think it is easier than we think. We have to use the 14th amendment. AG Garland needs to come out and say that America is under attack – just as it was on 911. An attack on the institution of voting is the same as an attack on our lands. And Congressman or judicial officer in State or Federal government or any candidate for State or Federal office who has previously stated anything that could be construed as comfort to insurrectionist must immediately publicly announce the following:

They do not think Donald Trump won the 2020 election and Joe Biden is our duly elected president. If elected they will do nothing to can be construed as an attack on our electoral systems. They are aware that would be an act of war versus the institution of American voting and they will have no part of that.

If they refuse to do that, their names must be stripped from the ballots as per the 14th. And if Congressmen refuse to do so, AG Garland shall have a Sargent of arms lock up their desks and remove them from office. We can have new elections but no one who will not denounce J6 as an insurrection attempt will be allowed to run for office.

These are just words that AG Garland can and must say. It is possible that the entire GOP needs to removed from office and that’s fine if they will not stop fighting for Trump and cheating. But we certainly can remove enough House members to give us a majority in the House right now.

Section 1: Protects us from renegade State laws, like no abortion rights and voter discrimination

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Voting is either an American citizen’s privilege or his or her right. Section one seems to say the laws passed in Georgia and other states, designed to restrict the voting rights of its citizens, are illegal and unconstitutional.

But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

The disability is the disabling of the qualification to serve in government. This entire January 6th thing, post factum, is about whether we define January 6th as an insurrection or – as the GOP would have it – a national holiday when the people rose up to defend democracy.

The US Constitution does not say insurrection comforters need to be impeached or tried. This should be taken to mean if there is clear evidence of such enumerated offending acts, the parties who have engaged in such acts immediately surrender their station and are no longer members of the US Congress by virtue of their deeds and/or words.

Once a Congressman take part in an insurrection or gives aid or comfort to insurrectionists, per the 14th, they are no longer congressmen. Such people should not be allowed to even show up to their offices. Special elections should rightly need to be set up as soon as possible to replace any congressmen who take part in the activities clearly denounced in the 14th Amendment.

Impeaching the Republican Party as a Group

There are plenty of Republican congressmen, in both houses, who have been seen and heard engaging in insurrection speak and giving comfort and aid to those who support The Big Lie that the election was fixed for Biden and Trump really won.

Maybe we need to use belief in The Big Lie as a bar. Any Congressman who, in light of all the evidence to the contrary, still publicly states the election was illegally fixed, is himself part of the secessionist movement by virtue of giving psychological comfort to those who want the election overturned. It may be time to give the sitting Republicans one last chance to denounce the Big Lie or be removed from office.

It’s time to use the 14th Amendment. It was put there to save our democracy.

…… Joseph Aronesty 4/14/21

Previous post: The Cancer of Trumpism has Metastasized

Trump’s Firing of Mark Esper is Part of a Plan to Subvert Our Democracy

Nov 2020:

Donald Trump’s first foreign trip as POTUS was to MBS, not Macron or Merkel. That was because Trump had more in common with Putin and other dictators than democratic leaders. And that’s because Trump, first and foremost, is a financial criminal, as are most dictators. Now that Trump is voted out, people assume he is leaving office on Jan 20th. However, as long as Trump is in the White House we should be very suspect of Trump’s moves.

Trump’s not given up yet, and neither have his allies. Who are Trump’s allies? Besides many of our US corporations and the uber-rich, they are the authoritarians in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America, his cowardly sycophants in Congress and the gullible in his MAGA base, who support him even though they get shafted by GOP financial policies. That’s a lot of allies for a man whose uncaring incompetence led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. So how did Donald Trump, a spoiled NYC business man get involved with dictators? Spoiler alert. This did not start in 2016.

When leaders steal from their own governments, they need a foreign safe-place to hide and protect the money they have stolen. There is a sort of dictator’s fraternity on planet earth, and they all meet up where their money meets up, in the banks that protect the identity of their foreign clients and in real estate assets than generate income, like condos and golf clubs.

I knew Donny Trump first from Wharton School and then more substantially from Atlantic City. The AC culture really served as the business school for both of us. Our targets were tourists – not people our kids played with at school. Veritable others. The goal was to get their money and go back to our families and feel good about being providers. I was a jeweler in that scene. I tried not to be a scam artist, but I surely knew a lot of them and how they rolled. AC was had a “carney” ethic going back to prohibition and the Nucky Johnson days. The AC 80’s was like Boardwalk Empire II.

Trump’s casinos made one million dollars a day and he had three of them. This is easy to prove. Gambling profits are a function of volume. His casinos enjoyed the same volumes that Caesar’s and Resorts had in AC. Caesar’s didn’t declare bankruptcy. Their profits mirrored Trump’s profits. but Trump declared bankruptcy.

Trump’s declaration of bankruptcy in Atlantic City, made it clear that Trump was moving major profits out of country to skirt taxes. Trump always enjoyed scamming people. It makes him feel smart without having to be good at anything except selling and stealing. And scamming the US government was a Trump family tradition for two generations.

This is why Trump invests heavily overseas and won’t reveal his taxes. Donald Trump made the choice to be a criminal in the 1980’s. That’s when he met Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, and a host of Russian mob players who were also okay with money laundering. Those 80’s connections ultimately led him to Russia, the Miss Universe Pageants and Vladimir Putin. Financial crime is why he is aligned with Putin, Kim Jong-un and MBS and not Macron and Merkel.

There are two kinds of dictators. Some are royal. Their fathers were dictators and they inherited their station. Royals are so powerful that they don’t need to hide their funds overseas. MBS and Kim are in the category. Then there are the new dictators that gain power in a democracy and find a way to subvert their democracy so they can stay in power. Putin, Erdogan, Bolsonaro, Castro and Hitler are examples of that kind of dictator. That’s the kind of dictator Trump is trying to become. If successful, the children of these non-royal dictators become royalty. That’s how it has worked throughout human human history.

The European democracies rejoiced when Trump lost the election, but the dictators on planet earth are still rooting for him because if Trump does not stay on as president past January 20th, it bodes poorly for them. Their people are watching all this play out online. They would love to see democracy fail.

Donald Trump needed dictator schooling as he was totally ignorant of world history. So, Putin has been schooling Trump via back-channeling through Kushner throughout his presidency. Jared is the only man Trump trusts enough to be the connection between himself and Putin. Trump uses a go-between because the go-between can be pardoned, if caught. Presidential pardons must be redefined to eliminate pardons for activities that tangentially involve the pardoner. It’s a form of self pardoning.

Putin leaked his tutorial relation with Trump in gangster code in a Sochi CBS interview when playing hockey. Listen to the YouTube video if you missed it. Ask yourself why Putin would say what he did, if not to brag to the world about his knowledge of and influence over Donald Trump? Nothing else makes sense.

Trump should have known that getting into government could expose his life of financial crimes. His father warned him to stay out of politics because there was a family tradition of cheating on taxes. But the greed bug hit him just like it hit the gamblers who went broke in his casinos. Trump used the greed trap to make a fortune and ironically fell in the same trap himself. Trump now has too much to lose to stop fighting. Losing the election is not going to stop him.

These post election firings in key positions are not in the country’s best interest. But rest assured, the country’s best interest is the last thing on Trump’s mind. If he can fire enough people in key positions, and get the USA into a state of war or martial law before January 20th, he just may be able to stay on in the story he is telling himself in his mind. And Trump has always lived 100% entirely within his own mind.

I do wish someone with a large mic in media would show the dictator map. This has always been all that’s been going on since “Russia, if you’re listening.” It’s not about “politics”. It’s about thieves keeping their financial crimes hidden. If being in politics helps that goal for the criminals, they go that way. It’s up to decent people to put an end to all of this. The fate of our country and the planet is at stake. Most Americans are like Trump with regard to world politics. Ignorant. They need to see what’s going on with a picture. No one reads much any more. Georgians need to see this image. The GOP is aligned with big business and they are aligned with dictators via their worship of money.

Tap Jared Kushner’s phone. So what if it’s illegal? It’s jaywalking compared to what the Trumps are doing and people are dying while we watch and wait. Right now, Kushner is getting daily updates and schooling from Putin. Release what you hear like it’s in some spy movie. Reminds me of the film No Way Out. This is a movie in Trump’s mind. He is the villain. Who will be the hero in this film?

America is stronger than Russia was when Putin took over. But be aware: no country in all of history has been impervious to demise.

……

relevant prior post: The decision to subvert democracy was made in 2019.

https://englishcode.wordpress.com/2019/05/24/ice-raids/

Joseph Aronesty is an e-commerce pioneer, songwriter, author, linguist, father of five and staunch activist for every day people. He was in a class with Trump at Wharton in 1967 and worked near him in AC in the 80’s. josepharonesty@gmail.com

A Compelling Strategy: Play Hardball with Bill Barr Now

Now, in the days approaching the most important election in American history, no Trump hire is more dangerous to our democracy than his Attorney General Bill Barr. Let me go over why we should impeach Barr or at least make him be concerned about his fate should Trump lose.

I am not going to cite the grounds for impeachment of Bill Barr in this post. Many legal scholars have laid out valid impeachment counts against Barr already. What I want to impress upon us all is the importance of neutering Bill Barr as a Trump asset during the last 30 days before the election – and the 30 days following the election as well. Remember, we all expect Donald Trump to cheat as best he can in this election. And if it’s vaguely close, we expect him to challenge the results. That challenge will come from Barr if he feels secure enough to be lawless for his benefactor.

HISTORY IS WRITTEN BY THE WINNERS

Bill Barr recently said something that got airplay but not enough scrutiny. He said, “… history is written by the winners.” True. But that sort of thinking is usually reserved for major government upheavals like the fall of the Roman Empire or the defeat of the Sioux Nation. So why did Barr say that? That statement clearly means Trumpsters are intent on re-writing history by redefining American democracy and justice. If successful, America would still exist, but as if we had lost a major war to a foreign power – more the way Hong Kong exists as a Chinese satellite. I want to ask Barr what he was thinking when he said that.

 Read: Trump Trying to Destroy America Before the Election In 2019, there was evidence Trump intended to cause strife in the the USA as a method the keep his base hating their neighbors. Now he's using the virus to gin up hate as well. Now he says he won't get out if he loses. Why is he doing all this? He's certainly risking a lot. There must a huge payoff, at least in his mind.  There is.

Is Election Meddling an Act of (Cyber) War?

The map below encapsulates the real struggle on planet Earth. The three super powers are China, USA and Russia ( for its sheer size and militia, if nothing else ). We are in effect deciding as a species whether we want to be a planet ruled autocratically or democratically. On November 3rd, we will know the choice we have made. And you had better believe the dictators are weighing in and trying to affect that decision.

This November’s election is not just for the USA this cycle. When you see the map, you realize this is democracies vs. autocracies. And they do not co-exist better than cats and dogs because the citizens in oppressed countries can learn how citizens in democracies are faring via the internet. Despotic rulers want all the democracies gone. For that reason we want them gone. Tinderbox.

This is why I have been advocating that tampering with our vote be considered an act of (cyber) war with financial and personal penalties that are so high no one would consider even trying. If election meddling were considered an act of war or cyber war, then it would be treason – as it should be.

            We should guard our institutions just as fervently as we guard our lands and bases.

So if the Trump Train is going to start going full dictator’s handbook here in these last 100 days, it will be Bill Barr that starts those motions, investigations, arrests – etc. We already see what he is doing to the prosecutors who don’t sell out to Trump-ism. What makes us think Joe and Hinter Biden, Obama and Comey are not on some Barr list to be prosecuted in the days before the election? That would be re-writing history.

Why would Barr say this if he had not pondered it? Barr’s leak of re-writing history informs us that a nefarious plot is afoot and Bill Barr will be the instrument of that plot. Donald will be calling the shots, but from afar.

At a Rose Garden event, Feb. 15th 2019, right after Trump hired Bill Barr, he said “God speed and have a great life” . We all heard that. That’s a major tell. That’s the code Michael Cohen spoke of. Trump only says that if he had a private discussion with Barr, in which he makes it clear his only goal in life has been to have a great life for himself. If Bill is on board with that goal for himself and agrees to stay loyal, Trump can make that great life happen for Barr with much more money than the paltry $145,000 that the AG position is paid. That also means if we look for foreign bank accounts opened between Feb 1 and 14 in 2019, and find something that ends with Barr – we have him. Barr is hiding something. At least, make him afraid with an inquiry. Put Barr on defense.

Barr’s loyalty had to be bought with money placed in a foreign bank account. These days, bitcoin would also suffice. No one sells out for free. That’s why they call it “selling out”. So I am advising people, if we can’t get Trump’s taxes now, let’s get Barr’s taxes. There may be a link. And just by requesting them, it could spook Barr enough to get him to walk back his pledged loyalty in the days before the election. It might even spook any other GOP sycophants on the take. Mission accomplished then.

Then there is the election itself and what happens after the results are in. Bill Barr will be there to state the election is too close to call regardless of the outcome, or cite coronavirus affected Trump voters inordinately or some other made up reason to hold the results in abeyance until they can sort it out. Or Trump can say “his people” are getting different numbers. He may even start a war thinking that will force us to keep him in office.

The potential for mayhem here is huge as long as Bill Barr is AG. And conversely, mayhem potential is greatly reduced if Bill Barr is tied up in impeachment hearings. Plus, the GOP can’t say we’re messing with the election by violating some unwritten 90 days out rule. That rule is reserved for releasing dirt or initiating an action on the actual candidates. Bill Barr is not a candidate for POTUS and he works for us – not the president. It’s not a foul play to impeach him. It’s a very smart play. And maybe it will undo the harm done when we turned the impeachment of Donald J Trump over to a crooked GOP Senate before seeing the whites of their eyes. They were not afraid in February. But things are changing. Let’s give the GOP a chance to abandon Trump before their convention and make life easy on everyone.

This post, written May of 2019, predicted that Trump would attempt to destroy the American experiment and bring it to its knees before the election. Pandemonium over the pandemic is a good thing for Trump now. He’s living up to his oath – to Vladimir Putin. That’s all he can afford to think about now.

PS. We should have our convention after theirs. Strategize. The date is sort of pliable due to the pandemic. Take advantage of every little thing. That’s how Trump won.

Read and prepare:

https://englishcode.wordpress.com/2020/07/05/contested-election/

TIME TO PREPARE FOR A CONTESTED ELECTION

America Won WW2 Because We Worked Together as a Team

We Need WW2 Teamwork Again Now

Let’s show the American people we can unite our party. Both sides will respect that. After all, if we cant unite the “left” how can we unite the country?
May 2019

We are at war in the USA. We are at war with foreign enemies that want to exploit our riches. We are at war with Trump’s GOP party that sells our rights and assets to the highest bidders. And at the same time, we are at war with each other – which will make it very difficult for any side to prevail in any effort.

I am old enough to remember first-hand the spirit of the WW2 generation. They were not the greed is good generation nor the it’s all about me generation. The greatest generation citizens resigned to do their parts to defeat German Nationalism with a spirit of teamwork and without ego. Now we have a combination of corporatism and American Nationalism to defeat.

We all know there’s an election in 2020. Trump knows exactly how long he has to completely take this government over – from the justice department installations to the election fixing with our enemies. Trump is working every day to have our democracy be gone before the 2020 election. Why? Trump knows the term that follows his presidential term may be a prison term.

I still see a way to get the current GOP Senate to vote to impeach Trump, but only after the Dems change the way they are running their campaigns . Some GOP senators are now whispering privately they want to abandon Trump. Let’s show those same GOP senators if they keep Trump as their figurehead they’ll have no shot in 2020. That’s the big idea here.

Teamwork

The viable candidates and those who really want to work to save this country should meet in a room and settle on who will be the Democratic candidates for president, vice president, chief of staff and district attorney. Then our Team America pools resources and gets to work – not only to beat Trump – but to show the American people what they can do for the citizens of the USA.

Will this surprise tactic of running for president with a VP and cabinet in place – work? How can it not work?

The optics are spectacular. Instead of 20 candidates telling undecided American voters why they are best for the top job – we present one well-prepared team, ready on day one to get the actual jobs done for all Americans.

Even MAGA people will go for that. They know they are being lied to. They just don’t know who will be there for them on our side because right now we don’t even know. They will remain tuned out to our overtures until we decide. Till next July? Really? It will be too late by then.

The big idea is to not preach to the choir and get GOP constituents in red states liking what they are seeing and hearing. Imagine a team energetic candidates all campaigning simultaneously for the ideas we need to transform this country. That's never been seen here before. It's like Trump that way - powerful out-of-the-box strategy. (You got to give him that.)

Now imagine the same-old, same-old – what we have now. More debates after-which we neither learn much nor convert voters to our common causes. More circular firing squads. And all the while, Trump team – from Kelly Anne to Bill Barr – speaks in unison. We are strategically handicapped because we play by rules, conventions and traditions while Trump does not. If we had fought WW2 this way, we’d all be speaking German here today.

I realize not every candidate will want to leave their current position to work in the 2021 cabinet that leads America into a modern future. But they can be offered posts. I sense a job for Michele Obama in Team America too.

There’s no room for it’s all about me now.

Other important posts for strategy to prevail as a democracy are below:

https://englishcode.wordpress.com/2019/03/30/dictator-map/ explains how we got here

https://englishcode.wordpress.com/2019/11/23/impeachment-2020/ a better path to impeaching – a tad of patience – not too much – but the Spring is always a better time to engage the public. Not Christmas for sure.

Joseph Aronesty is an e-commerce pioneer, online since 1996. He is a family man, published etymologist and songwriter. He lives outside Los Angeles.

He can be reached at josepharonesty@gmail.com

752 14th Street, Manhattan Beach CA 90266 818 423 1533

Dem Presidential Hopefuls Should Unite Into a Team: Justice League 2020

Written Jan 12 – updated 7/11/19

1-justice I’ve got to give Trump one thing. He’s not afraid to think outside the box. I rarely agree with his thinking because his prime motivations are self-promotion and self-survival – not what’s good for you and I. Trump is willing to do anything to stay in power. His stated motto is “what does it matter if I don’t win?”

So maybe we have to think outside the box this next go ’round. We see all the multiple candidates signing up to beat Trump. it reminds me of the GI’s signing up in WW2. But so far, very few have a real shot to beat Trump. Biden, Bernie and Warren stack up best.

In 2016, Bernie actually got a lot of the Trump supporters who wanted sincere change. Bernie’s sincerity was and still is his biggest attribute. Many Trump supporters now know they were fooled by a con man.

Joe Biden because he’s been there before, he’s more of a centrist – and also polls well in the Midwest. And we’ll need all of these people to beat the formidable enemies in the Trump organization.

The way a primary usually works is many run and those who lose just go home and continue in their current jobs. But what does that say for all the others with good messages and talents in this struggle we are going through? Are their energies and dedications to be cast aside?

We need to overcome so much in 2020 . Winning will just the step one. Trump has undone so many of our institutions. Change will not be a one man job. Trump’s “I alone can fix this” philosophy is not going to work. Change is going to take extensive teamwork – the kind of teamwork that became second nature for the WW2 generation because they too had formidable enemies. We need that team USA spirit now.

So why make the primary a winner-take-all race? Why not make it a winner-enrolls-all primary? Can you imagine the strength of that commitment? It would be truly unbeatable. Trump can’t begin to match it. What’s he going to do? Is he going to run with his team of Pence, Ross, Barr and Kushner? His team is ludicrous. So let’s announce we are running as a team. Perhaps this has to get to Pelosi or Perez first. I will try. But if you have a bigger mic – you try too. The team starts with us anyway.

So here’s an image and an outside-the-box strategy to match Trump’s resolve – which will include election fixing – ad hoc crises – cyber attacks – Russian bots – and potentially a make-shift war effort.

I hope we get this to the candidates – all of them. Because the struggle to gain the presidency should not run the risk of dividing the democrat’s electorate. And it does.

I’d like to see Harris as DA. I think Bernie and Biden should announce that their first VP choice will be one of the female candidates running right now.

Share this forward and upwards. Thank You.

ARE WE DODO BIRDS?

EXTINCTION WORKS JUST LIKE THIS IN NATURE

The last widely accepted sighting of a dodo bird was in 1662.
Like many animals that evolved in isolation from significant predators, the dodo was fearless of humans. Their fearlessness, coupled with its inability to fly, made the dodo easy prey for sailors.

(Now change a few words.)

The last widely accepted sighting of the American Democracy was in 2020.
Like many people that live ignorant of history, most Americans trusted their leaders. This trust, coupled with the Americans’ inability to deal swiftly with their internal predators, made the American democracy easy prey for takeover.

Relevant prior posts:

How to Entice Trump to Step Down in 60 Days or Less

Trump is One of Many Corrupt Rulers Who Launder Money Internationally

What If Trump and the Entire Executive Branch Has Been Suborned?

And if all else fails, we can use technology to replace politicians.

The Way Back to Political Sanity Could Also Involve Facebook, Google, CNN

Donald Trump is Drunk-Driving Our Governmental Institutions

GOVERN (v.): late 13c., “to rule with authority,” from Old French governer “steer, be at the helm of; govern, rule, command, direct”. Originally “to steer, to pilot,” a nautical word borrowed from Greek kybernan “to steer or pilot a ship, (also the root of cyber – interesting huh?).

We elect officials into our government to effectively STEER our institutions for the common good. How is our current government doing at that task?

trump-car

Ask yourself these questions: If a train engineer gets drunk and derails a train is he responsible? If a car driver gets distracted by texting and accidentally kills a pedestrian, is that driver responsible?

The answer to those questions is clearly “yes” – both morally and legally. In these cases, the bad actors would be found temporarily incompetent and fully responsible for the damages done due their incompetence. After all, when we board a train we expect the engineer to be competent. – And we expect licensed drivers also to be safe drivers.

So why then is it okay to violate one’s oath of office and stay in power? Why is it okay to head the institution of Environmental Protection and use that power to derail its commissioned mission to protect the environment? Why are the players in the Flint Michigan water crisis not responsible for the Flint deaths and misery?

And yes – why do we allow Trump to stay on as president? Should not lying over 8000 times in office be enough evidence for us to deem him unfit to act as our president? Why is lying to citizens while in office not illegal? It is a violation of the presidential oath. It seems to you can lose your driver’s license easier than lose your license to act as president. It makes zero sense.

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Is not the word “faithfully” diametrically opposed to “dishonestly”? So lying to the public is not faithful execution any more than lying to one’s spouse would be a faithful act.

When you take a job that can effect the lives of others, there is an inherit obligation to function in a manner that is sober, honest and competent. Donald Trump had repeatedly shown that he is okay with lying. There have already been over forty criminal indictments so far in the Mueller probe – and they involve people that works for Donald Trump one way or another. That pressure is substantial. If every moment of every day he has to worry about his family and business being dragged into a criminal status, like his associates and accomplices are right now – how can he soberly steer this gigantic ship called the USA? How could anyone in that situation be trusted to steer our ship?

Donald Trump is steering our government – but more like a drunk driver speeding away from a hit and run. His judgment at the helm has been effectively impaired by a combination of narcissism, greed, criminal activity – and a total lack of empathy. Further, Trump is constantly shouting “fake news” to divert his base from believing their own eyes about the committed crimes with Russians to get elected. Election meddling is the actual hit-and-run crime he is speeding away from.

Nothing is off the table for Trump in his effort to avoid that prosecution. We must be careful – and even more careful over time. – As judgment day approaches his only escape routes are war escalation – national emergencies – and pardoning his accomplices.

All these incessant diversionary efforts would be exhausting for anyone, let alone the 72-year-old, out-of-shape Trump. They compound daily and serve to cloud his judgement in steering all our government affairs – domestic are foreign. How can we feel safe with Donald Trump at the helm of our government? We can’t and we don’t.

Do you feel safe with Donald Trump at the helm of our nation? Are we just getting used to feeling unsafe, the way we got used to the Cold War? Take a poll if you want to – but most people don’t feel safer today than they did 3 years ago. When in the past Presidents have let us down, we always thought at least they cared about Americans. There has been no evidence that Donald Trump is capable of caring about us – or anyone – in his first two years in office. That is more troubling than his bumbling incompetence. Even his base only gets lip service. He’s not doing much for them either. Ask red state citizens if they are really doing better under Trump’s new tax policy that favors the wealthy or if they like his tariffs. They don’t!

People who did not know Donald Trump before he burst into politics often thought he was just another rich business-owner and likely competent for the job of POTUS. But even if he was competent at one time, after two years of scandals and indictments, Trump has become totally incompetent to soberly steer our country! He is functioning like a drunk driver – carelessly veering from point to point – all to escape justice, with neither direction nor respect for history and tradition.

There are steps we can and must take to safeguard our democracy until the full truth comes to light about Donald Trump. Cornered criminals do not give up easily. Trump is like a cancer in our body politic. Treating Trump with a wait it out strategy, like one does for a common cold, is a huge tactical error – and is totally irresponsible on our part.

So we must immediately limit his powers to pardon anyone in the Mueller cross-hairs (including himself) and limit his war powers until the investigation into his criminality is finished and published.

Pass this post and your ideas forward and upward. United We Stand.

Joseph Aronesty: Author, Linguist, Songwriter, E-commerce pioneer, Activist @EnglishCodeWord

………….

Please scan through the following three posts and consider following this blog. Solidarity works. Thank you for your participation in helping to rid ourselves of the diseased humans at the top of our government.

Trump is One of Many Corrupt Rulers Who Launder Money Internationally

Can Restricting Two of Trump’s Presidential Powers Save Our Democracy?

What If Trump and the Entire Executive Branch Has Been Suborned?

Job One for New Congress: Restrict Individual One’s Powers

Proposition 2019: A bill that protects Mueller while it checks Trump’s military powers until he is found innocent.

compromised On December 19th, Trump took two steps that clearly benefited the state of Russia and Russians connected to Putin. Trump removed financial sanctions placed by our elected Congress against a nefarious Russian oligarch who was involved in the influence campaign of the 2016 election. Trump ordered our troops to leave Syria, leaving Russia and Iran more in control in the Middle East. Let’s analyze what this really means.

I have been writing about my Penn classmate and AC associate for over two years now. It’s hard to miss his motives, as they are always about him. These actions Trump took today were his way of testing to see what power he actually has.

Trump is not a student of history and really did not know a thing about being a US president when he took office. Ask yourself why he pardoned of Sheriff Joe. Trump did something borderline and when it stuck he learned that this was something he could get away with. That’s how Trump is learning the presidency. It’s really stupid that we allow this. Whatever rules keep him in office in spite of the chaos, lies, deceit and incompetence, they are not currently working towards our common welfare. And that common welfare is what the Constitution is all about!

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The “in order to” clause establishes the reason for all that follows! When actions are taken by a public official that does not sync with or works against that clause, they are at the very least, spiritually unconstitutional. Domestic tranquility and promoting the general welfare of our citizens is every public servant’s duty – even the president. And Trump just does not do that at all, does he?

Trump also tested his ability to make and end war today. Trump gave an order to pull our troops out of Syria and the military brass did not disobey it. So Trump just learned that, at least, he still has commander-in-chief status with the military. The military brass hold immense power in this country regardless of who is president. He knows that much. If they had said no to him, he would have learned the brass deemed Trump to be potentially dangerous or to reckless to command troops. It would mean perhaps the generals knew the dirt that General Flynn shared with Mueller. It would also mean Trump could not trust the military brass to sell out to him the way his GOP has been doing. So Trump learned he still was in control of the military today. That alone makes our world much more dangerous. There was some outrage from career generals – but no one in power said “no sir, we will not do this.” And Mattis resigned over this.

And since Putin still has his military in Syria there is a real question as to who put this idea into Trump’s impulsive head. If Trump has been compromised by the Russians, the Syria pull out order likely originated with Putin – whom it benefits greatly. If that is the case, since it involves war and not an election, removing troops from Syria to benefit an enemy state is the actual legal definition of treason. Look this up. Espionage and Sedition Act of 1929.

Trump also tested his ability to favor his Russian business friends charged with crimes with his removal of sanctions against Derepaska. And no person or group had the backbone to say, “no, you can’t do that sir. Derepaska is an enemy to the USA. His was sanctioned for good cause. Since Derepaska is a Russian living in Russia, there was no real way for the USA to punish him for his crimes except financially. Today, Derepaska, a Russian oligarch aligned with Putin, was effectively pardoned by Trump for his crimes against the USA today. He will pay no price for his crimes. That is a pardon.

OUR PRESIDENT IS ALSO “INDIVIDUAL ONE”

Trump is now individual one in the investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential campaign. That means Trump is now suspected in crimes against our country. It now seems critical to our survival as a sovereign country that Trump’s powers be temporarily restricted for the safety of our American homeland.

We all know he never says one bad thing about Vladimir Putin. Imagine how stupid we will feel if we discover that Trump actually has been suborned and is taking military and financial orders from Putin. Actually, that is how criminal money launders operate. They do for each other and cover for each other.

We must soon decide. Is it really worth it to leave our 240 heritage here up to a spoiled, incompetent liar and thief like Donald Trump? To think we are allowing Trump to have the nuclear codes while he is under investigation for what could be treason – is way beyond crazy and stupid. Who really knows what Putin will ask for next? How sold out are our government officials? That all has to change in the new Congress.

But first things first.

I am proposing that job one of the new Congress when they resume on January 3rd is to create a bill that secures two things to keep our democracy safe:

It must protect Mueller and his investigation until the truth about Individual One is a known quantity and he is found innocent of any crimes against our state.
It must restrict the war powers of Donald Trump until Mueller’s investigation reaches a conclusion. In the meantime, it relegates those powers to Congress, where there is more balance – at least until the investigation ends with Trump not found guilty of any crimes against the state. This will also give Congress a chance to repair its terrible reputation with the American people. They should like that on both sides of the proverbial aisle.

For the remainder of the investigation, Congress should take over some of the other absolute powers bestowed on a president in good standing. Trump does not have to be impeached for the Congress to do this. Trump just needs to be checked until we are sure he is working for us and not the enemy. A bill can do that. This bill could also serve as incentive for Trump to be more helpful to Mueller investigation if indeed he is innocent.

However, it certainly does not look like Trump is innocent. I am sure Mueller, if left to discover the truth, will prove that Trump and his family were both aware of and complicit in the foreign attempt to influence the election of 2016. And that is both traitorous and treasonous.

P.S. As I edited this post there was Breaking News that Sec. of Defense, General James Mattis was stepping down end of February. That only makes the two above requests even more crucial to our survival. For God’s sake children, don’t let this madness go on one more day beyond the end of February. Imagine the wacka-doodle Secretary of Defense Trump will want in his cabinet. Someone with no real experience. A loyalist. That spells death. It’s going to feel like that apocalyptic movie from the 1960’s – Dr. Strangelove – ’round here.

Joseph Aronesty is an e-commerce pioneer, author, linguist, songwriter and political activist living in Los Angeles. He was in a class with Trump in 1967 at Penn and worked close to him in AC in the 1980’s.

Relevant prior posts:

How to Entice Trump to Step Down in 60 Days or Less

Trump is One of Many Corrupt Rulers Who Launder Money Internationally

What If Trump and the Entire Executive Branch Has Been Suborned?

And if all else fails, we can use technology to replace politicians’ functions.

The Way Back to Political Sanity Could Also Involve Facebook, Google, CNN

How to Entice Trump to Step Down in 60 Days or Less

With DEMS taking the house in January, we believe there is a quick strategy to get Donald Trump to step down as POTUS. Trump’s corruption is now a national emergency. We should think of it that way.

Background: Trump hates governmental scrutiny. He always has – even in business. Trump should be approached like a criminal trying to escape indictment. He will understand that. That is mainly what he has always been – and down deep he knows he is a criminal on the run.

Plan of action:

Mueller has plenty on Trump and his family. Potus Trump can be cornered by that evidence and be made to realize choosing to step down may be his best option.

If Trump sees there is no hope of not being exposed for his many crimes – and his family’s crimes – and it becomes clear his taxes will be released, he will look seriously at a quiet, private, back-room deal – as long as we go a little easy on him and his family. It does not have to be a “no” cost deal. – Just less cost. He’s going to want to stay free. He’s going to want to feel smart. We’ll have to be the bigger man – so to speak. What is said to the public may have to be tamped down. Maybe we let him cite a medical excuse. It does not matter. We all know the truth.

We think Trump can’t wait for all this to be over. Its not fun for him any more. No rallies for 500 days. Just endless investigations. He sees the handwriting on the wall. For now, he will continue to fight back. Until he sees another way, what else can he really do but fight?

But what if we offered Trump another path? He’s looking tired. If he senses that the GOP is done in 2020 (which is true ) and they won’t have the power or will to protect him, and it becomes clear the majority of the country is against him – or even that 70% of the USA wants to protect Mueller – Trump goes back into draft dodger mode again. “Serve no one but yourself.” It is part of his family ethos to keep a distance from government scrutiny – precisely because they are cheats.

So why even bother with “impeachment” and long processes? This is a war and we need it to end ASAP. Right now we just need to make it crystal clear to Trump that he is not going to get away with this – and that the show is over in two months anyway.

That’s why we favor keeping public pressure up with Indivisible and the #ProtectMueller meme. We need that meme to go viral and stay that way. Then when the Dems take the house in January we offer him “the art of the deal”.

We know some want vengeance and Trump deserves it. Our parents generation just executed traitors. But, if we want this over fast for our own good and the good of the planet we can just give Trump a get out of jail free card and ask him to step down immediately in exchange for it. It’s a peace deal with an internal enemy. Terms of surrender, etc. We take the house and give Trump one week to surrender and step down, or all bets for immunity are off.

We hate letting him off and are sure many other will hate that too. And the immunity deal does not have to be Scott-free. But this crisis is going to go on and on if we don‘t short circuit it. The founders did not imagine Donald Trump as POTUS. How could they? We can hardly do so today! Their impeachment process did not consider what to do if an election was coordinated with a foreign enemy. Afterall, its a fair election that endows the president his powers. If a fair election did not even occur, is Trump really entitled to presidential protection? If he coordinated with Russia to win, why is he not a traitor? What does at traitorous president deserve?

Plus we have REAL PROBLEMS to deal with here in the USA – problems that are NOT about Trump. Climate change seems number one. Addressing climate change can’t wait two years! Science says if we delay now the planet will shortly be in a death spiral. How ridiculous we will be to our kids when they realize we let this happen over internal bickering over one sick maniac. There is Healthcare, Border Security, College Tuition, Gun Laws. etc. So we really can’t afford to wait two years. Trump has that much on his side. We think he knows this and is acting wildly so that we actually do ask him to step down and he can ask for immunity.

Yes, if he takes a deal, we get Pence. But Pence only Pence is not also implicated. If Pence is “in the know” or “involved” – we can make him the same offer.

And then we would get the Speaker of the House and this nightmare is all over – in January or 2020. ( Pence has no real shot to win in 2020. Actually no GOP POTUS candidate should win in 2020.)

The price is cheap enough. Trump will take it if it can be done. We think he is signaling that he wants out and a deal. We think that is why he is stepping up the attacks on the judiciary. He wants out. He is trolling us with extra bad behavior so we are disgusted by it all and ask him to step down for some degree of immunity.

ONE-TWO PUNCH STRATEGY

#1 We make sure Trump sees and believes the handwriting on the wall.

The public can help with this with social media. Newscasters can help too. They have been great. Keep it up. There is real power in WORDS. Putin knew that much. We just use these new cyber methods to our benefit now. STAY VOCAL THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. Do not be lulled into a feel-good haze.

#2 We offer him a private back-room deal to step down in one week. He can‘t wait. He will even think he is smart for it. Fine.

Then in January of ’19 or ’21 we can make sure this never happens again!

This is an old school practical solution to our Trump problem.

He is waiting for the offer. Let’s get him in a room and offer it.

Trump wants to see what Mueller has in him to negotiate that deal. That is why Whitacre is there now. So maybe he should find out how hopeless it is for him.

Americans are not the only citizens that must RID THEMSELVES their CORRUPT RULERS for their own welfare. BUT IF WE FAIL TO DO SO HERE, THE DICTATORS WIN … EVERYWHERE! Giving Thanks for our collective resolve to save Democracy … and the planet.

As to why we have such a dictator problem on planet earth, this post explains a bit of it.

Trump is One of Many Corrupt Rulers Involved in a Vast International Money-Laundering Enterprise

How Citizens Can Help Protect Mueller in a Cyber Age

Joseph Aronesty, chairman – the Manhattan Beach Political Thinktank

E-commerce pioneer, songwriter, etymologist, author, Trump classmate 1967.

Why Donald Trump Is Responsible for All These Shootings

The threat to domestic tranquility will remain very high until we remove Donald Trump from office. Caring historians warned us Heather Heyer in Charlottesville marked the beginning of deaths from hate that could spiral out of control like it did in Nazi Germany. So let’s be clear.

Donald Trump is not really the president of the USA because he is not acting or serving as our president. Trump acts like who he is – an uncaring inept criminal thug who cooperated with our enemies to steal the 2016 election and now occupies the White House by virtue of that theft. The manipulation of the 2016 election was the biggest theft in the history of our country. He now needs to stay in power so he is not tried for his crimes against humanity. The same can be said for Putin, Kim and MBS. They all need to stay in power for life so they are not tried for their crimes. Ad they work at that. Trump is taking lessons from the dictators. They may have him compromised as well.

I have outlined the way to get Trump out of office by this CHRISTMAS. It is not rocket science. We don’t even need to protest in the streets. The Democrat Party candidates should surrender their egos and collectively decide by this September who will be the face of the movement to reset our country back on the path of hope and excellence we began when Obama took office. That will give all Americans who have been siding with Trump a chance to see and choose another path. As they peel away from Trump, it will force the GOP in the Senate to abandon their blind support for the nightmare president we have now.

Another original and fresh idea would be to make all political rallies illegal except during the last six months before an election. Canada and many other countries have laws like this. (Link) Trump rallies are riling up the haters in our country. And a president is supposed to be working for us, not campaigning while office anyway. And I guess, sorry for Bernie and the others – but press conferences will do the job of messaging better anyway. I’m not saying to stop protests or marches, just none with a candidate headliner until the last six months. These days, politicians start campaigning immediately after taking office. It’s ridiculous. It’s not governing. It’s divisive.

But now there is another way to get Trump out quickly. We need to get Congress back in session immediately and to legislate for gun licensing and a buy-back program for automatic weapons. That is what the vast majority American people want anyway. That will send a message to Trump that he and his GOP party will be paying a price for Trump’s uncaring, un-presidential behavior. And I can’t imagine the public outrage if the GOP still try to block gun law reform – or try to mitigate its importance.

When the GOP sees that price being exacted- they may drop Trump altogether. Many would like to abandon Trump now, but don’t see a another way forward. They are mostly spineless and many are in on Trump’s money deals. I am certain Barr was paid for this loyalty. When Trump declared at the Rose Garden that he wished Barr a wonderful life, that was his Mafia don way of confirming his unwritten two-way loyalty agreement with Barr.

But we can get to the swamp cleaning after 2020. If we swiftly legislate and pass the gun laws Americans want – it will impact the GOP support for Donald Trump. And our Trump problem may fade away sooner rather than later. And that changes everything. I see no reason Trump should be allowed to run again in 2020. States can make it illegal to be on the ballot without showing taxes. He won’t even run that way.

There are many ways to get Trump out of office and insure he is not part of the 2020 election in any way. That would be smart. Let’s see if America is capable of being smart again.

The rest was written after the Pittsburgh shooting.

When Heather Heyer was killed in Charlottesville, I had listened the night before to Jamine Pirro’s hate rant on her Fox News show. What she delivered was effectively a call to arms directed at the haters among Fox’s diverse audience. And the next day when the Fox haters assembled in Charlottesville we all realized there was a good chance that some people might die that day. Heather Heyer was one of three Americans to die that day as a direct consequence of the propaganda put out by Donald Trump and Fox News. One neo-Nazi plowed his car into a crowd and two National Guard pilots were killed in a helicopter crash. They were trying to keep people safe.

It’s important to know that NAZI and NATIONALIST share the same root: NATAL – having to do with birth. A simple enough word on its face. However, the original German Nazis were sold on that same meme that Donald Trump is peddling now: being born “here” makes you better than foreigners. It instructs you that foreigners are dangerous and may be considered like vermin to be disposed of.

And now I ask you this – and I am sorry to use the metaphor, but I find it appropriate. How many Jews did Hitler kill? The right answer is actually zero. Hitler did not personally kill any Jews that we know of. However what Adolf Hitler did was make German Nationalists hate Jewish people with propaganda that stereotyped Jews as outsiders, invaders and the source of their financial problems – all the same things that Donald Trump says about “immigrants”, “caravans” and the “brown-skinned invaders”.

That transferred hate was enough to allow enough of the German Nationalist party members to justify killing six million Jews and many other European minorities as well. – Many felt good or right about doing it. Hitler effectively killed Jews with his words. He was quite the rally speaker. I’m sure you have seen excerpts. Robert Bowers felt he was doing his duty killing as many Jews as possible – just like the Nazis.

Adolf Hitler killed 6 million Jews. It’s a long established meme – uncontested by all bona fide historians. So why don’t we dare say Donald Trump killed Heather Heyer and eleven totally innocent, elderly Jewish people in Pittsburgh? Why don’t we say Trump is responsible for all these murders?

But we don’t. And by not calling the president out and holding him and the Fox noise machine responsible for these murders, we are giving the minority haters both the cover and the time to regroup and re-strategize.

And it’s very dangerous. If we don’t stand up now, the Pittsburgh killings may well be the canary in the coal mine of a new wave of American violence directed against many minorities – and not just Jewish people. Native Americans, Mexicans, blacks and browns, the elderly and sick – are all on the hate radar screens of White Nationalists, which is where most so-called Nationalists are at today.

Trump will continue to spread hate as long as he is in power. Why won’t Trump evolve? He knows he stole the election with Russian help. Trump wants to keep the money he has stolen over the years as a businessman, candidate and president. He does these rallies to show the GOP that he has public support and keep them from turning in him. If people die, so be it. He has protection. His family has protection. No one else matters to Donald Trump.

Trump does not hate Jews. Trump needs the votes of the Jew haters to stay in power and keep his money. And any Jew who votes for Trump is voting for Jew haters to be empowered. The same can be said of blacks, Mexicans, immigrants, the sick and even women. Trump just needs the votes of haters and the uber-greedy in government to stay in power. Their strategy will include cheating at the polls.

The GOP clings to Donald Trump because he does their dirtiest work for them. He lies for them. They are getting their tax breaks for billionaires and judicial appointees for now – and whatever kickbacks they can arrange for those perks. When they are done with Trump, which may be soon after the election, they will cast him out stating they were fooled by Trump and were not complicit. That will be all lies, but I wonder if Trump knows that it’s coming. Trump will have his et tu Brute moment as soon as he is deemed to be no longer valuable to the GOP and their billionaire donors.

All the above embodies how important the vote is next Tuesday. They now say the Blue Wave should carry the House. Count on Trump’s GOP to try and fix that. Those who want the country to turn in a better direction should please turn out in records numbers on 11/6. Vote as if they are coming for you. This election should not even be close. Remember: Donald Trump always tries to cheat to win. Winning is more important to him than playing by any rules. Any close races he will find a way to win.

What I really don’t get is why any GOP senator up for re-election holds his or hers seat next Tuesday. A vote for any GOP candidate at any level – is a vote for more of what we have witnessed this week. And the only one who really benefits from all this is the billionaire class and Putin, who is laughing at us this week in the Kremlin. He even said, “America is no longer a super power”.

The Presidential Oath: I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

There is one more thing we have to start holding Trump responsible for – lying. People don’t know that the presidential oath is part of the constitution. (Article II, Section One, Clause 8.) By not being honest and reliable with one’s words and inciting hate with words like “enemies of the people” and “invaders”, by dividing the nation into two armed camps – he is not doing his best to defend America. He may be doing his best to destroy it as we know it. And even if he says this is his best, its no longer good enough for people who love this country.

I am sure it will never be illegal to lie in general. But one who has taken an oath of office should not be allowed to lie over and over again. We need to fix that. There’s a lot we have to fix, but if we allow our representatives to lie, we will always have criminals running our government. It just is not good enough any more.

Donald Trump should not be good enough for a person who believe in a righteous god as well. So this weekend, I am asking clergymen in all religions to find their own way of asking their congregations to pay their respects for the people murdered in Pittsburgh – and vote with good conscious for those who represent the goodness in all our Bibles. We all know the Golden Rule. It does not say immigrants are invaders, Mexicans are rapists, or Africans are from sh*thole countries.

Vote as if your life depends on it.

Thank You.