Now that the Democratic National Convention has concluded and the Republicans have started their "convention", a couple of observations are in order.  First, the Democrats revolutionized the Convention format by going virtual - employing all of the technologies we are now familiar with thanks to the Corona Virus.  Although it may have taken the "spontaneity" of the old conventions feel, it brought forth an amazing array of Americans all seeking common ground - one upon which we all celebrate our diversity and common goal of seeking "Equal Protection" under law and justice.  
             Now that the Republicans have begun their conclave, their message is far from the Democrats stated ideal.  Mixing live groups with false-filled propaganda videos, the Republicans message is eerily similar to that which Adolf Hitler and the Nazis pushed to their supporters in the early 1930's.  Diversity is bad, justice is only for the wealthy and privileged and yes, Racism is an acceptable value as long as it puts those that are perceived as being "less" than white folks down. When White folks complain, their grievances are real.  When people of color complain, it's because they want to "game the system at the expense of White folks."  Bull Connor and George Wallace would be so proud of today's Republican Party. 
           Trump then congratulated himself for creating the "Greatest Economy Ever"  that was however, rooted in foundations clearly established under Obama. GOP speakers pursued a constant theme of instilling fear that everything happening in America today is due to "Radical Democrats and Joe Biden", ignoring Trump has been in office now approaching 4 years. Along those lines, Republicans screeched about Biden defunding police and raising taxes (Biden does not support defunding police and has stated no new taxes on anyone earning less than $400,000).  What was lost to these sycophantic MAGAs?  Trump's real message is that eventually, only the wealthy (or criminals) like himself will prevail as he intends to invoke a very special "Cancel Culture" of his own - cancelling health Care (ACA) along with Social Security and Medicare (and American Legacy Companies like Goodyear).  You know, those that worked hard their entire lives without a daddy to leave them $400 Million.  Many folks that just couldn't reach the American Dream, are mocked by the Trumpian Republicans by claiming it is too expensive (like health care coverage) so they ignore the real plight of Americans heading towards the abyss  of poverty, illiteracy and closed doors to economic advancement. Much it because of the color of their skin or economic caste. Most Americans are not hypnotized by the brash, craven and immoral rantings of Trump, his family and army of Right Wing fanatics.  Evangelicals have been duped by their grifting preachers (See Falwell, Jr.), but nothing has conned them quite like the snake oil purveyor himself, Donald Trump.  "Law and Order" is the GOP rallying cry, while they break all norms, existing ethical laws, Rules relating to subpoenas, and gun laws (in favor of Trump supporting White Nationalists and "Q" Anti-Semites). 
           As Joe Biden has repeatedly stated, America is at an inflection point.   We can go the route laid before us in our collective history from our Founding Fathers and Framers, or we can choose to take the low road into the abyss of Fascism/Trumpism.  With the Republicans declaring they have no agenda or platform for the coming four years (just more of the same chaos, economic mayhem and deadly disregard for public health), and claiming "Our Cities will be destroyed under Joe Biden" we know where that path will take us - and it is not good.
            Thankfully, Donald Trump has made it clear that there are 35% of Americans that are not only ignorant and stupid, but they enjoy that fact.  They revel in being "recognized" for their stupidity and prefer to follow one that reinforces that fact by taking advantage of them at every turn.  As one once said, "If you can not tell when a con is underway, then you are the mark."  Let's not let Trump put any further "marks" on America.  Vote Biden-Harris to save the America we all know and aspire to.  Have a safe and great week!

              Had enough "winning" yet?  Thanks to Donald Trump, America is leading the world in its rate of Covid-19 infections and deaths.  In Florida alone, the death total exceeded 10,000 today while the Governor and Trump wannabe declare his State is leading the nation in defeating the virus.  America's economy also leads the world in the rate of unemployment due to the virus (30 Million since Spring) and now leads the World in ignoring climate change as fires, tornadoes and hurricanes become more prevalent than ever.  So much winning is great, right? Nah, I'd take coming in last in infections, deaths and unemployment rates.  But MAGA seems to believe destroying America is good, as long as Democrats aren't voted into office. 
            Just yesterday, Chapter Five of the Senate Intelligence Committee's findings on the Russians interference on our 2016 election was released.  Even from the GOP members of that committee, the findings were plain that Trump himself lied to Mueller and his entire campaign was colluding with Russia to steal that election.  Based upon current elections, it appears the Russians are again assisting Trump in an effort to steal this election - all with the acquiescence and blind support of the GOP.  With the Senate report, it makes one wonder why they have not released the additional redacted material establishing the fact that Russia may have actually hacked into electronic voting machines and actually changed vote totals to benefit Trump.  Is there any wonder Trump and the GOP have made their moves in plain sight to disable the Post Office's capabilities to handle mail in ballots (because they are not so easily corrupted by Russian hackers)?  
            Just today Nancy Pelosi reported that she had a conversation with Putin, er Trump Postmaster General DeJoy about their obvious moves to cripple the Post Office and DeJoy admitted he will not suspend the removal of sorting machines or allow them to be returned - even though they have been caught cheating.  Despite the efforts of the House of Representatives to oversee the Post Office, Mitch McConnell and the GOP-led Senate is seemingly uninterested in anything Trump does that may hurt America and/or Democrats.  Seems, anything that could hurt their power grab is okay, even at the vast expense to our democracy.  When it comes to election security, McConnell repeatedly has blocked any bills to ensure they are free and fair. And now Trump is tripling down on his narrative that any election in which he loses is "rigged" and that he will insist on a "do-over."  Worse yet, he will declare victory before ANY mail in ballots are counted in order to sow confusion and force litigation to determine who will be our next president.  Not in our entire history has a sitting president ever threatened not to leave office after losing an election.  Even in the Civil War, Lincoln would have accepted his fate had he lost re-election in 1864.  
           What has happened to our once promising nation?  Trump and the GOP along with their MAGA cult have exposed us to some real truths. About 40% of our citizenry are ignorant of our Constitution and care less about anything related to the social contract.  Moreover, it reveals their phony religious zealotry fraudulently tied to Christianity.  Fake Americans, Fake Christians and Fake Patriots all.  Just this week, Trump told his adoring followers that Joe Biden will personally erase the Second Amendment.  Even a 7th Grader knows that a Constitutional Amendment will be required to alter the Constitution and that would require 2/3 of both Chambers of Congress to approve before 75% of the States even consider such an Amendment.  When is the last time 2/3rds of Congress could agree on anything, let alone 75%  of the American public?  Yet, Trump is counting on millions of his followers being concerned about his lie being true.  It makes me think we do need to Amend the Constitution so that it requires a basic understanding of Civics before any American can have the right to vote.  Until then, idiots will continue to support presidents hell-bent on eroding our democracy in favor of outright authoritarianism (led by fools the likes of  Bill Barr, Mitch McConnell  Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz and the Marco Rubios.)  
        As Benjamin Franklin once said when asked what type of government was created by the Continental Congress, "A Republic, if you can keep it."  Unfortunately, too many ignorant and outright stupid Americans prefer autocracy to democracy yet proclaim loudly they alone are the "Real Patriots."  America now leads in ignorance and stupidity too, thanks to  Trump.  Want real "winning?'  Vote straight ticket Blue this November.  America deserves being saved from the ignorant and stupid class.  have a safe and great week!

          

             The countdown to save America has officially begun - but will America step forward to protect herself or will it succumb to the ignorance and hate that drives so many to support MAGA, Donald Trump and the GOP?  In all of my years, I have been told that elections may prove to be a life and death decision. Each time, I scoffed at those hyperbolic sentiments as being just that, "over the top."  But this year's elections are proving to be a major decision for our country.  Whether to pursue the high and lofty goals and ambitions set forth in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution or are we to fall to the wayside and capitulate to the 36% of willfully ignorant (and yes, stupid) electorate?   The option to fail has more significance now than it ever has.
           Yes, we have had turmoil in America's past.  We've had a destructive Civil War, World Wars plus cyclical economic depressions and recessions. But what lessons have we learned from our precious scrapes with turmoil?  Have we learned when at war, we coalesce and come together to unify to face our common enemy?  Are we pooling all of our resources to defeat anything that threatens our values and beliefs?  Apparently not.  Seems all of the teachings taught in church have fallen upon deaf ears and science and history have been relegated to the trash heap.  All because we have become the culture of "I need to get mine, to hell with the rest of you" attitudes.  Which political party has made such an attitude a mainstay of their active political philosophies?  The Republican Party, of course. 
          So when Mitch McConnell and GOP Senators use social media to blame Democrats for withholding relief to Americans during this pandemic, they  "forget" to mention they themselves have all of the blame for delaying and blocking efforts to help average citizens on Main Street (instead of Wall Street). President Theodore Roosevelt recognized the need to ally with the working class in order for them to share in the wealth of our great nation, lest they may rise up and force demands upon the wealthy class (and we know how the GOP treated him). During Eisenhower's Administration, the Middle Class soared to new heights while the wealthy contributed far more in taxes so that our nation as a whole could grow and prosper.  The Opportunity for prosperity for everyone created a great society and nation.  Even though there is always much more to do to ensure equality for all, it was a solid step in the ambitious development of our nation.  Yet today, the GOP prefers to single out benefits for the wealthy because the wealthy can afford to contribute to political campaigns and special interests, while the poor have no voice and no money to influence policy.  This is the real root of the problems we face today.  The Republican Party (like Trump) is not interested in helping America, unless they see personal financial benefit.  We have become a "Transactional Country" embodied by Trump's recurrent policy of Quid Pro Quo.  Unless you speak nice about me AND give me a ton of money, your needs will not only be ignored, but you will be promptly forgotten when policy is finally developed.  Which virtually always comes at the expense of the poor for the sole benefit of the wealthy.  
       Case in point.  The GOP can spend Billions on new fighter jets that no one needs.  They can spend Billions on new administration buildings (FBI, West Wing, Rose Garden, and even more on a failed "Wall"), but then ultimately assert fake concerns about budget restrictions (after granting excessive tax breaks) when it comes to ensuring children have enough food to eat and schools are safe enough to open for children and staff.  Things couldn't get more obvious, yet the media somehow enjoys playing one side against the other when in reality, only one side is making an effort to help while the other is only interested in maintaining power.  The GOP will campaign against arguments to "defund the Police", all while they actively pursue policies to defund unemployment benefits, Social Security and Education. 
     Where is the outrage over the use of the Post Office to politicize mail-in ballots?  Where is the outrage that Billions were misspent on pandemic relief and now so much of it has been wasted - without ever getting any aid directly to the people.  Now Trump and the GOP are glorifying the use of Executive Orders to eliminate the powers exclusively granted under the Constitution to the House under Article I.  After claiming Obama's use of Executive Orders was tantamount to "Tyranny", the GOP falls mute when Trump says he alone signs Orders as if they were "Bills".  But he can't.  Despite this fact, MAGA and the GOP celebrate this action - even Trump's expressed desire to terminate Social Security (as if members of his Party actually need it to stay alive like millions of average Americans?).  
          We have run aground due to having elected an incompetent captain who presented fraudulent credentials for the position.  As many have said, elect a clown, expect a circus.  But the lives of Americans are not for kicks and giggles.  Our Institutions are not to be attacked purely to promote one failed ideology over the ambitions of millions.  So, unlike previous elections where talk was cheap, this year's election will be for the heart and soul of our once great nation.  Only after we remove Donald Trump, the GOP and MAGA from positions of power will be be able to move forward with transforming America and moving her back towards seeking the ambitious status our Founders snd Framers once could only dream of. Vote Blue for America.  Try to have a safe week.