December 30, 2017

Im curious, of all the people to pursue, Clarke?

I mean he’s a disgusting, vile, who uses theatrical tactics like tRump and Fox and their ilk. But, still, an FBI warrant for his emails? It is curious to me that he is coming up at this time in the investigation. Weird even. No? The connections must be oddly dispersed. I would have figured other names and warrants and Clarke would not be among them. I realize I am arm chair quarterbacking and I’m not qualified not to mention I am grateful I am not responsible for this investigation. I attempt to put the puzzle pieces together like most people here at DU. This is a strangely shaped puzzle piece lacking distinguishing marks that makes it difficult to connect. That’s the way I see it. I wonder what your thoughts are? Who is Clarke and how does he fit in? Why pursue him now?

December 28, 2017

I always loved Give em Hell Harry Reid

He was a tireless fighter for the majority of American people and for the USA.

This morning, reflecting on the information I heard last night about Nancy Pelosi’s letter to Paul Ryan, I remembered the letter sent by Harry Reid to James Comey back in August 2016.

From the letter Harry Reid wrote (paragraph 3):

“It is of vital public interest to understand the chain of custody of these illegally obtained documents from the time they were stolen to the time of public dissemination, including any evidence of complicit intermediaries between the Russian government, those who leaked the material and any United States citizen.”

In four paragraphs the Honorable Harry Reid, at that time Senator Reid, makes a strong succinct statement about the precarious predicament we have been in.

Links
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/29/us/politics/document-Reid-Letter-to-Comey.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=Harry+Reid%27s+letter+to+James+Comey&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=niv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSzI6k5KzYAhVKl1QKHReaBv0Q_AUIEigC&biw=375&bih=549#imgrc=ZLVWnGcpc3sneM:

December 28, 2017

Well, this is interesting abt Paul Ryan...

On the news tonight I heard:

Back in 2016, after the Russians hacked the DNC, Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Paul Ryan asking him not to use the hacked materials for the RNC. Also, she told him that using the materials could mean he would be (and I presume the RNC would be too) acting against the USA with the foreign government who stole the information. That is the gist of what I got from the segment. Oh, and btw Nancy never heard back, Paul Ryan never replied in any way...to date.

Link
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/mueller-probing-republican-non-trump-work-with-russian-hacking-1125032515802?cid=sm_tw_maddow

December 23, 2017

Before Republicans stop him...

Over a year ago this SNL skit was done. It’s funny but keen. I’d like to find some humor now but it escapes me. Joy Reid said this week that Republicans are protecting tRump from the Rule of Law. I agree. Well, with the added thought that they are protecting themselves from it also. In any case, Republicans ought to have cleaned house decades ago when their Party was first hijacked by extremists and fundamentalists. If they had, America would not be in this mess.

He will kill us all before Republicans stop him.

December 23, 2017

This is not America by Roger Cohen

So many wonderful words in this article. Thank you Roger Cohen.

It begins with this:

Dec. 22, 2017
If this is America, with a cabinet of terrorized toadies genuflecting to the Great Leader, a vice president offering a compliment every 12 seconds to Mussolini’s understudy, and a White House that believes in “alternative facts,” then it is time to “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs.”

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/opinion/america-trump-united-nations.html?referer=https://t.co/WT70mpuCTY?amp=1

Edited to add link to Rudyard Kipling poem “If”

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if---

December 23, 2017

Einstein said, imagination is more important

than intellect” so if you could use your imagination in a way that brainstorms positive solutions to the current horrible threatening situation we have been thrust into, what would it look like?

Like imagination used for good. Like visualization. Creativity.

I really haven’t thought this through. I just had this idea. I am not a positive person, definitely not an optimist although I admire their creed which I read years ago. I tend not to have faith in humans. Even so, I wonder if I could focus long enough - I find this extremely difficult lately - to use my imagination in this way.

What do you think? Any takers? Any positive people? Any dreamers in the John Lennon sense of the word?

December 23, 2017

How do you see this unfolding? Where do you see

it going? I’m a novice, ok, actually fledgling ing chess player. I am limited in the number of moves I can imagine if and ahead. Perhaps some of you are much better at it?

When you think about the current situation this government and the American people are in, how do you see it unfolding? I mean, there’s the miracle outcome where tRump and his complicit cohorts are rendered no longer a threat to the country preferably by the application of RICO laws. What would that look like? Charges. Indictments. Removals from offices. Resignations to spend more time with family. Trials. Testimonies. Depositions. Plea agreements.

I mean we know Russia interfered. We know tRump is a Russian asset. We know at least 19 tRump people (so far) have connections to Russia. We know there is money laundering, Cyprus, Mob/Mafia and the like. But how does this play out?

What will happen in the public opinion arena? What will the people do? First of all, we know Americans cannot be bothered to participate in their government, you know, the one “of the people, by the people, for the people” that has functioned for decades without most of the people because you know they’re “not political” or “all politicians are corrupt” or “both political parties are the same so it doesn’t matter” but I digress, my point is given the climate here now, do you think people will be thoughtful, reasonable, civically minded, hell, even civil? I don’t. Maybe you do?

I’m attempting to wrap my head around what could be ahead. What might unfold. What the possible outcomes are. At this point, I don’t see things going well. How about you?

December 23, 2017

Overwhelmed and under siege. That is how I feel.

I don’t know how else to describe it. When people close to me ask, “how are you” that is my answer, “overwhelmed and under siege.” My significant other replied, “that’s because we are.” Some people get it.

At this rate, America won’t be recognizable in a year much less 3 more. People talk about 2018 and 2020 but we don’t have that kind of time. Every moment tRump is not removed along with his complicit Rethuglican KGOP congress people we are under serious threat, physically, economically as individuals but even more threatened is our form of government.

It is mind boggling the level of insanity and indecency that has been tolerated so far. Even if we manage to avert disaster as a nation, we still have the problem of brainwashed braindead people watching Fox and supporting tRump et al.

There is so much more I could add. Hell, I’m sure many of us have great difficulties personally in addition to this toxic political environment.

Overwhelmed and under siege is how it feels to me.

December 22, 2017

Thanks to MrScorpio and Niyad

(hope I got those names right) for the Christmas music posts. I’m not in a Christmas mood this year; so far no Christmas happening here. In any case, love your tunes and added to my music library. Thanks for the inspiration.

December 20, 2017

Eerily quiet. Void of leadership in America.

There is noise, so much noise, static and a constant bombardment of repeated information, more bad news, natural disasters, imminent threats, accidents, violent shootings and anniversaries of shootings...so much noise, so loud yet there is an eerie silence.

Nothing from leaders I want and need to hear from. No leaders I respect and admire and believe in. No leaders who can speak truth, be reasonable and sane. No leaders who can unite us rather than divide us. No leaders who aren’t blatantly corrupt. Of course there are good Democrats in Congress -AND THE TWO PARTIES ARE NOT THE SAME! I’m grateful for many members of Congress who are there and speaking out. Still, there is a vacancy of leadership desperately needed at this dark time.