Important Quote of the Day

"If confirmed, I will supervise the prosecution of white supremacists and others who stormed the Capitol on January 6, a heinous attack that sought to disrupt a cornerstone of our democracy."

--Judge Merrick Garland, today, in his opening remarks before the Senate Judiciary in his testimony to become our nation's next Attorney General.

To which I and a lot of us out here can only say kudos and thank you, sir. Let's do this.

Link:

Merrick Garland says he will prosecute rioters, white supremacists

Good News, Bad News Breaking Today

Yes, as usual, there is both good and bad news breaking today, this morning. Fortunately, I think most of it is good. Well, if you ignore Texas presently. Besides the fact that temperatures are warming across the region and nation, there is also this.

Supreme Court allows release of Trump tax returns to NY

Oh, happy day. At last. Pass the popcorn. This should be good. Not done there on his taxes, this just broke in the last hour, too.

The Supreme Court has declined former President Trump's request to delay the enforcement of a subpoena from the Manhattan district attorney for his financial records — paving the way for a New York grand jury to obtain the records and review them.

The point being, the Supreme Court already responded to Trump's request for a delay this morning. Fantastic. Onward, Yahoo.

Yet more goodness andyes, it's on the Trumpster, too.

Ex-Gotti Jr. prosecutor hired to help Manhattan DA probe Trump 

NYC prosecutor hires on heavy-hitting attorney to Trump case

It seems New York City isn't messing around at all. They hired a tough attorney who has, in the past, gone after the mob and people in it.  Huzzah. You go, NYC.

Next up is this.

Dominion sues MyPillow and its CEO Mike Lindell for $1.3 billion

Dominion Voting Sues MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell For Defamation

Hey, actions--and words--have consequences, Mr. Lindell. Buck up.

And now for the bad news.

Republican leader Steve Scalise refuses to admit Trump los

Second Ranking House Republican Refuses to Say Biden Won

It seems Republican Representative Steve Scalise was on ABC's "This Week" news program yesterday and just would not admit to George Stephanopolous on air that Joe Biden won our Presidential election and that Trump lost.

Maddening.  Dangerous, even.

At least it's more good news than bad. That and the temperatures are warming, as I said, as we all know all so well. Yeehaw. Yay, us.

Have a great week, y'all.

Additional links:  Unfortunately, there is the Right Wing, Republican Party, Libertarian hellscape and nightmare that is the state of Texas presently.

Demands Grow for Texas to 'Forgive All Utility Bills' as Price Gouging by Energy Companies Sparks Outrage

I read where some citizens there had gotten bills as high as $17,000. And that's on top of possibly having lost power, of course, and then any and all other expenses you might have incurred. And all that is providing none of your family members died in the biting freeze, too.

'No Safe Amount': Environmentalists Sound Alarm Over Texas Refineries' Release of Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds of Pollutants During Storm

Wealthiest Nation in the World? Really?

Right. The United States. "Wealthiest nation in the world."  Sure we are.  Let's look closer.

First of all, there's that pesky issue of this biggest, most killing international pandemic in the last more than 100 years.

Coronavirus: Why America Has More Deaths Than Any Other

And sure, this COVID pandemic is an event, a "one off", if you will, that will go away. Here's statistics that are more complete, more over time and the entire nation and world.

US ranks last in worker benefits among developed countries: data

In comparisons to other developed nations, the U.S. lags in providing fundamental employee benefits.

For starters, we're the only Western, industrialized nation that a) doesn't have universal health care and that b) ties health care to profit and profits.

Real rocket scientists, we are.

Some of the facts from the article:

• Famed for their successful public health care systems, northern and Scandinavian countries like Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Norway ranked the highest in the top 10 countries with the best health care benefits.
• In the U.S., health care is privatized and does not offer universal health care, and Zenefits notes that private hospitals also propagate treatment inequalities between individuals who can afford higher quality treatment and those who cannot.
• Retirement benefits are another weak spot for the U.S.; older reports indicate that the U.S. comes in 16th place among the countries with the best retirement plans.
• This inequality in U.S. retirement planning extends to racial injustice as well. Some 24 percent of white family households are covered with an employee-sponsored retirement plan, compared to 16 percent of households of color.
• Throughout the globe, the U.S. also came in 32nd place for highest life expectancy, averaging 78.5 years.
• The U.S. is also notoriously stingy with its paid time off. Be it for sick leave, parental leave, or general work-life balance, the U.S. shows zero mandated paid holidays whereas similar countries within the European Union average between 20-30 paid holidays for discretionary use. Maternity leave is protected under U.S. labor laws, though, with 12 weeks of unpaid leave being the baseline for companies.
• Other countries, such as Finland, Germany, Japan, and Canada give their employees more time, ranging from 161 weeks to 52 weeks.

Note, too, above, what nations have higher standards of living, folks.

Yes.  Socialist. Democratic Socialist governments and countries. Go figure.

So congratulations, America, Americans. At least, with all this, above, we also have this, below, eh?

U.S. Has Worst Wealth Inequality of Any Rich Nation

Say... Do you suppose, just suppose the two could be related?

Ya' think?

Additional link:

COVID-19 pandemic death rates by country

This Unbelievable President and Presidency

Once again, this President leaves me disbelieving just where, exactly, we all, as a nation, are. 

Yesterday's debacle and insurrection and assault on our nation was nothing if not unforgivable. There's so much to say on it. I could write and write here and then post other's information, too. Obviously, that won't help and no one could read it all. I'll just put where we are now.

And that is, we are, it seems clear, stuck with this greedy, absurd, self-centered, selfish, ignorant, reckless, now obviously dangerous dolt for a few more days. Thirteen to be exact. That and we just have to hope and maybe pray, if we do that sort of thing, that he doesn't do anything else stupid. That is a tall, tall order for this man, as we've repeatedly seen in the last 4 years.

One outcome of all this, sort of shallow as it is, is that he's suspended, indefinitely, on Facebook and Instagram.

Think of that.

Not a teenager but no less than this Republican Party President is blocked from posting on social media because he tells so many untruths--read: lies--and emotionally incites his followers. Again, unreal. For any other President, this would be unthinkable, unbelievable. Heck, for any other adult it would be unheard of.

Then there's his administration.  People are now, no big surprise, bailing on him and it all, and left and right. There have been 9 quit so far with the most notable being Elaine Chao. Yes, THAT Elaine Chao. None other than Senator Mitch McConnell's own wife. 

Then there's very Right Wing nutjob Mick Mulvaney. He quit, too. It was too crazy in Trump's White House now even for him.  You can the rest of the list of the people who have so far, to this minute, bailed here:

Everyone Who Has Quit the Trump Administration After Wednesday’s Anarchy

People are, deservedly, asking, telling him to resign or be thrown out. And not just Democrats are saying it. In fact, this is the first person I heard call for him, Trump, to step down or be removed and he's GOP.

Illinois GOP Congressman: Trump Must Be Removed

Meanwhile, it's ratcheted up since his call hours ago.

Top congressional Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi say Trump should be removed by office by 25th Amendment or impeachment

As for yesterday's insanity and obscenities, I was certain that, because we knew they, Trump's supporters/protesters were going to Washington, that all the security would be in place and it would be inconsequential. I forgot we live in Trump's world, at least now.

If there is any silver lining, so to speak, from this ugliness yesterday in Washington, it is that the Republican Party is in meltdown just now, before our very eyes.

Ex-GOP Senator Says Republicans Must Form New Party

We have at least that to thank Mr. Trump for. Ironically, very ironically, none other than Right Wing, Republican Trump lapdog Senator Lindsey Graham predicted this.

If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it.— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 3, 2016

Who knew he'd be so prescient?

Think about yesterday's attack on our Capitol, too.  The only leadership we get from this pathetic excuse for a President is to have his delusional followers attack our capitol building in Washington DC. Meanwhile, record numbers of Americans are dying from this pandemic.

A record number of people died from Covid the last two days in America as rioters stormed U.S. Capitol

Which now brings us to the far more local party of this unfolding news and that is our own Missouri Senator Josh "I'll Do Anything For a Vote" Hawley. He rightly isn't coming out of this well. The following is from our own Kansas City Star.

Assault on democracy: Sen. Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in Capitol coup attempt

A bit from the article:

No one other than President Donald Trump himself is more responsible for Wednesday’s coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol than one Joshua David Hawley, the 41-year-old junior senator from Missouri, who put out a fundraising appeal while the siege was underway.

This, Sen. Hawley, is what law-breaking and destruction look like. This is not a protest, but a riot. One woman who was apparently part of the pro-Trump mob was fatally shot by Capitol Police as lawmakers took cover. Some of those whose actions Trump encouraged and later condoned brought along their Confederate flags.

And no longer can it be asked, as George Will did recently of Hawley, “Has there ever been such a high ratio of ambition to accomplishment?” Hawley’s actions in the last week had such impact that he deserves an impressive share of the blame for the blood that’s been shed.

Hawley was first to say that he would oppose the certification of Joe Biden’s Electoral College win. That action, motivated by ambition, set off much that followed — the rush of his fellow presidential aspirant Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and other members of the Sedition Caucus to put a show of loyalty to the president above all else.

Meanwhile, Senator Hawley has been very rightly savaged in the media across the nation for this words and actions leading up to yesterday's Trump supporters' travesty. At one point, at the beginning of the Right Wing assault on our Capitol in Washington, Senator Hawley actually went outside the building to cheer on the Trump troops. Not surprisingly, it prompted lots of backlash on social media. This was my person al favorite.

Again, certainly deserved.

None other than deeply Right Wing, very conservative, very Republican columnist George Will had this to say about our Senator.

Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley are the US Constitution’s 'most dangerous domestic enemies'

Which leaves us rather incompletely at where we are now. Both the 25th Amendment and another impeachment would take far longer than the less than two weeks we have now so chances are strong that, unless Trump does abdicate or bail, chances are strong we are, in fact, stuck with him. I think Vice President Mike Pence is far too much both a coward and opportunist and won't invoke the 25th Amendment. He doesn't want to burn himself with even the nutcase Trump supporters of the party.

But one more good thing that could well come of this, however, is that Nancy Pelosi and the House may well put him, Donald J "Jenius" Trump up for impeachment anyway.  And here's the great thing about that.

Donald Trump would then be the only, only President, of all 45, that has been impeached twice.

Among the things we can't have is this.

Trump asking aides and lawyers about self-pardon power

This is what we need to keep in mind going forward, I think.

You Don’t Heal a Nation By Forgetting About Fascism. You Heal a Nation by Punishing Fascism Swiftly

Think happy thoughts, campers.

Also, hope---and pray, if you're into that--that the worst of this man Donald Trump and his Presidency are behind us.

Stay and be safe and well.

The Republican Party Insanity Today, Christmas Eve, on COVID Assistance

So here it is. Christmas Eve. Here we are. At long last. And now, this is where we all are with this Republican Party Congress, Republican Party President and the possibility of COVID assistance.

House Republicans To Block $2,000 Stimulus Checks On Christmas Eve

So Congress, at long last, came up with a bill they could all agree one, months in the making, for COVID pandemic assistance to and for America and Americans. After all that negotiating, this Republican Party President Trump concludes they assistance should be $2000, not the paltry $600 at the last minute or he'll veto it all. Yahoo! Right?

Except this is where we are now. On Christmas Eve. The Republicans in Congress are all going to collectively be Scrooges. They say they are voting it all down. It's their President but they want no part of it.

So what, pray tell, do these Republicans in Congress do now with their President? Go to the White House and implore him to see it, to see things their way? If that's even possible?

Merry Christmas indeed, America. 

Happy holidays?

Happy new year?

More:

Trump gives Congress chaos for Christmas, with aid to millions up in the air

Update. Breaking in the last two hours:

GOP senator warns $2K checks can't pass, urges Trump to sign COVID deal

It seems our own Missouri Senator Roy Blunt did the right thing and reached out to the President.

Sen. Roy Blunt (Mo.) a member of the GOP leadership, warned Thursday that President Trump's demand for $2000 stimulus checks can't pass the Senate and urged him to sign a massive year-end agreement.

Some semblance of sanity seems to be coming about, anyway. It's nice that it's coming from our own Senator and state.

Sidney Powell: Senior Aides Are Blocking Trump From Giving Me White House…

Bill Barr's Quote APresidential Pardons Resurfaces on His Last Day…

GOP senator warns $2K checks can't pass, urges Trump to sign COVID dea

Trump Endangers the Nation -- Some More

 This broke today.  Unreal.

Pentagon blocks visits to military spy agencies by Biden transition team

As I said. Unreal. Someone at the Pentagon is putting this man Trump and his phony election claims ahead of the nation and our security. This is, again, dangerous. Reckless.  It's not like we haven't seen recklessness from this President before now, we certainly have but this is very late in his presidency to have this going on.

Meanwhile, with no leadership from this President, the White House or his administration, this is going on presently.

Mysterious illness targeting US diplomats in China, Cuba likely the result of microwave energy: report

Certainly still no leadership on or about this pandemic.

US sets new daily coronavirus record with nearly 228,000 cases

And he's still attacking our votes, our election and Democracy.

Trump demands names of the congressional Republicans who said they recognize Biden as winner

Trump calls Georgia governor to pressure him for help overturning Biden’s win in the state

Fortunately, there is a little bit of positivity.

Just 25 GOP lawmakers acknowledge Biden’s win in Post survey

Now, mind you, it's only 25 members of the GOP. In their research, they found that, yes, 25 of them agree Biden won, 222 of them said it was unclear, the cowards, and 2 actually said Trump won, in spite of all the evidence otherwise. And this late after the election and vote, too. More insanity.

He's still losing his attempt at a war.

Appeals court rejects effort to block Biden's win in Georgia

We have to take our wins where we get them. 

More Republicans Say It’s Time for Trump to Start Transition

The Political World Starts To Move On From Trump 

Business Leaders to Trump: It's Time to Start the Transition

It's time. We need to #throwthebumout 

More:

Donald Trump's Damage to Democracy Is Worse than Bad

Trump is doing massive damage to democracy

From Boston:

America must reclaim democracy damaged by Trump

From the UK:

The danger is now clear: Trump is destroying democracy

From Scotland:

Herald View: Trump is damaging US democracy

Final Presidential Debate--Trump Takes More HIts

Yes, we had the final Presidential election campaign debate last night as we all know and yes, The Orange Man, The Trumpster, "President" Trump is now taking hits on it as he rightly should this morning. Here are but some.

Right off the bat, let's put this up front.

Post-debate CNN poll: Biden wins final presidential debate

Joe Biden did a better job in the final debate on Thursday, according to a CNN Instant Poll of debate watchers. Overall, 53% of voters who watched the debate said that Biden won the matchup, while 39% said that President Donald Trump did.

Viewers once again said that Biden's criticisms of Trump were largely fair (73% said they were fair, 26% unfair), and they split over whether Trump's attacks on Biden were fair (50% said yes, 49% no).

On from there. 

Trump says that windmills kill 'all the birds' after saying he knows 'more about wind' than Biden

It's difficult to tell just where this President Trump gets his information.

On the news this week that 545 migrant children's parents couldn't be located after the Trump administration separated them, the parents from the children, The Trumpster had this response.

Trump says children separated from their parents were "so well taken care of"

Forget that they're children.

Forget that they're abandoned.

Forget that they're now in institutions.

Forget that they're no doubt scarred for the rest of their lives by this experience, these experiences.

Trump says they're "so well taken care of."

Right. Sure they are. Just as well as if they were, what?  With their own family? With their own parents?

An excellent summary of the final debate comes this morning from Forbes Magazine, I think.

The Biggest Falsehoods Of The Final Trump-Biden Presidential Debate

Just a bit from the article gives a great deal of good information.

• On the Covid-19 death toll, Trump claimed that “2.2 million people were expected to die,” a misleading number which he has stated multiple times to claim that his administration saved 2 million lives. The number is based on the worst-case scenario modeled by the Imperial College of London which hypothesized what would happen if no action was taken during the pandemic and people continued to live their daily lives as normal, with no change in behavior. The model, however, acknowledged that such a scenario was unrealistic.
• Trump incorrectly stated that the country was “rounding the corner” on the pandemic, despite the number of new infections rising once again to nearly 60,000 a day, following a dip in the late summer.
• Trump also falsely claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease official, had described Covid-19 as “no problem” and predicted it would “go away soon.” In reality, even back in January, Fauci said that the U.S. had to take the disease seriously, while in February he said that the risk was still low but cautioned “this could change.”
• Trump accused Joe Biden of receiving $3.5 million from Russia and the amount came through Putin, a claim based on a politically charged report released by Senate Republicans last month into Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Russia and Ukraine. The report, however, does not accuse Joe Biden of any wrongdoing or claims that Hunter Biden’s business dealings influenced the Obama administration’s foreign policy. Hunter Biden’s lawyer has also denied that he was the “co-founder” of the company in question.

This one is a particular favorite for me.

• In one of the most bizarre statements of the night, Trump claimed that Biden’s platform is pushing to force buildings to replace their existing windows with smaller ones, or remove them altogether, in the name of energy efficiency. This claim is false since Biden’s platform makes no mention of windows anywhere, nor does the Green New Deal, a more expansive proposal to fight climate change endorsed by many progressive Democrats but not Biden himself.

It goes on from there.

• Under fire for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump tried to shift blame, repeatedly accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of acting slower and accusing her of “dancing on the streets in Chinatown in San Francisco” and urging street fairs and parades. Pelosi made a visit to San Francisco’s Chinatown in late February, where she urged people to take precautions and to be vigilant while advocating the patronage of Chinese businesses. A day later Pelosi called for a broader and more forceful response to tackling the virus, according to the Washington Post.
• During the debate, Biden claimed that Trump had caused America’s trade deficit with China to “go up, not down”. According to PolitiFact, this is mostly false since the U.S. trade deficit with China in goods and service was lower under Trump in 2019, than it was in any of the final three years of the Obama administration, where Biden served as vice president. Biden’s campaign is pointing to a narrower evaluation that includes trade in goods only, where numbers under Trump have generally been higher than they were under Obama.
• Under fire for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Trump tried to shift blame, repeatedly accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of acting slower and accusing her of “dancing on the streets in Chinatown in San Francisco” and urging street fairs and parades. Pelosi made a visit to San Francisco’s Chinatown in late February, where she urged people to take precautions and to be vigilant while advocating the patronage of Chinese businesses. A day later Pelosi called for a broader and more forceful response to tackling the virus, according to the Washington Post.
• During the debate, Biden claimed that Trump had caused America’s trade deficit with China to “go up, not down”. According to PolitiFact, this is mostly false since the U.S. trade deficit with China in goods and service was lower under Trump in 2019, than it was in any of the final three years of the Obama administration, where Biden served as vice president. Biden’s campaign is pointing to a narrower evaluation that includes trade in goods only, where numbers under Trump have generally been higher than they were under Obama.

PBS wrote this today.

President Trump’s very first line of the night, about COVID-19 deaths, was false and set the tone as he and Democratic rival Joe Biden unleashed a torrent of claims in their last presidential debate.

AP FACT CHECK: Examining claims from the last Trump-Biden debate

Of course, this will all be said to be "fake news" by this President and his followers but so it goes.

As a final but important side note here today, it needs to be pointed out that EVERY modern day candidate for the presidency turned in their taxes. EVERY ONE.

Just not this one. Not Donald J "Jenius" Trump.

In summary today:

1. Hunter is not running for President. 
2. We are not “rounding the corner” on Covid-19. 
3. Vaccines are not weeks away. 
4. Trump can actually behave better if enough people tell him to, if it's absolutely required.
5. Yes, we know when the cages were built, and we also know for what purpose. 
6. The stock market is still not the economy.
7. Trump comparing himself to Lincoln is bizarre. 
8. Release your taxes, Mr. President. We know the audit excuse is complete nonsense. 
9. This debate probably didn’t change anyone’s mind.
10. Meanwhile, too, not one word from this "President" on what he would do if he were, God and heavens forbid, reelected. Not one.

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

Now, let's do this.

86 45

BYEDON

Still more:

Who won the debate? The first polls say Joe Biden

Why Joe Biden won the final debate

745 Economists sign an Open Letter Opposing Trump's Re-Election

More than 700 economists including Nobel laureates oppose Trump reelection

Trump's debate performance was too little, too late

More than 300 military family members endorse Biden

2 Weeks to Election--and the Unprecedented President, Collapsing Unprecedentedly

 Yes, ladies and gentlemen, only 14 more days to the big November election and it really does look like yet more of the Trumpworld is dying or collapsing.  Just look at all the breaking proof.

Admiral from bin Laden raid endorses Biden in dramatic fashion

‘Complicit’: Heitkamp on Sen. Cornyn, Republicans jumping ship as Trump polls sink

Finally, Christians are turning against Donald Trump

Christian leaders speak out against the president

The Republican Crusade Against Donald Trump

Now, even the former head of the Republican National Committee came out for Biden and against Donald J Trump.

Michael Steele in powerful ad endorses Biden/Harris for the soul of our nation

You can't get much more unprecedented than that.

USA Today broke their own tradition of not endorsing a candidate.

Elect Joe Biden. Reject Donald Trump.

In 2016, we broke tradition in urging you not to vote for Trump. Now we're making our first presidential endorsement. We hope it's our last.

This is how things are going in swing state Florida, too.

Florida shatters opening day record for early voting

People don't line up in record numbers to vote, period, let alone during the worst, most killing, deadly international pandemic in the last more than 100 years because they think things are going swimmingly the way they are, folks. All of these voting records not just broken but shattered are a very good indication for us, I think.

Then this just happened in Pennsylvania.

Supreme Court sides with Dems, allows Pennsylvania to count mailed ballots received up to 3 days after election

On the Hunter Biden "story", there is this.

Fox News Passed on Hunter Biden Laptop Story

Even Trump's own Fox network passed on the Hunter Biden untruth of a story.

And then there's this.

50 former intelligence officials warn NY Post story sounds like Russian disinformation

Over 50 former intelligence officials said emails alleged to have been found on a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden show signs of a Russian disinformation operation: “If we are right, this is Russia trying to influence how Americans vote in this election, and we believe strongly that Americans need to be aware of this."

Followed by this, from Trump himself.

Trump calls a reporter asking him a question 'a criminal' for not reporting on the Hunter Biden allegations

With all this, he's either just crude or--what?--stupid? or simply losing it. Honestly.

Trump delivers expletive-filled pep talk to campaign staff

More crudeness and stupidity here. Desperation plays a factor, I think.

Trump Blasts CNN, Chris Cuomo at Rally: 'You Dumb Bastards'

He was caught, publicly, in a lie.

ExxonMobil responds to Trump’s hypothetical bribery call: ‘It never happened’

For that matter, he was caught in lies, yet more lies.

Fact-checking Trump's massively dishonest weekend: The President made at least 66 separate false or misleading claims in three days

Apparently, all the facts aren't lost on the Trump staffers in and of his campaign.

Report: Team Trump Knows It’s Going to Have Its Ass Handed to It November 3

And now, with these mere 2 weeks to go, it looks as though he and his reelection campaign are short on funds.  Oh. Darn.

How Trump plowed through $1 billion, losing cash advantage

It looks for all the world like this very unprecedented President and Presidency is going to have a very unprecedented collapse, Mr. and Mrs. America.

Make it so.

86 45

BYEDON

Donald Trump IS the Swamp

Read the front page story of the NYT today, folks, the photos alone tell the story.

The Swamp That Trump Built

A businessman-president transplanted favor-seeking in Washington to his family’s hotels and resorts — and earned millions as a gatekeeper to his own administration.

Donald Trump can no way "drain the swamp." Donald Trump IS the swamp. And he's shattering the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. We've never had a President that was so much for sale. Our government has never been so much for sale as under this Republican Party President Donald J Trump.

And check out this little beauty, too, that broke this weekend.

Taliban Endorses Trump Re-Election Campaign

The Taliban announced they support this Republican Party President Donald J Trump for reelection.  Fantastic. I love it! And why wouldn't we? Thanks, fellas! Perfect timing, too. And thanks, Republicans. As I keep saying out here, that's quite the guy you got there and quite the guy you foisted on us all, on the nation.

This is what he did earlier this week, too.

Taking Page From Authoritarians, Trump Turns Power of State Against Political Rivals

President Trump took a step even Richard M. Nixon avoided in his most desperate days: openly ordering direct, immediate government action against specific opponents, timed to serve his re-election campaign.

The thing is, too, first, he doesn't even know he's doing it and second, he doesn't know how or whythis is even wrong.

Meanwhile, here we are nationally.

US reports more than 50K COVID-19 cases for third straight day; 9 states set record

And here is where we are locally.

Kansas City metro breaks daily record for new coronavirus cases with more than 800

Thanks, Mr. President.

Thanks, Republicans.

Let's do this.

86 45

BYEDON

Happy Fourth?

Happy Fourth of July?

Happy Independence Day?

People gathered on Santa Monica beach in California on Wednesday.

U.S. Coronavirus Cases Hit New Single-Day High Ahead of Fourth of July Weekend

Also this, from yesterday.

Coronavirus cases are rising in 40 of 50 US states

And of course, Trump is still in the White House.

Trump visits Mount Rushmore amid controversy, coronavirus

'Complete disaster': Trump's fraught ties with Native Americans on display at Mount Rushmore

But hey, try to have a good holiday and weekend, y'all.

And stay safe.

The Collapse of This Presidency Likely Began Yesterday

With the soon to be released books on this President by John Bolton, from within his own administration, and his niece, from within his own family, it very much looks like the collapse of this Presidency began either yesterday or more broadly, this week.

Either one is excellent, of course.

It seems there are new, negative stories released about this President at least daily, if not hourly. Here are just a few of them from John Bolton's book, his former National Security chief:

Bolton's New Book Alleges Trump Routinely Put Political Ambitions Above U.S. National Interests

Bolton says Trump asked China to help him get reelected

And then there are the claims of his niece, as we know.

Book by Trump’s niece to reveal he ‘derided’ father’s Alzheimer’s struggles

Can you imagine making fun of your father who's suffering from Alzheimer's?

Even if he WEREN'T going to give you 493 million dollars---but especially if he were.  Wow.

Meanwhile and additionally, the Supreme Court ruled this past Monday that LGBTQ Americans should have equality in our nation---imagine that!---and shouldn't be able to be fired in the workplace for being gay or transgendered, etc. This goes completely against Mr. Trump and his goals.

Then, today, there was this Supreme Court ruling, also:

US supreme court rejects Trump's bid 

to end Daca program 

That was breaking news this morning. Within the last hour, the President tweeted this:

Do you get the impression that the Supreme Court doesn’t like me?

Ah... pobrecita....

To add complications to his re-election bid, it was announced yesterday that Tulsa, Oklahoma had it's largest outbreak of coronavirus yet. Famously, his re-election rally is set to be there this Saturday.

It was announced this week he's scouring the White House to find out who ratted him out about going to the bunker during the protests. And not just find out who it was but prosecute them in court, too.

Trump wants to find and prosecute whoever told media about bunker visit

That this President is using our own Department of Justice to do his bidding to keep Bolton from selling and distributing his book should alarm virtually all Americans.

Trump administration asks court to 

stop release of Bolton's book

Finally, at least here and now, today, ABC is going to air an interview with John Bolton this Sunday night, 9 pm Eastern time, covering and giving yet more details of his pretty scathing book on President Trump.

ABC News Lands Exclusive With John Bolton About Memoir Claiming Donald Trump Committed Many “Ukraine-Like Transgressions”

So yes, ladies and gentlemen, either yesterday was the day, I feel strongly, or this is the week but the wheels seem to have absolutely come off this Donald Trump re-election. You're all, we are all witnessing it now. It's not pretty, certainly, and we hope we can and do keep the nation safe and secure, even strong from here to Election Day, November 3rd and then from then until the following January 20 when the next President takes office.

God help us all and keep us safe.

May this long, national, dangerous, reckless nightmare be soon over, safely over.