Author: Reemberto@gmail.com

Trump found guilty of insurrection by majority of Senators

Trump found guilty of insurrection by majority of Senators

Let the record show – and history books not forget – that on February 13, 2021 57% of U.S. Senators voted to charge Donald Trump, ex-President of the United States with insurrection and enticing his followers to attack the Capital. This is the first time in American History that a sitting President has been complicit in an attack on another branch of the Federal Government.

And, lest we forget, he has yet to concede that he lost the elections. He continues to be a clear and present danger to American democracy, the U.S. Constitution, and basic human decency. He is also arguably a traitor. He is definitively a criminal – as hopefully courts will prove someday soon.

Many of his followers are saying we must move on. Move on? Nope. No justice, no peace.

But, I get it. “Moving on” is the American way – particularly when it is convenient to maintain the status quo, when it is convenient to not upset the consumer economy, or when it is convenient to appease that segment of Americans who are blatantly scared of the inevitability of the demographic future of America – that is, browner and blacker.

Yet we keep paying the price of this ‘moving on’.

  • We never resolved the basic tenet of the evil of slavery after the Civil War; and we are still paying dearly for that inaction.
  • We opted to whitewash the Spanish flu pandemic, moving on to the roaring 20s and never giving it due importance in history books; and we are now paying the price by totally fumbling our response to Covid.
  • We have never faced the embedded abuses of the immigrant labor force, the quasi-slave labor of prisonerS, or the massive and ever-increasing wealth gap; and the day of reckoning of these inequities is now upon us.

“Moving on” from the events that led to January 6, 2021 – and “moving on” from holding President Trump accountable – will simply fester the gross underbelly of racism and the warped interpretation of Manifest Destiny and American Exceptionalism. The “American First” movement re-ignited by Donald Trump has given the license to White Supremacist, outrages conspiracy theorist, and subtle racists to pursue their destructive ideologies as if they were legitimate American ideals.

It is one thing to acknowledge that the U.S. has always had a critical mass of its population committed to non-democratic ideals. It is one thing to acknowledge that the U.S. has always had a critical mass of its population willing to accept authoritarianism as a means to quiet opposition – even if it is a majority. It is another thing to give these anti-democratic values the space to fester and grow without challenging them in the court of law – and through legislative means.

Tumpism may very well outlive Trump. Actually, Trumpism existed long before Trump. He simply legitimized it and gave it a face – his face. How Trumpism will evolve in the months to come, the damage it will do to the American psyche – and potentially to the safety of the American people  – is unknown.

Only time will tell. And: Those of us that care about such things – those of us that believe in the core goodness of “most of us” living in the U.S., and those of us that find it necessary to remain engaged in the civic spaces – will continue working to squelch Trumpism, not only to “move on”.

No justice, no peace.

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Top 10 Trump Truths: Indisputable Facts About His Presidency

This is my (hopefully) last posting about Trump. It is critically important we move on. And. It is critically important we don’t forget, we don’t sweep it under the rug, and don’t dismiss the gross underbelly of his toxic legacy.
 
[1] President Trump was instrumental in enticing a mob to attack Congress. Five people died.
 
[2] President Trump lied about the election. He relentlessly said there was widespread fraud. It was a fair election.
 
[3] President Trump is the only President impeached twice.
 
[4] President Trump began his presidency insulting Mexicans and degregating Muslims, insulted people with disability, and called the media ‘the enemy of the state’.
 
[5] President Trump bragged about grabbing women by the pussy.
 
[6] President Trump never ever during his four years as President chastised nor blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for anything.
 
[7] President Trump never held a national memorial service for those who died of Covid.
 
[8] President Trump’s policies demonstrated little if any regard for climate change implications.
 
[9] Trump consistently refused to speak loudly against white supremacists and racists groups.
 
[10] Trump’s rhetoric or action seldom if ever tried to be “President for all Americans”, instead focusing almost exclusively on embolding and not growing the number of his supporters.
 
There are many other Trump Truths. But these capture the evil within the man. The inhumanity. The lack of empathy. The pure toxicity of his Presidency.
 
Let’s see how much of it influences future policies and if how he may continue to stir the pot, cause bad trouble, and try to stay in the limelight… We’ll see. We’ll see.
 

He has to go. Now.

 

(Sorry folks. Too long for a meme. Not sure anyone reads any more, but here is yet another reflection on yesterday’s violent attack by the President on Congress.)
 
What happened yesterday is rather simple. Please no false equivalencies. No comparison to recent protests – or even past or recent riots. No extrapolation to historical happenings. Simple!
 
What we saw on January 6th, 2021 was a sitting President sparking, encouraging, and commanding the forced disruption of the functioning sitting Legislative branch.
 
The sitting President was the Commander in Chief of the mob that stormed the Capital. He started it. He could have stopped it before it got violent. He could have disowned them after it settled. He did none of that. His lame language like ‘go home in peace’ was simply drowned out by his continuing shouts about the ‘stolen elections’. He has yet to show any change in his thinking regarding why the attack happened; and he has shown no remorse that it happened. Indeed, he indicated he ‘loves’ these people. Therefore, he remains committed to his cause. And he remains in power. He must be removed. Now.
 
Unless. Unless of course our collective political and cultural will is to simply turn the page, end this nightmare and begin a new chapter. However, what is wrong with this approach is that it simply tries to sweep the event under the rug for – dare I say – economic expediency. Sweeping this event under the rug and simply moving on in the name of reclaiming normalcy for stability would be a dangerous approach – and one that will come back to bite us sooner rather than later.
 
Are we simply move on so as to create a false sense of stability that will please the marketplace – and thus provide security for economic and profitability as we have done with every other major crisis, recent and historical? (i.e.: “Turn the page. Start a new chapter. There’s money to be made.”) Or are we going to go through the difficult, painful process of bringing this sitting President to justice, holding him accountable for having caused violence against the Legislative branch of government? He has to go. Now.

What are we to make of Trump?

To call Trump an averation of American history would be wrong. There’s been worse. The Confederates come to mind. And the many who were complicit in the slave trade. And Andrew Jackson.

But, Trump is our monent. A unique invention of our times. He belongs to us all.

To some he is the voice of the many. The spirited fighter driven by raw instinct with a sixth sense for saying out loud what others can only embarrassingly think. He is raw, crass, unpolished, and “the real deal.” Never mind that he lies, cheats, and is exclusively about winning. To his fanatical followers all of his misgivings are a small prize to pay for a renewed sense of greatness. To them he is indeed “the right man at the right time.”

To those that are with him – or tolerate him or have him as a useful idiot – I say: We got what we paid for, a con man par excellence.

Is there any doubt that this man is driven by nothing other than his sickening ego? Is there any doubt that this man will go to any extent, hurt anyone, and do whatever it takes to stay in power, stay relevant? Is there any doubt that in this man’s mind he can simply not comprehend the thought that he lost?

And most critical, is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that this man is a tool for Putin – or at least his useful idiot?

Think about it. Not a single time has this President ever never said anything negative about Putin. Most recently even in the face of overwhelming consensus that Russia is behind the hacks damaging government agencies he still refuses to say anything negative about Putin. And instead he deflects the conversation to imply China is behind the hacks.

He is the first president since the Civil War to entertain the idea of secession. He is the first president since the internment of Japanese Americans to consider instituting martial law. He is the first president to choose to be absent from public view in time of a dire national crisis, choosing instead to hide behind his tweets. And he is the first President to not concede – and worse yet intice others to join him in his malicious lie that he won the election.

It is yet to be seen how much more damage he can do in the 30 days left in his administration. But is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that this man can and is willing to create maximum chaos? Putin could not have planned it any better. I will leave to conspiracy theorists to determine whether the charge was given to him verbally, written or as an understood innuendo. Ultimately it doesn’t matter. The result is the same. Pure chaos. Destabilize and divide America in every conceivable way. Instill distrust. Avoid anything resembling normalcy or certainty. Keep people off balance, guessing, and obsessed with not knowing what is next. Welcome to the chaos culture.

The damage is done. Of course it is repairable. But it will take time – a long time. What this man has done to this country is nothing short of treason. It may take years to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s necessary to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. But that day will come.

In the meantime we will forge forward. We will work with the large number of people that are willing to work with others to get past this nightmare and reclaim some semblance of governance normalcy. It will not be easy. This will not be for the faint at heart. We will stumble. But we will prevail.

And thus, what to make of Trump? Don’t dismiss or underestimate him for a NY second. Evil morphs, adapts, resurfaces – and worse.

Stay vigilant. Strengthen institutional Democracy. Relentlessly name his misdeeds – and those of his cronies. And never ever forget. He may soon be gone, but his venom lives on. It always has and it always will. Goodness will prevail. But, for goodness to prevail good people have to remain hyper-conscious, active, connected, and good to to the core; and avoid vengeance and tit-for-tat.

Trumpism has no place in our collective future. Let’s make Trump part of our history, a history from which we will learn for the sake of our future – but history nonetheless.

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Donald, you are done

Donald, you are done.

You conned half of America.

Your meanness and crassness captured the imagination of many.

You abused the insecurities of vulnerable Americans. You played to their social fears. You expanded their confusion, exasperating their lack of information with misinformation, abusing their poor education.

At the beginning you were the shiny new object. As the evil con man you are, you oftentimes used a kernel of truth to frame your hate and vile ideas. However, at the end you had disintegrated to a pathetic pile of manure, demonstrating your complete incompetence, lack of empathy, and extreme self-centeredness.

You never cared about others. You never even owned a dog!

Yet, many vulnerable souls still believe in you and will dearly miss you. And quite a few others – those that used you as a useful idiot – will also miss you.

Your insolence is such that you are willing to instill doubt in the conscience of America and sow the seed of destruction of democracy just so you can say “I did not lose.” You are one mean-spirited human being.

You have belittled those that are committed to public service in government. You have abused your position of power to – without proof – shame the good folks that work our election system. You have tried to discredit science. You have shown no empathy to those dying of covid or those staffing the health care facilities.

(And in the four years of your Presidency you never ever once uttered a negative comment about Russia’s Putin. We still wonder why.)

You’ve left us more divided. You have unleashed a wave of hate. You have damaged our reputation. You have insulted and degraded many a good people. You have used the office of the Presidency to spout lies after lies after lies, daily, day after day after day.

You left us more broken.

But, we’ve been there before. And we’ve pulled through. Not perfectly – far from it. But, pulled through nonetheless.

We know we will always have with us a fringe of America that cares only about themselves, misuses the principles of individualism, and clings on to cultish ideologies. They have always been with us. We can’t lock them all up. There are no acceptable laws that will make them or their wild ideas go away. You certainly gave them license to be more visible and even grow in numbers. But, they remain a fringe.

They remain the confused, abused, and misguided America. And, they also remain our fellow Americans. Not to be discarded, nor insulted, nor dismissed. They are mostly good people that have been conned.

Donald, America is better than you. We are mostly an aspirational, good-will people, with warts and all. Rockus, argumentative, disinterested at time, easily swayed by rampant consumerism and over-the-top entertainment. A long way from perfect. But collectively hopeful, believing in the goodness of each other, willing to collaborate, committed to community.

We will rebuild the mess you left us. Better.

Donald, you are done.

Tilt. Game over.

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Welcome back to Trump’s America. Regardless.

Welcome back to Trump’s America. Regardless.

(Note: This is a continuation of previous post “What to make of life in the likelihood of four more years of Trump’s America?”)

Feeling melancholic. Yet hopeful. Regardless.

Not giving up. Will fight. Regardless.

Prayerfully. And respectfully. Regardless.
 
The results of this election are not just about winning or losing. The results of this election are about the realization that 1/2 our countrymen/women are ok with living in a nation ruled by a power base that represents a minority of the population, and has no interest in democracy, dialogue, diplomacy, decency, or discernment, nor reaching out to the other 1/2 of their countrymen/women. 
 
If Trump wins, we will know what it feels like to live in a country subjected to the whims of the ruling minority. Some of us have known. Think about it. In places like our Cuba people live their lives subjected to the will of a ruling class that represents mostly the military and entrenched top Party leaders – probably no more than 20% of the population. In the US 1/2 our countrymen/women are ok with living in a country subjected to a ruler that is kept in power by mostly the less educated, rural whites, religious evangelicals, and a strange, convenient quilt of single issue interests (abortion, tax breaks, judiciary restructuring) supported by the hyper-conservative affluent class.
 
Welcome back to Trump’s America. Regardless.
 

What to make of life in the likelihood of four more years of Trump’s America?

What to make of life in the likelihood of four more years of Trump’s America?

Make no decision in time of desolation.

Yet, discernment must begin. It did already. Last night, after the horrible showings and before going to bed.

This election changes every aspect of my life:

  • Personal
  • Psychological
  • Professional
  • Physical
  • Financial

Regardless of how the final numbers come in, certain things are clear:

  • Half of Americans have voted for autocracy, authoritarianism, the cult of personality, and a judiciary subjected to the whims of the President.
  • Half of Americans have no issue with a President that lies, cheats, divides, and has no interest in reaching out to those who did not vote for him – except unless, of course, if they are willing to succumb to his unquestionable dictates.
  • Half of Americans are seemingly ok with the rising numbers of cases and deaths due to an uncontrolled pandemic; regulations that denigrate the environment; and, an economic system that clearly favors the wealthy.
  • Half of Americans welcome a combative, fighting, go-at-it-alone foreign policy, including tightening immigration laws without regards to human rights principles or consequences.
  • Half of Americans sternly believe that the poor can best be helped by providing more tax breaks to the rich, limiting public assistance, and keeping them safe by militarizing the police.

To the half of Americans that voted for Trump these positions are not theoretical or aspirational. They are in fact in place today as a result of Trump’s Presidency over the last four years – and they like them.

That is what this election has proven.

Now the question to all of us that did not vote for him is: 

  • What do we do? 
  • How do we live in Trump’s America for the foreseeable future – regardless of how the election results turn out in the next day or week? 
  • Do we engage them, retreat and distance from their noise, or resist (if Trump wins) or respect (if Biden wins)? 

… more discernment as news develops.

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There’s still time to get good folks to vote #BidenHarris

There’s still time to get good folks to vote #BidenHarris

What can you say about this election that has not been said?

What can you analyze that has not been analyzed?

Who can you get to the polls that has not being?

How can you convince him or her that voting is the thing to do?

How can you encourage him or her to vote for Biden?

Is there any texting, any words, any social media posting, any advertisement – anything – that will be effective at this time, a short few days before election day?

We could throw up our arms, crawl into our rabbit hole of endless news and social media blabber, safely stay in our social bubble, and simply wait till it all passes.

Or, we could do something. We could focus these last few days in:

  • strategic outreach to people we know that may not have yet voted and empathetically, understandably, and with authentic love ask them to consider voting;
  • being very public with showing our enthusiasm by wearing our campaign  ware, freshening up that yard sign, and joining in caravans where they are happening;
  • sharing this plea with our friends and families that have voted to please please please do not do nothing.

And oh yes:

  • If you know of someone that simply can not physically do any of the above, welcome their prayers that others that can will vote vote vote #Biden.

Do not underestimate the power you have to personally get others to vote. You never know who will respond positive to your plea. Don’t discount the possibility that you are the one person that the other person was waiting to hear from to make the decision to vote.

Here’s a simple idea:

  • Make an inventory of your very own contact list on your phone. Do a personalized text and/or call asking your contacts if they would like to discuss their voting plan. No pressure. No crudeness. No guilt-trip. Simply a friendly:

“Hello, hope you are doing well; and by the way, have you voted yet? Is there anything I can do for you to do so? Wanna talk? Stay safe!”

Let’s do all we can. Let’s have no regrets. Let’s do this!

P.S.:

You may want to browse through this blog’s posting for an array of information that may help some decide the many failures of the Trump Presidency, the many shortcomings of Trump the man, and the many positive aspects of an aspirational Biden Presidency.

#VoteBidenHarris2020

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Fighting Trump on his own terms: Insults.

FIGHTING TRUMP ON HIS OWN TERMS: INSULTS

Oh my. I don’t have it in me to be this mean, this calice, this insulting. It is simply not me. However, when evil lurks I do recognize that fighting back is the call of some. Thus I am repeating this discourse on my blog. I am not endorsing the tactic. Yet I understand it is the only tactic that will get certain people to wake up and realize the severity of the situation. (P.S.: See the extra at end of posting!)

Donald Trump tried to go after former McCain Campaign Strategist Steve Schmidt, the head of The Lincoln Project, on Twitter. Schmidt didn’t hold anything back in his reply:
 
“You’ve never beaten me at anything. This is our first dance. Did you like, Covita? We are so much better at this than your team of crooks, wife beaters, degenerates, weirdos and losers.
 
You are losing. We heard you loved Evita. You saw it so many times. Where will you live out your years in disgrace? Will you buy Jeffrey Epstein’s island? One last extra special deal from him? Or will you be drooling on yourself in a suite at Walter Reed? Maybe you will be in prison?
 
I bet you fear that. The Manhattan District Attorney may not be around to cover for you or your crooked kids anymore. Eliza Orlins doesn’t believe in different sets of rules for the Trumps. What about the State Attorney General? You know what you’ve done.
 
Oh, Donald. Who do you owe almost $500 million in personally guaranteed loans to? It’s all coming down. You think you and your disgusting family are going to be in deal-flow next year? Are you really that delusional?
 
You are lucky Chris Wallace interrupted you after Joe Biden said you weren’t smart. You started to melt down. That’s the place that hurts the most. Right? Fred Sr., knew it. You’ve spent your whole life proving it. You aren’t very smart. You couldn’t take the SAT on your own. What was the real score? 970? We both know you know.
 
Are the steroids wearing off? Is the euphoria fading? Do you feel foggy? Tired? Do you ache? How is the breathing? Hmmm. Are you watching TV today? We will have some nice surprises for you. Everyone is laughing at you. You are a joke. A splendid moron turned deadly clown.
 
Did you watch Martha McSally in her debate against American hero, fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly? She is so embarrassed by you. She is ashamed and full of self-loathing for the choice she made in following you over the cliff. She is in free fall now. She will lose, like most of them, because of you.
 
We hear from the White House and the campaign everyday. They are betraying you. They are looking to get out alive and salvage careers and their names. It’s Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner vs. Donald Trump Jr., and Kimberly Guilfoyle on the inside. They are at war over scraps and who gets to command what will be the remnants of your rancid cult.
 
It’s almost over now. You are the greatest failure in American history. You are the worst president in American history. Disgrace will always precede your name. Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will grow up ashamed of their names.
 
One day, I suppose there will be some small and not-much-visited library that bears your name. It will be the type of place where a drunk walks by, staring at the wall for a minute, before deciding it is beneath his dignity to piss on. That’s what is waiting for you.
 
Joe Biden is a better man. He’s smarter. He’s winning.
 
Do you remember when you didn’t want to name Donald Trump Jr., Donald because you were worried about him being a loser named Donald? You were right about that. He is.
 
But it is you who will be remembered as America’s greatest loser. You will be crushed in the election!”
 
—————-
 
EXTRA! Just had to include this list of Trump’s atrocities that someone posted today. Again, for history sake:
 
 

The choice can not be clearer: An Authoritarian USA or an Aspirational USA?

This America I call home is derailing – so it seems. Anger, disgust, hate, division, and worst everywhere you turn. Even in the smallest of communities – even among families – things simply seem to be getting worse.

Some of us grew up in not the best of times – but not the worst of time either. The Vietnam War, the Nixon debacle, the Oil Crisis, the AIDS epidemic, the Iraq War, a contested presidential election, 9/11, war in Afghanistan, the Great Recession. All these incidents were bad, challenging, and demonstrated clear breaks and distinct opinions in America regarding how to move forward.

And then comes Trump. Chaos in Chief. Incapable of governing. Divisive, insulting, liar. And much more.

Now he wants 4 more years. And his acquaintances of convenience – his improbable web of supporters – are willing to fight tooth and nail to keep him on. Never mind they despise him. Never mind they know he lies. Never mind they suspect him being a useful idiot of Putin. Never mind they are disgusted with his lack of character, demeanor, and personality.

But, he has gotten them what they want. Just to name a few:

  • Conservative judges
  • Overturning Roe v Wade
  • De-regulation – climate change is a hoax
  • Law and order policing
  • Tax breaks for the wealthy
  • Curbing immigration
  • Embassy in Jerusalem
  • Tightened the grip on Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba
  • Tough talk on China
  • Distaste for the United Nations
  • Hint of voter suppression

And, they know he will get them more of the same in a second Trump term:

  • More conservative judges
  • Overseeing Roe v Wade dismantling
  • More de-regulation – the environment be dammed
  • Expand law and order policing
  • More tax breaks for the wealthy
  • More immigration restrictions
  • More support for Israel
  • Tighter grip on Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba
  • Tougher talk on China
  • Dismantle the United Nations
  • Aggressive voter suppression

And we who oppose him offer what? What is our language?

  • A decent man as president
  • A woman vice president
  • Stay with Roe v Wade
  • Regulate industry to abate climate change
  • Re-imagine the police
  • A sensible COVID national response
  • Healthcare expansion
  • Welcome immigrants
  • Respect for workers rights
  • Have the uber-rich pay their fair share of taxes
  • Dialogue and diplomacy with adversaries
  • Aspirational international human rights
  • Improve the United Nations
  • Increase voter participation

The choice can not be clearer.

If we choose Trump we know we’ll be getting a continuation of the undeniable history of the USA being driven by those in power that will do anything to stay in power; a history of systemic, intentional disenfranchisement of those not in power; and,a history of chest pumping, delusional self-righteousness that demeans and belittles others.

If we choose Biden we know we’ll be getting a decent man as President; a ‘tried-and-proven’ politician that has a clear history of working for all who live in the USA; an economy that is even-handed; an administration that will pay attention to those left behind, left out, and hurt by Trump’s first term; a sensible international presence; and an effective Covid response.

A Biden presidency will not be a perfect presidency. There will be squabbles, different opinions, debates, arguments, legislative fights, and unpleasant discourse. And that’s ok. That’s a long way from Trump’s authoritarian barking and lack of civility.

It’s been said by many others in many ways:

  • A Trump second term will continue the downward slide of the USA to a culture unbecoming of the aspirations of most who live here – and the aspirations expressed in our founding (if imperfect) documents. A Trump second term will highlight and bring back the USA’s dark history of selfishness instead of moving forward to a future that highlights, affirms, and expands the rich history of the USA as a welcoming place, empathetic neighbors, and aspirational people.

#VoteBidenHarris2020

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