Month: May 2018

Checks and Balances

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. – James Madison

Our founding fathers took exquisite care to ensure that power not be concentrated in the hands of any one man. Rather they created three separate, but equal, branches of government. A system where executive power is shared with both legislative and judicial to form a single representative democracy.

Donald Trump is far from an original. In fact his type goes back so far even our founding fathers were quite familiar with his story. That intricate system of checks and balances that came to be know as American democracy. It was designed with Deranged Donald in mind.

Crafted to prevent the authoritarian narcissist who took no real positions from assuming absolute power. Designed to restrain those who held no real values or morals. Aware of the danger a legacy offspring of the privileged 1%, one who was placed at the top without ever attempting to experience or understand the struggles of those on the bottom, could pose to freedoms. Cognizant of the need to safeguard against the charismatic leader who rose to power on the backs of slogan, propaganda and alternative fact. Chiefly architected to defend democracy against the tyrannical figure; the one motivated solely by money, power and adoration. The one willing to make any fake promise, cut any deal or betray any ally so long as it advanced their own self interests.

Our founding fathers came of age under such leaders. They studied them in their history of the French, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and more. They cracked the code to deal with those who ruled through fear, intimidation and bravado. Those driven to squash dissent and opposition simply to protect their fragile ego and over compensate for their own small hands, I mean shortcomings. Our founders understood Donald Trump and swore to create a new system of governance to prevent such monarchs from ever succeeding in unilaterally controlling America’s shores again.

Everything we need to defeat Trump is at our fingertips. Provided for in the very system This merry bannon of deplorables hope to destroy. The foundation exists but it is up to the American people to apply its mechanisms. Insist those checks and balances are functioning properly. Complacency is not an option. We must prioritize action. Hold any and all to account who fail to do their job as an independent branch. Who fail to check and investigate our executive with the zealous extreme vetting appropriate for those who pose a clear and present danger to our national security interests.

Americans across both sides of the political spectrum have known for years that our Congress ceased functioning as an independent safeguard many years prior to our Comrade in Chief coming along. That through gerrymandering and voter suppression our representatives had brazenly prioritized party over people. If we truly want to make America great again it starts there. It’s time that our representatives stop being corporate shills and party whores and actually represent.

It’s no longer enough to simply voice your displeasure. We must insist on results. Make clear that those who continue to appease this snake will be considered complicit in his crimes. We need to limit further damage and potential infiltration of those who don’t have Americans best interest in mind. Insist that the Senate refuse to consider any future Trump nominations, Judicial appointees included, until we determine through complete and independent investigation that Donald Trump was truly hired by and working for the American people.

Soon after taking office as Trump’s Chief Advisor Steve Bannon stood before the Cons, Pricks and so-called Christians conference (CPAC) to boast that they intentionally nominate incompetents. Individuals chosen specifically to drive their respective agencies into extinction. We must not allow that to continue. In particular we must safeguard the independence of our judiciary. Our last bastion of independence. Our fiercest defender of liberty.

Protest. Make noise. Write. Call. Petition. Donate. Run for office. Vote. Show up to town halls to demand transparency. Make clear that those who choose to appease these snakes that slither through the halls of the White House will be considered complicit in his crimes.

If your Senator refuses your calls, ducks your town halls, or ignores your pleas and continues to confirm these unqualified yahoos. If they go on supporting this administration’s illegal orders unchallenged and refuse to investigate the thousands of red flags surrounding this merry bannon of deplorables. Then I encourage you to lend your voice to the resistance. Change your party affiliation to that of the opposition party or declare yourself an independent. I don’t care how you do it but get your message across. Until proven legitimate, anybody who supports this President must come to know they are not safe in their job.

Whatever color your district, if you oppose what this administration represents, know that you are in the majority. Read up on the words of our founders. They foresaw this too. We, the people, were envisioned as the final frontier. The ultimate check to prevent the rise of despotism. Take solace in their words and foresight. We’ve been here before.

Trump Poetry

I’ll run into a schoolyard as the bullets fly by

I’ll march right into Moscow to stare Putin in the eye

I’m braver and tougher than Obama you see

If not for my bone spurs I’d serve in the military

So don’t question my courage or think me afraid

My taxes are under audit, but trust me I’m self made

And it’s not that I’m guilty it’s just a personal affront

To sit down with Bob Mueller and legitimize this witch hunt

Cause one thing is for certain I could never conspire

For no one dare work with such a notorious liar

So those saying I’m hiding give me a bad rap

It’s just being sworn to the truth is an impeachment trap

http://amp.dailycaller.com/2018/05/27/rudy-giuliani-robert-mueller-interview-a-trap/

The Pathway to Perdition

The pathway to perdition is paved in ignorance. They say there are only seven original stories in the world. If you read enough, and pay attention to life, you can actually begin to see them unfold in realtime. You grow able to predict what the author of that real life story is going to do next. Which story they seek to recreate in their own life.

Donald Trump is far from an original. In fact we’re all familiar with this story he’s writing. For many of us it’s our favorite movie, book or television show. We’ve seen it unfold countless times, albeit in differing variations.

The agents of fear and oppression rise up, usually in the form of a privileged older male pseudo populist whose good fortune depends on preserving the status quo. He uses fear and oppression as his primary tools. His speech comprised of thinly veiled dog whistles that call upon the deplorables of society to rise up. His policies implicitly condone the dirty work and agenda of those who once sat on the fringe of society.

His nationalistic rhetoric encourages them to sow discord; to intimidate others to get on board. to bully, peer pressure, threaten and blackmail similar patriots and relatives who may agree with the message but be resistant to the harsh methods. Over time they too will join the cause or face excommunication from the party. Those branded race or party traitors to be forever blacklisted and cast out.

As he consolidates power the narcissist grows. He begins to divide traditional alliances through rumor, false promises and chaos. He discredits opponents with lies, misinformation and alternative facts.

As the story progresses the emerging authoritarian begins to act more erratic. The threat of a “deep state”, and traditional checks and balances begin to weigh heavy on he who chases the crown.

As the opposition grows and coalesces, the motive of the dictatorial villain grows more transparent. The desire for ultimate power drive increasingly brutal and more brazen tactics. Dissent must be suppressed! Foreign enemies abound! A caravan of rapists and criminals approach unchecked! Now is not the time for #resistance!

Midway through the story a cataclysmic event occurs. The stuff of nightmares. A society’s worst fears realized. Freedoms must be restrained as a new threat rises. At this point resistance is futile. The takeover complete.

That’s the story Trump and his caravan of the corrupt are trying to write. The appointment of Whitaker. The war on the press and needless taunts of our closest allies. It’s clear that we’re already very close to that midway point.

There’s another version of this story though. The one written about the protagonist. A story of hope, freedom and perseverance. How love saves the day. A last minute miracle. A heroic act that thwarts catastrophy and exposes the naked emperor, unmasks the fraud.

In that story truth, justice and the “American” way win out. “We, the people,” can still write that story. Look around, look around. The resistance is real. We are the majority. We simply need that hero to step forward to lead us

Either way; the good news is the story always ends the same way. Love, empathy, sacrifice and acceptance win the day. A new hope emerges in the blooms of renewed unity and tolerance. The villain is denounced and rejected. Grows to be nothing more than a cautionary tale in history’s annals.

I’ve read this book a thousand times. Societies advance, grow more civil and tolerant.

The question is not if freedom wins. It’s how long and at what cost it will take for her to do so. Progress knows but one direction #Forward

Maybe it’s Evolution

All of my grandparents immigrated here from Europe. European Jews who fled their homelands in the face of rising nationalism. Crossed the ocean with little more than a dream of a freer and more open society. My father in turn was raised mostly in foster homes. Passed around from family to family. Valued more for the monthly check he’d bring in than for his intellect or kindness.

To turn away refugees and treat them as greater threats than the head of our National Security Agency. To tear an innocent child away from a parent. To lose them in the system as if their worth is equal to that of a UPS parcel. As a father to two small girls my thoughts immediately turn to them. The possibility that they may ever experience such pain. It wrecks me.

How can it be that not everyone feels the same. How can this be a political issue? How can Republicans stay silent in the face of these horrors that are taking place within shores?

It comes down to empathy. The contrast between parties; whether in response to immigration, preemptive war, healthcare, mass shootings can only be explained by empathy. The GOP respond with a “that would never be my child” attitude. Extend their thoughts and prayers. Mourn the national tragedy, the innocent civilians, the fallen soldier, the lost children, and then move on to he next day.

Progressives react with a “what if that was my child!” response. They express outrage, demand #GunContolNow, exhaust diplomacy, protest the wars, wonder where are the children, and then spend thousands of sleepless nights worrying “what if tomorrow…”

Never Forget

Prior to the ascension of Donald Trump I had never used social media as a platform, felt compelled to write a blog, but consider me an alarmist. I believe we all have a responsibility to speak out. The only thing I ever learned in Hebrew school was “never forget,” and I haven’t.

All of America is faced with a simple choice, it’s either #Resistance or #Appeasement.

America has a long history of standing up to bullies and Nazis. The vast majority of us teach our children that name calling and excluding other kids on basis of race, gender or religion is not okay. We take pride in the melting pot that is America. Recognize that diversity IS the American identity. We can’t change that anymore than a tiger its stripes. A list of all the great contributions immigrants, minorities and refugees have made to this country would dwarf a list of their misdeeds a million times over. Americans are waking. We know who we are. And we like it that way.

This is not about politics. Look at Trump’s words. Log into twitter and review his timeline of tweets. It is repulsive. You’d be ashamed of your child if that was the method they used to become class president. He is a man of flawed character. He does not share OUR values and we must stand up together and punch him in the nose.

I urge all in #GOP, including the so called “moderates” who serve this administration, to declare yourself an independent, a freedom fighter or whatever heroic name you wish to give yourselves. Find the courage within you. Make clear to our Comrade in Chief that you stand for the people and the constitution and he will have trouble if he messes with either.

This madness has gone on long enough. It’s time to cut commercial and bring the adults back into the room. We can no longer afford to play Russian roulette with our democracy #HistoryHasItsEyesOnYou

Why drain the swamp if you’re going to replace it with it a cesspool?

Flynn’s loyalty towards Russia wasn’t a surprise to anyone; not Donald Trump, not his jolly sidekick Preacher Pence, not our Congress, not even the American public. If you honestly believe Flynn was forced to hand in his resignation because he misled VP Pence then I need you to know that I’m a Private Investigator handling the estate of your Great Uncle. He was a widowed Nigerian Prince with no heirs and a large inheritance. If you will just overnight me a money order I’ll wire transfer it right over to you.Seriously, if Pence was misled it’s ‘s only because he wished to be. It’s called willful ignorance or plausible deniability.

Here’s what was widely known about Flynn before he was offered the opportunity to lead our National Security Agency. In 2012 he was fired from his job as head of Defense Intelligence Agency by then POTUS Obama. Scuttlebutt is he was a terrible manager who left chaos in his wake. He went on to become a Trump surrogate and twitter conspiracy theorist. Leading chants of “lock her up” in what is described by former colleagues as unusual behavior. As recently as 2015 Flynn was a paid contributor by Russia’s state broadcaster, Russia Today, for appearing on its air. In December of that year he attended a Moscow dinner and sat as a guest of honor next to Puppetmaster Putin himself. I could go into his relations with Erdogan or quote his Islamaphobic opinions but you get the picture.

Does that sounds like an ideal candidate to you? Like someone a CEO President, whose number one priority is keeping this nation safe, would select to fill one of the most critical roles in our collective security? Flynn raised so many red flags he may as well have had a sickle and hammer tattooed into his forehead. It is one thing to be qualified for a job and a whole other thing to be fit for it.

If a refugee applied for entry into this country and their application was dependent on alternative facts, slogan and propaganda we’d send him straight to Guantanamo! We certainly would not hand him the keys to the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall White House and access to our nation’s most sensitive secrets. That is not normal.

So I’m going to suggest something a little radical. Why don’t all of us, Democrat, Republican and Independent start holding our leaders accountable. Let’s start by demanding they conduct “routine vetting” of each and every Cabinet nominee, judicial appointee, and White House advisor from this day forward.

Heck our so called President should sign an EO tomorrow insisting upon it. After all our national security is his number one priority!