Category: Trumpism

Self-Care for Trump’s Terrible Tariffs

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Self-care for Trump’s Terrible Tariffs

Self-care for Trump’s Terrible Tariffs

By Cate Rees-Hessel

These tariffs are taxes on the American people! Do not bend the knee to Donnie Dictator.  These tariffs are fucking illegal. The tariffs game is nothing more than an arm twisting exercise by Donald Trump to bring corporate America to heel. Sadly his tactics are costing the average American big time. The most needy are as usual hit the hardest,  but that’s nothing new with this  president.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has in public statements said that tariffs are raising prices here in the United States and is negatively affecting consumers. Economic strife is stressful and many of us are facing uncertainty in the our futures, the threat of losing many hard earned benefits, especially seniors, the disabled, and families with children is terrifying. It’s even worse than I imagined when I heard Trump was re-elected. He has approved of drastic cuts to many vital programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare. A Democratic Senate and House can heal our economy, so vote in every election. Remember that Social Security is our money that we worked for and we are entitled to – use it wisely in these crazy economic times. This too shall pass, hopefully sooner than later.

During these times self care is more important than ever but how do we afford to take care our selves, our families and also remain healthy and sane. Here are some suggestions and helpful tips to weather the storm:

  1. Grocery prices are outrageous; try eggless recipes and vegetarian dishes – both healthy and economical. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  2. Use outdated yogurt and past their prime fruits for face masks and cuticle treatments.
  3. Join rewards programs, and look for coupons and deals online.
  4. Look for free shipping.
  5. Join a warehouse club to purchase in bulk. Purchasing family or jumbo sizes are often cheaper by the ounce or count (though not always, so double-check), when you can afford the initial cash outlay. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  6. Consider split payment programs – some even offer a debit type card to use in store as well as online. Often fees are minimal and most are interest free. Some of these services even offer monthly installment options – down payments are usually low, and minimum purchases vary from very low to mid ranges.
  7. Invite a multi level marketing representative to do a spa day at your home. Tutorials are available online to learn to do your own mani-pedi, facial, and haircuts. There are also many good at-home hair colors available.
  8. Shop local to save on gas.
  9. Look for special discounts on pharmaceuticals and the like. Many places offer AARP, student, and/or military discounts. Seek out scholarships, as well, for education.
  10. Consider clothes swaps, reselling on eBay, Poshmark, Marcari, Facebook Marketplace or local consignment-type shops that buy used goods. Try bartering to save on funds, and use your creativity to make money. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  11. Seek out free library and park district/recreation department programs.
  12. Look for no annual fee, cash back, and lower interest credit cards.
  13. Pay off balances when you can to avoid interest.
  14. Opt for fee-free checking accounts.
  15. Try a side gig – there are many opportunities online, but double-check online ratings and with friends for legitimacy. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  16. Consider a private mechanic versus a chain shop.
  17. Consider a vocational school for car repairs – instructors oversee the work to keep it safe.
  18. Teachers also oversee at beauty school clinics and work is done by senior students.
  19. Offer to be a haircut, hair color, or manicure model.
  20. Ask for samples prior to buying anything. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  21. Drugstore cosmetics are often as good as department store but be very wary of any thing made in China, sometime labeled as PRC. Even items that have U.S., Canada, Korea, Mexico, Turkey, or the like components that are assembled in China, I personally still avoid. Be extra careful when shopping in dollar stores. Make sure pet products are safe and nutritionally complete. Read labels on anything you purchase.
  22. Sign up to be a cosmetic, jewelry, or other merchandise company rep to get discounts on products and access to samples.
  23. Take advantage of streaming services – many offer new subscriber and returning subscriber specials, as well as access to new movies being shown in theaters or released recently.
  24. Prime Days, Walmart Days and Black Friday-type specials are often worth the time and effort, especially non-large purchases. Our local Fred Meyer’s has a first Tuesday of the month 10% senior discount.
  25. Clearance items that are not outdated can save a lot of money, especially after season discounted items. Resist the current administration – they are destroying our economy.
  26. Many restaurants of all levels are offering special pricing or deals these days. If you are a veteran, or an ARRP member remember to ask for your discount. It’s usually enough to give pay your tip.
  27. Going out of business sales can offer up to 75-90% off deals.
  28. Homemade beauty items are often excellent, effective, and safe – the same goes for home created cleaning products.
  29. Consider thrifting or purchasing pre-owned. It’s okay to re-gift, but be discreet.
  30. Local theaters often need volunteer ushers which allows free access to their productions.

Remember, if we stick together and resist the current administration, we can get through this. So add a scarf or costume jewelry to last year’s ensemble to change up your look; show up for local rallies and sign those email petitions to make your voice known. Impeachment should be a given but Trumpty Dumpty still owns his Republican congress. Remember, keep well groomed and steadfast in faith as we all pray, hope, and wish for the day we are rid of the Trump-Vance dictatorship.

Trump and his henchmen are going to do everything possible to tinker, I mean ‘eff with the 2026 election. The higher the turnout the harder it is to skew the results. So, damn it, VOTE! Deciding to consciously not vote just plays into Trump’s hands. Don’t let cynicism keep you from the polls.

Trump’s Mental Illness Has Not Improved

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Trump’s Mental Illness Has Not Improved

Trump’s Mental Illness Has Not Improved

 

By D.S. Mitchell

 

Way Back Then

Way back, in 2016, twenty-six thousand (26,000) psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers signed a petition stating that Donald Trump has a “dangerous mental illness, and is not fit to lead the United States.” Dr. John Gartner, formerly of  Johns Hopkins University, now in private practice, stated that he felt he “had an ethical responsibility to warn the public of Donald Trump’s mental illness.” Well, not only have the American people ignored the information from the experts, but they have elected this crazy idiot twice. So, who are the crazies? While that is a serious matter, I’m not prepared to address that here today. What I want to talk about the danger of a man like Donald Trump holding any elected office, much less president of the United States.

Letter To The Editor

In a Letter to the Editor, NY Times, 2/09/2017, Charles M. Blow stated that Trump through his speech and actions demonstrates an inability to tolerate any views, or opinions that differ from his own. “His words and his behavior suggest a profound inability to empathize. Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them.”

Prone To Gross Exaggeration

The Editorial Staff of Psychology Today threw their sizable weight at the argument, citing “the dangers of his obvious narcissistic personality type and the offensive behaviors that accompany it.”  Behaviors include, but are not limited to, “condescension, gross exaggeration (lying), bullying, jealousy, fragile self-esteem, lack of compassion, and a view of the world that is an “us vs them” view. And the constant boasting, with the overtone that he is the smartest guy in the room, “I’m smarter than the generals.” Or, his classic, “he’s a total loser.”

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OPINION: Little Pink Houses

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OPINION: Little Pink Houses

 

OPINION: Little Pink Houses

Editor: Millions of people attended No King protests nationwide, and some experts believe that it may have been the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Reports indicate that more than 5 million people attended the anti-Trump demonstrations in 2100 towns and cities nationwide.

By John Curran

In our little Mayberry sort of town we have protests too-against this idiot and all his corruption. And an outsider might be surprised because Josephine County, Oregon as well as adjacent counties in this part of the state are, and have been been for years very strongly Republican. The majority vote in the 2024 presidential election was a Trump landslide. At the time of the actual election and preceding it, you would see a lot of pro-Trump signs and endorsements in all its various, and at least here, peaceful forms. The killings ain’t got here, yet. But it is getting a little more tense.

We had our fourth major protest on Saturday; the day when the nation as a whole was saying,  Everywhere is protest. Everywhere is outrage. Everywhere the same desire, get the cancer out before it just destroys everything. And of course, easier said than done.

By legal, institutional means, the political system has been manipulated to enable this huge dysfunction to have achieved the position where it can begin to consume the host and that’s pretty galling if ya ask me. The fact that this monster has been created from within; is us, or at least a good portion of us, the worst of us, sickens me. The resulting power mad soulless Babylon becomes unsustainable for the majority where the ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality just leaves the sick, the disabled, and the less than perfect to die. And with that, it’s obvious they don’t care.

So, ok, and with that, our little town on Saturday June 14th, 2025, had its fourth big protest. What was so cool was that it was bigger, louder, and even more jubilant than ever; like minded people coming together, working for a common cause. A friendly smile, a big hug, we are all getting to know each other just a little bit through these protests. In a way, these protests are more like mass unstructured community outings, mostly people of like feelings, but also, just anybody who knows how to act somewhat normal is welcome. So far so good.

And of course it wouldn’t be a proper protest without a few anti-protesters, to keep it interesting. Before a few was all it had been but this time, it was more like Custer’s last stand with Custer telling the dozen or so assembled, “Get out there boys. Damn they’re back again talking all that stuff about rights, and No Kings and all the while criticizing our fearless and duly elected leader. So get your big trucks and your big boots and let’s make some noise.”

“But sir ….theys so few of us it seems, and theys so many of them.”

And damned if he didn’t hear that and think an actual thought….”Yeah, right, I hadn’t thought of that.”

Despite being outnumbered a few of them actually began walking amongst the crowd, but most were content to just drive by in their pickup trucks and blow black smoke and yell, “Fuck you” a lot. The ones walking through the crowd had put themselves out there,  however,  they mostly walked around smirking and saying cruel and demeaning things to people in wheelchairs, slow elderly people with their walkers, or just anybody, who wanted to question their motives. Motherfucker.

But they don’t really deserve any credit for mingling with the crowd. They weren’t really brave as they wanted us to think; ’cause they could pretty well figure that, even though greatly outnumbered they were not gonna be actually threatened or hurt in any way. They would have to be the ones to start it, cause that’s not who we are. Neither are we poor and pathetic, we’re more like powerful now, and getting more powerful everyday. Do you have to wonder why?

 

Street View, NO Kings Protest

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Street View, NO Kings Protest

Street View, NO Kings Protest

By David L. Shadrick

Darlene, John, Vajra, and I arrived at the NO Kings protest at 9:55 for the 10 o’clock start. There was already a huge crowd of loud and noisy citizens. John was pushing my wheelchair, while Darlene, Vajra, and I, carried our signs, musical instruments and water.

The Josephine County Courthouse, just happens to be directly across 6th Street from the Republican Party headquarters. During the three previous protests, the Trumpers could only marshal 3 or 4 pro Trumpers to yell insults in our direction. Today, however, the Trump supporters, numbered as many as a dozen, carrying American flags and Trump Won Signs.

There wasn’t an inch of sidewalk space to be had on either side of the street due to NO Kings protesters crowding even the area in front of the Republican Headquarters. As we thought through  our options Darlene noticed a shady spot with an unoccupied bench a block down 6th Street on the Republican side of the street, not exactly in the middle of the action but the location made us a visible commodity, quite visible in fact.

I grabbed my trusty 8647 sign, my goat horn, and then rolled out onto the sidewalk where my sign could be easily seen by the slow moving and horn honking traffic. I could hear John and Vajra drumming while  Darlene rang her cow bell. We were basically a block down the street from the biggest part of the crowd when a dour looking Trumper made his way through the densest part of the crowd, heading in my direction. When he got close he said with a sneer, “Your sign is disgusting.”

I replied, “What’s disgusting are cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Veteran’s benefits.”

After several minutes of harassing a disabled veteran  in a wheelchair he bent down close to my face and repeated, “your sign is still disgusting,” before retreating south toward the Wunder Bar.

The next Trumpers came in a gang of three, walking through the same crowd of protesters, without saying a word, making a bee line straight for me, apparently my 8647 sign really ticked them off. The first man, suggested quite irritably, that I “should go back to (my) pathetic life.” Before I could answer, I was interrupted by the second Trumper in the group, who was seemingly a decent person. He asked me why I was protesting and I told him that the cuts to all the safety net programs were going to force me to sleep in the street or on his couch. “Ok, well, I can understand that might be a problem,” he said, before he walked on. The third person in the group was a nicely dressed woman who suggested she liked “ice in (her) soda,” to Darlene who was waving a sign that said, “I.C.E. is best C-R-U-S-H-E-D.  After their interaction with us, the three simply got in a car and drove away.

While I was eagerly blowing my goat horn, another Trumper ran up in front of me and whipped out a megaphone from behind his back, and began chanting, “GO TRUMP, GO TRUMP, GO TRUMP” to which I yelled, “and you go with him.” From behind me I heard a chorus of voices, led by Darlene, chanting, “8647, 8647, 8647.” The volume of the chant grew and the increasing furor sent the megaphone master retreating back to the safety of the six remaining Trumpers securing the Republican headquarters.

An old white guy, in a battered pickup slowed down to yell “fuck you,” as he passed.

“Is that the only word you know?” I demanded at the top of my lungs.

He again repeated the “fuck you” insult.

And I repeated, “is that the only word you know?”

The third time he said, “fuck you,” I again repeated my question, “is that the only word you know?”

The frustrated old fart, gunned his truck engine, and headed down the street, after tossing, “asshole,” in my direction; at last proving, even Trumpers know more than two words.

Another Trump friendly driver, waved his two middle fingers in my direction before causing his rig to belch a huge cloud of black diesel smoke, leading protestors close by to cough, sputter, and spit. I ignored him.

The middle finger salutes, the cursing, the belching trucks, the negativity, the insults, all came from the MAGA crowd. Not one person on the No Kings protestors side was rude or insulting to anyone, certainly not to the first wheelchair bound person they could find.

 

What the Flag Means to Me

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What The Flag Means To Me

What the Flag Means to Me

Editor: Flag Day, celebrated on June 14th, commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Continental Congress in 1777.  While the day was first observed nationally in 1877 and celebrated by various communities earlier, it wasn’t until 1949 that President Harry Truman signed a congressional resolution officially designating June 14th as Flag Day. 

Ways to Celebrate the American Flag

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

June 14th, Flag Day, is not a day for fake kings, it is a day to honor our flag, which stands for freedom and those who fought for it. Trump is 35 count convicted felon. He incited January 6th. He is a  traitor to everything our flag stands for. Here are ways to celebrate Flag Day, un-MAGA style:

  1. Celebrate President Obama Day June 14th – let’s also include President Biden as we pray for him to beat cancer.
  2. Celebrate Juneteenth.
  3. Celebrate LGBTQ month – June.
  4. Fly your American flag along with the Pride flag.
  5. Have your Father’s Day celebration include same-sex couples that are dads, like Pete and Chasten Buttigieg.
  6. Cookouts, picnics, and celebrations which honor diversity and inclusion.
  7. Have a vegetarian cookout or party.
  8. Support our military.
  9. Plant a tree in honor of a vet.
  10. Pray for President Biden to kick cancers rear end.
  11. Teach a class about “Liberty for All”
  12. A day at the water park or pool can be a learning experience with books written by progressive authors or your favorite website on your tablet, perhaps Calamity News and Politics….
  13. Teach the truth about Francis Scott Key and the song that became our National Anthem. I respect the song but the attorney that wrote the words had a serious racist streak that troubles me.
  14. Advocate for “God Bless America” to become our National Anthem.
  15. Boycott Tesla and Elon Musk, one of the morons who bought the election for “The Donald”.
  16. Support the Ukraine. Fly the blue and yellow next to the red, white and blue.
  17. Visit your library for information on democracy. I love my library.
  18. Teach future Betsy Ross’ American History not taught in the classroom: Shirley Chisholm, Gloria Steinem, and other women that shaped America.
  19. Know before you speak; teach Black history with accuracy to those around you.
  20. Denounce any parade for Trump’s birthday. America has no king and money should not be wasted on this foolishness when there is a threat to necessary federal programs that many of our nations citizens rely upon.
  21. Teach a teen how to read and write cursive so they can read historical documents.
  22. Be woke.
  23. Stand up against tariffs that affect prices for average Americans.
  24. Stand against deportation of innocent law abiding citizens and racism breaking families apart.
  25. Stand firm in your convictions against tyranny and greed.

“God bless America, my home sweet home.”

 

Part 3-Trump Racism is Bad for America

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Part 3-Trump Racism is Bad for America

Part 3-Trump Racism is Bad for America

 

By T.K. McNeil 

I ended Part 2 of Trump Racism Is Bad For America worried that immigrants were being transferred from the United States to foreign prisons without due process. I worried aloud about death squads, concentration camps, and gas ovens. Trump racism is obvious for anyone with eyes, ears, or an X account. We are rocked out of our beds daily by angry and racially inflammatory 2 a.m. Tweets. Trump uses a practiced, coded language of dog whistles and red meat taunts that he pitches regularly to his MAGA hatted support base. The intent, an obviously planned effort to keep them frothing at the mouth, agitated, and ready for action.

Protests and resistance.  I can hear the audible gasps and protests. I say, better to think it a possibility than to refuse to face the possibility. Trump’s racism has already led to the separation of children from their parents at the Mexican border. He is now sending immigrants to foreign prisons without due process. He has stated flatly soldiers will have his permission to shoot asylum seekers that might potentially hurl rocks at the soldiers. I’m just going to let that percolate amidst your neuron receptors for a couple of minutes.

History must be studied.  There is this tendency to fall in love with the past and wish for life as it once was. For those of you who are not old enough to have reached that stage of your life let me assure you, beware, nostalgia is a load of crap. If in 40 years time there are Americans wishing for the good old days when Donald Trump was in power, let me warn you, you are in a world of trouble. Chances are, there will no longer be a United States if people are longing for a president who resembles Fat Bastard more than he does the leader of the free world.

The emergence of Barack Obama:  When Barack Obama came into office there was a hope from many sides, particularly moderates that there would finally be that emergence of a color blind America. Unfortunately there was an angry element of the population that was not ready or willing to accept such an outrage. My God in Heaven, there is a black family living in the ‘nation’s house.’ “We” must “do something.” A backlash of white vs all those “uppity” POC quickly coalesced on the alt-right. It quickly became their central purpose to undermine and dismember a hoped for mending of our national division.

Dehumanizing the target is goal one. “Birtherism” bubbled up through the conspiracy theorists. The theory postulated that 50 or so years ago, an all-knowing “group” of Democrats probably funded by George Soros met to bestow false citizenship on a mixed race kid in Kenya who would eventually be smuggled into Hawaii and who would go on to become president of the United States.  Such crazy over the top nonsense was fully embraced and pushed with ceaseless passion for more than 8 years by Donald J. Trump. The endless campaign driven by Trump and other alt-righters had the desired results of casting doubt on President Obama’s legitimacy to rule the country. Effectively undermining our first black president was accomplished. Sadly, a repeated lie often becomes a malignancy on the perceived character of the target.

Other factors.  Despite the constant attack from the right Barack Obama left office as one of the most popular presidents in American history. A fact that enrages Donald Trump. The fact that the first black man elected president of the United States was to be followed in succession by the most openly racist president in American history is sad and deeply troubling.

Plenty of blame.  The 2016 election became a disaster of Godzilla proportions. It would have taken a series of monumental political catastrophes to elect Trump. Unfortunately for the United States that’s exactly what happened. Russian interference, Wikileaks email drops, walking pneumonia, Weiner porn texts, a rogue FBI Director, the first woman candidate of a major American political party, a reality TV has-been all converged together to make the 2016 campaign and election results both  extraordinary and  unprecedented.

Political infighting.  In the final analysis, I blame the Democrats for Trump’s two election victories. The DNC decided to rig their primary process long before the Russians or Comey got involved. The party bypassed a forward thinking man like Bernie Sanders who connected with the future voters of America for a political wife, turned candidate who the GOP had convinced half the country she was the devil incarnate. Bill and Hillary called in a lot of IOU’s to make this outrage happen. HRC was a flawed candidate from the start. As a result of the DNC betrayal, we as a nation have been burdened with Agent Orange and his team of rich and corrupt bullies. The 2016 election of Trump led to a rapidly accelerating  radicalization of American politics. Trump’s 2024 win was in many ways a repeat of the DNC betrayal of the primary process. This time, the anointing of Kamala Harris, by Joe Biden. This kind of crap needs to stop. Let the process run its course. Maybe he or she will lose, but at least that person was the choice of the majority of Democrats.

Moving where? Today, May of 2025, we are moving backwards at a neck breaking speed; on more levels than there is room to cover in this space. In 2016, Trump was on a steroid driven attack on the legacy of his predecessor. I see this as vindictive but also as racially motivated. As Trump has gone to great lengths to undo the forward progressive thinking of the Obama administration what has been the positive result?  In all areas of policy from abortion, to gay rights, to environmental protections, to civil rights protections are being rolled back. Do you think the LGBTQ community embraces Trump? Women? Minorities? The poor? The sick? The Non-Evangelicals? I don’t think I need to give the answer, because it is an obvious and resounding, no.

Lots of show and theatrical ballyhoo. Despite what he wants us to believe, Donald Trump connects with about 35% of our populace. Yet, because of many voters disillusioned by the rhetoric and high prices decided to stay home and not participate in 2024. And because enough Americans had been convinced the caravans of immigrants would soon overwhelm our southern border Trump won again. And because we were not careful, we are once again suffering under his rule. Using the power of the Executive Order Trump is with each day sweeping away protections for more and more citizens, while attempting to erase DEI and other beneficial programs.

Executive Orders. Trump & choir are ramping up the rhetoric to eliminate the 14th Amendment. He claims he can Executive Order it right out of existence. The question then becomes, if the Supreme Court supports his power to eliminate amendments does that mean he can begin writing new constitutional amendments? Sounds crazy but that’s how dictatorships are born. It’s time to wake up America you are watching the actions of a classic racist demagogue.

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Part 2-Trump Racism is Bad for America

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Part 2-Trump Racism is Bad for America

Part 2-Trump Racism is Bad for America

 

By T.K. McNeil

Trump Racism is Bad for America. I ended Part I of Trump Racism Is Bad For America by wondering aloud if we were about to return to the dark days of death squads, concentration camps, and gas ovens. Trump racism is obvious for anyone with eyes, ears, or an X account. We are rocked out of our beds daily by angry and racially inflammatory 2 a.m. Tweets. Trump uses a practiced, coded language of dog whistles and red meat taunts that he pitches regularity to his MAGA hatted support base. The intent, an obviously planned effort to keep them agitated and ready for action. If nothing else, Trump’s base seems willfully ignorant and obsessed by fear. If Trump senses any ebbing in support he orders an extra rally, or maybe two; re-news attacks on the press; berates everyone from Rachel Maddow to Zelinskyy; but most notably, he intensifies attacks against immigrants, NFL players, entertainers like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen, threatening “major investigations.” That’s how Trump works.

Trump racism dressed as law and order. Have people forgotten Trump opened his 2016 campaign with an unprecedented tirade against Mexican “criminal, drug mules and rapists?” Trump has revived nativist themes that have not been heard aloud since George H.W. Bush. In 1988 HW supporters used the image of a black killer/rapist Willie Horton to effectively sabotage his opponent Michael Dukakis. Until now, that ad campaign was considered a true low point in political racist tactics.

Jump to today. In a similar tact Trump is replacing the face of black man Willie Horton with the brown face of an illegal immigrant, and convicted cop killer, Luis Bracamontes. Hammering the anti-immigrant theme Trump claims that Democrats will open the country to criminals. Trump’s vitriol is toxic, but Trump is convinced that it was just such rhetoric that secured him the presidency the first time. Instinctively, he keeps pushing the limits of what passes for barely acceptable political discourse toward an ever-darkening place.

More evidence of Trump racism keeps emerging.  Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney for over a decade and a convict for three years, opens up about Trump racism. On Friday 11-2-2018 Vanity Fair published a damning portrait of the president. According to Cohen, Trump made frequent racist comments, most particularly against blacks. Cohen claimed that Trump frequently used the N word and other demeaning statements made about black people, their intellect, their abilities, their communities and even their countries. Cohen confirmed to Vanity Fair writer Emily Jane Fox that language reported by Omarosa Manigault Newman in her book, “Unhinged An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House” was typically Trump. So, Trump doesn’t limit his hate; he hates everybody that isn’t orange.

Keeping the fire hot.  Trump has never stopped his campaigning. He has never become president of all the people. He is president of a core base and his goal is to keep them frightened and angry. He wants them fired up ready to attack whenever and wherever he points his accusatory finger. Trump racism is emerging more clearly as time progresses. Trump’s inflammatory language, reckless “otherism” and dehumanizing xenophobic attacks are clearly designed to divide the country.

Fear and Loathing is part of the performance.  It’s no surprise that we as a country have a scrubbed and shiny public face and a secret horrific Dorian Grey face.  That hidden-self, locked in the basement of our national identity is trying to come out of its imprisonment. All the while Trump, our Mad Hatter conductor, has had us on a head spinning ride of public debauchery, corruption and criminality. Trump careens from truth to delusion, to conspiracy theory, and back to racism all in blink of an eye.

Social Fears Are At The Root Of Trump’s Methodology.  That said, we all know that there is a portion of the American psyche that hates and fears immigration, that hates and fears the blacks, that hates and fears Jews, that hates and fears POC, that hates and fears the changing demographics of America, that hates and fears tomorrow, that hates and fears the unknown. Those societal fears are what Trump racism feeds on.

The foes of inclusiveness. The ability to whip the mentally susceptible and the White Supremacist extremist fringe into a frenzy of violence is easy to imagine. The increased racial and ethnic violence will become a growing problem as he continues to demonize the “others” in our society. This man has the biggest bully pulpit in the country and he is using it to inflame the worst elements of our society. He is using his position to promote fear and racial tensions as he divides the country with his Trump racist white supremacist agenda.

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Cynicism and Corruption in Politics

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Cynicism and Corruption in Politics

 

Cynicism and Corruption in Politics

by Vajra Ma ©

I’ve been dialoguing with Trump supporters recently trying to understand their perspective. One individual made a statement that stopped me in my tracks. He said, quite firmly, “All politicians are corrupt. You have to be corrupt to be a politician. There’s nothing I can do about that. I like Trump because he’s a businessman, not a politician.” [author’s emphasis] I’ve understood all along MAGAs see governmental corruption and want it stopped. I too, see corruption and want it stopped. So, what is the difference between the MAGAs and me?

A fantasy monologue to my friend led me down a line of thought into a surprising answer.

The man I studied acting with for seventeen years, Tad Danielewski, said two things I’ll never forget. The first: “Despair is not an option.” This, coming from a man who experienced the worst of humanity. During WWII he fought in the Polish underground, was captured by the Nazis and thrown into one of their death camps. Eventually, at 95 pounds, he was lifted by a British soldier into a rescue truck.

Tad studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, moved to the U.S., won an Emmy for directing the documentary Africa and became head of talent at NBC in New York where he trained such notable actors as Martin Sheen, Sigourney Weaver, James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson and Mercedes Ruehl.

Why do I tell you all this? Because in 1976, after all this survival and accomplishment, he accepted an invitation from Brigham Young University to head the Department of Theatre and Film (where I met him). Why did he accept this position in deep Mormon country? This is the second thing I’ll never forget, his answer: “Because I was on the edge of becoming cynical.” [end of fantasy]

What does this tell me about cynicism? Tad was drawn to the Mormons because they are not cynical. I myself was a sincere Mormon convert in my twenties. With hindsight, I see a deep rot and corruption in that church, yet at the same time—and here is my point—at the same time, I see good, sincere people aiming to do the right thing. Life is not black and white. It is a mixed bag. To fail to see this is to fail to see reality.

My friend views politics through the lens of cynicism: “The belief that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere.” (Cambridge Dictionary online) He views all politicians with “an attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or the professed motives of others.” (The Free Dictionary online) As if a “businessman” in the White House could or would not be corrupt.

I see the corruption in politicians, but I see it in varying degrees which are not always discernable as to how much and what over. In this mixed bag I also see the sincerity of a number of politicians aiming to serve The People’s “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” But my friend, blinded by cynicism, sees only the corruption. One broad brushstroke for all. Cynicism blocks discernment of the mixed bag reality. If we fail to see reality, we are part of the problem we point at. In other words, we are part of the corruption.

Cynicism itself is corruption.

Cynicism is a simplistic, perhaps lazy, escape from responsibility—the ability to respond—to corruption. “There’s nothing I can do about that.” If we refuse to deal with the complexities of that troublesome mixed bag, cynicism will use a chainsaw instead of the scalpel that discernment requires.

Dictators criticize democracy as cumbersome and slow-moving. Elon’s gleeful chainsaw jig on the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) stage gave us a visible performance of the cynicism that “justifies” slashing the livelihood and family stability of workers in the cumbersome  “deep state”. Russell Vought, main architect of Project 2025 and Donald’s current Director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a leaked video over a year ago: “We will traumatize the federal workers.” This pre-meditated plot to execute trauma on human beings is the corruption of cynicism in full force.

Underpinning cynicism is the terror of being duped, of being “taken in,” of being “fooled” by a goodness the cynic very much fears is not actually there for him. And in caving to that fear, in an attempt to never be “taken in,” the cynic unwittingly opens the door to the very decline into corruption he criticizes.

The Authoritarian trades in black and white. “They are black, I am white. I can fixt it. ”MAGAs seek safety from fear with black and white answers. A keep it simple, stupid, mentality.  “The politicians are corrupt. Businessman Donald is not.” So they elect the White One to Fix It. “He will drain the swamp!” And before you can say “a hundred days,” he’s stocked it with agency eating alligators.

 

Author’s note: Thanks to Ava Park of Irvine, CA for her input into this article.

 

 

 

WORD CHAIN-Black to White

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WORD CHAIN-Black to White

WORD CHAIN-Black to White

By D.S. Mitchell

Political blogging requires mostly research and the desire to tell the world all of your political theories. Ideas you are driven to share with people who may or may not support your theories. I try to provide discussion, analysis and relevant topics from current U.S. political news. But, sometimes, I like to play, so for this session here are a few word chains, related in some twisted way, to the current political situation. LOL.

I can change black to white, by changing one letter at a time:  black, blank, blink, clink, chink, chine, whine, white

I can change give to take, by changing one letter at a time: give, live, like, lake, take

I can change tears to smile, by changing one letter at a time: tears, scars, stars, stare, stale, stile, smile

I can change poor to rich, by changing one letter at a time: poor, boor, book, rook, rock, Rick, rich

I can change hate to love by changing one letter at a time: hate, rate, rave, cave, cove, love

Fun and amazing, huh?

I wonder if Donald Trump can change treason to impeach by changing one letter at a time, or impeach to imprison?

Join The New Resistance; protest, protest, protest. I want to encourage all of those who aren’t hospitalized  or dead, to hit the streets on June 14th, 2025 to protest Trump’s 92 plus million dollar military-personal birthday parade. Millions of dollars for phony adoration while his administration terrorizes  our veterans, the disabled, the sick, the poor, the disenfranchised, hungry children, and the elderly, with loss of funding for basic health care and other safety net services. We as a nation don’t have to take this shit. Destroying our democratic government and promised benefits for millions of Americans in exchange for tax benefits and special government contracts to a handful of sociopaths and oligarchs seems out of balance. It is clear that the billionaire values his needs above those of his country and his fellow equal citizens. There are more of us than there are of them. It is time we remind them of that fact. Show your outrage; make a sign, find the sneakers, and tell Trump, Musk, and that whole billionaire cabinet to suck dick.

Calamity Clown/ AKA D.S Mitchell

**Thank you Rod L Evans, Ph.D for your permission to use your work on this website. (Displayed word chain taken directly from his book Tyrannosaurus Lex). Look for it.

 

This is Not Normal

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This is Not Normal

I raised my sign and held it right above his head

This is Not Normal

By John Curran

So, my girlfriends down at the Pole Dance Club bet me that I’d never do it. Well, that’s all it took. They should know me better than that. They sure never thought I’d get elected to Congress either, but here I am tonight to take on the fight, as best a little ‘ol ex-stripper can do. And, yeah, I was even warned about what they might do, if I actually carried out my plan. But c’mon,  they don’t really torture do they. No, fear will not be an issue and the opportunity is just too perfect to let it slip away. See, I’m new to this place and they don’t know me yet.  They just figure I’m gonna just do my small part as a so called “placeholder.” I’m s’posed to just stand here and act as a balance to the makeup of the receiving line for ‘Big D’, meaning, I’m young, female, white, of course, and over there, on their side, is old, male, white-as-white-is an we like balance it.  That’s the idea, anyway. D won’t be shaking my hand, actually, I wouldn’t let him, but he’ll  be busy with everybody else’s so…the timing is perfect.

The sign is small and innocuous, but the printing is large enough and quite clear.

And….the door is opening and here they come. If you’ve ever done the running of the bulls in Pamplona, well this is like that a bit; only it’s a lot slower and there’s only one bull and he doesn’t have horns, but somehow the smell of it is the same. A smell of excitement mixed with a tension like something could surely happen at any moment, and must not. A heavy sort of testosterone-like overlay as if the damn guns could be drawn any second.  A heavy vibe. Meanwhile, Big D’s coming down the aisle all shit-faced ‘n grinning, shaking them hands like crazy; and let me tell you this next little step was the easiest stunt that I have ever pulled, certainly of this damn magnitude.

The cameras followed Donald and me. No one got it, for the longest time. I just followed along behind him like I was s’posed to be there. I am so close I coulda’ touched him ‘n he’s not seeing me at all. Finally, this little old bald-headed white guy catches on and yanks my sign and it goes up in the air in pieces. And later it was obvious all the media was trying to ignore it, like it never happened, but it did. All my girl friends down at the Pole Dance Club  assured me, “You killed it, girl. It was the funniest thing ever, and you can have your old job back here too, anytime, ’cause we’s just so proud of you, Tiger.”

Editor: This is a fantasy based on some facts.