Lt Col Alexander Vindman served honorably in the United States Army. Donald Trump has ended his military career. He and his twin brother have been treated despicably. Vindman’s testimony in the House Impeachment Inquiry was riveting. He and the folks at The Lincoln Project and VoteVets put together this great anti-Trump campaign ad.
The Republican Senate is about to acquit Trump of 1) abuse of power and 2) obstruction of Congress.
It seems the Trump impeachment has been going on forever. The never ending developments, obstruction, ignored reality, AAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!! That’s me screaming. And we unfortunately know, that no matter the evidence the Senate will ignore it. Some days I can’t stand reading all this garbage and have to stop scanning the internet. Apparently, if you’re Republican no matter Trump’s guilt, the offense isn’t bad enough. Voter tampering isn’t serious enough. AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! That’s me screaming, again.
The absurdity of the Trump defense that his July 25th, 2019 call to Ukrainian President Zelensky was “perfect,” makes me want to kick a stump but I don’t want to break my foot. Trump’s plot to withhold needed financial aid from a desperate Ukraine had two goals. First, he wanted the Ukrainians to announce an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Secondly, Trump wanted to implicate the Ukraine in the 2016 election tampering instead of the Russians. Both goals are outrageous and corrupt. Nothing serious enough to have an impeach hearing over. WTF? Sorry, I can’t think of anything more serious than election fraud. Back in a minute, I have to hurl.
Seriously! Back to AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! I’m on the back porch, screaming. The Republican idea that the entire Trump impeachment process is to overturn an election is a fairy tale. Why on earth would anyone with a brain think Pence is a prize? We all want to get rid of Trump so we can have someone even worse? I hear this stupid argument day in and day out. I guess I’m wondering why America would want to overturn an election. The Dems could have just ignored all the crimes and waited until the election if that was the goal. Let’s get it straight, Trump was impeached because he’s a cheat, a criminal, and a dumb ass clown.
What the F! One of the criticisms I have of the House Manager’s prosecution is that no one mentioned that the witnesses against Trump are Republicans. Most of them Trump appointees. Trump is so ‘effn dumb. All of the audio, video and eyewitness testimony has been filed by Republicans. Trump is the kind of boss that would make me spend all my time devoted to malicious compliance. All while looking for a better job. The idea that even being a lifelong Republican isn’t important because your loyalty now has to be to Trump. Trump only. If you haven’t kissed the royal ring, and the royal ass you aren’t Trumpian enough. Seriously, we are looking at cult behavior.
Whatever the outcome of the Trump impeachment hearing, this has been an extremely damaging scenario for the president. Day after day new information is leaked to the media pointing to Trump’s guilt and I presume this will continue ad nauseam until he is out of office. I call it the scandal a day presidency. So there is definitely some good with the bad in this whole drama. Sometimes I just think if we just sit back and wait Trump will accidentally confess to something even Republicans believe is impeachable. “Hey, Donald! I found some more rope, you want some?”
The Trump impeachment has sent the president’s Twitter account into overdrive. He has been spouting idiocies on his Twitter feed for years but the recent ones are a joy to behold. I enjoy watching him embarrass himself day after day with poor grammar, lousy spelling and idiotic ramblings, When I’m tired and can’t sleep, I read Trump tweets instead of counting sheep. Then when I do fall asleep it’s with a smile on my face. What a moron! By the way, he has tweeted Schiff, Pelosi and Bolton are all “going to pay for their part in the Trump impeachment”. His Twitter feed is full of threats, hate and lies.
His recent admission that “we have all the material. They don’t have the material,” is scary. He is talking here, about evidence. This is an admission of obstruction of Congress. Trump has made obstructing the impeachment process into an art form. It really scares me that the Republicans are willing to aid the president in suppressing the voices of fact witnesses. Especially since they have to throw so many loyal Republicans (Vindman, Sondland, Bolton, Mattis, Kelly) under the bus to protect the President.
The Trump impeachment is comedy gold for the late night comedians As you can see, I’m trying to keep a good sense of humor until the next election. Trump isn’t going to be removed from office until then. Hopefully, this is Trump and his Republican followers last hurrah. We will have to wait for the last laugh until Trump is out of office and the Congress has been cleansed of the Trump cultists, but I believe it is coming. I know most Americans can’t keep focused on anything for more than a week, but I am hopeful that, on this issue, the issue of Trump’s character will be the major topic in the 2020 election. There is a price for ignoring the 63% of Americans who wanted witnesses called and documents presented. The majority of Americans wanted to see an actual trial. Vote and make sure we, the People, have the last laugh.
Now we come to the impeachment trial phase and Republican obfuscation. Republicans say they have no need for documents or witnesses. They heard the House testimony and it’s not enough. They’re going to acquit Trump. With that in mind, new evidence, such as the phone records by Lev and Igor and Bolton’s book revelations are being blatantly ignored. So annoying. Join me in my prayer that Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham develop anal warts.
Republicans are playing with impeachment fire. The arrogance of the Republican lawmakers is alarming. They are literally willing to ignore, and in some cases bury the evidence, but the public is not. Since 51-56% of Americans believe Trump should be impeached and removed from office the Republicans risk losing their Senate majority in the upcoming election. All in all this could be a very good year for Democrats and November may give them the House, Senate and the Presidency. If we don’t F it up!
David L. Shadrick is a regular contributor to Calamity Politics.
I went to bed, watching MSNBC’s The 11th Hour w/Brian Williams. I don’t know when I fell asleep. The station played while I slept fitfully, visions of impeachment dancing in my head. The thoughts of the long relished impeachment of Donald J. Trump seemed to be sharing stage with another vision. Red, white, and blue, spun polyester twisted weirdly on a brisk breeze. Even in my confused sleep, I knew something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
I couldn’t make sense of it. What the fuck? Confused, I twisted my head back and forth trying to clear the distorted image. Why does the flag look so strange? The stars; where are the stars? OMG. The stripes aren’t the stripes of My flag, and My country. The flag flying over this nightmare White House is strange to me. Suddenly, in my restless dream I identified the tri-stripe red, white, and blue of Russia.
My eyes flew open. Joe and Mika were talking with the usual crowd at the “Morning Joe” conference table. The topic centered around Ukrainian Special Envoy, Kurt Volker’s sudden and unexpected resignation. I shook my head. The rest of the commentary centered on Trump officials and outliers like Rudy Colludy making a sweating fool of himself on numerous cable channels over the week-end.
“Since when does the personal attorney for a president become an arm of the U.S. State Department?” I found myself asking. It seems Rudy has mixed several roles in his Ukrainian campaign. Official, unofficial, who the hell cares, he says. I think a whole bunch of us care, Rudy. Since when does the personal attorney to a sitting president change hats from hour to hour. Rudy’s conflict of interest is blinding. The intent to interfere in an American election is screaming for attention. Rudy has gone from an admired former mayor of New York City to a social pariah. He has cemented his legacy as a treacherous colluder. I am curious; just who is paying him? I doubt it is Donald Trump.
I know there is a lot of political wrangling going on in the Congress. The Trump coalition is claiming another “witch-hunt”. The Dems are claiming treachery, obstruction of justice, bribery, and election tampering, for starters. Impeachment is becoming a reality. Personally, from what I can see, Trump went on national television and admitted that in his “perfect” conversations with the Ukrainian president Zelensky he tried to blackmail and coerce a foreign official to dig up dirt on a political opponent. What are the Republicans claiming? That Trump didn’t say it? Please. After a criminal admits his guilt his attorney cannot deny culpability; as long as the criminal is deemed to be sane.
The conversation seems focused on Trump’s conversations with Ukrainian officials. Yes, the Ukraine is a major player, but certainly not the single most important participant in this scandal. Behind the curtain is the true manipulator of our foreign policy, Vladimir Putin. Trump has spoken to him via telephone no less than 12 times. He has met personally with the Russian president at least twice. I want to see those conversations. When we do, I’m sure we will find Putin behind Trump’s activities. Impeachment is unavoidable. Trump won’t permit anything else. He cannot be constrained by the Constitution, so it is up to the Congress to bridle this out of control dictator, while we can still claim a government.
RESIST, CONFRONT and VOTE.
D. S. Mitchell
Winston Churchill Questions The Value Of Democracy
More Than T-Shirt Philosophy
“Democracy is, unquestionably, the worst form of government” (ever conceived in the mind of man), “except for every other kind that has ever been tried,” Unknown (re-quoted by Churchill in House of Commons, 1947).)
Absolute Power
Critics of democracy and its often accompanying capitalism, have a sad tendency to overlook what has happened historically when other forms replace it. Fascist Italy and Spain are but two glaring examples. Both of which reverted back to flawed but greatly preferable democratic systems at the first opportunity. While single party, and even single ruler, states might have some attraction, particularly in terms of efficiency; for any form of governance to work, given human nature if nothing else, there needs to be enforceable controls on power. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is far more than a catchy tee-shirt slogan.
Democracy Needs A Population Of The Faithful
Democracy is an ideal. Liberty of thought and action, one person, one vote. We have representative democracy in the United States. The “ideal” is always a goal. As always, real democracy is obstructed by the partisan and the powerful, but even they give the ideal endless lip service. Democracy is more about faith. Faith, and attitude of mind that personal liberty is sacrosanct and that although the majority rules, there is a respect for the minority and their rights established by law.
Political Parties In A Democracy
One of the great advantages to democracy is the, at least ostensible, ability to limit the power of leaders particularly in terms of civil crackdowns and war, as well as the ability to get rid of leaders that prove too dangerous or criminally corrupt to keep in office. At every stage of an American presidential election from the primaries to inauguration, there are particular safeguards, mostly left to the political party brass, to keep the unfit and potentially dangerous from even seeking election.
Nixon Is The Only U.S. President To Ever Resign From Office
Is Impeachment A Possibility?
When a lunatic or warmonger does happen to slip through (*cough* Nixon *cough*), there is always the possibility of impeachment. Except, really there isn’t. I do not want to rain on anybody’s protest movement but the chance of Trump being removed from office by impeachment is inthe negative numbers.
Laws Are Fallible
You are probably thinking, something like, “but that is what impeachments are for!” You are correct; that is what the impeachment process was created to do. Unfortunately, rules and processes only work when applied correctly and as written. Sadly, rules are as fallible as the mortals who create and enforce them. As such, no sitting American president has ever been successfully removed from office as the direct result of impeachment.
I started writing the Calamity Politics blog to present the urgent political news of the day. I take pride in presenting current and meaningful issues in the hope of connecting with people that have similar political leanings. There is also a bit of silliness, now and then.
I want to be a supportive voice of the “Resistance”. I, like so many others this political season have become unbelievably energized by the election of Donald Trump. He defines everything I don’t want in a man; much less a president. I have never previously been ashamed of a U.S. president, but knowing that Donald Trump is the “face of America,” truly sickens me.
I am sure we can defeat this megalomaniac and his science rejecting policies and his Fossil Fuel Agenda. None of us can do it alone. We need to bind together. It is together that we can keep the heat on these thugs and hoodlums; by our sheer numbers. Whether by impeachment, implementation of Amendment 25, or some other means Donald J. Trump will be removed from office before the end of his term. That conviction keeps me writing, talking and networking every day. I hope all my readers make that their mission also.
Donald Trump is one of the biggest phonies in U.S. history and he is now President of the United States and I’m worried that he will make as big a mess out of the United States government as he did his own personal finances.
Donald Trump began working for his father’s real estate company in 1972 after graduating from the Wharton School of Business with a degree in Economics. From the beginning Donald was better at self-promoting than actually making any money. It is estimated that when Fred Trump, Sr died in 1999 Donald Trump inherited something in the neighborhood of 100-200 million dollars.
According to the Associated Press, if Donald Trump had done nothing more than place his inheritance into index funds his net worth today would exceed 13 Billion dollars. Estimates project his current net worth is far from that dazzling amount. So, after all the ballyhoo and boasting he is rich because he was born rich. He could have been stratospherically wealthy if he had done nothing. Funny, in a peculiar way.
As you most know, I started the Calamity Politics political blog to vent my frustrations and keep from losing my frigging liberal mind. I try to focus on news and facts and also try to support my statements with at least two sources. With this post, I’ve thrown all those established behaviors to the wind.
1.) Images of the newly emboldened and empowered ICE agents, handcuffing and loading people into vans, without access to legal representation, reminds me of the Nazi’s rounding up the Jews seventy five years ago in Germany. Obviously, hate lives on.
2.) I had a husband once. He believed, “if you repeat a lie, enough times, most people believe it.” I am more of the, “You can fool all the people some of the time. You can fool some of the people, part of the time, but you can never fool all the people, all of the time.” I believe we are about to find out which theory holds water. I’ve got my fingers crossed. There’s a lot at stake here, 240 years of our constitutional democracy.
3.) There is a stench rising out of Washington, D.C. that is so foul it has reached me here on the West Coast. I have never smelled anything so disgusting, except the odor that hovers over a rendering plant in mid-August. The possibility that a presidential candidate would co-operate with a foreign power, one that our country has sanctions against, is truly sickening. That despicable cloud of corruption now hangs over the entire United States, extending from coast to coast. Republican investigating chairmen (Nunes and Burr), admitted yesterday, that they had, at White House urging, attempted to divert media attention from the Russian investigation.
Right here, right now, I want the world to know, that I personally believe the appointment of an Independent Prosecutor is essential.
4.) The unrelenting attacks and insults against the media, by President Trump, are inexcusable and dangerous. A little contention is good, but what is going on is unprecedented. Since when does the top liar in the country have the right to accuse anyone of being “fake.” The fabricated accusations by Trump are disgusting and unnecessary. Trump’s assault against the fourth estate must stop. I’m not a great fan of George W, but let me tell you, I was so damned glad to hear him discuss this issue on the Today show yesterday, you would have thought he was a Democrat. I was nearly cheering. Fuck, yeah! “The press in an indispensable part of our democracy”. Go George, go. Thank you, 43.** As an aside, Mr. Bush, I had no idea you were such a talented artist. The several paintings I’ve seen recently are amazing. Beautiful work.
5.) “Who knew, health care was so complicated?” President Trump expressed Monday, February 27, 2017. OMG. Well, at least now, he admits, not everything can be solved with a tweet. We are number 42 on the world health care service effectiveness list. That’s a pathetic placement. “42”? That means 41 other countries in the world are doing it better than we are. Seriously, 41 other countries provide both better and cheaper health care for their citizens than we do here in the United States. Has anyone thought to go to the number 1 country, or number 2 country; and see how they do it? Boy, that’s where I’d start, if I really wanted the best for the American people. Let’s find out how to do it right. We can still learn.
6.) In 1973, Richard Nixon declared, “there can be no whitewash at the White House.”
After, protests and investigations, Nixon finally resigned, before impeachment. I wonder if President Trump will resign, or whether he will order military defense of his position. Don’t laugh. Just because it hasn’t happened, doesn’t mean it can’t, or won’t. Thank you Founding Fathers, for the Second Amendment.
Join the Resistance
Dar
"If puppies and kittens don't make you smile, you might consider therapy." D. S. Mitchell 2015.
I Barely Have Time To Walk The Dog
Self-isolating has forced us to turn even more to telecommunication and social media.
The Major Cause Of Sex Trafficking Is Poverty
Many great charities, here are a couple that I support: Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, ACLU, and Planned Parenthood.
