How big is the "criminal enterprise"?

And how long has the Republican Party been a part of it?

Although he may be a key part of it, it is much larger than Donald J Trump.

In my opinion, it is a worldwide operation, primarily run by oligarchs around the world.

The goal and the cornerstone of their existence is to make money and to destroy all those that stand in their way. Morality does not play a part in their business model.

In recent years, led by Vladimir Putin, their primary goal has been to tear down the democracies in the world.

International crime is their trademark. Money-laundering, extortion, prostitution, illegal banking, even murder. There are no limits to their power grab.

Their goal was, and still is, to tear down American democracy. They finally got their perfect tool with Donald Trump. He was more than willing to tear down our democracy and to prop up the international criminals, especially Putin.

So long as his greed was satisfied, he was willing to do anything they wanted. He was able to recruit the Republican Party to do all his dirty work. They are still helping him. They have become a major player in the international crime network, in my opinion.

The international crime network has grown into the biggest threat in the world against struggling democracies, even long-established democracies, such as our own.

I think the "criminal enterprise" is much larger than any of us ever imagined.

Sixteen Tons

Democracy is not dead, yet.

The dictators around the world are watching the prosecution of Donald Trump very closely. Because he was one of them.

He never thought he would ever be indicted for anything. He thought he was above the law. He had no fear in cozying up to Putin and Kim Jung Un. He scoffed at the laws.

But now, he has been indicted 4 times and is charged with 91 criminal counts. The dictators know that if it can happen to Trump, it can happen to them. They cannot bear to have their citizens getting any bright ideas about democracy and things like justice and accountability.

The people around the world are watching what America does. Can they hold the criminal enterprise accountable for their crimes?

It will be a good day for the world when democracy triumphs over the dictators. We should all hope for the day that Donald Trump is locked away for the crimes he has committed.

It could be the re-birth of democracy.

What else can the Republicans do to protect the criminal Defendant ex-president?

Most have been silent. That has helped the Defendant a lot.

Many in the House are threatening to impeach Joe Biden.

Some are calling for the de-funding of the Special Counsel and the DOJ and many are calling for the firing of Merrick Garland and Christopher Wray.

Georgia has passed a law with the sole intent of firing the Fulton County DA, Fani Willis.

They are revenge-motivated. Some have even called to bring back hanging as the answer to their "political problem".

Some of the more loyal Republican Committee Chairs are attempting to subpoena the documents of local and state officials that relate to the Defendant's prosecution.

They are doing everything they can for the criminal Defendant, short of laying their heads on the railroad tracks.

March 4th, 2024 may be considered a "speedy trial" by some....

But that is almost 7 months away.

How much damage can a psychopath like Defendant Trump inflict upon our country and the rule of law between now and then?

If he is permitted to remain on his present course of lies, accusations, and defamation of the prosecutors, the judges, and our justice system, then the damage could be irreparable seven months from now. A "speedy trial" alone will not be enough.

He is a desperate man and he will continue to do whatever he can get away with. Just as Rachel Maddow pointed out last night, his options are very limited. If he wins the election, he pardons himself or gets his attorney to drop all charges, or he may go to jail. He doesn't have a whole lot to lose.

The mirror of "election interference"...

Donald Trump looks in the mirror and he sees Joe Biden and the prosecutors interfering with his election chances. It is a classic case of projection.

Never mind that he has been indicted for election interference and a conspiracy to steal an election, by attempting to get fake electors to send in their ballots for him, even though he lost the majority in several battleground states.

He is denying that he used "election interference" to try and overthrow the election in 2020 and is accusing his opponent of "election interference" in the upcoming election of 2024.

He is using the excuse of "election interference" to cover for his own "election interference".

It's a reflection of a world turned upside-down.

John McCain's final message before his death:

"My fellow Americans, whom I have gratefully served for sixty years, and especially my fellow Arizonans,
Thank you for the privilege of serving you and for the rewarding life that service in uniform and in public office has allowed me to lead. I have tried to serve our country honorably. I have made mistakes, but I hope my love for America will be weighed favorably against them.

I have often observed that I am the luckiest person on earth. I feel that way even now as I prepare for the end of my life. I have loved my life, all of it. I have had experiences, adventures and friendships enough for ten satisfying lives, and I am so thankful. Like most people, I have regrets. But I would not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else's.

I owe that satisfaction to the love of my family. No man ever had a more loving wife or children he was prouder of than I am of mine. And I owe it to America. To be connected to America's causes – liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people – brings happiness more sublime than life's fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves.

'Fellow Americans' – that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world's greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process.

We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.

We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.

Ten years ago, I had the privilege to concede defeat in the election for president. I want to end my farewell to you with the heartfelt faith in Americans that I felt so powerfully that evening.

I feel it powerfully still.

Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.

Farewell, fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America.

It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

What is the most important issue that Democrats should talk about?

Choose one:

Donald Trump is like week-old pizza...

The pepperoni is beginning to get a little mold on it.

It's past time to toss it in the trash.

His shtick has gotten very old.

Re-runs of Dragnet are much more entertaining.

It's beyond time to say, "You're fired!".