A lot of US died while Trump played golf and tapped out ridiculous tweets.

Trump's greedy ignorance sidelined OUR economy and left millions of US unemployed and 25% of US hungry.

Trump's 30,000-plus lies, his racism, his misogyny, his vulgarity and the stains he made on our national reputation by caging children and abandoning our allies OFFENDS US TO THIS DAY!

If he is not held to account for all this and more-----strike all criminal laws from the books, empty the prisons, admit that Social Darwinism is now our national policy and sell rolls of toilet paper with the US Constitution printed on it.

Short of a heifer hoof to the head at an early age, there's just no excuse for Sen. Ron Johnson's

stupidity. And, when you factor in his especially mean-spirited brand of "conservatism", you really have to wonder what type of citizen RE-ELECTS such a malignancy.

I'm sure the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce wants to encourage tourism, but I won't be driving up to smell their dairy air any time soon

President Biden's proposed covid relief bill would cost an estimated 1.9 trillion dollars and

that price tag has caused an outbreak of "the vapors" among Congressional Republicans as many soak their Depends and threaten to hold their breath till they turn blue. Before anyone considers pretending to shed invisible tears for these moral pygmies, it might be appropriate to put this in context.

If that price tag amount of 1.9 trillion dollars sounds familiar, that's because it was the price tag on the Trump tax cut just a couple of years ago. You surely remember. that tax cut. Nearly all of the tax relief went to the VERY wealthy who were in dire need of help in financing their yachts, their private jets and their second homes.

The species known as "Republicanus hypocritus" had no problem with THAT 1.9 trillion dollar price tag. They were not concerned with that deficit thingy back then. They had earned the millions in political contributions they had raked in from corporations and billionaires and they as happy as hogs in slop.

Now, however, this money is intended to benefit people who are unemployed through no fault of their own and they need it to pay the mortgage or rent; to buy necessary prescriptions; to EAT---for crying out loud! These people rarely have money for large political contributions.

Smile, Mitch and company, we are taking a picture of this. There will never be a clearer picture of "The Difference Between The Parties".

Does anyone else see a similarity between the ignorant, selective and out-of-context "legal

authority" the Q-anon cultists quote to justify their craziness and the excuses used by the "Sovereign Citizens"?

Just heard a TV newser, in a comment on the Biden dogs, "Champ" and Major", mention that

"the Trump family had no pets in the White House".

Have they forgotten about "Mike" and "Lindsey"?

Some talking heads have noted that, although McConnell and others have conceded that Trump

"provoked" the January 6th Capitol insurrection, they have not said that he "incited" the riot and this is somehow significant because the Article of Impeachment charges "incitement".

Guess what "synonyms.com" lists as a synonym for "incite"?

In Illinois, I have the good fortune to be represented by Senators Durbin and Duckworth, but

IF I had a Republican senator, this is the letter they'd be getting:

Dear Senator Whatever,

I hope you are very busy so I will get right to the point: The upcoming vote you will be casting in the Senate trial of Donald Trump requires that you choose between two alternatives that are clearly understood by virtually everyone in our nation.

Your vote will announce to the nation that EITHER you believe in the democracy which the overwhelming majority of Americans consider their birthright OR that you are prepared to surrender the right of THE PEOPLE to choose their leaders in order to permit a dictator-wannabe to again rule us in the future.

Yes, that IS the actual choice. WE know that YOU know that all of that "unconstitutional" crap is just that.

You are paid to make this decision based on the merits, not the frenzied threats of a maniac. If you can't---or won't--- do that, step down or be pulled down.

Hopefully,
Average Citizen

There has been speculation that Cruz and Hawley---perhaps other senators---may be called as

witnesses in Trump's trial.

If this happens, how can they then "sit on the jury" and vote?

Is there not some sort of registry or recording required for legitimate presidential pardons? nt

I believe that there are several who post or lurk here who are either Democratic Party leaders or

have access to them. I hope they will read and consider this. While I am speaking only for myself, I am reasonably certain that many here will agree with what follows.

I do want unity. I do want to be able to have actual discussions with those in the Republican Party and return to regular order and vigorous debate in both houses of Congress. But, I will not---CAN not---participate in stretching a band aid we call "unity" over the deep wounds that Trump, Cruz, Hawley, Jordan and others have willfully---even gleefully---inflicted on a nation which Democrats love AT LEAST as much as any Republican. Those wounds have to be cleaned, have necrotic tissue sheared away and then carefully sutured or they will not truly heal. They will fester and spread their toxic corruption throughout our body politic.

"Band aid" unity merely conceals the true situation and, like all band aids, will be soon discarded.

Some Republicans need to be forever purged from public service. Some Republicans need to be prosecuted for their crimes. Still others need to renounce "Stop the Steal", the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and other seditious and violent organizations or groups. MANY, if they want to once again claim to be decent Americans, need to apologize for their assault on democracy.

I know that I have less information than our leaders. I know that what I have written above will not make their jobs any easier and I understand that much of it will take several years. But, I believe they should know that, in my opinion, any glossing over of what just happened, any "let's just move past this" attitude, will be harmful to the rule of law, the Democratic Party, what is left of the Republican Party and, worst of all, America.

I will conclude this by stating that, in my opinion, the United States of America, as we know it, cannot survive "band aid" unity.

Who am I to presume to advise leaders? I'm just one of those "We, the people" guys who always votes Democratic and has marched, canvassed, written LTEs and contributed
monetary support to my party for 50 years. I do not believe I am alone.