August 31, 2022

A Program

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/30/politics/read-doj-response-trump-special-master/index.html


As we watch the Trump document scandal grow, it is apparent that it is part of a long-term program to damage -- and destroy -- democracy in the United States. To fully appreciate the scope of the program, I would suggest that we think of the implications of the batshit crazy program known as Q-Anon. For that is more closely tied to these documents than the Big Mac wrappers found within the boxes, among the sensitive documents.

Let's first look at the origins of "Q" as I understand them. There have been media efforts to uncover the identity of "Q." One theory is a computer Geek with a name I don't remember, the other is General Michael Flynn. I think one theory is fairly close.

"Q" was, I think, started by two left-wing Democrats. A retired doctor and a retired social worker. A former Weatherman (though not Weather Underground member) and a former YIPPIE! Now, I could be wrong ..... but I think they started the "Q" thing as a gag. The "Q" came from their earlier discussion of the source that bibical scholars call a scroll that influenced the writing of the four gospels.

A nest of retired FBI agents in New York City came upon it. These are the "friends of Rudy." Jim Kallstrom (you may have seen him on the series "The FBI Files" ) recognized that "Q" was not real, but recognized its significant potential. Keep in mind that "Q" started in 2017, and the late Kallstrom was an outspoken critic of the FBI investigation of Trump's campaign. Jim would attack Robert Mueller. He also called the Clintons "criminals."

Kallstrom brought "Q" to the attention of Rudy, who brought it to General Flynn. Remember, Flynn was very familiar withhow psychological operations include perception management. Flynn's decision was to create several threads of conspiracy that would rope in the vulnerable population that would become the Trump cult. Once that rope is created in a manner that secures it for the future, "Q" can disappear.

Flynn, of course, had plenty of time on his hands, since losing his job as National Security Advisor on February 13, 2007. He had enough time to drop one law firm and hire Sidney Powell, who began communicating with Bill Barr and Donald Trump about dropping charges against Flynn. But between losing his job and being pardoned, Flynn was a busy man He spoke to militia groups around the country. And on July 4, 2020, Flynn literally pledged an oath to Q-Anon. (Google it, if you don'r remember that. There are several sources.)

President Biden is 100% correct to refer to how this program has resulted in a semi-fascist republican party. To have become semi-fascist, of course, it has to be led by fascist enemies of our country. Some hold or held political office. Some occupy other positions. But they are out there, and that absolutely means all of us must work hard to elect Democrats in November.

Let's kick the shit out of the republican party. Do what you can, and don't doubt that your contribution doesn't matter. It does. Now, I will end with the favorite saying that I recite in my head before I dig into campaigning:

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper, and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!” -- Samuel Jackson; Pulp Fiction

August 29, 2022

Remember

" No no remember, remember
The fifth of November."
-- John Lennon, Remember


I was talking to a friend who is impatient for the DOJ to indict Donald Trump. "It is clear that they have enough evidence to prove the crimes listed in the affidavit," said he. "So what is taking so long?"

Some times, I said, the answer is so obvious that we don't recognize it as being on the surface. The DOJ has noted that their investigation is in an early stage. Thus, as they already have enough evidence to convict Trump on those crimes -- beyond any reasonable doubt -- it can only mean that they are investigating other, related crimes. And that has to do with who Trump shared the intelligence documents with.

August 28, 2022

Rising Water

“It may be a species of impudence to think that the way you understand God is the way God is.”
― Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor


Speaking of the increase of "christian nationalism" in our country, and with Dylan's "Watching the River Flow" in mind, I'd like to attemp a "threat evaluation" as we head into both the mid-term elections and the likely criminal prosecution of Donald J. Trump. For we are heading into uncharted territory, and need to cross this river to get back to a place where there is democracy and the rule of law.

We've all seen film of unfortunate examples of someone attempting to drive across a flooded stream when a hard rai has fallen, only to get stuck. Those most familiar with the natural world recognize it is impossible to find safe crossing when a river has overflowed its banks. For it is safer -- though not necessarily "safe" -- to cross it before it crests. And that is where we are at now.

We sense the gathering storm. In some ways, it appears like other storms we have either witnessed, or learned about in human history. In early April of this year, Samuel Perry and Jemar Tisby published the book, "The Flag + the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy." It is perhaps the most accurate forecast available to us at this time.

That the Trump cult views Donald as a religious figure brings to mind what Campbell was speaking of. They are convinced that they are now in a holy war, with God on their side. That "god," of course, is the group's combined projection of their self-righteousness. We see this in their portraits of a white Jesus. And we saw it on January 6, with Trump flags, conderate flags, "Don't Tread on Me" flags, christian flags, and the prayer to their imaginary Jesus in the Senate chambers.

When a group of people are convinced that they are in a holy war, with God on their side, it is much like a bend in a flloding river. While the surface water at the edge of the outside of the bend often appears the calmest, it is actualy where the undertows are strongest. But, before we consider what constitutes both sides of this bend, there is one more issue to consider.

Polls indicate that a growing number of people find the threats to democracy to be the most important issue facing our country at this time. This includes many who think we are approaching -- if not already in -- a civil war. Likewise, there are those who think a civil war is unlikely, either because it is not a fully geographic divide, or because the white christian nationalist Trump cult could not win such a war. That their forces are too small.

It is always risky to attempt to apply rational thinking to the motivations of those who are convinced they are engaged in a holy war. More, it would be an error in thinking to limit the concept of "civil war" to the north versus south experience in our nation's past. The proper model would be much more like "the Troubles" in Ireland. For that matter, the Ku Klux Klan was a white christian nationalist outfit, not unlike the cult members involved in the January 6 insurrection.

We know the Grand Lizard of the current members. We know he lit the fuse to set off the January 6 powder keg. And we see that there are two current powder kegs that he will attempt to set off if the DOJ and the Georgia criminal investigations lead to his being indicted. On the surface, the potential federal case may appear larger than the Georgia case, in terms of a powder keg. But I think otherwise.

Republicans in office would be less likely to support Trump if the document case continues to uncover what is the worst case scenario. Some will, of course. Maybe many. Either way, it would fracture their party. Fewer republican voters would be okay with Trump sharing classified intelligence with Russia, for example. But almost, if not all, will stick with Trump if he is indicted in Georgia.

If he is indicted by the DOJ, the task of bringing him to court --after attempts to delay -- than if he is charged in Georgis, while living in Florida. The role of governors may be important. Is DeSantis going to have his state cooperate with officials in Georgia? If Kemp wins the election in Georgia, might he pardon Trump? And what will the maga response be if Stacey Abrams becomes governor when Trump is tried? Isn't a state court a softer target than a federal court?

There are a lot of very important elections this November.

August 26, 2022

An American Prayer (& thoughts)

"Is everybody in?
Is everybody in?
Is everybody in?
The ceremony is about to begin."
-- Jim Morrison


A couple community members have pointed out something very important about the redacted affidavid. This is interesting in the context of the DOJ and the judge using care to redact information on those individuals who are witnesses, or who are not being investigated for potential criminal prosecution. Thus, the names of current members of the Trump cult stand out.

Trump is mentioned on page 1 of the affidavit. Kash Cocoran is found on page 19:

"53. I am aware of an at1icle published in Breitbart on May 5, 2022, available at
https://www.breitbart.comvoliticsi2022i05/05/documents-mar-a-lago-marked-classified-wereah-eadv-declassifi.ed-kash-patel-savs/, which states that Kash Patel, who is desc1ibed as a former top FPOTUS administration official, characterized as ''misleading" reports in other news organizations that NARA had found classified materials among records that FPOTUS provided to NARA from Mar-a-Lago. Patel alleged that such repot1s were misleading because FPOTUS had declassified the materials at issue."

Now, I could be wrong, but the FBI was aware that that not only had Kash incorrectly claimed that Trump had declassified all of the documents, but he was threatening to publish them on the internet. As noted below, this threat was being made in the run-up to the warrant:
https://www.justsecurity.org/82723/trump-associates-stated-plan-to-publicly-release-declassified-documents/

"Can we resolve the past
Lurking jaws, joints of time?
The Base
To come of age in a dry place
Holes and caves." -- Morrison

Call it speculation, but I doubt Patel is getting a good night's sleep tonight. Now let's consider Evab Corcoran. His letter to the DOJ is included as Exhibit 1 (pages 1-3). Again, call it speculation, but I think he likely regrets signing this letter. As Example One, please read this, the third paragraph of this legal document:

"There have been public reports about an investigation by DOJ into Presidential Records purportedly marked as classified among materials that were once in the White House and unknowingly included among the boxes brought to Mar-a-Lago by the movers. It is important to emphasize that when a request was made for the documents by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), President Trump readily and voluntarily agreed to their transfer to NARA. The communications regarding the transfer of boxes to NARA were friendly, open, and straightforward. President Trump voluntarily ordered that the boxes be provided to NARA. No legal objection was asserted about the transfer. No concerns were raised about the contents of the boxes. It was a voluntary and open process. "

Gracious! And if he regrets saying that, he will experience remorse for including this:

"The official policy ofDOJ further requires that prosecutors present exculpatory evidence to a grand jury. Pursuant to that policy, we request that DOJ provide this letter to any grand jury considering evidence in connection with this matter, or any grand jury asked to issue a subpoena for testimony or documents in connection with this matter."

I'm sure that those serving on the grand jury will find that interesting. They will know that as soon as they learned they needed to return the documents to NARA, they had an opportunity to put this to bed. But they refused, and so NARA referred the case to the DOJ. After a period of time, some boxes of documents were returned. Among these, the FBI found:

"4 7. From May 16-18, 2022, FBI agents conducted a prelimina1y review of the FIFTEEN BOXES provided to NARA and identified documents with classification markings in fourteen of the FIFTEEN BOXES. A prelin1ina1y triage of the documents with classification markings revealed the following approximate numbers: 184 unique docmnents bearing classification markings, including 67 documents marked as CONFIDENTIAL, 92 documents marked as SECRET, and 25 documents marked as TOP SECRET. Fm1her, the FBI agents observed markings reflecting the following compa11ments/dissemination controls: HCS, FISA, ORCON, NOFORN, and SI. Based on my training and experience, I know that documents classified at these levels typically contain NDI. Several of the documents also contained what appears to be FPOTUS 's handwritten notes. " (page 17)

However, from a variety of sources, the FBI learned that there were still numerous important documents missing. Keep in mind that NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) does not have a notorious reputation as being "political," at least not beyond filing and keeping track of documents. And that included the ability to know for certain which documents were not returned. And the DOJ knew that just as Patel might publish some, Trump would likely destroy others. They were aware it was reported he had done this before, while in the White House.

NARA can identify who removed what documents. The FBI and federal prosecutors investigating this know a heck of a lot more than is included in the affidavit, even in its unredacted form. And so do the members of a federal grand jury.

"Thoughts in time and out of season
The Hitchhiker
Stood by the side of the road
And leveled his thumb
In the calm calculus of reason" -- Morrison

August 25, 2022

Holy Fuck & Wholly Fucked

"Out of college, money spent
See no future, pay no rent
All the money's gone, nowhere to go...
But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Nowhere to go."
-- Paul McCartney; You Never Give Me Your Money.

I think public education should be free. Okay, that takes care of my resolving any and all questions about the forgiving college loans. Now for that magic feeling about tomorrow's release of parts of the addidavit.

Will it be enough to cause a breakdown in the middleof the investigation? I suspect that we will be treated to another Trump melt-down.

Kentuck and I were recently discussing what might have caused the FBI to exercise the search warrant,? Were they simply tired of the lying and delays? Or was there something that the Intelligence Community learned that resulted in this? I think there are two possibilities.

First, Donald is prone to sharing -- directly or indirectly -- information with Russian interests. This might include sources and methods. Remember that Kash Patel had said he was going to publish the documents on the investigation of the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.

Second, the Trump family now depends upon Saudi Arabia to keep financially afloat. The $2 billion "gift" to the grift could be in return for iformation on any Iranian nuclear programs.

However tomorrow turns out with the redacted affidavit, I do anticipate Trump saying he was going to expose the dreaded Deep State's persecuting him.

August 24, 2022

Later Summer Days

It's interesting that polls show that the threats to democracy is the #1 issue with a majority of voters. As the shadow of Trump's crimes crawls across all things political, it is easy for me to forget that there is a lot of things other than Trump going on. There are times when, watching the news, I wonder how this country became a spaghetti western?

The "good" is that the candidate I campaigned for won the primary for the NYS 19th Congressional District. Josh Riley defeated Jamie Cheney, another good Democrat who I would gladly have campaigned for if she won, despite her last name. Josh won in every county in the district though. Now he will face republican Marc Molinaro. A good sign is that the extremely conservative Molinaro lost last night's special election to Pat Ryan, who will represent the new 19th Disctrict for the remaining four months of the term.

https://wskg.org/riley-defeats-cheney-in-19th-congressional-district-primary/

The "bad" has been Molinaro's commercials attacking Pat Ryan for being a "dangerous liberal." These featured pictures of Ryan and people who have non-white skin, along with pictures of President Biden, Bernie, and AOC. Perhaps his campaign will now have commercials with Josh Riley, Castro, Uncle Ho, and Mao, using Arlo Guthrie's story of "the last guy" to attack the very concept of Josh serving in Congress.

The "ugly" is found in pictures of Donald Trump's hair cut, and the sound of his voice. Yet the truth is that things are getting mighty ugly for him. And in a way, that is a good thing. For our campaign can now tie Molinaro with Trump. We'll place that boy on the hot seat, and force him to either embrace or reject Trump. Either way works well for us.

August 20, 2022

Public Schools & Hurricanes

"A closed mind, like a closed room, soon becomes stuffy."
-- Rubin "Hurricane" Carter


I watched an interview with a social studies teacher from Florida. Obviously, there is an effort to white wash American history, from the giddy-up to the present. Republicans say that they don't want to make any students "feel uncomfortable."

I found myself going back in time, a half-century ago, when I was in my first year of high school. Some of my friends still laugh about how I organized a sit-in, that got the participation of 90% of all grades, for an open lunch. Since we had a fairly liberal school administration, we ended up getting a 45-minute lunch time, where we could leave school.

But what I am best remembered for was introducing my class to the case of my friend Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. My class would be, at that time, the largest to graduate from our rural, upstate school. So soon, there were about 130 students and one teacher communicating with Rubin through letters and cassette tapes.

Believe it or not -- but I swear it is true -- not all parents of 10th graders approved of their white children communicating with black inmate who had been convicted of a racist triple murder. There is also the possibility that some parents did not trust my judgement. It all started in 6th grade, when I read a John Lennon poem in my English class. But that's another story.

The teacher was soon told that the Carter connection needed to end. He understood the consequences of each of his options. We continued, and he got fired. He immediately got a job at another area school, and years later began selling wind mills for individual properties.

Rubin felt bad that this teacher was fired. Up until the end of his life, Rubin would ask me about different students that had communicated with him back then. This included a kid who told Rubin that, as he was convicted, he must be guilty, and belonged in prison. I remember Rubin responding that he respected the kid's not going along with the crowd, and encouraging him to study the legal case before making any decision.

Rubin encouraged all of our class to question everything a teacher or text book claimed to be true. One of the examples he gave to illustrate this was "Columbus discovered America." He said that this was clearly known to not be true, yet it was still being taught in schools. He said that most teachers actually appreciate when students ask questions, and that the responsibility for the best education falls upon students, teachers, and administrators.

A few years back, a young teacher at my old school called me. He had watched me debate the representatives from a large local industry about a series of toxic waste dumps they graced our area with. He asked another teacher about me, and that person noted that I had connected Carter with the school decades before. This guy taught an AP class, and asked me if I would come in to talk to his class about the Hurricane's case?

Of course, I did. I had told Rubin about it, and he was excited. He knew how important a really good education is, and like myself, understood that rigid minds were attacking public schools in various parts of the United States. We talked about this for hours. Rubin again recommended asking questions, thinking for one's self, and to "dare to dream!"

We should all be supporting public schools and teachers who teach the truth about America, both good and bad.

August 19, 2022

Trains & War

"It's such a dangerous thing for desperation to drive litigation." -- Neal Katyal


One of the best things about the DU community is that there are posts that really make one think. Even see things connected in a different way. Indeed, there are four OP/threads that I've read and participated in over the last few hours come to mind. Two from last night, and two from today.

PCIntern's "Okay ... you heard it first here" sets the tone. The current atmosphere in this country is a combination of uncertainty and anticipation. The discussion includes Yeats:

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity "
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217062105

Tommymac delivered the next issue, which may sound tangential to PCIntern's at first. CREW has scored a major victory that I think important on several levels: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217061849

The third comes from Nevilledog, about the "vindication of Bandy Lee." It is a reminder that Dr. Lee warned this country about "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump." And that she paid a price for telling the truth. President Kennedy said that there was a reason why his 1956 book "Profiles in Courage" was a thin volume. No person put more on the line than Dr. Lee.

Just as she explained the core of Trump's sociopathic being, and what it could and would result in if not firmly addressed, we find ourselves in a similar place today ..... for exactly as Dr. Lee has noted, Trump becomes more dangerous under great pressure -- because he can inspire his cult to commit acts of great violence. January 6 was an obvious example of this. That can happen again, in a closely related manner, if not firmly addressed now.

The intensity of the combined criminal investigations that are threatening Trump appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel. But as the old joke goes, that light could be a train engine coming down the tracks. And it could be Jimi Hendrix's "Hear My Train a Comin'" or it might be Bob Dylan's "Slow Train Coming." Or something else coming as scheduled.

I think that we all agree that Trump is willfully stupid. In a real sense, he reminds me of Hitler, who knew a little about a lot of things, and although an expert on nothing except exploiting hatred. was able to manipulate masses to be violent. Perhaps the best measure of the danger is found in "milestogo's" important OP, "TFG is the 'messiah of America'":
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17060768

Yet not all of those surrounding Trump are equally stupid. Yes, we've seen the John Eastman-types. But a particularly dangerous one is Kash Patel, who has served in Trump's administration, and has been laying the groundwork for the next outbreak of mass-violence. Start with his claim that many of the classified documents Trump had related to the FBI investigation of the Trump campaign's ties to Russia:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/weeks-mar-lago-search-trump-dod-official-vowed/story?id=88461618

Now, if the judge and DOJ release a redacted afficavit, and the pressure increases on Trump, can there be any doubt that he will tell his flock of externally-controlled, sheep-mentalitied flock that he had "proof" of "Deep State" corruption that the government does not want them to see? That it is a terrible plot against the American flag and the bible? That this is the Holy War they must win? That God sent him to lead them to the Promised Land?

These are the things I think about while reading the intense contributions of our community members. It's amazing that there are so many important issues being collected and discussed in one place.

Peace,
H2O Man

August 18, 2022

Public Prosecutors

"Contrary to common belief, the presumption of innocence applies only inside a courtroom. It has no applicability elsewhere ...."
-- Vincent Bugliosi; Outrage; Dell Publishing; 1996; pages 21 - 22.


Vince Bugliosi wrote some important books. The talented yet flawed former prosecutor had a straight forward manner of communicating. Two of my favorites were "The Betrayal of America" on how the Supreme Court selected George W. Bush for president, and "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder." Both are classics.

A few minutes ago, as I was selecting part of today's meal from my garden, I was thinking about an OP/thread I had just read. Malaise's "slobfather" posts always make me happy, and today's "lottery of indictments" is no exception -- though it is exceptional that the "slobfather" is in so much legal jeapardy!

As participants in the court of public opinion, we have no need to go by the "innocent until proven guilty" bit. Obviously, we recognize that prosecutors have to prove that guilt inside a courtroom. But there is enough evidence -- beyond any doubt -- that he is guilty as sin. Malaise, as the DU jury foreperson, has guided us to a unanimus verdict again, so say us all.

But that -- at least in my mind -- presents us with another role in the larger court of public opinion. As important as it is to engage in well-informed discussions here, it is equally important that we prosecute the case in the larger court of public opinion. Although it may seem that the vast majority of people have already made up their mind one way or the other, there are some who are either undecided, or not firm in their opinion that Trump and his cult pose a serious threat to this country.

There are a number of good issues that we need to be campaigning on as the November elections approach. The Supreme Court that Bugliosi correctly called corrupt has only decayed further with its overturning of Roe. Other issues that we can't anticipate will arise in upcoming days and weeks. Still, to borrow from Bugliosi, if as public prosecutors we present the slobfather handcuffed and in chains, those undecided jurors will help us sentence him and his ilk.

I rest my case. Thank you for your consideration.

August 17, 2022

Amicus Briefly

"There ain't any 'normal' any more." -- H2O Man; August 16, 2022.


I'm trying to think of the best case that can make on Thursday on the proposed unsealing of the FBI affidavit that resulted in the warrant to search mar-a-lago. One can easily anticipate what the New York Times and Albany Times Union legal team believe is involved. The media, like the public, is interested in what the affidavit contains.

But it seems extremely unlikely that the judge will unseal a document that contains information about witnesses, investigation methods, and an on-going investigation into the implications of private citizen Donal Trump's refusal to turn over the documents. The media will likely have to wait until there are formal charges, and it is turned over to Trump's legal team in discovery. They will leak it within minutes.

So it comes down the arguments that Judicial Watch -- which is representing Trump here, though not officially --makes. Reading through their information, I suspect that they know their brief is pathetic. At very best, as it stands, the best it can do is serve as a fund-raining issue for Judicial Watch, and an issue for republicans to set the country on fire.

What's a concerned citizen to do?

I'm thinking that I might need to file an amicus brief. Stay with me here. What about using Amendment 14's equal protection clause? I mean, let's consider mobsters of the past. John Roselli, Sam Giancana and Santo Trafficante all enjoyed connections with the CIA when vice president Richard Nixon was in charge of the US policy towards Cuba back in the late 1950s through 1960. And everyone named in that last sentence was a mobster.

Whitey Bulger was a mobster. There is really no difference between his Winter Hill Gang and the Trump administration. And Whitey had open access to FBI files through agent John Connolly. There are really no differences betweem Bulger and Trump that I can think of. Put the DOJ on the hot seat to see if they can name a single distinction between all these mobsters and Donald Trump.

Whitey actually became an FBI informant, to rat out his best friendly mobsters. Make the list of witnesses against Trump public, and maybe he'd provide the FBI disinformation, misinformation, and outright lies about them. It would also be in the pubic interest so that maga micro-dicks could harass, threaten, and attack those witnesses.

As a last touch, maybe demand that the sum-total of the secret documents that Trump stole and refused to return be immediately turned over to Saudi leader MBS for safe-keeping. This was obviously among Trump's plans for them, and it seems very likely the FBI already knows that for sure. After all, MBS already paid for them.