February 25, 2017

Get Your Head Out of the Sand, America, It All Adds Up to Legalized Latino Slavery

So a woman trying to get a protective order against an abusive boyfriend got nabbed in court by ICE. Sad, but some innocents will have to pay to make America great again.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/release-sought-immigrant-asked-protection-order-45716976

So immigrants are now keeping their kids home from school, for fear that ICE will catch them and send them back to a country they do not remember where people speak a language they do not know. Look on the bright side. If they can't get an education, the children of immigrants will have to fill the same minimum wage no benefits jobs their parents work, making America great into the future for hotel owners like Trump (who need immigrants in the kitchen and cleaning rooms), farm owners, sweat shop owners.

So the entire federal government is now fixated on protecting us from ten year old Maria, whose parents "illegally trafficked" her from Central America. That will make it easier for domestic terrorists to burn crosses, paint swastikas and torch churches. And if they get caught, they will have an easy get out of jail free card. All they will have to do is turn in their victims for the "crime" of being undocumented. Making America great again for jack booted fascism.

So a fruit picker finds that his employer is withholding his last paycheck of the season, and he has no one to whom to turn for justice, because if he tries to get justice, justice will ICE him. Sooner or later that fruit picker will be dumped into one of the private prisons where immigrants will be housed. And then, some smart ass in the federal government--like Trump--will get the bright idea of starting a chain gang. Send those detained immigrant workers back out to the fields to pick fruit. Except this time, the money will go to the prison operators. Or maybe, we will have the federal government build the prisons where business owners need the labor the most. Right there on the farms. Making America great again for indentured servant-hood.

And the children born to the immigrants who are housed in federal work-prisons will also be denied citizenship because you shouldn't reward illegal immigrants by giving them anchor babies. Those kids won't have any citizenship anywhere. They will be born, live, work and die in our nation's work-prisons. Making America great again for slavery.

And one day, that wall between the United States and Mexico won't be there to keep Mexicans out. It will be there to keep our born in the USA Latino slaves in. Tunnels will be built by members of the new Underground Railroad who will try to get the slaves to freedom. And ICE will be there with guns and dogs to ship the ungrateful workers back to their jobs and arrest or shoot on the sight those who try to deprive the nation's business owners of their slave labor.

Oh, won't it be just great!

February 25, 2017

Trump's War on Women: Immigrant Asked Court for Protective Order, Got ICE'd Instead.

An El Paso immigrant woman asked the court for a protective order against her abusive partner. The abusive partner saw an easy way to get in another blow---and protect himself from the legal consequences of his violence. He called ICE. And so, when the woman, Irvin Gonzales showed up in court, ICE was there to arrest and deport her.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/release-sought-immigrant-asked-protection-order-45716976

Thank you, Trump, for making America a great place to be a wife beater, child molester, domestic terrorist or con artist. All you have to do it target a hard working American who happens to have been born in another country. Then, when your victim tries to get justice, you call ICE and they take care of the problem for you. Making ICE the equivalent of Mafia enforcement.

I am sure Trump's base is delighted. They can rape an underage immigrant girl--gang rape her, even---without fear of going to jail, because ICE will remove the evidence of their crime. They can rob, beat or even murder immigrants, and all the witnesses will conveniently disappear. All they have to do is place a call to the right federal official.

The "swamp" is getting deeper,nastier, more treacherous.

I am so angry right now, I can not write another word.

Namaste.

February 20, 2017

Two Words: Special Prosecutor

It's past time. Everyone, even Trump's base can see the writing on the wall (though some of them can not read it).

When a respected member of the Department of Justice (Sally Yates) is fired for trying to defend the rule of law and when the Attorney General is a member of Trump's presidential campaign, everyone---even Trump's base---knows that the nation must go outside the Department of Justice for Justice in this case.

When long term, faithful members of the Republican Party like Lindsey Graham and John McCain break ranks, it's a sign that behind all the smoke there is a roaring fire. Republicans are never unfaithful to one of their own. Ever. Which means that the Republican Party does not consider Trump one of its own. Their attempts to delay the inevitable are for show----so they can tell Trump's gun toting base "We tried. We really did."

When every major news organization is all over this story like Trump's base on met-amphetamine---when even Morning Joe and Fox News have to hold their noses because of the stink---it is a sign that there is a story here. A huge one. Bigger than Watergate. Bigger than any presidential news story this country has ever seen. And big news makes big ratings.

When the Vice President seeks to distance himself from his own president by declaring that he will "hold Russia accountable" that can mean only one thing---Trump's presidency is the Titanic and it is going down. They can't prop his administration up any longer. All they can do is try to minimize the collateral damage. And so, in the end, they will beg for a special prosecutor. Because a special prosecutor can be bought and intimidated and blackmailed. Or so they hope. And hope is all they have left. A pathetic kind of hope, not unlike the hope of Trump's base that the con artist-in-chief would do something to improve their sorry, drab, hopeless lives.

February 19, 2017

Words More Terrifying Than Any Terrorist "If something happens blame him and the court system."

Yes, I know that no one wants to read one of my wordy pieces. But this is too important to trim to a sound bite. This is about you and your kids and your job and your church and your community. No matter how law abiding or well-connected or hard working you are, they are coming for you. If your browser history (which Putin has) indicates that you are a Democrat or Democrat sympathizer, you are in the cross hairs.

“But I’m guilty of nothing!” You may be tempted to reply.

Too fucking bad. Russia, in its infinite greed has declared that we now live under martial law. Most of us just do not know it yet.

“But what about the Constitution?”

What about it?

You think the Constitution protects you from discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity or sexual orientation? Pardon me while I pick myself up from the floor where I am laughing my ass off. That’s better.

Are you thinking about the Constitution that was in place when Blacks, Jews, Catholics and Immigrants across the nation were lynched by mobs of cheerful whites who smiled for the camera? The one that was the rule of the land when minorities were told “We don’t serve your kind here.” The one that protected the victims of McCarthy’s communist witch hunts? The one that did not stop Emmit Till's murderers from going free?

The Constitution is only as fair as the law enforcement that enforces it and the courts that rule upon it. That’s why the New Federalists want to stack the courts with old school jurists—think Jim Crow and Separate but Equal. Think virtual slavery and white rule. The New Federalists do not want to erase everything that FDR did and take us back to the days of the Founders. They want to undo the work the Founders did. They want us to become a monarchy again, with a king---Trump--- who answers only to a handful of oligarchs.

Wanna know how bad things will get under Trump with Sessions in charge of the DOJ and Comey at the helm of the FBI? Ask Martha Stewart, Don Siegelman, Eliot Spitzer and Georgia Thompson. In case you have forgotten Thompson, here is a visual from my old political cartoon site, Grand Theft Election Ohio:



Alberto Gonzales was targeted by the newly Democratic Congressional majority the moment they took control of Congress in 2007 for this kind of political prosecution. What’s to stop Sessions and Comey and all their federal prosecutors and all the local Republican prosecutors across the country from resuming the W. campaign of terror? Nothing. Except our judges, who are under attack from the POTUS himself. Republicans have a rock solid majority in Congress for the next two years.

The state of Texas is already getting ready to start a witch hunt. In response to a court challenge to their draconian Voter ID Law, the state allowed registered voters to sign an affidavit declaring that producing a photo ID presented a barrier to casting a lawful. Now, Texas law enforcement has signaled that it plans to selectively prosecute those who used this process. And guess where they are going to start? That’s right, the Democratic stronghold of Houston.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b7b57fc61c5b462d871a942864c0afad/ap-exclusive-hundreds-texans-may-have-voted-improperly

Who will get the “serious investigation” and “leg work”. Black voters. Latino voters. Muslim voters. And, if you happen to be a Democrat with a Hillary bumper sticker on your car, white voters.

There is supposed to be one law for everyone in the United States, but that’s not what Trump and his supporters think. For example, last summer Newt Gingrich raised a shit storm when he called upon the House to recreate an Un-American Activities Committee.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/14/politics/newt-gingrich-house-un-american-activities-committee/



“Greater account”? Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that one group shall be held to a “greater account” than another. That’s from the GOP/Trump playbook.

The only thing standing in the way of political witch hunts are our nation’s judges. But now even they are under attack. The Republicans illegally blocked Obama’s nominee to the SCOTUS. And Trump has declared open season on judges who oppose his racist, hateful, illegal executive decrees.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/317993-trump-continues-criticism-of-federal-judge

“’If something happens, blame him.'”

You hear that judges? Trump and his jack booted automatic rifle toting met-amphetamine abusing base know where you live. And they are now under orders from their President to “blame you.” No wonder Trump got so flustered when asked to denounce anti-Semitic violence. The proponents of anti-Semitic violence are his foot soldiers in the battle to Make America Great Again.

“If something happens, blame him and the court system.”

No Trump. I blame you. And so does every true American. And as long as we have freedom of speech and of the press, we will call you out for your Un-American Activities. Loudly. In the streets. On the Internet. Yes, we know that you could select any one of us at any moment for "serious investigation" and more "leg work." Bring it on. We are the true spiritual descendants of Tom Paine who wrote in his Common Sense:



He wrote it about King George, but he also wrote it about you, Donald Trump.

February 18, 2017

Trump too afraid of his own base to denounce antisemitism

The thread header says it all. But if you missed the story, read about it here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/opinion/donald-trumps-answer-to-anti-semitism-you-dont-want-to-know.html?mabReward=R3&recp=0&version=readinglist&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=c-column-middle-span-region®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-middle-span-region

Defensive. Guilty. Scared. Trump knows that all that stands between him and impeachment is the David Dukes wing of his party. A bunch of racist, violent sobs who enjoy a fun night out burning crosses and bombing mosques---and synagogues. His base lumps Jewish Americans right in there with all the other "non Aryans." And while they will come for the Muslims first and then the Latinos, they will get around to Jews sooner or later.

Under Sessions, no home grown antisemitism spouting terrorist will ever be prosecuted---because that terrorist votes for Trump. And so, Trump acted with fear and outrage over the easiest of questions: what is his administration's stand on anti-Jewish violence.

The correct answer, the easy answer was "I'm against it."

The fact that Trump could not say it tells us a lot. it tells us how absolutely pissing in his pants scared he is of losing even a single Neo Nazi vote. And maybe the approval of Bannon.

Note to Trump. BAndit kings are not ruled by fear. You are no Reagan. Hell you aren't even W. You are pathetic.

February 16, 2017

Why is THIS Watergate II?

There have been lots of political scandals, many of which have involved the POTUS. But this is the first Watergate IIa sequel bigger, badder, more likely to increase the sales of popcorn and poster board (for signs) than the original.

Why? Because we have all the key ingredients.

1. A Dick for a President
2. An election full of dirty tricks
3. A criminal conspiracy that goes all the way to the top and spills over into another country
4. An enemies list
5. A DOJ official fired as part of a coverup

But, most important of all we have

6. The normally complacent and timid mainstream media out for blood.

It takes a lot of Dickery to get the press mad enough to attack those in power. Even Dick Cheney did not rise to the level of Dick Nixon--though he tried. Not paranoid enough.

Donald Trump should be renamed Dick Trump, because he has all Nixon's paranoia and nastiest--without any of his brains!

February 16, 2017

Every Republican Who Is Stonewalling the Investigation is Being Blackmailed By Russia

Period. There is no other reason for people like Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell to protect Russia/Flynn/Trump unless they are also protecting themselves. Note that McCain is calling for an investigation. As a former presidential candidate he has been vetted. I am betting that there are a lot of kinky secrets in the GOP Congressional closet and Putin knows them all.

You hear that journalists? Get to work uncovering the dirt. You already know where to look. Start with every Republican who has loudly defended Russia and Trump in the last few days. I will bet that they all got secret calls from the Kremlin telling them "Do what we tell you or else."

Should we start a contest to see what Mitch McConnel's secret will be? I think he likes to get tied up and beaten by a hot chick in leather. But it could be diapers.

February 15, 2017

Boycott Exxon.

Dudes, the GOP is never ever gonna investigate Trump. They will bury the whole thing for fear that any dirt they uncover will stick to them. The only way to get rid of Trump is to apply economic pressure to the folks who stand to gain from his treason.

Exxon is number one.

I call upon all concerned Americans to boycott Exxon until we have a president and secretary of state not in the pocket of Putin/Exxon. No Democrat should be caught dead at an Exxon station. No woman who respects herself should fill up at Exxon.

February 13, 2017

Members of the Press Who Want to Be the Next Woodward/Bernstein...

Yes, I am talking to you. All of you. You all want to write the book and be portrayed in the movie. You all know that Trump is corrupt as hell and guilty as sin. You just have to find the Deep Throat or the Smoking Gun.

Right now, the members of the press are engaged in a scavenger hunt. Who will be the one to pull the linchpin that brings the tower down? They are looking under every rock, talking to every disgruntled former and soon to be former Trump staffer, courting the members of the intelligence community. It is just a matter of time....

....which some Americans do not have. In the weeks to months that it could take to get the carpetbaggers out of office, sick people will die without their health insurance and mosques will be torched by NeoNazis and our water and air will get dirtier and refugees will be sent home to die at the hands of death squads.

So, in an effort to speed things up a bit, I am going to offer a little advice. Think Citizens United. Trump was never supposed to win. On election night, when they told him, he looked scared. For just a moment. Why? I am fairly sure that he took a lot of money from various special interests. One of them was Russia. That's why an Exxon executive is now our Secretary of State. Every cabinet position was sold to the highest bidder during the election. The same for the SCOTUS seat. That is why he was quick to name so many obviously unsuited industry insiders to positions where they were going to cause nothing but grief for the country--and make a few rich people even richer. The quid pro quo may be disguised behind a shit storm of right wing ideology. But keep your eyes and ears open, and you will figure out who paid to be given the right to control each branch of the federal government. That person or corporation or industry or even country will make a bundle of money in the very near future----near future because Trump does not look like he will last out the year, and these folks intend to get their money's worth for their legal bribes.

The easiest one to spot will be whatever lucky construction company wins the right to take home billions in pork for building the stupid wall between Texas and Mexico that no one wants (except the construction company that paid Trump to have it built). There will be a pretend open bid process and then the company that paid the bribe will get the contract--maybe making the bid through another company to muddy the waters a bit. So, whoever collects the money to build the wall is guilty as hell. We already know that. Unless Trump wants to give back the money. And if he was in any position to give back any money, he would not be clinging so hard to his business empire.

And thanks to the Supreme Court of the United States for making the job of running for president so lucrative that one of the nation's biggest con artists could not resist giving it a try.You idiots have destroyed your own party and possibly even your own country. Maybe next time the so called New Federalists come up with some bright idea to improve upon what the Founders did, they will think back to Citizens United.


PS I found a link to a copy of an old DU Journal I wrote Feb. 2010. We all remember what happened in early 2010, don't we? I called it Democracy in America (1787-2010) RIP It closes with:

Sometimes I hate when time proves me correct.

February 12, 2017

Gimme Shelter: "You Are Never Gonna See Your Kids Again"

“I’m not exaggerating, 100% of the clients that come to me who are undocumented said that their abusers would constantly say, ‘I’m going to have you deported if you don’t behave,’” said Hollingsworth.

Other threats include: “You are never going to see your American-born children ever again. I’m going to call ICE and they are going to pick you up. Don’t call the police because they are going to pick you up, they are not going to come after me,” she added.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/undocumented-sexual-assault-victims-face-backlash-and-backlog/

This is why the United States grants special visas to victims of crimes including victims of rape and domestic violence. This is why we need "sanctuary cities" where parents can report the statutory rape of their daughter or son without worry that their own families will be torn apart. This is all that stands between Trump's self-styled "outlaw" base and intimidation/violence/rape and murder of innocents who are easy targets because they are "illegal."

In Maricopa County, Arizona, the Justice Department has been investigating the sheriff’s office for engaging in unconstitutional policing, in particular how it treats Latinos in the community. Amid the investigation, the DOJ said the sheriff’s office admitted that it had failed to properly investigate more than 400 cases of sexual assault and child molestation over a three-year period in 2007. In many of the cases, the sexual assault victims were undocumented Latinos or their children.

The failure to investigate these crimes came as the department pursued an aggressive campaign of arresting Latinos who were in the country illegally.

Trump does not even have to change policy. The recent rise in deportations of immigrants is enough to send a powerful message to their community. And if immigrants--documented or not--are afraid turn to local law enforcement for help when they are victimized, it will be open season on immigrants. The NeoNazis and KKK and all their sympathizers will deliberately target hand working undocumented Americans---and there will be nothing the immigrants (who pick your crops and bus your tables and clean your Trump Tower hotel room) will be able to do about it. When you close the sanctuary, you enable criminals--born in the USA criminals, the kind that love Trump so much--to do what they love to do, bully the weak to make themselves feel more powerful.

Keep in mind that Putin, Trump's master, lives in a country that recently decriminalized domestic violence, and you can see where this country is heading. Back to the days when immigrants were openly lynched. Note the faces of the men in the photo below. Today we would call them "white". A century ago they were "Italian" immigrants.



Trump’s supporters do not fear immigrants. They hate them. They hate them because they hate themselves, and it is easier to take out all that rage and frustration on someone else---an “other.” And they love Trump, because he is giving them carte blanche to victimize immigrants as long as they do not upset the apple cart that makes rich Americans even richer. Fascism 101.