politics

TrumpGate

Back in the 70’s when Tricky Dick was president there was a break-in at the Democrat headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. The reason for the break-in was for nefarious research by people in the Republican Party. A quick illicit look around would become the scandal of all scandals for a generation.

The information reached the president, who suppressed evidence about the break-in. President Nixon, who some called Tricky Dick, even erased an audio tape recording about the break-in that was made in the oval office. At the time this was a HUGE scandal.

The Watergate scandal as it became to be known, caused President Nixon to resign the presidency. Some will offer finer points on the history of Watergate. But the fact is, it was the downfall the presidency.

Foe decades after, any political scandals would be tagged with the suffex -gate. According to Wikipedia there are over a dozen -gate scandals “Billygate, Briefingate, Contragate, Deavergate, Debategate, Doublebillingsgate, Frankiegate, Franklingate, Genschergate, Housegate, Iraqgate, Koreagate, Lancegate, Maggiegate, Nannygate, Raidergate, Scalpgate, Travelgate, Troopergate, and Whitewatergate” in all of them, someone fibbed.

This -gate business started in the 1970’s. In 2020 there was a movie called “ObamaGate”. It was a flop. Still it is worth mentioning that older people still use the term, until recently.

Let’s face it. Watergate was over 50 years ago. Things were so much tamer back then. Now we have Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Things are orders of magnitude worse.

For example, I never thought Trump would actually win. I really thought the deep state would win. So what happened? They didn’t have enough preprinted ballots to stuff the box, or Trump sold out, or he actually won? I have no clue. So whatever. It is what it is.

Was it a decade ago that I went to see Trump the candidate? I thought I saw a smart man. Candidate Trump wanted to define Trump Gate before it actually became a thing. Trump Gate would be a big beautiful gate for emigration. Something like Ellis Island, except there would be multiple gates.

This is something I wrote about previously.

So here we are ten years later, and there is no big beautiful TrumpGate. All we have is a mess. So I will call the mess TrumpGate. Not that anyone knows what I mean, or cares. Is there anything better than TrumpGate?

The Chart

Wow, some might think our government missed. Trump is supposed to be dead. The shooter, most likely brainwashed by some unknown entity was taken out. A single second after completing his task. It would be hard to believe this wasn’t orchestrated. Dead children tell no tales.

I can only imagine, Thomas Crooks believed he had the power. Like in the movies, fear no men with guns, for you are the almighty. In way he was right, cause the men with guns let him go, till he completed his task. His undeveloped brain did not realize that he would become expendable one he completed his task.

Poor kid, no different than a Palestinian child suicide bomber. He most likely was just trying to please someone whom he respected.

What impressed me the most is the photograph of the bullet whizzing past Trumps head. How did they do that? It was supposed to be Trump’s brain exploding. A gift, like Putin’s Chef’s head on a plate to be served for all, just in time for dinner.

Even Trump said he was supposed to be dead. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to know that your country tried to kill you. Yet it happens. People, fall in line, or else. Examples are needed every once and a while.

What hurt me the most was the outrage by the people that teach our children that Crooks had failed in his mission. Yes the deep state is real.

So what saved Trump? Many people will say God saved Trump. God has a mission for Trump to complete while here on earth. I am somewhat more analytical. Trump did something unexpected. He looked at a chart. People that know him say that is something unusual for him to do. He typically talks straight to the crowd.

Me being me, I had to wonder what was this chart that saved Trump’s life? I had to look it up. It was a chart about illegal immigrants. Really? It has been decades since I have trusted domestic media. Our media is so inbred that it is completely dysfunctional. When it comes to domestic issues I much prefer the foreign press.

10 years ago Aljazeera claimed our biggest issue was illegal immigrants dying in the desert. I think I wrote about this before. There was a problem. Trump said that we should have a wall, with a big beautiful gate. “Trump Gate” he called it. He wanted every qualified immigrant to be legal. I don’t remember anyone asking what the qualifications would be.

So here we are 10 years later, and we have made no measurable improvement. According to Trump’s chart illegal immigration is up. In the world news, we have wars to distract us instead of immigration.

I love scientific analysis. A chart is a visual representation of analysis. A picture is worth a thousand words. Yet words are powerful too, to communicate with words is art. That is why I write.

Party Roots

Political parties, like nations, are born evolve and dissappear. Our two major political parties did not exist when this country was founded. The Jefferson Republican Party was created to oppose the original Federalist Party in the early 1790’s. The Jefferson Republican’s considered the Federalist’s to be the aristocracy and wanted individual freedoms.

After the collapse of the Federalist Party in the 1820’s the Republican Party split into two groups. The Democratic Republicans and the National Republicans. President John Quincy Adam’s, son of President John Adam’s became the leader of the National Republicans. The National Republican Party did not fare so well. The National Republican Party pretty much ended in the 1830’s.

The Democratic Republican Party soonbecame successful under the leadership of General Andrew Jackson. Soon the party became known just as the Jackson Democrat party. Today the party is simply known as the Democrat Party. I understand that it is the world’s oldest party.

The modern Republican Party was started in the 1850’s to combat the expansion of slavery. President Lincoln was the first Republican president. Geographically South was Democrat and the North was Republican. War between the parties erupted.

Historically I associate General Jackson with the Trail of Tears. Jackson also owned hundreds of slaves. Jackson was a racist and a bigot. He also founded the modern Democrat Party. The party has evolved to be the most powerful party in the world. It is a party dependent on control, and will stop at nothing to maintain that control.

The Republican Party was formally based on the equality of all people’s. That is something I agree with.

Talking Points

Of course I watched the debate last night. I streamed it from U-tube and then cast it from my phone to the TV. My first impression is I have to give CNN points on a well run debate. Questions were fair, and debate did not turn into a brawl. The result was both candidates went over their talking points, and called the other a liar.

When speaking Trump was clear and forceful. Biden was unfortunately a bit mumbly. I could have done a better job at his talking points, and I am not very good at public speaking.

That’s my analysis. Of course it is not what I think that matters, it is the talking heads. A quick perusal of some different talking heads sugest that Biden did poorly and top Democrats were in a panic. A few suggested Biden resign or is replaced. Then there were some hard core folks that said everything Trump said was a lie. As for the other Trump critics, they said he was surprisingly well restrained. Trump is known for his love of a good brawl, that is what I see, despite what Biden said about Corn Pop.

My heart did go out to Biden when he mentioned his son Beau Biden. The loss of a son to brain cancer is a terrible thing. Yet there are many tragedies in life. It is not a tragedy that makes presidential material. It takes more. War is a much greater tragedy. Trump made a strong point that the world had fewer wars under his watch. Never mind Trump Gate, that was his true legacy.

The most interesting moment was when Trump was asked if he was going to deport all of the illegals. He did not answer. Of course many partisan people will say what they believe Trump will do. My belief is he wants to make the process easier. Once upon a time I actually listened to him.

The Strawman Walks Into The Fire

Alvar Aalto designed a chair that was built by Artek, a company he helped begin. In 1936 his “Armchair 400” won a design competition in Milan. The armchair was a brilliant fun design. It became commonly known as a “Tank Chair” as the armrests were shaped somewhat like tank tracks. They were delightful for any child as they were hugely fun. The Tank Chair had the ability to bounce in as the armrests also served as springs.

In 1976 I was living in the old house, heated with a wood stove and entertainment provided by a radio. For boredom I would buy the Sunday New York Times. Lots to read in that paper. It was huge. My meals were mostly beans and rice, sometimes I would add catchup. I was going to New England College. I lived almost a most a monk like existence. Although the old house had been been the sumer family home for generations, nobody had lived there full time for over 50 years. I moved into town and registered to vote as a Republican. Although I was a New York Liberal I was aware the town was 98% Republican. No need to make waves.

My nearest neighbor was a half mile away. He was a retired upholsterer that had an early 60’s Chrysler Imperial in his driveway. It was a magnificent automobile, though the New England winters had taken a toll on the machine. He preferred it to anything newer though. He still did reupholstery in his garage if you needed some done.

In 1976 I was old enough to vote. That would be my 1st presidential election. My next door neighbor invited me to watch the presidential debate on TV. Furthermore he said he would not add commentary, he believed they should speak for themselves. I was a bit surprised that he did not offer his opinion. He thought it was more important for me to see the candidates. When my brother and I were young his wife used to baby sit us. That was when we would bounce in the Tank Chairs. Do you still have the Tank Chairs I asked? Yes he replied, OK I responded. I was to see Gerald Ford debate Jimmy Carter on who would be a better president.

I guessed my neighbor Jack was a Republican, wasn’t everyone in this town? He never did say though. I liked Jimmy Carter, he was both a farmer and a nuclear scientist. We were both very polite. The serious old man and the long haired college hippie. The only thing I remember from the debate was a fly landing on Jimmy Carter, he did not brush it away. I thought that was unusual, I would have swatted it away. I might of even mentioned it at the time. Much of debate was over my head. I sincerely thanked Jack for his kindness. I had a lot to learn.

A lot has happened in 48 years. Soon there will be a presidential debate between two people that were and are actually presidents. That is a first. When I watched with Jack, one candidate was a non elected vice president, the other a governor. Nether had been president. This time both people have been president for four years. Other than that similarity, the candidates could not be more different. One is a life-long politician, the other bought his way into the highest office. That is a giant rift in philosophies. Other than working your way to the top of a lifetime of political service. It is new in this country to go from non governmental entrepreneurship to the top government job.

I used to be a devoted MSNBC – CNN – NPR listener. They introduced me to Trump, so did my political liberal friends. CNN and friends said that Trump said that Trump voters were older white blue color workers. After a bit they claimed that I was a Nazi and Trump was Hitler. The next thing I knew there were riots in the streets. I was bewildered. Looking back I belive that Trump was supposed to be a Straw Man. He was not supposed to win. He was supported by CNN and friends to destroy the Republican party.

People were unhappy about Trump actually wining, so they started the Pink Hat revolution. And Joe Biden became president. Not everyone was happy about that. Lawfare has become a big thing in the world of soundbites. It is rare to get substantial discussion about politics. I find it curious that CNN is running the debate. The CNN moderator has called Trump Hitler. Most people would think that setting fire to Hitler would be justifiably beneficial to society. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire.

Like my friend Jack said. I would suggest you watch the debate before you vote. Find a comfortable chair if you can. It could make it that much more enjoyable. Then after watching the debate see if you can say something nice. We have become such a negative nation all we do is repeat negative soundbites. If that continues we are doomed. Because of our prevarication of negativity, I do believe we need to say something positive. Extra points if you can say something nice about both.

Lawfare

Have a problem, get a lawyer.

Have a problem with someone with a lawyer, Get a table full of lawyers.

If they have a table full of lawyers, get a room full of lawyers.

They have a room full of lawyers? Better retain an entire floor full of lawyers. Ouch.

They have entire floor full of high paid lawyers, better hope you can afford an entire building full of of lawyers.

They have an entire building full of lawyers, well you better forget about it. The only one with an entire city full of lawyers is the government. You can’t go against them. Though I must admit, some have tried.

Not only does the government get to write the laws, they also get to enforce the laws. Got that?

I live in a grumpy little town, they are always complaining about each other on Facebook. The people that run the town, we’ll they would rather lie than tell the truth. Amazingly they would do this even if the truth wouldn’t harm them. One example is they blew up a dam. To a certain extent they were legally in the right. Then why did they lie about it, given proof, they threatened to sue me for liable. Even though I may have been right, there was no discussion just the threat of legal action. This is just the beginning of lawfare. I backed down. I cannot afford those type of problems. This small town is known for lies and lawfare. For example, during town meeting they did not break out the towns legal costs. Lawfare is simply a confidential administrative cost.

I did reply to one particularly vile Facebook rant by one of our local crazies with a one word reply, “Lawfare”. To be honest, lawfair is not the best way to resolve disputes. Though I will admit that it is actually better than actual warfare.

Of course the feds play that game. They have the city full of lawyers. Some folks refer to that city as the swamp. The whole city is filled with lawyers battling lawyers. Sometimes they take out lawyers in predawn gun raids. Other times they just give guilty lawyers more lawyers. It all depends on who you know, and who you can call.

I can imagine that it is all very hard to sort out. Palace intrigue is definitely a thing. Me, I just try to follow the rules. Yet even if you try and get along you can get sucked up in lawfare. The IRS went after me for my involvement in a 401(c)3. I was just trying to do what was right. There was no winning, I put on a pink hat.

So I have nothing nice to say here. I do not like lawfare. People should be treated equally. Especially under the law. We have too many grumpy people running things. Always mad about something. They then employ lawfare, and other worse things. Ask me how I know. I guess that is what happens when you get old. You learn from your mistakes, and try not to repeat them.