I naively thought when Joe Biden won the 2020 Presidency, there would be as usual a peaceful transition from Republican to Democrat control of the government. This is how it has been since the writing of the Constitution. This is how America has distinguished itself from other nations.

Prior to the 2020 election, President Trump, in his quest to hold on to presidential power, started planting the idea among his supporters that if he lost the election, it could only be because of Democrat fraud. In essence, he wanted to ensure a win even if he lost. After the election results declaring him the loser, Republicans filed over 60 lawsuits claiming fraud and not one was upheld in courts to be true. Undaunted, Trump cleverly scheduled a rally of his supporters on the day Congress was to certify the electoral votes results from the various states. Trump encouraged the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol building for all the world to witness and watch on television. The once invincible American democracy was being threatened to be replaced by autocracy and Trump would remain President of the United States of America. If it were not for the understaffed Capitol police, sacrificing their bodies to protect the congressional Republican and Democrat lawmakers, it might have worked; fortunately when order was restored, the Republican lawmakers decided to do the right thing and certify the electoral vote results.

With most Republican Trump supporters believing that the election was stolen from him by the Democrats, Republican congressmen have promoted the “Big Lie” and do not want to even investigate the truth behind the Insurrection of the Capitol building on Jan. 6, for fear that the truth will reveal a Trump illustrated plot to restore him to power to the presidency.

What are we to conclude from these facts? Republican lawmakers have abandoned governing for the people and are willing to say or do anything that will get or keep them in power. Spreading untruths and disinformation seems to be their primary mantra! Keep America in chaos until 2022 when they can regain Republican control of the government. The rule of man over the rule of law.

Republicans to regain congressional power have embarked on a crusade to change the States voting rights laws throughout the country. Their objective is to suppress the ability of the Blacks and Latinos to vote! What is more amazing is that the congressional Democrats seem to be so fragmented and paralyzed to counter any state Republican mandate to change voting laws. This is even more puzzling when they have presently majority control of the House, Senate, and Executive Branch. How can the Republican minority be more effective in controlling what laws get passed? It is simply a matter of solidarity of the party to obstruct the Democrat agenda at all costs; create doubt in voter integrity and say what is most effective to their cause of gaining back power, regardless of the truth!

There is precious little time left to save democracy in America. If our congressional Democrat leaders fail at this task, it up to you and me regardless of race or party affiliation ,who want personal freedom, believe truth being paramount, and the sovereignty of our vote. The 2022 elections are crucial. Vote for the candidates that proclaim to protect democracy as their primary platform. Otherwise, the “Fall of Democracy in America” is inevitable. It is up to you!

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Forget the slogans” Make America Great Again “or “Make America Better Again” because without trust they are meaningless words. When we are born and up through approximately four years of age, we have a blind trust that our parents are looking out for our welfare. When our brains start to develop cognitive thinking powers, if our parents continue to tell us truths, that blind trust becomes an earned trust.

On the other hand, if our parents tell us lies distorting the truth, confusion becomes paramount and we become cynical adults unable to trust anyone. That is the present state of our politics today. According to the Washington Post newspaper fact-checking department, President Trump has lied to the American people over 20,000 times. Unfortunately, those lies have become truths to his supporters and anyone who disagrees with them cannot be trusted!

This has been his modus operandi from the beginning of his presidency. We should have been suspicious after his inauguration, when he held a “thank you” rally for his supporters, which later became routine re-election campaign rallies across America. What other presidents have scheduled rallies after they became president? Instead of trying to bring a politically polarized nation together, President Trump’s mission was to continue the polarization.

By demonizing the free press as well as Democratic governors, senators, representatives and supporters as enemies of the state, his us-and-them mentality provided him with an excuse for any of his administration’s failings. It also became cannon fodder for his supporters, thus widening the gap of mistrust for anyone who dared to oppose his ideas and policies.

At a recent Trump rally, a reporter asked a supporter why he was not wearing a mask? He replied that the coronavirus was all a hoax perpetuated by the Democrats. When asked about the Bob Woodward interview tapes with President Trump regarding his having knowledge of the severity of the virus back in late February, the man replied, “It’s only Woodward’s opinion.” This supporter’s opinion is proof of the widening gap of trust between Republicans and Democrats.

For the past four years, Trump’s lies have been manifested into truths by his supporters. Trump’s attack on the integrity of the government’s institutions, along with his systematic destruction of an independent Department of Justice separate from the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch, has promoted his obsessed desire to become a despot governing in an American democracy!

Trump’s rhetoric and behavior over the past years have become the gospel to his supporters and at the same time a battle cry for his opponents to save democracy and unseat him in the November election. To paraphrase a Smith-Barney investment ad, “To gain trust the old fashion way is to earn it.” The question remains, after the Trump presidency is over, can Republicans and Democrats ever trust each other? It will take a long time to heal the mistrust fostered by Trump, which has deeply permeated our society. The number one task for the next president is to gain back the trust of all Americans by simply always telling the truth!

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The dictionary defines the word “seduction” as attracting someone to a belief or to a course of action that is inadvisable or foolhardy! President Trump has successfully attracted many to follow his beliefs in his tenure as president.

Trump’s seemingly total rejection of the existence of the COVID-19 has led many of his followers into a falsehood of reality. At this point, over 187,000 deaths have been attributed to the virus. In addition, his enablers in Congress have followed his statements and beliefs almost in a cult-like fashion. Instead of exercising their oath to uphold the “rule of law” as described in the Constitution, they blindly and obediently have supported his “rule by man,” authoritarian style of leadership. In essence, they have accepted Trumpism in exchange for Republican ideology.

In Trump’s almost four years as president, many political analysts have concluded that his uncontrollable lying rhetoric about facts, along with is need to keep this nation in a constant state of chaos, is becoming increasingly disturbing to many American citizens. That strategy worked for his presidential campaign in 2016 but is not as exciting to the informed public in 2020. I could go on listing various inconsistencies in his rhetoric verses his behavior, but I choose to express a more optimistic, hopeful tone by sharing with you my conversation with a lifelong friend who happens to be a lifelong Republican party supporter.

Was I ever shocked when he stated that he is voting for Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 November presidential election? I immediately asked him why. He replied simply that the present Republicans in Congress do not reflect the values of the Republican Party as under Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. He further stated that the present House and Senate Republicans have abdicated their oath to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law in exchange for admiration from President Trump. In essence, they have sold their souls to become cult followers of Trump!

Again, I asked why. He sincerely believes that the Republican Party needs time to heal and be reborn in solid conservative ideology. A thorough cleansing of the old guard for the enthusiasm of new Republican faces. So, let Joe Biden solve Trump’s America!

Let Joe Biden solve the coronavirus pandemic problem. Let Joe Biden solve the racial injustice that exists in this country. Let Joe Biden solve the nation’s economic and unemployment problems because of the virus pandemic. Let Joe Biden repair the leadership damage caused with other countries because of dropping out of the Paris Agreement. Let Joe Biden restore the leadership reputation lost with our allies because of Trump’s association with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Let Joe Biden bring unity to a politically divided country. Just to mention a few of the problems created in our last four years under the leadership of Donald J. Trump!

My friend goes on to say that, while the Democrats are trying to solve those problems, it will give the Republican Party an opportunity to repair and restore the reputation of the Grand Old Party. In 2024 the GOP will have a new look and a legitimate opportunity to retake the White House. I sincerely hope he is right!

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Whatever happened to the law and order, fiscally conservative and morally righteous congressional Republicans from the Eisenhower, Reagan, Bush and even the Nixon era as well? Today’s congressional Republicans, better known as “Trumpians,” have abandoned their oath to the Constitution by blindly capitulating to the wishes of President Trump! It is almost cult worship! Thus, the abolishment of the check and balance form of government that our founding fathers so ardently fought for!

In the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” the last phrase states “and wherever Mary went the lamb was sure to go.” Sheep are not smart animals. In fact, if a lead sheep would jump off a cliff into a deep ravine, the rest of the flock would immediately follow as well. Today’s Republicans are merely sheep in congressional clothing. They adhere to the adage, “The Emperor has no clothes” and are afraid to declare their allegiance to the Constitution or speak the truth for fear of being ostracized by President Trump. Their unconditional allegiance to Trump is more important than their allegiance to the Constitution. Thus, the rule of man becomes primary to the rule of law!

The nation is preparing itself to face the impending Trump impeachment trial by the Senate, and at least one black sheep Republican has emerged from the flock of senators. Mitt Romney has vocally on numerous occasions disagreed with the president on many issues. The question remains, how many other Republican senators will be willing to objectively evaluate the facts behind the various witnesses that have testified before the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees? How many are willing to critically evaluate and accept the under-oath testimonies of non-political career federal employees over that of political appointees by President Trump?

Trump’s rhetoric and behavior have thus far defined his authoritarian approach to governing America. We should have been more suspicious of his dictatorial attitude when he and President Putin of Russia met in Helsinki in a closed-door session without any other statesman from either country being present other than the translator. His seemingly admiration of countries with dictators over countries with democratic leaders is frightening. His comment that he could shoot someone in Fifth Avenue and nobody would care, is further evidence of his ego driven leadership. Unfortunately, Trump’s base supporters do not seem to care about his “I am above the law and I can do whatever I want attitude that scares the majority of Americans.

Trump’s blatant refusal to comply with Constitutional mandated congressional oversight committee requests for White House documents, subpoenaed witnesses, etc., indicates a pattern of obstruction of justice and thus warrants in itself an article of impeachment indictment. Even Presidents Clinton and Nixon eventually cooperated and complied with congressional oversight committee requests. If Trump is innocent of wrongdoing as he claims, then why does he continue to resist congressional oversight committee requests? Let the truth be known!

Many Constitutional experts claim that American democracy is in crisis. The destiny of our republic is really in our senators’ hands. Will they exercise their constitutional duties to objectively seek the truth by providing a fair trial? Or will the Republicans politically take the easy way out, since they have the majority, by simply absolving President Trump of any wrongdoing? If the latter is true, then we will have traded our republic form of government in for a monarchy! The king has absolute rule and that is exactly what President Trumps desires. May God bless America!

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At the beginning of the Trump presidency, most Americans had high hopes in his leadership, but were immediately shocked and dismayed by his demeaning attitude when interacting with various leaders and dignitaries throughout the world. He has in two short years managed to alienate most of our allies, and at the same time sing the praises of his relationships with the despots from Russia and North Korea.

Other than his base of supporters, most Americans deplore his arrogant attitude; his willingness to tell lies in an effort to promote his agenda to de-regulate just about everything that previous presidents were able to establish as policy; his inability to choose and keep quality leaders as evidenced by the number of guilty convictions by his inner associates; the corruptness of cabinet appointees necessitating resignations or firings; his egotist attitude and resistance to accept the advice of our intelligence institutions in contrast to his willingness to accept the word of Putin and Kim Jong-Un as truth without factual foundation!

Speaking of truths. His campaign promise and obsession to build a “wall” along the southern border of the United States and Mexico, combined with two failed attempts to have Congress agree with him by appropriating $5.6 billion, has caused him to act irrationally and more like a dictator than a president functioning under the Constitution. As most of you know, he has issued an executive order to declare a “national emergency,” in an effort to find sufficient funds from other government sources, primarily the military budget. His behavior in this matter is that of a spoiled kid who throws a tantrum when he does not get what he wants!

It appears to me that the Republican congressional leaders are at a political fork in the road. If they choose the path to the right, they will continue to acquiesce their constitutional power to govern to the whims and wishes of President Trump. Based on the results of the 2018 midterm voter turnout for Democrats, they will be taking a big risk of staying with Trump’s agenda. If they choose the path to the left, they will be exercising their constitutional power to act as a check and balance of abusive power emanating from the White House. In doing so, they take the risk of losing Trump supporters for their re-election efforts. What a conundrum!

A handful of Republican senators and representatives have already verbally expressed their objection to the decision of the president to declare a national emergency. The House has taken steps to pass a bill to stop his executive order. The question remains: Will the Republicans be willing to break ranks with the president when he vetoes the bill to stop his executive order? More importantly, what will Senators Romney and Lee do? Acquiesce or revolt?

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If a major financial institution like Wells Fargo were to introduce a procedure to delay without any penalty monthly mortgage payment requirements for federal workers, other institutions would inevitably follow its lead.

If a major credit card company like American Express would delay without penalty their monthly charge bill, I am sure others would follow as well.

If a major grocery chain like Kroger would absorb federal workers’ food costs, others would follow.

If a major Pharmacy company like Lily would absorb prescription drug costs for the workers, I am sure other companies would soon follow its example.

The logistics of this gesture would not be difficult to administer. The unemployed federal worker would simply submit to the institution(s) or company(s) a copy of a past paycheck stub or some other identification to indicate that he or she is a valid federal worker.

Americans helping Americans during times of natural disasters are rather commonplace. But corporations coming to the aid of innocent victims caught between the politics of running a government would be unprecedented.

However, there is a more expeditious solution to the federal workers’ dilemma and it falls completely in the hands of two people; Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump. As you know the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill to keep the government from shutting down prior to the Christmas holiday. The bill was presented by Mitch McConnell to the president and he promptly rejected signing it. Since then, McConnell has refused to bring any new bill to the president for fear that he would reject it as well.

The solution is simple: All Mitch McConnell has to do is follow his sworn oath to uphold the mandates as written in the Constitution by resubmitting the already bipartisan approved Senate bill to the president once again. If he vetoes the bill, it is then returned to the House and Senate for revision or Congress can vote to overturn his veto and the bill becomes law.

Lastly, President Trump’s campaign promise to build a wall on the southern border of the United States touting that Mexico would pay for its construction with a resounding “mark my words!” However, he now wants the American taxpayer to pay for the wall holding federal workers as hostages in a government shutdown in order to get Congress to approve over $5 billion for its construction. This bullying tactic should mark the end his presidency. “Mark My Words!”

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Universal health care for citizens living in European and Western democratic countries is basically free. These countries consider it a right for every citizen to have access to affordable health care for life. So the question remains: Why does America, the richest country in the world, have the worst and most expensive health care coverage for its citizens?”

As you well know, Republican legislators have for seven years vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Recently, they were so divided amongst themselves that they failed to come up with a bill in the Senate that would improve individual health care coverage for a lower cost and, at the same time, cover more citizens. However, in a last-ditch effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, Senators Graham and Cassidy proposed a bill that would essential transfer the responsibility of administering a health-care program from the federal government to the states.

Why the urgency now after previous failed attempts? In order to pass the bill, it had to 51 yes votes by the Senate Republicans before Sept. 30 voting provision expired.

Unfortunately for millions of needy citizens presently on Medicaid, under this bill they would eventually lose their health care coverage due to Federal Tax Reform priorities. In addition, the bill does not make provisions for prior debilitating aliments, thus allowing insurance companies the right to reject individual health care applications or require higher insurance premiums for those with prior physical conditions.

Why are the Republicans so obsessed with having to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act? Is it because they originally refused to participate in the discussion and drafting of the ACA bill and therefore do not have ownership in the health care plan? Why does Republican leadership consistently turn down the efforts of Democrats to work together in a bipartisan manner to fix the financial weaknesses of Obamacare? Is it because they want to reinvent the wheel and their egos prohibit them from accepting the ACA plan as being worthy? A plan that is presently very popular with the majority of Americans. Why are Republicans so determined to make health care a privilege for those who can afford it? Is it because they have always been prone to consider corporate America over individual needs?

If most of the civilized world considers affordable health care a right for all citizens rather than a privilege, should not Americans be given the same humane health care consideration as the rest of the world?

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What is troubling to most of us is that Comey’s firing is just another in a series of actions taken by President Trump and his staff, that casts a suspicious cloud over the possible collusion with the Russians regarding the election of 2016. Although the President has the constitutional right to fire a FBI Director, President Trump’s rationale for firing FBI Director Comey was simply that he is a “nut job, showboat, and lost the confidence and respect of his fellow FBI agents.” This appears to be irrationally conceived. This is just another example of Trump’s delusional behavior. It is mind boggling to think that even Trump supporters would applaud his action as sound judgement when nothing is specifically related to Comey’s incompetency. So who cannot handle the truth? Is it Comey or Trump?

What is equally concerning is Trump’s blatant disregard to communicate and solicit advice from members of congress prior to making major personnel or policy recommendations. Obviously, he listens to only a close circle of friends, with Steve Bannon being the most influential. This was evidenced by President Trump’s declaration to drop out of the Paris climate agreement. It is unbelievable to many of us that the United States is now aligned with Syria and Nicaragua as the only countries in the world not participating in reducing pollution on our planet! Trump’s America-first mantra has now placed us last as a world leader! He has managed in a few short months, to alienate our NATO allies to the point that they no longer can trust or look to America as the leader of the free world. As a result, our intelligence-sharing ability among friendly nations has been seriously damaged, if not permanently diminished.

If President Trump believes that Americans “can’t handle the truth” he is misguided and is vastly underestimating the intelligence of Americans. Does he really think that the American citizen cannot comprehend the fairytale “The emperor wore no clothes” overtly displayed by many of his fellow Republicans in Congress. A few Republican legislators verbally appear to be in opposition to President Trump on major decisions, but thus far their actions are much to the contrary.

Most Americans are hoping for the Republican-led Congress to step up for America and be accountable to their constituents not necessarily just to the White House. One does not have to be blind to see that President Trump is attempting to make the wealthy even wealthier by his tax reform proposal and at the same time omitting his promise to bring back a strong middle class to America. Finally, does President Trump really believe that most Americans are so gullible to believe that all of his statements are truths, especially when he states that the Russian interference into the 2016 election is all a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats for having lost the election! Good grief Charley Brown, what is happening to our America!

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Prior to the 2016 presidential elections, voters, who felt angered over their lack of economic opportunities, listened to and believed the promises of candidate Donald Trump. After his first 100 days in office, I wonder what their assessment of President Trump’s fulfillment of those promises, are today. I am sure that even some loyal Trump supporters will agree that his lack of diplomatic experience in foreign affairs, coupled with his emotional flip flop on positions regarding NATO, Syria, Iran, China, and Russia, have caused many Americans as well as our allies to fear the future well-being of the free world.

As for his domestic promises, I wonder if his supporters still have high expectations of his making America great again in the near future. As of this date, under his executive leadership, we have seen failed attempts in health care reform; banned Muslim immigration reform; China trade negotiation reform; the reversal of his position to drop out of NAFTA agreement; having Mexico pay for the construction of the wall; no attempt at implementing a bill for the infrastructure construction of our highways, bridges, and airports; and his one-page tax reform proposal which is only a tax cut for the wealthy. So, what has he managed to accomplish for the working class. He has managed to get Neil Gorsuch, confirmed to the Supreme Court; he has written several executive orders that propose to dismantle many of Obama’s safeguards regarding Wall Street, Banks, EPA, and National Parks; He has reduced federal spending by firing 146 lawyers from the Justice Department and by not filling various vacancies of non-political career workers in the Justice department, thus saving taxpayers’ money! However, I wonder what it costs the taxpayers for him to stay at his resort in Florida?

I am sure that his supporters believe that operating a highly successful business qualifies him for the office of the Presidency. However, a person cannot simply declare bankruptcy if things do not go well. The consequences of an ill-conceived emotional response to some domestic or international problem can be catastrophic. His egotistical attitude concerning North Korea, stating that we should stop using placating rhetoric and employ a show of American military power, is frightening. His arrogant persona and issuing ultimatums, rather than working for diplomatic solutions to control the aggressive behavior of North Korea’s emotionally unstable dictator, could lead us to war!

In conclusion, it is important that we not take what President Trump says literally, because he says whatever you want to hear, but rather what he does. His actions thus far, seem to be focused on the wealthy and not the ordinary working man, who heavily relied upon his promises as a rationale for voting for him. Finally to paraphrase Gore Vidal, noted author and political analyst, “when a person faced with injustices says ‘no’ and when the no grows into a chorus of people saying no loud enough … people march!” It is time for the middle class to march and confront our legislators at town hall meetings or at the ballot box!

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What if he chose for some of his cabinet members, three or four top ranking Democrats to head the Departments of Labor, Interior, Education, and Environmental Protective Agency? Might this be a first step in bipartisanship politics and lead to the depolarization of the citizenry?

What if he, after an in-depth study of Obama healthcare, decided to not repeal and replace the entire Affordable HealthCare Act, but to keep the best parts and improve upon the weakness of the Act? Sort of not throwing the baby out with the bath water! That would alleviate some of the fears that citizens are experiencing about losing their healthcare insurance.

What if he after conferring with advisors about rolling back all of Obama’s federal regulations on the banking and financial institutions, chose to keep only the ones that most protect citizens from another 2008 disastrous housing market crash?

What if he after conferring with many scientists about climate change and its effects on environments across the world, reversed his thinking and decided to keep some of the federal restrictions placed on industries disposing of their waste and polluting the rivers and air. Perhaps that would reduce the fears of many citizens who desire to have clean air to breath and clear water to drink.

We could go on and on about what ifs, but the reality is, that is not the persona of President Trump. The first month of his presidency has been, to many, a chaotic series of disastrous events and cabinet member nominees. His National Security Advisor had to resign because of his lying to officials about his previous involvement with the Russians. His ban on Muslim refugees was found by the Federal courts to be basically unconstitutional. His choice of E. Scott Pruitt to head the Department of EPA is under heavy scrutiny by the courts, inasmuch as when he was Attorney General of Oklahoma he had hundreds of email documents with the gas and oil companies. The ultimate issue surrounding Pruitt’s appointment is the fact that he has filed several lawsuits himself against the EPA in Oklahoma. He now has been ordered by the court to release these hundreds of e-mail documents that have him involved with the oil and gas industry.

The jury is still out about this president. The question remains, can he really change or will he remain the egotistical maverick republican that he so convincingly portrays? Based on his first month’s performance in office, I would say this country is more polarized than before, but he has managed to accomplish one thing, and that is in definitely energizing more citizen involvement in our political process.

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