Musings:
•The Sins of Donald J. Trump (chapter 13). He has:
Authorized the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela as a first step toward ousting Nicholas Madura from his presidency;
Paused “lower-priority” Army Corps of Engineers projects in “blue” cities and states and may end them altogether;
Threatened to declare war on Venezuela, South America’s “drug cartel”;
Cut $40 million from California’s transportation funding because of the state’s lack of enforcement of English-language standards for truck drivers;
Imported Argentinian beef at the expense of American ranchers;
Demolished the White House’s East Wing in order to construct a “big, beautiful ballroom”;
Encouraged House speaker Mike Johnson place the chamber on an unlimited “recess” in order to do whatever he wants to do without congressional interference;
Sought to acquire technology which would use anyone’s cell phone as spyware against them;
Fired all of the members of the Commission of Fine Arts, which advises the government on matters of design and aesthetics, i.e. Federal construction projects;
Claimed that he ended eight wars in various countries around the globe (more on this shortly);
Threatened to invade Nigeria after hearing a report of alleged atrocities against Christians by Muslims; and
Called for stricter voter ID laws and an end to mail-in ballots in the wake of major wins of Democrats in special elections.
•I recently paid a visit to a local food pantry in order to make a donation and spotted a new message on the entrance. Ever the curious fellow, I decided to read it. It read, in English and in Spanish, “ICE is not welcome here.” My initial thought was “Right on!” My second thought was “ICE is not welcome anywhere.”
The horror stories continue to pile up across the nation as Trump’s bully boys snatch up anyone who looks suspicious, regardless of gender, age, race, or status. Many of the victims are dragged out of their vehicles, homes, and places of employment or worship; they are roughed up if they attempt to protect themselves and/or prove their status as Americans. Then they are shoved into unmarked vehicles and taken to “processing stations.” Many are returned to where they were apprehended without so much as an apology for their treatment.
These bully boys are also “unmarked.” They wear masks, but no badges or name tags – and possess no warrants. The Trumpists will tell you that the ICE agents masquerade themselves in order to protect their families from bodily harm from outraged citizens. Never mind that the bully boys are wrecking other people’s families with their Gestapo-like tactics. Orders is orders, don’t you know?
If The Chas had his way about it, he would round up every last one of this sorry lot and ship them off to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they would be tried as “enemy combatants” and sentenced to a bit of “R-and-R.” That’s not “rest and relaxation,” folks; it’s “reform and rehabilitation.”
And then it’s off to abolish the Department of Homeland Security, America’s home-spun KGB. The Chas remembers when the DHS was created, lo! these many years ago; his first thought was “Oh, boy! Nothing good will come of this.” History has a nasty habit of repeating itself, don’t you know?
•Speaking of “reform and rehabilitation,” Aurora’s chief MAGA cheerleader is in sore need of some. Bela Suhayda has claimed that Trump has “brought peace to the Middle East.” This is strictly wishful thinking on his part. In Palestine, only a truce has been observed in order to exchange hostages, living and dead; war has been put on hold and may resume in a moment’s notice if Netanyahu has his way of things. Peace comes about when the warring parties sit down at the same table, hash out the terms to end the war, sign a peace treaty, and observe it diligently forever and ever.
Given the recent history of Palestine, this may take a while (if ever). Both sides have insisted upon certain conditions before they will sit down at the same table, and neither party likes the conditions presented by the other. Call The Chas a pessimist if you will, dear reader, but he sees history without rose-colored glasses. B.S. should take his pair of glasses off. He will see clearly then.
Just a thought.