AND SO, IT BEGINS

     The tears well at the corners of my eyes. I am not ashamed. I AM an honorably discharged combat arms veteran of the U.S. Army which approaches its 250th anniversary. I WAS a member of the Initial Response Group of American Airlines on 9/11.  I have recited the pledge of allegiance, stood and sung the national anthem, saluted as the colors pass, read the declaration of independence and the constitution, familiarized myself with U.S. and world history. I love my fellows and wish upon them only peace, grace and mercy     

     I am aware of the rise and fall of the earth's empires. The geographically largest empire was the Mongol. Genghis Khan subdued tribes from Asia to thru eastern Europe. It existed from 1206-1368. The Roman empire followed the Roman republic and existed from 27 BCE til 476 CE, 503 years. The British empire, upon which the sun never set in its geographical but discontinuous expanse. They varied in their composition and duration. The characteristic they all share is their fall. 

     The emergence of the United States as a force to be reckoned with upon the international stage is commonly considered to be the Spanish-American war of 1898.  At its conclusion the U.S. possessed lands far beyond its contiguous boundaries, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Preceding this expansion the U.S. had expanded upon the continent thru conquest (genocide), war, and commerce (Louisiana Purchase, Alaska Purchase).

    Through industrial capabilities spurred by military actions and capitalist greed, the U.S. has come to be considered a superpower. The influence of the United States has ebbed and flowed. Generally, its course has been the expansion of influence and power through economic coercion, covert political action, and military force.

     During the 20th century, and now, with the first 2 decades of the 21st there have been those who have sought to emulate the influence and power of the United Sates. They have failed. They have shared a vision but have lacked scope or commitment to suffer for a goal.  Their primary choice to gain positions of authority and power was not to engage the voice and spirit of the people but to instill fear through police and military action.

     Joseph Stalin had millions imprisoned and executed. Mao Zedong practiced reeducation and capital punishment. Rodrigo Duterte, a man who Trump has professed to admire engaged in extrajudicial executions. He has praised the Chines President Xi JinPing as “an exceptionally brilliant individual who governs 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.”

     We must recognize our current President has no commitment to the maintenance of our republic but seeks to grasp and expand his personal power and fortune. 

     What is beginning in Los Angeles is just a starting point for martial law and fascist oppression.  He has historical figures upon which to derive methodology and cautions.  We have numbers and for the moment, the ability to resist this catastrophe.  Do not naively deny a lifetime of self-interest and narcissism. He has surrounded himself with those who are willing to act in any manner to accrue his approval. They will act as commanded.  Their role models are among civilization's worst. Prepare for the likes of this.

     Trump, a man previously endorsed by a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke. Trump, speaking of immigrants "poisoning the blood of our country", then denying he was aware Hitler has used the same words about Jews.

     Regarding previous protestors, “Can’t you just shoot them, just shoot them in the legs or something?”  This man is afraid to perform violence but is utterly comfortable in ordering others to implement it in his stead. Punishment, even torture is not so much the goal as instituting fear that others will not oppose him.

     He has contemplated shooting citizens who have not bent their knee. He has federalized the National Guard to force compliance with his desires. He has deployed active-duty Marines to "provide security". The Marine Corp mission is to close with and destroy the enemy, not to provide security.

     If you are old enough to remember Kent State, then you must know that 4 dead is not even a beginning.  The U.S. has previously exercised violence upon its citizens.  If you are not willing to resist the current regime at personal risk, you are complicit.  Will you act as an American patriot with rights and responsibilities, or will you pledge fealty to a King and assume you place as a peasant?

     Will I shed tears of joy or despair?

Whaduyathink?

  

      

     

                                                     The American Kristallnacht

June 6, 2025, ICE and other Federal law enforcement officers engaged in immigration enforcement operations.

They encountered protests and demonstrations opposed to their operations.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt , The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.

The Department of Homeland Security said "Last night, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer-funded property," according to DHS. "Our ICE enforcement officers are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them."  "In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California."

I find it amazing that based upon the statements of the government making declarations of purported violence, assaults, and overwhelming numerical superiority of "rioters" and "looters" I have not come upon any reports of injury or death among law enforcement engaged in the "normal" immigration enforcement actions.

The White House released a statement, "These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States."

I assume this invasion is the reason the current administration and legislature has developed and is debating a comprehensive immigration policy. Oh, wait, that's not a thing yet, but no doubt it will be offered "very soon" and be the "best ever".

While ICE raids places of employment, schools, immigration courts and other locations where undocumented workers are engaged in other than criminal activity, I have yet to hear of any hiring managers being arrested and arraigned. This regime is engrossed in political theater and will not be distracted by the rule of law.

Citizen, immigrant, refugee, foreign national, permanent resident, they are ALL our fellow members of humanity. Manifold claims have been made the U.S. is a Christian nation. I understand that without Jesus, there is no Christianity. That being the case, let me refer you to him and his stance on foreigners. Matthew 25:35-40 35 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?"40 And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." 

Are there criminals among the undocumented immigrant population? Of course there are. Those currently empowered to form and execute the policies and laws of the nation would have you believe criminals from other countries are overwhelming our cities and states. They do not want you to have the facts that immigrants have a lower rate of criminal activity than citizens.

The goal here is to promote fear. A fearful populace is a more easily controlled and manipulated populace. They are more easily convinced to allow their "leaders" to amass and exercise power and authority over the "other". They fail to realize this power will also be exercised upon them.

The current regime has dehumanized undocumented immigrants for years. "... Many of those people will probably have AIDS, and they’re coming into our country. And we don’t do anything about it, we let everybody come in. ... It’s like a death wish for our country.”  "...they’re not humans, they’re not humans. They’re animals.’” “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.” All of these are an effort to convince us to unite to protect ourselves from the threat of the "other". It is propaganda. However, my favorite is, “I think the real number is 15, 16 million people into our country. When they do that, we got a lot of work to do. They’re poisoning the blood of our country.” A fellow named Adolf Hitler used the same terms in a book, Mein Kampf.

This is ALL a ploy to promote authoritarianism and permit the complete exercise of power by the executive. According to this regime, laws are not to serve and protect you but are merely unreasonable constraints upon the power of the President.

Protests and demonstrations are not protected activities. You may not assemble if your views are counter to those presented by Trump and his ilk. Seeking redress is only to be characterized as politicizing the legal system and therefore invalid.

The President of the United States is federalizing the National Guard of the state of California to repress citizens exercising their constitutional rights.  We will learn that due process is a burden upon the current administration to be ignored for immigrants AND citizens.

How many of you have entertained the thought you would have resisted the Nazis in the 1930's? Well, the 2030's are almost here, so, prove it.

Whaduyathink?

 

What say you, MAGATS?

 The United States government, of which Donald J. Trump is the chief executive; has seized a legal resident. 

That resident was protected by a court order from 2019 forbidding The United States government from sending him to El Salvador, his native country.

 It is documented he has no criminal record. ICE was aware of his legal, protected status when the U.S. gestapo took him into custody.

This resident has been repatriated to El Salvador, with no due process. He is held in a prison renowned for its grim, primitive, cruel abuses. of which Donlad J. Trump is the chief executive; claims U.S. courts lack the jurisdiction to order his return. This resident is being held in a "Terrorism Confinement Center", although he is not a terrorist, a criminal, nor a threat to the United States. 

OUR government, and by that, I mean YOU and ME have condemned an innocent man, a legal resident to imprisonment, family separation, and possible torture.

I am ashamed. I desire justice in our nation, but I observe acts of theater to pacify the masses as their country is How many innocent, legal residents will be denied due process, the protection of law? Who may be sacrificed to placate the ego of Donald J. Trump? Are you willing to forfeit your rights and those of your family to appease our Narcissist in Chief? 

Today it is Kilmar, tomorrow, Sally. Are you a patriot or a patsy?subjugated in a hostile takeover at the hands of the haves, oligarchs. They distract and deceive while they engorge their purses at your expense. Their lies and deceit hidden by false promises of shared benefit.

This legal resident has a name, he is Kilmar Abrego Garcia. 

Whaduyathink?

Howard who?

I'm certain everyone knows who Howard Lutnick is. He's a cabinet member of the Trump administration. Howard is the Commerce Secr4etary, the guy responsible for making sure your social security check is processed. He's also a big Elon Musk Doge slash and burn fan.

How do those things go together? I'm thrilled you asked. With all those 150+ plus year old folks fraudulently being paid there has to be a reckoning. How can we winnow the chaff from the wheat?

With all the staff cutbacks at SSA, there is a greater than 0% chance your social security payment may be late or not issued at all. To some that may appear to be a bug. However, since it is already a known deficiency, no doubt it will be addressed sooner rather than later.

Well, wwaaiitt just a minute. According to Mr. Lutnick, this may be an opportunity to address all the fraud that Mr. Musk and his DOGE lackies have identified. 

To quote Mr. Lutnick, “Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain. She just wouldn’t. She’d think something got messed up and she’ll get it next month.” By contrast, he said, “a fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining". He suggested that only “fraudsters” and people “stealing” from the government would complain if they didn’t get their Social Security checks next month.

Now, Howard and Elon are both billionaires. They, no doubt, are in touch with the common folk, people who actually collect social security benefits. Surely in the search for unity anyone who does not receive a payment next month will be able to keep their displeasure to themselves to allow Howard and Elon to identify all those fraudsters.

So, be honest, be quiet, be happy, even if you're suffering.

Whaduyathink?

Straight up Shake down

 On March 14, 2025, Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order from the office of the President of the United States. It is entitled "ADDRESSING RISKS FROM PAUL WEISS". . This is an international law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul Weiss). . 

In 2021 this firm filed suit against some individuals who participated in the attack on the Capital on January 6, 2021. The Executive Order states explicitly this is the basis for the order. Additionally, the order states prosecution against Donlad J. Trump, personally, was manufactured. Claims were also made the law firm and individuals within or previously associated with the firm makes decisions around “targets” based on race and sex. 

To address such grievances security clearances were revoked, ALL contracts cancelled, even access to Federal property was limited.

Skip to today, March 21, 2025. The Executive Order is rescinded. Here's why, "Paul, Weiss had agreed to "take on a wide range of pro bono matters that represent the full spectrum of political viewpoints of our society," to disavow the use of diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in its hiring and promotion decisions and to dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in free legal services to support Trump administration policies on issues including assistance for veterans and countering anti-Semitism." This is according to the White House. 

I predict that in some manner, The White House will frame this as a savings for the American taxpayer. This is nothing other than blackmail.

Whaduyathink?

He loves the uneducated

 March 14, 2025

President Trump, "We're turning the page on four long years of corruption,..."

Context 

Criminal indictments of appointees in 1st Trump administration: 215

Criminal indictments of appointees in Biden administration:         0

"The American people have given us a mandate, a mandate like few people thought possible. We won every single swing state. We won the popular vote by millions and millions of people. "

Context

Maybe he meant million and million of votes since the difference was actually 2,287, 967.

"And that's why on day one, I signed an executive order banning all government censorship and directing the removal of every bureaucrat who conspired to attack free speech and many other things and values in America."

Context

You can disregard those independent media outlets banned from press conferences and air force one. It's not like a part of the government is muzzling the free flow of information.

"We also terminated the clearances of the Biden crime family and Joe Biden himself. He didn't deserve it. In fact, he was essentially found guilty, but they said he was incompetent and therefore, let's not find him guilty, I guess. Nobody knows what that ruling was, but I didn't want any part of it. I think I would have rather been found guilty than what they found with him."

Context

Refer to above reference to criminal indictments. Nobody knows what the ruling was because there was no such inquiry upon which to rule. He didn't want any part of it because there was nothing to be a part of. At this point Trump is just making up shit to spew.

"They're going to have a crime free capital again. It's going to be cleaner and better and safer than it ever was and it's not going to take us too long. 

Context

Again? No city in the United States has ever been crime free. How long is not too long? Are there any people who listen to this and think, yes, yes that?

"Gasoline has come down, down to a level that we haven't seen in a long time."

Context

Average price of gasoline 1/20/25 $3.08 3/14/25 $3.07. 

"And now you see that, by the way, the price of eggs is down 35 percent in the last week and a half. "

Context

Price of eggs 1/20/25 $4.95, 3/14/25 $4.90. All the exorbitant prices have occurred on Trumps watch. He's claiming same type of victory in being able to rein in his own excesses.

"We had an amazing judge in Florida, and her name is Aileen Cannon, and I didn't know her. I still don't know her. I don't believe I ever spoke to her, even during the trial. "

Context

Well, except that he nominated and appointed her to her position. 

"I think we're doing now well with Russia. We're speaking with President Putin. We want to get the war over. Not only have we spent maybe $350 billion to Europe's -- think of that, $350 billion to $100 billion and yet we're across the ocean far away."

Context

Since 2022 the U.S. has pledged $175 billion to aid Ukraine. Please note a difference of 50% being pledged and the President of the U.S. lying about it. The U.S. has actually provided about $122.2 billion which is slightly more than the EU's $121.2 billion.

"Right now, you have a lot of Ukrainian soldiers that are encircled and in grave danger and I've asked them not to kill those soldiers, please, not to kill those soldiers. We don't want them killed. It's such a shame to see what's happened. A thing like that would have never happened. Inflation would have never happened."

Context

Well, maybe we shouldn't have halted aid and intelligence briefs. And how the hell does that pertain to domestic inflation?

All his speech is available verbatim at rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-department-of-justice-march-14-2025 . If you can read it in its entirety and come away believing the U.S. is secure and democracy is strong, you have not a smidge of comprehension.

Conceal and betray

 The President of the United States is hiding his actions from other branches of government.

He is acting in concert with President Bukele of El Salvador. Trump has used a statute that has only been used during a declared war to deport those he claims are gang members, with no due process.

They will be imprisoned for at least a year in El Salvador and the United States will pay for them to be incarcerated in a country other than that of origin. A federal judge barred President Donald Trump on Saturday from using a wartime powers act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members without a hearing, ordering the administration to turn around any planes that had already taken off.

When they landed in El Salvador, Bukele mocked the judge on X, “Oopsie, too late,” followed by a laughing emoji. A White House official celebrated his post with a meme, saying, “Boom!”. Our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio participated as well, responding, “Thank you for your assistance and friendship, President Bukele,”.

Trump and his administration actually hid this act from the judicial branch and is acting contrary to clear legislative intent in his use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Who cannot recognize this as dysfunctional and the existential threat it poses not only to democracy but the survival of the U.S. as anything other than a failed state?