GLAD I'M NOT A DEMOCRAT

I renounced being a Democrat in 1964.  I am glad that because I am a registered Independent, I am ineligible to vote in primaries held in the state of Florida; this year I am thankful for that as I would not be able to choose between them.  They are as fine a group of candidates as I have seen in many years.  I will gladly vote for any one of them in the General Election.

A PUBLIC SERVICE FOR WOMEN

Trump says that he did not rape a New York woman because she was "not his type". This, of course, leaves open the possibility that he would rape a woman who is his type.  As a public service, the appropriate authorities should ascertain what type of woman should fear being raped by the President so that they can avoid any contact with him

PRE-ELECTION JITTERS?

Trump's story about asking the military, with minutes to spare, about casualties in undertaking a retaliation raid on Iran, just does not have the ring of truth to it.  Not only would his briefing have estimated Iranian casualties but would have contained an assessment of possible damage inflicted on our own troops in Iraq in response to such an attack.  That the attack on Iran would have imperiled thousands of our men in Iraq might have appeared as a footnote in the assessment provided to Trump, by the military, and Trump's aides only got around to reading it just minutes before the scheduled attack.  The fact that a large number of our own casualties might have a major effect on the 2020 election was probably not lost on Trump's people.

TRUMP'S NOBEL PRIZE

It is said that now that Trump has stopped our military from punishing Iran for the downing of a drone aircraft, he has instructed our ambassador in Norway to make sure he receives the Nobel Peace Prize before the 2020 election.  After all, who better to receive it than a person who doesn't start one to begin with?

HISTORY OF ATTACKING THE WRONG COUNTRY

Despite the fact that the Taliban, an ally of Saudi Arabia and a foe of Iran, has claimed responsibility, Trump and his surrogates are claiming that Iran attacked vessels in the Persian Gulf.  Pictures of the vessels seem to back up the Taliban claims because they show 2 small holes in the vessel's outer hull and no oil leaking.  Had they been hit by an Iranian missile, they would be pictures of a fireball since they were carrying a combustible material.  

With our history of attacking the wrong country, it is little wonder that the world is skeptical of Trump's claims.

STRESS FOR TRUMP, QUANDARY FOR PUTIN

Threats, possibly arising within his own administration, to his reelection efforts, are putting much stress on Trump, in recent days,
Just when Trump has advised his Russian allies that they are clear to provide assistance, as needed, to his 2020 campaign efforts, an article appears in the NewYork Times that the U.S. has the capacity to retaliate on the Russian electricity grid.  Trump is infuriated by this undermining of his efforts to enlist Russian assistance and rushes to assure them that the U.S. has no such capability.

Now the Russians have to decide whether to believe Trump, the source of over 10,000 lies, or resistance to Trump within the U.S. bureaucracy.  Should Putin risk massive retaliation or let Trump take his chances in an election.

BIG PHARMA FOLLY

Even as prices for pharmaceuticals soar out of the range of affordability for much of the American public, Big Pharma is spending millions on TV ads to convince us not to change the system so Big Pharma can have many new breakthrough drugs which we will not be able to afford either.

PYTHONS CAN'T SOLVE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS EITHER

To those who wonder how an ignorant person such as Trump could have been so successful in life, I say, in a world of snakes, cunning can substitute for knowledge quite successfully.

IF THE CLAMORING OF THE PEOPLE...

If the clamoring of the people could keep a President in office beyond the allotted term, as Trump is implying, Obama would still be in office,

PUTIN HOLDS ALL THE TRUMP CARDS

Rumor has it that his Russian handler is incensed at Trump for having the nerve to invite other nations to compete for his services in the U.S.

Putin is demanding that Trump walk back his offer to look at other countries hacks of campaign opponents.  I expect that Putin's holding all the Trump cards and he, Trump, will be walking all those comments back over and over again.

A PLEA TO MY CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS

The Republican Minority leader in Congress has just made a statement, conflating the role of Hillary Clinton's campaign in the Steele dossier and Trump's announcement of acceptance of foreign aid in U.S. elections.

I'm sure that the Russian meme factories, that supply hundreds of  Russian-made memes to my conservative friends, will pick up on the remarks which will, in turn, result in hundreds of memes echoing the allegations, which will eventually clog my email inbox. I beg you to spare me from the deluge.  Here's why:

1. The Steel Dossier was first commissioned by a Republican opponent in their primary contest with Trump.  It was under a contract with an American firm for opposition research.  The Republican campaign, that commissioned the research paid for the research they did not receive it as a gift.  I'm sure that the Republican campaign reported the expenditure.  So far, no U.S. law was broken.  After the Republican primaries, an American campaign,  namely the Clinton campaign picked up the expenses for the research and likewise reported the expenses as required by law. Neither the Republican campaign nor the Democratic campaign violated any U.S. law.

2. The Steele Dossier was given to the F.B.I. not only by John McCain but by Steele, himself, a man who had worked closely with the F.B.I. as an Intelligence officer for the British Government.

3. None of the material within the Steele Dossier was hacked or obtained in violation of U.S. law.

There are no grounds whatsoever for conflating the Steele Dossier with the clandestine assistance given to Trump by the Russians, except for the purposes of  fabricating a Russian-made meme

THE MAKING OF A HEINOUS, TREASONABLE CRIME

In a recent television interview, Trump made it plain that he felt no compunction to call the F.B.I. or to not accept derogatory material, on an opponent, from a foreign power.  I am sure, however, that this would be completely reversed if, say, a NATO ally, with excellent moles in the Kremlin, would provide a copy of the pee tape to a Democratic Presidential candidate, whereupon it would become a heinous, treasonable crime, 

MEXICO! MEXICO??

Mexico promises to control immigration from Central America if the U.S. does not impose tariffs.  Mexico?  Isn't that the same country Trump asked to pretend that they were going along with paying for the wall to allow Trump to save face. Does anyone actually believe that Mexico, the land of the "Mordida", the "little bribe" could stop the inflow even if the central government wanted to?  As Trump's fellow New Yorkers would say: "FAHHGGEDDAABOUT IT"  

Trump will not impose tariffs on Mexican goods because he is unable to, just as Mexico is unable to stop Central Americans from coming across their southern border.

THE QUINTESSENTIAL POLITICAL ACT

Democrats who criticize their fellow Democrats for political considerations when weighing impeachment, saying it is a constitutional duty, ignore the fact that the constitution has made impeachment, itself, the quintessential political act.

Additionally,  Republicans would be overjoyed to end the matter of the impeachment of President Trump in the fall of 2019, a year before the general elections, than have it fresh in the memories of voters months before the elections.  Democrats also ignore the fact that impeachment is meaningless without removal which must be done in the Senate.  A vote in favor of removal might be possible after the Republican primaries when Republican Senators face the elections but is extremely unlikely before the primaries.

Democrats should practice judicious patience instead of wanting instant gratification.

ISN'T IT STRANGE...?

Isn't it strange that during the Administration of the most anti-immigrant President in our history, illegal immigration should peak?

You think it might have something to do with the policies of that President?

OF INACTION AND COWARDICE

If the officer at the Parkland high school is found to be criminally liable for cowardice for not confronting gun violence, should not the politicians who will not confront the N.R.A. out of fear for their position likewise be penalized?  If inaction becomes criminal, will the G.O.P. leaders in the Senate and House, face trial for not allowing votes on the floors of both Houses for gun control laws?