This just in: One thing that I feel certain about is that someone has been radicalized. I’m less sure that that “someone” is not me.

Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the one that is drinking the Kool Aide.

If so, how did that happen? I don’t watch Fox News so maybe I’m missing out on “facts”. I watch some MSNBC but am well aware of their biases. Most of my news comes from Reddit where virtually every news outlet is represented. It’s Front Page represents those articles that have been upvoted by readers as being legit, fair and newsworthy. Maybe this isn’t perfect but it’s as close as I can get to “real news.”

So, let’s suppose I have been radicalized. How would this impact my perception of reality? I’ll post a few opinions that I have about the Republican Party and you decide if I’m wrong; if my view of reality has been skewed.

1. The leader of the Republican Party is Trump. He is possibly one of the worst human beings ever to gain public notoriety. He’s a life-long grifter, a liar, an insurrectionist and bully. The documentation supporting this seems to be vast. His incompetence while in office is well documented.
2. I saw a guy on TV the other day say it was unfair that the Liberal Communist Media was picking on Trump. Think about that…Liberal….Communist….Media. Where did he get that from? What is a single example of a liberal media being communist?
3. Republicans seem to have a political platform that boils down to: Let’s cherry pick some things that are not going well and blame Democrats. The implication is “Since we noticed inflation, you should assume that we have a secret plan to fix it.” They don’t.
4. There is a Far Side cartoon where a book from treating different horse ailments is “Shoot.” This reminds me of the Republican solution to every economic problem: Tax cuts for the rich (aka trickle down economics). Note: not only is this one of the most widely panned economic policies of all time, it is the very same policy that nearly sank the economy in the UK just a couple of weeks ago.
5. Republicans seem to have an affinity for Putin.
6. Republicans seem to be very tolerant of Racism.
7. Republican have absolutely no problem looking you right in the face and claiming that Trump won the last election. They do this while being well aware that it is a lie.
8. Republicans work hard at voter suppression as a way to win elections. Why not try doing so with sound governing solutions.
9. It there is a Republican platform beyond “blame Democrats” it is, “Stop the Democrats from achieving anything that will make them look good.” In other words, if the Democrats had a magic potion to cure cancer, the Republicans would vote against making it available.

In the end, my Radicalization has not resulted in my “opposition” to policies but rather my “disgust” at behaviors.

For example: If someone wants to win by suppressing a vote, just say so. Don’t be such a coward that you need to hide your motive. Just say, “I have nothing to offer so I need to keep that people that are likely to notice that from voting.” That would be so refreshing.

I’m tired of the lies and manipulation. It’s resulted in my radicalization; a state where I feel like the Republican Party has nothing to offer in the way of solution for anything. Radicalization has caused me to see Republican voters as being easily manipulated, intellectually lazy and at the very least, tolerant of racism.

This disappoints me.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: I am a Democrat. I like Liz Cheney, a Republican. I oppose nearly every political position she has taken. However, she has character. That is something I value above all else in a political contest.

Let’s take a look at what a lack of character looks like.

Hershel Walker is a candidate for senate in the state of Georgia. His resume includes the following:

1. Claims to have graduated in the top 1% of his class in college. In fact, he never graduated from college.
2. Held a gun to his ex-wife’s head and threatened to kill her.
3. Has 4 children with 4 different women and raised none.
4. He is an election denier which is the same thing and “an insurrectionist supporter.”
5. He claimed to be a law enforcement officer and an FBI agent. He is neither.
6. Claims he is against abortion and yet paid for one and tried to get the same woman to have another.
7. Claims his opponent is responsible for high gas prices. He is not.

He is a prolific liar with no political experience and lacks the intellect to do the job.

And yet…

1. Newt Gingrich says that Walker brings a “deep commitment to Christ” to the senate. This is coming from a 3-time adulterer talking about a the antithesis of a good dad and family man. He is ignoring that the man Walker is trying to replace is an actual practicing preacher.
2. Tom Cotton is going to Georgia to speak on Walker’s behalf. This says a lot about Cotton.
3. Trump likes Walker because Walker was a famous football player in college.

These are the Men of Character that represent to vast bulk of the Republican Party.

There are nearly 300 Republican running for office in the midterms on a platform that includes, “Donald Trump is the rightful president of the United States.”

Think about this.

Republicans are supporting insurrectionists. Republicans are blaming everything on Democrats but have no solutions of their own to offer. They are racist, with one Republican saying something like “Democrats want crime. They want to pay reparations so that people can take you things from you.” The implication is that black skin = crime and that Democrats want to bribe black people to steal from you because they don’t want you to have nice things.

This is the Republican platform.

In spite of all of this, it’s a toss-up as to who will have the majority in the senate after midterms.

I find this disappointing.

Not because “my side” might lose. But rather, because, so many are willing to ignore character and simply vote for their “tribe” because that is what they have always done.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: I say, “Call their bluff.” Call everyone’s bluff.

Let’s take just 3 examples:

Putin is implying that he will use tactical nuclear warheads if his newly “annexed” Ukrainian properties are invaded. What should we do? We can cower. However, this will mean that anyone with a nuclear weapon can now threaten us…and win. North Korea can say, “I now own Hawaii and if you don’t give it to me I will drop some nukes.” Saying, “I have nukes and I’m not afraid to use them,” will become the equivalent of our filibuster where it is no longer required to take the stage and talk for 24 hours; you just need to threaten to do it.

Yes, maybe Putin isn’t bluffing. But either way, failure to challenge him effectively makes him the ruler of the world. A tactical nuclear device will wipe out a city. The next day, Putin will see his army defeated and his navy at the bottom of the oceans. The United States may not be good at fighting non-traditional wars like in Afghanistan. But when it comes to army vs. army, we are professionals and no one should ever doubt the outcome. Against Russian, it wouldn’t even be close.

A second example; Republicans are threatening a civil war if Trump is indicted for ANY of him numerous crimes. We can say, “Hey, let’s not get all angry about this,” and give Trump a pass. What this means is that ANY president going forward is immune from ANY prosecution for ANY act that he commits.

I say, “Charge Trump and then let’s take note of who is causing violence…and put them away.”

A final example is the 299 election deniers that are running for office in this midterm. Maybe I should better call them election “De-Liars” since they know the election wasn’t stolen then just like to say that. Here is a link to a Washington Post article that is almost beyond belief. We can not show up to vote and let Republicans vote these people into office.

Yes, let’s do that. Let’s see what happens in Arizona when the majority of the population votes for a Democrat for president and the Republican Secretary of State say, “Nah…we are going to cast all of our electors for a Republican.” Let’s see what Americans do when that happens to them.

I predict that most will not miss an opportunity to vote the frauds out next time around…if they can. I say this because Orban in Hungary has made it impossible for anyone to vote him out of office. Republicans will find a way to squirm around and ultimately justify why the electors sent to D.C. didn’t reflect the will of the people.

To bluff is to make the other person think you have a winning hand when you have nothing. Putin is bluffing. Republicans are bluffing. I say, call their bluff, not because we’re brave. Call their bluff because we refuse to live in fear.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim

This just in: Having a lot of followers on Twitter does not make one a good person. Nor does it make someone qualified to fill a political seat; especially on a national scale.

Let’s start with this: When I say “Republican” I am referring to racists; I’m referring to Christian evangelicals; I’m referring to militia groups; I’m referring to liars and grifters. Granted, not all Republicans fall into these categories. However, the people that Republican select to represent them certainly do. Reach your conclusions about what this implies.

Another note: I once boasted that I never voted along party lines. I always tried to vote for the best candidate. That is not quite true anymore. While I don’t always vote for a Democrat, I ALWAYS vote against a Republican.

I can hear it now, “Jim, wait a minute. Let’s hear what this Republican has to say first.” To me, that is like someone in 1939 in Germany saying, “Wait, let’s hear what this NAZI has to say first.”

Someone that chooses to run as a Republican in today’s Republican Party has told me everything I need to know about that candidate.

Still, some candidates really stick out.

Herschel Walker for one. He’s running to be a senator for the state of Georgia. He has had all sorts of bad press in recent months. He’s essentially a young Trump. He is a prolific liar and has the IQ of a shrub. Today, it comes out that this Pro-Life guy paid for his girlfriend’s abortion. He denies this although she has a paper trail including a bill from the clinic and a check from Walker. Also today, one of Walker’s sons has sent out a tweet saying his dad is a person that has spent his life making others miserable.

Then we have Dr. OZ who is running for a senate seat in Pennsylvania. He is not only hugely unqualified but has made a career out of promoting “snake oil” on his TV show. Being a grifter is a main qualification for running for office as a Republican. However, as far as actual experience or qualifications for the job of senator…he has none.

There are a number of others. Johnson out of Wisconsin has to be the dumbest, most racist insurrectionist there is. And yet, he may just win another term.

And finally, we have the most likely (as of today) Republican candidate for president…Trump.

This is what the GOP has to offer you.

Think about it.

Time to save the world.

Up, up and away…

Jim