Can you trust a Republican?

The answer is no. Why? Because their foundation is lying and deceit.

It will be wrongful for most people, no matter what they say or try to do.

They are so fraudulent as an institution, political party, and organization that I advocate revoking their license to existence. They should become a do-over.

"Trump averaged about six claims a day in his first year as president, 16 claims per day in his second year, 22 claims a day in this third year — and 39 claims a day in his final year. Put another way, it took him 27 months to reach 10,000 claims and an additional 14 months to reach 20,000. He then exceeded the 30,000 mark less than five months later."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/24/trumps-false-or-misleading-claims-total-30573-over-four-years/

The Washingon Post

Bring Back Earmarks

I am not talking about ear piercings; it is about legislation and the power of the purse of Congressional committee chairpersons.

The supplemental reward for Congressional committee chairpersons was the ability to add earmarks to bills that would direct funding to specific programs executed in their districts and other favorable representatives' districts. The legislated work was legitimate, serving particular needs while rewarding the Chairperson's district with a share of the work and financial benefit. 

Having taken earmarks, aka supplementals and plus-ups, away from the Chair, there is no way for the Chair to bring home the bacon. 

"A committee chair serves as the committee leader, with responsibility for setting the course and direction of the panel for committee members and the House and for managing an extensive professional and paraprofessional staff. The senior committee staff should ensure the Chair's goals are carried out effectively.

Once a committee chair is selected during the postelection transition period, they, often in consultation with others, make a series of decisions and take a series of actions. Some actions complete a committee's duties in Congress just ending. Other actions are taken in anticipation of the new Congress and then in the new Congress. Decisions may be related to the committee's policy calendar; the committee's administrative functions; the Chair's responsibilities during committee sessions; the role of committee members; the relationship with the committee's ranking minority member, other chairs, and party leaders; subcommittee leaders; and other subjects. Many decisions are made with a deadline imposed by House rules.

Precisely, a committee chair controls the selection of committee staff, authorizes expenditures from the committee budget, establishes operational and ethics policies, determines committee travel allocations, decides the content of the committee website, and is responsible for the administration of the committee's rooms, paperwork, and other operations. Most committees entrust the drafting of the budget to the committee chair, although a committee's minority party members seek to ensure that they receive an appropriate allocation of resources. Before the Chair introduces a funding resolution, the committee approves the Chair's draft budget."

https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL34679.html

Image: Investopedia 

Loyalty to Trump, the Criminal

Incredible is how apparent the insipid ignorance, bigotry, misogyny, and brutality of the Republican portion of the American public. The affront to the rule of law, the insurrection, and the unAmerican behavior are wholly unacceptable.

Standing by Trump is a declaration of war against our nation, and I won't accept it. Resist--push back--treat Republicans as the traitors they are. 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/31/media/fox-news-viewers-poll-reliable-sources/index.html?utm_term=1690888268015aae063473f20&utm_source=cnn_Five+Things+for+Tuesday%2C+August+1%2C+2023&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=3i%2B3WDdWOyAgj%2BOI0Ms%2FQmPHsuHUw1RCa7V5lxZkjT9GxOko9hpWU%2BLnvL%2BNGUV4&bt_ts=1690888268018

How to Bolster Russian Pride

There may be better words than bolstering. Russians have a lot of pride. They are famous for literature, ballet, painting, and classical music. Much of that is in the past.

I used to drink Vodka and loved Solichnoya, though it nearly killed me. That may be one reason their life expectancy is lower than in many other developed nations.

The Hermitage is a fantastic art collection. Russia pioneered advancement in space technology and public transportation. So why can't we all get along?

Pride cometh before a fall comes to mind. Maybe the best strategy for the "West" is to trade cultural tourism for peaceful coexistence. We should buy more Russian hats and warm clothing, encouraging Russian designers.

Russia sports cultural diversity, and peaceful nations should help exploit that for a positive advantage. None of us need nuclear weapons and war when there is so much to live for.

Ignorance Of The Law Is No Defense

"It is a fundamental legal principle in the U.S. that ignorance of the law is no defense." If accepted as an excuse, anyone charged with a criminal offense could claim ignorance to avoid the consequences. Rules apply to every person within the jurisdiction, whether known or understood.

Ignorance of the Law - Is It a Defense? | Los Angeles Criminal Defense Blog. https://werksmanjackson.com/blog/ignorance-of-the-law-is-it-a-defense/

When legislators write laws and regulations, they do so with the intention that an average citizen can understand them. 

"Rule of Law 1

The American commitment to the rule of law means that every citizen is governed by the same laws, applied through a fair and equal judicial process to resolve disputes peacefully."

https://judiciallearningcenter.org/law-and-the-rule-of-law/

Having had numerous comment exchanges with people with diverse politics, I admit that it is disappointing that discussions with Trump loyalists lack reason and end up being "we agree to disagree." That is a dead end.

I continue to dialogue with a friend who is opposite my politics. We talk about knowing the difference between right and wrong as defined by the rule of law. He alibis for many Republicans who are blind to Trump's alleged and apparent law-breaking. He asks that I give them some leeway. 

I can't do that when the law and law-breaking are clear. It is right or wrong.

Then, they introduce the Biden problem. I have no trouble with the DOJ investigating Hunter Biden. From all I have read, Hunter Biden engaged in activities that present a conflict of interest for his father.

When I worked for PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a consultant to the US Government, I had to declare on a frequent basis that neither I nor my family members engaged in conflicts of interest. I had to swear in writing.

What I see with Hunter Biden is a clear conflict. He also allegedly violated IRS tax filing and gun transport and carrying laws. Those allegations are coming to a head with likely charges soon.

The case of Hunter and Joe being in conflict with Biden's duties has not been proven. There is no comparison between the Trump cases and the Biden allegation, except both will be determined by due process and the law.

What is 'evangelical?'

Evangelical refers to the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion.

"How do you explain the Christian gospel?

The gospel or good news is a theological concept in several religions. In the historical Roman imperial cult and today in Christianity, the gospel is a message about salvation by a divine figure, a savior, who has brought peace or other benefits to humankind." - Wiki.

How do people who describe themselves as being 'evangelicals' justify embracing the likes of Donald Trump?

"To understand the needs and concerns of all American faith communities, it is important to understand the nation's religious diversity. While 3 in 4 Americans identify with a religious tradition, only 15 percent identify as white evangelicals, according to the 2019 American Values Atlas Survey.1 Yet this small proportion of the population tends to garner a disproportionate share of attention concerning religion in the public discourse on national politics. Their concerns certainly dominate how the Trump administration's impact on faith communities is perceived." 

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trump-administration-harmed-faith-communities/

"What of the U.S. is evangelical?

Wheaton College's Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals estimates that about 30 to 35% (90 to 100 million people) of the U.S. population is evangelical. These figures include white and black "cultural evangelicals" (Americans who do not regularly attend church but identify as evangelicals)." 

1. Lying is not evangelical
2. Discrimination, hate, and bigotry are not evangelical
3. Misogyny is not evangelical. 
4. White supremacy is not evangelical.

So why do so many Republicans embrace Donald Trump? It is not because he is evangelical, and it must be; they aren't either.

Image Credit: The Atlantic

Systemic Troubles in the American Democratic Republic

The American Constitution and government design are the product of geniuses. Part of the brilliance is creating new laws and regulations while retiring, modifying, and replacing some. The process is dynamic and complex. 

Government organizations are created along the lines of specialties and with unique purposes. They are a product of legislation that funds them while the executive branch manages them.

Brilliant people staff and manage government organizations, and the standard by which they are staffed is higher than that of the top elected officials. That is a colossal discrepancy.

That is why I call my fellow citizens to insist on creating laws and regulations for political parties that govern their creating platforms and vetting candidates who bear their brand. We need accountability, and the laissez-faire approach doesn't cut it.

Image Credit: The Washington Post