Politics-What's on your mind?

[~ocean]

Originally Posted by charley

I am presently watching Part 2 of Rachel Maddow's interview of Lev Parnas (associate of Giuliani). I saw the 1st part yesterday.

Thank goodness for Rachel Maddow and other journalists who are making such facts accessible to us.

OMG, what corrupt lawyers associated with Trump! Parnas had to fire the lawyers that Trump (through his lackeys) dumped on him, because they urged him to refuse to cooperate.

These people, all those associated with Trump are so corrupt, so evil, it's incredible.

The Republican controlled Senate will undoubtedly refuse to find Trump guilty, because they are all so corrupt. I hope they all lose their seats. Of course, considering how corrupt a large sector of American voters are, there is always a possibility that Trump may even get re-elected; and this time, I would not be surprised if that happens.

Maddow has also pointed out that the Federal watchdog Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the (OMB - White House's Office of Management and Budget) violated law by withholding Ukraine aid, in other words, Trump broke the law.

These politicians who cover for Trump all lack integrity - in other words, they will use any and all means to realize their agenda. There are way too many people like that in the world. The world has become a very dark place.

I sit quietly and safely in another country, and watch in horror.

So, the impeachment trial is about to begin.

Yes Charley WE KNOW ALL ABOUT IT !! and WE will take care of it ~ now pay attention just in case YOUR country has a bad leader ! I also adore Rachel Maddow. I think that's all I have to say

[cathexis]

Originally Posted by ~ocean

Yes Charley WE KNOW ALL ABOUT IT !! and WE will take care of it ~ now pay attention just in case YOUR country has a bad leader ! I also adore Rachel Maddow. I think that's all I have to say

Now,~ocean, do you really think a situation like we have would happen in Canada? Maybe I'm wrong, but they seem less hot-tempered and more level headed. We've always had our Second Amendment re-interpreting militia types, unlike many other more stable countries.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by cathexis

Now,~ocean, do you really think a situation like we have would happen in Canada? Maybe I'm wrong, but they seem less hot-tempered and more level headed. We've always had our Second Amendment re-interpreting militia types, unlike many other more stable countries.

Even Canada has its "III% ers" and "The Base" with wacko militia extremists. Crazies and (in even larger numbers, I think) misguided, poorly educated people live everywhere. Of course, ours in the U.S. seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately, since we have the Pied Piper of Crazies at the helm (for the moment).

[cathexis]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaMa'am

Even Canada has its "III% ers" and "The Base" with wacko militia extremists. Crazies and (in even larger numbers, I think) misguided, poorly educated people live everywhere. Of course, ours in the U.S. seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately, since we have the Pied Piper of Crazies at the helm (for the moment).

Ok, Canada has a few extremists, but compared to us, they live on Walden Pond.
"Misguided poorly educated people live everywhere," I agree, but the US has had problems with them since it's inception. We conquered the native people since the Mayflower. The US is built on invasion and conquest, the European arrival, the (1st) American Revolution, conquest of the western native lands, War of 1812, Civil War, lists go up to the present century.

US men, yes usually men, have always had violent love affairs with their firearms to the point that they've misinterpreted our Second Amendment in order to continue the Wild West violence in our modern-day streets. Doubt many other places have as embarrassing a history in this short amount of time.

[charley]

This is an interesting subject, and I recently saw (last week) a program on the Documentary Channel - "Ben Fogle: Return to the Wild", 2nd episode in the series (2018), which documented the lives of Bill and Bob (genetic twins) - two old guys (in their 70s) living in Utah in a hidden/secret location in the Utah desert. I won't go into all the details, but there was an interesting admission during the show, wherein they said how they listened more to things on air that had to to do with "survival" techniques, and at a point, one said, without them saying that they had voted for Trump, that they were well prepared just in case there was an assassination attempt on Trump... (cough) !!!

Later in the show, one bro showed his locked storeroom to Ben which was completely stocked with large locked metal cases and what appeared to be dangerous substances (munitions/arms/god knows what...etc.).

What really struck me about their lives was their absolute conviction of "license"/"freedom", the "freedom" to live their lives exactly as they desired. (I must say here that their idea of freedom has absolutely nothing to do with what I have understood from meditation - i.e. psychological freedom from the past.) It seems to me that this is the key - the core - of all alt-right groups, and why such people support Trump. Now, I might be mistaken, I am no expert, lol. Of course, hatred is an emotion that tends to go hand-in-hand with this belief.

So, this is also, it seems to me, the reason that pro-lifers and some religious groups, etc. also support Trump, this "freedom" to choose to adopt a position, that identifies them in one way or another.

Now, while there are always disaffected young loners attracted to alt-right groups, whether in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, etc., this show really made me understand that Bob and Bill's attitude to life was based entirely on a form of licentiousness (I am not talking of sexual amorality or wantonness), but more of what they believe is licit and has developed into a form of a philosophy and approach to life. And, it also seems to me that it is this very position which lies at the foundation of what is happening in the White House as well.

Waves from Walden Pond, at anyone who reads this, (grins).

[charley]

I zoned out watching the "trial"... zzzzzzzzz I will catch the summaries on the news later, much later. No documents produced, nor witnesses testifying. It just seemed like a lot of judicial foreplay, with a lot of legalese mumbo-jumbo from the Republicans that I didn't understand, and the Democrats just re-verbalizing the charges, and in between, more procedural legalese. I don't even understand why they are calling it a trial. It was more interesting when Pelosi was holding back on sending the charges to the Senate; I almost wish she never sent them, and that the impeachment would just hang there, like some albatross hanging over Trump's head.

[FireSignFemme]

Originally Posted by charley

... I almost wish she never sent them, and that the impeachment would just hang there, like some albatross hanging over Trump's head.

I think in a way it sort of is. I mean before this trial even began, there were those threatening, or promising, I guess it just depends what side you're on, if they didn't win this round they might try and impeach him again for other things. Maybe. And the way I understand it, he doesn't even have to still be in office for them to impeach him so when does it all end?

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by charley

. . . the Democrats just re-verbalizing the charges, and in between, more procedural legalese. I don't even understand why they are calling it a trial.

The procedural legalese is boring, except to illustrate how reluctant the Republicans are to let any witnesses or evidence be shown. If they weren't afraid of the evidence, why not let it come out so they could refute it?

It's really not so much a trial - even though technically it is one - as an opportunity for the Democrats to list out all the details of what people did or saw that was wrong, by explaining why they should be called as witnesses. Even if the Republicans don't let the witnesses testify, now the Democrats have an opportunity to explain exactly why and what it was that Trump did that was illegal (not to mention idiotic, crass and not interested in the American public's welfare). I think that's why the Democrats thought it would be worthwhile to go through the process of impeachment, even if they could never get an impeachment past the Senate.