Are we in a recession?

I think we are, but the indications are that it is a very light recession. We are now in negative growth for two successive quarters, which is the measure most economists use.

However, in the last quarter, the GDP grew at a negative rate of 1.7%. Not terrible but not great. The most recent numbers for this quarter show a negative rate of .9%, almost half of the last quarter. With gas prices declining, it is very possible we will be back in positive growth by the next quarter.

Naturally, the Republicans are already looking to make hay out of these numbers. They are calling it the "Biden recession".

So far, it is a very light recession but it is what it is.

Will the Georgia elector fraud case harm the federal investigation?

Will it slow down or obstruct the work that the DOJ is doing? Will it put some folks into "double jeopardy"?

Fani Willis is fearless. I am sure she will not hesitate to subpoena whomever she thinks will help her case, including Donald J Trump. I would not be surprised to see him named as a "target" in her investigation sometime soon. How could he not be?

What is at stake in the DOJ investigation?

If Donald Trump is not indicted for his crimes, there is no reason to believe he would not maintain control of the Republican Party and be their nominee for the White House in 2024.

And he could very well "win" the next election. Then, what would happen?

My brain and my gut tells me that the next Administration of Donald Trump would make the first one look like a picnic. It would be all-out fascist.

It would be criminal in every aspect. Criminals would be running our government for their own personal enrichment. Pardons would await anyone that was charged with a crime.

The cruelty and inhumane actions would be unimaginable at this time.

We would no longer be a democracy in any sense of the word.

If Trump is not prosecuted, or if the investigation is passed over to a Special Prosecutor, it would be the end of democracy in America.

In my opinion, that is what is at stake for Merrick Garland. That is what is at stake for all of us.

Does anyone else believe the situation is this dire?

Trump's first impulse seems to be to resort to threats of violence.

He speaks of "two sets of justice". In reality, that is usually correct.

However, for those that he wants to hear the code, it means something different. It means they might have to take "justice" into their own hands and clean up the mess that is intimidating him.

In yesterday's speech, he said the "Unselect Committee" was made up of "political hacks and thugs". He pushed for the death penalty for drug dealers. He praised Communist China's justice system.

He said that we are a "failing nation". He said, "Our country is now a cesspool of crime."

He thought the federal government should bypass Governors and send in the National Guard to places like Chicago. He thought they should build high quality tent cities on the outskirts of big urban centers to house the homeless and give them psychiatric help.

More info at this link:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/politics/trump-dc-speech/index.html

Has the DOJ talked with Mark Meadows?

Garland said it is the "most wide-ranging investigation in the history of the DOJ"..

It is huge. Trump corrupted everyone he came into contact with.

In four short years, he had corrupted the State Department, the Defense Department, Homeland Security, the US House, the US Senate, the Department of Justice, the Secret Service, every department within the US Government, and the Supreme Court.

He corrupted the minds of half the population of this country with his lies and propaganda, and literally, created a war from political Party labels. He divided the people with his rhetoric and lies.

So, Garland is right in saying that it is a "wide-ranging investigation". There are many, many people involved in the crimes and the cover-up of the crimes, including Republicans in the House and Senate. There is no way to convict all those that are guilty. He can only go after those that were pulling the strings.

The present battle between Trump and the GOP.

McConnell and the leaders in the GOP do not want Trump to announce his intentions to run for the White House before the next election in November. They believe he could threaten their chances to win the House and take back the Senate. They would prefer that he not make such an announcement.

However, Trump is feeling the heat from the House Committee and the DOJ investigations and he needs the political protection that he believes he would have as an announced candidate. A lot can happen in 3 or 4 months. It's a complicated situation.

Mike Pence is running point for the GOP because Trump cannot criticize him because he might spill the beans. The GOP would like very much to put Trump in their rear view mirror and return to their old Republican tricks.

But, Trump still holds the power in the Republican Party. If threatened too much by the GOP, he could announce that he is running as a Third Party (America First Party) and drag a third of the stars out of the sky in his descent. That would greatly harm GOP chances in the midterm elections.

It's a game of chicken and both are running scared.

I think now is the time for "patience".

For months, many have argued that the DOJ has been way too slow, while others, have argued that the DOJ is handling the investigation just about right, in regards to "patience". I have probably argued both sides at one time or another?

However, we are in a new phase of the investigation. In my opinion, we need to look at it differently.

Not only do we need to persuade ourselves that the matter of justice is best handled out of the public sphere, but we also need to persuade others, that disagree with us, that we all must obey the law. No one can commit crimes without accountability.

We cannot follow the pied pipers that call for violence and do not wish to see justice run its course. Americans must agree that we must follow the rule of law. All Americans. Including those we disagree with and those that disagree with us.

In my opinion, this is a time to be patient and let justice run its course.

What word best describes today's Republicans?

If it wasn't an "attempted coup", then what was it?

If it wasn't an insurrection, then what was it?

If it wasn't destruction of property, then what was it?

If it was not violence against the Capitol Police, then what was it?

If it was not threats against elected officials of this government, then what was it?

If it was not an attempt to stop the electoral count, then what was it?

If it was not "dereliction of duty", then what was it?

If it was about a "stolen election", then who was getting robbed?

If it was not a crime, then what was it?

Where does anyone get the gall to try and justify such criminality?