Our democracy as at risk of being brought down by a bunch of lunatic morons. At this moment in time, if it wasn't for President Biden and his expertise, straight talk, and just plain sanity, we would be the laughingstock of the entire world.

This is all happening because selfish and greedy politicians are allowing it to happen. Well, I'm damn sick and tired of it and frustrated as hell. I suspect many of you are, too. Vote, donate, volunteer. Do what you can to stop this f*cking insanity.

And never forget these obscenely anti-democratic, selfish, corrupt, lying, pro-Putin bastards. I'm looking at you, Mitch McConnell and you, Tucker Carlson.

Thank you - Just my rant.

https://www.businessinsider.com/manchin-tears-into-biden-over-failing-to-stop-record-inflation-2022-4

"Manchin tears into Biden over failing to stop record inflation: 'The Federal Reserve and the administration failed to act fast enough'.

The scorching statement comes as the White House tries to quietly woo Manchin back to the table for talks on Biden's agenda. "When will this end? It is a disservice to the American people to act as if inflation is a new phenomenon," Manchin said in a statement. "The Federal Reserve and the administration failed to act fast enough, and today's data is a snapshot in time of the consequences being felt across the country."

There was a time in the recent past when I recorded The 11th Hour with Brian Williams so that I could begin my mornings enjoying his sharp wit, while his insightful guests informed me about world events. Suddenly, it seemed to me, he was gone.

Enter stage right, all gussied-up with a new look, was Stephanie Ruhle. Say what? You must be kidding. This giddy, overly effusive, light-weight is replacing THE Brian Williams. NOT! As time went by I became curious to see if Ms. Ruhle was ruling the nighttime air-waves or turning The 11th Hour into a comedy show.

Last night I held my breath and watched her show. So, she isn't Brian Williams, but then who is? She was still gussied-up. She actually looked pretty good - Just saying.

Her demeanor, it seemed to me, was very much toned down. The guests were first rate, that much hasn't changed. The questions she asked were the kind that you, or I, or any everyday person might ask. I liked that she wasn't afraid to put herself out there and ask what might be considered a naive question. She offered some blunt opinions, some of which I agreed with. When she was corrected, she took the correction with grace.

Well, I said to myself, maybe NBC was right to replace the irreplaceable Brian Williams with someone who could never be compared to him. She may just stand on her own. I will definitely watch her show again.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-appoints-new-ukraine-war-commander-dvornikov-225f976f9abfb5aff6154ac3b77c21e6


"Russia turned to Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, 60, one of Russia’s most experienced military officers and — according to U.S. officials — a general with a record of brutality against civilians in Syria and other war theaters. Up to now, Russia had no central war commander on the ground."

“This general will just be another author of crimes and brutality against Ukrainian civilians,” Sullivan said. “And the United States, as I said before, is determined to do all that we can to support Ukrainians as they resist him and they resist the forces that he commands.” said White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan about infamous Gen. Alexander Dvornikov.

This may be true, but Russia just upped it's horrific game of brutality. - expect the atrocities to worsen. The West must do more. If Russia succeeds, it won't stop with Ukraine.

https://bylinetimes.com/2022/01/26/why-is-rupert-murdochs-media-parroting-russian-propaganda-over-ukraine/

"...Tucker Carlson’s pro-Kremlin rants and raves are tantamount to high treason. The question then becomes: why would his boss, Rupert Murdoch...allow it? The answer may lie with Murdoch’s ties to Putin....when the (Murdochs) made an “aggressive push” into the Russian media industry by acquiring News Outdoor Russia, an outdoor billboard company (in 2000).

"He (Murdoch) sold News Outdoor Russia for $270 million – less than a fifth of the value (in 2011). In 2012, the FBI launched an investigation into the examination of his activities related to his former company holdings in Russia – including possible criminal violations of a US law banning bribery of foreign officials.

"Did the FBI’s investigation into Murdoch’s activities in Russia in 2012 end with denials and a refusal to cooperate from Zheleznyak and his boss Vladimir Putin? If so, then it is plausible that Murdoch may feel that he owes the Russian President a favour in return."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/10/liz-cheney-disputes-report-january-6-panel-split-trump-criminal-referral

Cheney said: “The committee has … a tremendous amount of testimony and documents that I think very, very clearly demonstrate the extent of the planning and the organisation and the objective, and the objective was absolutely to try to … interfere with that official proceeding. And it’s absolutely clear that they knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew that it was unlawful.”

Asked if there was a dispute on the committee, Cheney said there was not.

“The committee is working in a really collaborative way to discuss these issues,” she said, adding: “We’ll continue to work together to do so. So I wouldn’t characterise there as being a dispute on the committee … and I’m confident that we will we will work to come to agreement on on all of the issues that we’re facing.”

This article was published in June 2021, but it's relevancy has been proven.
https://www.yahoo.com/video/republican-party-now-most-dangerous-102441069.html

The Republican Party has turned fascist – it is now the most dangerous threat in the world

Does this sound familiar?

"Authoritarian regimes across the world have found that it is much easier and more certain to announce the election result they would like than to go to all the trouble of suppressing votes and gerrymandering constituencies. Once control of the electoral machinery is obtained then democracy poses no threat to those in power. Fascist leaders may use democratic processes to obtain office, but once there, their instinct is to pull up the ladder and let nobody else climb up it

Or how about this?

It is worth listing the chief characteristics of fascist movements in order to assess how far they are now shared by the Republicans. Exploitation of ethnic, religious and cultural hatreds is probably the most universal feature of fascism. Others include a demagogic leader with a cult of personality who makes messianic but vague promises to deliver a golden future; appeals to law-and-order but a practical contempt for legality; the use, manipulation and ultimate marginalisation of democratic procedures; a willingness to use physical force; demonising the educated elite – and the media in particular; shady relations with plutocrats seeking profit from regime change.

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-04-07/ag-fine-trump-10k-a-day-for-failing-to-turn-over-evidence

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump and his business practices is continuing despite a recent shakeup in the probe’s leadership.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

Heather Cox Richardson: Letters from an American
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-6-2022?s=r

"...all but two of the Republicans in the House...voted against a resolution finding Trump aides Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro in contempt of Congress..vice chair Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger...the Republicans’ embrace of Trump is that the Republican leadership is wedded to an ideology that sees the most important American principle as a specific form of individual economic “freedom,” not democracy.

Beginning with the New Deal in the 1930s and into the 1970s, the government regulated business and protected workers and consumers. Those opposed to such a government insisted that such protections hurt their freedom to arrange their businesses as they saw fit. The idea that America meant freedom for individuals to act as they wished took over the Republican Party after the election of Ronald Reagan as president. Beginning in 1981, the party focused on tax cuts to put more money in the hands of the wealthy,

Biden’s plans signal an end to the era of “freedom” in American politics and a return to a focus on equality and democracy."

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-live-ag-garland-fbi-director-wray-announce-new-actions-against-russian-criminal-activity