You Might Ask: "What's Really Going On?"

Hey, if you really want to know "what's going on," in the corridors of power around the Globe, you have to do a bit a research, a bit of digging, a little concentrated reading and listening. If you don't you are doing yourself a disservice. 

The number one rule to keep front and center in your head - Follow the Money...

Be sure to read up on the Magnitsky Act. Be sure to check out the BBC's report on the Magnitsky Affair.  And then read (in the Atlantic) Bill Browder's story, which he just detailed to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Or, if you prefer, watch Browder's full testimony on CSPAN.

Want me to sum it up? I hesitate to do so. You really should read and watch for yourself. BUT let me just say, Vladimir Putin runs a vast Kleptocracy. He sits on an incredible pool of wealth. Most of it is skimmed off the top in Russia. Putin is a thief. He steals from his own country. Putin is joined by approximately 1000 other rich Russian Oligarchs who are part of his illegal operation.

Lots of "illegal money" is flooding the legitimate banking system, the legitimate real estate market, and other markets all over the world, and has been for many years. Lots of Bankers and Rich Folks around the world benefit from all this illegal money flowing out of Russia. 

Think New York Real Estate. Think "money laundering." Think what you would do if you were incredibly, filthy rich, what would you do to keep your money? And what would you do to make sure no one messes with it? 

Might you arrest, and kill and torture, and lie, and cheat, and murder? 

Would you try to disrupt and confuse the people who could "sanction" you? Would you fight tooth and nail to lift sanctions that threaten that vast pool of illegal money? Would you bribe, extort, blackmail anyone who might be useful in your efforts?

Would you meet with Americans who you could easily compromise by making promises, just so you could gain influence? Would you try to tip an election? Would you try to "collude" with a potential Candidate for President?

Ask Bill Browder. He paints a chilling picture. You can't ask Sergei Magnitsky because he was jailed, tortured and beaten to death by Putin's thugs. Just one of many innocent people caught up in this terrible scenario.

Go on. Do some research. Follow the money. It is what's going on...

Hilarity Phase of Dysfunction!

After worry. After outrage. After you are totally exhausted by the constant barrage of ignorance, ugliness, stupidity, malevolence. After it all. You are finally left with hilarity. Deep, gut-busting, belly-laughs.

The President's Chief of Staff, did he jump or was he pushed? Certainly he was humiliated in public over and over. And our Coward in Chief doesn't even have the decency to fire him in person, does it by a Tweet. What a world-class Coward!

And the dysfunction actually has hit a new "Lord of the Flies" level. Like I said, we have entered the hilarity phase of dysfunction...

The Brain-Washed Uglies!

Sometimes you do think you are living in North Korea. I mean, I have no idea what living in North Korea is like, but my impression is that it is a closed society, with a pretty much brain-washed population who either believes their Fearless Leader can walk on water, OR, they are so afraid of their Fearless Leader and his Wolfpack, that they pretend that they believe their Fearless Leader can walk on water.

So really America 2017 is nothing like North Korea. 

But there is a subset, the brain-washed Uglies who believe that the Ugliest American can do no wrong. So yes, from my perspective, I see a man, a flailing, ignorant, malevolent, asshole puffed up to epic proportions who is at war with all that makes America great including the Free Press and the Rule of Law.

And the brain-washed Uglies? They don't care. They don't doubt their Fearless Leader. I actually heard some folks on the radio who said they think everything is fine, their Fearless Leader is doing a great job, it is just all those "enemies" out there trying to tear a good man down.

And what would get them to change their minds? They would need to hear from someone they trust. A Voice of Authority, like Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity...

Jesus H. Christ! The brain-washed Uglies are in deep denial, dire straits. What a sorry lot. You begin to realize there is no reaching these folks. Maybe we just need to write them off, move around them, leave them behind?

Would they be interested in traveling to new and interesting places?  North Korea? I hear it's beautiful there...

Why Would Anyone Work for the Ugliest American?

And if you had a shred of dignity, intelligence, integrity, why oh why would you work for the Ugliest American (see previous post)? Maybe you see a bit of your own Ugliness reflected in him? And you want to amplify it?

But silly human...

You can't out-Ugly the Ugliest American. And he will undermine you, torture you with lies and vacillations. You will not be able to keep up with this dynamo of Ugliness. You will fall short. And then, he will hate you too.

The Ugliest American demands loyalty. Total loyalty. But no one, no matter who it is, no matter how hard they try, can show enough loyalty. Just can't be done. No one can submit, grovel and offer up every last shred of everything decent thing in their beings. It just isn't possible. Any sentient being will cling and hang on to at least one small spark. 

There is always one last spark. Tiny as it may be. And that will enrage the Ugliest American. Because that little spark does not exist in his own being. He will want to kill it in those around him. And he will. Why? Because he is the Ugliest American. 

And you aren't. Even if you want to be.

The Uglies!

He is the Ugliest of the Uglies. No doubt. He is the Ugliest American. And he leads the movement of Ugliness. A subset of a major political party. And that major political party just went along with the Uglies. The Uglies made the most noise. They looked like they were having the most fun. They just didn't care about the beautiful people. Didn't give a fuck about anything.

So Ugliness ascended to a position of power. Out of step with the country, the world, but all the various Uglies were very pleased, indeed. It's hard to watch. It's painful to see the country dragged in the mud. It's all a very, very bad, off-color joke. Not funny. Wince-inducing.

What to do? Resist, of course. Take note. Try to understand. And then defeat, bury, obliterate this movement of Ugliness with beauty, intelligence, determination, organization, engagement. Maybe it is instructive to see such unbridled Ugliness on display? Teaches us how not to think, to act, to navigate in the world.

There is better way, a better day. Right around the corner. Just have to wade through this period of Ugliness.

Coffee & Hope!

This morning on the cell phone with my friend, she tells me her train is delayed; seems a pedestrian and a train met at a crossroads, and, well, it did not end well for the pedestrian. This is not an uncommon occurrence. It actually happens with a determined regularity. 

You wonder to yourself, how is it possible? 

If it is unintentional, how can such an event occur? What sequence of events must roll out to lead a pedestrian to be on the tracks at that particular deadly moment?

And if it is intentional, what sequence of events leads one to put themselves in harm's way on a sunny, Wednesday morning?

Either way it is a brutal, deadly, messy end. 

Can't imagine. I mean, yes, I can imagine, but it still seems unimaginable. I wake up each day determined to hold onto the wheel. And does the day come when you just want to let that wheel go?

What keeps me hanging on? Coffee and hope. 

Are Loyalty Oaths Next?!

Loyal - "unswerving in allegiance: such as (a) faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government were loyal to the king (b) faithful to a private person to whom faithfulness is due a loyal husband (c) faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product a loyal churchgoer loyal to the party of their forebears (d) showing loyalty a loyal friend"

A fundamental, foundational question we all must ask ourselves: What are you loyal to?

One gets the sense that we we all soon be required to submit "loyalty oaths." Seems our "current President" expects unbridled loyalty from all his various boot-licking lackeys.

And it seems he is a man, a shabby excuse of a man, who is only loyal to himself. 

We usually expect something better, something more lofty: loyalty to the "rule of law," loyalty to the Constitution, loyalty to the State, the People, loyalty to something high-minded and noble.

This is a different time. 

And what of me? I'm loyal to a vision of creative freedom: art, love, grace, beauty, inspiration, music, poetry, and an inbred rebelliousness. As the song says: "I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave..."

Still, give me liberty and life, sweet life...

They are Messing with Our Minds!

Facts. What are facts? 

1. A thing that is known or proved to be true.
2. Information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article.

You know, facts do still matter. There are not conservative facts. Or liberal facts. Republican facts. Democratic facts.

There are just plain, simple facts. Things known or proved to be true. Maybe sometimes it takes a bit of work to get to the facts. It pays to dig for the facts. It pays to stick to the true. 

Helps keep us on the straight and narrow. Keep your eyes peeled for the facts. Don't believe the lies, the spin, the misinformation.

Stick with the facts. Those crazy, malevolent, twisted people are messing with our minds!

Powerful, Beautiful, Therapeutic!

I started the day listening to "On Being" with Krista Tippett this morning. She interviewed the Buddhist Monk Matthieu Ricard, "The Happiest Man in the World." The conversation was like taking a morning bath in the most powerful, beautiful, therapeutic healing waters on the planet. Yes, take a listen, highly recommended.

Science and Buddhism find common ground. And we all benefit. I mean, I won't try sum up the episode, best for you to listen for yourself, but lots of things "ring a bell," for me.  Our brains are plastic, we can always be learning, how we act, and what we do, is a dance with reality, and our brains are always learning, responding, changing. Meditation is our doorway. Happiness is a skill that can be nurtured and trained.

We are all interdependent now. And if we are to continue to evolve, and survive as a species, altruism and compassion for all of our fellow sentient beings is absolutely essential. 

Listen. Learn. Love.

A Rare Good Night's Sleep!

A rare good night's sleep. Deep. Refreshing. Doesn't happen often enough. Kind of takes the edge off. There is a well of relaxedness that resides under the surface. Nice to find yourself dipping into it.

Unlike the night before. 

The neighbors decided to have a Tequila Party. A Thursday evening Tequila Party. It kind of went off the rails. Neighbors #2 and #3 getting all liquored up. Things got dicey when #3  brought the grill out to barbecue at 11:00 p.m. Maybe a bit late to grill up a boatload of chicken? Loud conversation and then a disagreement. #2 had a fit and started throwing around cans of beer. 

#3 and #2 got into an over-loaded shouting match. Not sure what it was all about, but two very pissed off women raising bloody hell. The cops came a couple times. That was eventful. Kind of put a damper on the restful sleep idea for Thursday night.

Friday night, all quiet on the western front. Maybe licking wounds, counting up the slights and insults? Living in close proximity to other folks.  Makes for interesting times.

We are at the Precipice...

Josh Marshall at TPM has been a fantastic resource on the Russian Asset/Dupe in the White House story. An excellent, clear-headed writer. He knows all the ins and outs of this saga. This is where we are now, at the precipice (emphasis provided by me) ...

"Trump is in many ways his own worst accuser. Anyone who’s been in business for decades would not welcome a searching legal scrutiny of years of business. Most people, certainly in Trump’s line of work, aren’t totally clean. And a determined prosecutor can often find technical infractions that in the normal course of things would never be an issue. So no one would like this. But Trump is willing to run the most unimaginable political and even criminal risks to block even the beginnings of a serious probe into his business history and the 2016 election. We are far, far past the point where there is any credible reason to doubt that President Trump is hiding major and broad-ranging wrongdoing. No mix of ego, inexperience, embarrassment or anything else can explain his behavior. It just can’t. He’s hiding bad acts. And the country is likely heading toward a major constitutional and political crisis because Trump is signaling that he will not allow the normal course of the law to apply to him – a challenge which puts the entire edifice of democratic government under threat."

Days of Bafflement & Wonder

Days of bafflement and wonder. 

More walking. Less talking. That has been my modus operandi the last few days. Taking the world in through my senses five, and maybe, just possibly a sixth or seventh I don't know about too.

Clarity is front and center. I see clearly. But some of what I see looks like madness - Hurly Burly, Toil and Trouble.

It's the human thing x 7.5 Billion (and counting). That is a lot of "needing, wanting, grasping." A seething, throbbing ball of confusion.

Maybe it has always been so. There are just many so more of us right this moment. Just in my paltry, infitesimal life-span, the population has increased by nearly 5 billion people. That's some serious propagating. "Be fruitful and multiply." We have taken to that command with supreme gusto.

Think about the collective energy of the planet. The collective consciousness of all those billions of human beings. No wonder we spend lots of time wondering...

"No other staff were present for the discussion."

I know we are all getting a bit numb and punchy from the onslaught of news and bombshells coming out of Washington D.C. 

Still, I almost fell off my chair yesterday when I read the news that Trump and Putin had 2nd hour-long meeting at the G20 Summit on July 7. Trump alone with Putin. No one else in the conversation, except Putin's translator.

"No other staff were present for the discussion."

WTF! I mean, come on! This is just freaking stunning. Blatant. It sure looks like the Russian Dupe was checking in with his Handler.

Talk about chutzpah! To do this at a Global Meeting. To think that no one would report back to the U.S. Press. God knows what was discussed but "making America great again," was probably not priority one.

It is so obvious that this man is not working for us. This is really happening... wow. I mean, holy shite!

Finally Reality has a Way of Biting You in the Ass!

Whataboutism is killing us.

"Whataboutism is a propaganda technique formerly used by the Soviet Union in its dealings with the Western world, and subsequently used as a form of propaganda in post-Soviet Russia.[1][2][3] When criticisms were leveled at the Soviet Union, the Soviet response would be "What about..." followed by an event in the Western world.[4][5][6] It is a case of tu quoque (appeal to hypocrisy), a logical fallacy that attempts to discredit an opponent's position by charging them with hypocrisy without directly refuting or disproving their argument.[7][8][9]"

Try having a conversation with a Trumper. It is nearly impossible. You will immediately go down the rabbit hole of whataboutism.

My answer is always, "don't take the bait." Always debate your point. Don't be distracted by shouts of "Hillary!" "Obama!" Or "Liberal!"

Keep your eyes on the prize. And what is the prize? Knowledge. Intelligence. Facts. Truth. I still live in the world of facts and truth. How Old World!

Our current President and his supporters live in the land of post-fact, post-truth, where emotion and personal belief rule.

I don't think it's sustainable. Finally reality has a way of biting you in the ass.

"How to Talk to Your Teen About Colluding with Russia" - McSweeny's

Raising children is difficult. How do I know? I don't actually have any children. Haven't raised any myself, but, I was a child, the oldest of four. We were like a little lawless gang. I was the leader. I look back now and wonder how our parents made it through fairly intact.

Anyway, I can imagine raising children today is super-difficult. I don't envy today's parents. Every child today is walking around with a little device with the power of a supercomputer, connected to a global network. Lots of potential for trouble.

For instance, parents have to worry about things my folks never had to worry about. This week's hot topic: How to Talk to Your Teen About Colluding with Russia. You are thinking Donald Sr. probably wishes he had this special talk with Donald Jr. earlier in the game. A word to wise, you should probably read the whole thing...

"Even the best-behaved teen is likely to encounter a situation where he or she is tempted to collude with Russia. Unfortunately for parents, a teen’s natural tendency to test the limits of independence can often manifest itself in his or her exchanging sensitive information with Russian emissaries for material or other rewards. If not constructively addressed during adolescence, colluding with Russia can have much more serious consequences in adulthood."

And...

"Remember, any effort you make now to address your teen’s colluding with Russia is like an investment in their future. The last thing any parent wants is for the behavior to carry into adulthood when it can seriously hurt the parent as well as the child!"

Digging a Hole. Beyond Logic. Beyond Rationality.

Republicans who support the current occupant of the White House are digging themselves into a deep hole. Beyond logic. Beyond rationality. There is some weird tribal loyalty going on. Loyalty to a deeply Malevolent and Disturbed Individual who clearly is not working for the betterment of the country. A Russian Asset lying his ass off at the drop of a hat.

Republicans are also aligning themselves with Vladimir Putin, a corrupt, anti-democratic, anti-religion, anti-free press, quasi-dictator. He is the leader of a hostile foreign power. Why? Seems Republicans just can't admit they made a terrible blunder by voting for the guy they voted for. Their hatred for that Democratic Woman, is greater than their love for their country.

And just who and what are the Republicans aligning themselves with? The horror. The horror.

Need a reminder of the human cost of dictatorship? All these are journalists who criticized Putin--and died under mysterious circumstances pic.twitter.com/RaOluVumxi

— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) July 15, 2017

"The News is Real, the President is Fake." - Stephen King

Of course, some of us jumped to the conclusion way early. We are a bit ahead of the evidence. Ahead of the game. We are seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and we know what the picture is, even if some of the pieces aren't on the table. We are just waiting for the evidence and the rest of the world to catch up.

There is a Russian/Dupe/Asset/Spy in the Oval Office. He's kind of the Swiss Army Knife of badness.

How did he get there? With some help from bad actors, dumb luck, bravado, stupidity, bad-blood, hubris. It all unfolded before our eyes. We kept doubting the story. What seemed impossible, became possible.

Now it is all unraveling. Unfolding. We have been hood-winked. We thought that America had stumbled into electing a Grotesque Fool, but he is not only a Grotesque Fool, he is an active Russian Asset, who was assisted by Putin's corrupt regime.

Did he really think he'd get away with it? 

Probably yes. Although maybe he didn't really think he'd get the job. He really did just bluff his way in, and then there was no turning back. Our Dupe was in so deep, after a lifetime of swimming in shit, he didn't and doesn't know shit from Shinola! Bad actors did what bad actors do. They acted badly.

An ex-CIA Officer explains how the Russians compromised the President:  "To me, it's clear that Russian intelligence has been involved with Donald Trump for years. I also believe it's clear, though it's harder to establish, that Donald Trump actively sought that involvement and has consented to it at some point.

It also seems certain that Trump is uncontrollable and would not ever consider himself a spy, but many spies don't consider themselves spies and often don't even know that they're spies. And intelligence services couldn’t care less about that."

Evil or Stupid? Both!

The mountain of lies is crumbling before our eyes. On a daily, an hourly basis. It is a bit awe-inspiring. Kind of a horror-show. Let's pass it over to Stephen King, horror-writer extraordinaire to sum it up in one simple, cogent Tweet: "The News is Real, the President is Fake."

All-Purpose!

I have found a new all-purpose answer for pretty much any topic consuming me, or for any situation in which I find myself. I thought as a public service I should share it with you all. Maybe you will find it useful in your life too...

Here goes:

"I am sure there is a perfectly simple and logical explanation... but at the moment, I have no idea what it is..."

"Ride the Storm and Direct the Whirlwind!"

Don't you just love it when they pull those old "Founding Fathers" out to make a point? No. Me neither. But still there is wisdom in some of those old corpses: Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, etc.

And then of course there's that very dead, but very hot, of the moment, Broadway-smash, hip-hop Superstar Alexander Hamilton. And what does old, decrepit, big-time dead Hamilton have to say to us this morning? This seems so spot-on it's a bit eerie.

Love the language, those old-timers all seemed so much more literate: "flattering prejudices," "shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security."

Some of this almost seems like PROPHECY: 

 Alexander Hamilton - 1792

"A Seething Cauldron of Intrigue and Backstabbing..."

Oh, yes. We have talked about karma in the past. What is karma?   

"If you sow evil, you will reap evil in the form of suffering. And if you sow goodness, you will reap goodness in the form of inner joy. Every action, every thought, brings about its own corresponding rewards. Human suffering is not a sign of God’s anger with mankind. It is a sign, rather, of man’s ignorance of the divine law."

Yeah. Something like that! Why is karma on my mind this morning? 

"The White House is Not a Good Place To Be Right Now:"

"The White House is a seething cauldron of intrigue and backstabbing..."

"Circular firing squad..."

"President fumes against his enemies….senior aides circle one another with suspicion….President Trump…hidden from public view….enraged that the Russia cloud still hangs over his presidency….public relations disaster….infighting often seems like a core cultural value….have begun what could be an extensive campaign to try to discredit some of the journalists who have been reporting on the matter….research the reporters’ previous work, in some cases going back years."

What to say or think about all of this? Those folks in the White House are a grade A, super-hideous collection of beings. It's been apparent for quite awhile. All this present turmoil is pretty amazing, and, must say, couldn't happen to a more deserving group of people! Karma! It is awe-inspiring, and terror inducing. Be careful what you sow people!

A Big-Time Story - No Doubt!

Hey you know, this Russian Hacking/Dupe in the White House story is quite the firecracker of a tale. I do feel sort of like an amateur sleuth. I pore over the day to day drip of stories. Big time reporting going on, a wild cast of characters. I do think it is the political story of our lives. 

Some of us are totally engaged in this story. It's a little maddening to be so deep into every little detail. I guess it's just another weird obsession. But big things are at stake, and I do think a Presidency hangs in the balance. I know I am way ahead of the story. Lots more to come, but it is a real story, a real humdinger of a story with themes of treason, collusion, corruption, money-laundering, obstruction of justice, etc. Big-time story, indeed!

The Authentic Life!

You want to live an authentic life. "Being what it is claimed to be; genuine." There are many ways to short-circuit the genuine: To lie, to deny, to wear a mask. And sometimes wearing masks can be fun, and may actually be essential.

Living life to it's fullest. Living a real life, unfiltered. How to do it? What to know, what to let go? What protections do you need? When do you put down the shield, the barriers, and let it all flow?

How to be sensitive, feeling, and open, without being totally crushed, maimed or destroyed? It's a day to day thing, right?!

Am I a Genuine Buddhist?

Tossing and turning in an early morning half-sleep. Sleeping, but not sleeping, aware of thoughts streaming thru my consciousness, most of them upsetting: unresolved problems, old unhealed wounds, a greatest hits collection of past failures, worries, doubts, regrets. Better to get up and make the coffee.

Fresh-brewed coffee in hand I take a short walk with my furry companions in the morning sunshine. The day is teeming with life. Little creatures running thru the gardens, across lawns, scurrying, rummaging for something good and nourishing.

There are large, white Buddha-head sculptures, in our neighborhood, the Buddha-head seems to be emerging from the ground, half a head, protruding into our world, unbidden, but not unwelcome. These heads can be found in parks, gardens, bike paths  throughout our town. I always assumed, without really thinking,"art project," but this morning I take the Buddha as Emerging Buddha.

I really see the Buddha. He looms up into my consciousness, and overwhelms me. Yes, Art, and Buddha-consciousness.

Funny. I wonder how many genuine Buddhists there are in this town. I wonder to myself, "Am I a genuine Buddhist?" There is something noble, and peaceful about the Buddha-head. It is a silent witness, an unmoving presence. It demands nothing, but opens a door to my open mind. A glimpse of a cool, healing, compassionate 
silence and strength.

Alienated!

I am feeling quite alienated from the present moment. Disconnected. Disappointed. Disjointed. I have  a distinct feeling that my fellow beings are losing their shit. Goes against my usual sunny demeanor. Maybe there are just too many of us. All pulling in different directions. There is a darkness in us that never dissipates. What to do? Carry on and see what the next moment brings.

Terribly, Terribly Wrong...

Something is terribly wrong with the leadership of our country. Seriously. 

Fear & Loathing Redux!

Of course, it's the guy in the passenger seat "driving" the car... this... is... not... normal!

Asset Visits His Handler!

Let's be clear. Clarity is essential. Make no mistake. The upcoming meeting between the US President and Vladimir Putin is not a welcome development.

We will be watching a Russian Dupe and Asset, meeting with his Big Daddy Handler. You wonder what Putin will demand from his Compromised Puppet.

Let's think clearly here. This is not normal. Not right. Not good. We can only hope and pray that the rule of law back in good old USA brings this show to an early close.

We Need a Strong, Beautiful, Wonderful Woman to Save Us!

We unplugged and went to the movies yesterday. We sat down in our theater seats and gave ourselves up to the movie gods. A classic "popcorn movie." We skipped the popcorn. 

Turns out my favorite, (I didn't know), Superhero, (by miles), is Wonder Woman - a young, beautiful, uncommonly strong, woman who comes from an island of Amazons, the daughter of Zeus, who is enticed to come to save humanity. 

And what of the humans she comes to save? We are pathetic, stupid, flea-ridden, badly-dressed, ill-mannered, prejudiced, out of shape, cowardly, selfish, conflicted, violent, and undeserving of any care or the help from a god. 

But help us she does. Why? Love?! It seems like a paltry thing, and a bit of a stretch, but it sounds good, right?!

Actually, I think she really enjoys kicking-ass. If you have amazing superpowers, and you look good in short pants, you want be sure you do the thing you are supposed to do. And she does. Beautifully, gracefully. It's all brilliant.

And it's a nice fantasy. What if a powerful, benevolent woman could come a save us in this moment of dire difficulty? That would be cool, for sure.

He is Not Worthy!

Thinking about tomorrow, July 4th 2017...

Our current President, makes you sort of question the whole enterprise. WTF? Don't think our "founding fathers" envisioned such a man running the country... the day to day drip of information is baffling, infuriating, embarrassing...

Doesn't really make sense that past events have led directly to this train-wreck of a man, but this is the sad reality of our present circumstances. Let's not let one man taint the whole thing. Maybe it's best to turn away, to think of other things, the man who embodies our nation is not worthy...

MAUREEN DOWD in the NYT: “Cruella de Trump”: “The 71-year-old president’s pathological inability to let go of slights; his strongman reflex to be the aggressor and bite back like a cornered animal, without regard for societal norms; his lack of self-awareness about the power he commands and the proportionality of his responses; his grotesque hunger for flattery and taste for Tony Soprano tactics; his Pravda partnership with David Pecker, the head honcho at The National Enquirer, which has been giving Trump the Il Duce treatment while sliming his political opponents, the ‘Morning Joe’ anchors and Megyn Kelly -- these are all matters that should alarm men and women equally.

“Trump has moved his shallow kiddie wading pool of gossip and ridicule from Trump Tower to the White House, where it is so outlandishly out of place that it often feels like we have a Page Six reporter as our president. … Before he got to D.C., Trump was used to media that could be bought, sold and bartered with. He is not built for this hostile environment and it shows in his deteriorating psychological state. Even though he’s in the safest space of all, he’s not in a safe space.” http://nyti.ms/2tye4rz

Modern Day Presidential = Buffoon!

Ha, ha, ha. What a buffoon...

The loud, fat guy currently in the Oval Office tweeted this:

"My use of social media is not Presidential - it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again"

Respect?! Nope!

Dignity - "The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect."

Yes, well, there were some people who were thinking the loud, fat guy would "rise to the dignity of the office." Nope. Not even fucking close...