Well... At least that part is over. Not quite what I expected, but it is what it is. At this juncture, there are two different ways the Dems can go. But I don’t think either will by itself help defeat Putin’s Poodle in the 2020 race...

1) The Dems can fight this tooth and nail, and raise all kind of questions about Barr, his previous stances on Presidential power and so forth. They can double down (like the Poodle always does), and push hard for more investigations, ad nauseam. I fear this tactic will only embolden the Poodles base to become more vindictive, and it will piss off a lot off middle of the road people who really want to put this to bed and move on to other important issues. Also, I don’t think doubling down in this fight won’t help defeat the Poodle in this case, as he’ll just use these pronouncements as campaign ads, and proclaim further investigations as more of the same... Which I think will make his re-election a sure bet. Which would be really disastrous.

2) On the other hand, the Dems can move on to the pressing issues of some importance. We definitely need some major action on health care - almost ALL of the newly elected congressmen and women ran on this issue, and it needs to be addressed thoroughly and carefully... The country desperately needs an infrastructure bill to repair the crumbling roads and bridges nationwide, and although the GOP often balks on spending, they might go along with some kind of action here...  Immigration reform should also be high on the list of issues that needs to be fixed. This one however, is probably the most difficult to achieve in this current anti-immigration political climate. And last but not least, they should work on reforming the ‘tax reform’ laws which gave away billions in taxpayer money to the richest people in America. Unfortunately, even IF the Dems could do some good work on ALL of these, I don’t think it helps any particular candidate to defeat the Groper in Chief come November 2020. He probably wins re-election, and again with Putin’s help.

The only caveat in this whole analysis, is the economy. Expanding business cycles don’t continue forever - first law of Economics. They ALL come to an end, and the timing of that end could be the only thing that derails the Poodle’s re-election. He needs a trade deal with China, and he needs it fairly soon. The farmers across the US are hurting, and with the recent flooding in the midwest, many are on the verge of being wiped out - literally. US Automakers are in a major funk (largely due to their own ineptitude), and are also feeling massive pressure due to the tariffs - form both sides of the oceans. Germany, which is already in a slowdown, could be hurt even more if their alt-right party gains more ground in their government. Additionally, if the UK does a ‘hard Brexit’ - which looks more and more likely - they’ll go south so fast, it’ll make all previous downturns look mild. Many business analysts are already seeing a slowdown here in the US, and although market analysts think it won’t last too long, if no deal is reached with China, coupled with a hard Brexit and a slower Germany, things could get dicey and fast. In a scenario like this, it might be possible for the right Dem to defeat the Poodle. MIGHT....

So what does that leave us with ? ... IDK.. I admit that I was disappointed with the outcome. But to continue to beat a dead horse will not produce a better outcome (or even a mediocre one) nor change the current situation, nor will it help re-unite a very divided populace - and it certainly won’t help my blood pressure. So I think the best course of action is to take a deep breath (and hold your nose), step away from the ledge and press on towards getting some decent legislation passed, as I described in the 2) option above... Let some time pass and re-assess the situation in 6 to 8 months.

The bottom line is, we are now living in an age where the minority (in population) has the upper hand and is ruling the country. Ironically, this was the case in the lead up to the Civil War. The minority (slave holders in the south) had outsized power in Washington due to the constitutional rules (at that time), and the majority who lived in the north were saddled with these antiquated and obsolete laws and rules set up to maintain that status quo. In fact, It’s one of the main reasons the Whig party was floundering, and just at this moment, a new GOP party was formed in an effort to steer the nation in a new direction - away from the power of slave holders (states rights), and more generally towards liberal and progressive ideas to benefit the small guy, and small business. 

Yes... I think Trump got 'Charlie Brown'ed' by a kid half his age.... lmao. The joint exercises were always going to be problematic for the DPRK, as it has for the past 50 years. I wasn't a bit surprised. Funny that Pompeo and Bolton didn't understand this. I also thought that they would eventually demand that all US troops be withdrawn to satisfy the 'DE-nuclearization' part... And that may yet come to pass.

I hope a 'Peace' can be accomplished, but I'm betting it won't happen. It's fairly clear to me that Bolton and Pompeo want a 'war' of their own, and it's either going to be the DPRK or Iran... Either one would make Trump happy, but I think the DPRK one will anger Trump's boss in Moscow, so I'm betting on Iran. Particularly when you have a trigger happy Bibi in charge in Israel... In the end, the main fear I have is that when the bombs fall in Iran and or Israel, one will leave a mushroom shaped cloud, and then it's a whole new ballgame....

The populist base stirred up by Putin/Trump is still very pro-Trump, and very active. The mid-terms are not going to be as easy as most Dems think... If the Dems do pull it off, the degree of a majority will play a big role. I'm still marginally worried that Putin/Trump will try to dissolve the Congress, and nullify the Constitution if the Dems win a BIG majority. I'm also convinced that neither Ryan or McConnell would lift a finger to save the country from disaster. My only real hope is yet the military. I'm still hoping that their deep tradition of supporting the Constitution (at least by the higher ranks) will be able to stem the tide...

I'm also a firm (FIRM) believer that impeachment talk is bad, as is the whole idea. I believe there's a better way, and it would actually show the world, and even many in his base that he's always been a fraud. Better to disgrace him totally, than let him become a martyr to the populists...

Another unfortunate situation is that the US is fast sinking as an influencer on the world stage. As this was already happening slowly, it's pace is now enhanced. I would feel better if the EU was more 'together' and stronger, but it's not. The Russians - Putin aside - are in near dis-array and that leaves only the Chinese standing who would have the hegemony and strength to maintain a 'peaceful planet', and they have neither the experience nor the technology to handle it... That means we'll inevitably fall into our little silo's of (mostly bad) choices, and the pendulum will have swung full out ... It will take decades to start swinging back....

No, it's NOT Armageddon... Necessarily... But it is a dangerous time to be sure. Are we really going to leave it up the fanatic's to decide which way we go ? ? ?

What to think about Xi's move all depends on motive and outcomes....

If Xi simply wants to consolidate his power so he can become a megalomaniac like Mao, and replace Mao's face with his on the money, then I'd say China is in for another hard-landing. But I don't think this is his motive.

On the other hand if Xi wants to consolidate power so that he can use it to reign-in the 'other' voices among the party powerful, and instill a sense of purpose among the people, along with some leadership, he could make many changes for the good in China, and set it on a positive course.

If he's as smart as I think he is, he's consolidating this power at the right time. China doesn't quite have economic or military strength to truly become a 'world-class' power broker. The US has been in slow decline for some time, although it's been really accelerated by Trump, and with the US abdicating its role from the world stage, someone has to fill this void. And I think Xi wants China to be that country that fills it. They've always wanted to 'Be Like Mike'.  They emulate us in everything they do, and in every field of endeavor.

I think Xi senses that China may have a real opportunity soon, and he wants to be in a good position to take up that world leader mantle. He certainly doesn't want the world to fall into chaos, as that means disaster for him and the commie government. Plus there really isn't any other power on the planet that could take up that role.

So by consolidating with these thoughts in mind makes sense. He will have less trouble from 'other-factions' of the party that might slow him down - and there are more 'other-factions' than most people think, including those in DC. Which could blunt any attempt he might make to try to turn China into a mega-power house.

Personally, I think this is reason for the consolidation. Although the outcomes will be very difficult to achieve... It's a delicate time in China, and indeed in the world. What happens in the next 4-6 years will shape the remainder of the 21st century...

We March on...

We are seemingly marching on and on. Closer and closer to dissolution of the Republic. We the People have come to accept that being an apartheid state is an acceptable destination. 'If you ain't White, you ain't right, and if you ain't white, you ain't got no right(s)'.... That this has become acceptable is disgusting, but that's where we are....

We have come to somehow believe that only one party has the correct answers for our (mainly perceived) problems. We've stopped being a Republic, where working out our differences with a 'loyal' opposition, and finding compromises that are designed for the majority, are acceptable. We've become a 'with-me or against-me' nation, where there is no longer any room for compromise or even negotiation. It's 'my way, or the highway'...

If we do not stop the hate and the vitriol soon, we will cease to exist as a nation. If we do not stop the attack on our institutions of government, we will cease to exist as a nation. If we do not protect freedom of speech, and have a strong and vibrant free press, we will cease to exist as a nation. If we do not stop the march towards dictatorship and one party rule, we will cease to exist as a nation....

We are experiencing a major crisis of confidence. Confidence in each other... And our march towards our own destruction is gaining speed.

Our tipping point is very near.

When I was a younger man, the slogan: 'The South Will Rise Again' was a popular one among many people I knew. I never fully realized nor took much time to figure out what it was all about, other than the romanticized version seen in movies and read about in books. And the idea that slavery, or hard core white supremacy was instilled in this saying, just never crossed my mind. But the 'old South' has risen again. Not just in terms of its economic power, but also in it's idealogical thoughts and ideas.

One hundred and sixty years ago, the devastation, while horrible in its time, is not nearly what it would be to re-enact or redo this event in the real. Civil War 2.0 will not be pretty, and it's outcome cannot be clearly forecast as it was before. The old Confederacy lost the war for several reasons, not the least of which was pure number of people, and materials to conduct long-term operations. The Union had a far larger population from which to draw personnel to fight, and technological advances in the industrialized Union were significant. In fact there were extremely few arms or munitions plants in the entire Confederacy. 

But since the 'South' and the 'Confederacy' I speak of today is no longer limited to the southern gulf coast and Atlantic states, and indeed takes in most of the great plains states along with the upper midwest, it cannot be confined and blockaded as before. Just the opposite in fact. It would be quite easy for the people who believe in a 'Union' to be blockaded by the Confederates. 

While the people who believe in the Union, still hold a few million population and perhaps a small technological advantage, they have very few arms and muntions factories and the industrial base to conduct sustained military operations. Consequently, I predict the outcome will be significantly different this time around.

The impending peril in this can be difficult to see and understand for some, but it must be met and dealt with accordingly... and quickly. For time is running out. The Republic for which we stand is in peril of vanishing from the planet, and if we continue down the path we are on at this moment, Civil War 2.0 is not only guaranteed, but indeed on the horizon.