So---uh---are we ever going to hear ANYTHING that even begins to address the mountain

of evidence presented by the House Managers?

So far, the GOP "defense" amounts to "YADA, YADA, YADA!" Starr's presentation would have to get a lot better to even rate just "irrelevant twaddle".

One perspective: from "Mississippi Burning"---

Agent Ward ( Dafoe ): "Don't drag me into your gutter, Mr. Anderson!"

Agent Anderson ( Hackman ): "These people are crawling out of the SEWER, MR. WARD! Maybe the gutter is where we oughta be!"

Again, the hopeful speculation that maybe, just maybe, the "Bolton Bombshell" will persuade

some Republicans to vote for witnesses depends on them being too ashamed to ignore the manuscript quotes.

But, they are utterly shameless. It will not matter. They are COMMITTED to acquittal and the Second Coming would not deter them.

I would love to be wrong, but doubt I am.

It is just this simple: we should not abide a POTUS we FEAR. nt

We are fighting a "fire hose" and conventional wisdom that turns out to be naivete.

First, the fire hose is the---unprecedented---unbelievable---"OMG, this can't be bappening"---spew of lies, hypocrisy, arrogance, greed and shameless cruelty from Trump and his acolytes. In the course of most of our days recently, we hear of several new Trumpian outrages; outrages that our past experience tells us should be cause for widespread anger and criticism. And, yet, day after day, we see a mostly cowed media simply yawn and, occasionally, cluck disapproval.

As citizens, we are caught in the middle of the largest criminal conspiracy this nation has ever witnessed. What began as the manipulated elevation of a mentally unstable grifter has metastasized into a vile mass of unparalleled corruption that poses---truly--- an existential threat to us, our children, our grandchildren. WHAT to do---turn off the hose at its source---is obvious. HOW to do this is not and time is not on our side. We are willing to act but, currently, lack a leader to direct our outrrage.

Second, most of us---certainly me included---have, until recently, lived our lives within unspoken boundaries of decency. While it would be difficult to articulate exactly where decency ends and "something else" begins in all situations, a few of the guard rails are easily identified.

Most of the time, decent people don't lie; they are not cruel; they insist that the "rules of the game" be fair and that the refs be, like them, decent people. We do genuinely try to "treat others as we would like to be treated.

As mentioned, these "givens", these assumptions are largely unspoken, but probably control our behavior more effectively than all the laws on the books.

But, Trump and those like him are also aware of these unspoken boundaries. They, however, see them as foolish weaknesses and opportunities to deceive and plunder. Each time someone says something like "That can't be true. People just don't DO things like that!", the Trump folks smile and mutter "What idiots!"

I guess that's all I have. Somber thoughts on a sunny morning in southern Illinois.

Could someone explain why anyone should really care who Joe Rogan (who?) endorsed or

did not endorse and who accepted or should renounce his endorsement? At times, his name has been the most frequently mentioned in OP titles here for the past few days.

Seriously? He's a comedian, right?

Seriously, I urge Democrats with blood pressure problems not to watch or listen to

the lie-fest now taking place in the Senate. Your health is more important than participating in the outrage in real time. And, we need you.

I don't have blood pressure problems, but turned it off after 2 minutes because of a stomach problem--- I thought I was about to "hurl chunks".

When you sort through all the rap lyrics and pretension, Ari Melber's guiding principle

often seems to be Fox's slogan: "Fair and Balanced". He stretches to "present both sides" even when one side is clearly "alternative facts" and his frequent "Yes, but to be fair---" remarks are often unnecessary and anything but "fair".

I am done with him.

"Are They Gonna Make Us Outlaws Again?"

"Well, I tell you folks there's trouble
And there's tension everywhere
And everybody's askin', where's it gonna end
But there ain't nobody answered
No, there ain't nobody dared
And I'll tell you folks there's trouble
There's trouble everywhere
?
Are they gonna make us outlaws again?
Is that what it's comin' to my friends
Why, I think I see why Pretty Boy Floyd done the things he did
Are they gonna make us outlaws again?"
?
---by JamesTalley.
?

Sincere advice to Mr. Sekulow: Jay, Jay, Jay! Your faux indignation on TV just now as you---

--hee-hee-hee!---pretended to fume about "dossiers" and whose wife worked for who and---well, that's about all I caught before I could no longer stand the high decibel shriek of my bullshit alarm. Can you say "transparent" boys and girls?

When it comes to sincere passion, Jay, you really can't "fake it till you make it".(Ask your wife what that means---in private, Jay, in private) it may be difficult for you to wrap your head around, but you are actually better off just being the arrogant lying soulless prick that you are. Decent people won't like you, but at least they--- won't----hee-hee-hee-SNONK!---laugh at you.

Hooooo- boy!

You're welcome.