I think The Great Negotiator should hop on AF1 and fly to Baghdad, walk into the crowd

and just 'splain to those poor ignorant brown-skinned fellows how his assassination of Soleimani was a GOOD thing. They'd appreciate it, I'm sure. While he's there, he could probably get them to convert to Christianity, too, don'tcha think?

I'm reasonably sure Mike Pence would be in favor of this "outreach" by his boss.

If I could speak to the Republicans in Congress, I would be tempted to say "At long last, have you

left no sense of decency?", but that has already been used and is not actually strong enough. So, I guess I'd say something like the following.

We---the honest thinking Americans not easily persuaded that up is down and black is white---already know that you long ago abandoned any sense of decency you may have possessed when you first sought elective office. You value only your own power and influence and you are willing to kiss the feet---or "whatever"--- of anyone who can help you keep or better your personal position and privilege. You no longer even bother to conceal the "For Sale" sign you wear around your neck.

But, since you are interested in power, let's discuss that. You are about to lose yours. One way or another, Trump's occupation of our White House is about to end. Further, it is looking more and more likely that the Democrats will soon control both chambers of Congress. The reality is that, while some of you may still have your offices for a time after this next election, many of you will not and some of you will be going to prison. Having spent the past three years enabling this criminal regime, there are no "good" alternatives left for you. Your only choices are "bad" and "very bad".

If you "at long last" turn on Trump, cooperate with investigators and use the authority you've been given to rid us of this maniacal pretender, you can, in time, learn to live with "bad".

But, if you persist in being what Donald Rumsfeld once called "dead enders" and remain loyal to the man who knows not the meaning of the word, you will have chosen "very bad" and---count on it---"A hard rain's a-gonna fall!"

I"ll say this now: anyone on our side of the aisle in the Senate who does not vote to

convict Trump should not let the doorknob hit them in the ass as they leave our party. NO exceptions!

As I understand it, the Trump rationale for the assassination of Soleimani amounts to "he had

the blood of Americans and our allies on his hands and we think it likely he would attack us in the future."

If this is the new "Trump Doctrine", I have a question: when are we going to kill Putin?

Sadly, my first reaction to tonight's news of our targeted assassination of Iran's Qud force

director was "Well, there it is---Trump has his war!"

And, later, when the official US statement about the attack was read and predicated the attack as a "defensive" strike necessary to prevent planned attacks on our personnel, my reaction we---and is---disbelief. Until it is corroborated by sources not allied with or beholden to Trump, I will not believe any such justification for an act of war without Congressional approval.

And, make no mistake: we are worse off than leaderless. The man who is claims Constitutional authority to "do whatever he wants" not only will use the coming war for his own political advantage, he has control of our nukes and has often questioned why he can't use them.

The United States of America has been placed in mortal danger by the idiot in the White House and he has no idea what to do about it.

Note to TV programmers: when Joe Lieberman appears on your screen, you lose

this viewer. Every time. No exceptions.

In the primary, I will vote for the person I believe---with my imperfect knowledge---has the best of

defeating Trump. In the general election I will vote for whoever Democrats nominate and for every Democrat below them on the ballot.

Period.

We were right, damn it. Not bragging 'cause it was not at all difficult. We knew, you see,

that Trump was almost as qualified to be POTUS as he was to dance ballet. Frankly, we put those who claim that they are just now coming to understand how totally unfit this man-baby is to be leader of the free world into two categories: the truly stupid and the soulless birds of a feather who have coldly calculated that his days are numbered.

"I didn't know---" "I never realized---" "I was just doing my job---"

We've heard this all before, but it was more impressive in the original German.

We were right back when we were "alarmists". We were right back when we were "sore losers"; when we were just "liberal snowflakes" who "hated America". And, we are right now; now that we are once again just Americans with a little common sense and just enough backbone to get downright incensed when our leaders piss on our shoes and tell us it is raining.

Here's hoping 2020 is a better year than the past three.

To anyone who calls themself a Christian---evangelical, fundamentalist, main-line or splinter sect,

never-miss-a-Sunday or lapsed, Catholic or Protestant or "other":

If you do NOT support Donald Trump, never mind. Your religion has not made you deaf and blind to the rot that Trump and his disciples flaunt on a daily basis.

If you DO support Donald Trump---even now when you cannot possibly claim to be ignorant of his mendacity, vulgarity, hypocrisy and cruelty---I must ask: do you also support the likes of McConnell and Graham and their Senate crew in the way they have announced their decision to acquit Trump before his trial has even begun?

Are you not aware of the "sacred" oath they will take before the trial begins or do you just not give a damn? Let me quote it for you: "I solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of Donald John Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, SO HELP ME GOD."

I put those last four words in ALL CAPS because you folks have somehow managed to look the other way when someone tries to take the "God thing" seriously and I want to be sure those words are not ignored. Mitch and Lindsey and most of the rest of your cherished Republican majority are going to raise their hands and "solemnly swear" to "do "IMPARTIAL justice" "SO HELP THEM GOD"---despite having gleefully announced to the world that they have no intention to be impartial; that they will not allow Trump to be impeached. If that is OK with you, I have one more question.

What, short of chanting "Fuck Jesus!" on national TV, might NOT be OK with you, God-wise?

R2D2's secret message: