Thoughts On the Mueller Hearing

There are few things that can either bring citizens together or divide them like politics. In the United States, there is doubt that politically, culturally and socially, we are becoming a divided nation.

This morning, former Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller testified in front of Congress and millions of Americans about his report and the conclusions in regards to the accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 Presidential election.

Several points hit me as I listened:

1. Mr. Mueller is an honorable man who has served his country for decades. Though it would have been easy to cross a moral or legal boundary to reach his conclusions, he chose to stay within the barriers of his position and Department of Justice protocol.
2. There is without a doubt, something not right about the way you know who and those around him acted during the campaign. It felt like the win was more important than following the rules or established political traditions.
3. Depending on where your political beliefs lie, you either believe that you know who is guilty and should be impeached or is a victim, as he calls it, a “witch hunt”.
4. Based on today’s testimony, I am still not sure that impeaching him is the right thing to do. Impeachment does not always mean that the President is forced out of office. Former President Bill Clinton was also impeached, but remained in office to complete his second term.
5. However, if the decision is to not find a way to force you know who out of office, that leaves the door open for him to possibly win the 2020 Presidential election.

Readers, what do you think? Do you think today’s hearing exonerates you know who or is just another reminder that he is unworthy of being President?

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Thoughts On the Robert Mueller Announcement

During the Mueller Investigation and after the release of the report, there were many who were eager to speak of the report and the man whose name is on the report, Robert Mueller. The only person who did not speak was Mr. Mueller.

Earlier this week, that changed when he spoke briefly to the press.

When I see this video, I see a man who is elegant, educated, professional and respectful. I also see a man who is tired and ready to enjoy whatever time he has left on this earth. As a side note, he also stated at the end of the announcement that he is retiring.

As I spoke of in past blog posts, I agree Mr. Mueller’s statement. Though there is certainly smoke, there is not enough fire (depending on one’s point of view) to directly charge you know who.

If there was a way to speak to Mr. Mueller directly, I would thank him. It would have been easy to sit back and do nothing. But he chose to serve the American people and prove that justice is blind. Not even the President is above the law.

Your service to this country, Mr. Mueller, will never be forgotten. Enjoy your retirement.

In the Wake of the Release of the Mueller Report, Should The President Be Impeached?

The Mueller Report was released last week. As was expected, the response to the report depended on where one lands on the political aisle. Though the report did not state that you know who is implicitly guilty, there is clearly a case of crossing the moral and ethical line to win the 2016 election.

The question that I think needs to be asked, is if you know who should be impeached or if we should let the American people vote him out of the office next fall?

If I am to be completely honest, I have to admit that I am not sure what the best response from Congress should be?

If he is impeached, this means that Mike Pence is President. If you know who is wrong for President, Mike Pence is worse from my perspective. Impeachment would also prove that the conspiracy theories are correct and that the Democrats are out to get him.

However, if he is not impeached, that means that you know who could be re-elected next year.

I wish that there was an easy answer, but there is not. The only thing we can do is wait and let the chips fall where they may.

The Mueller Report — By Hook Or By Book

I was up until about 1:00 in the morning reading the report and now have a migraine, so this is going to be a fairly brief post. I just want to share a few thoughts. 1. The 148 page report is split into two volumes. The first deals with conspiracy/collusion, the second, obstruction of justice. […]

via The Mueller Report — By Hook Or By Book

New Randy Rainbow Video-THE MUELLER BLUES – Randy Rainbow Song Parody

Depending on where you standing politically, the release of the Mueller Report is either a victory or a disappointment.

Earlier today, Randy Rainbow released his latest video entitled “THE MUELLER BLUES – Randy Rainbow Song Parody”.

Though I cannot identify the song that the parody is based on, I still love this video. I love that he addresses, as only he can, the feelings and reactions of both camps. From my perspective, it is just additional evidence that while you know who is not completely responsible for the political and social divisions in this country, he is a symptom of them.

Americans are better when we stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens. The problem is that instead of instead of finding common ground and a way to respect our differences, we are fighting with each other.  If we cannot figure out how to get along, I fear that the America that we all know and love will become something different entirely.

Thoughts On the Preliminary Results of the Mueller Report

After nearly two-years of speculation and news reports, the Mueller Report was finally released earlier today.

I have to admit that the results, even in this preliminary stage are a bit disappointing. While Robert Mueller‘s team was not able to conclude without a reasonable doubt that you know who or his team colluded with Russia, they have not been completely exonerated of the charges either.

In spite of the disappointment, there are three silver linings.

1. There have been a number of convictions based on the information that Mueller and his team was able to find.
2. The judicial system works. Free from Presidential control, Robert Mueller and those who reported to him were able to do a thorough investigation.
3. Because you know who and his aides were not exonerated, there is still a chance that somewhere, someone slipped up.

The next step is for the full report to be submitted to Congress and the American people.

What’s done is done. We cannot go backwards, we can only go forwards. My hope is that this is enough that come time for next year’s Presidential election to sway the voters to someone who is not a corrupt, snake oil, used car salesman with the temperament and maturity of a four-year old.

 

 

I Hate To Say It, But We Should Not Talk About Impeachment, At Least For The Short Term

According to the American Constitution, a political leader at the federal level may be forced out of office via impeachment if he or she commits “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”.

Like many of you, I did not vote for a certain person in the 2016 Presidential Election and I have yet to agree or approve of the policies he has put into place. I also believe that the evidence that so far has been presented is legitimate and solid.

As much as I would love to see him out of office, I believe that for the short-term, we should not be discussing impeachment. My reasoning is the following:

1. Unlike a certain President who shoots his social media mouth off at every turn, Robert Mueller and his team are only showing their hands when they have concrete evidence. Without concrete evidence, it proves that the Russia Investigation is indeed a witch hunt and a waste of tax dollars. This of course, feeds into the idea that  he is innocent and being persecuted for no reason.
2. If he is impeached, then Mike Pence becomes President. From my perspective, Mike Pence would be a political nightmare.
3.   Unless it is proved that this person has committed a crime, starting impeachment proceeding over political differences starts a dangerous precedent that would destabilize this country in ways that I dare not even consider.
4. Impeachment subverts the will of the people, but again, that depends on how solid the proof is that a crime was committed.

Only time will tell if and/or when a certain person is removed from the highest political office in the land.  I only know that at this point in time, I believe that we should not be talking about impeachment until it proved without a shadow of a doubt that an impeachment offense was committed.

Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: Michael Flynn

There is an old saying: Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Today, former Trump official Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his interactions with the Russian government. The sources report that a senior official within the administration gave the green light to start secret talks with the Russians. While the name of the senior official has not been formally made public, some believe that it was Jared Kushner.

This directive did not come out of thin air. Somebody, whether it was Kushner, Trump himself or someone else who has yet to be named made the decision to have this communication with the Russians. I find it completely ironic that during the election, the chants of “lock her up” were heard throughout the country.

I have not read the emails, so I cannot comment on the contents of said emails. While I believe that using a private email server for business purposes was a lapse in judgement on Clinton’s part, as far as I know, it’s not illegal. What is illegal (again within my very limited legal knowledge) is secretly colluding with Russia to swing the election toward Trump and not just that, but openly lying about those interactions.

Only time will tell if Trump (G-d forbid) lasts until 2020 or someone finds the smoking gun that leads to impeachment before then.  But where there is smoke, there is fire (and Trump).

 

A Halloween Treat For Donald Trump-Robert Mueller Is Coming For You….

 

The news these past two days have filled with the revelation (though not unsurprising) that former Trump aides Paul Manafort, Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos have been indicted by Robert Mueller in response to the revelation of the connection to the Russian interference of the 2016 Presidential Election.

I could revel in the delicious idea that the threads are unraveling, but I will let The President Show and Randy Rainbow do it for me….