The Historical Record

If this country survives and its history written in the decades and centuries to come,

I suspect that the current era will be denominated “The Age of Unreason”. It will be recorded
that a nation founded by immigrants and populated by their descendants closed its doors to those seeking asylum and a better life.
That its youth emulated the salutes and symbols and adopted the hatred and vitriol of those whom their grandfathers had fought to the death to defeat. Historians will express befuddlement
that a man with no historical knowledge or interest, no sense of mission save self-adulation, no
moral fiber and possessing acute criminal instincts, was elevated to leadership of what was then labeled the “Free World”.
Chroniclers will wonder how men and women of high elective office, fully aware of the destructive and disruptive nature of their leader, chose to ignore the chaos and conflict reigning about them in their pursuit of self promotion. Historians likely will question how a Supreme Court dominated by originalists and professing aversion to activist judging could bend the constitution to justify a private right to bear arms and a corporate right to use wealth to dominate the electoral process; the same court that pronounced itself powerless to remedy patent deprivation of voting rights by ultra-partisan electoral mapping.
Finally, much will be written about a nation once united in common purpose that was splintered
into tribal cohorts exuding venom for one another and a congress paralyzed and cowered into inaction, fearful of retribution by an egomaniacal ignoramus and his blindly devoted base.
Then, hopefully, it will document how the darkness receded, the nation found its way and the grand experiment that is American democracy was saved.  

U.S. Investigates Emissions Pledge

If anyone needed more proof that William Barr acts as the personal attorney of President Trump, his "Roy Cohen", rather than as  an independent Attorney General, look no further. After wrongly absolving Mr. Trump of obstruction of justice, notwithstanding the factual findings of Special Counsel Mueller, and by commencing investigations of those who probed or "spied on" the president, Mr. Barr's Justice Department has now opened an antitrust investigation of the automakers who struck a deal with California to reduce tailpipe emissions beyond the limits preferred by Mr. Trump. The Department has also sent an intimidating warning letter to California officials. 

Never mind that this latest investigation turns antitrust law on its head (there is no violation absent collusion between the companies), Mr. Barr is sending a clear signal that anyone who defies the wishes of his client, in this case Mr. Trump's desire to enrich Big Oil and undo anything put in place by President Obama, will be subjected to massive scrutiny and legal harassment. 

U.S. to Challenge California's Right to Set Pollution Rules

The Trump-directed EPA has indicated it is considering revoking California's legal authority to set tailpipe pollutions standards that are stricter than federal regulations. (NYT, 9/6, P.B4) This action is being taken despite the fact that 13 other states have adopted California's forward-looking effort to curtail global warming and air pollution and that major auto makers have announced their approval of and commitment to the higher standards.

In contemplating this environmentally destructive retreat from sensible measures to combat the life-threatening menace of increasing greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, the EPA must heed the caution voiced by Sen. James Imhofe of Oklahoma, who happens to be a global-warming denier and apologist for Big Oil. At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, held in July, 2007, Sen. Barbara Boxer, the committee chair, berated the EPA for unduly delaying action on California's request for a waiver allowing the state to set its own standards. In defending EPA's inaction, Sen. Imhofe stated:

" In making a decision of this magnitude, it would be improper for the EPA not to involve the public and formally solicit notice and comment". The Senator added that the EPA needed time to read, assess and compare the comments and to thoroughly investigate the issues raised by California, analyze each and every document, examine every argument raised in opposition and determine the ramifications of a decision. He concluded, " then, and only then, EPA needs to make a decision... rushing this process is unacceptable. In fact, it would be arbitrary and capricious in law and in fact. "

Amen.

A LOOK INTO THE NEAR-TERM FUTURE

Even if you accept that Donald Trump is unstable and essentially ignorant of the principles of the world economy, his recent actions and pronouncements seem too reckless and self-defeating to be unintentional and, I submit, can only be explained by the following hypothesis.

Mr. Trump knows that he cannot win a second term electorally. So, instead, he has taken a wrecking ball to the international and domestic economies, alienated our closest allies, disadvantaged the base which has stood steadfastly by him and is willfully courting recession. He has broken every norm, defied every standard, undermined the foundation of our democracy, encouraged hatred between the diverse elements of our populace and bred an unprecedented mistrust of the media. The inevitable social and financial chaos now descending cannot be remedied by a divided government in which no one has confidence.

Mr. Trump will make it clear that the blame for this catastrophe lies with the Deep State, immigrants, globalization, Democrats turned Socialists, nasty former allies, Chinese aggression, fake news, an out of control Fed, President Obama and disloyal Jews.

Under these dire consequences, any election would be rigged and the result unacceptable. Therefore, in order to save the nation, Mr. Trump will cancel the election and, with the imprimatur of a majority of the Supreme Court, upholding his exercise of emergency powers, extend his term in office indefinitely. Only Mr. Trump, acting as the “Chosen One”, can preserve order and restore America’s greatness.

May God help us.

Tweet From Trump

OK, enough talking. I made a bona fide offer, in good faith, to take the damn island off their hands. My overture was met by mockery and nasty laughter. These Danes are too stupid to realize the value of the real estate they are sitting on. With the glaciers melting, thanks to my far-sighted rejection of Obama’s plan to reduce global warming (so dumb), we can now access tremendous quantities of rare earth, whatever the hell that is, and break China’s monopoly of the damn stuff. After that, we can design, as only I can, a huge golf course spanning the entire island with enough space to set aside a few holes for the natives which, of course, will be walled off from the money making part of the course (oh Vlad, we’ll be so rich together).

So I have now directed my remaining generals to prepare an invasion of Greenland, starting at 5AM tomorrow (or thereabouts, I don’t like being predictable and unless I change my mind) and take for the USA the God-given wealth of the planet which would otherwise be left unexploited.  Make America and the big oil companies GREAT AGAIN.

Trump's Denunciation of Jews

Trump’s statement, that Jews who vote for Democrats are disloyal, must trigger immediate initiation of impeachment proceedings or action by the cabinet to remove him from office pursuant to the 25th Amendment. It is now patently clear that Trump is either mentally unfit or blatantly anti-Semitic or both. Whatever the reason, or lack thereof, for his dangerous and inflammatory utterance, Trump has given an unmistakable signal to the lunatic fringe of American Nazis that the killing of Jews is not merely justified but patriotic.
If politicians of all stripes do not immediately condemn this outrage, and act to remove Trump, Americans must take to the streets in numbers that dwarf the massive protests in Hong Kong and declare that intolerance and persecution will not be allowed to raise the specter of a new Holocaust.

Congresswomen Denied Entry to Israel

If President Trump believes that he can appeal to American Jewry and divert the sympathy many American Jews feel for the Democratic Party, by enlisting Benjamin Netanyahu to bar entry into Israel of two American Congresswomen, I expect that he is in for a huge comeuppance.
United States citizens who prize democracy, separation of powers and the rule of law, including citizens of Jewish ancestry, will be appalled by Mr.Trump’s outrageous breach of tradition, blatant display of intolerance and his contempt for a co-equal branch of government. This unholy maneuver will not stand but will inflict great damage to Mr. Trump’s re-election prospects and to Americans’ esteem for Israel. It may well be the death knell of the Republican Party if its officials fail to condemn this travesty.