With time and observation, the realization dawns that there have always been major philosophical differences between Democrats and Republicans. And why only two parties? Guess that’s a separate discussion.

Since Trump came along, the floodgates have opened on crazy. Maybe it was Obama’s presidency that really got the base energized in opposition. Trump stumbled onto the tact that giving voice to their fears and ignorance was the only way he could get elected.

What a way to govern, if “govern” is even the right word. The Republican platform seems to be all about vengeance and preservation, keeping the clocks turned back, or frozen. Much of the ranting and complaining seem focused on big government keeping its grubby mitts out of peoples’ affairs— unless you teach the “wrong” things in school, recommend the “wrong” reading list, or you’re a woman who prefers to have control over her own body. Or your skin tone is too dark, or your facial features are too Asian. Or until Mother Nature comes calling or a train derails or there’s infrastructure money up for grabs.

If we’re going to be one nation, under God, then concessions have to be made. The rule of law is followed, the right to religious expression is practiced, but only as this is guided by restraint when it comes to legislation and coercion and invading peoples’ space.

Republicans seem to bank on some sort of economic wizardry or sleight of hand, something about trickling down and floating all boats. They ironically boast about their Christian values and then demonstrate at every turn an incomplete understanding, or at best, convenient use of certain Biblical tenets.

They say they love this country, but it’s a misguided, selective, conditional love of a diminished and deprived land. Until they break away from the self-interested, paranoid darkness of Trumpism, they’re just wandering further into an unforgiving desert.

We neither want nor need what he’s selling. And that’s part of the mystery. One might figure even his diehard fans would come around at some point.

For some strange reason, though, Donald Trump apparently continues to resonate with people, even though he’s a plastic man and couldn’t care less about them, other than as a means to an end. He’s a bad man, and people seem to eat it up. He’s the guy they want in charge—a crass, abrupt, cold, brash, lazy, jaded, incompetent, ignorant smart ass. Just an entitled, boastful, self-interested, visionless gas bag.

The circulation of his mug shot evoked all sorts of reactions, from smug and exuberant to more measured and cautious. Alex Wagner got it right, I think, when she warned that this picture is the beginning of the real test. His supporters are gonna wear it proudly, use it as motivation and yet one more grievance and example of a President and justice department gone rogue. The justice department, for its part, is going to be tested like it’s never been tested before, if only because of the vast scope of charges involved.

We shouldn’t be here right now. We should be focused on addressing real-life issues people are facing, without having to do it against the backdrop of navigating this incessant drama, this labyrinth of endless litigation and judicial back-and-forth involving a person who’s not worth the time and effort, who feeds off any kind of press—bad or good—and who had no business thinking he was POTUS material in the first place.

About the best you can say for Trump is that he has exposed a nerve, ripped the scab off a wound that still hasn’t healed.

Trump has a mug shot, and it’s priceless—a mix of scowl, daggers, “how dare you?” and total embarrassment. His faithful followers will of course try to spin it as something heroic. It’ll be on t-shirts today, accompanied by some pithy, yet misguided screed. But there’s no avoiding the fact that a former POTUS has a mug shot. And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy… Donald should be proud– he’s a groundbreaker.

I hope his lawyers are at least attempting to break it to him: this has never been a witch hunt. He’s either too dumb to know he’s been breaking the law all these years, or he’s always operated on the mistaken assumption that laws don’t apply to him.

He’ll continue to weave his tale of woe, but his circle of sympathizers is shrinking. He’s never known when to walk away, though it looks like the justice system he wants to dismantle might take care of that for him.

Americans should be mad as hell at this guy. He’s been nothing but a huge distraction, a giant time suck. Another civil war—over Donald Trump? If it comes to that, it’ll be because the South has never gotten over losing the first one, and the only role Trump will have played is dredging up all that ugliness.

Trump didn’t participate in the debate last night. Instead, he talked to Tucker Carlson and bitched and moaned and tried to steal the limelight.  Millions of people probably watched that. I watched neither, because I’m trying to keep my BP in check by avoiding any coverage of all the noise.

The Republicans aren’t selling anything I’m remotely interested in buying. While the world burns, they’re bad-mouthing an administration that’s actually trying to address real needs. They’re all about lower taxes and capital gains and renewable energy misinformation and telling women what to do with their bodies and tailoring history to their liking; holding onto their money, bolstering our defense, heavy-handed patriotism, home arsenals, and in general acting like a bunch of ignorant, paranoid clowns. Their view of the world quickly leads to unsustainability and smacks of a certain narrow-minded and simplistic version of Christianity.

Other than that, they’re the bee’s knees.

Republican debate tonight. Yikes. I’m sure it will be a scintillating display of wit and charm and informed commentary. Maybe we’ll see if anyone dares put some distance between themselves and Donald Trump.

Debates seem almost useless to me, especially when there are multiple participants (8 tonight?). The moderator asks a question, then the candidates change the subject and go off on either a rant or some other stream of consciousness. Or they just go on the attack and never say anything substantive.

I’m not sure how much anyone will learn, if they make the effort to tune in in the first place. Hopefully it won’t just be a free-for-all, and the Fox News moderators avoid serving up softballs and the temptation to feed the candidates a steady diet of Biden-bashing entrees.

And get ready, Ron. They’re probably coming after you.

It’s not just the mass shootings. It’s the one-offs. The irrationally angry and misguided gunman who walks into a store that’s displaying a gay pride flag and shoots the owner to death. Senseless, gut-wrenching, shocking, breathtakingly violent. Another life snuffed. Just like that.

And we all die a bit more.

Well, except for the far right and homophobes everywhere, who probably think the guy did the world a favor and wonder what all the fuss is about. 

The last time California was hit with a tropical storm was just about 84 years ago, around the time Hitler was planning his invasion of Poland and all hell was about to break loose.

Currently, everybody’s favorite megalomaniac, Vladimir Putin, is doing his best Hitler imitation, and China has its boxers in a bunch over Kamala Harris’s visit to Taiwan.

May there be no connection whatsoever, no rhyming history.

In addition, whether people believe it or not, global warming has come home to roost. Yesterday, the heat index in Lawrence, KS– not Death Valley– was 126.

I think a piece of rhubarb pie might be in order.

I don’t care what anyone says anymore. There’s no sense trying to make sense of any of it.

I don’t care that so many are still Trump junkies. Don’t care that Republicans in Congress and state government are still weaving marvelous tales and creating mythic explanations– excuses all– for the walking disaster that is Donald Trump. I don’t care that so many can still bring themselves to take him seriously.

Tom Cotton has resurfaced, vomiting up the latest jaw-droppingly tone deaf defense in the form of “let’s leave it to the voters to decide Trump’s fate,” conveniently ignoring and sidestepping the whole messy reality of four indictments and their potential consequences. They’re trotting out the same old playbook, the oldies but baddies. And millions continue to buy it, which may be the most mystifying thing of all.

Even if they can stomach the indictments and never move beyond seeing them as evidence of the witch hunt that Trump always claims them to be, couldn’t they also, finally, come to realize that Trump just has too much baggage for anyone’s good?

The fact that Trump has survived two impeachments and countless lawsuits and numerous assaults on his lousy name, and fully expects to run for President from jail, if it comes to that— these aren’t achievements! These aren’t rational, honorable aspirations.

Might all of this perhaps, maybe, cause even diehards to pause for a moment and think about America—the land they say they love—and finally admit that Trump is too much?

Trump is a prima donna. He is a selfish, immature, excessively damaged one-man wrecking crew who simply thrives on attention, loves to brag. He’s a 77-year-old empty suit, and we’ve wasted at least 8 years paying attention to this clown.

He’s never gonna do anything more than try to talk a good game, though with his limited vocabulary and scorched world view, even that could be a challenge.

He’s a lightweight. He’s got nothing, except a penchant for causing trouble and wasting everyone’s time.

The intransigence goes way back, though it became real for me when Mitch McConnell said the Republicans’ main goal was to make sure Barack Obama was a one-term President. Stunning, to this day.

In Obama’s book, A Promised Land, he recounts the opposition he faced all along the way. Passing any meaningful legislation was a slog. Along with the usual philosophical differences, there was foot-dragging, back-room wrangling, watering down, and just plain arms-crossed stubbornness.

I guess I understand it, to a certain point—the party out of power isn’t going to just hand the party in power anything that looks like a legislative win, since that would make them look weak, likely only win the opposition party favor with the electorate, and go a certain ways to assuring the party in power stays in power. But how the hell can anything get done if the minority is intent on laying mines and saying No to everything? I guess that’s democracy in action? You get things done, eventually, though big donors loom large and concessions are made, and pork is often added.

Still, it’s difficult not to think that in Obama’s case, there was also an undercurrent of racism at work, an added impetus for feet dragging. Obama’s time in office lit a fire under those who wouldn’t stand for another person of color in the Oval anytime soon. And voila: we got Donald Trump.

I suppose I’m just another guy shooting from the hip, spouting opinions based largely on perceptions and feelings, less on conversation or debate. Yet if what I hear in interviews with Trump sympathizers or conversations between Fox News junkies is any indication, I feel like there’s really no need to parse things much further or seek out more information. I’m not gonna change any minds.

All I know is that Donald Trump has never been and is never going to be a person I consider capable and competent to serve in public office, and it is extremely difficult for me to understand how others could feel the opposite of that and can’t see through him.

To me, it looks like smart, and some not-so-smart people being duped, committing to a person who apparently is saying the right things, but who also seems a bit dead inside, incapable of empathy, averse to normal human emotions other than anger and vindictiveness.

He may very well feel picked on, but he apparently can’t see that the treatment he gets—especially lately—is the result of his own actions and words. He’s made a good living claiming either ignorance or victimhood. These things are hard-wired in him.

He’s a spoiled, deceitful paper bully, though. Soon to be a totally cornered rat. Which means hold onto your hats, because it’s gonna get even uglier than it’s already been since he wandered down that escalator, trying to carry himself like a damned king.

Donald Trump has an ego the size of Jupiter, and people still insist on feeding it. To me, it is crystal clear that he is not worthy of anyone’s allegiance or adoration. I’ve never understood the buzz he’s generated, beyond this sick fascination we have with celebrity.

The trouble is, he’s been around long enough to poison the water the Republican party is drinking. In some ways, Trump is just the poster child for a metastasizing cancer.