Issues Under Fire: Recent Episodes
Lee Bines
Now that credible sources are publicly discussing the mental competence or lack thereof of the President of the United States, the entire world should be wondering what does this mean?" and who is in charge? In the meantime, Viva la Resistance!
Now that the whispers, rumors and conspiracies theories of Vladimir Putin's hold over Donald Trump have finally been confirmed, the American people are facing an unprecedented circumstance. The nation has been compromised and corrupted at the highest level of government. The Oval Office has been infiltrated. The United States presidency has been highjacked. A foreign entity is now influencing U.S. domestic and foreign policy. That said, "We the People" are no longer in control. Now that we know there is no American leadership to speak of, the only questions left to be answered is, what can be done about it and who's going to try.
What's happening this summer is an amazing story of how differently Americans define humanity. There are literally thousands of people from Central America trying to cross the U.S. southern border by any means necessary. The vast majority are claiming to be victims, refugees and asylum seekers from the failed states of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Can they be believed? That depends on how you define humanity. Although access to these migrants has been limited and tightly controlled by DHS and HHS, from the few videos and photos allowed, for the most part, they all looked like what one would expect victims of violence, refugees, and asylum seekers to look like. They looked poor, tired, hungry and scared. But mostly scared. And they should be. They should be very scared.
Normally, by the time the sundial hits the summer solstice, I'd be in slacker's paradise, sipping Tequila with a side of blue tortilla chips and spicy southwestern style salsa or better yet, some hot Jamaican jerk wings and ice cold Thai beer. Not exactly the high life, but it beats observing an ugly world and all of its problems. Unfortunately, this isn't a normal summer. This summer is one to pay attention to. This summer will make history. This summer will live long in your memories because this summer may redefine you. In fact, this summer may redefine us all. Give me a minute, and I'll explain.
If you've ever been to a Social Security office, an office for public assistance, the DMV, or any big city criminal or family court, you know these places are not designed for comfort or convenience. For the most part, these are drab, boring, uninspiring spaces with dull, disinterested staffs who detest their jobs almost as much as the people they serve. Employees in these types of government spaces are generally overworked, underpaid and feel unappreciated. This is why public officials, news reporters, rights groups and concerned citizens aren't being allowed to inspect and report on the U.S'. immigration detention centers. If you think the DMV sucks, the Trump administration can never allow the world to see what's really going on behind the closed doors of these facilities. Therefore, we have no choice but to use our imaginations
When Donald Trump went to the G-7 Summit he got slammed. When Donald Trump went to the Singapore Summit he got scammed. By the time Donald Trump returned home he'd been exposed as a sham. And I told you so.
Since savvy observers already concluded the U.S. will be isolated at the G-7 Summit in Quebec and given a lesson in the Art of the Scam at the Singapore Summit, I thought it might be fun to engage in a bit of wild speculation and reckless rumors to shed light on why what's happening, is really happening. Besides, it's too soon for another episode of the "Shady Shyster", aka Rudy Guiliani, Donald Trump's mouthpiece and master of sleazy legalese. By Sunday, Trump's cockamamy consigliere will have slung even more mud to muddy the waters of the Mueller investigation So, I'll wait while that story simmers in the slim a little longer. In the meantime, let me tell you what I heard...
In case you haven't noticed, U.S. allies and trading partners are preparing for a post-U.S. relationship. E.U. members are fed up with the Trump administration's aggressive and intimidating strategies to exact the most favorable terms from any agreements made with it going forward. This "Make America Great Again" sh*t ain't exactly going over very well with the rest of the world. In fact, there is a major realignment in progress among nations seeking protections from America's shakedown artist. Dividing the E.U. and others to conquer each nation economically in bilateral negotiation is a slick move. It's like a schoolyard bully isolating a target from any potential support, so exert maximum pressure can be exerted without the predator being exposed for using strong-arm tactics. Unfortunately for Donald Trump, as usual, he went too far.
Although Donald Trump's shyster, Rudy Giuliani never fails to create a shit-storm of controversy every time he appears on camera defending his lying, cheating, thieving and likely guilty as hell client, this weekend's performance was a category 5. Making his rounds on the Sunday talking heads and politico shows, the president's mouthpiece advanced the idea (albeit improbable) that the President of the United States can pardon himself. Yep, responding to a "confidential" 20-page letter outlining the President's legal defense strategies and options, the slippery pettifogger let it be known that if the heat of Mueller's investigation gets too hot, Donald Trump has some serious presidential powers to douse the flames. Donald Trump has a few get out of jail free cards to play.
If you're as tired of U.S. race-related issues as I, you can relax. I'm back to what I do best and enjoy most. Geopolitical analysis. Over the last few days, I've gathered and reviewed enough data to support a theory concerning the upcoming meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump in Singapore. And I'm now prepared to share my findings. If Donald Trump is as dumb as I think he is, I'm 100% certain he'll be suckered into a strategy of Rope-A-Dope, à la the Ali-Forman Rumble in the Jungle boxing match in 1974. Kim in the North, Moon, in the South, Xi in Beijing and Putin in Moscow are in cahoots to make Trump think he's in the driver's seat. These regional neighbors all share a border and the last thing they want is the United States meddling in the region any more than it already is. If you've got a moment, I can help you understand what's really going on. Let's start with China.
Yes, if the Fox News' reporting is to be believed, Roseanne Barr, the queen of hateful Tweets is considering challenging ABC's cancellation of her show. Due to all the support, she's been receiving from her fan base, that's what her latest Tweet suggest. And to be honest, after reviewing many of the vile comments posted by Barr's supporters since the story broke, I can understand why she'd ponder the possibility of rebooting the reboot. Think about it, no matter how disturbing, insulting, offensive, insensitive and racially divisive Barr's Tweets are, she still has a solid and faithful following. In fact, that may be why they watch her show so religiously in the first place. Roseanne Barr is speaking to them in a language they understand and they want more of. Let's face it, this is America.
When I left on Friday, I promised when I returned, I would share what I'd learned of how global conquest, empire building, imperialism, and colonialism were rooted in racism. I planned to explain how the mindset of some of those of European descent concluded eons ago that the God they prayed to gave them this world to own and rule as they pleased. I planned to present irrefutable evidence of how this mindset provided the foundation and justification for racial and social injustice in America. However, I was so determined to tell this story, I didn't notice Friday last, was Missing Children's Day. When I became aware that many of the children whose parents crossed the border illegally were taken by U.S. authorities and are now missing, I felt this issue was far more pressing. Besides, the issue of racism has plagued this country since its inception and America is not going to change anytime soon. So, when I heard former GOP Senator Rick Santorum smugly and arrogantly state the crisis o
Normally, I don't write copy or produce podcasts when I'm in an angry state of mind, but today I'm forced to make an exception. When I heard about the NFL's "Slave Owners Club" announce its new policy that takes away a player's right to peacefully protest, freedom of speech and his freedom of expression, I simply went ballistic. Apparently, these slave owners reached an agreement that states, the players "they own" should show respect for the flag, the troops and by extension the United States of America. Those who don't stand, salute the flag and pay deference to the national anthem will face a fine. How much was not revealed, but in my view, a penny is too much. Now, I must report, they did grant the players the option of staying off the field during the pre-game ceremonies if they didn't want to pay homage to a nation that treats people of color like shit, so I will admit, that was mighty White of them. Read on, because I'm just getting started.
In case you haven't noticed, the United States is in a state of crisis. Since the day Donald Trump took the oath of office he's done nothing but created instability, uncertainty, and CHAOS. The country can't tell if it's coming or going in any particular direction from one moment to the next. And while those who still support and defend Trump's erratic behavior with idioms like "He's Crazy Like a Fox", I'm writing today's post to establish the notion that Donald Trump is simply straight up crazy. I've also produced a podcast today that'll support the fact that, there is no method to Trump's madness because he's simply madcap screwy. But most importantly, I'm going to do my level-minded best to convince you that Donald Trump didn't win the 2016 election. Vladimir Putin did. I know it sounds insane, but if you bear with me for a few moments longer, I think I can prove my case.
They say just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean someone isn't out to get you. And Donald Trump is paranoid. He's showing all the signs of a man feeling as though he's being followed. He's hearing and seeing shadows where none really exist. He can't trust anyone because anyone and everyone could be a leaker. Trump now feels no meeting is really private. He's a man looking over both shoulders at the same time. The pressure of the Mueller investigation is getting to him because that's what criminal investigations are designed to do. If you place enough pressure on a person of interest, they'll crack even if they didn't do anything wrong. But someone with a guilty conscience like Donald Trump apparently has, he' done for and he knows it. Let's have some fun today breaking him down.
When the U.S. Senate intelligence committee released its finding indicating Russia (Vladimir Putin) interfered in America's 2016 presidential elections, I for one wasn't the least bit surprised. If I was Vladimir Putin, I would've done the same thing. Let's face it, Vladimir Putin is a really smart guy. Think of it, from a tactical standpoint, it made perfect sense to do whatever he could to tip the election in the direction of Donald Trump, because Donald Trump is not a smart guy. To the contrary, by any reasonable person's measure, the President of the United States is a Dumb Ass. And by now, everybody knows it. When Russian intelligence confirmed Trump was a fool, Putin knew, if he could manage to get Trump elected it wouldn't be long before other world leaders would be using him like a tool. And, if you allow me a minute, I think I can make a prima facie case to support this theory. I'll start with Vlad the Kingmaker
Today's post and podcast are purely for posterity and your edification. My usual comprehensive copy was simply too painful to write up in depth. After witnessing the brutal massacre of as many as sixty unarmed Palestinian protestors dampened my spirits to such a debilitating degree, I had little more than the ability to speak left to offer. The act of writing requires a lot of mental energy. When one writes with passion, one has to open one's heart to feel the story of those being written about. And from my perspective, those I spoke of today are suffering beyond my ability to tell their story without damaging my very soul. So, I'm forced to admit evil won this day. And while thankfully it doesn't happen often thankfully, every now and then evil will take a terrible toll. If you've got a moment. I'll explain.
The CIA may have done a lot of good around the world, (although the agency would have to kill me if I told you) but it has also earned a well-deserved reputation for doing a lot of bad stuff. Overthrowing governments, starting wars, assassinating foreign leaders who refused to acquiesce to U.S. demands, and supporting brutal dictators friendly to the West is just the tip of the spear of activities the agency engages in to maintain America's dominance over the rest of the world. So, it should surprise no one to find career agents like Gina Haspel willing to violate international laws to torture suspected terrorist mercilessly to force them to say whatever she wanted them to say. And while some will herald her as a hero, others will call a Haspel a sadist. I understand she enjoyed her work.
Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, the United States has threatened a trade war with China, threatened to attack North Korea with Fire and Fury, threatened to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal which is tantamount to a threat of war and came very close to triggering a shooting war with Russia in Syria. Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, the United States has threatened the NATO Alliance and threatened to pull out of the North American Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada. And since the inauguration of Donald Trump, the United States has pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as the Paris Climate Agreement. If Donald Trump makes good on any of these threats, he will have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, to be the most dangerous man in the world. So, what's a world to do?
If you happen to see a government-sponsored commercial while awaiting the start of a film in a movie theater, or a sporting event on TV hyping military service as a career option, I would hope young people in the flower of their lives would consider these following words. "Theirs Not to Reason Why, Theirs But to Do or Die." These words were lifted from the famous poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. This poem spoke to the valiant actions of soldiers who died needlessly following the orders of leaders who'd miscalculated the strength of the opposition. And considering who's leading America these days, America's best and brightest would be wise to consider other options. I have some ugly truths to share today, so prepare yourselves before reading any further.
Last week the world was warned to prepare for the end. The planet would be no more. Religious fanatics had once again predicted the final chapter in the history of humankind. It was to happen today. And they even told us how the end would occur. According to these screwballs, Planet X, aka Nibiru would come crashing into earth fulfilling a prophecy in the Book of Revelations. And if you wanted to be saved, you had to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. If you were in God's good graces, you'd be good to go. Raptured, that is. If not, you'd be toast with all the other heathens, nonbelievers and the faithless. Well, as you can see, there ain't even a cloud in the sky today, let alone a rogue planet headed this way.
Did you know today is a very important date on the calendar? Today is April 20th, and according to Wikipedia, April 20th has become an international counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. Yeah, it's "Get High Day" for all the cool forward thinking progressive-minded people who just want to chill, have a good time and be left alone with their creative peaceful and inspirational thoughts. 4.20 is also the day many users protest in civil disobedience by getting together in public to light up at 4:20 PM. Unfortunately, its also the day when the uncool, backward thinking, narrow-minded law enforcers are on the lookout for lawbreakers. I know it sucks, but I got a story to share this 4.20.2018 that'll take this social issue to a higher level. This story is about Jesus and nothing is gonna get you higher than that
When Donald Trump took the oath office to protect the U.S. Constitution and the American people, he was saddled with the same no-win situation in Syria Barack Obama struggled with. Having to choose between hawkish elements in the GOP seeking an escalation of efforts at any cost and the non-interventionist who just wanted to GTFO of Dodge, Donald Trump was left faced with a problem even his much smarter predecessor couldn't solve. What to do? What to do? What to do? He must've wondered and wondered and wondered. Trump didn't want to break a campaign promise by getting knee deep in a war without end, but he didn't want to look like a punk on the world stage. If Trump just decided to GTFO of Dodge, that would tarnish his brand as a tough guy. Enter John Bolton
Were the U.S. led air strikes against Syria a violation of international law? That's a rhetorical question. The U.S., the U.K, and France claimed to have proof Bashar al-Assad was responsible for using chemical weapons against his people, but that proof has yet to be shared with the international community. The attacks were launched before chemical weapons inspectors could conduct an independent investigation. The OPCW (The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) has finally arrived for a fact-finding mission, but, the damage is already done. What if the inspectors can't find evidence of an attack?. Or if they do, what if they can't prove the Assad government was the culprit? These are the serious questions that demand serious answers. Let's start with the legality of the air strikes.
It's not only Friday, but it's Friday the 13th, and Spring has finally decided to make an appearance here in New York City. So, I thought it'd be cool to have fun with the news, by giving you something you can use. How about a smile, a laugh or some humor to share? To do anything less would be unfair. And don't worry it's free. You can trust me. Remember, I'm the guy, they call Cool Lee. That said, let's get started.
One can only imagine the levels of pressure, anxiety, and stress Donald Trump is dealing with these days, as his personal problems mount by the minute. And when his personal attorney's home and offices were raided by the FBI, those levels had to spike beyond anyone's ability to handle it. Armed with a No Knock Warrant, (a warrant impossible to obtain without serious probable cause) the FBI forced their way into Trump's self-proclaimed "Fixer's" personal space looking for anything and everything they could find to implicate or connect Trump to wrongdoing. And knowing what Trump's "Fixer" knows about him, has to keep the 45th president awake at night if only wondering if his "Fixer" can be flipped. What's a Fixer, you ask? Think Michael Clayton with George Clooney, Ray Donovan, with Liev Schreiber and Scandal with Kerry Washington.
April 9th, 2018 is a date many Americans would like to think of as the beginning of the end for Donald Trump. His personal lawyer Michael Cohen was served a No Knock warrant by the FBI in search of evidence related to crimes that may involve the 45th President of the United States. Why is this such a serious event? Because any No Knock warrant is a serious event. When the FBI serves a "No Knock", they're kicking your damn door down. There's no time to hide anything, grab a gun or make an escape. They've got your ass! And generally speaking, it's all downhill for the targeted subject from this point forward. Can you say cooperating witness? But wait, you may be salivating for nothing.
As predicted, Friday last was the scene of another bloodbath at the border between the Gaza Strip and the State of Israel. In fact, it's this second lopsided confrontation that inspired this companion piece to last Friday's post and podcast. And while the number of dead and wounded are still being calculated, one can be sure, as per usual, all of the dead and wounded were among the people of Gaza. It was a turkey shoot. With IDF snipers positioned on hilltops obeying orders to fire live rounds into crowds of predominately unarmed protestors, I was moved to understand the mindset of those who pulled the triggers. I was determined to understand how the shooters processed their actions after the shooting stopped. I wondered if there were any second thoughts or regrets. I wanted to know, so I gave it some thought.
Although the borders between the United States and Mexico and the demilitarized zone between (DMZ) North and South Korea get all the attention these days, the divide between the Israelis and the Palestinians is perhaps the most dangerously contentious in the world. After 70 years of conflict and separation, the Israelis and Palestinians will face-off in another deadly confrontation today. And that deadly confrontation will take place near the border. In fact, the clashes have already started. In anticipation of a replay of last week's March to Return protests, demonstrations, some say bloodbath, Israel conducted air strikes into Gaza to warn its prisoners to avoid further confrontations. But wait, I may be getting ahead of myself. You need the backstory.
Fake News Alert: Satellite surveillance video shows a slow-moving mass of horrid brown colored creatures on the move. Frenzied Fox and Friends reporters are warning U.S. citizens that hungry Honduran zombies are headed this way. Determined to keep America safe, Donald Trump has authorized the National Guard to defend the border if the Mexican government can't, or won't stop them. Mexican authorities say they're doing all they can to slow the progress of thousands of infected migrants determined to breach U.S. security barriers. President Enrique Pena Nieto has ordered his military to kill on sight (KOS), but as in any zombie movie, nothing short of a bullet to the head will be effective. So please, don't take this post lightly. Remember, this is a Fake News Alert!
With more than 600,000 cases in the pipeline and growing, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Justice Department will require immigration judges to meet an annual quota of case resolutions in order to receive a satisfactory performance rating. 700 cases is the new requirement. So, the goal is clear: Speed up the deportation process. And, coming up with a quota scheme for immigration judges will certainly make that happen. If Sessions has his way, the system's backlog will be cleared in no time. But that rush to judgment will come at a price. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIC), could be reduced to immigration Kangaroo courts, rubber stamping removal orders without any consideration for due process.
On one of the holiest days of the year, the so-called leader of the so-called free world announced "No more DACA deal." Pissed off beyond measure due to his inability to fund the border Wall, Donald Trump lashed out in a series of angry Tweets blaming Mexico for not doing enough to stem the flow of illegals into the United States and Democrats for doing everything they can to keep illegals here. "Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their jobs because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch and Release. Getting more dangerous. 'Caravans' coming. Republicans must go Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL! -Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2018". So, the questions to be answered are, what does all this mean going forward? And what's the message to the rest of the world?
At the risk of repeating myself, this post and podcast is compelled to revisit and readdress the reasons Hillary Clinton lost her election bid to Donald Trump. I say forced to revisit and readdress, because Hillary Clinton refuses to move on, spend more time with her beautiful family and leave the future to futurists, visionaries, and progressive thinkers. Earlier this week, Hillary Clinton spoke at the Rutgers Athletic Center in New Jersey when asked why she continues to make public appearances when people are saying "Shut up and Get Off the Stage". Her response was as blunt as it was delusional: "They never said that to a man who was not elected". Clearly, Clinton remains in a state of denial, so I found it necessary to resurrect the past to keep the record straight.
The world is heating up, but this podcast and post are not about climate change. Sure, reputable scientists has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that mankind's activities are negatively impacting the world's weather patterns. I'm a believer. Global warming temperatures are melting the ice caps, which is raising the sea levels, that are flooding coastal communities. Mega hurricanes, massive wildfires, and prolonged droughts are all related to a planet lighting itself on fire. But, long before we earthlings grill ourselves, we'll kill ourselves. And I think I know how. Here's my theory.