John Funiciello

The genesis of the anti-First Amendment legislation was the bravery of the water protectors of the Standing Rock Reservation and the thousands of their supporters who came from all parts of the country. The right-wing politicians (most of the Republicans and some Democrats) became alarmed that the people, defending what it theirs, could bring to a (temporary) halt the grinding of industrial America’s monstrous wheels and resolved to put a stop to it.

When his destruction of social programs to save money for his military and defense is complete, he will have a much bigger purse to hand over to the private corporations, which are waiting in the wings to take over only the most lucrative functions of government. The military is one of the biggest and he is making that purse bigger.

Trump seems especially impressed by the military parades and displays of Kim Jong Un, the dictator of North Korea, who can order a military parade just about anytime he wishes. That kind of power apparently impresses Donald Trump, who has had a shouting match (in tweets) with Kim, about whose nuclear button is bigger.

The Citizens United case of recent years has allowed unlimited money to be spent in elections, virtually guaranteeing that the oligarchs will win in many places where they previously did not stand a chance. Their belief is that the more money spent, the greater the likelihood that they and their politicians will win and carry out their instructions in the political arena. So far, it has been working well for them.

Americans do not seem to know that Palestinians also claim Jerusalem as their capital and that included Trump and Pence. Also, Jerusalem is a most holy site for Catholics and other Christians. Neither the vice president nor Trump address the inhumane treatment of Palestinians under what is politely called the “occupation.”

the very act of saying “I am not a racist” would lead even the casual observer to believe that he is, indeed, a racist.

the U.S. president is doing his best every day to play with the fire of nuclear war, taunting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that his nuclear button is bigger than Kim’s. Trump’s utterances are a daily reminder that he has no idea about the import of his ramblings and he seems to forget that he is the president of the most powerful country in the world, at least in military and weapons might.

Banning words is just part of the alternate reality for Trump and his cohorts. There are other ways that U.S. citizens will be subject to control of speech, thought, and movement, if Trump’s penchant for praising dictators who rule their people with iron fists is any indication.

Trump tried to make the best out of his Moore loss by lying and saying that he knew that Moore could not win. The lie, of course, is that he was quite certain that, with his endorsement and support, Moore would win. His statement in the wake of the Moore loss, therefore, was the lie of the day. Usually, though, there are more than a few lies each day.