Pardons...Pardon Me?

Of course, they're legal, if not unsavory. But then I remember quite a few others -- especially of the Clinton variety -- that were less than stellar. I could name names but nah, 2021 lawsuits are not at the top of my agenda. 

But it does make you think, doesn't it? You know, how Trump is clearly off the benches and pardoning every living, breathing, human being who could potentially cause him major trouble, except, of course, for Cohen. Maybe, just maybe, that's a big mistake. We'll see.

In any event, for a guy who screamed to the rafters continuously about The Russian Hoax, Trump's pardons are one hell of a useful second act.

Let's just call it legal self-indulgence and leave it at that. Something tells me that the Trump people won't be storming the Bastille come January 20th. Trump will take his pill and if he's got a modicum of class and hasn't been brought up by wolves, will ultimately show for the Biden Inaugural. 

So, the game plan seems to be to go out with more of a thump than a bang. To disappear into the mist as a political afterthought while gaming the GOP system in Ivanka's favor. That's where Trump will really excel, in greasing the skids for Ivanka. 

To no one's surprise, most Republicans will remain ball-less, except for characters like Sasse, Rubio and Cruz who have other ideas for 2024. Otherwise, how many of these future or potential candidates would actually speak up?

It's all fun and games right down to the 2021 wire! Veto a bill here, shit-disturb there but get your packing in ahead of time by all means.

Trump's on the way out. But the big question is: will he really be missed? Over to all of you, readers.

Here's How A President Of The United States Dies At The White House.

It starts by having nothing but contempt for democracy, the rule of law and precious federal institutions. Make no mistake, only an autocrat or a tyrant in the making would go that route. It's all about holding on to power -- any which way but loose with a total disregard for the political system, its stability and the best interests of the nation and its people.

Once again, it's all about him and his tremendous pride and ego. He simply can't stomach the loss -- largely self-inflicted given that the guy on his best day ain't exactly nice or principled. I have no time for political despots of a totalitarian variety, whether they come in fascist or communist form.

The American people have spoken and highly civilized citizens and residents have largely grudgingly accepted the result. 46 is on the way and the transition needs to get in high gear.

But not in the Oval Office where heated discussions are all about declaring martial law to keep the president-elect out. 

Well you know what, to betray the American constitution, you need military help -- you know the military, those gals and guys who quite literally have given their blood and lives for the country, who've sworn an oath to protect the nation from all enemies foreign and domestic and to preserve the constitution.

Sure, a minority in the armed forces will no doubt rally to his side but not most of the troops. They know that in January, the United States will have a new commander in chief and they as always will faithfully serve the new president.

So, that means converging on The White House with military muscle, should that become necessary and getting him out by force come hell or high water. No one wants that. The White House is no bunker and democracy has no chapter about last stands.

In the event of such a horrible calamity, soldiers will do their job and lives will be lost on both sides. And worse than that, it will be like putting a match to gunpowder all across the United States. That means civil war if the transition does not go the way of every peaceful political transition in the long history of the Republic.

In other words, be careful what you wish for, or plan for, because millions of Americans could potentially pay the ultimate price in its wake.

An American president is all about the best interests of the country and her people, whether they voted for him or not.

With God's help, it won't be any different this time.

Electoral College Time!

Tomorrow, the various electors meet in their state capitals to cast their votes for president. Don't expect any major surprises count-wise as the system does not allow electors, for the most part, to change their vote, especially when state law binds them to cast as per the electoral college results.

You might see a few write-ins but in most states, an elector who doesn't vote the EC line simply gets replaced, as several Republican electors found out last time when they tried to vote against Trump.

In short, it's the second last nail in the Trump coffin. The final one comes in January when Congress' lame duck joint session certifies the national result for president and vice-president.

As for Trump, expect to see him on the reviewing stand at Biden's swearing-in. Trump knows full well that if he didn't show that he would pass for the ultimate presidential political loser and Trump can't afford to take a chance of seeing history books making him out to be both a sore loser and a political coward. 

So, he'll be there but not exactly with bells on.

COVID-19: No Pre-Planned Apology Marathon?

And they say that Telford and the rest of the Prime Ministerial BrainTrust just aren't that politically swift: at least they haven't pre-planned an apology marathon to family members of all those who'll drop dead between now and September because this Prime Minister didn't get them any vaccines...

WHY The United States Is Still The Greatest Political Power On The Face Of The Earth.

News flash, it has absolutely nothing to do with Trump, Biden or anyone else. It's because the United States of America is a treasured democracy with most Americans being, when push comes to shove, patriots who believe in democracy and putting country first à la John McCain. 

Sure, so many are overly rabid Democrats or Republicans but even those people are smart enough not to send their cherished nation down the road to Civil War II, where they would have the "enjoyable" experience of watching their loved ones slaughtered by the other side: nothing quite like bringing Americans together, come hell or high water, by thinking about the distinct possibility of other Americans suddenly killing their family members. And make no mistake, in a bona fide civil war, each side goes for the other's men, women and children. Innocents pay the ultimate price in any such conflict.

The present presidential incumbent doesn't have the brains to change his rhetoric -- in fact, does he really give a damn if his actions lead to Civil War II, particularly given the fact that the sore loser has already said that he will cowardly leave the United States, with all his marbles, if he loses this election, which quite clearly he has. Trump is a big-lie propagator. He knows how well that tactic worked for Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. So, Trump is all about himself, safely nested far away from the fray should he provoke civil war in his supposedly beloved country.

But almost all Americans are both smarter and better than that. They're true and life-long patriots. They saw in 2000 Gore concede and then take it back -- only to accept the end result after the SCOTUS ruled on the vote in Florida. And everyone, pissed off or otherwise accepted it. You didn't see Clinton threatening not to leave the White House.

In short, Americans won't do what it takes to ignite the civil war fuse. They are too decent, principled and honorable for that. Too bad this president is nothing more than all about himself and his perks. Remember, that no American president has ever, ever, done what Trump is doing now. 

Trump: it's the big-lie, right into the history books. He simply isn't capable of doing what's right, not for his supposed party, not for his country and not even for his God.

From Trump's Georgia Blues To Biden's National Blues.

Trump, by virtue of being a certifiable idiot, clearly outclasses any other lesser pejorative insult he can hurl on others. To wit: he's called Georgia Governor Kemp a "moron" and a "nut job". Trump also regrets his previous endorsement of Kemp.

For the umpteenth time, Trump is proving once again that he isn't now and has never been a Republican. He's an absolute self-indulgent and self-centered political charlatan, period. Trump doesn't give a damn about Republican political fortunes -- it's all and only about him -- and thank God, finally, finally, Republicans are starting to get it as to who in fact is the ultimate political loser, and it ain't them.

This clueless being has taken two run-off Senate races that were practically in the bag for Perdue and Loeffler and turned them into likely Democratic wins -- Warnock and Ossoff must be on political cloud Nine as they watch the vote consolidate in their favour. 

Republicans are pissed to a significant degree with Trump's serial disregard of The Reagan Republican Law of never criticizing a fellow Republican and the end result: they won't go out there and crossover to the Democrats. Instead, they'll just stay home. In Canada, we call that the Ignatieff Effect.

On now to the Biden Blues: it's all about The Fed and money printing. It's also about stimulus but most important of all, Yellin. The Fed is already way past investing over nine trillion in this economy and everyone who's even remotely sentient knows that they will under Biden at least double that. That will first and foremost absolutely kill the U.S. dollar and send inflation up but not necessarily all the way to projected hyperinflation. 

Far more worrying is Yellen's selection as Treasury Secretary. She knows every nook and cranny of The Fed and likely will be the person who manages to merge The Fed with Treasury. And that, will have beyond ominous consequences on the national debt and deficits. 

Make no mistake, The Fed buying every debt instrument in sight is way beyond being economically dangerous. So too is The Fed buying stocks by way of their arrangement with Blackrock. So, expect the combined Treasury-Fed to stimulate right until the United States finally goes to Hell in a handbasket. But before it gets there, America will see first a huge debt market crash, followed by a stock market crash unparalleled with anything previously seen in history. These twin crashes will make 1929-30 look like a light-hearted walk in the park and as sure as I'm breathing, both are on the way. It's no longer a question of if, but merely a matter of when.

In short, the road to good intentions is a first-class ticket to economic hell. Biden means well, Yellin means well and so does Powell. But that in the final analysis, doesn't cut the mustard. It's all about the top getting richer to infinity while middle and lower class America burns. 

And it's already well on its way.

Teflon Trudeau?

You know me. I've never been one to preemptively start popping those champagne corks just because of polls. You see, pretty much all recent polls have the Liberals ahead, with some showing a lead of double digits. Colour me skeptical.

As most of you know, polling in recent times have often demonstrated that it's not so much what they say that's critical -- instead, it's more about how they say it and what respondents deliberately withhold or quite deliberately distort.

In short, we've come full circle and are right back to Diefenbaker: polls, are for 🐕 🐶.

Who can forget the most recent disaster where the highly anticipated Biden wave failed to show up or was immediately dead on arrival. But I digress.

This Prime Minister along with his so-called brain trust in the PMO no doubt think it's long in the bag. That's certainly not how I see it. Sure, the election right now would be Trudeau's to lose given the fact that even after five years, this PM still can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

The vast compilation of Liberal screw-ups are Trudeau screw-ups, courtesy of this Prime Minister. It's beyond remarkable to see a PM who has so little political acumen -- not to mention sound judgment. Quite frankly, the mind positively boggles.

So, it's up to O'Toole to make personal headway between now and the vote. Every move he makes has to be build-on and positive in nature, otherwise the Conservatives are dead politically, even before we get out of the gate.

Trudeau goes out of his way to provide Canadians with tens of reasons why they shouldn't vote Liberal. O'Toole needs to do the opposite and most especially turn the party into a soft, warm, kitten that draws people in. The Kitten-Conservatives. 😸 The party with a magnetic pull rather than acting as a repelling force that's only strength is to repeatedly play right into Liberal hands...

If anyone can turn this around it's O'Toole but he'll have to read members the riot act and if necessary, kick a little CPC ass. So many regions are looking for a compilation of reasons, or even legitimate excuses, to dump Trudeau in the next election.

It's our job in this party not to mimic Liberal efforts at sinking the good ship Trudeau. We need to do everything humanly possible to keep our own vessel afloat.

That's O'Toole's job  and no one knows that any better than O'Toole himself. Stay tuned.

The Road To True Self Identification.

In two words: Elliot Page. I imagine it will help a lot of trans people, some struggling with finding their true self, others not. Not only is he truly self-aware after a long journey, but he has found inner peace and they are as one.

If only the rest of us could reach that level of self-identification, self-love and inner contentment. For some, self-identity is seemingly set from early on in life while others will struggle with who their authentic self is for a lifetime. So sad. If only one could spend a day in their skin to feel their steps on their journey: doubt, anxiety, revelation, inner journey toward self-identification, acceptance both within and without and hopefully but more than likely, joy and self-contentment.

To be a member of any minority group requires tremendous courage en partant. Getting up in the morning and going about your life imposes on some an inappropriate and unacceptable categorization when being pegged by others. Alas, it shouldn't be that way but so often regrettably, it is.

What I wouldn't give to have the strength and sense of purpose of those who have luckily found their way, or at least hopefully remain steadfast on their inner journey.

We are all special in one way or another. That should always be recognized, appreciated, admired and most importantly, respected.

It is so easy to hate, to give in to ignorance, fear or the lesser demons of our nature. But God and humanity itself are naturally predisposed toward love, first of oneself and then others.

There is, in the final analysis but one thing that you can genuinely expect of yourself: it's called being your authentic self and if you're both grounded and truly lucky, you'll get to go there and be all you can be in this life.

That's my fondest wish and hope for Elliot. I don't like the word expectation but they seem to have arrived at a wonderful place of self-knowledge and true inner contentment. May he and those around them enjoy life's piquant and purpose for the rest of their days.