Trumps Latest Attack on the US Military

I get that a lot of Republicans are racist, but just how far are you willing t go?
The latest effort by Trump in saying children board to US service members will no longer count as US citizens is absurd.  So we send a soldier overseas to fight and possibly die for the country and they and their spouses lose a natural American right?
Why are ok with this?  Is it because you think it will only affect colored people? Those of a different religion? Will you make an exception for white people?

The modern Republican party is despicable and keep attacking Americans, our rights as citizens (things like voter suppression and declaring corporations are people, and money is Free Speech), our livelihood (rolling back regulations that protect citizens to give corporations more money, for example), imposing taxes on American citizens to give to corporations such as Tariffs and allowing big companies to pay no federal income tax through loopholes, to stoking hatred and fear using tools such as racism to divide and control the middle and working class so they are easier to take advantage of.

• Illegal Immigrants take jobs Americans dont want and pay billions in taxes for services they are not able to use. If you really think its an issue go after the companies that hire them, but since that almost never happens the real purpose is clear.
• Trump put thousands of veterans on the street in 2017 because he delayed renewing housing benefits for them in efforts to force the Democratic party to fund his wall.
• Trump made tens of thousands of poor children suffer and undoubtedly some died when he pulled the same tactic with CHIP.
• Trump has stolen money from the military and the US Coast Guard to fund his wall.
• Trump and Mitch McConnel block efforts to secure our elections from foreign meddling.

The list goes on and on and its clear, if you vote Republican in 2020 your voting against America.

Does Anyone Still Think Republicans Are For The People?

• So average tax refunds are down 8.4% meaning as predicted the GOP tax plan did not help the majority of Americans.
• Deficit headed to record highs, interest payments mostly helping China.
• Insurance rates are trending up, though not by huge amounts, but watch for increases in your deductibles and co-pays.
• Due to the obstructionist tactics of the GOP Senate under Mitch McConnel there is a backlog of judicial appointments that the GOP has filled so that is a Conservative win,
• The government was shut down for a record duration, plus several shorter ones at the cost to the taxpayers and economy of billions, still Conservatives who hate the government may call that a win.
• Hate crimes were way up, increase in mass shootings and gun violence so many on the right call that a win, though the NRA took a political hit after it was revealed how they have been working with Russia.
• Corporate regulation took a beating, Banks got looser regulations, workers safety went down, more food poisoning due to relaxed FDA regulations and inspections, National Parks had acreage sold off to mining and oil companies, and of course pollution increased.
• Illegal Immigration increased due to Trumps policies, though its still lower than under President Bush. However, many of the separated children will be stranded in USA without their parents, costing taxpayers even more, plus the internment camps extravagant charges to the taxpayer of almost $700/per day per person means were spending far more than ever before. Trump took Coast Guard, FEMA, and US Military funds to help cover his increased detention costs. So our National Security and disaster preparedness is weaker.
• Tariffs costing US consumers billions (remember we pay the cost, not other countries as they just charge us more) and hurting various industries, especially agriculture and fishing.
• Russia, China and other countries emboldened to increase cyber attacks on USA and election meddling due to Trumps war on Intelligence agencies, and GOP refusal to improve security.
• Weakening of NATO and USA Military and trade alliances allow Russia and China to take advantage and make better deals, this is more a long term damage effect as it will be hard to get that business back.
• Women's, GLBT, and minority rights eroded.

I get that if your priority is Roe vs. Wade or you believe corporations are more important than citizens and national security this administration might be a win in your mind.

But honestly I dont see how any patriotic American is willing to sacrifice and hurt the USA so badly can consider this a win. If your a staunch conservative, at least minimize the damage by replacing Trump with Pence who is a real conservative, but your willing to sacrifice the country for your hatred of women and minorities shows your real priorities and is creating a backlash.

The Trump and Fox shutdown on Day 21

So we just hit day twenty one in the latest shutdown of the Trump administration. As of midnight it will be the longest one in US history and Congress has adjourned for the weekend so its likely to go into next week. Congress and Trump are showing its simply not an important issue, especially Mitch McConnell who is refusing to even allow a vote to resolve the issue. Apparently giving money to Israel was more important to him.

The Players

• Trump says its a National Emergency despite illegal immigration from the southern border continuing its lowered trend. In other words less illegal immigration than before, starting under President Obama. He cites fake statistics and just lies (surprise) to make it seem like an emergency yet offers no specifics when asked about what hes going to do with the funding if he gets it. 
• The Democratic House voted to open the government by passing previously approved Senate bills that Trump killed after Fox News told him to do so.
• The Republican Senate has decided to bow out and cedeits authority to the President and says they will not vote on anything or try to do a veto overide to open the government. They, through Senator McConnell have declared no votes on the issue until Trump decides he has gotten what he wants.

The Issue

• The Wall is the key sticking point between Trump, Democrats and many Republicans (mostly old fashioned conservatives who dont like spending money and border state Republicans who say there is no emergency or real problem) and Democrats.
• The Secure Fences Act, passed in 2006 was a major effort at securing the border but DHS later leaned away from that for more modern methods. There is still alot of fencing but DHS determined there were cheaper and more effective methods, depending on location.

The Problems

• Trump considers this a campaign issue and needs a fight on this, not a win but an ongoing fight. He keeps changing his requests and when prior funds were approved (most still unspent) he kept ramping up the demands and refusing to negotiate and compromise with the Democrats in return. One of the more talked about incidents was his refusing 25 billion for the wall in return for DACA, The last was him canceling the deal he had with Senator McConnell after Fox News laid into him.
• Related to the above, Trump needs attention and a distraction from the investigations into him. Whenever someone seems to be getting more attention he manufactures a crisis of somekind to get the media focus back on him.
• No one can trust Trumps word since he goes back on it and changes his mind so often. A deal requires trust or a means of enforcing compliance to it.
• If Trump gets what he wants he can be expected to shut down the government again or refuse to sign any bill anytime he wants something. Its a policy of extortion he has shown a tendency for so its like negotiating with a terrorist. So if the Democrats give in, they can expect to see this happen again and again. He did it with CHIP (withholding money for childrens health care), the VA (holding off signing a VA benefits package to get wall funding), and others that dont stick in my mind as much.
• The Republican party shows no willingness to stand up to Trump.

The Solutions

• National Emergency: This was floated so Trump could do what he wants and avoid dealing with Congress. However some people have appeared to talk him down from that ledge for fear of setting the precedent. I dont count this option as complete; out however, as we have seen he frequently changes his mind.
• Trump feels the heat enough to give in but somehow can call it a win.
• Democrats cave into political or moral pressure as more people get desperate at losing pay and the consequences such as losing their homes or apartments. Also, remember its not just government employees but stores, restaurants and other businesses that take a hit.
• Republicans feel enough political heat to be willing to stand up to Trump.
• Someone comes up with a compromise everyone can live with.

Is Compromise Possible?

The trouble here is giving everyone what they really want (not always the same as what they say)

Trump wants something he can declare a win but the Democrats have to be careful to give him a win without looking too weak (or they will be voted out again) or encouraging him to just repeat the tactic every few months (also gets them voted out again).

So as I always say, you have no right to complain if your not offering solutions or at least trying to fix a problem, here are my ideas 

(I keep telling my Congressman, but Rep Lucas staff says its not a focus, Senator Inhofe less said the better, Senator Lankford seems to care but sides with Trump.)

• Democrats offer to rebuild broken fencing and barriers, probably citing specific areas recommended by DHS. Gives Trump a win he can spin.
• More judges (Senator Lankford supports this, Trump opposes it) so we process those seeking asylum faster. This is actually a true conservative ideal since it actually saves us money. Did you know that under Trump were now paying $680 per person per day?! Thats because Trump and Sessions encouraged private prisons and they have seen massive stock rises in return. At taxpayer expense of course.
• Improve inspection stations with upgraded equipment and more personal to more effectively catch imported drugs.
• Improve border patrol with more people and equipment, including drones and fast response stations. Trump has actually taken money from border security (and other organizations, including FEMA, Coast Guard, and the US military) to fund those internment camps which are growing quickly under his new policies (again at taxpayer expense).
• Offer the Democrats a high profile win such as DACA so they can say thats why they voted for it instead of bowing to extortion and the extortion of America. That hopefully keeps Trump from seeing this as a precdent so he keeps doing it, and the Dems feel they wont be voted out for being cowards and encouraging GOP terrorism.

The GOP lost 41 House seats (might end up as 40, depending on what happens with NC but its 41 right now) because they have left Trump unchecked. The Democrats know that (along with Health Care) it was a key issue that won them their seats and failing to hold him accountable will cost them in 2020 just as it cost so many Republicans in 2018.

Remember there is no real Immigration emergency or border invasion. Thats just made up by Trump and alt-right members who promote racism. We know this because the numbers are in decline so its less urgent an issue now than previous years. We actually have more illegal immigrants coming from Canada! But no talk of a border wall there, hmm wonder why...

As for drug importation, most of that is from ports of entry not fence hopping (makes sense its cheaper and get more bulk driving, flying or shipping it in than walking) also most drug deaths are from BigPharma and the opiod crisis, but Republicans want to protect the doctors and pharmaceutical companies so they can keep pushing addictive pain killers.

If there was a real crisis we would hear different numbers from DHS, FBI and others.

If there really a need for urgency why did the Republicans do nothing on the issue when they were in control of both houses of Congress? Why wait till now?

The answer is obvious, there is no actual emergency just the same old issue Congress has failed to address for decades. People need to get back to work, make it happen!

Air Force One turned into a touristattraction

From Buzzfeed, Trump has found another way to use the Presidency to line his pockets at taxpayer expense. Of course the GOP does nothing about it.
We have to vote in independents or democrats to replace the GOP in November!
Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats are our best hope to save the country from the current and worsening corruption that plagues it.

Vets and dead soldiers are Losers!

I am surprised it took me so long to think of this given all the evidence.
A lot of people are speculating on why Trump attacked and continues to attack Myeshia Johnson...

• He is a Racist. People point out the only other Gold Star family he attacked was also of color.
• He is a misogynist and attacks women on a personal level, never a professional one.
• He was counter punching and felt attacked when the reporter asked why he had not yet said anything about the soldiers killed in Niger (12 days prior).

I think there all wrong, or rather partly wrong.  There should be no doubt by this point that he is a racist and a misogynist, nor that he hits back when he thinks he is attacked.

However from what I have seen the thing that Trump is most about and considers most sacred is ego and winning.  Everything he does is always the best and greatest ever. He considers himself a winner.

He respects winners. and those he thinks are losers are beneath him and should just shut up.

I think because he was able to dodge the draft that he feels anyone who serves is a loser who was unable to get out of it.

Think about his history with Vets.

• Attacks McCain for getting captured
• Attacks the Khan family on the campaign trail
• Attacks the grieving widow of a dead soldier, accusing her of lying about what he said.
• Defrauds Vet charities he raised money for during the campaign by not paying them until the media calls him on it.
• Despite tweeting about virtually anything he never utters a word about soldiers who die unless first asked about it, whether the latest bit in Nigers, the sailors who died in ship accidents or the raid in Yemen.
• His speeches, whether at memorials like the CIA or the graduation commencement at the Coast Guard.  He will talk at length about how powerful the military is because he considers it an extension of his will and power,  But only talks in offhanded ways about dedication.

Seems pretty clear that the rel reason is so down on veterans is he thinks we are losers.

Rory

USAF E-3 Honorably discharged in 1983

Trump credited with standing by and FOR the Nazis in Charlottsville

So Trump condemned the violence in Charolltsville by saying there was violence on "many sides" even though the only person who killed anyone was a neo-nazi and they assaulted the police and priests with bottles, brass knuckles and baseball bats.
The Daily Stormer a neo-nazi rag actually thanked Trump (I rarely bother qualifying him with the title of president which he won but does not deserve) for supporting them and not condemning them.
A REAL president would have made a statement that was so crystal clear no one could interpret it differently on this.  Yet he knows part of his base are racists so he wont call them out.
The man has known racists and at least one publicly admitted nazi in his inner circle.
The GOP put this man forward as the best of their party and still mostly support him so in my mind they are culpable and have effectively declared themselves the party of hatred and anti-american values.
Had this been an American Muslim Trump would have jumped all over it and used it to fuel more of his facist agenda.  However because it was Right Wing terrorists he barely says and actually does nothing about it. Remember he ordered the FBI to specifically avoid looking into Right Wing violent groups and the GOP stood quietly by.

Republicans back to Repeal and maybe replace

This would be a disaster for everyone.  Insurance companies have been bailing due to uncertainty and inaction of Congress.  Repeal with no plan would just make that worse in the short term.
Long Term? These people had over 7 years to come up with a plan, how are we supposed to trust them to come up with one now?
I want to see the new plan before they get rid of the old one.
This is not about improving health care its about giving tax cuts to the wealthy. Repeal would make the former worse for everyone, even those not on AHCA.  However it would let them say they did something to the voters while keeping the donors happy with the tax cuts.

Dont let them get away with it.

Oh and in case you missed it earlier I found another article going over an aspect of Trump Care I haven't heard people talking about much. Removing the requirement for large employers to offer employee health insurance

The last Great Republican

Many people would say the last great Republican President we had was Ronald Reagan.
He certainly was the first one I voted for.  However while he did some good things he is the oen who started the Laffer Economics or Trickle Down Theory that helped skyrocket our national debt and hurt the economy.
In my opinion the last great Republican President was  Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Read more about him here

The republican party does not care about Health Care

Watching Morning Joe  and you know what? He is right here and so is Lawrence O'Donnel,
The Republican party (Not saying all Republicans but certainly the leadership and many of them) do not really care about Health Care, they just want it as a talking point before moving on to what they consider more important matters.
Just look at the facts.

• They have been saying Repeal and Replace Obama Care for over 7 years, yet never in all that time did they come up with an actual plan.
• The House comes up with a plan that is so rushed and half baked it fails to get past their own party in the first vote and they then punt to the Senate hoping they will fix it. They did this so they could "move on to more important matters such as tax reform"
• The Senate comes up with a plan in secret meetings that most of their own party refuse to support. They tried to do it so fast so they could have a talking point and say "We did something!" before the July recess.
• The so called Health Plan is really just a tax cut to the wealthiest Americans and Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies and CEOs.
• Both plans break the promises President Trump made on the campaign trail when he said he would not cut Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security and that premiums and deductibles would be lowered.

I am not saying this should be easy but for crying out loud if something is important to you wouldn't you actually work on it? This has been like high school students cramming the night before finals who never studied the rest of the year!

Despite this being 1/6 of the economy and vital to the lives and well being of millions of Americans they just do not seem to be willing to put  serious work and thought into it.

If I was Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnel or heck anyone on say the Health and Human services committee or had been complaining about it for so long I would have actually worked with my colleagues and come up with a plan during those 7 years.

Wouldn't you?

All this is about is wanting to complain about something you have no clue how to improve and wanting to make the other guys look bad so you can look better.  It is not real leadership and it shows they really do not care about governing and trying to help America, only line their pockets and those of their biggest donors.  the biggest effort here was how to cut taxes for those groups and we will see much more effort put into the tax cut plan when they move onto it.

Please remember this and VOTE in 2018!  Lets kick as many of these people out as we can and get some people who are honest in.

It is not Murder!

Darn it Senator Orrin Hatch is right we cant accuse the Republican party of Murder.
Even though the GOP Taxcut plan disguised as Health Care will kill an estimated 43,000 people a year it is not legally murder as  they plan to do it by passing a law.
Depraved Indifference still stands though.

As long as they keep an insurance based system in play it will never work.  No matter how much you subsidize it or how many taxcuts you give to CEOs of insurance companies.
Real Reform? Take the insurance companies out of play and let them be an optional extra.
Also let Health Savings Accounts roll over from year to year so people can save up for major medical events. And of course Medicare for all, the deductions we already make for insurance from our paycheck would be better spent on Medicare rather than profiting an insurance company.

My Thoughts on Health Care

Take this snowball Senator

Senator Inhofe became infamous when he took a snowball onto the congressional floor and said that was proof climate change was a hoax.
Here is another graph showing  waht almost everyone can see for themselves.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/6/24/1673550/-DoE-head-displays-willful-ignorance-while-killer-heat-waves-broil-the-southwest?detail=emaildkre

What is most concerning is not just the upward trend but how sharply it goes up in recent years.
Even the oil companies wanted us to stay in the Paris Accords becasue they know climate change is real and needs to be addressed.

I personally dont see some of the most dramatic claims happening.
However just a few degrees overall temperature has resulted in rising sea levels, increased and more severe storm activity (heat helps drive storms, especially hurricanes) and harsher summers.

We need to do something about it and get people in government who think about the future rather than the next news cycle..
My page on The Environment

#GOPGreedOverPatriotism

#GOPGreedOverPatriotism They used to be the party of Law now they are just sellouts. Russia, Turkey, Big business over small business and individual lives and rights.
The latest we hear is that Mitch McConnel blocked President Obama and the CIA from trying to get a bipartisan response against Russian election meddling.
And dont forget that last week he invited Insurance and Drug companies to participate in the GOP effort to repeal Health Care. He felt the interests of those groups were more important and they deserved a seat at the table over the rest of the Senate (even most of the republicans) and of course the American people.

My personal priority is the corruption but for most Americans its Health Care.
We ALL need to remember what is happening now when its election time again.
Dont sit at home thinking your vote does not matter.  You can help sway local elections. Even if the electoral college overrides your vote for a President the popular vote still sends a message.

We are running out of time so have to fight for every chance we can get to save the country from pillaging by politicians who put party and pocket over country.

Did the GOP provide cover for Russia trying to interfere with our eelction?

On the Russia Hacking issue.
Wow this article if true is incredibly damming.
I hope Meuller gets to the bottom of it and we all hear about it one way or the other.

Putting the major parties into persepctive

The GOP represents corporate America and the extremely wealthy while the Democrats represent the common worker.  At least that is how its been represented for decades.
Some workers vote for Democrats because they think this is true (and it used to be before Citizens United) and some wealthy vote for Democrats because they feel the same thing.  Even if they are not working for low wages they know that labor is vital to the economy they also depend on.

That is all old news but today I just came up with a comparison that hearkens back to a Town hall I attended. The Democratic party is the mob running the labor unions to funnel those pension funds into their pockets. The republican party represents the old school companies and Robber Barons  that want child labor, no overtime, and long work days we had before organized labor.

Is there a reason any of these are good for you? Are they good for America?
I say NO! Both will destroy America and not just the working class but everyone as they continue to burn America down.

We need a change to BOTH parties.  My last best hope for a peaceful nonviolent solution is Brand New Congress.  If they fail to make a significant difference I think we see a civil war by 2030.

Right Wingers say left Wingers are too violent and need to tone down the Rhetoric

So members of the GOP are demanding Democrats and the Left change the tone
Ted  Nugent, the guy who said at a concert President Obama should suck on his assault rifle and Hillary Clinton should be hanged now says maybe we should tone it down.
Karen Handel running for a GOP seat in Georgia had an ad that a vote for Jon Ossaf is a vote for more violence.
Rep Chris Collins said Democrats need to tone down the rhetoric.
Griamonte? body slammed a reporter for asking how he would vote on Health Care.
The GOP had a reporter arrested  for asking questions in the halls of congress.
A lot of other Republicans are saying similar things, though with more class and diplomacy, including my Senator James Langford.

The thing is they have been pushing the hate for years.  Candidate Trump even offered to pay legal fees for people who would assault protesters at his rallies. He has encouraged hate crimes and told the FBI to avoid investigating right wing extremists by specifically cutting funding for those projects.

The President wont speak out when people are killed by right wing conservatives during many of the mass shootings and the recent stabbing in Portland.
 The Conservative movement has been spreading hate and now that the left are getting upset.
Now when the anger is directed at them they want to play the victim card and cry how unfair it is?

Now I am not saying the Left are all good guys, nor am I at this time condoning the Alexandra shooting.  I think we still have a chance to peacefully reform the government. However that chance is slipping away and people are getting more angry all the time.

However I am tired of the hypocrisy of the Right wing and the GOP.  Your responsible for much of the problems we are having in America and have been blaming everyone you can, from immigrants working for less than minimum wage to over regulation and sucking up to the Russians and the Saudi's.  You put forth a bully for a President who treats hand shakes like arm wrestling contests, shoved a Foreign Prime Minister to gt in the front of the line and alienate our allies while catering to our enemies or those who have a more adversarial relationship with us. Choosing Saudi Arabia over Europe, Turkey over Australia and supporting ISIS to cater to Turkey (funny how Trump has property in turkey and the Turkish government moved a convention to his hotel).

The GOP wants to decide on Health Care in secret

The GOP  Senate is trying to secretly write the new Health Care bill and pas it through the Senate without allowing the full Senate or the American people to see what it is until the actual vote.
This should concern ALL Americans, even the most Right Wing extremists as this touches so many aspects of the economy that it deserves a detailed deliberation.  Instead they hope to just push something through so they can go home on July 4th and say they did something.
Clear case of party politics and party over America.
The ones responsible for waht may very well be our new health care system are

• Tom Cotton - AR Open Secrets
• Ted Cruz - TX
• Rob Portman - OH Open Secrets
• Mike Enzi - WA Open Secrets
• Mike Lee - AZ Open Secrets
• Mitch McConnel Open Secrets
• Orrin Hatch - UT who thinks Americans are mostly lazy moochers Open Secrets
• Pat Toomey - PA Open Secrets
• Cory Gardner - CO Open Secrets
• John Barrasso - WY Open Secrets
• John Cornyn - TX Open Secrets 
• John Thune - SD Open Secrets
• Lamar Alexander - TN Open Secrets

Look at the Open Secrets profile of each of those and you see that most have deep ties to Financial companies like Goldman Sachs and Pharmaceutical and drug industries.  Think they have the people interests at the top of their mind?

Yet the GOP has decided that these 13 people will decide how Health Care works going forward.

Senator Warren directly asked about the bill and was told by the GOP Chairman he could not answer her.  I am calling my Senator to voice my objection and hopefully enough people do that to change Mitch McConnell's mind and make this more transparent.

Today's Shooting of Republican leadership

It is still early on in the investigation but it turns out the shooter was a volunteer for Bernie Sanders.

I await the hypocrisy on the Right in this but am sure it will come.

To date most of the shootings and violence are from the conservative and extreme right side of the political spectrum.  The Left side are considered (often derisively) by the Right as weak pacifists.

The Left stand for humanitarian causes and civil liberty so violence form that side is far more rare and surprising when it happens.

It is a sign of the times and the frustration Americans have with our government that even leftist people feel the need to take up arms. I do not condone todays shooting, nor does Senator Bernie Sanders. However it was as predictable as 9/11 (I was in the military a the time and using planes as bombs was something we were briefed on as far back as the early 80s). 

What is good about his shooting and indicates it more an act of patriotism and revolutionary action than terrorism is that he attacked the leadership of our corrupt government rather than a night club or school.

Again I do not condone nor wish to encourage violence, but it is predictable and has been escalating and will likely continue to do so.  In fact the Trump administration is actively encouraging it, not just by its rhetoric and treasonous activity but by defunding and ordering the FBI and intelligence organisations to only investigate Muslim terrorism threats and ignore right wing home grown ones (which kills far more people on an annual basis).

Today's shooting was sad but at least it was done against politicians and not innocent civilians.

It was more an act of revolution than terrorism.

I expect we will see much more and hope that people who do feel they have no option but violence will focus and target it properly and not harm innocent civilians. That is the one good message we can take from today's shooting.

Rep. Tom Cole declares against Public Edcuation

So with Betsy DeVoss on the stand over the proposed Education budget Rep Tom Cole cheered her on and declared his position to anyone watching that he is against public schools and for private schools getting taxpayer funding.
I am ok with my taxes going to public schools even though I have no kids.  A good education simply makes for a better country so it is my patriotic duty to support public education.
However I fail to see why our taxes should go to support private schools, especially when those schools are not accountable for quality.

Why do Republicans want to take our money to support fake schools that have no accountability?
Tom Cole has declared he is against children with this support of Betsy DeVoss.  More party over country from these traitors.

An open letter to my Congress (Oklahoma)

Dear Senator James Lankford, Senator Jim Inhoffe, and Rep Frank Lucas,

The Republican party used to represent themselves as the party of patriots and pro law enforcement.
There was even some evidence to support this.  Sadly things have changed and the party is now more concerned with itself than American values or even the country itself.

If Hillary Clinton had won you would not accept any of this mess that President Trump has created. However Republicans continue to throw themselves on the sword trying to provide cover for President Trump.
The latest two scandals (its sad that I have to put a date on that but as of May 13, who knows what will happen in a few days) involve of course Russia. I served during the cold war under President Reagan and remember well the history of the Soviet Union and modern Russia is not much different.
First up: The President of the United States barred the US Press from a meeting in the Oval Office and allowed the Russian press in instead for his meeting with the Russian ambassador.
OK I am sure the Secret Service did a good job sweeping for bugs afterwards, and hopefully someone made sure no classified documents were in sight for the cameras.  But choosing Russian press over American press?  Really your ok with that?  Because I have not see any objection from any of you.
Next up: As of Friday all I have heard in watching the press and talking to your staff so far is support or a wait and see lukewarm support. If this had been Hillary Clinton who fired Director Comey the party would be screaming for her head. Remember Loretta Lynch talking to Bill Clinton?
It should not be ok for one party to get vilified for something and the other to get a pass or wore approval for similar (in this case worse) actions. Even the manner in which it was done should have raised at least courtesy objections. No dedicated public servant should find out about being fired by TV or even a letter.  This should have been done if it was done at all in person.

        There may or not be collusion between the Trump election staff and Russia but it is something a party of supposed patriots should be very interested in finding out. Even those who are not for America anymore should want to at least clear the stain, unless of course they think its true.
President Trumps own words said he was thinking about the Russian probe in firing Director Comey and than he tries to intimidate him via twitter before his Congressional appearance. Firing him will probably not slow down the investigation a lot but it likely will some just from the chaos.  It may get worse if the resources Director Comey asked for just before being fired are denied.  Also things depend on the new FBI Director and the direction he takes things and resources he allots or pulls away.

Understand that the President himself changed his story and denied the Rosenstein letter was the reason for the firing, That he directly asked the former Director if he was under investigation.
According to testimony from Acting Director McAbe former Director Comey enjoys broad support within the FBI so that "reason" is a lie. President Trump applauded the popularity and actions in late October of Director Comey, so it does not smell right to use those as reasons for the termination. The Russia thing is the only factor given by President Trump that has not been shown as a lie.
The loyalty pledge is another likely reason, though that is more of a do you believe President Trump or Director Comey on if that happened.  Ask that question point blank under oath when Comey testifies. If it comes down to whose word between the two to trust I know my choice will not be the one who lies to the public on an almost daily basis.
 The President should NOT require loyalty to him over loyalty to America and Republicans should not allow or encourage such appalling activity.

If you care about America at all you will work hard and openly to clean this mess up.
Since that seems to not be the case for most Republicans I appeal to your sense of self preservation.
Continuing to choose your party over America is a failing strategy, check how well Congress polls on average.  President Trump did not win because he was a Republican, he won because he presented himself as anti-establishment and enough people believed him. Continuing to provide cover when the President contradicts himself and the facts, allowing him to steal from taxpayers to line his pockets, support and empower Russia, abuse his power and influence.
You should constantly ask yourself "Would I stay quiet if President Obama did this?"  The answer should never be it is bad if a Democrat does it but ok if a Republican does it.

Before the election I predicted that if Trump won impeachment proceedings would start before the end of his first year.  I have not seen anything that changes my mind on that.  At some point the Republican party will have to stop providing cover and excuses and act.  If you are not ready yet I understand but consider that this will come back on you and the longer it goes on and the more you support him now the more it will cost you later.
Voters will remember the trips to Mara Lago and the WH advertising it on its website.
Voters will remember him doubling his membership fees for access to the president.  Remember the cry against the Clinton foundation? This is far more brazen.
Voters will remember the mistreatment of a dedicated law enforcement officer, some will feel it was about the Russia Probe, some will feel it was choosing the country over the president, and some will just be ticked at the manner and disrespect shown in how it was done.
Voters will remember a President who declares a war on American press but allows Russian Media access to the Oval office.
Voters will remember a President who bombs a runway as a show of force that was up and running the next day.
Voters will remember a President who tries to create a Royal family.
Voters will remember a President who gets gifts and payments from foreign countries (favorable loans, trademarks, business permits, favorable tax cuts, and rent).
Voters will remember the Russians interfering with our elections (I believe Hillary would have lost anyhow but that is not the point or my concern.) and the Republicans allowing it because they 'won'.

And finally, voters will remember a President who gets us in a war through his own incompetence or as an effort to distract from domestic issues.  IF that happens, and you can not really believe it wont, the Republican party will be fully culpable and responsible.

The Democratic party leadership is incompetent, and just as corrupt as the Republican party so may not pose much threat to you.  However continue down this path and even they will be able to pull a victory.  And America is waking up and getting more and more angry at both parties and if you do not start at least appearing to be for America over your party you will be out of office.
Maybe we can get an independent as President and certainly more in Congress.


PS: Action Plan
Consider that the republican party is in charge of two out of three branches of government.  I suggest you look to the future and  even though things are under your control now they wont be forever.
So put through real reform and protections for the next President.

• Require future Presidents show their taxes so the press can watch out for violations of the emoluments clause and conflicts of interest.
• Do a better job, establish and follow good and effective vetting procedures for Presidential appointments. Do not let us have another Flynn.  That should have been caught, after all he had been fired by the previous administration.
• Work out the Nepotism issue
• Empower the various ethics agencies.  Ok, I doubt either party would ever go for that.

Sincerely,
Rory Fansler.
Yukon, Oklahoma
Veteran of the USAF and loyal American.

Coma fired just days after seeking additional funding for the Russia investigation

Read this article
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/comey-russia-investigation-fbi.html?_r=0
Of course Trump would say that is just a coincidence.
Any politician that does not immediately act to protect the records of the investigation or to insure we the people have transparent access to what is going on should be terminated from office at the next opportunity.