Amerika in Transition… Unless Americans …

 

Amerika in Transition… Unless Americans …

“Ihre Papiere, bitte.“ “Your papers, please,” familiar German refrain in the 1930s and 40s

“Ваши документы, пожалуйста.” “Your papers, please,” familiar Russian refrain in the Soviet era

“You’ll have a chance to prove your citizenship later.” 

 If even offered, in Latino neighborhoods or where there are protests, in US any city where troops have been deployed

“It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” 

Trump, October 30th a Truth Social post.

As soon as Donald Trump returned from his Asia trip, a White House directed briefing was held for designated US Senators regarding the military strikes off Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, with threats of escalating foreign territorial assaults against “narco-terrorists” by US land and air forces. No verifiable proof was offered of actual narcotics being carried on targeted boats, no Congressional approval has been requested… and NO DEMOCRATS were permitted to attend that briefing. Congressionally unauthorized deployment of US forces overseas is also mirrored in Trump’s Project 2025 domestic agenda.

Trump is attempting to normalize deploying federalized military to act as police officers anywhere he desires. Even as the emphasis clearly targets Democratically led cities, “The Pentagon is moving forward on orders from President Donald Trump to build a National Guard quick reaction force in each state for domestic use, though two US officials say the effort is largely making incremental changes to a mission the Guard already undertakes.

“Trump ordered that the Pentagon ‘ensure the availability of a standing National Guard quick reaction force that shall be resourced, trained, and available for rapid nationwide deployment,’ in an August executive order… But the two officials said those reaction forces already exist… ‘This whole thing – we’re already doing it,’ one of the US officials said. ‘This is just updated guidance.’… The officials said that plans are being developed within the Defense Department and National Guard for possible additional training or increase to the number of personnel available for existing units to meet the new requirement.” CNN, October 30th.

As troops deployed in military “anti-narco-terrorist” assaults are now being required to sign NDAs, and as reservist major, DOD/W Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has also imposed unprecedented restrictions on all in the military (and their civilian bosses) in speaking with journalists or members of Congress, loyalty to Trump overrides the constitutional oath all these personnel have taken. Trump’s wants to extend his personal control into every nook and cranny of law enforcement in the nation, even beyond this unlawful use of our armed forces.

Indeed, HSI’s accelerated ICE recruitment based on a huge budget allocation provided in Trump’s deficit-busting “Big Beautiful” tax cut for the rich, waiving the usual screening safeguards and employment criteria and offering outrageous compensation and bonus – far exceeding the normal pay of so many state and city police and sheriff’s officers – has been implemented to expand what has become Trump’s private “police force,” able to make warrantless arrests showing no personal identification.

Trump also wants to erase or severely limit medical and nutritional benefits to millions of Americans, necessary to fund his tax cuts, which cannot happen if the price of ending the shutdown, is finally to negotiate with Democrats in Congress. Democrats were totally excluded from the formulation of the “continuing resolution” budget extension bill. Republicans have, since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, have unsuccessfully tried 70 times to repeal that legislation.

What is equally clear is Trump’s fear that if the House “discharge petition” to release the Epstein files passes, containing embarrassing disclosures where Trump and/or his powerfully allies appear to be heavily referenced, would be public. All it takes in one more member of the House to support that petition before those documents flood into public scrutiny. That one more House member, recently elected in a special election in Arizona, has not been admitted to Congress, as Trump mini-me, Speaker Mike Johnson, refuses to swear her in. Is the “Art of the Deal” to crush those on the other side of the table? Does Trump really need all that power if he is to be a legitimate, protector of the Constitution (as he swore to be) President? Gerrymandering, making sure as many election deniers are now election officials, sending DOJ monitors to watch polls in Democratic states, and making our soldiers his law enforcement minions are not enough?

“Now WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying ‘SHUT DOWN,’… If the Republicans are not using the Great Strength and Policies made available to us by ending the Filibuster, the Democrats will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office, regardless of whether or not we do it.” Donald Trump embellishing and justifying his quote above.

The President’s new fear-driven push followed a week where Congresspeople on both sides signaled potential signs of progress toward ending the impasse, even as they conceded that a deal remained well out of reach despite widening fallout across the country. The Senate was shut down, and Speaker Johnson has not allowed the House to meet since this impasse began. In fact, Johnson ordered the doors to the House of Representatives to be locked, barring entry even by elected members. Republicans in Congress are struggling with cutting benefits to their own constituents – the natural result of following Trump’s orders – because they do not want to aggravate Trump’s ultra-loyal base, whose support they perceive they need to remain in office… and whose guiding force is “anything Trump wants.” As same US Supreme Court that granted Trump blanket immunity from criminal liability for anything arguably within some “official” governmental function, weighs in on a litany of Trump’s unilateral and extreme actions, they are in fact voting whether or not to make Trump’s blatant repeal of the US Constitution the new law of the land, ending 250 years of democracy.

I’m Peter Dekom, and if those “kitchen table voters” believe that failing to stop this usurpation of our entire legal system will have no impact on their cost and qualify of life, they may well find out that they were very wrong… and that with this legal transition, there won’t be a damned thing they will be able to do about it.