Are you aware of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, its role in influencing the 2016 election on behalf of the Republican party and its ties to Russia? Trump's campaign hired Cambridge Analytica to influence and sway the election by targeting people and spreading lies and misinformation. The higher-ups at the company came forward and admitted that they were intentionally spreading lies to influence the election for the Trump campaign, which had hired them.

Even Trump's then- campaign chairman Paul Manafort had admitted to working with Russian intelligence to influence the election. And if you think that Trump himself was not aware of that or a part of that, then I have some swampland in Florida to sell you.

You are wasting your time replying to trolls who are brainlessly regurgitating whatever they read on their latest conspiracy website.

If the good Lord came down from heaven surrounded by singing angels and told them the facts they would not believe it, so you stand no chance of convincing them

The exhaustive Mueller report found no evidence yet you continue to propagate a conspiracy theory. People like you are one of Trump's biggest assets.

Try again
Mueller spent almost 200 pages describing “numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump Campaign.” He found that “a Russian entity carried out a social media campaign that favored presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaged presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.”
He also found that “a Russian intelligence service conducted computer-intrusion operations” against the Clinton campaign and then released stolen documents.

Read the link for more details.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Just came back from 5 weeks in Washington State. A brief feedback on the State and its political situation:

- Washington's governer Inslee is not well-liked due to his left policies. It seems, however, his opponent was even less liked.

- The homeless encampments can be seen along I-5 and within the major cities. These encampments are now legal.

- Shoplifting is rampant. Small shops that cannot afford security will do nothing to stop shoplifters since the police won't come for petty theft and the risk of violence is too high.

- Speaking of police, the police force have their hands tied now more than ever. New policies have been passed due to police brutality that have made law enforcement difficult to impossible. The police are leaving Washington State to find jobs elsewhere in the USA.

- Christianity and law: So many Christians are still Trump fans and victims of conspiracy theories. Abortions should be outlawed and guns have become a right.

- Speaking of guns, the Wild West mentality is growing and people want the right to defend their home, their family and those around them by packing heat. We will be hearing more stories of innocent bystanders becoming heroes by shooting the perpetrator in and outside of the home.

- Bully dog breeds are on the rise.

- People are divided by politics more than ever. The media is not trusted and fear has warped the ability to use common sense. Thank you, Fox and social media.

-Montana is the "place to be" to escape the left-thinking West Coast. Idaho has also become home to many who flee the left wing policies to live in "freedom."

- There are many people who are aware of what is happening but are frustrated with the politicians running.

- Lots of empty shelves in retail stores like Target. Amazon has replaced retail shopping for many and, of course, shipping difficulties have made it difficult to keep shelves filled.

- Mt Rainier visitors must wait two hours before the entrance due to the popularity of the park. There are only two entrance booths at the gates and limited parking near the Inn. Paradise is still stunning and there was plenty of snow in the mountains this year

- Airports are short-staffed so people are signing up for Global Entry programs and other programs to skip the line. It's worth researching what's available when flying. At SeaTac, I used Sea Spot to skip the security lines after check in. Good up to 13.00 every day.

- The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. All those second homes dotting popular destinations are pushing the locals out. Much like what happened in the city of Zug. Even long time residents in Truckee, California, are leaving due to all the "Californians" discovering its beauty.

- "Inclusivity" is a popular buzz word as businesses strive to fill positions with "vulnerable" job seekers.

- To feel the good and positive American energy, don't talk politics. Just enjoy the moment of superficial banter that will make you smile.


Washington State is still gorgeous. I was able to explore places I've never seen this time and highly recommend the following areas for off the beaten path:

1) The North Cascades Highway. Reservations at campgrounds are a must in summer unless you are very lucky.

2) The Winthrop area is gorgeous

3) The drive between Tonasket and Colville is stunning. Especially after Republic.

4) The drive between Colville and Tiger through the Pend Oreille Wildlife refuge is glorious.

5) Loved Schweitzer Mountain, Sandpoint Idaho and would highly recommend the Sam Owen campground on the Pend Oreille Lake.

6) The drive between Lewiston ID and Josef OR through the southeast tip of Washington is an insider tip. The drive down to Rattlesnake Creek (Grande Ronde) is an inverted pass through back-country ponderosa wildnerness that took our breath away. No traffic, no towns but good roads and stunning scenery. It leads to the many homes of the Nez Perce. Here's a youtube clip that let's you see it for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34LTwA-OW1Y

7) Mt. Howard outside of Josef is worth the $40 to ride on the long vertical gondolas that take you up to the peak, where a lovely restaurant awaits you while being serenaded by local folk singers.

Just thought I'd write down a few thoughts.

__________________
Faith isn't about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.

Thanks for this excellent summary of the sad current state of affairs, happy to hear you enjoyed some nice time in nature. Washington or Oregon is where my husband and I always thought we would settle before Palin style politics entered the scene - that is when we decided to just leave the country completely.

I have never held a gun in my life and have no desire to, despite being Texan. But after my recent return home, I think I would consider carrying if I lived there again. The level of crime, anger and violence is worrying and could be felt nearly everywhere. Pepper spray won't cut it anymore ...

This worries me greatly.

Many friends and relatives who all their lives long have been deeply anti-gun now feel they have no choice but to carry in order to protect their families from all the other crazies.

I am sick just thinking about iwhat we face when we move back.

the situation described seems bleak. criminals being treated like an endangered species.
sounds like america could use a law and order president!

You mean like the one whose followers beat up police officers and now want to defund the FBI? Like he who believes law and order is only a TV show?

Exactly.

The people my once-anti-gun friends now feel they need protection from are not thieves and robbers, no one has experienced an increase in crime.

Rather they are afraid of the current crop of crazies, full of hate for 'the other', fueled by and egged on by Tucker, Jones, and all the other grievance and conspiracy mongers. The crazies have shown that they are ready to pop off at the least little thing.

My friends are concerned by the seetihing anger and irrational aggressive behavior they increasingly see in folks around their still safe and quiet conservative towns, among fellow church members, parents on the PTA board, parents watching the little league games, who have all fallen down the rabbit hole.

It's a sad world where anti-gun folks now feel they must get firearms qualified themselves. It's escalating, and what ensues won't be pretty.

Tbh, I think this view is very much the issue. Whatever the reason, be it social media algorithms, the media that you and your friends consume, echo chambers reinforcing opinion, there should be no rational reason whatsoever for people to fear "the current crop of crazies", by which I assume you mean Republican voters, more than actual criminals.

I think it's telling you say that "no one has experienced an increase in crime", perhaps these people are just far too insulated or are fortunate to live in affluent areas away from crime hotspots. The data however doesn't lie, murders, violent crime, thefts and shopliftings have all seen a significant increase in the last couple of years that contribute to an overwhelming sense of lawlessness.

As olygirl alluded to, this leads to a broken windows theory of policing in many urban areas that contributes to a feeling of decay.

__________________
Thou/Thee

Do you have evidence that the increase in crime is not due to Republican voters?

The latest data shows the murder rate is falling, not rising, 60% of US cities have falling numbers; YTD Chicago is down 17%, Detroit 14%. and St. Louis 18%.

That's still far higher than before your "totally peaceful BLM riots".

Ousted AZ GOP state Rep. Rusty Bowers: “It’s a party that doesn’t have any thought. It’s all emotional, it’s all revenge. It’s all anger. That’s all it is.”

https://t.co/aqlFAKxTw1

I see parallels evolving in the German AfD, the Fratelli d'Italia, the Le Pen party etc. Not at the same level but the direction is there.

They're predominantly Democrats, at least according to Biden's "you're not black if you don't [know to] vote Democrat".

Some 80% of the on-black homicides are comitted by other blacks, ergo by Democrats. The murder rate increase since the pandemic kills young black men at a yet again far higher rate than other groups. Unless you want to claim that the racial composition of the culprits comitting on-black crimes changed materially in recent years (which would require strong evidence) it's predominantly Democrats comitting the crimes.

The crazy thing is that the woke keep ignoring the facts, probably for pure ideological reasons. Unless that fundamentally racist claim gives way to a realistic assessment the young black men will keep slaughtering each other at a far higher rate, and victimise the entire race.

Trump narcissistic? Not at all

I am sure all the small donors who sent in their $25 to save America will be happy to see their money used for such a good cause, the twist is they probably will be.

Edit: "According to the National Portrait Gallery, the Obama portraits were funded by a handful of private donors, including director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, herself an artist. However, unlike with the Trump PAC contribution, these donors chose to make this gift."

"Former President Donald Trump has used his donors to pay for a number of vanity costs, including millions of dollars at his own businesses, private flights, tens of thousands of dollars in consulting fees for Melania Trump’s high-end fashion designer, and an untold number of legal disputes."

Straight Outta The Polling Booth

And Ron DeSantis goes into his gubernatorial reelection campaign with a "owning the media" message. As incumbents do ...

https://twitter.com/CaseyDeSantis/st...oCVMQh5dg&s=19

Trump's new legal case against the DOJ about privilege seems to be built on sand.

That was the January collection, seems he had many more secret documents that were collected by the FBI this month.

Why Trump's legal team decided to publish this damning letter from the National Archive is not clear.