Please Welcome the 51st State: Venezuela!

 If it isn't apparent by now that I use this blog to vent my anger and frustration at the current state of the country, this will seal the deal.

Venezuela.

It's a South American country that the majority of Americans can't spell. It's been the subject the last month or so of small boats being bombed for drug trafficking. The official story, anyway. 

Today, America woke up to news that our country had kidnapped its dictator and his wife to bring to NYC to stand trial. Apparently, for drug and weapon violations? I'm not exactly sure of the charges. More than likely that's because it's all BS anyway. Look, am I pleased that this tin-pot dictator has been displaced? Yes. However, I also think that Venezuela should have done it for themselves. Or maybe I'm just SO Gen X that I think these kinds of things are what your government does on the down-low by providing secret weapons to "rebel" groups that then overthrow the government to instate a new dictator. Isn't that how we do things? I guess, times really have changed.  

Did Congress need to know? Nah. Presidents do this stuff all the time. Just about EVERY President throws bombs at some country at some point. Is this concerning? SURE IS.

See, if this really was a "Law enforcement" activity as Rubio claims, then Trump sure as hell didn't make that very clear in his press conference. He pretty much summed up the whole thing as a kidnapping, bring the bad guy to justice, we run Venezuela because, obviously, they don't know anything about government. Since when, BTW, does the US enforce international law unilaterally like that? I mean, we didn't even talk to the UN or European allies, or anybody to back us up on this? Even Russia is saying this was BS. REALLY? RUSSIA!! This can't be good.

I could write pages on how stupid this whole affair is to me BUT I will sum up my anger on a sliding scale according to the many variables of this situation. On a scale of 1 to 10 with low meaning I don't see it that way and high meaning I whole-heartedly agree with this assessment. The more I agree, the angrier I am about it.

Congress should have approved said mission: 2

We, the US, had no right to invade Venezuela. 5 (I'm still not clear on if the US was "asked" by certain "rebel" forces to help the cause.)

The US has no legal leg to stand on by trying Maduro in NYC. 7 (What the hell kind of evidence are they going to bring? The wreckage of a bunch of little "drug" boats?)

Trump wants the oil and wants to reward BIG OIL in the US for their support of him. 10 (Its always the oil.)

Should Maduro be allowed to go back to his country because all of this is just US colonialism? 4  

Will Maduro go back to his country after he strikes a deal with Trump and Trump "pardons" him? 8 (I'm going out on a limb here because the only support Trump really has for this strike is the fact that Maduro is considered a criminal. If Trump does pardon him (however the hell that is supposed to work), it won't look good for Trump. But he's pardoned other drug traffickers and traitors soooo...)

Trump did this because he's the peace President. 10 

Trump did this for national security. 10

Trump is a liar at best or a dementia patient at worst. 10

OK.

Let's just talk about one last thing: social media posts. 

I'm seeing some troubling posts from government offices and officials on their socials. Trump standing with a bat over the Western Hemisphere, one foot on Canada and one on Mexico. An American flag covering the entirety of Greenland. OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT pages are posting stuff like this. Marco Rubio insinuating that Cuba and other Central and South American countries could be next. Trump making flat out threats against same countries if they follow Venezuela's lead. 

These posts lead me to believe that this is now official foreign policy. That we are now the Police of the Western Hemisphere and will enforce the "law" as we see fit. That we will just declare an emergency, call another country a narco-terrorist, and send in the navy. WTF? These posts to social media are just bragging about shady policies. 

Is this what MAGA voted for? I thought it was all about America First and keeping immigrants out of the country? This upset in Venezuela may just cause more people to leave that country and head elsewhere. Are we going to take them? Hell, no. Cause that's not our policy either. 

In conclusion, I find it hysterical (in a maddening kind of way) that Trump thinks we can "run" Venezuela when his administration can't even run THIS country. People here aren't happy and think life is in the shitter. Why would Venezuela be happy that the US is taking over? It might make perfect sense that they'd want Maduro back after seeing how Trump has run the greatest country into the ground. Poor Venezuela has just traded one dictator for another. They just had the advantage of everyone agreeing with that fact. Which one do you want, V, the dictator you know or the oligarch you don't? He's coming with Big Oil in his back pocket because he sees the dollar signs. (I wonder how much the stock of Big Oil companies will rise on Monday?)

In conclusion; did Trump step outside the bounds of an American President? No. 

Was this a smart move? No.

It's time to start really asking what exactly we want from our government and what lengths were willing to accept to attain them.

-Wy

A Golden Idol, I mean, Ballroom

 I have to stop listening to politics as it just deepens my already negative state of mind. I'm a negative person by nature, always thinking things are more difficult than they are, always finding a reason NOT to do something. So, the aura of negativity that surrounds politics in America right now seems too much.

However, there are some things that cannot be overlooked. Like ICE and the National Guard walking our city streets like stormtroopers. Like healthcare costs and the government shutdown. But the one thing that would almost seem trivial is what I'll brooch: the Ballroom.

Sure, the White House can be renovated, modernized, redecorated, and even reconstructed within reason but a fucking Ballroom? For a President that can't even dance? Huh? I thought the Rose Garden was going to be the maddening thing but a Ballroom? What is this; fucking Clue? (I buttle, sir.)

And he lied about it. He said it wouldn't touch the East Wing, he said it wasn't going to be as big as it was. Yeah, blah blah, blah. He didn't even have a plan when the walls started coming down. How horrifying it is to see that massive deconstruction of part of a building known as the People's House. How maddening. How sickening. It shows the lack of respect Trump holds for history, for anyone that came before him. How wonderful it must be for Trump to be Trump because he's never wrong, never bad, never ugly, never crude or vile. He won't allow those thoughts in his head despite everyone else seeing it like a supernova. 

Not only is this a demolition of the People's House without the People's consent (through their representatives in Congress) but it's also without regard to our History as a nation. Wasn't Trump against all those statues coming down in the South that were Confederate generals and slave-owners? Didn't he think it was wrong to remove them? How is this different?

I really think my head will explode when I try to think about next year; the 250th birthday of the United States of America. It's a tremendous milestone. It's a swelling of patriotism that all of us can feel and share. It should be a unifying moment that brings this nation together. Wouldn't that be great? Feeling that kind of kindred spirit for a good thing rather than a tragedy. Like 9/11 or a devasting Hurricane. We can unify as Americans and celebrate what the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution have established.

We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

We the People in order to form a more perfect Union

I suppose Trump will want his Ballroom done by July 4th. I mean, where else would such a momentous occasion take place but a golden Ballroom. Our beautiful red, white, and blue hanging limply from golden flagpoles as glamorous billionaires step down a red carpet to greet the greatest President in the history of our country. Does anyone else remember a July 4th in Trump's first term when he gave a hours long "history of our country" speech? I mean, he recited history like it was a 3rd grade textbook. First the pilgrims landed then we had a tea party and fought for our freedom then we saved the UK from the Germans...sigh. Hell, he couldn't even put on a good military parade. There was nothing sadder than that military birthday parade. snicker.

But 250 years of anything shouldn't end up like Trump's parade. It just can't. I don't want to think about how he'll ruin it. How he just doesn't get it. He claims to love this country, but he doesn't. He doesn't even understand the principles of this country. That the laws apply to all people and the people are afforded rights that are not his to give or take. We the People are not bound by his Word, not forced to bend a knee to his Will. We are the People. That is the People's House you live in temporarily. We've allowed you it but it is not yours. Just as this country is not yours, it's ours. It's what we want it to be.

If July 4, 2026 ends up being a large ceremony in a golden Ballroom with Lee Greenwood singing "Proud to be an American" at one end, I'm going to puke. In fact, I might just consider that the lowest of low points in American History. But sitting at Trump's Presidential table will be a handful of billionaires and corporate CEOs who donated money to have this place built. How fitting that they will celebrate our Nation in a golden idol ballroom: a ballroom where those wealthy elite will come to worship. Perhaps they will bring golden gifts or fake promises or jets or golf clubs or a peace prize. The President will celebrate a country that is nothing more than a real estate deal to him. He won't sit in the People's House; he will shake hands and dance badly in the house his gold built. In the Ballroom of Gold, a new symbol of America that defines our new reality, the wealth gap. 

I hope my vision doesn't come true. 

Be careful, Mr. President, the God of Abraham warned about the worship of golden idols. A (People's) House divided cannot stand.

-Wy