Michael Cohen went to prison today. A rather bucolic, benign version of the American penitentiary, but a prison nonetheless.

Cohen offered up a tease on his way to the big house ala the Trump reality TV formula: cliffhanger. More to tell. Really? Suddenly the bullshit meter is ringing off the hook. Cohen was believable in Senate testimony while keeping in mind that he has a great propensity for goombah bravado.

A story of urban legend proportions comes to mind. Remember that this is a story with legs, one of those Vegas stories with scant corroboration but lots of comment. Here’s the scoop: Binions Horseshoe, a world famous gambling spot was most famous for two things 1) owner Benny Binion and 2) Benny would book ANY bet. Benny has 3 offspring Jack, Becky and Ted. It was a family business.

One fateful evening, a customer of the casino committed an offense for which Teddy would not allow to go unpunished.  As the fellow took his leave out the front exit and down Fremont Street, Teddy took pursuit with security in tow. When the fellow was intercepted, Teddy unceremoniously blew his brains out and then retreated to the casino leaving the body lying in full public view. Realizing that he was in some legal jeopardy, Teddy developed a plan. Considering the jaunt back to the casino was brief, it is entirely possible that this scheme had been contemplated prior. A young pit boss, Walt Rozanski, was in charge of the casino at this late hour. Teddy approached him with an offer he couldn’t refuse: take the rap for me and you and your family will be taken care of.

Take the rap for me.

I want to believe that Cohen has had an epiphany. And I will believe it when he gives us the secret. What’s the antidote. If you are totally free of the Trump trance, how did you do it. And is it replicable. Do we need samples of your blood mixed with the virus to create the antidote. And is the cure complete or do we need to fear reinfection. Are you the guinea pig or the goat.

Or are you just a rat.

John Kennedy, President of the United States uttered these words, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” That was a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. We seem uncertain now as a nation, with a democratic system of government, of the people, by the people, for the people, as to who we are at this moment.

One thing is certain. Another leader uttered these words long ago, “Russia will defeat you without firing a shot,” as he slammed his shoe down on the table at the UN. Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the unfree state/nation USSR spawned that theory. And the sentiment remains unabated. This is not about nuclear confrontation. Those who support Trump seem to think that the possibility of war with Russia or China or even North Korea is not just remote but a left wing propaganda and political ploy. But they are looking in the wrong direction like the rube conned by a magician with a talent for sleight of hand. The danger is as Khrushchev framed it all those decades ago, that our enemies will never be deterred from taking our place as the most powerful nation on earth away from us. And that that system of democracy we tout so much will disappear like a feather in the wind.

Our foes no longer need military intervention to take control of our country. Trump is handing it to them. And to what end. Trump gets to be president for life? Luckily he is old enough that our enduring his life sentence won’t be that long. But, and this is critical, he has already set in motion the seeds of our destruction in a remarkably rapid fashion. Even the last year of his current term may lead to irreversible damage.

So who is on board with this. This immovable base of support that follows him to his rallies, who adore and idolize him, who wear the MAGA hats for him, who clap at his witty turn of phrase, and jeer when he mentions the press, judiciary or Clinton or any political opponent, besides them, who is on board with this. The gap between wealth and poverty widens as the money flows to one percent of the population. It is increasingly difficult for anyone in the 99% to be comfortable, to be without anxiety over money. It seems that the problem must stem from government and those rotten, dirty scoundrels who we unwittingly voted into office to represent us. It seems that the new best way to fix Washington is to put into power a guy who is not a politician, but a savvy business guy, who takes no prisoners, who takes no guff, who grabs  pussy, who stiffs anyone in his business orbit, who lusts after Russian prostitutes, porn stars and the fruit of his loins, yeah, that guy. Government does take too much. Let us keep a little more, let us breathe a little easier. And take some more from that elite one percent, many of whom did nothing other than be born into it, who never sacrificed anything for it, or took a chance for it, but just had it handed to them. You know, like Trump is handing us to Putin. So yes, government and by extension, those of us who vote, are to blame for this turn of events.

If we cannot alter the overriding desire of those governing to subordinate themselves to wealthy influence in order to maintain power, we will see the end to this grand experiment. And I wonder what the desired outcome will look like, because I wonder if any of those clamoring for overthrow have envisioned the afterlife. Perhaps they are certain of a Rapture. Perhaps they are certain of nothing. Like Trump owning a casino: he liked the idea of owning a casino better than he liked running one. And he ran them into the ground.

Place your bets.

One thing is eminently clear: Trump likes to play to the home field crowd. And he has passed this particular bias on to his minions. Barr appears before a friendly Senate but declines to appear before a hostile House. Unless they can stack the deck, they are not interested in playing.

Worse than Watergate? No comparison. Today’s conversation between Trump and Putin should be a sirens call…don’t go there. But, and this is crucial, his followers do not give a damn about the country…they want it dismantled. Trump is the catalyst for our destruction.

And so, once again, like the nuclear winter, no one has yet seen it but it should scare the hell out of you. If you like your government hot, spicy, and unpredictable, Trump is your guy. If you prefer your autocrat fat and sassy, Trump is your guy. But most importantly, if you prefer the president of the United States to be a useful idiot, then Trump is not only your guy, he may be your last guy.

OMG. I’m getting a ChickenLittle complex. I need a vacation to read the Mueller report. Of course, we’re getting so much explaining and condensing it seems almost redundant to read it. But, if you care about your country and consider yourself an informed citizen, you have to do your own studying.

If you like your autocrats fat and sassy, Trump is definitely your choice. He’s got a ticket to ride and regardless of who is flying the plane, he will stick the landing and then fire the pilot. Make no mistake, based on everything he has done so far, eight years may not be enough. Things are taking shape that were once considered inconceivable and if he continues unchecked, he may decide to be president for life. And then pass the title on to Jared. No, not Don, Jr. That would be crazy.

In Vegas, they’re called advantage players. Gamblers who beat the game by altering the house statistical advantage in their favor. The house doesn’t appreciate that. The American people are the house in this scenario. After a bit of investigating, the offender is escorted out. Please. Sometimes the gambler needs a greater advantage and will attempt to cheat the game. The house really doesn’t like that. Sometimes, but not always, the offender is prosecuted. And sometimes if considered a great enough threat, they are included in the infamous Black Book.

We are now living in that galaxy far far away. Obewan, you are my only hope. But, who will play the part of  Obewan? Spielberg and Lucas need to collaborate or collude and bring us the final sequel.

I like Elizabeth Warren to play the part. But I fear she cannot overcome the Pocahontas monicker. Joe? No. Too late and too many inappropriate shoulder grasps. I like Joe, but no. Twenty may not be enough.

A wizard with no special powers except the ability to use the fun house mirrors. Think you see me? Hah…think again. The whole miserable act has the feel of the midway.  Barkers, scammers and rigged games on full display.

Like the wizard in the mythical Oz, Trump hides behind the curtain and spews smoke and flames out his ass to keep the crowds both enthralled and amazed.

But enough of that. Let us not forget that the appeal Trump holds for his base is his acumen as a business mogul. Slick, cool, Trump’s a real gamer and game changer. Problem is he is running the country like he ran his Atlantic City casinos. Into the ground. It takes a special kind of idiot to bankrupt a casino. With all that special managerial expertise, he is applying all those winning principles to his presidential style.

In Vegas, casinos have a special talent for reeling in the fishes both big and small. As long as you have cash to put into play, you are a welcome guest. You may even feel like part of a big casino family. Of course it’s all an illusion with the sole purpose of separating you from your money. The concept is so simple, it’s hard to imagine how one might fail.

Beyond being simply stupid, your employees may steal from you. You may run your games without thought to mathematical probabilities. You may be taking more money out the back door than you’re taking in the front. There is no philosophical approach. Only money. So being a money guy, again it’s hard to imagine how Trump could be such a failure.

But I suspect that Trump liked the idea of owning a casino more than he liked running one. The thrill is not in winning but in staying in the game. And losing is always someone else’s fault. Ego gets in the way of logic. Remember Trump trusts his gut. But as we know that’s where all the poop is generated. He is a sick, degenerate gambler. Simple. But he doesn’t like to lose. No gambler likes to lose. And if you are truly addicted, you will do anything, make any deal, try any deception, to beat the game.

Russia, if you’re listening…

So it seems Benjamin Franklin was on to something. His thought was, you will recall, to make the turkey our nation’s humble symbol. Cooler heads prevailed and the bald eagle won the day.

But I am beginning to think the turkey was the correct choice. They are ill tempered and they can be quite hostile when they feel threatened. They do not fly but rather do a lot of wing flapping and sprinting. Not to be confused with the wild turkey which do fly but certainly not comparable to the majestic sustained flights of the eagle.

I think the country now deserves a turkey as our symbol. After all, we have a big turkey in the White House. And he does have an affinity for elevating family to positions of authority. He likes to pardon turkeys. Perfect.

Eagle= majestic. Turkey = dinner. The world over, forces are at work to eat our lunch. The recipes are in place and the only thing missing is the catalyst to put it all together. Trump is a vital key and if allowed to prevail another four years, the damage done may be irreversible. Our enemies are depending on a big fat turkey.

The joke is on us. Not only is it not funny, it’s damn scary.

The greatest mystery has been: why such blind devotion to dear leader. And I think I may have some insight.

It’s not dear leader at all. It is something quite more nefarious. There has always been a rumbling of discontent, of disconnect, running through the depths of the country. In dear leader, they have found their voice. And, they will not be denied. The real objective is the dissolution of the country. Democracy is so yesterday. These radicals want nothing less than the end of democracy. Whatever it takes, they are willing to accept any sleight, any depravity, any low down deceit…doesn’t matter. They see the country as fatally flawed and the only way to fix it is to burn it down and start over with a decidedly whiter and richer governance.

Think about it. The one thing we hear from the base over and over: we’re not in love with his method, but we love that he is shaking things up. Drain the swamp? Shit, they’re swimming in it.

So while I don’t claim a specialty in psychology I do think I am pretty close in dissecting the brains of the devoted. And they seem a fairly homogenous group. Sharing a mental similarity that may not be psychotic, but dangerously close. Ted Bundy seemed normal and charismatic until he locked the doors on the VW.  Too late.

Dummy up and deal.

All these many months dear leader has besmirched the integrity of Robert Mueller. Along with a lot of mud slinging toward anyone associated with the investigation.

So now, the report supposedly concludes no collusion. Well that’s a relief. Of course we are made to rely on the interpretations of William Barr and well we can certainly find solace in knowing he has no fealty to dear leader.

Trump has spent the entirety of his time on this planet honing the art of the deal. He has done so using deception, bait and switch, film flam, dishonesty, and most certainly criminal acts. He has never been convicted of any criminal activity. Good for him. He is, if nothing else, a shrewd and slippery individual. If you are going to game the system, you have to know how thin the lines are and when and where they intersect. He has surrounded himself with plentiful legal help because, after all, it’s tough to keep all the balls in the air especially for a guy who doesn’t like to read, study, or focus.

Any reasonable person, after viewing the facts before us, would conclude there was a conspiracy afoot to gain a political advantage by partnering with foreign operatives to influence the election. Shit, Trump told us. Somehow because he put it all out there, it becomes not a crime. Thank god “The Twilight Zone” is making a comeback.

It’s sick and it’s sad, but mostly sick.

And…it means Trump feels entitled to bend and twist the constitution even further. Dummy up and deal.

Robert Mueller submitted his love letter to Trump today. And while we may never know the details, the fact remains that Trump is not only a snake but a slimy swamp bottom dweller.

If you like slimy swamp bottom dwellers, Trump is definitely your guy. And he seems to have a lot of devotees. Not a majority, but certainly an electoral college majority. And let us not forget that whatever interference a foreign enemy was able to influence on the last election is still in place unabated.

And the importance of that fact cannot be understated or ignored. Capitalism is the new Catholicism. It’s a damn religion with just enough fanatic followers to make it dangerous and destructive.

But who cares. Here’s a prediction. The Mueller report will not show a direct line to Trump regarding conspiracy with a foreign government to corrupt or interfere with our electoral process. And it pains me to say so. Trump will slither away and be available for another four year term as president.

Again, we do not know what the Mueller report says. In spite of breaking news from CNN and MSNBC we do not yet know. But it’s great fun to speculate. Sure.

The majority of Americans who did not vote for Donald Trump must remain steadfast in the prime directive: defeat him. My cat is more qualified and certainly less dangerous and damaging.

The Trump machine has history on its side in one vital respect: Nixon taught them what not to do. Don’t be sneaky; do rally a disenfranchised segment to your cause; do put in place family and loyalists who will carry out your will. Do set out to dissemble the foundations of democratic governance. Do not speak the truth about anything. Period. Do foment international crises which only you can remedy. And…do set in motion anarchy.

Any questions?

I hear Amy Klobuchar  is tough on her subordinates, her staff. And I wonder what that means…exactly. I think it means she’s a bit of a bitch, a diva, or perhaps a shrew. I suspect it doesn’t mean she’s an effective, no nonsense leader who knows who she is, who knows what she wants, and expects those who work for her to be an extension of her philosophy. Naw…not that. And trust that Trump will seize on every opportunity to make her appear small and petty, you know, like him. But somehow he gets out in front of the slinging of slime and nothing sticks to his Teflon ass.

If Amy is indeed a tough, demanding leader who inspires loyalty and a desire for greatness, she will need every ounce of intestinal fortitude to prevail. But more than that, she will need a plan of attack. She will have to break through the noise that is the Trump machine and do it in a way that makes her look good and strong, not weak and damaged. And that is a tall order. Trump was successful in so damaging Hillary that the country may not have the stomach for another female contender.

If the only sane, free thinking people in the country are all in Bill Maher’s audience on. Friday night, I’m thinking that may not be enough.