This post is excerpts from Pulitzer Prize winning David Cay Johnston’s “It’s Even Worse Than You Think” [2018]. If you consider yourself a patriotic American – read this book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A] “A single factor defines Donald Trump’s presidency, making it unlike the 44..before…past presidents all shared a trait missing in the Trump presidency…their administrations were about America and its people….The Trump presidency is about Trump. Period.”

B] “Trump himself has reduced his life philosophy to a single word – revenge. “I love getting even.”……”go for the jugular, attack them in spades!”

C]. “His entire life Trump has been a con artist…Trump relies on faux news organizations…millions of Americans..believe Trump is their champion and is being railroaded by Democrats who collude with..journalists who Trump calls..”enemies of the people.”

D]. “…Trump’s mercurial nature…volatile emotions often drove his decisions. So does whatever he heard from the last person he spoke to.”

E]. “…statements showing how he reacts instinctively, often without advice or knowing basic facts..revealing how his ignorance of science and the technology of modern warfare blocks his ability to understand issues when they’re explained to him.”

F]. “Trump articulated clearly..two standards of justice..One..for those in positions of power who shared his views and took actions he liked…The other..was for everyone else.” [207-08]

G] !!!!!!! Illegal immigrants working in the U.S.A.???!???!??? “..records showed..Melania Knauss..worked illegally in the United States in 1995; …the staff at Mar-a-Lago, which for years relied on the very workers Trump wanted kept out – foreigners.” [242-44] ***as in Trump gets to play by his own rules !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

H]. “Trump lacks the emotional stability, knowledge, critical-thinking skills, and judgment to be commander in chief. Emotionally he remains the 13-year-old troublemaker his father sent..to a military academy where..brutality was common.” [253] *****!!! but he’s our champion and we trust him !!!!!!!!!!

I] “Our Constitution is not written to handle someone like Trump,” the political scientist Jason Johnson told me. “That is the greatest danger and greatest harm he is to our country.” [263]

1]. “Trump is the first president to pose numerous questions about whether he is receiving income from foreign governments, which the Framers felt was inherently corrupting.”

2]. “As president, he did not change his long history of refusing to pay contractors, fighting tax bills, and using two sets of wildly different estimates of the value of his properties.”

3}. Three lies in one tweet [pg. 41] on appointing ambassadors!!!!! *****Trump doesn’t follow rules YOU & I do****

4]. The director of the Office of Government Ethics quit, later said Trump’s conduct “risks people starting to refer to us as a kleptocracy.” [*****as in, becoming more like Russia******]

5] Pages 79-92 – how Trump conned voters into a tax plan where most benefits go to the top 1%. – and [94- ] Trump paid at a 3.5% tax rate, or, NOTHING *****how would YOU like to pay 3.5% or nothing???*******

6]. Pages 101-111 – SOME of the Trump lies on his Mexican Wall; violation of the Logan Act

7] Pages 115-142 – attacks on the EPA and science – BECAUSE. science provides REAL facts on why FAR RIGHT business practices are injuring American’s health and prosperity

8] “Stocking the Swamp” – how Trump appoints industry-friendly hacks and crooks to positions; how Wall Street “easily manipulates”. the system.

9]. Trump likes the Saudis because they “buy apartments from me..Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.” [158] ***might someone call this a “conflict of interest”??? ***

10]. Trump killed the proposed “Trans-Pacific Partnership” trading alliance WITHOUT China. “Trump’s protectionist instincts..his dark vision of..America run by what he called stupid leaders, included at least two other actions that helped the Chinese..” [165-66]

11] “Trump did more to help the Chinese fulfill their ambitions of becoming a 21st century superpower than anyone else.” [167} **** remember this when China & America go to war****. Trump and greedy “American” corporations gave and ARE giving the Chinese the $$$$$$$$ to build their threat to America and democracy ***********

12]. Trump imported cheap steel from China – COSTING U.S. JOBS – – and “..went to great lengths to hide where the steel came from.” [171]

13] Pages 185-203 – Trump’s destructive education policies – huge budget cuts damage U.S. future – contradict Trump’s “America First” and “Make America Great Again” propaganda slogans !!!!!!!!!!

14] Trump cuts budgets for VETERANS !!! – on mental health, homelessness, disability, unemployment, government hiring freeze – in spite of promises !!! [221-227]. ***hey, gotta pay for the top 1% tax cut somehow !!!!!!!

15]. Trump allows 75,000 people “so mentally ill they’re not allowed control over their finances could easily buy guns.” [232] [just following the CORRUPT Roberts “court’s “thinking” ]

16] “…I relied on public records to illuminate Trump’s conduct, including a major drug trafficker for whom he risked his casino licenses for reasons that..have never been properly explained..” [266]. [ and – consider, “some people are saying” – why didn’t Trump loose those licenses – when others probably would have ….where is THIS going ????? !!!!!]

********. Again – this posting is only a small part of the very large. MOUNTAIN. of DOCUMENTED. evidence why one Donald J. Trump should NEVER be allowed in ANY. public office. – shame on US. if we “vote” him another chance.

This post, and following, will provide “insider” insights as to the 110%, often DOCUMENTED, case; Donald J. Trump is a threat to American democracy, American society, EVERYTHING America has stood for….

1] information from Pulitzer Prize winner David Cay Johnston’s “It’s Even Worse Than You Think” is coming, including [pg. 258]: Trump fails tests of “U.S. Army Field Manual” for leadership: “emotionally he remains the 13-year-old troublemaker his father sent..to a military academy..”; “Even by standards of the incurious George W. Bush, Trump is appallingly ignorant.” [253]

2] information from “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump…37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President” is forthcoming, including [pg. XX]: “Donald Trump is a profound danger to Americans and to the rest of the world. He will remain a profound danger until he is no longer president, since the dangers clearly result from Trump’s serious mental impairments that are untreated and are most likely impervious to treatment.”

3] information from “Unhinged..An Insider’s Account of the Trump white House,” including “Trump’s greatest character flaw is his total lack of empathy, which is itself a function of his extreme narcissism. Trump constructs his own reality to make himself look good.” [287] This author won a $1.3 million court-ordered award from Trump campaign.

4] “111 former GOP officials call Trump “unfit ti serve” [9/19/24; P.Baker; New York Times]: this group “..included former officials who served under Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, or George W. Bush.”

5]. “Security leaders endorse Harris”. [9/23/24] [Maggie Astor; 9/23/24; New York Times]: “More than 700 current and former national security and military leaders..arguing that only [Harris] had the temperament and values needed to serve as commander in chief..They argued..former President Donald Trump posed a threat to both national security and the nation’s democracy.”

6]. “The Tempest…A Memoir by a onetime presidential advisor shows how Donald Trump’s insecurities and weaknesses harmed U.S. foreign policy” [Nicholas Niarchos; 9/29/24; New York Times Book Review]: “In tale after tale, McMaster shows how the former president alwed his own prejudices and the petty rivalries within his administration to undermine his policy goals..Time and again, Trump can’t seem to focus on briefings and responds to serious problems with inane suggestions.”

7] “Trump is ‘fascist to the core,” Milley says [10/13/24; Ruby Cramer; Washington Post]: “Retired Gen, Mark A. Milley warned that former President Donald Trump is a “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person in this country” in Bob Woodward’s new book, “War.”

8] Bob Woodward, in “War”: “Trump was the most reckless and impulsive president in American history and is demonstrating the very same character as a presidential candidate in 2024.”

9]. “The Trump Testimonials: The Case Against Him, From His Own People” [New York Times editorial board; 10/6/24]: “Scores of people who know him well, including the 91 listed here, have raised alarms about his character and fitness for office..Some have even spoken out at the expense of their own careers or political interests.”
A] Bill Barr, former attorney general: “He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the country’s interest. There’s no question about it.”
B]. Betsy De Vos, education secretary: “It was unclear to me if the president was actually in the mental place to continue to serve as the commander in chief..His behavior had grown increasingly erratic and unnerving.”
C]. John Bolton, national security advisor: “His short attention span {except on matters of personal advantage} renders coherent foreign policy almost unattainable.”
D]. Cassidy Hutchinson, Mark Meadows aide: “Trump’s temperament wasn’t rational..”
e]. Dan Coats, ex-senator, director of national intelligence: “To him, a lie is not a lie. It’s just what he thinks. He doesn’t know the difference between the truth and a lie.”
F]. Rex Tillerson, secretary of state: “His understanding of global events..of global history..of U.S. history was really limited.”
G] Michael Cohen, Trump’s attorney, fixer, confidant, 2006-2018: “I bore witness to the real man..in the unguarded moments when he revealed who he really was: a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man.”
H] Maryanne Trump Barry, elder sister and former federal judge: “You can’t trust him.
I] Mike Pence, vice president: “I belive anyne that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United states..”
J] J.Michael Luttig, retired federal judge: “The former president sought to overturn an American election which he lost fair and square..these claims by the former president and his Republican allies havw corroded and corrupted American democracy and American elections.”
K]. John Kelly, homeland security secretary and Trump’s chief of staff: “A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution and the rule of law.”
L] George Will, conservative political analyst and columnist: “Trump is what he is, a floundering, inarticulate jumble of gnawing insecurities and. not at all compensating vanities, which is pathetic.”

10]. Past J.D. Vance Donald Trump quotes: “Trump is an idiot!..noxious..reprehensible!’; “He’s cultural heroin!”; “He might be America’s Hitler!’; “..unfit for our nation’s highest office!” [Rick McKee; 7/17/24; Cagle Cartoons]

11] “Johnson said Trump unfit to sere in ’15”. [Anne Karni, Steve Eder; ll/l1/23; New York Times]: current House Speaker Mike Johnson: “The thing about Donald Trump is that he lacks the character and the moral center we desperately need again in the White House. – HIS 8/7/15 post.

12] “What 17 of Trump’s ‘Best People”. Said About Him” [Sarah Longwell; 1/21/24; New York Times]: “In the history of presidential cabinets, former President Donald Trump’s stands out for two qualities: turnover and dissension..These appointees didn’t start out opposed to Mr. Trump..But many of them quickly became alarmed by Mr. Trump’s personality, temperament, and policy aims.”
A]. H.R. McMaster: “President Trump and other officials have repeatedly compromised our principles in pursuit of partisan advantage and personal gain.” [national security advisor]
B] Mark Esper, secretary of defense: “I have a lot of concerns about Donald Trump. I have said that he’s a threat to democracy.”
C] John Bolton, national security advisor: “By the time I left the White House, I was convinced he was not fit to be president…I think it is a danger for the United States if he gets a second term.”
D]. James Mattis, secretary of defense: “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of thus deliberate effort.”

13] “Trump is increasingly hostile to fact-checking”. [Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey; 10/15/24; Washington Post]: “..Trump and his campaign have waged an aggressive campaign against fact-checking..pushing TV networks, journalism organizations and others to abandon the practice if they he to interact with Trump..the latest example of Trump’s long-held resistance to being called to account for his lies..the bedrock of his political message…The Washington Post Fact Checker team tallied..by the end of Trump’s presidency, he had made 30,573 false or misleading claims – an average of about 21..a day.”

14]. THEN !!!!! – consider the wisdom of this: “World’s oldest person dies at age 117”. [Adela Suliman; 8/22/24; Washington Post]: “She celebrated her 117th birthday earlier this year and credited. “staying away from toxic people”. among the reasons she lived so long.”
***** “staying away from toxic people” !!!!!!!!! with good fortune and people’s good reasoning
at the polls – let us ALL pray America is able to stay away from. THE. most toxic person on
November 5, 2024. – one. Donald J. Trump

15] **** Please remember: the greatest mass murderers; Mao, Stalin, Hitler – DID. NOT. kill 6. or 10 or 20 or. 30. million people themselves. – they had help: enablers, advocates, followers who did the actual dirty work. – if one D.J. Trump wins another term – he will. NOT. be surrounded by the many good, patriotic Americans that thwarted his autocratic tendencies – those people have been systematically removed from consideration. – want proof???? Read. “Project 2025”. – a “conservative”. blueprint for Trump to pursue. the remaining FAR. RIGHT. WISH. LIST. “

*** There are NO, None, Zero reasons to vote for Trump, or virtually ANY Republican – as Trump OWNS the current “Republican” Party
*** Witness what “Republicans” have done in virtually ANY state they control – the cruelty, the craziness,, the corruption in laws and policies enacted
*** Witness the original 1854-1960 Republican Party of Lincoln, Teddy R., Ike – that in many ways, helped build modern America – THAT Party. is. dead.
*** Witness the 1980-2024 “Republican” Party’s attacks on unions and labor rights; voter suppression; subversion of 1947-75 historic mass middle class prosperity; tax cuts for the rich and corporations; attacks on reproductive health care rights; attacks on Social Security and Medicare; subversion of America’s judicial system; becoming THE FIRST party in American history to be controlled by ONE religious philosophy; subversion of 1787-1980 American governing principles; and….much more………

One of THE most demoralizing, truly frightening aspects of 2015-2024 America is how so many GOOD Americans have been deceived by Trump lies and fear-mongering; how many GOOD Americans drank the kool-aid, entered the cult. THIS is now the subject of MANY unrecorded, private conversations – disbelief so many GOOD Americans suspended rational thinking…. – despair so many GOOD Americans sucked into FAR RIGHT echo-chamber of Alice-in-Wonderland fairy tales…. – fear America will repeat 1932 German election, turn America into the THEOCRATIC PLUTOCRACY that Trumpers and FAR RIGHT have been planning for decades – clearly visible in “Project 2025”, partially visible in known ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST’ plans for YOU.

Examine “letters-to-the-editor” for examples of how GOOD Americans have accepted FAR RIGHT propaganda of the Fox “news”-“Christian media – talk radio. echo chamber, as FAR RIGHT “talking points” are repeated, praised, supported – virtually ALL of them factually FALSE, appealing to often exaggerated fears.

Claims Trump’s economy was better; that Democrats solely responsible for inflation; America is under siege by “hordes of criminal immigrants”; crime is “out of control”; etc., etc. – either FACTUALLY FALSE, taken out of context, ignore Republican efforts to create problems for political gain, ignore documented statistics. Suppose Trump’s 2017-2020 term was 100% during COVID – how “good” would it have been?????????

Do your own research: research 1946-1979 income, wealth, taxes paid, tax rates – versus – 1980-2024 income, wealth, taxes paid, tax rates; research crime statistics, 1950-2024; research immigration rates and Border Patrol funding – WHY are people coming to America & what resources does Border Patrol have?; research 1980-2024 retail prices; find 2024 CEO confessions on how they took advantage of COVID to ARTIFICIALLY jack up prices!!!; WHO, specifically is responsible for 25% food price increases – Joe Biden – or – the 3-4-5 corporations with monopolistic control of YOUR food????????

Research studies of which Party – Republican or Democrat – has created the most jobs, has passed labor-friendly and consumer-friendly policies and laws. [ hint – it ISN’T the GOP!!!! ]

Research studies on fascism, authoritarianism, religious freedom, voter suppression, what 1789-1939 Supreme Courts said about the Second Amendment and early state courts ruled, about DELIBERATE disinformation,, WHY America NOW has record numbers of billionaires & centi-millionaires, WHY native-born Americans are having fewer children.

Example!. of! Far! Right! thought!!!: “..Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. asserts that Washington used weather control technology to steer Helene toward Republican voters in order to tilt the presidential election toward Democrat Kamala Harris.”!!!!!!!!!!! [10/7/24; Assoc. Press] Examination of past hurricanes would indicate Washington has been guilty of doing this since 1789 !!!!!!!! – since most hurricanes hit the southern U.S. How many will believe THIS obvious lie???

Research effects of Trump’s 2017-2020 economic policies – blew up national debt with tax cut for rich and corporations; tariffs were a tax on YOU; effects of trade war with China cost U.S. farmers markets; his 2025 plans already shown to damage the U.S. economy [10/8/24]: Trump’s plans “..could inflame the nation’s debt burden while ultimately raising costs for a vast majority of Americans, according to a pair of new economic analyses..among the most in-depth studies..of the GOP nominee’s plans.” How can ANYBODY say Trump’s better for the U.S. economy?????????

Read Barbara McQuade’s “Attack From Within,” chapter one: “The Authoritarian Playbook” – “Aim for the Heart: Emotion over Reason”; “Divide: With Us or Against Us”; “..And Conquer” Shut Down Critics”; “Stoke Violence: Normalize Cruelty and Violence”: “Man and Superman: ‘Regular Guy’ Who Can Solve Problems” – Trump’s done all of this. Chapter two: “From Gaslighting to the Liar’s Dividend: Disinformation Tactics” – “Destroy Truth”; “Go Big”; “Repeat, Repeat”; “Look Over There”; “Insult Them to Death”; “Keep It Simple”; “Reflexive Control”; “They’re Not Attacking Me, They’re Attacking You”. – Trump [and Hitler, Putin]. have done all this

Read James Gilligan’s “Why Some Politicians Are More Dangerous Than Others” – when Republicans controlled the White House, America suffered “epidemics of violent death..The reasons are all too obvious: rates of every form of social and economic distress, inequality, and loss – unemployment, recessions, poverty, bankruptcy, homelessness also ballooned..those in the population who were most vulnerable have “snapped,” with tragic circumstances for everyone..until..Democrats, regained the White House.”..[reduced the causes]..”This pattern has bveen documented since 1900.”

Guns and crime? Research the ORIGINAL Second Amendment – that had a provision for “conscientious objectors” people objecting to MILITARY SERVICE – what the Second Amendment is MEANT to cover – NOT “guns for everybody.” “Law and Order”??? – Trump – virtually his entire adult life, considered himself to be above ANY laws: draft, taxes, business practices, Constitution. – note recent criminal evasions and delays [YOU would already be jailed!!!]

“Separation of Church and State”? – read Edwin Gaustad’s “Faith of the Founders,” Appendix B, pages 134-45. 8 original states banned active ministers serving in their gov’t; 4 banned a “religious test for office” [Article VI]; 10 banned existence of “an established church” [Amendment One]. 1776 North Carolina Constitution, Articles XXXIV: “..neither shall any person, on any pretense whatsoever, be compelled to attend any place of worship contrary to his own faith or judgment, nor be obliged to pay, for the purchase of any glebe, or the building of any house of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes right..” CAN THERE BE ANY DOUBT?????? – “not on any pretense whatsoever”. – are YOU compelled to support any church YOU don’t want to – any ANY way.

Immigration????? – which 2024 presidential candidate ORDERED “Republican” Senators to vote against a BIPARTISAN comprehensive immigration law authored by one of THE most “conservative” Senators. – so he could run his campaign against “lack of immigration enforcement”????????? – name a tactic more CYNICAL & Corrupt than this.

Are YOU, unknowingly, believing and repeating Russian and Chinese propaganda? It’s DOCUMENTED, beyond question, Russia and China want to destroy ANY democracy – because it’s a threat to them. Also DOCUMENTED, beyond question, Russia supported Trump in 2016, 2020, 2024. WHY does Putin want Trump to win?????????????
Russia and China promote chaos, division, controversy in America – on any issue – get us fighting each other rather than them. They want YOU to question democracy, election integrity, American gov’t; to believe America is in decline.

What does Trump repeatedly say

***** The Far Right intends to create an American theocratic plutocracy – have already achieved some of their goals [rich & corporate tax cuts, non-enforcement of anti-trust laws, corrupt Roberts ‘court” rulings: immunization, hamstringing gov’t, “religious rights’, “Shelby”, “Citizens United”]. “Project 2025” is a Far Right wish list to complete the job, with much obscuring “code talk.” “Christian Nationalists” have their own plans for their version of what the Taliban has accomplished in Afghanistan. Trump’s worst instincts were thwarted by GOOD, patriotic Americans in 2017-2020. That “mistake” won’t be made if Trump wins – he’ll be surrounded by “loyalists.”

***There is NO good reason to vote Trump in 2024 – but many BAD, antidemocratic ones. THE greatest con man EVER is working THE greatest con EVER – for the American presidency. Donald J. Trump is a CANCER – on American society and democracy. America will NEVER be “normal”, NEVER be healthy as long as Trumpism FESTERS on the American body politic.
YOU don’t want to have to lie, to YOUR children & grandchildren, about YOUR 2024 vote. PLEASE – think very carefully about America – as it was 1789-1980; as it could be again – without the threat of a con man demagogue like Donald J. Trump – anywhere near any kind of power.