The first article that I wrote and posted to this website in 2019 was about, surprise! Mr. Donald J. Trump.  Mr. Trump has dominated the number of articles posted to Political Pawns And Puppets ever since he was elected to occupy the Oval Office.  So I decided that my second article for this year would not be about Mr. Trump.  If you are a regular visitor to this website, although it is identified as a website dedicated to information about politics, you know that I have already written articles that venture into the realm of sports and music.  So why not write one that ventures into the realm of food, right?  Good food… and drinks!

There’s this place called Catfish Haven that is located at 4650 Tower Road in Denver, CO that a fraternity brother of mine told me about.  After he told me about it I began to see commercials about it on TV.  Since my wife and I really like good catfish, I decided that I would give the place a try.  One day recently when I was returning home from a couple of errands that I had run I swung by Catfish Haven.  When I went inside there were a number of, in the vernacular, brothers and sisters (African American men and women, in the event that there are any readers who might not recognize the term) having a meal and drinks.  I sat at the bar, which was sort of like an island located in the center of the place, and the bartender asked me if I would like a menu.  I nodded in the affirmative and he brought one to me.  Since I already knew what I wanted, without paying a lot of attention to it, I asked for three orders of catfish – my son likes catfish too, and selected the two side orders that came with each of the regular orders.  By the way, although I did not thoroughly review the menu, I noticed that there were many other soul food items on it that really attracted my attention.  I will have to be sure to try them at another time.

Anyway, as I looked around at the people who were at our island bar, I noticed that the drinks that most of them were having were alcoholic beverages.  Of the three people closest to me, one was having beer, another was having white wine and I couldn’t really determine what the third was having.  There were two fairly young-looking brothers (still in the vernacular) sitting at the bar at a right angle from me who were casually chatting, and occasionally laughing, as they ate.  I couldn’t determine what they were drinking either.  The bartender interrupted my probing thoughts on this place and its atmosphere and asked if I would like a drink.  After having surveyed everyone else at the bar that was having drinks I thought, why not?  I’ll have a Smirnoff and tonic, I said.  They were out of Smirnoff so I ordered Grey Goose and told the bartender to hold the tonic.  On the rocks, he asked?  No, straight up, I said.

Basketball highlights were being aired on the sports channel so when the bartender brought my drink I struck up a conversation with the person sitting next to me.  He was having catfish.  I asked him about his thoughts on Catfish Haven’s catfish and had intended to follow up using the basketball highlights as a conversation piece.   But before he could answer, the guy sitting next to him on his left commented to him about how one of the players in the highlights banged his head off of the backboard while successfully blocking his opponent’s shot.  The conversation immediately switched to basketball and the three of us talked about various teams around the league including the Denver Nuggets.  While we were discussing this, another man who appeared to be in his late twenties to early thirties approached the bar and joined the conversation.  He had a distinct Caribbean accent.  He talked about what a good team the Denver Nuggets are now and the great potential that they have to go from their current status of being one of the best teams in the NBA to becoming a world champion.

His conversation drifted into the political realm as he began to talk about violent cities – including Denver, how the police treated people of color versus how they treated white people and the gentrification of neighborhoods from Park Hill in east Denver to the Montbello Green Valley Ranch neighborhoods in far northeast Denver.  Those of us involved in the conversation gently challenged him on his perspective and comments about Denver being one of the most violent cities in the country.  The guy to the left of me asked him how long he had been in Denver.  His response was 10 years.  The guy on my left said that he had been in Denver since 1972 and stated that he disagreed with his assessment of Denver being among the most violent cities in the country.  I told him that I had been in Denver since the mid 1950s and that I too disagreed with him.  Shortly after that the other patrons involved in our conversation appeared to lose interest in what this relatively new-comer to our fair city had to say.  Not me.  Being a writer, I grew even more interested in his perspective on things.

Where are you from, I asked him.  Jamaica; I’m the chef here, he said.  As we continued to talk I gave him one of my cards, it has a picture of my first book on the front with my name on the spine of the book, and told him to Google my name and he would find my website along with a couple of articles in the Denver Post and the Boulder Camera that I had written.  Check it out, I said.  He then told me that he had a music studio in Park Hill and showed me a few rap music videos that he had made.  He said that he was still fine-tuning them but he was pleased with what he had so far.  He spoke fondly of his father as he continued to chat about his videos.  Just then, the bartender brought my order and I politely excused myself and paid for it.  I told him that I would return in the future and that I hoped that we would be able to talk further.  We shook hands and I left.

By the time that I reached my car, my phone rang.  It was my wife.  I realized then that I had been gone for a really long time, especially since I had told her that I was going to run a couple of short errands and would be right back.  I expected that she might be a little bit upset.  But when I told her I had stopped at Catfish Haven for catfish all seemed to have been forgiven because she simply said, great! I’ll see you when you get home!  Married life; ain’t it grand!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line

In Trump’s America it’s Merry SNAFU, a Happy Pandemonium and get it all sorted out during the New Year!  This is the mantra of Mr. Trump and his administration because the Republican-led congress, arguably, could be fighting them for the right to lay claim to who is actually responsible for the “AFU” part of SNAFU.  I am not sure whether congress is fighting to claim the “AFU” or if they are trying to blame it on Mr. Trump.  This is hard to figure out because they have been so silent where Mr. Trump’s erotic erratic and whimsical behavior is concerned, not to mention the countless times that they have enabled him, that his behavior and theirs are so entwined that separating them is virtually impossible.  And as I am sure that all Americans by now are aware, Mr. Trump never shares credit but is quick to assign blame.

The question is, does he view SNAFU as credit stuff or blame stuff?  Because he has not yet completely blamed congress for America’s current situation, that makes it even harder to sort this situation out.  I know that I am pulling at the threads of Mr. Trump’s way of thinking (boy is that scary) by trying to figure this out and I imagine that the entire world of the press is doing the same.  Maybe pulling at those threads is not as scary – or perhaps not at all scary – for them but regardless; science, we and the world need to somehow get to the bottom of what makes Mr. Trump tick.  Normally this would not be something that those just mentioned would or should give much thought to but this is different.  Mr. Trump, in my opinion unfortunately, is the POTUS!  Therefore, his thinking and why he thinks the way that he does is extremely important and demands America’s attention!  It is important that we house the answer to this question in America’s archives of “Lessons Learned.”  This way, we will have a template to refer to should we ever, God forbid, have another president like Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump might be fighting as hard as he is over funding for his border wall because he really believes that America needs it.  In addition, he might really be concerned about the security of his constituents and he wants to keep the promise that he made to them.  Or it could be that he desperately wants to change the narrative to distract the media that is so focused on all of the investigations, indictments, guilty pleas by those in his innermost circle, endless scandals that are plaguing his administration, acting cabinet-level officials who report to him and the unfilled positions at various levels that are “making [him] look bad.”  My money is on the latter prognosis because during his entire time in office, Mr. Trump has consistently demonstrated that he is incapable of empathy.  He seems to only be capable of considering himself and what ultimate impact that things and situations will have on him.  No one else matters.

Pandemonium is Mr. Trump’s forte and he seems to revel in it.  The more chaos that there is the happier and more comfortable he is.  This might be good for Mr. Trump but it is not good for America.  America’s current situation should cause all Americans to step back, refocus on our civic responsibilities – which includes the responsibility to vote, and vote!  Our country needs us.  Most of us do not serve America by being a part of her armed forces who serve in dangerous situations around the world but we still have a responsibility to do our part to protect her.  We can do that through our vote, which can help to assure that we have dedicated and responsible politicians who put America and her citizens before their personal and political ambitions.  Dedicated and responsible politicians will make sure that those members of our armed forces have the best equipment possible, that their lives and dedicated service are highly valued and that every consideration will be given to them to keep them safe even when they must be placed in harm’s way!

Whenever our politicians and political leaders resort to conducting themselves like grafters and place their personal and political ambitions above their sworn duty to the United States of America, American citizens must vote them out of office!  America has been severely weakened by Mr. Trump and his unorthodox style of leadership.  We will only become weaker if he is allowed to continue to operate as he has over the last nearly two years unchecked by congress.  American voters can help to begin to restore America’s image around the world, regain the respect of her allies and other world leaders and restore the confidence that the world once held in the leader of the free world’s word; America’s word!  We can do that through our vote.

So always remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line

It is fantastic that Democrats will have so many new faces entering congress in January 2019; the midterm elections were extraordinary for us and that accomplishment, rightfully, should be celebrated!  It is understandable that those fresh young, new faces coming in feel that they have a mandate and want to see changes made in the party but it is imperative that, in their enthusiasm, they do not jump to conclusions and ruin their opportunities to make real change…Democrats have an infamous reputation for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  They must stop their bickering now!  Nancy Pelosi must be reelected as Speaker of the House!  Why?  Because she is experienced and smart and Republican House members under the leadership of the House Minority Leader – with the aid of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will not be able to outmaneuver her politically.

Ever since Nancy Pelosi became House Speaker she has always delivered for the Democrats.  She has demonstrated time and again that she has the will power and determination – cojones? or some other ‘manly’ term in this powerful (mostly white) man’s world of the US House and Senate – to keep party members in line.  And in the past whenever she has said that she had the votes to pass legislation her word has proven true.  If the House should decide that they want to replace (hopefully) future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi then that is fine.  Leader Pelosi has already indicated that she is amenable to that.  But now is not the time to squabble about replacing her because Democrats desperately need her leadership and guidance.  No one in the party will be more effective in dealing with Mr. Trump, Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the House Minority Leader.  And House Democrats should immediately stop trying to force her into an agreement that delineates exactly when she will yield her power and pass the torch to a younger leader.

At this point, there are so many things that need to be addressed that were overlooked while the Republicans, who cast aside all of their oversight responsibilities and abdicated all of their power to Mr. Trump, were in power.  Because they were completely frightened by Mr. Trump and his base – in their desire to be reelected, they let him run rampant and do whatever he wanted to do including siding with President Vladimir Putin against his own intelligence agencies and working with president Putin to sell America and her best interests down the river.  Whether wittingly or unwittingly they became pawns in helping president Putin to weaken NATO, America and her allies.

It is frightening to watch Mr. Trump ignore long-held American norms and traditions that were followed by virtually all of the other American presidents who held office.  It is even more frightening when we consider what is happening in the south – due in large part to Chief Justice John Roberts’ and other conservative Supreme Court Justices decisions to gut the Voting Rights Act – in places like Georgia and Florida where voting rights are being trampled and to see that this type of governing has spread to places in the Midwest with a prime example being Kansas.

The recent U.S. senate election in Mississippi between sitting Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is a proven racist and her challenger Mike Espy, provides a prime example of the direction in which Mr. Trump is working hard to lead America.  Mr. Trump threw his full support behind Ms. Hyde-Smith and attended a rally in Mississippi to help get her elected.  Ms. Hyde-Smith garnered a large percentage of the votes during the runoff election on her way to victory.  It is my opinion that it is fair to use an analogy that compares Mississippi to an addict whether that someone is on legal or illegal drugs.  Until that someone is willing to accept that they have a problem, admit that they need help and be open to accepting that help, then no one will be able to help them.  In other words, if Mississippi is not amenable to willingly entering the twenty-first century and leaving their past in the past, then America must be extremely cognizant as to how much time and energy she is willing to expend in trying to drag Mississippi, while kicking and screaming, there!

A lot of negative things have happened in America since Mr. Trump was elected.  His administration is rife with scandals and many other elected Republican officials in leadership positions around the country are emulating him because, with the example that he is setting, they feel that they can get away with it.  Many people in this country are frustrated with our politicians and leaders around the world have lost respect for America.  For a perfect example of how much respect that world leaders have lost for America, just reflect on the visual of Saudi Prince MBS and Russia President Vladimir Putin smiling and giving each other a high-five hand shake at the G-20 conference.  Then look closely at the still picture of Mr. Trump and President Putin as Mr. Trump passes by him.  President Putin’s eyes tell the true story of his disdain for Mr. Trump and America.  Look at the expression on his face then look very closely at his eyes.  America and the world need a strong and honorable American president: a president whose word carries power and the full support of the American people and an honorable American congress.

Under the leadership of all of the American presidents in history, no country would have so blatantly disrespected America as did Russia and Saudi Arabia at the G-20 conference!  America must fix this problem!  We can fix it through always fulfilling our civic responsibilities, which includes voting.  We can vote in a president who will put America above money and his personal interest.  So remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line

We must always value our right to vote and expect, no, demand fair elections!

It is unfortunate but too often Americans take our democracy for granted.  Far too often we readily accept what is going on in Washington politics, no matter what it is, as normal.  We say, “that’s politics” – and far too often because that politics is so down in the mud, use it as an excuse not to be involved and also use that as an excuse as to why we don’t vote.  This occurs with all people but it seems to run rampant with America’s young people.  To this I say “horse hockey”, and that young people – and anyone else who uses this as an excuse not to vote should be ashamed of themselves and they should cease and desist using that excuse immediately and VOTE!  There is no doubt that all of those who take their right to vote for granted would look at things differently if that right was taken away from them!

So in the words of President Barrack Obama, “I’M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE.  Not just in my/[his] ability to bring change in Washington…I’m/[he is] asking you to believe in yours.”

AMERICA IS AT A CROSSROADS AND YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE YOUR VOTE COUNTS (YOUR VOTE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF ALL…UNLESS YOU DON’T USE IT!).  SO WHETHER YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET TO THE POLLS AND VOTE IN THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSE!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line

With the way that things are going in Dodge City, Kansas and North Dakota it appears that Trump’s America is thriving.  I will start by addressing the problem in Dodge City, Kansas.  Dodge City recently moved its polling place that accommodates some 13,000 plus voters out of the city limits and to a remote area that is miles outside of the city limits and more than a mile from the nearest bus stop.  Why?  The County Clerk said that it is due to ongoing construction at what was the location inside the city limits that is blocking the area and that would make it extremely hard and dangerous for voters to access the polling area where they would need to cast their ballads.

To make this obvious attempt at covert voter suppression even more obvious, upon receiving a letter from the ACLU expressing concern about the closing of the existing polling place and asking that another one be opened inside the city limits, instead of responding to the ACLU, the County Clerk emailed a copy of the ACLU letter to Secretary of State/candidate for Governor Kris Kobach’s office, which included the expression “LOL”, in essence expressing that she found it funny and ridiculous that the ACLU would even bother to make any request of her that would make voting easier for voters under her auspices.  When Mr. Kobach was asked by reporters as to whether he could assist in any way to correct the problem he said that it was not something that he could address because it was in the hands of the County Clerk.  Well isn’t that special?!  Mr. Kobach is the Kansas Secretary of State and he can’t do anything to address the problem because it is in the hands of the County Clerk?!  Give me a break!

Because the MSNBC Rachael Maddow Show had been following the problems that voters in Dodge City, Kansas were experiencing concerning casting their ballads for the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, its employees had been trying to reach the Dodge City County Clerk but were unable to get a response.  Because they were unable to get a response, the show sent a small team to Dodge City to try to assess the situation and get details on exactly what the problem was.  When the team arrived and researched the problem they found that not only was the new location much harder to reach and plagued with a large amount of large truck traffic, but the old location was not blocked by construction at all.  As a matter of fact, the team found that there are major large events that will be taking place at the site that was closed to voters just days before Election Day and others that will be occurring just days after Election Day: Go figure.

When the ACLU asked the court to intervene to address this problem and stop this obvious attempt to put up roadblocks that would make it harder for voters to vote – or even worse, actually prevent them from voting, the judge refused to do so.  In support of his decision not to intervene he stated that if the court intervened at this stage, it would only confuse matters more and make things worse if a change was made due to the close proximity of the actual Election Day to such a decision.

The situation in North Dakota is basically the same as that in Dodge City with the exception that instead of moving the polling place to make it harder for voters to vote, North Dakota abruptly changed the voter ID requirements.  North Dakota decided that all voters must have a residence address rather than a post office box in order to vote in the midterm elections on November 6, 2018.  Although virtually all voters who live on a reservation in North Dakota do not have a residence address but have always been allowed to vote in the past, including in elections just prior to the subject (November 6, 2018) midterm elections, they have now been told that they cannot vote in the November 6^th midterms unless they have a residence address.  When the court was asked to intervene and prevent this overt attempt to prevent voters from voting, the response was the same as that given to the Dodge City plaintiff’s request.  The court stated that it was too near to Election Day for them to intervene because its intervention would cause more problems than it would resolve.

Although it is blatantly obvious that Dodge City, Kansas and North Dakota are openly working to block Americans with the right to vote from voting, today – in Trump’s America, the courts are simply winking at it and allowing it to happen.  There is no doubt that the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the US Supreme Court has emboldened those organizations and people who espouse this agenda and that this Supreme Court decision has positively impacted on cities and states decisions to move forward with these un-American like choices.  Although it is extremely disappointing that the very entities that are in place to enforce this law and help assure that something that is a core value of our democracy, that is guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States of America and that is an intricate part of the foundation on which America was established is winked at by those who staff them, we must not lose hope.  Neither must we be discouraged or deterred!  Americans must continue to press forward to unite our country and prevent it from being divided…by anyone!

The 2018 midterm elections are extremely important to all Americans because we are at a fork in the road and, as American voters, we must take the first step in determining what path forward America will take.  Will it be the path toward tribalism, division and hate or will it be the path toward togetherness, unity, and love for one another?  The only true and meaningful way that any American can be an integral part of making this choice is through their vote.  So it is from this perspective that I implore all Americans to vote in this election and further implore you to, value your franchise, and vote in all elections.  It is from this same perspective that I say to you that this is arguably the most important election in our lifetime.  So always remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line

Most of the time when the word “player” is mentioned, in my humble opinion, most white people will envision a black person whether they envision a man or a woman.  I accept that as life because that is the way that the preponderance of white people have been taught to think.  But, hello white people, players come in all colors!  And, hello again, those who might be naive white people, Mr. Trump is just as much a street player as any person no matter what color they might be!  Mr. Trump is a player among players!  He can outwit and intimidate the best of the best when it comes to players. Why?  Because he is the most powerful man in the world.  He knows this and so do all of the street players out there!  Most street players might not have a formal education but they are not stupid; and, they are not crazy!

Players, especially brothers and sisters – Black folks for those who are unfamiliar with the term, might not like it that Mr. Trump is the top (kingpin) player but they know that he is and they accept that.  Most street people and all thugs know and accept reality even if they don’t like it.  And they know and accept that Mr. Trump is the man.  Mr. Trump knows this too and it is not something that is new to him.  In and with his street-wise bravado, he continues to manipulate American people of all colors as he works his way towards 2020 and making the American peoples’ America Trump’s America!  Players know how to play and manipulate people.  And if there is not someone there who, no matter their color, is experienced in how street people and players play and are dedicated and determined to help Americans to understand this game and what is happening to them, then America is destined to lose.

Whether or not the Republican-led congress realizes what Mr. Trump is doing and is choosing to ignore it for the purpose of party and/or personal gain remains to be determined.  Either way, the fact of the matter is that America is in deep trouble and it is up to us, the American voters, to steer her clear of certain destruction!  Mr. Trump is white but his life experiences make him just as much from “off the corner” as any brother from the ghetto or any poor white person from a really rough neighborhood who has had to fight to survive in life!  Believe me, those white people know who Mr. Trump really is; despite his upper crust title as President of the United States of America.  They know that he doesn’t have the best interest of America in mind and therefore does not deserve to be there but they have to give him some love for, being one of them, having made it there.  He played the game to the max!

Mr. Trump is on top of his hustle and I can understand that.  Even I can understand his attempt to convince all Americans (in street language) not to “hate the player” but to “hate the game.”  But what I am finding it hard to understand is that when Mr. Trump blatantly lies to the American people – like when just before the 2018 midterm elections he talks about enacting a 10% tax cut for middleclass Americans (which no one in congress knows anything about) and how Republicans will strongly support assuring that insurance companies are held to the Obamacare standards that require all insurance companies to provide affordable insurance to all Americans including those with preexisting conditions, why the news media continues to repeatedly broadcast his lies!  They must be aware that the majority of the people who hear these lies do not realize that they are lies and that those same people will never hear Mr. Trump admit that they are lies nor will they hear him retract those statements!

Mr. Trump is completely and mercilessly playing this worm-like Republican-led congress and he knows that it will not hold him to account for what he is doing.  And Republican senators like Senators Lindsey Graham, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake need to stop pretending outrage at the things that Mr. Trump is doing and, like the rest of the Republicans in congress, just go along with whatever Mr. Trump decides to do.  In particular, retiring senators Bob Corker and Jeff Flake need to spare us all of the drama and just retire with at least some degree of dignity.  I am extremely tired of seeing pictures of Senator Jeff Flakes’ “sad face” as he talks about the unseemly things that Mr. Trump is doing and how he should not be doing these things and explains to the American people about how he neither believes Dr. Christine Blasey Ford nor Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh with respect to their testimonies before the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee.  Enough already!

I continue to hope that those whom we have elected to represent us and to lead and protect America will come to their senses and do the jobs that they were elected to do.  I continue to hope that they will stop trying to impede democracy, via voter suppression or any other means, by bending it to favor a certain party or group of people.  As we approach the 2018 midterm elections, I want to continue to emphasize that we as American voters must continue to do our part to hold our elected officials accountable.  We must use the threat of how we will vote to chastise them and mentally bludgeon them into doing the right thing.  So whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line

All of my adult life I have closely followed politics.  And I have always been a Democrat.  I have also always known that politicians on both sides of the aisle would oftentimes spin and stretch the truth to the maximum point possible without, in their opinion, crossing the boundary and entering the territory of a lie.  And if that did not work in helping them to achieve their goal, far too many times, they would actually resort to lying.  Even though I always knew this, I found it relatively easy to have a certain amount of respect for them.

I held this respect because of a deep seated patriotic love for America indwelled in me and the overpowering feeling that all politicians harbored this same feeling; but they were doing something about it.  They became elected officials so that they could actually serve our country.  For that reason, I held a certain degree of approbation for them and respected them even more.  I thought that no matter how much Democrats and Republicans fought about the issues and the path forward that America should take that they had a pre-established line in the sand drawn which they would never cross for personal gain, Party or anything else.  I especially held the Oval Office and its occupant in high esteem and I believed that these politicians did too.  Enter the era of Mr. Donald John Trump.

The election of Mr. Trump ripped away my rose colored glasses and all of the perceptions that I had of the honor, dedication and desire to serve their country and a cause bigger than themselves that I had of these politicians and revealed the soft and repulsive underbelly of the corruption, selfishness, personal ambition and greed that exists there.  All of the honorableness and pomp and circumstance seem somehow all feigned by these so called representatives of the American people.  I could not help but to, after all of this time, feel extremely naive.  That is not to say that my opinion of politicians post-Trump should be applied to all politicians, but with what is happening in congress now, given the complete abdication of their checks-and-balances responsibilities and the rubberstamping of everything – even those things that are wrong – that Mr. Trump does, that opinion definitely applies to far too many of them.

Mr. Trump has brought our country and the Oval Office down to the lowest level – one must hope and pray that it can go no lower, possible.  He has brought high level Russian officials and photographers into this office while at the same time banning the American press and photographers and he has allowed crowds of people to surround the Oval Office desk and listen while one of his devoted followers made a long and rambling speech that included profanity.  He has literally stood beside Russian President Vladimir Putin, supported him and disparaged American intelligence agencies as the world watched, he has regularly trashed our allies and supported strongmen and despots around the world, and he seems to be content in heading an administration that is plagued with endless scandals.

The same Republicans who ranted and raved about avoiding an increase in the deficit at all costs now remain silent as the deficit has soared under the watch of Mr. Trump and the current Republican-led congress.  They passed a tax cut that they said would help middle income and lower income Americans.  But instead, it put millions of dollars into the pockets of corporations and the top 1% of Americans and left middle income and lower income Americans with the crumbs off the table.  To make matters worse, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell now says that the deficit is ‘not a Republican problem’.  He says that the problem is the entitlement programs and so he has called for a reduction in the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs to address America’s deficit problem.

Ever since Mr. Trump was elected he has relentlessly worked to divide Americans and pit them against one another.  He seems to be completely focused on his own best interest first and then, maybe – as long as it does not negatively impact his own interest, on the interests of America and the American people.  He wants to “Make America Great Again”!  He wants it to be ‘Trump’s America’!  And although voter suppression is rampant and voters around the country are being disenfranchised at a phenomenal pace he doesn’t seem to care.  To be succinct about Mr. Trump’s feelings about this situation I will paraphrase his response to a question that Leslie Stahl asked him.  When she asked him about how he felt about having mimicked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the victim who accused then Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her, Mr. Trump said, “it doesn’t matter, we won.”  His apparent thoughts about the above mentioned voter suppression and disenfranchisements?  To paraphrase him, “it doesn’t matter, we need to win.”

The sad part right now is that Mr. Trump is winning.  He is winning at pitting us against one another and blinding far too many of us through our anger and rage into accepting change in America that defies everything that Americans have stood for from our very beginning and still stand for now.  Change that makes America look more like the countries of those strongmen and despots that he seems to hold in such high esteem.  He is winning at making America ‘Trump’s America’!

The results of the November 2018 elections will tell all Americans how the majority – depending on the success of voter suppression, perhaps not the unadulterated majority – of Americans feel and which path forward they want America to take.  Our democracy is being threatened from inside and outside of America.  As an American, the right to vote is a critical and intricate element in the foundation that supports our democracy.  Let’s not just stand by and watch these attacks happen.  Instead, let’s do everything that we can legally and without violence to assure that they will fail!

We can do this through our vote.  Because we know and we know that they know that our vote is our power, that is even more reason why we must fight through all attempts at voter suppression and disenfranchisement! That is why we must not allow Mr. Trump, the Republican-led congress or anyone or anything else to frustrate us to the point where we just give up and don’t vote!  Let’s be sure to keep our eyes on the prize, focus on our power, show up at the polls in November and vote.  Your vote counts!  So whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line