Claude Mayers Interviews Influencers, Scientists, Activists, Poets

When questioned this week, Donald Trump would not agree that if he loses the November 3rd election, there will be a peaceful transfer of the Presidency to his victor. This is shown on youtube for all to see via the link below to Chris Hayes 'All In' post of his open to his Sept. 23 2020 MSNBC show. VERY IMPORTANT!!  

Today's Trump Poem podcast is one that I wrote today, in reaction to this next troubling event on the Trump road to authoritarian rule. Hayes is interviewing author Baron Gellman who wrote a very essential piece in the November Atlantic magazine (available online now) entitled 'The Election That Could Break America.' Gellman reveals that Trump is preparing to steal the November 3rd election in many devious ways - including arranging battleground states to appoint electors to the electoral college that will be loyal to him. Whether the voters vote predominantly Republican or Democrat. Trump already hiring 1000 lawyers to organize chaos and hanky-panky around November 3rd Election Day to check ballots, and individual signatures. Trump followers intending to gather at polling places to intimidate voters. I thought this was illegal, to campaign on election day within a certain distance deemed too close to the place of polling. . .? 

This is a crucial time for America and our tenuous democracy that Trump is working to turn into his own autocratic dictatorship, discarding the rule of law en route to erecting himself President for Life. Here is the link to the 'All In' Chris Hayes - Barton Gellman open to the Sept. 23rd 2020 showing, starting with live footage of Trump being questioned by a reporter and refusing to agree that there will be a peaceful transfer of power to the next President if he loses: https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-chilling-hayes-unpacks-trump-s-vast-and-ongoing-project-to-steal-the-election-92424773888

Donald Trump furthers his father's sentiments, Never To Concede! Which is the name of today's Trump Poem. Please share with your friends, family, and concerned citizens.

This is a Trump Poem I wrote today, reflecting many of the things going on right now. With marchers protesting in the streets of Louisville. Because no policemen were indicted with the invasion of Breonna Taylor's home in the middle of the night. Three policemen killing her in her bed. Trump preparing to steal the election in many devious Trumpian ways - including arranging several states to appoint electors to the electoral college that will be loyal to him. Whether the voters vote predominantly Republican or Democrat. Trump already hiring 1000 lawyers to organize chaos and hanky-panky around November 3rd Election Day. As discussed by Barton Gellman on the the Chris Hayes 'All In' show tonight Sept 23, 2020. Gellman's important new piece in the upcoming Atlantic Magazine entitled 'The Election That Could Break America' can be referenced for more information on this. And if we are lucky, Chris Hayes and MSNBC will post the open to tonight's show on youtube for all to hear, see, and think about. These are terribly troubling times for America and our tenuous democracy that Trump is working to turn into his own autocratic dictatorship, discarding the rule of law en route to erecting himself President for Life. Here is the link to the 'All In' Chris Hayes - Barton Gellman open to the Sept. 23rd 2020 showing Trump not agreeing that there will be a peaceful transfer of power to the next President if he loses, when questioned: https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-chilling-hayes-unpacks-trump-s-vast-and-ongoing-project-to-steal-the-election-92424773888

Theocracy -  a form of government in which a country is ruled by religious leaders or divine right.  Vocabulary.com >> 'not a lot of room for dissent in a theocracy.' Betsy DeVos, still current Secretary of Education, is noted to have come from a family of fundamentalist extremists. Betsy's husband Dick founded Amway, which was determined to have run a pyramid scheme (or a scam) to manipulate its employees. 

This poem was written January 4, 2017, a few weeks before Donald Trump was inaugurated as President. We can take it as a look ahead, from back then, to what we are experiencing now . . . 

Our conscience must be awakened. We know it's there. Mitch McConnell denies President Obama a hearing for his nomination of a Supreme Court replacement for Judge Antonin Scalia in February 2016, eleven months before the inauguration of a new President. Now he wants to approve someone 6 weeks before the November 2020 election, ignoring his self-righteous rule . Our conscience usually reminds us to do the right thing, weigh right and wrong, act in the spirit of Justice & Fairness. Almost all of the Republicans have reversed what they said concerning Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland in 2016, saying YES they will hear President Trump submit his nominee 6 weeks before the 2020 election. Here's what some of them said back in early 2016 though: Joni Ernst of Iowa: when opposing a vote for Obama's nominee before the 2016 November election said:  “In the midst of a critical election, the American people deserve to have a say in this important decision that will impact the course of our country for years to come.” Thom Tillis of North Carolina: In 2016, Tillis argued against considering Obama's nominee: "We are in the middle of a presidential election, and the Senate majority is giving the American people a voice to determine the direction of the Supreme Court [once a new President is elected]." Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., in 2016: said “Let the American people have a voice in the composition of the Supreme Court. Instead of a lame duck president and Senate nominating and confirming, a new president and Senate – elected by the people only a few months from now – should make that important decision. ... In the politicized atmosphere of an election year, you probably shouldn't even nominate someone. ... It's not fair to the nominee, it's not fair to the court." 

That was then. This is now. Power over Justice & Fairness?

Barack Obama himself stated the following on September 18, 2020, after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death at age 87:

'A basic principle of the law — and of everyday fairness — is that we apply rules with consistency, and not based on what’s convenient or advantageous in the moment. The rule of law, the legitimacy of our courts, the fundamental workings of our democracy all depend on that basic principle. As votes are already being cast in this election, Republican Senators are now called to apply that standard.'

Conscience! Conscience! American people. Do unto others how you would have them do unto you. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg aka RBG expressed her last fervent wish was to be replaced by a NEW President.

When those who know/Reject interjection/Justice Violated/Thoughts deceptive. Like Mitch McConnell, trying to pull a fast one. After what he perpetrated in February 2016, preventing President Obama from even getting a hearing for his nomination for a replacement Supreme Justice - February too close to the next election and inauguration of a new President???. But now when Trump is President, he lacks the integrity to treat the  situation equally, as to how he and the Republicans treated Obama. But the American conscience exists. It just needs to be awakened. It knows what is right and wrong. Time for interjection here. For those who know. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's "most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new President is installed." This from one of our greatest advocates for women and women's rights. And though her body may not be stirring anymore, her spirit is still out there. We all feel it. It wants justice and equality, not skullduggery and impunity, for the USA, and people everywhere.

Trials and Tribulations for the nation. Lawyers, Guns & Money (ty Warren Zevon) to fight the battles in court. Trump usually having about 70 suits going on every year of various sorts. But if he loses the election on Nov 3rd the next cases may be more serious in nature. Individual #1 with Michael Cohen in Stormy Daniels bank fraud / illegal campaign contribution case, and who knows what will be revealed relative to Putin, Russia, our elections, and the Orange one. Especially as Additional Evidence Trickles In . . . .

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is watching . . . another Senate Circus will be brewing as the hypocrites and the sycophants battle it out to replace her, against the precedent set in 2016 rationalizing what they did to President Barack Obama replacing Antonin Scalia who had died in Feb 2016 and Obama nominated Merrick Garland in March and the Republicans racistically prevented Obama's nomination from even being considered in the Senate! What malarkey will they pull now? As observed for example with Brett Kavanaugh, and also with the impeachment trial of Donald Trump. Great loss tonight for women's rights, cracking the glass ceiling for women, being on the right side of history. Trying to help advance the USA beyond its gender and racial prejudices, aiming toward its higher aspirations of justice for all, equal protection under the law. 

Smoke from West Coast wildfires spreads across the country. Remember that orange sky in San Francisco that you saw on TV about a week ago? Or were you taking your morning walk in Oakland at 10 AM that day, and the sky still seemed dark? These wildfires demand a national and perhaps international response. Where is our President when we need him?

The dichotomy. Trump tells 20,000 lies/false claims since he became President in 2017. That's a fact! - - Washington Post tallying

Disgraced former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scott Pruitt ordered a $65,000 SUV that had a siren installed to get him and his 24/7 security entourage through traffic to vaunt themselves into Le Diplomate, Pruitt's favorite restaurant in Washington D.C. And then there were the two days of partying in Paris en route to Morocco to lobby for Cheniere Energy. A poem to help you remember: Scott Pruitt, of Oklahoma, Evangelical, A bit light on his morals....almost became Attorney General!! but now we have his spiritual brother installed instead: William Barr.