Matthew in the Middle | It’s been a good week – Times-Standard | #lovescams | #military | #datingscams

Democracy had a good week around the globe, especially here in America. Totalitarian authoritarian regimes are having major issues with their populations. China still has strict zero COVID restrictions after 2 1/2 years of the pandemic. The Chinese people are getting tired of forced lockdowns (they literally must stay in their homes) by the police and military and had the largest protests since 1989’s Tiananmen Square. China responded with surveillance, censorship and mass arrests. You don’t protest in China. If you do, you might disappear in the middle of the night, never to be seen again.

While in Russia, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t going well. It’s estimated that over 90,000 Russian soldiers have died since the February invasion. Since Putin began the conscription of 300,000 males between the ages of 19 and 40, things have gotten worse. Russian police officers are hanging out around apartment buildings, cafes and grocery stores looking for any males they can force into the Russian army. Word has gotten out that they will get poor training, minimal equipment, bad leadership and they are just cannon fodder for Putin’s ego. Just this past week, Russian conscripts mutinied and left their training base in Kazan. It’s estimated that at least 300,000 young Russian males have left the country for a safe haven elsewhere until the war ends.

Over in Iran, they’re in the third month of protests since the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who died while in police custody for not covering her face enough with her hijab. So far, an estimated 469 protesters have been killed including 69 minors, mostly girls. Over 18,00 protesters have been arrested. These protesters want Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei thrown out of office and demand an end to the Islamic government. Good luck with that.

While here in the good ole USA, Donald Trump had dinner with an American Nazi at Mar-A-Lardo and the Republican leadership is trying to wrap their heads around that. Think about it… if Ye (formerly Kanye West) is the sane dinner guest, just how bad was Nick Fuentes? Bad. Really, really bad.

Trump’s tax returns were finally released to Congress. We know that some junior staffer will be copying these and then scanning to a phony email account to forward to the New York Times or Washington Post. We also know that Trump’s tax returns will either show he loses a ton of money or he makes very little. It will show that he pays little to zero taxes. It will also show that he pays little to zero in charitable contributions as we all know Trump’s favorite charity is himself.

Frank Luntz is the most known political communication consultant in the country. He’s been doing focus groups with Republicans who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. When they discover Trump made over $100 million with his email scams and only gave $15 million to Republican candidates this 2020 election cycle, they get angry. Trump could have been a kingpin, a rainmaker delivering needed cash to desperate Republican candidates in tight races instead of from his own pocket.

The crazy train is coming to town. Yes, the Republican majority Congress is set to open next month with the important duties of making all Americans lives better. Stop laughing. Ya know they’re gonna go after Hunter Biden’s laptop, investigate Dr. Anthony Fauci and the origins of COVID-19, cut Social Security and Medicare and investigate the weaponization of the FBI and Department of Justice, because Republicans, especially the former president are above the law. Steve Bannon got a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee, they get the middle finger. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) got a subpoena from Georgia to talk under oath about why a senator from South Carolina wanted to overturn the Georgia 2020 elections, they get the middle finger.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict with this Republican base, Rep. Kevin McCarthy will not get the Speaker of the House. I believe they’re crazy enough to elect Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Every day we’d be talking about, “Did ya hear what the crazy lady said today?” Don’t think it could happen? Ye of short memories. These are angry, white, Evangelic Americans and they love the stupid things Marjorie Taylor Greene says and does.

Matthew Owen resides in Eureka and believes the First Amendment allows for free speech.