Back then, it was “the Ukraine,” part of the Soviet Union. At a campsite outside Kharkov. I was 16. (If you’re curious: Chapter 3.)
Little did I imagine how pivotal Ukraine would be in 2022 . . . or that the only thing their candidate would demand be changed in the 2016 Republican Party platform was not something about taxes or immigration or real estate or golf but about . . . are you ready? . . . Ukraine.
The only thing!
The Trump campaign worked behind the scenes last week to make sure the new Republican platform won’t call for giving weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian and rebel forces, contradicting the view of almost all Republican foreign policy leaders in Washington. . . .
This had to have pleased Putin and was orchestrated by Trump’s later-indicted, later-pardoned campaign manager, but — Russia, are you listening? — the one thing anyone who has not read the Mueller Report knows for sure is that there were no improper contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Anyone who has read the report, on the other hand, with the possible exception of former Attorney General Bill Barr, knows that there were.
Virtually every Republican with the exception of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger has signed on to the world of alternative facts that was inaugurated just two days after Trump was.
We live in a world where tens of millions look at the crowds at the Obama and Trump inaugurals and can plainly see bigger crowds on the Mall for Trump.
At 16, I offered some alternative facts of my own. The very junior division of the KGB knew I was lying but, given my age, let me go. And now here we are.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia was something of a democracy for a time, but through murder and coercion all too quickly sorted itself out into the thugocracy/plutocracy/autocracy it is today, with a president for life.
You know the story.
Are the tens of millions of Americans incensed that re-election was stolen from their leader going to be misled into allowing our democracy to slip away?
ME: Scary times. But if we all do our part, we can pull it out, as we did in Georgia.
CORT: How?
ME: Have you joined your local chapter of the League of Women Voters? Joined Field Team 6? Joined Vote Forward? Given all you comfortably can to fund the Party?
CORT: Yes, not yet, and not aware. Will do.
Have a great weekend!
