by Michael Krieger, Liberty Blitzkrieg:

I’ve stopped calling what our government has done a cover-up. Cover-up suggests a passive activity. What they’re doing now I call aggressive deception.

– Former Senator Bob Graham, co-chair of Congress’s 9/11 Joint Inquiry

This country is becoming a total joke and it’s not merely because of Donald Trump. While he’s certainly becoming a key player in our national embarrassment, this country’s decent into a reckless Banana Republic has been a long time coming.

Let’s take stock of where things stand in mid-2017. Our opposition Democratic Party (Hillary in a leather jacket yelling about Russia) is a joke. Our corporate media is a joke. Our foreign policy is a joke. Our economy is a joke. Our justice system is a joke. It’s all a joke, and it might even be somewhat humorous if it wasn’t so incredibly dangerous.

Today’s post will focus on Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia, a revolting spectacle which I could barely bring myself to follow. It all started Saturday morning as I tried to enjoy a beautiful day with my growing family and parents who were in town for a visit. My day was more or less ruined upon witnessing the appalling scene of Trump and his top advisors dancing with the rulers of the terrorist sponsoring state of Saudi Arabia while clutching swords. I’m sorry for doing this to you, but in case you missed it.

Then there was the speech. It was an inspiring display of soaring oratory if empty platitudes and belligerent neocon foreign policy is your thing. On various occasions Mr. Trump alluded to the fact that the U.S.-Saudi alliance was a “partnership based on shared interests and values.” Which got me thinking…which of the following was he referring to exactly.

In Saudi Arabia they:
Hang gays
Kill atheists
Assign male guardians to make life decisions for women
Fund ISIS
But want to "fight terrorism"

— Ahmad | أحمد (@ARTPOPAlien_) May 21, 2017

Or perhaps it’s just a partnership based on oil and imperial ambitions. Nah, don’t be a conspiracy theorist.

It’s remarkable the transformation Trump’s undergone since winning the Presidency. You know, kind of like what happened to Mr. “Hope and Change” after he won. Funny things tend to happen to people once they capture the throne.

That said, Trump’s transformation has been particularly brazen (and public), which has led many of us to wonder what happened to this guy…

Dopey Prince @Alwaleed_Talal wants to control our U.S. politicians with daddy’s money. Can’t do it when I get elected. #Trump2016

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2015

Turns out daddy’s money still works after all, with Trump happily groveling for more during his trip. For example, just before he mentioned the recent Saudi arms deal in his speech, Trump introduced it by saying he has “even more blessed news” to share. Not a joke.

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