by Rick Comfort

Two hundred forty-nine. That’s how many years ago our Republic declared “independence” from King George III of England.  We Americans celebrate this event every year on July 4^th and on this Independence Day it really has some significant effect on just what is “independence”.

What’s Trump Done?

But first let us review and recount just what Trump, his minions and the MAGAts have done to our Country. Here is the ‘short list’:

• First major candidate elected twice and LOST the popular vote.
• First President to be impeached TWICE.
• First CONVICTED FELON to be elected Potus.
• First President with 34 felony convictions, 91 Criminal charges, 26 Sexual assault allegations, 6 Bankruptcies.
• Pled the 5^th 97 times.
• Sold “meme” coin out of the Whitehouse.
• Accepted a $400 MILLION “gift” from a foreign country.
• Has a $400 million fraud judgement against him.
• Enriched his personal fortune with $7.8 Billion from foreign Govt to Trump companies, according to Congressional Reporting.

All of that from the man who should be in JAIL for his actions on Jan. 6^th and taking all of those documents!!

Back to independence.

Mankind being “independent” is nothing new. Look at Moses and the Pharoh. They achieved independence, but really didn’t know what to do with it.

What does it mean to be “independent”? Webster says “it is to be free from control or influence by another”.

Based on that, is the US independent now? Aren’t we now under the control and influence of a crazy man? But that is our OWN doing! People voted for this Bozo and now we’re stuck with him until the Mid-terms when Dems must, must, must  take back Congress!!

Here’s brief history of “independence days”.

• 1215–Magna Carta signed by King John I, that gave “nobles” certain rights and protected citizens from unreasonable actions and due process.
• 1689–The first Englishman Bill of Rights. Free speech, due process, parliament elections, right to petition, trial by jury of peers, limited the King or monarch power and authority.  Sound familiar?
• 1791–US Bill of Rights was for ‘freemen”, Black men and any women were not included.
• 1870–15^th Amendment. Gave Black men the ‘right to vote’ and freedom to move around the country.
• 1920–19^thAmendment. Gave women, all women, the right to vote and Independence from their man.
• 1964–24^th Amendment. No more “poll taxes” that restricted voting. Again independence, no control or influence by another.
• 1965–Civil Rights Act guaranteed EVERYONE the right to vote and expanded Federal oversight of elections ensuring that every citizen had an equal opportunity to register and vote for their choice! This greatly changed a lot of things in the South and transformed political power in many locations.

America Has No King

But after reading all this, we, as a State and Country, will not be “independent” of control and influence from Trump and the MAGAts and minions until we return to basic democratic principles that no man is a king, everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, and everyone has equal opportunity for the pursuit of happiness.

This “one big beautiful Bill” just passed by Trump’s Republicans is terrible. It takes us back 20 years. It’s bad for SC, bad for the Country and bad for you!

Support your Democrat candidates and here in the 7th District of South Carolina, donate and vote for Democrat John Gregory Vincent for Congress. 

About the Author

A New Jersey native and Rider University graduate, Rick Comfort is a former police officer, volunteer fireman, and retired operations and marketing exec with a Fortune 50 company in multiple US and Canadian locations. He’s a staunch supporter of Democrats.

Bob Gatty Author, Podcaster, Blogger

For many years, Bob Gatty worked as a writer, editor, and communications consultant, based on the Washington, DC area with a focus on government and politics. He began at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American weekly, covering crime and the courts. His salary was $55 per week before moving on to two local Pennsylvania dailies. At age 24, he began reporting for United Press International covering state politics in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey, where he was UPI’s state capitol bureau in Trenton.

Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, at age 29 Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen – first Republican Edwin B. Forsythe, and then Democrat James J. Florio, who later became governor of New Jersey and until his recent death was a frequent podcast guest and co-host of Bob’s NFN Radio News podcast (now called Lean to the Left).

After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then freelance Washington coverage for business and trade magazines, plus creative communications services for trade and professional associations, including social media. This work involved articles and analyses of key governmental developments affecting businesses, such as the food and Health industries, retailing, and the environment.

His work as a communications consultant to trade and professional associations included launching and editing association publications, providing website content and social media assistance, and covering conferences and conventions.

Bob retired from G-Net Strategic Communications in 2016 and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he launched his blog site, first called Not Fake News, now known as Lean to the Left.

Hijacked Nation
In August, 2020, Bob and co-author Chris Waldron, one of Lean to the Left's most loyal and prolific contributor, published "Hijacked Nation-Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness," a two-volume compilation of blogs regarding Trump's presidency and the consequences for our nation. A followup volume was published by Luna Global Media in September 2024. It is available at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 .

In all three volumes, blogs from Not Fake News and Lean to the Left create a virtual play-by-play of key actions of the Trump administration and Congress. For more information, please visit https://leantotheleft.net/books/, and visit Bob's Author's Page on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bob-Gatty/author/B08C7HWXZ5?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4e603563-7251-4074-b54d-40800c4ce40a.

The Lean to the Left Podcast
The Lean to the Left podcast provides commentary and interviews with newsmakers and others with interesting stories to tell. Video and audio podcasts stream twice weekly on major channels. More info at https://podcast.leantotheleft.net.

The Lean to the Left YouTube Channel
You'll find all of the audio tracks for the Lean to the Left Podcast here plus original videos, including complete video versions of each podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@LeantotheLeft.