For the last 14 months and 27 days, most of the news has been upsetting and even harmful for the vast majority of the American people. However, in the last week there has been some good news; at the least, events which will make America a better nation over time.

First Lyin Paul Ryan announced his retirement. The Republican Party’s biggest hypocrite will no longer be bowing to his fuhrer’s every demand. Ryan has failed the American people and his party for 20 years. He has never been an effective leader, and has been a huge disappointment.

Until Trump was gifted the Electoral College, yours truly and millions of other Americans believed Ryan to be an intelligent and patriotic American. We were fooled. His departure will remove one of the reasons why our government is dysfunctional.

We learned that the FBI was searching the offices, the home, and the hotel room of Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen. It is not easy to obtain a subpoena to search the privileged files of an attorney. There must be a very real assumption that a crime has been committed.

Cohen has only three clients; Trump, who received assistance from Cohen in the form of a ‘hush money’ payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels; Elliott Broidy, the deputy director of the Republican Finance Committee, for whom Cohen negotiated an arrangement to pay a Playboy Playmate  $1.6 million after he had an affair with the woman, impregnated her, and paid for an abortion.

 Cohen’s attorney was extremely reluctant to reveal the third man he represented. The judge decreed that the name was relevant to the situation. There was a subtle gasp in the courtroom when the name was revealed; Sean Hannity, a personality on FOX Noise, had paid Cohen a retainer. The reason was not revealed. If Hannity is removed from FOX Noise America will become a better nation.

Former FBI Director James Comey finally sat for an interview on network television. The subject was his ‘tell all’ book describing his relationship with Donald Trump.

First of all, Comey is a life-long Republican and a well respected member of the legal profession. Trump has failed to tell the truth once in his life. The right wing began attacking Comey days before the interview was aired. They used the tired, old tactic of accusing the accuser. It failed miserably. Comey appeared to answer every question honestly, without avoiding the tough ones, unlike every other member of the Republican Party.

Comey’s answers offended supporters of both parties, as they should have. Most interesting was when he stated that Trump is too ‘immoral’ to be our nation’s president.

Finally, Trump may have had the worst week of his presidency. Attacks from all sides occurred without a pause. He is well aware that the investigation into his personal attorney could result in serious repercussions for him and others. After he ordered the launch of multiple missiles against three targets in Syria, military experts claimed that they had little effect, if any, on Assad’s war efforts or his ability to wage additional nerve gas attacks on his own people. Many, including myself, believe that Trump discussed the situation with Putin prior to the assault near Damascus. There is speculation based on the minimal results that Assad and Putin designated the targets for Trump and our allies.

A great week for the American people and a tough week for your illegitimate president. May we have many more in the future.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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