When Gerald Ford took the podium for the first time and addressed the Nation in 1974, as its new President, he told us that "Our long National nightmare is over." It sounded reassuring , until he revealed he was Pardoning Richard Nixon for the same crimes that sent 48 Watergate conspirators to Prison. But , the peaceful transition of Power , from one Leader to another had taken place, over the course of one single day .
Little did President Ford know then that our long National Nightmare of 2020 would make that period in History seem tame and traditional. I fear that this time we will not be so lucky. Donald Trump will surely Pardon his co-conspirators whether he wins re-election or not; but the sins of the Father in this case will be visited upon all of us . All Americans have or will feel the stench of the misery, death and failure Donald Trump leaves in his wake. Everywhere he goes in Government, in politics, in business and in humanity he fails miserably because his only interest is what's in it for him. Nothing else amounts to a hill of beans.
With the pandemic threatening to tear us apart, and Donald Trump too eager to assist it, we are headed for a very long dark winter of discontent no matter who wins the White House on November 3. This time the election will not only be a contest of Republicans vs Democrats, but also of Democracy vs Authoritarianism; as our free society will be tested again and again by Putin and his new KGB. They are way ahead of us in this game , but unlike a real President , our reality TV President invites them in and conspires with Putin in secret phone calls planning the demise of our Republic. Trump is a willing Asset or a useful idiot to Putin, but either way Putin wins and we lose. Our penchant for "freedom" and "public disclosure" makes us vulnerable in ways that Dictatorships drool over. Russian interference will be more sophisticated in 2020 because they now know how easy it is to fool and manipulate the American public.
Only a Landslide Victory by Joe Biden and the forces of good will turn this around. A close Victory will not do and will be contested. I believe Biden and the American people will win. And when he finally gets to sit behind that Resolute Desk as the 46th President of the United States, what should he do to let the Russians know its Game Over, and that they will have to pay a high and heavy price for trying to infiltrate, buy and otherwise overthrow the lawful Government of the United States ?
What can Biden do to send the strongest possible messages to Putin - and other thugs like him - that making cyber-war against the USA will hereinafter be considered an Act of War, for which we will retaliate. What can Biden do? Well, there's plenty.
For 1. Make an Oval Office speech declaring that from now on we will consider Cyber-Warfare the same as Military warfare; an Invasion either way will be dealt with the same.
2. Cut off all Access to US Banks and Banking Systems. Stop Money Laundering through Deutsche Bank and others. Arrest and try US and foreign people for doing it .
3. Seize Russian assets in the US .
4. Use the Internet against Putin the way he does against us. Start by revealing to the Russian people how much of their money he has amassed off-shore, and exactly where it is. Reveal the addresses of properties Putin owns.
5. Make a speech about Putin's cyber-warfare, corruption and aggression. Make it at the U.N.
6. Expel the Russian Ambassador. Deny all their Diplomats entry to the US, even to attend the U.N.
7. Mess with Russia's already antiquated power grid.
8. Strengthen and fortify NATO, and enhance it's armed forces.
9. Invite Ukraine to join NATO.
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