The first time I heard the word “mendacity” was in the play, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” by Tennessee Williams.  I always liked the word because it was so much richer a word than “lie.”  So, as we descend into the post-Mueller Report world, the various perpetrators of great mendacity will once again take center stage.

Our President will return to his by now tiresome trope of “no collusion.”  He will be aided by his swampy lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in creating even more fantastic stories that have no basis in fact nor are they intended to.  Rather, they will be the basis for further eroding confidence in any institutions or moral rectitude of any individuals regardless of the facts.  The only thing yet to come is Lindsey Graham performing in blackface for the slanderer of his good friend John McCain.  Evidently, the sense of loyalty that Donald Trump feels for others is contagious.

On another front, the dilemma facing the Democratic Party, Israel, and American Jews is on full display this week at the annual AIPAC gathering in DC.  Netanyahu decided several years ago to forego bi-partisan support for Israel by siding with Republicans against Obama.  His reward is Donald Trump who is his willing accomplice on anything he wants.  This includes bringing him to the White House before his election and after he embraced a racist party to improve his chances of winning while under indictment.  Actually, Bibi the perfect soul mate for our President. And AIPAC, which has a history of bi-partisan relationships, is stuck in the middle of this mess.  Democrats, remembering the slights of Netanyahu and his love affair with the President, face hostility from their old friend Israel.  It seems that only with the removal of the current Prime Minister and our President do we have a chance of reviving the bi-partisan support for Israel as our friend and ally deserves, independent of politics.  And by the way, criticizing Israeli policy on the occupied territories is not anti-Semitic unless it is wrapped in anti-Semitic tropes. While some anti-Semites may criticize Israel as well, it is a false equivalency to tie them to those who believe Israeli policy is not wise or moral.