A Quick History Lesson for Joe Biden

 Dear Joe,

After having listened to your recent speech regarding various voting bills throughout the nation, as well as your attempt to overthrow our Republic (we have not ever been, and hopefully never will fall to the depths of being a Democracy) with your own version of it, I thought a quick review of some important names in history might benefit you.

Abraham Lincoln - this fine man was a Republican.  In fact, you may recall he actually is the Founding Father of the Republican Party, hence "the Party of Lincoln". 

Dr. Martin Luther King - a registered Republican, though it is alleged he voted for LBJ in 1964.  He may have reconsidered that vote (if it happened) after hearing LBJ's alleged comment "I'll have those n****** voting Democrat for the next 200 years."

George Wallace - perhaps best noted for his Inauguration Day speech in 1963:  "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."  He was a Democrat, something I would think you might remember, given that you had harped on the fact that Wallace called you an "outstanding young politician".  Dementia can be a bitch, I do feel sorry for you.

Bull Connor - some famous quotes from this leading Democrat:

" All you gotta do is tell them your going to bring the dogs. Look at em run.I want to see the dogs work."

 "As I have said on numerous occasions, we are not going to stand for this in Birmingham. And if necessary we will fill the jail full and we don't care whose toes we step on. I am saying now to these meddlers from out of our city the best thing for them to do is stay out if they don't want to get slapped in jail. Our people of Birmingham are a peaceful people and we never have any trouble here unless some people come into our city looking for trouble. And I've never seen anyone yet look for trouble who wasn't able to find it.”

These quotes were directed at African-Americans and others who were in the midst of battling for Civil Rights in the 1960s. 

Jefferson Davis - If you had studied history, Joe, you'd recall that JD was a Democrat from the South during the Civil War era of our country.  In fact, he was the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.  Easy thing to forget, because it's not as if talk of that has been in the news over the last several years.  I will say in Davis' defense, from historical texts I've studied, he does not seem to be the worst of the worst, yet, he still was the leader of an actual insurrection against the federal government.  Conveniently forgotten, I'm sure.

Yours, sir, is the party of hate.  Republicans by no means are blameless in any of these situations, but it is the Democrats who have always profited by hate and divisiveness.  The lack of any original thought for solving a problem that doesn't involve taxes and wealth redistribution (usually from political opponents to political allies) leaves very little else on the plate to discuss, I suppose.

Whether it's on vaccine mandates (that was a quick turnaround on that policy) or "voting right bills", you're flat wrong, particularly on the issue of voting rights.  Actually read the legislation that you speak out against, and then compare it to your *home* state of Delaware or even New York, as for instances.  The rights of all legal voters are better protected and guaranteed in the new legislation in R states, than in either of those (and likely many more) D states. Take care of business on your own side, and save the thinking for those with a brain. 

P.S. - the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act passed with 79.632% "yeah" votes from Republicans (136 for, 35 against, 2 "present", and 5 who did not vote) in the House along with an 81.81% "yea" vote in the Senate (27 for, 6 opposed).  Meanwhile, on the Democratic side of the equation, it was only 62.704% in favor (153 for, 91 against, 2 "present", and 7 who did not cast a ballot), and in the Senate it was a bit better at 68.656% (46 pro, 21 against).  However, this does not tell the whole story.  It was the Democrats in the Senate (particularly Strom Thurmond) who participated in the longest filibuster of a bill in history, before being stopped thanks to the efforts of the Democratic Senate Whip Hubert Humphey, (D, MN) and Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirkson (R, IL).  Between the two, they managed to gain the needed votes for cloture (67 was needed at the time, and they garnered 71), and the bill was passed.

P.P.S. - you may also want to revisit your own Senate floor speeches in favor of all of the crime bills that you have proudly lauded throughout the years, or your own Vice President's track record as DA.  Both would seem to suggest a certain theme that many of your *supporters* are not aware.

Christmas Poem 2

 

Following in the footsteps of my first Christmas "poem", here is my second attempt:

Christmas Poem 2

 

With the world still at war
we all head to the store
in search of the perfect gift
to make Christmas right
all through the night
the children huddle with fright

uncertain that Santa
will find their door

the images they see
while watching their t.v.

death and destruction
rule the tube
and we all wonder
who is the rube

that has this
as a master plan

the world filled with dread
as we count all the dead
the number continues to rise
as tears form we close our eyes
and pray for a better day

a star in the sky
a star in the sky
fighting to be seen
through fog and snow
trying to tell us
what we should already know

no matter the terror
in spite of any tragedy
there is a lesson to be learned
by both you and me

our leaders in name
they aren't always sane
they look for a reason
even during this
most magical season

leaving the onus on us
to do all that we can
every last one
to help our fellow man

if we all were to help one
what a wonderful world
we could make

then last but not least
remember to leave
a glass of milk
and a big plate of cookies

Because Santa always has room
for one more

A Christmas "Poem"

 

A Christmas "Poem"

Several years back, I got it into my head that I would become the Charles Dickens of Christmas poems.  It turns out, Dickens was a wicked good writer.  I'm a hack.  Enjoy, anyway:

Christmas

Rudolph with your nose so bright
and Elvis way up in the sky
Be beacons to us on this most holy night
lift our spirts and keep them high

keep in our minds the reason
that we are able to be so merry
let joy and peace reign this Christmas season
Oh Santa! I pray that you hear me

and for the little ones who wait
their beliefs not yet sullied
lying awake in a frenzied state
listening and listening ever so patiently

These starry-eyed children
who still can't sleep
huddled under blankets
listening for a peep

or a scrape
the dragging of a hoof
surely that was Santa
up on the roof!

loaded down with presents
what toys might he bring?
for all the girls and boys
Oh! how they'll sing

Christmas morn', finally here
anticipation so thick, it fills the air
parents sit watching through worn out smiles
while ribbons and bows fly everywhere

perhaps family is the true reason
for each and every holiday season

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Pig

                                                Pig                                 

                                    We are not an island
                          independent of one another
                If we were, would it make a difference?

     Rather, we are a web
        Much like Charlotte of yore spun
                   in an attempt to save a single pig
                            before sending forth her progeny
                                              to live in the world beyond

                                                      The one that we have inherited
                                           The one that we will wreck?
                               A delicate balance must be struck
                    Between what is need
           and what is want
Sans guilt
    Looking always towards a brighter future

                                    Find your pig
                                     ...and save it

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Green, Brown, Gold

Shimmering sentinels mark the days
as the doomsday clock marches on
Abundance in one hand, death in the other
The proletariat battle for orts
not realizing the bounty
just beyond their purview
unable to comprehend
the exigent metamorphosis
They fail to see the bounty of Canaan
             that is theirs by right
Complacent by nature
they contend as they always have
     one foot in the grave

NYC Midnight Challenge 2017 round 2

FADE IN:

SCENE #1 EXT. AQUACULTURE FARM ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF
THE U.S. LATE MORNING.

The aquaculture farm consists of 16 large tanks, in excess
of 20,000 gallons each. They are divided in to 12 saltwater
tanks, and four freshwater tanks. About 200 yards away, a
farmhouse can be seen. A rather worn down looking barn is
about 100 yards from the tanks.

Two men, STEVE and DAN, are making their way around from
tank to tank, measuring water temperature, adding food and
other nutrients as needed.

Steve is a man whose build suggests he has spent his life
doing physical labor of one sort or the other. His hairline
is receding slightly, but is cut short to deflect attention
from that deficit. He has on a pair of well-worn
CAT work boots, a faded pair of jeans, and a white t-shirt.

Dan is a more youthful looking man, with an earring in his
right ear, and a pair of 3D glasses hanging around his
neck. His attire suggests he is new to aquaculture, and does
not necessarily "get dirty" in the same way that Steve does.
He is wearing a pair of new (clean, at least) Irish Setter
leather boots, khaki shorts, and a polo shirt. On his head
is a graphite colored Under Armour Air Vent Bucket hat, of
which a few blue hairs fall down toward his face.

DAN
Do you think we should break for lunch soon?

As he says this, Steve is moving from tank to tank, checking
water temperatures, looking in on the health of the various
sea creatures and plant life, feeding them, etc.

After asking his question, Dan pops the 3D glasses on his
face and begins an attempt to count the salmon in the
freshwater tanks.

STEVE
We gotta take our inventory first, Dan. This is your investment that
we're working with, here.

Dan stops his count, and flips the 3D glasses up onto the
brim of his cap.

DAN
Man, the fish look so real when you look at them with these glasses.
They're so lifelike it's like Finding Dory, you know if Dory was a
salmon.

STEVE
This is real life, you dolt. We've got nearly $500,000 of your daddy's
money invested in these tanks, and if we're going to keep growing the
business, you need to learn how to do some of the work.

DAN
I hear you, but I just don't think I could ever be as smart as you.

STEVE
It has nothing to do with being smart it's
about hard work, along with investment capital. I haven't
forgot that we wouldn't have this farm if it wasn't for you, but still,
you need to learn.

DAN
Guilty. I'm still impressed with how you knew that the Fukushima reactor
leak would give us a chance to get in to the aquaculture biz.

STEVE
This is our life, now. Your dad said you're not getting anymore cash until
he's dead, or we've paid back his investment in full. With interest.

Dan puts the 3D glasses back on, and walks toward the
saltwater takes. He is entranced by the seaweed plants in
particular.

DAN
Man, these red seaweeds are trippy through these glasses. They'd
probably be scary around night time. 

Steve finishes up his work,
and climbs down out of the last tank to walk towards Dan.

STEVE
Let's just get inside, and grab some lunch, okay.

SCENE #2 INT. LIVING ROOM OF THE FARMHOUSE.

The living room consists of a mismatched sofa and Lazy Boy
style chair. A large flat screen t.v. is hung from the
wall, with a grandfather clock in the corner.

Dan, on the sofa, and Steve, on the Lazy Boy, are playing Minecraft.
Dan's character onscreen is shot off of a cliff by a skeleton. Disheartened,
he flips his controller onto the sofa beside himself.

DAN
You want to take a break?

STEVE
This is my break.

Dan looks at him with a puzzled expression for a moment,
then shakes it off.

DAN
I got some Sweet Lucy. My guy cut it with some 5MeODMT.

STEVE
What?

DAN
He said it's supposed to give a kick like acid, but a lot quicker, with no
after affects.

STEVE
You ever smoked it before?

DAN
(With a mischievous grin on his
face.) Maiden voyage.

STEVE
I think I'll pass.

DAN
Suit yourself. I'm going to head out
to the barn, then.

Dan gets up, puts his 3D glasses back on, and departs.
Steve watches after him for a moment, looks at the
grandfather clock which reads "10:34", and goes back to his
game.

INTERCUT TO DAN AT THE BARN.
INT./EXT. OF THE BARN.

Closer to the entrance there is a trailer with some loose
hay in it, and leaned against the wall next to it, a garden
hoe, a pickaxe, and a shovel.

Dan makes his way back to the trailer, plops down, reaches
in to his pockets and pulls out a joint and a Bic lighter.
He quickly lights the joint, and leans back in the trailer.

DAN
This is living, man.

In Dan's POV, the world now looks like Minecraft graphics.

DAN (cont'd)
Steve is going to be so jealous when I tell him about this world that he
could have mined with me. I gotta get at this.

Dan stands up, picks up the pickaxe and shovel, and heads
out in to the yard. He begins making his way toward the
tanks, alternately striking the ground with the pickaxe and
shovel. As he nears the tanks, flood lights turn on. Dan's
face is immediately struck with terror.

DAN (cont'd)
No! What's going on?! I was just mining, and now there are creepers,
and blazes here. What the hell?

Dan tosses the shovel to the ground in real life, faces the
saltwater tanks with the green and red seaweed, and runs
toward them with both hands clenched around the handle of
the pickaxe.

In his drug induced world, green creepers and red blazes
make their way towards Dan, who deftly dodges them, and on
occasion, strikes out at them.

He appears to be making progress, until he strikes one
creeper that blows up, and this causes a waterfall to
cascade down over Dan.

DAN (cont'd)
Help! (Gurgling) I'm running out of breath, there's too much water.

Dan continues to swing the pickaxe, but the only thing that
happens is he is hit with more water.

Skeletons slowly approach from the periphery, and begin to shoot arrows at
Dan, who is not able to move as quickly. Other creatures,
such as over sized lobsters and clams with teeth begin to
attack, too. Dan fights on, until he is overcome with
exhaustion, and passes out.

INTERCUT TO STEVE

Steve has fallen asleep on the chair, now wakes. He looks
to the clock, it reads "3:47". He shakes his head, and
stands up. Steve looks around, poking his head in and out
of doors, before heading outside. In the distance, he can
see a vast pool of water on the ground.

STEVE
Dan!! Dan!

Steve begins to run towards the pool of water, but stops
short.

Dan is seen lying on his back, 3D glasses still on his face,
pickaxe in his right hand. His left hand is across the
lower portion of his face in a defensive posture.

Steve reaches down and pulls the pickaxe from his hand. He
looks at the carnage that Dan has wrought.

STEVE (cont'd)
(Anger builds with each syllable) You stupid, arrogant, sonofabitch.
You've ruined everything.

Dan wakes to see Minecraft Steve raise the pickaxe above his
head, and begins the long draw down toward his sternum.

DAN
Steve!! No! St--

FADE TO BLACK

THE END

Hillary Clinton

The last couple of days have been a firestorm of disbelief over the FBI director's announcement that they would not recommend charges be filed against Ms. Clinton, despite the mountains of evidence that she broke federal law, not the least of which is  18 USC 793, d - f, with a possible hit on section g, and further punishment to be doled out by section h, if permissable.

Parts d - f read as follows:

(d)

Whoever, lawfully having possession of, access to, control over, or being entrusted with any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or note relating to the national defense, or information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation, willfully communicates, delivers, transmits or causes to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted or attempts to communicate, deliver, transmit or cause to be communicated, delivered or transmitted the same to any person not entitled to receive it, or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it on demand to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it; or

(e)

Whoever having unauthorized possession of, access to, or control over any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or note relating to the national defense, or information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation, willfully communicates, delivers, transmits or causes to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted, or attempts to communicate, deliver, transmit or cause to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted the same to any person not entitled to receive it, or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it; or

(f)

Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense, (1) through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or (2) having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer—Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

FBI Director Comey admitted in his statements that Clinton violated in part, or in whole sections of this, including not providing all requested materials, and the destruction of same (which likely caused a problem with said delivery.):

To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions, but that’s not what we’re deciding now. As a result, although the Department of Justice makes final decisions on matters like this, we are expressing to justice our view that no charges are appropriate in this case.

He also admitted to Congress earlier today that an FBI employee who treated classified information with extreme carelessness would be subject to job loss, loss of security clearance, and be unable to gain future employment in a national security position.  His testimony also let it be known that Clinton lacked 'sophistication' about classified information.  He also admitted under questioning from Representative Trey Gowdy (R - SC) that Clinton lied when she said that she did not send classified emails, which gets the "Duh" Award for today.  It's what she does, but now it's on the record that she lied about her criminal activity.  Sounds a lot like her former nemesis, President Richard Nixon.  Except he was deleting 'private' recordings and lying about them.

Yet, he still recommended that no charges be filed against her.  No one who has witnessed Clinton's political career could ever have expected her to be charged was living in a pie-in-the-sky world.  If Benghazi couldn't derail her, a little matter like giving national security items to our items wasn't going to be the thing that undid her.  If anything, her actions have become less horrific, if only by a smidge.  She lies, then lies some more, then lies again, then pretends like she has no idea why there is any concern about her actions and words.  It would be comical, if not for the fact that it is the future of our Republic that is on the line here.

Rather, my interest in her most recent abandonment of the rule of law is the fallout that she has endured.  She was ecstatic to once again have escaped any judgment, the Shadow President began his tour and told his pigeons to vote for her, all should be right in the Clinton world.

Except it's not.  Living where I do, it's impossible to not know, at a minimum, several hundred hard-core Liberals.  It's something in the water that leads to about 90% of voting age persons to lean in that direction.  It's sad, but I'm hopeful that it's cyclical.  Eventually the Piper's going to come calling, and they'll have to understand that there is a Cost to everything for everything, but I digress.

The fact is, even here, people are outraged by the fact that Clinton is skating by again, when so many others have been, and will be punished (See:  General Petraeus, Eric Snowden, Bradley Manning, Kristen Saucier, and Sandy Berger, for starters.)

I'm no big fan of Donald Trump, but this has to be seen as a windfall for him.  With everyone piling on to the Hillary situation now, he can just sit back and take potshots as he feels necessary.  That's a positive for him, because to date, he hasn't been accused of leaking national security documents, which has to be a plus.  While Liberals may not be mad enough to actually vote for Trump, there may be enough angry persons that stay home that it swings the vote in a couple of states (not here.  Not since Reagan in '84 has MA voted for a Republican Presidential candidate.)

One last thing that happened today was a group of Republican Senators called for Clinton et al security clearance to be rescinded.  If this were to happen, it would seem to be put a huge damper on her ability to hold the office of POTUSA, given all the national security items that the President must deal with on at least a monthly or bi-monthly basis (given Obama's track record, at least.)  Perhaps it's not too late for the *super* delegates to change their mind and nominate Bernie Sanders in Philadelphia at the end of the month.  Crazy is as crazy does.

A Response To a Misguided Blogger

 The impetus for today's thoughts come from an article posted by a friend on Facebook.  It's title "I'm Sick of Appreciating Teachers" gave me hope, especially as it was posted during 'Teacher Appreciation Week'.  However, the words that followed crushed me.  Simply stated, it was just another in a long line of puff pieces determined to glorify teachers, and set them on a pedestal that very few among the human species could ever hope to achieve.(1)

The main gist of the article seemed to be that teachers simply aren't paid enough for the work they do.  Which is a joke, as I have previously documented.  She laments that teachers are not paid ''a living wage" which is as dumb of a statement that can be made.  Teachers are paid well for the job they do, and what's more, they chose their profession.  Sometimes they chose it because it was what was available at the moment, others chose it because it had a very convenient schedule, and yes, there are those who do it simply because they believe in educating the next generation.

I would love to say that I am wholly in the last category, but I'd be a liar if I didn't pretend that a teacher schedule isn't something that I enjoy.  The hours in the day (though they often appear to take longer than normal ones) are not horrific, and the day to day schedule as far as when days off come along is pretty brilliant, much better than I have experienced at any job in the private sector, for instance.

To be clear, the days off are a necessity, because it is not just teachers who get worn out, but students, too.  The current stretch that we are going through at my school (post April-vacation until the end of the school year is perhaps the most brutal on the calendar for all parties involved.  There is only one scheduled day off (Memorial Day), and there is a plethora of state and district tests/assessments that need to be completed, with the result being that many students end up going through the days not unlike the cast of The Walking Dead.

However, the biggest problem that Kate Kooyman made in her article was to issue a blanket statement of how brilliant, un-thanked, and mistreated all teachers are.  It's a faulty line of thinking, no different than the public assumption in some sectors that other public sector positions are all good, quality people who are only interested in serving the public.  Like the U.S. Congress or POTUS, for instance.  This simply is not true.  As is the case in every occupation, there are those who do their best, those who care, others who are malcontents, and then those who are simply there because they have no better options.  It's important to note:  being a Teacher does not make you a Hero, it does not put you in line for Sainthood, nor should there be a constant outpouring of affirmation about how much the profession is appreciated.  Teachers, like everyone else, are people who are (for the most part) trying to get through their day while doing the best they can.

If Miss Kooyman and others who are so inclined to prop up the teaching profession really cared about increasing the amount of take-home money teachers receive, perhaps they could get on board with what Governor Scott Walker has done in Wisconsin - eliminate public sector unions and the protection they provide to those who are not doing their jobs properly.  As a bonus - those teachers who remained behind saw their pay increase by up to $10,000 per year.  Keeping poor teachers on the job simply because is bad policy.  Forcing teachers to join unions and pay dues even if (or despite) they disagree with the union and its policies is abhorrent.  Correcting these problems will help to lift up the profession, and make it more worthy of appreciation.

Except - it shouldn't be necessary.  Teaching is a job - one that can be highly rewarding - chosen by the person who endeavors to do it.  It should not be necessary to constantly heap praise upon it anymore than it should be to blame them for failures that are beyond their control.



(1) Bearing in mind, I am a member of the profession.

Pearl Jam Makes a Big Mistake

On nearly every occasion, I support anything that the band Pearl Jam says or does.  When other people take shots at them without cause, I intercede.  They're my favorite 'big' band, and that is never going to change.

That being said, no man (nor band is perfect.)  For evidence of that, I offer the statement that Pearl Jam issued on April 18th, 2016 as evidence.  

In it, Pearl Jam stated that as a band, they couldn't in good conscience play a show in a state that had passed HB2.

As a lifelong fan of the band, I understand that they have always been an activist band.  That's their prerogative.  They make music, I give them money, I don't care what they do with it, so long as they are not contributing to terrorist groups.  That's how capitalism works, even if they claim to oppose it with words and deeds.

However, to punish the fans who would pay ridiculous ticket prices, makes plans to travel, and generally get hyped to see their favorite band in the world.  Perhaps Pearl Jam has gotten so big that they forget what it was like to see their favorites, or it's because their favorites have become their contemporaries that they don't understand what it means to have a fan experience.  I'm not sure.

What I am sure of is this: there should have been a show in Raleigh, NC tonight (04/20), where thousands of adoring fans would have gladly listened to Eddie and the guys rip in to HB2 to their heart's content, whether they cared about the issue or not.  Pearl Jam fans are a tolerant lot when it comes to their favorite bands' pontificating on various political issues.  In fact, it's nearly a show standby.

To have the same band give them the virtual middle finger, and (in the most hypocritical manner possible) skip their tour date accomplishes nothing at all, except costing the band fans.  A message that was posted in reply to what I had written them on their Facebook page encapsulated the feeling perfectly:

It is 48 hours before the fucking show, Eddie. What a dick move.

All of the artists who are canceling shows in NC are turning into something I despise. Bullies. For the record, I live in a different state.

I love PJ. Eddie could have used his voice to do something so much more powerful than any law, which is beyond disappointing. I guess I expected more from him.

I keep thinking of all of the people who were taking their kids, going with friends or family- people who planned this, who are fans and have been since the beginning-people who got them where they are today, those who are traveling by plane and had hotels, who spent their hard earned money on tickets.... Yet some people are still supporting them!

Unfollowed, unliked, will never support PJ again. It's okay for him to discriminate because, WHY?

There's nothing I can write that will top that, so I'll move to the other point made in response that I thought was really powerful:

If they're not willing to perform, they should reimburse all fans for flights, hotels, time requested off work. Furthermore, they should pull all PJ albums, CDs and merch as well. Logic is a MF, isn't it?

 To me, this is even better.  It's one thing to injure fans (and all others that need shows to earn a living to feed their families in these down economic times), but the high hypocrisy comes when the band is still willing to make money off the people of N.C., just so long as they don't have to live up to their contractual obligations because of their self-subscribed 'morals'.  It's a joke.

At one point, I had considered buying tickets for all of the shows that PJ were playing this week, as I'm off school for the week.  In hindsight, I'm glad I did not.  If I had driven (or flown) to NC, and the band cancelled the show on me, I too, would be done with them.  As it is, I'll hope that they have the fortitude to show up for the show I had to pay 5x the face value of, because ticketmaster, nor the greatest band in the world seems unable to stop scalpers from buying every single seat within 2 seconds of them going public.

Maybe spend some outrage there, guys.

Will the Republicans Unify Around Ted Cruz?

For weeks on end, the talk in Republican circles has been what can be done to #StopTrump.  The talk of a white knight(1) coming in to a contested convention in Cleveland has gathered some steam, unfortunately, it's little more than talk.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich did an excellent job of explaining why that cannot happen in an article he penned last week.  In it, he listed out several key reasons why the Republican candidate for President will be either Donald Trump or Ted Cruz.  The highlights:

• According to Party rules, a candidate must have won a majority of delegates from at least 8 states. (2)

 To this point, only Cruz and Trump have done so, and unless some unforeseen event occurs, they will be the only two candidates to show up in Cleveland having done so.  Kasich missed an opportunity to build momentum when he was absolutely crushed in WI.  The fact that both he and Trump were outmaneuvered and out-thought by the Cruz team has effectively sunk his campaign, at least.  The fact that he is clinging to the hope that he might earn the nomination at a contested convention shows how little he understands about the inner workings of how the Party operates.

•  There will be no new rules allowing for an outside candidate, because it would negatively impact both Cruz and Trump, whose supporters would have to approve the rule changes.

So the only way that a new candidate can be introduced is if Cruz or Trump allows it, essentially?  I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to occur.  I may not be a Presidential candidate, but I don't think either organization is dumb enough to allow that to happen.  So the Republicans will be left with the two candidates who brought them to Cleveland:  Cruz and Trump.

The question that the Party must now consider is which candidate will they circle up around and call their own?

Trump has tried to put forth an air of inevitability, that he is the candidate that will ultimately be chosen.  He's also been a whining, spoiled child through the entire process.  I have never believed that his numbers would rise, even as other candidates bailed on the race, because those that are attracted to Trump (for the most part) are wholly separate from those who participate in the voting process on a regular basis.  Those who were looking to a Republican taking back the White House in 2016 have always been looking for a way around his machine.

Enter Ted Cruz, whose candidacy was on life support according to many pundits as recently as a month ago.  Since then, Cruz has racked up resounding victories across the fruited plain.  Over the past few days, he shut Trump out in Colorado, and he has also been winning over delegates in several states who will be free to vote for him once a contested convention goes to a second ballot.  All of this leads to the increased probability that Cruz will be the Republicans' nominee.

This begs the question of whether or not Cruz will be able to motivate enough voters in the general election to defeat whomever the Democrats choose to nominate.  If it is Hillary Clinton, the odds are better for him, given that she is the second most despised public figure in national polls (*trailing* only Donald Trump.)  Bernie Sanders may prove a more difficult task, but if Republicans are genuinely serious about regaining the White House, they will get behind Cruz and support his candidacy.  The one hiccup in that plan would be if Trump ran a 3rd party candidacy, and possibly stole away some potential voters.  It seems unlikely that genuine Republicans would fall for this ploy, however.  This isn't 1992, Cruz isn't Bush, and Sanders is not Bill Clinton.

Of course, I also thought that Obama could ever win a national election, nor did I believe that Trump was actually in the race to stay, so my opinion may not be all that spot on.




(1) Mitt Romney amongst other names have been floated. If he is the best Republican hope, they may as well fold up the party.  Seriously, what has he won lately?

(2) This has not always been the case.  In fact, during the 1880 convention, James Garfield was nominated for President despite the fact that he had not run, and emphatically opposed his own nomination.  He had given the nominating speech for Senator John Sherman of his home state Ohio.  It was this nominating speech that in large part led to his eventual nomination.  

Spring Hope

Now that MLB's Spring Training is nearly a full month in, I felt it an opportunity to go back to the archives and share a poem of hope.  As a fan of the Boston Red Sox, it may be the last chance I have so:

             Each year
thirty collective dreams
encompassing millions of wishes
begin anew
hope runs rampant
that the year
may finally be here
that the summer months
may be filled with joy
and the hometown boys
might bring home the pennant
thoughts of where the local nine
may reside come September
are not entertained
for now there is
thoughts of Spring and Sun
and days are filled with Dreams

Dear Summer

From March 16, 2011, but it seems necessary with the weather that has been harassing MA of late:

Dear Summer
Please return fast
I promise not to waste days
as I have in years past

even when drops of rain
should fall

they will be celebrated

your recall is correct
that I have long berated
puddles that gather
when there's a game
that I'd rather see completed

but I'm desperate
so I promise
there'll be no complaints
if only you'll save me
from this snowy hell

beautiful days
under bright blue skies
shall be met with
thunderous applause
as I spin myself in to
a heat-induced haze

I long for nights
when I can laze about
and watch stars
plummet from the sky
granting wishes
with their descent

and if random hail and lightning
should befall us
I shan't hold you responsible
and will accept it as one of those things

even if it's a day at the beach
or a barbeque interrupted
I shan't lay blame at your feet
but will instead chalk it up
as thing that sometimes occur
whilst looking forward to the next day
knowing that it should be resplendent

Dear Summer
I miss you so
please return to me
pronto

A Benefit of Being a Minority Party Member

The impetus for today's argument comes from the fact that I live in one of the most liberal (read: chock full o' Democrats) states in the Union, while maintaining a Conservative world view.  Most days, particularly election days, are far more difficult than they would be if I lived in a state that is more Red.  Texas for instance. Perhaps even Florida, or Idaho.  Nearly anywhere that isn't here, for that matter.

There are days, though, when it is almost worth all of that, just to see the look on people's face when politics are brought up.  Bernie Sanders' campaign had people beating the streets for him today, each wearing a bright, shiny new pin stating their support for the candidate that the Democrat machine wishes would simply go away.  Or die.  Whichever one makes it easier to foist Ms. Clinton on to the general public as their *official* candidate, much like the RNC did with John McCain in 2008.  Call it the lifetime *achievement* award for political parties.  Why either party would want to do that, I have no idea, neither candidate is viable in a general election, but I digress.

I had two separate encounters with Sanders' supporters today.  The first one came on my daily constitutional (the dated, noun definition), but my look of disdain as I saw their shiny pins kept them from engaging me.  The second occurred hours later, as I was leaving my place of residence.  There was a younger gentleman, and an older one, too.  Both of them were consulting (I'm assuming) voter lists.  Strange to me was the fact that they were intentionally ignoring residences that I knew contained minority voters, given the rhetoric that I always read/hear about in the media.  Because of this, I may have stared at them as they moved their way down the street a little longer than I would have done otherwise, which encouraged the older gentleman to call out to me.  His words were:

I hope I can depend on your vote for Bernie Sanders.

 I laughed at him before I said anything.  Immediately I realized how rude that might be perceived, so I responded with "No, sorry, you can't."  Not content to leave well enough alone, I couldn't stop my mouth from continuing on, when he looked back at me with an inquiring look upon his face.  It may also have been simple confusion, I didn't stop to ask.  I continued by saying "I wouldn't vote for him if he was the only candidate on the party.  He is by far the worst candidate running for President this election cycle."

The man looked as if I had mortally wounded him with my words.  He had no direct reply for me, but I could (just barely) hear him when he replied to his younger cohort "He must be a F*@%ing Republican."

It could have been worse, I suppose.  He could have accused me of supporting Ms. Clinton.  That would have been hurtful.

So while Massachusetts will be an afterthought come November (it's been 32 years since the state cast its delegates with a Republican Presidential candidate), but in the moment, with *contested* primaries for both *major* political parties, it's a more interesting place to be.  Even as a supporter of the minority party.

Corporate Slave

Tethered to this desk
held back by life's burdens
the question remains
How to break free?

Who among us is really free?
No one comes the resounding echo
We are all slaves in this world
Controlled by inner impulses

The proleterian pretend to

        have a choice
The ignorant assume that they do
The truly brave admit their faults
and thus relinquish their bonds

The Pope Says Trump "Isn't Christian"

Yesterday, the Pope took time out of his busy travel schedule to say this about Presidential *candidate* Donald Trump:

A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian.

My words of advice for His Holiness come courtesy of Ice Cube:

You better check yo self before you wreck yo self

 I understand that the Pontiff may have an exalted opinion of himself, but I would not think that he would be so full of himself that he would decide to cast Trump to the Lake of Fire all on his own.  Most traditional Christians would assume that God Himself would make that decision.  One would hope that the Pope has not elevated himself to that stature.

One might also question the hypocrisy of His Holiness when it comes to walls, considering that his place of residence, Vatican City, is surrounded by walls. 

While I may not believe that Trump fully understands how our Constitution works, the words he proffers with regarding to protecting the citizens he would serve (whether he believes them or not is open for discussion) is something that is not un-Christian.  It's simply understanding that our world is a changing place, and that a nation has a right to protect its sovereign borders.

If the Pope wants to himself in American politics, perhaps it would be best if he abdicated the Papacy, moved to the United States, and got involved in the political structure at the lay level.  If he's not willing to do that, then perhaps he should simply keep his mouth shut, instead of looking to influence our political nation from afar.

Our Lost Moral Compass

The impetus for today's discussion comes from a conversation that I had with a friend a few weeks before Christmas.  Before moving along any further, it is important to note this:  my friend are diametrically opposed when it comes to most things political.  I strongly suspect he voted for Obama, and I know that Bernie Sanders is his preferred Presidential candidate for 2016.  That being said, he is an otherwise wonderful person who cares about his family and friends.

Our conversation happened in the wake of another *mass* shooting that had recently gone down.  In the wake of it, there was another outpouring of anti-gun hysteria.  He felt it was just another example of blaming something that really had nothing to do with the issue.  He pointed back to the 1980s when people blamed music, and to the 1990s when *violent* video games were to blame for all of society's ills.  Given the amount of legally owned weapons in the U.S. (some 200 million, according to reports), and the fact that most gun incidents are perpetrated by criminals, not law abiding citizens, he felt this was just the scapegoat du jour.  I happened to agree with him.


Our conversation then moved towards determining what the problem was, and we came up with a solution:  we have simply lost our moral bearings.  We didn't delve in to specifics, mostly because I deflected the conversation away from it, but it seemed a truth too large to ignore.  When a people have no moral compass, the only thing that matters is what they feel is most important in the moment.  Often, that is themselves.  "Generation me", as a friend of mine has dubbed it.

There could be many moments in our nation's history that would point to a loss of our moral compass, but for me, there is one moment that is so horrendous, I think it's as good of a starting point as any.  That date is January 22nd, 1973.  For those who are aware, that is the day that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the decision in Roe v. Wade, a decision that forever changed the landscape of the United States.

There are a couple of legal problems with Roe.  First, it took an activist Court to state that abortion would be allowed as the law of the land.  In order to do this, they had to completely invent clauses of the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the text of which reads:

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

They used 'due process' to come up with 'privacy' which was then translated in to 'murder of unborn children'.  To say the least, the original intent was not Honored, nor could any reasonable person infer that such a right is given, unlike the cases of using the 14th amendment to confer citizenship on to so-called *anchor babies*.  The amendment was part of the "Reconstruction amendments" (13 - 15), the original intent of which was to protect the rights of newly freed black, male slaves.  And also, in fine print "kill all the babies".  It was probably written in invisible ink, which is why it took all the way until 1973 for a decision to be reached.

Notwithstanding the Court abusing their Constitutional powers, a second problem exists with the decision, and that is how it is has been interpreted through the years.  The Court's intent had been to write a decision that was narrowly focused.  Whether they failed to do so, or whether is has simply been misinterpreted during the ensuing 43 years, I don't know.  It also doesn't matter.  The net result is that it was made alright in the eyes of the legal system to murder unborn children.

How could there not be a loss of a country's moral compass once such a decision has been rendered?

Others may argue that we lost our way prior to that point, and still others may say it came at a later date.  It doesn't matter at this point, we've clearly lost our way, and until we regain our moral compass, we could write enough laws to fill the entire Library of Alexendria, and we can't hope to gain back our footing.  We may have already gone past the point of no return, and our Nation could be in the midst of its death throes.

Why Have a Congress? Or a Constitution?

There's nothing more disappointing than putting your faith and trust in a person, or group of persons to watch out for you, and have them leave you hanging.  Or in some instances, helping dig the hole that you are about to be thrown into.

In this instance, I am speaking of the Republican-controlled Congress which has done nothing except kowtow to our current POTUS as he has run roughshod over the U.S. Constitution, to say nothing of the will of the people.

I have been convinced for some time that only a complete and total act of stupidity (nominating Trump, Christie, or Bush) would prevent the Republicans from regaining control of the White House.  After the debacle that was 2015, I'm not entirely positive that's true, anymore.

The main reason that I mention this has to do with what the POTUS' press secretary had to say in response to the President's intent to remove (or prevent them from obtaining them) guns from the citizens of law-abiding citizens (something that was considered crazy as little as 18 months ago.)  A sampling of the P.S.'s commentary:

@POTUS believes in 2nd amdt. Said so today. Let's keep guns out of wrong hands AND protect our 2nd amdt rights. 

In case Mr. Earnest has forgot, that is the same man who swore that "if you like your health plan, you can keep you health plan."  Then nearly everyone lost the health plan they wanted to keep.  So, yeah, forgive me if the man's words don't tantalize me.

Close the No-Fly/No-Buy loophole. If too dangerous to board a plane, then too dangerous to buy a gun.

Because no one has ever ended up on a no-fly list when they shouldn't have.  Ooops...

I'm confident families of gun violence victims didn't find @POTUS's words or actions to keep guns out of the wrong hands "condescending".

Never let a good tragedy go to waste, right Mr. Secretary?  Also, who decides whose hands are *wrong*?

No govt action can stop every act of gun violence, but if we can prevent one innocent death, we should.

I think the one thing that the government has proven over the years is that they are fairly incapable of doing anything to stop anyone from doing whatever they want, especially if they're willing to go down in a blaze of glory.  There certainly is no other way in the world for someone hell-bent on murder or terror to accomplish their mission...except knives, cars, jets, rocks, bio-terror, bombs...no, really it's all about the guns.  If only we could get rid of them all, there would never be another death in this world.

Won't be solved overnight but if we work together to pass common sense gun safety measures, our kids will be safer.

When all else fails, pull at the heartstrings and swear you're doing it "all for the kids".  Also, ignore the facts about how many crimes are prevented or stopped because a law-abiding citizen has a weapon (and doesn't even need to use it most times.  Simply having the weapon is enough.)

I've written someplace before, but am unable to find it at the moment, that the 2nd amendment is the most strongly worded amendment you'll find going in our current Constitution.  There is no ambiguity in the language whatsoever:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

SHALL.  NOT.  BE.  INFRINGED.

You will read many other commentators who will insist that our Founding Fathers never intended this to mean that you could own a hunting rifle in order that you may go fetch your dinner from the woods.  It's patently the dumbest argument ever presented, and if you fall for it, then you are deserving of whatever comes of that.

Our Founding Fathers, having just defeated the greatest military presence known to man at that time, were not interested in how persons went about getting their dinner, or any meal, for that matter.  They had thrown off the bonds of an oppressive government, to establish a free Republic, and it was their desire that it should always remain so.  They had no desire to see an oppressive government set up on these shores, and the right to bear arms was meant as a deterrent for a government that would overstep its bounds.  If you don't believe me, then feel free to research the history and commentary of the men who wrote the Constitution.  You'll find that to a man, they would not approve of government controlling arms in any fashion.

As the fallout from the POTUS' most recent usurpation (or attempts thereof) at *gun control* make the rounds, ask yourself the important question:  What would George (Washington) or Tom (Jefferson) have said?  If you believe they would favor the unConstitutional executive orders that have come out of D.C. over the last several years, than you absolutely deserve the  government you currently have.

Christmas *Poem* 4

Following in the footsteps of *poems* 1, 2, & 3, here is the final iteration in this grouping:

Christmas 4

If Christmas does nothing else
it provides us with a reason
to express to those who are closest
how much they truly mean
it may be in word or in deed
it's not necessarily 'bout
the biggest box under the tree
Not that there is anything wrong
with shiny paper and pretty bows
they help stir our emotions
but those feelings, much like the contents
are temporal by nature
friendship and family last a lifetime
and provide for us the cause
to celebrate the most wondrous season

Christmas *Poem* 3

Following hot on the trail of *poems* 1 & 2, here is the 3rd edition of a Christmas poem that I have written:

 

Christmas *Poem* 3

As Santa Claus
heads on in to town
I can't help feel
that we've let him down

As he makes his way
o'er the big city
can his heart be filled
with anything but pity

I stop and wonder
if he has taken
the time to ponder
how we went so wrong

If he stops to think
what has become of Christmas
and how the people he visits
no longer do it justice

Does sweet Virginia
run through his memory
along with the hubbub created
when she asked if he might be

the fact that we've turned
from all that made the day pure
does make any less
its historic lure

Piloting his sleigh
with Rudolph at the helm
all the thoughts that would weigh
a mortal man down

Must be lost in the sky
'cuz he still has that
same ol' twinkle in his eye

Optimism unseen
by those down below

Waiting on the day
when many more
will still Believe

Christmas Poem 2

Following in the footsteps of my first Christmas "poem", here is my second attempt:

Christmas Poem 2

With the world still at war
we all head to the store
in search of the perfect gift
to make Christmas right
all through the night
the children huddle with fright

uncertain that Santa
will find their door

the images they see
while watching their t.v.

death and destruction
rule the tube
and we all wonder
who is the rube

that has this
as a master plan

the world filled with dread
as we count all the dead
the number continues to rise
as tears form we close our eyes
and pray for a better day

a star in the sky
a star in the sky
fighting to be seen
through fog and snow
trying to tell us
what we should already know

no matter the terror
in spite of any tragedy
there is a lesson to be learned
by both you and me

our leaders in name
they aren't always sane
they look for a reason
even during this
most magical season

leaving the onus on us
to do all that we can
every last one
to help our fellow man

if we all were to help one
what a wonderful world
we could make

then last but not least
remember to leave
a glass of milk
and a big plate of cookies

Because Santa always has room
for one more