July 2, 2019

I usually don’t blog about individual atrocities committed by Donald Trump because I keep a list, which is over 150 items and counting. However, there is something about Donald Trump’s hijacking of the Fourth of July celebration in Washington, D.C. that makes me want to puke. I have a pretty sturdy constitution so it takes something really bad to give me an upset stomach. He will be standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivering a speech to his donors and grifters, who received special VIP tickets. Tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue will be reminiscent of tanks putting down protesters in Tiananmen Square. I guess one President’s Day was not enough. I am certain he was upset that he had to share the holiday with Barack Obama.

July 4th is about local parades, fireworks, patriotism, the beach, overeating, and bad movies. And we, the taxpayers, have to pay for his megalomania. You are not supposed to accede to a hijacker’s demands, but what choice do we have? I am still going to enjoy my hot dogs and hamburgers. I just hope they don’t come back up.

June 28, 2019

The Democratic argument regarding healthcare seems to be coalescing around a public, Medicare option to private, employer-sponsored health insurance. This seems like a reasonable option to me, and, presumably, would be paid for by the savings generated.

However, what I find curious is that no one has polled corporate executives and healthcare managers as to how they feel about being in the healthcare business, and how they would feel about getting out. Providing healthcare to 180,000,000 workers through company plans seems like an incredibly inefficient way to deliver healthcare. Every company in America has to hire armies of employees and consultants to develop and administer these plans. Couldn’t these companies do a better job of accomplishing their mission statements if they could focus all of their attention on their mission? Apple needs to focus on phones, not phlebotomies. A Medicare for all option would allow companies to get out of the healthcare business, and allow them to get back to their own business.

June 28, 2019

Every history of gerrymandering includes a reference to Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry, who, in 1812, approved a state Senate district shaped like a salamander that became known as a “Gerry-Mander.” The Supreme Court just ruled that the drawing of voting districts is a state issue, and could not be litigated in the courts. Despite the fact that their are no clean hands here, the Supreme Court has once again ruled in favor of voter suppression. It was described by some as allowing elected officials to choose their voters, and not vice versa. Yes, it should get credit for disallowing the citizenship question on the census, but its continuing erosion on voter rights is dangerous and cynical.

The evisceration of the Voting Rights Act has lead to extremely aggressive actions by many states to limit access to the voting booth. This was as predictable as Citizens United leading to a deluge of dark money into the political process. These actions are designed to restrict and impede voting by minorities. As Donald Trump would say, “Everybody knows this.” The other thing that everyone knows is what goes around, comes around.

June 26, 2019

Here is what I am looking for from the Democratic candidates for President.

Which candidate can deliver a 25 word or less “elevator speech” describing what he or she believes in and will do?

Which candidate can counter punch Trump’s slanders and puerile remarks?

Which candidate can answer questions without appearing to triangulate?

Which candidate is motivated by empathy as much as intellect?

Which candidate is best able to restore our position and reputation in the global community?

June 18, 2019

I an constantly amazed by how our political points of view color how we process information. At a recent high school graduation, the valedictorian quoted Donald Trump to great applause. When he said,”Only kidding, that was Barack Obama,” he was greeted with silence and a boo.

Now we have the Rorschach Test that is the Mueller Report.

A recent letter to the editor states that the Springfield Republican was incorrect in reporting that Trump was not exonerated of obstruction of justice charges. That is exactly what the report says if you read it. He says that Republican Robert Mueller, who was appointed by Republican Rod Rosenstein, is a “political hack,” who surrounded himself by “Trump-hating” Democrats. That is an opinion, but there is no evidence backing it up. He says that the Mueller people are the real criminals guilty of real crimes. These are serious charges again with no facts to back them up. The writer says you are innocent until proven guilty. Mueller agreed. Mueller did not charge Trump with a crime because he said everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and should have their day of court.

How can we have serious discussions when reasonably responsible people can’t even agree what the facts are? Comedian Mike Birbiglia describes the frustration of arguing with his wife. When he says to her, “That is not an argument.” She replies, “But that is how I feel.”

June 16, 2019

Anti-vaxxing is all the rage. It is right up there with climate change denial and the Adam and Eve evolutionary theory as one of the most pernicious anti-science movements ever. Remember the claims that the earth was only 6,000 years old. Yikes! If only there was a vaccine to inoculate oneself against the disease known as Trumpism.

As it turns out, there is, but the Trump anti-vaxxers refuse to take the antidote against the disease. The anti-vaxxers prefer to live with the scourge of lies that come out of the President and his White House. They prefer to live with the disease that comes from the daily flouting of laws, customers, and norms. See Kelly Ann Conway and The Hatch Act. They continue to suffer the debilitating effects of being an international pariah because of some crazy, unproven theory that this is healthier than the alternative.

The antidote, as Yale’s motto says, is truth and light. The Trump anti-vaxxers need a dose of the truth. Maybe they can’t handle the truth, as Col. Jessup said, but the truth will make them emotionally healthier. I can’t imagine the cognitive dissonance and rationalization gymnastics that Trump supporters have to go through every day just to get by. That can’t be healthy. And they need to realize that the so-called “fake” media is the best disinfectant of all. The responsible, fact-based media sheds light on the festering sores created by this administration, and provides healing.

So, to the Trump anti-vaxxers, vaccinate yourselves. It’s good political science and good medicine. It is up to you to stop this awful disease from spreading.

June 14, 2019

The Washington Post has documented 10,000 or more lies told by the President. He told one more yesterday in denying that he failed to answer questions about obstruction of justice under oath . Lying has consequences. Now, through his Secretary of State, he wants us to believe that Iran has been attacking ships in the Straits off Hormuz. Pompeo has presented evidence, but why should believe him? Why should it be up to us to have to figure out what is true and what is just another lie. We still remember weapons of mass destruction and the Gulf of Tonkin.

And, you almost can’t blame the Iranians if it is true. They negotiated a nuclear disarmament deal in good faith in exchange for elimination of sanctions. Trump tore it up for no reason other than it was signed by President Obama. Now we are facing a potential crisis of our own making. What is the end game? To me, it looks like revenge and re-election. Unlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, I am not prepared to say, “I believe, I believe.”

June 11, 2019

I am old enough to remember in vivid detail the Watergate hearings, but I was not filled with nostalgia as John Dean testified yesterday before the House Judiciary Committee. It was supposed to be an educational opportunity for the American public not yet born in 1974. It fell flat. What I was hoping to hear never happened. When Dean was attacked personally by Mark Meadows, I wish he had said something like, “Son, let me educate you.” Meadows would respond with, “Don’t call me son. I am member of the House of Representatives.”

Then Dean would respond with, “Then starting acting like one, Mr. Meadows. Watergate was overseen by the lions of the Senate and the House who worked together in the interests of the American people. Sam Ervin, Democrat of North Carolina worked side-by-side with Howard Baker, Republican of Tennessee. They cooperated with each other, and handled the hearings with the seriousness and dignity they deserved. They did not attack witnesses. They questioned them. They looked for, and discovered the truth.”

I was never more proud or more impressed by the people who represented us then. I am not quite as proud and impressed today.