Election Thoughts – Coronavirus Edition

Leader and Unifier? - Ever since Day 1 when he was sworn in and gave his infamous ‘American Carnage’ inaugural address, the president has (when he wasn’t praising himself) complained, denigrated and blamed others for all the situations he has led us into. When it’s not Obama, Hillary or the Democrats, he orders his intelligence agencies to make the case that China and the World Health Organization are responsible for our miserable record. As he campaigns for a second term, there still is no plan to combat the plague. Instead, he calls scientists and experts ‘idiots’ and urges everyone to forget Covid and live their lives. Brilliant.

On the other hand,

“We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us” - The president says we’re “rounding the turn.” Feels more like circling the drain.

I have had to listen to the right wingnuts and Christian nationalists crow about how the U.S. of A. is not only the GREATEST NATION EVER but that Trump’s election was ordained by God himself. I’ll ignore the second part of that as unproveable wackalunacy but “American Exceptionalism” has been a cornerstone of conservative bloviating for years. “We have the BEST scientists and engineers and EVERYTHING here.” If that’s the case, why didn’t we kick Covid’s’ ass…like so many other countries have? Why are we now leading the world in infection and death? Because the president didn’t care…still doesn’t. Therefore, the administration didn’t care…because they know who they’re working for. Part of that American Exceptionalism, I guess.

On October 18, before another rally of his faithful, the president said that if Biden is elected, he will listen to the scientists…like this is a dangerous threat. Be afraid! Be very afraid! This calls for some historical perspective…which Exceptional Americans conveniently forget. When we (finally) started to listen to the scientists, it was called the ‘Enlightenment’ and the ‘Age of Reason.’ We emerged from the Dark Ages and made great advances as a civilization. Listening to the scientists is what made America Great in the first place. We are not just ignorant. We are arrogantly, resolutely, proudly ignorant.

Too Crazy to Contemplate? – The president insists on holding packed, super-spreader rallies to feed his insatiable ego and make the nation sicker…so by November 3rd, the country will be in such bad shape he will declare a National Emergency, void the election and claim he needs to continue in office…for the good of the country.

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller 

Move Along. Nothing to See Here - Another fact that many would prefer to ignore. The infamous Nixon administration resulted in 76 federal criminal indictments over its two terms of Watergate skullduggery. The Trump administration in its one term has amassed a total of 215 indictments…so far. A big chunk of them are Russian agents, so we can discount them. Otherwise, way to go. We’re Number One!

By Mike Lukovich, Atlanta Constitution 

And by the way, the shameful, illegal, unconstitutional Obama administration, over its TWO terms led to a grand total of ZERO federal indictments. Imagine that.

If the Dems can’t clearly articulate this abysmal presidency and convincingly propose better alternatives, they don’t deserve to replace him. 

Some Election Thoughts – Part 2

I wonder if TV sales are up lately because more people are throwing things through their sets.

To continue this dump of what happens when one is locked away too long and can’t get the social stabilization he needs…why I believe this election is so important.

Rampant Partisanship - We no longer elect people to solve problems. That has become standard campaign lip-service. If we didn’t fix anything, at least we prevented them from scoring points. Hyper-partisanship means using government to give YOUR people what they want AND prevent the other side from getting what THEY want. Yay Team! Your government at work.

Pearls Before Swine by Steven Pastis 

I believe we need to address what the GOP has succeeded in doing for the past 30 years. Republicans in general and conservatives/Tea Partiers/Rush/Fox News/etc. have preached that the biggest threats to our Exceptional way of life are Democrats, liberals and government. The targets of this effective strategy need better counter-arguments.

'Candorville’ by Darrin Bell 

Leadership - When it comes to the president, we might have forgotten how important that role is supposed to be when times are tough. The person we select to lead the nation must be able to express empathy, compassion and traits the Current Occupant is famous for lacking. Think FDR on the radio during the Great Depression, ‘W’ at the ruins of the World Trade Center or Obama at Mother Emanuel Church. Someone please remind me of any time our current leader has talked about faith and unity during a national challenge. What he does is blame others and make empty promises…because no one knows more about the issue than he does.

What’s wrong with this picture? - Recent discussion with a liberal friend who is in the therapy business: She knows people who are increasingly depressed and are thinking about leaving the country or even ending their lives because the future appears so bleak. This is what the country is coming to…when the right advances, the left thinks about killing themselves and when the left advances, the right buys more guns.

Flipping the Senate - When I think about it, the more cynical right-wing operatives might be willing to take that hit. They’ve already packed the Supreme Court and federal judiciary for a generation. They can regain the Senate majority when the Dems overplay their advantage and turn the voters off in time for the next election. I so much want them to win a huge, resounding repudiation of Trumpism but do not trust them to get it right going forward.

Who Else Can I Blame? - Back in May, I saw the GOP strategy document for the president’s 2020 campaign…written by some K Street slimeball law firm. It included a heavy emphasis on blaming China for all of our troubles including (and I’m paraphrasing here), “The Chinese took our jobs away.”

I don’t expect the Dems to have the stones to re-frame that into something more on point like, “American businesses actively (gleefully) sought to outsource as much labor as they could. They sprinted to China to replace American jobs with cheaper foreign labor. And when China started to become more developed and labor costs began to rise, American business went to even less developed countries to find cheaper labor.”
Another area where his base takes it in the shorts and still votes for him…amazing.

‘Candorville’ by Darrin Bell 

The GOP has been the party of voter suppression for many years - Sadly, the Democrats never raised holy hell about it when they should have. Voting roll purges. Eliminating polling places and early voting. Stricter voter ID requirements. The list of abuses is long.

Tom Toles, Washington Post (29 May 2020) 

These are among the miserable and desperate GOP and conservative efforts to suppress voting. For the life of me, I cannot understand how this strategy seems to be treated as just another political tactic and not the outrage that it is. In the “Land of the Free,” we’re supposed to be making it EASIER to vote, not harder. Preventing people from voting is an idea that should make every freedom-loving American scream. I want someone to explain to me what’s ‘conservative’ about that?

‘Candorville’ by Darrin Bell 

Another Fantasy – there has to be ONE reporter at the daily press fakery show who either [1] got a great job offer in another line of work or [2] came into a large inheritance or [3] is terminally ill…and at the right moment of presidential stupidity jumps to his/her feet and yells what so many want to hear – “You pompous ignorant windbag…you know NOTHING…you have disgraced the office of the president and set the nation back a generation. You wouldn’t know the Constitution if it came up and sat on your face. The James Buchanan Society is thrilled that you have moved him off the bottom as the WORST president in history.”

Something like that.

Vote.
If you do nothing else this year, vote.
Vote like your life depended on it.
Because it does.

Some Election Thoughts – Part 1

Hey Kids! What time is it? 

IT'S TIME TO VOTE

Over the years, our elections have been the source of a few rants. The idea of mandatory voting was the subject of my first When I am King edict in 2012. The 2016 screed is worth a second look because the challenger then is the incumbent now.

With the help of a few daily ‘Candorville’ comic strips from the brilliant Darrin Bell along with other graphics, I offer up a few thoughts regarding the state of our Union and its politics. If you support Donald Trump, I would welcome any logical, fact-based replies.

“The Swift Completion of Their Appointed Rounds” - The Post Office must not fail us at a time when we need it to work. [1] if the Post Office can handle 1.3 billion pieces of extra mail at Christmas time, they should be able to deliver 100 million ballots before Election Day. [2] The president’s job is to make sure government functions works. Can someone remind him of that? The Post Office should be gearing UP for this vital exercise, not cutting back. Speaking of hindering the vote, there should be a special place in hell for a governor who decrees that a county with 4.7 million citizens should have ONE ballot drop box during the pandemic.

The Early Surge - Look at the tremendous number of voters who are turning out at the first opportunity to cast ballots. The long lines and hours of waiting reminded me of past news scenes when dictatorships were overthrown and the free people cast their first ballots. There is no wondering why. People don’t trust Trump’s Post Office to get their ballots delivered AND they want their vote to be in the bank…to count.

Pants on Fire - I am so tired of the media explaining to ME that so much of what the president says is “unfounded” or “lacking evidence” or “not based in fact.” I already know that. The man lies with every breath…even when the truth would better suit his position. When is someone…ANYONE (like maybe the Democratic candidate) going to get in HIS face and say, “That is not true. Why do you keep saying that when there is zip/zero/nada evidence to support it? PROVE IT…or stop saying it.”

Kool Aid, Magic Dust or Rank Hypocrisy – Recently, a North Carolina friend told us that a woman in her exercise class was mad at that mean Joe Biden for interrupting Trump so much at the first debate [WTF?!?]. In all my years, I have never seen such rampant hypocrisy. If Barack Hussein Obama had done one tenth of what Trump has done, “they” would have burned the White House down by now. On the other hand, if you believe “them,” Obama really was a Muslim Nazi Socialist Communist Anti-Christ who was born in Kenya. So, never mind.

‘Candorville’ by Darrin Bell 

Stop Asking for Money. Just Sharpen Your Message – October 9 – MSNBC breathlessly reported that because of slick organizations like ‘Vote Blue,’ certain Democratic Senate challengers are raising more money than the Republican incumbents…often by huge margins. It was also reported that these challengers are ahead in the latest polling. The implication was clear – the RED senators are losing because they’re being outspent. To this, I politely and respectfully say ‘Horsefeathers.’

Joe Biden got a tidal wave of money right after the debate because the president gave a disgraceful performance. The RED senators are trailing in the polls because the country is failing on many fronts and they support the WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER. People are supporting their opponents for a reason (said the chicken to the egg).

‘Candorville’ by Darrin Bell 

The media, especially TV, will never complain about the obscene amounts of money that define our elections…because so much of it goes to buy TV ads. Do they really think that slick ads are the reason people make their decisions and donate money? Donations and preferences follow the outrage, not the other way around.

A Record of Achievement – The failures of this administration are breath-taking. The pandemic response, the economic collapse, the racism and promotion of domestic terrorism, the corruption, self-dealing and sheer incompetence are epic in scale. But none of this should be surprising given who we elected.

I love the irony of voting for people who hate government to run government. What’s wrong with expecting your government to be effective and competent? Instead of making government work, this GOP gang prefers to alter the federal judiciary, erase rules that keep you safe and healthy, prevent certain people from voting and, this is the cherry on top, let their friends and backers raid the Treasury. Is this a great country or what?

“We the People” Are Failing - In one of James Madison’s Federalist Papers, he explained that the new democratic republic they were creating would have some challenges in a world where our species is so prone to corruption and abuse of power. If the power to choose leaders is vested in the voters, then the voters have a responsibility to be informed, understand the important issues and do their job at the polls. Damn. I knew there was a catch. 

By Nick Anderson, Laid off by the Houston Chronicle in 2017 

It seems in this Great, Exceptional, Ordained-by-God-Himself, U.S. of A., our citizen-electorate can be placed into a few categories:

1. A big percentage of people are registered but don’t bother to vote. In 2016, our population had over 214 million registered voters yet only 140 million votes were cast.

2. Given there were almost 250 million who were of voting age last time around, that means another 36 million didn’t even bother to register.

3. With regard to voter knowledge, there is a sizable segment I perceive who don’t care to be informed. They have their priorities and to understand what’s going on is not one of them.

4. There’s another big lump of voters (sadly, they do vote) who believe they are informed but it’s nonsense, conspiracy theories and fake news. They prefer their own prejudices over facts and truth. 

5. Unless you can think of another group, that leaves those who try to be informed, pay attention to real news and try to know something about issues that matter. Now I see why some might get depressed wondering if there are enough citizens left who respect this great freedom and take their responsibility seriously.

Be informed. Facts and truth matter.
Make your choices for the right reasons.
Make the time to cast your ballot.
Be proud that you live in a country that takes this process seriously…so far.

River Cruise Diary – Nijmegen, Netherlands

Nijmegen, Netherlands (18 November 2019)

Before going ashore for our first tour in a Netherlands town, pronounced “NI-may-ghen.” we attended a talk given by an old gentleman who was a boy living here during Operation ‘Market Garden’ in September 1944. Three months after D-Day, allied forces were preparing to cross the Rhine and take the war into the German homeland. The largest airborne offensive in World War II up to that time failed to secure any of the bridges, thus dashing any hope of ending the war by Christmas. A positive outcome was that the city of Nijmegen was liberated.

After the talk, we hit the streets…charming, narrow passages that accommodate cars now and then but seem little-changed for the past few centuries. Unfortunately, the almost-bad weather dropped the ‘almost’ and the dark skies were also wet. The boat provides umbrellas and the walking tours are no longer than 90 minutes. A few people scrambled back to the boat but several of us chose to linger and explore.

Dutch East India Company Symbol, Nijmegen, 

Netherlands (18 November 2019) 

An interesting decoration on a few of the older buildings is some representation of an elephant. This notes that the house at one time contained part of the Dutch East India Company. Formed in 1602, the operation is the classic, public/private, early capitalistic, colonial case study. It’s like every global conglomerate today can trace its roots to what the Dutch East India Company either started or refined. The main source of all the exotic goods the Dutch merchants brought to Europe was India and the elephant added a recognizable sign for all to see.

Say ‘Cheese’, Nijmegen, Netherlands (18 November 2019) 

As I have noted before, European town centers have gorgeous specialty stores. Butchers, bakeries and cheese shops are beautifully stocked and presented. Of course, this is the Netherlands…where the Dutch take their cheese quite seriously. We bought some vacuum-sealed 3+-year old Gouda that we just opened and devoured. The rich, nutty flavor transported us right back to Nijmegen,

Holocaust Memorial, 

Nijmegen, Netherlands (18 November 2019) 

A tiny square (really a roundabout) in a quiet neighborhood has been turned into a Holocaust memorial. The rain added a tear drop to the figure.

Holocaust Memorial, 

Nijmegen, Netherlands (18 November 2019) 

Our guide, the jovial and informative Amin, ended the walking tour at one of those infamous ‘Coffee shops’ where one can buy wonderful hot chocolate (and coffee also, I guess) and/or a serving of marijuana.

Amin interacted with the staff to show these curious American senior citizens how such a business can exist without the town being destroyed by drug-crazed potheads at the same time.

Anyway, guess who stayed behind after we were all dismissed? It was chilly and gloomy outside and the hot chocolate was divine. Good thing there were three of us. Together, we found our way back to the boat. 

River Cruise Diary – Bonn, Germany

Ah, the joy of river cruising. You wake up to the new day in a new town. Again, a very overcast day, but the clouds never opened up on us.

Originally a Roman settlement in the first century B.C., Bonn has been an important government and cultural center for centuries. When the country was divided after WW II, it served as the capital of West Germany. With reunification in 1990, Berlin was restored as the nation’s capital. However, a third of ministerial jobs remain in Bonn.

Memorial to Another Destroyed Synagogue, 

Bonn, Germany (17 November 2019) 

Sadly, evidence of the once-thriving Jewish communities in Germany are now often ruins and memorials. 

The ‘Brückenmännchen’ (Little Bridge Man) 

Kennedy Bridge, Bonn (17 November 2019) 

The Kennedy Bridge crosses the Rhine and connects Bonn with the town of Beuel. We were told that arrangements between the two towns to build the original 19th century bridge degraded and relations soured when Beuel refused to pay their share of the construction costs. The Bonn city fathers showed their displeasure by adding this figure to their side of the bridge. Although the bridge was destroyed in the war, the sculpture was recovered from the river and returned to its rightful place when the new span was completed. I was reminded of an earlier mooning in Germany.

Cologne, Germany (28 July 2007) 

Apparently, it is not uncommon to show contempt publicly an humorously in this part of the world. An earlier visit to Cologne highlighted this property owner who was dissatisfied with some decision at City Hall. 

A Tree-lined Lane in Bonn (17 November 2019) 

On the campus of the University of Bonn, there is a park with stately old trees and on this Sunday morning, few people. 

Bonn City Hall or Rathaus (17 November 2019) 

We were told that President Kennedy gave a speech from the top of the stairs to the gathered masses in the city square. Our fellow visitors are reading book titles underfoot. Paving stones in the square have been replaced with markers identifying the books that were burned by the Nazis on this same spot in 1938. 

Beethoven on the Square, Bonn, Germany (17 November 2019) 

I noted in 2011 that visiting Beethoven’s grave in Vienna inspired me to find the last resting places of our species’ notables. Today we were in the maestro’s birthplace. Naturally, a statue has been placed in one of the city squares. Ludwig has always been represented as a serious sort.

Kunstmuseum, Bonn (17 November 2019) 

One of the last sights we visited was the Kunstmuseum, a modern art gallery on what they call ‘The Museum Mile,’ where there are five museums on one avenue. While architecturally interesting, I’m too much of a traditional/classical old fart and am turned on by very little of what passes for contemporary art nowadays.

The old scientist in me prefers to close with two shots from the University of Bonn campus…apros pos for these challenging times.

This was the last stop in Germany. Tomorrow, we’ll be in the Netherlands.

The Wisdom of the Campus, Part 1, 

Bonn, Germany (17 November 2019) 

The Wisdom of the Campus, Part 2, 

Bonn, Germany (17 November 2019)