2024 Election Thoughts - # 5

‘Pearls Before Swine’ by Stephan Pastis

“There’s a sucker born every minute” - If I hear one more person-on-the-street respondent say they’re voting for Trump “because he’s a businessman and that’s what we need in Washington,” I’m gonna hurl. I want a follow-up question…one that I wish Democrat candidates would throw out there.

It’s not like this businessman hasn’t been there before…. Can you name ONE thing he did in his four years in office that affected you in a positive way because it was a better business (vs. political) decision? I can’t.

I’d suggest he’s actually a lousy businessman. He’s declared bankruptcy six times. He stiffs his contractors and has been convicted of fraud. How did that Trump University education work for you? Tell me how well the casinos and Trump Foundation did. The biggest business deals he made in office were all about serving his own selfish interests…like cutting taxes for his bracket, overcharging the Secret Service for space in his hotel, and whatever he could steal when he left the White House.

What say we prefer a career public servant? That’s what we used to call dedicated citizens who are smart enough to have earned much more in the private sector but chose to devote their lives to making this greatest of nations succeed.

“Nobody knows more than me” – (Check out this video) Polling continues to confirm the public believes Trump and the GOP are better for the economy and to my dismay, the Democrat ticket refuses to go on the offense in that area. Harris is so busy trying to separate herself from Biden, she won’t point out that our economy is now the envy of the world. All the indicators we look at are better. The market is through the roof. Trump and the GOP would kill to have this record to run on. And another thing…Trump is as dumb as a bag of hammers, even when it comes to business. Consider his awful performance at the recent Bloomberg Economics gathering in Chicago. He thought he could skate with his peeps but could not answer basic economic questions. Instead, he criticized the questioners…a standard ploy when he has no good answer.

Are You with Me or What? - Recently, Trump appeared on ‘Fox and Friends’ and said his next stop would be “Rupert’s office” to complain that the Republican Party’s semi-official mouthpiece was broadcasting too many ‘negative’ ads. I assume he means Harris-Walz ads. Of course, we heard nothing more of that because the meeting, if it took place at all, probably had Murdoch say something like,

“Don, Don, Don. Their campaign paid for the airtime. Top dollar, too. Fox News is a for-profit business, you dolt. That’s why I am eight times richer than you. Why don’t you direct some of that bible-sneaker cash this way and pony up some ad buys? Now, get out of my office.
G’die, Mite.”

Something like that.

And while we’re at it, Trump wants to cancel the broadcast licenses of networks he doesn’t like. You think Fox might ponder that issue and take a position that is more aligned with those other ‘lamestream’ networks? Speak up now.

The Wheels of Justice Turn Slowly - What ever happened to the 6th Amendment right to a speedy trial? I thought the secret documents case was a slam dunk. Merrick Garland should have indicted Trump the day after the perp admitted he had them and refused to turn them over.

The docs were not his to take. He denied he had them, refused to return them, then tried to make it a negotiation...after he claimed he could declassify them with his mind. What numbskull even thinks that is a thing? If you or I did that, our asses would be in Leavenworth long before now.

By Mike Luckovich (Atlanta Journal Constitution (12 May 2024)

Instead, we have Judge Cannon, who’s in the bag for the defendant. Their plan was to delay, deflect, object, postpone and appeal. She did them one better by dismissing the case altogether. Bada-Bing. Sure enough, not one of the criminal cases against Trump will be tried before Election Day.

This is why the nation’s electorate must rise up and TROUNCE him at the polls. There must be an unmistakable, undeniable, crystal clear repudiation of Trump and the Republican down-ballot candidates who support him and what he stands for.

Please vote.

Capitol Steps – Part 2

New Hampshire Capitol, Concord (7 October 2009)

There are other stairways in our capitol buildings. Away from the grand staircases, one can find eye-catching features in state house stairways. I am drawn to the shapes and repeating design elements in a flight of stairs. The following shots show a variety of balusters and hand rails...and include more stair-related quotes.

Texas Capitol, Austin (19 June 2008)

The elevator to success is out of order.

You’ll have to use the stairs...one step at a time.

Joe Girard (1928-2019)

Maryland Capitol, Annapolis (1 September 2009)

Never look backwards or you’ll fall down the stairs.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

If a stairway is against a wall, additional aesthetic features can be added.

Old Florida Capitol, Tallahassee (1 March 2010)

Step by step and the thing is done.

Charles Atlas (1892-1972)

Old North Carolina Capitol, Raleigh (28 June 2008)

The staircase to success is always under construction.

Lily Tomlin (b. 1939)

Minnesota Capitol, St. Paul (24 September 2009)

Success is not a doorway. It’s a staircase.

Dottie Walters (1925-2007)

Alabama Capitol, Montomery (18 October 2008)

You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Iowa Capitol, Des Moines (26 June 2017)

There is no 'slippery slope' toward loss of liberties,

only a long staircase where each step downward must

first be tolerated by the American people and their leaders.

Alan K. Simpson (b. 1931)

 

2024 Election Thoughts - # 4

Home stretch and the race intensifies. You can’t go through a news day without a talking head reminding us how many days are left.

One thing that concerns me as the candidates continue to concentrate on the damn swing states is their lack of attention to the Congressional races...and anything else that is happening outside the damn swing states. 

By Dana Summers, Orlando Sentinel (1988)

Speaking of Congress, it’s way past time for the head of the ticket to remind us of the miserable job Trump’s party has done on the legislative side of governing. Calling the 118th Congress a ‘do-nothing’ outfit insults all the past ‘do-nothing’ outfits. In the 1948 election, Harry Truman ripped the 80th Congress as ‘Do-Nothing’ when they passed 906 bills. The current House passed a historic low number of bills - 27. Instead of addressing the nation’s problems, today’s Republicans prefer to [1] challenge their own Speaker, [2] thwart any Democrat proposals and [3] investigate the ‘Biden Crime Family.’ I hope their constituents are happy.

I want to see the Harris-Walz ticket encourage the public to do their job and throw out these useless, power-obsessed parasites. Flip the House. Create a stable majority in the Senate while we’re at it and show the nation what a united government can do for the people.

Sadly, I can’t help but expect what happens after that. After averting the end of democracy, the Dems will do what our species always does with power. They will overplay their hand and include too many loopy lefty initiatives that turn off more of the electorate. Then, if the GOP is smart (no guarantee there), they will offer up less crazy candidates and win again.

But, until then, I’ll just throw in a few images (that is our first name after all) to remind you just how obscene the Party of Lincoln has become. Below are family Christmas pictures from Republican members of Congress…staunch Christians all…so they say. This is how they celebrate the ‘Prince of Peace.’

Please vote.

Rep Lauren Boebert (Republican-CO)

Rep. Andy Ogles (Republican-TN)

 

Rep. Thomas Massie (Republican-KY)