Shall I Compare Thee to a Holocaust?

Some things, some people, some historical events should never be used for comparison. 

Regression

Are we regressing to the mean or are we flying off on some new variance from the norm to a place that may be wonderful - or terrifying?

Someone should ask the driver.

Someone is driving this metaphoric bus, right?

No?

The Big Lie

Naming is powerful. It imputes meaning. Something to be taken with serious consideration. That's rarely the case, of course. Branding. Marketing. The Big Lie. It makes it feel shiny and new like a luxury automobile carrying more cameras and compute power than the Apollo 11 lunar lander, or a pasta maker that's also a juicer, or an ointment that makes you look like you're fourteen years old again. Do those side-by-side photos really look different to you? 

When did people become so resistant to facts? 

Like… Always? I see you, Galileo.

Walking Into a Bar During the Pandemic

 A Democrat, a Republican, and an Independent walk into an otherwise empty bar; the Democrat and Independent wear masks, the Republican is wearing a MAGA hat.

Stupid

Q: What's the difference between ignorance and apathy?

A: I don't know and I don't care.

Cui Bono

Who benefits?

Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Rudy Giuliani

Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Rudy Giuliani walk into a bar.

Donald Trump and a Donkey

Donald Trump and a donkey walk into a bar…

The New American President

Hearing the news that the President's legal team is exploring the unprecedented possibility of a President pardoning himself, combined with a claim by Trump attorney John Dowd that the President can't be prosecuted because whatever allegedly happened has passed it's best if prosecuted by date begs the question…

What crimes has the President committed?

We The People

As we celebrate the birthday of the United States of America, I can't help but think of the gulf that seems to grow wider and deeper every day between the country I learned about in middle school and the nation we have become.

Where to begin? Anywhere, I guess...

Dead Is Dead

Am I missing something?

You Had Seven Years

Much is being said and written about the failure to launch the Republican's health care plan and yet I just don't think it's been given the truly epic credit it deserves.

The New Manchurian Candidate

I wouldn't call the story that Russian interests hacked the US presidential election in an effort to get Donald Trump elected "news" or a "revelation" unless you weren't paying attention. If it was Russia's intent to undermine confidence in the US election then certainly they would've gone after both candidates. They didn't. They attacked Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump.

For whatever reason, the American people would prefer to believe Hillary Clinton is running a child sex ring out of the basement of a pizzaria than a real estate mogul is entangled with Russian oligarchs despite the lack of evidence in the case of the former and the well reported facts in the case of the latter.

It's hard not to think that we deserve everything we're about to get.

I'm Trying

I’m trying. I’m not sure I’ll ever get to acceptance. Too many thoughts I doubt I can ever reconcile…

The Streets of Rome

As the Roman Empire was declining toward its historical autumn, did the good people living in the seven hills realize what was happening? Or did they lay about on their couches obliviously eating grapes from leaden bowls, bemoaning the Senate’s inaction on long-needed aqueduct repairs, increasingly annoyed by the complaints of the serving class demanding a 15 dinar minimum wage, dismissing the threat of a ragtag bunch of Visigoths to the north because things are always messed up in Germania, arguing with their brothers-in-law on the weekend over the recent rule changes designed to improve gladiator safety while waiting in line at the colosseum.

“Why don’t they just put skirts on them?”

Oh. Right. Yeah. Skirts. I guess those guys were secure in their own skins.

99 Problems But The Pitch Ain't One

Let’s face it. Whatever Donald J. Trump did once upon a time just doesn’t matter. Everyone knew he was a devious huckster, a free market opportunist, a carnival barker, a preening egotist, a lout, a reality TV celebrity who conflates financial success with intelligence. We knew all that before he road the down escalator to his anti-immigrant fueled announcement for the Republican nomination. We knew all that and still record numbers of Americans came out to vote for him in the primaries.

So, some story about Trump pretending to be a Trump spokesman/public relations flack named John Miller or John Barron (what, no John Smallberries?) is supposed to knock The Donald off his pins? Bitch, please.

The Triumph of Dope Over Reason

The Republican Party woke up last Wednesday and when they looked themselves in the mirror, the found Donald J. Trump staring back at them.

Their reaction has been both hilarious and horrifying. I'm trying to laugh but for some reason, I feel tears coming on.

Fear Itself

If it's true that all we have to fear is fear itself then I'm afraid. I'm very afraid.

What We Deserve

Back in the day – way back in the day – a philosopher named Joseph de Maistre said, "Every nation gets the government it deserves."

That's why I believe Donald J. Trump will be the next President of the United States.

Trust Me

It’s hard for me to see Edward Snowden as a hero. I don’t remember Daniel Ellsberg making a run for it. I understand Henry David Thoreau spent a night in jail for his beliefs. If Edward Snowden believes he’s done the right thing, why run away from it?