Saturday, December 28, 2019

Trump Appointed Judges: Where Justice Goes to Die

Good Day World!

The most devastating effect Trump has on our society is the appointment of numerous right-wing judges across the country. 

Because of Trump's collusion with The Federalist Society, only extremist judges are getting approved in record numbers.

Trump's judicial appointees are not selected because they are unbiased or nonpartisan or fair-minded. They are chosen because of their loyalty to the Federalist Society and Trump himself.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel has devoted the last three years to appointing Trump-judges while letting all bills from Congress (over 400 this year) fester in his partisan graveyard.

A warning sign for what to expect in the future can be seen with what's happened to the 5th District Court; it's been stacked with right-wing judges during the last three years. Now it's a court where justice goes to die.

The future portends more extreme decisions that will drag other courts to the far right. Trump has already flipped the 2nd, 3rd, and 11th Circuits by creating a majority of Republican appointees loyal to him.

This year the conservative majority of judges went on a rampage. This month, the courts ruled that Obamacare's individual mandate has become unconstitutional in an overtly partisan decision and suggested that the rest of the law may have to fall, as well.

Trump has managed to neutralize moderate conservatives. With the waning influence of balanced courts Americans are facing a dark future for personal freedoms.

Roe vs Wade (Jan.22, 1973) has been threatened before in 1992. Based upon the current rapidly slanted changing judiciary, 2020 may see the biggest challenge of all for the controversial law.

Even if we do get a Democratic president and Senate in 2020, the damage Trump and McConnell have done to the judicial system is going to be there for years. In some cases, even a generation.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Friday, December 27, 2019

Two Americas, Two Economies: Which Do You Live In?


                                         Good Day World!

Whenever I hear about stock market records being broke it doesn't excite me, because like most Americans I have nothing to do with Wall Street.

More than half of Americans have no connection to the stock market (that includes 401ks, IRAs and mutual funds), according to the Federal Reserve and numerous survey groups.

What about the other half? 

In a Chicago Tribune business article, Steven Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center said, "Stock ownership is heavily tilted towards rich guys, doctors, lawyers, and accountants."

Rosenthal made it clear that the stock market is not for our shrinking middle class. In essence, it's a stark economic divide between the haves and have nots.

This division of wealth determines which America you live in. The gap is increasing since Trump slithered into office, and provided the corporations and the wealthy with massive tax breaks.

Almost 80 percent of Americans live from paycheck-to-paycheck, and in the fear of getting hit with medical bills they can't afford. The homeless population throughout America is increasing at alarming rates.

These dual economic realities are encouraging voters to prioritize the economy in the 2020 election. Thirty-percent say the economy is the most important issue in determining who they'll vote for president in November.

Trump only has one positive thing going for him in the upcoming election, the economy. It's healthy, and that generally means an incumbent president gets re-elected.

But these are not normal times. We're in uncharted waters with the most corrupt president the country has ever seen.

Despite a loyal base of Trump followers, the majority of Americans disapprove of everything he does from his pathetic lack of foreign policies, to his abuse of power.

Related: In Trump Country, A Season of Need on Family Farms 

Being only the third American president to be impeached is not something any candidate would want on their resume.

In the end, a lot depends on what part of America you live in on how you'll vote. Either you're part of that minority getting richer under Trump, or you're in the majority suffering under his regime.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Thursday, December 26, 2019

10 Gump-Like Observations About Basketball and Life



Good Day World!

Inspired by my favorite movie of all time, Forest Gump, and my favorite sport basketball, I have some reflections on life to share with you today:

1) "Life is like a basketball game without referees."

2) "The secret to being happy is making all of your three-point shots against a tough opponent."

3) "A driving layup is a poem without words."

4) "Life is not measured by how many dribbles you take, but by how many shots you make."

5) "Walk up to the free throw line with hope in your heart."

6) "Big shots get big results, no shots get no results, or somebody else's results."

7) "Take the first step in faith in your team mates by passing them the ball."

8) "Losing a game is not fatal. There's a long season ahead."

9) "A great basketball player sees the invisible, and achieves the impossible."

10) "Always be aware of the shot clock and what quarter you're in."  

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Seven Memorable Christmas Milestones

Good Day World!

We all have Christmas stories to tell. They can be happy, nostalgic, or sad. They can also be milestones in our lives.

Today I'm sharing seven of mine:

Christmas 1955 - My brother, two sisters, and cousin stayed up all night on Christmas Eve talking about Santa Claus, and the fact we were going to Disneyland on Christmas Day

The amusement park had just opened that July, and we were breathless with excitement. I remember going through "It's A Small World" exhibit with dancing dolls from around the world. My favorite ride was the spinning teacups.

Christmas 1969 - I was in the Army and stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for my advanced training as a Combat Engineer.

It was my first Christmas away from home. 

To make it worse I was practically alone on the base, as most went home for the holiday. I simply didn't have the money to fly home and back. There were a couple of cooks with the same problem, and they made up a meal for the few of us stuck there on Christmas Day.

I was the Field First for my Training Company, and the only man in the company who didn't go home for Christmas. The old World War I wooden barracks were deserted. The potbelly stoves used for each one were silent and the barracks were freezing, like the weather outside.

As I walked from my little room at the end of one of the barracks, to the mess hall in a foot of snow, I recall the lonely feeling that engulfed me and how badly I missed my family.

Christmas 1974 - Married for just four months, my wife and I had a tiny apartment that she decorated for our first Christmas as man and wife. 

We had very little money for extras, but we listened to Christmas music, watched Christmas stories on TV, visited family, and had a wonderful meal. Our love was magic.

Christmas 1975 - Our first son was six-months old, and my wife dressed him up for the holiday. We got him a little wooden rocking horse that he absolutely loved!

Christmas 1977 - Our second son was 10-months old and we had professional photos taken of our growing family. Our first son was very jealous of the attention his little brother got.

Christmas 1980 - Our third son was just two-months old and our second son just adored him! Our oldest son was a bit standoffish, but grew to quickly love the newest addition to our family.

Christmas 2019 - Our sons have moved on with their lives. Two of them (and their families) are here today. We'll exchange gifts and have a wonderful meal.

My wife and I are feeling nostalgic today. We're thankful for our family, and for 45 years of marriage. Above all, we're thankful for another Christmas together!

Time for me to walk on the road... 

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

On this Christmas Eve...

Good Day World!

*Americans are wrapping gifts from an imaginary saint to give to good little boys and girls;

*Company Christmas parties are being celebrated from coast-to-coast, with spirits that have nothing to do with Charles Dicken's ghosts from A Christmas Carol;

*Blaring Christmas music is playing in stores that have decided to stay open late, hoping for a Christmas miracle of last minute shoppers desperately buying everything still on their shelves;

*Millions of Americans are going to churches today to pray for peace and love throughout the land;

*Millions of homeless Americans are wondering where their next meal is coming from and where they can take shelter on a winter's night, like Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.
--------------------------------------------------------
After 69-years, I can still conjure up the magic of Christmas Eve when I was young and believed in miracles. When my brother, two sisters, and I, sat up late hoping to see Santa Claus with a sack of endless gifts.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Monday, December 23, 2019

A White House Christmas Story

Good Day World!

Twas two days before Christmas, when all through the White House

Not a presidential aide was stirring, not even a mouse;

The Articles of Impeachment were hung by the Oval Office with care,

in the hope people would think they were unfair;

The West Wing staffers were nestled in their beds,
trying to ignore the truth rattling around in their heads;
That Trump was a liar making it hard to nap,
with visions of his cult followers wearing a red cap,

When out on the White House lawn there arose such a clatter,
that the secret service scrambled to see what was the matter,
the scared staffers flew to the windows in a mad dash,
in time to see Trump's presidential limousine crash,

The moon reflected upon the new-fallen snow,
like a reality game show,
When, to the worried staffers eyes should appear
Trump's cabinet dressed up like a herd of deer,

Trump himself was dressed all in fur (that Jr. killed), from his head to his foot
And his gaudy clothes were covered in coal and soot;
A bundle of conspiracy theories he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His bloodshot eyes - how they twinkled on his orange face;
His droll anus-looking mouth that always energized his base,
Trump spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
Setting up campaign signs that said, "Vote for me, or you're a jerk!"

He waddled to his limousine as fast as he could go,
shouting out to his minions in the increasing snow,
"Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm off to Mar-A-Lago!"

Merry Christmas from The White House Staff 
and the crazy bastard in the Oval Office!

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Days of Rage: Trump Drops All Pretence and Embraces Putin in Public


                                         Good Day World!

Their romance was going to be discovered someday. Putin knew that when he used Trump's ego to further his aims. 

After Trump was impeached by Congress for (among other charges) pushing a phony conspiracy theory (originating from Putin) about the Ukraine to get dirt from its new president to use against his political opponent, he went into a rage.

That led to a doubling down of his efforts to pursue the Ukraine conspiracy (despite being impeached for it) with help from his sleazy lawyer/friend Rudy Giuliani.

Meanwhile, Trump openly embraced Putin's comments when the Russian dictator said, "U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment is far-fetched," and "The U.S. Senate will reject it."

Let's not forget Russia is one of our nation's deadliest foes, and the fact that Putin openly stood up for Trump sends out a clear message of chaos that isn't going to go unnoticed in the international community, or in America.

Related: Trump Believed Ukraine Conspiracy Because 'Putin Told Me'

What happened next stunned members from both side of the aisle; Trump refused to sign the bipartisan budget deal for 2020 unless... the part about funding the Ukraine next year was taken out!

Simply put, Trump threatened to shut down the government unless he got his way about the Ukraine. This overt extortion shows how serious Trump is about holding the Ukraine hostage.

He still wants the Ukrainian President Zelensky to publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden and his son to discredit his biggest challenger ahead of next years election.

Related: Newly released emails offer more details in timeline of pause to Ukraine aid

Also: Emails show Trump asked about Ukraine aid before Zelensky call

Trump is an unhinged sociopath that will stop at nothing to get re-elected. His collusion with foreign powers is no secret now as he calls upon Communist China, and other counties, to find dirt on Biden on national TV.

Ahead of his senate trial, Trump is at his Mar-A-Lago resort hanging out with his billionaire buddies and right-wing advisers from Fox News, conjuring up more conspiracy theories to muddy any facts that may come up in the future.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Blog Break Until Presidential Election is Over

I finally hit the wall today. I can't think of what to say about all of the madness going on in this country right now. I'm a writer...