The Day a Journalistic Icon Resigned in Disgrace: Dan Rather Interview Set for Sunday

It's been nearly two decades since journalistic icon Dan Rather resigned from CBS after reporting a discredited story about then-President George W. Bush.

He's back. Watch for him on an upcoming episode of CBS Sunday Morning where the 92-year-old former anchor will talk about his work at CBS and his life in news. I'm looking forward to watching this interview.

He's going to be interviewed about the film "Rather," a documentary about his rise to prominence in media and his swift fall from grace.

For those who are unaware of what took down Rather it was about an incident when he cited forged memos disparaging Bush's behavior while he served in the National Guard in the 1970s allegedly written by his commanding officer at the time. 

It was fake news. Apparently Rather and his team did a poor job of vetting the memos and ran the story on "60 Minutes." What really made it bad was it appeared to be a naked attempt to make Bush look bad two months before the 2004 election.

With all of the misinformation we're currently seeing this election year Rather's ethical crime doesn't seem that egregious when you compare it to what's in the news today.

The important distinction between Rather and Fox News is that Rather didn't lie on purpose. His crime was not fully investigating the story. But he resigned and admitted he fouled up in that one incident.

Fox News however turns out fake news daily and when sued for lying the owners still continued to lie with impunity despite hefty fines.

The disgraced anchor's downfall was the subject of the 2015 film "Truth" staring Cate Blachett and Robert Redford, who played Rather.

In 2021, Rather spoke about "misinformation" on PBS NewsHour Weekend, warning on-air how "misinformation, outright lies, propaganda are rampant on the internet."

Despite his controversial exit, Rather has still been a fixture in the media, making regular appearances on CNN and MSNBC during the Trump presidency and is a prolific anti-Trump tweeter.

As it Stands, the upcoming CBS interview should be fascinating with the contrast of journalism today and in Rather's heyday.

A Life Changer: Living With an Awareness of Mortality

     Since my father died last August, there's been other deaths in my family and among good friends. During this tough stretch I've had an epiphany. Several in fact.

1. Life is too short. Death is lurking behind every challenge in our lives. Naturally and accidently. It can come like a thief in the night. 

2. I've become aware of my own mortality, and it calls for changes in my life. I'm re-evaluating my priorities and unmasking the frivolous, empty pursuits that our culture often validates.

3. Time is the most precious of all commodities. It can't be bought. Period.

Fully embracing the fact that I'm not going to live forever is bringing my values into a sharper focus.

Material things have little, or no, sway with me these days. I don't feel like I need a new house or wardrobe to be happy. 

The subject of social justice is foremost in my thoughts as I watch with some trepidation as Trump tries to tear our Constitutional Democracy apart. 

I've always believed all men/women are equal. That belief is stronger now than ever before.

As a combat veteran with PTSD, I've been struggling with death since I left Vietnam in 1970. I couldn't resolve what I did and saw in the Nam. At times I even embraced death as a solution to my misery.

After 54 years of intrusive thoughts, I think I've come to a peaceful place in this last year as my loved ones passed away. Thanks to Shirley, my wife of 49 years, my priorities are more meaningful now. 

As it Stands, coming to terms with mortality late in life is not all that unusual. Perhaps the saying about old age making us wiser has some merit.

Here's a Collection of Cartoons Because You Need to Laugh

It's time for a laugh break.

With all the chaos and hatred engulfing our country we need to divert our attention toward something positive. Laughing.

After combing through the web, I've selected the following cartoons for your viewing pleasure. 

An interesting sidenote... I've never done this before and am curious how well it does with readers. Let me know what you think.

 

As it Stands

Have a great day and don't forget how to laugh when you feel like crying!

What Options Do Republicans Have if Trump Implodes Tomorrow?

"Well, here's another fine mess you've gotten me into!"

-Oliver Hardy: Sons of the Desert

Republicans have gotten themselves in a fine mess, politically, and morally.

They've staked their future to a former twice impeached president who is facing criminal trials in four different jurisdictions and is a convicted rapist. Not exactly the perfect presidential candidate in anyone's book.

Trump is a walking time bomb. He's already cracking during the first week of his first of four trials. Between falling asleep and farting in court he's been the picture of an old man giving way to his dementia. 

Because Trump has permanent Tourette's syndrome and no self-control he's already at odds with the judge and has violated gag orders with impudence in at least ten examples. The judge really doesn't want to put Trump in jail for the violations and is bending over backward by just giving him financial fines and second and third chances.

A court clash is inevitable. It's such a tough call because the judge wants him in the courtroom. If Judge Merchan decides he has no other choice but to put him in jail accommodations could be made. 

The Manhattan Correctional Center, where Jeffery Epstein ended his life, is only about 100 or so yards away from the courthouse in Manhattan where his trial is taking place. Trump could be confined there and participate in the trial through a video link.

It's also possible Trump could be put in a gilded cage, like Trump Tower or Mar-a-Lago because the Secret Service does have an obligation to protect him.

If jailed - regardless of where he's confined - Trump will play the martyr card and go to new heights as the victim of the century.

However, he could snap and lose whatever tiny bit of sanity he processed and go full looney and be confined to a padded room. With a full-on gibbering idiot Republicans would have to turn to... who?

Exactly. If the day comes and Trump implodes, he's going to guarantee the Republican's will be a minority party for at least the next decade.

There is no plan B. As unimaginable as that may seem to be it's true. Trump hasn't even named his VP pick yet, who could at least be a possible alternative.

Nikki Haley? I don't think so. I have an idea though. They could name Tucker Carlson as their candidate as most of the MAGA cult (once called the Republican Party) currently follows him religiously.

As it Stands, Carlson would also go a long way in keeping Republicans a minority for more than a decade.

It's a Mystery: Why Did Speaker Johnson Suddenly Flip on Ukraine?

A while back, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Christian, said that he felt like Moses with God parting the sea and elevating him to the speakership.

That dubious blessing turned out to be somewhat of a curse as Johnson has been caught up in a maelstrom of MAGA morons who are enabling Putin and threatening to vacate his seat if he helped Ukraine out.

At first it appeared Johnson was sympatico with the far-right fire starters in the House and a good soldier for Trump who summoned him to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring two weeks ago.

But something happened. No one is sure why Johnson opened the floor to vote on aid legislation for America's allies. It was a sure thing Marjorie Taylor Greene and other ultra-right morons would go after him if he did. He knew it but ignored their threats.

Why? Johnson hasn't been a profile in courage in his entire career and now people are suddenly impressed with something he did - Republicans and Democrats alike.

Was it another biblical moment for him like Paul's journey on the Road to Damascus moment when he totally changed his beliefs and acknowledged God's presence in his life?

I'm going to go out on a limb here... but I doubt it. I'm not a particularly religious guy and I tend to look at hard cold facts over miracles. The fact is - despite his big move - Johnson is still Trump's creature.

My guess is it was a convergence of events that convinced him not to hang our allies out to dry. 

His son just graduated from the Naval Academy. Meeting with two GOP house chairs and our intelligence community was a turning point when they laid out the carnage that would follow if a bill wasn't passed. 

Pressure from conservative Republicans who wanted to keep their seats in prominently Democratic areas also played a part in his decision. 

Perhaps he realized he didn't want to be known as the man who turned over our democratic ally to Russia.

The important message is Johnson did the right thing. The bill passed and he seems confident that he'll withstand MTG's lame assault against him. Maybe because - believe it or not - Democrats have told him they would support him in an ouster vote.

As it Stands, we may never know all the reasons that motivated Johnson to do the right thing. Let's just be thankful he did.

The Realization That You Can't Always Get What You Want

"And I went down to the demonstration

To get my fair share of abuse

Singing "We're going vent our frustration

If we don't, we're going blow a fifty-amp fuse"

Sing it to me, honey...

You can't always get what you want"

The Rolling Stones

Generally, when we reach a certain age, we come to the conclusion we're not always going to get what we want in life. Reality intrudes with practicality in most cases.

However, there's a lot of wealthy families whose children get most of what they want like their parents do. It's called entitlement. But that doesn't mean they get EVERYTHING they want.

I desperately want the LA Lakers to beat the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs despite sports guru's not giving them a chance in hell. 

Okay. They lost game one. It doesn't mean the series is over... at least not in my mind. I'm prepared to back them to the bitter end. It's called being a fan.

The odds are I'm not going to get what I want, and I'll have to wait until next season.

Americans are tired of the constant political warfare being waged over the airways and social media. Most people just want some civility restored where it's safe to debate without going nuclear.

I say to those exhausted people you won't get what you want unless you vote for change and fight for truth and defend facts. Even then you may not get what you want...but at least you gave it a shot.

Being human we don't all react nicely when we don't get what we want. Some people, like rapist and former president Donald Trump throw tantrums and threaten people with harm when their will is thwarted.

There's no such thing as a good loser in 2024. The fact that there's going to be millions of sore losers - regardless of the results - is scary. 

I've come to the conclusion that people are strange. Me included. I can go all day without eating with very little discomfort, but I can barely contain my uncertainty before each Laker game.

Part of me suspects we suffer whether we get what we want or not. If I don't get it, I suffer the loss. If I do get it, I still suffer because my team may lose next time.

As it Stands, there's nothing wrong in going after what you want - it's how you deal with the results that determines the difference between being happy or sad.

'Sleepy Joe' or 'Dozing Donny?' Whose Your Favorite Old Guy?

Ring Announcer: Ladies and gentleman...

welcome to fight night in America!

Tonight's pugilists and presidential candidates are, "Dozing Donny" in the red corner representing the MAGA cult, and in the blue corner we have "Sleepy Joe" representing the majority of average Americans.

Referee: Okay gentleman I expect a clean fight (Trump breaks out in laughter) and no low blows! 

Round 1

Reporter: "The two men are slowly circling the ring uttering curses.

Two minutes later..."The two antagonists continue to circle the ring uttering curses.

"Just before the bell rang Sleepy Joe suddenly unleashed a combination of punches while Dozing Donny was ranting about windmills and whales. As he plodded back to his corner "Dozing Donny" complained the fight was fixed.

Round 2

Reporter: "Tired from circling around in the first round the two aging opponents stood to-to-toe and tried to keep their balance while throwing awkward punches at each other.

"At one point Dozing Donny threw a sloth like punch to Sleepy Joe's groin area causing him to take a step back and look at the referee for a call. When none came Sleepy Joe delivered his famous left-handed "Scranton Strike" to Dozing Donny's jaw.

It was enough to make Dozing Donny stumble over to his corner and cry to his trainer who was trying not to look disgusted."

Round 3

Reporter: Dozing Donny has refused to come out of his corner until Sleepy Joe agrees not to hit him in the face again. The referee went over to the judges, and they all are conferring about what to do.

"Meanwhile Dozing Donny has his IPad out and his calling his MAGA minions to save him from further punishment.

"Okay. Here comes the referee. He's going to the center of the ring and calling for the fighters to come over to him.

Referee: "It's legal to punch your opponent in the face. You should have known that before getting into the ring in the first place. Either keep fighting or slink off to your lair as a loser."

As Dozing Donny was being helped out of the ring he shouted, "You're going to hear from my lawyers." 

Post Fight Interview

Reporter: "So how do you feel about sending Dozing Donny back to his lair?"

Sleepy Joe: "What?"

Reporter: "How does it feel to win?"

Sleepy Joe: "It reminds me of that time I had to lay down the law on CornPop and threaten to drag him off the 3m diving board."

As it Stands, an injection of humor in these dire times is the best medicine.

Confused and Abused: Average Americans Don't Know What or Who to Believe In

The last decade has been a turning point in American society where traditional norms and truth have fallen alongside the wayside and chaos reigns supreme.

Factual information has been overwhelmed with misinformation and lies streaming from right-wing politicians and activists. 

The result is most Americans are confused, scared, and plain sick of the rampant hate spreading around the nation like a deadly cancer.

The country is facing fascist threats from Donald Trump's cult who want him to be a dictator. Right-wing extremist agendas are busy taking away women's rights and the rights of minorities and LGBTQ communities. 

The MAGA movement is a direct threat to our Constitutional Democracy and the freedoms it enshrines. Facts are clouded by conspiracies embraced by what use to be the Republican Party.

It's no wonder Americans are confused about what America really stands for these days. There are two competing narratives that have divided the country - one based in facts and history, and the other where neither applies to the alternate universe being created by Trump and his minions.

Demonstrating how confused people are right now you have two presidential candidates - one a former twice-impeached president, who has been charged with 88 felonies in four jurisdictions and is a convicted rapist who is currently in court for bribing a porn star days before the 2016 election - and the other a current president (Biden) who has no criminal history and has helped the economy make a huge comeback after a terrible pandemic.

Easy choice, right? Not so fast.

Believe it or not polls keep showing the two candidates tied and all predictions are it's going to be a close race. I don't understand how any sane person could pick Trump.

MAGA morons are abusing our judicial system and Congress with impunity. Trump gets away with fleecing his own followers and cheating at business and golfing. He loves Putin and is modeling himself after him. He's a traitor.

In this atmosphere the average American's rights are being abused daily at the state and federal levels by the orange faced domestic terrorist who is running for the presidency in November. 

Here's a terrifying thought. How many people won't even vote because they don't like either candidate? That is how Democracy dies. When a majority of Americans don't vote, bad things can happen.

As it Stands, do yourself a solid and thoroughly research articles and what people are claiming in real time to dispel any confusion you may have. 

From Russia with Love: Marjorie Taylor Greene and GOP Right-Wingers Praised for Not Funding Ukraine

Russian State media can't get enough of Marjorie Taylor Greene. 

She's proven to be a superstar for actively stopping aid to Ukraine.

Her horsey-faced mug has become a regular feature on Russian TV. And the rest of the right-wing Putin-loving GOP members have willingly joined her in becoming traitors for Trump.

Some people in Congress on the Republican side realize what a cancer she is for the party and have retired early to avoid being associated with her toxic lies. 

House Republican Ken Buck, who recently retired from the House after being disgusted with how chaotic things in the House were went on CNN yesterday and called her "Moscow Marge" who is willingly helping the Russian's propaganda machine.

Two senior Republican lawmakers, the chairs of the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees, said their colleagues are echoing Russian state propaganda against Ukraine.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair for the Foreign Affairs committee acknowledged what has been clear for some time: "Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it's infected a good chunk of the party's base." 

Republican Rep. Mike Turner, chair for the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN that anti-Ukraine messages from Russia are "Being uttered on the House floor."

The Good News and the Bad News

The good news is that some Republicans are admitting there's a traitorous connection between Russia and some Republican congressman.

The bad news is that they are not going to do a damn thing about it! It's still business as usual in the nut house where anti-American squirrels are sharing lies at an amazing rate.

What would have Republican saint Ronald Reagan have thought about that? His beloved party infiltrated by communists and their sympathizers.

As it Stands, I've quoted this before, and I'll probably quote it again, "We have met the enemy, and he is us." -POGO

GOP Governors Unite in Fight to Stop Unions in their States

Six Republican Governors have gathered to warn their residents against the evils of unionization which they claim would threaten their jobs and values.

The governors high-profile attempt to head off unionization in their states was spurred by The United Auto Workers (UAW) voting to unionize a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennesse later this week.

The UAW is also targeting more than a dozen factories in the south as it attempts to break out of its Midwestern stronghold.

What the Republican governors are trying to do is to preserve their economic models built on relatively low pay and minimal worker voice according to Stephen Silva, a professor at America University.

So far Tennessee Republicans have thwarted two UAW attempts to unionize the VW factory in 2014 and 2019. They've been ramping up their opposition recently with news conferences and public statements.

Like everything these days, the whole issue is a political battle between Democrats and Republicans. In their joint statement the six governors wrote, 

"We have serious reservations that the UAW leadership can represent our values. They proudly call themselves democratic socialists and seem more focused on helping President Biden get reelected than on the autoworker jobs being cut at plants they already represent."

The governors of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas are united in their opposition to the UAW.

Democratic state senators in Tennessee criticized the Republican governors on social media this week.

"Autoworkers in the South are ready to make history this week. #StandUp, Chattanooga!" Sen. London Lamar posted. 

To put the six governor's action into prospective Silva, who has closely studied unionization in the South, called their statement "unprecedented and shocking" and it discouraged workers from exercising their legal right to organize.

As it Stands, the wealthy's war against the common man is still very much part of our chaotic society.

Truth Social: Betting on Ideology is Risky... Especially if it Involves Trump

Step right up folks and buy Trump's meme stock if you love the former president and rapist.

Don the Con's stock market debut with Truth Social is a blast from the past. Gullible people buying into another Trump scheme to fleece the masses. Remember Trump University? Not only did it fail but Trump was forced to pay $25 million to the victims.

At first the initial offering price of Truth Social (DJT) was about $50 dollars to a peak of $80 in late March. Since then, the share price has plummeted a staggering 68% to Tuesday's price at $25. 

Stock experts have warned people all along that DJT stock is nothing more than an illusion. A fairy tale story that isn't going to happen in the real world.

Trump's latest con is meeting financial reality according to Tyler Richey, an analyst at Sevens Report Research, during an interview with ABC. 

The only hope Trump has is if enough of his cult followers buy into his scam and the very real possibility their doing it to support him financially and don't care if they end up losing their investments.

However, "Truth Social is not attracting and holding users and it's not attracting significant advertising revenue," Jay Ritter, a professor of finance at the University of Florida told ABC news recently.

"Its current business model is a colossal failure," he concluded.

Investors just have to look at Trump's past business ventures where he ended up filing bankruptcy seven times.

Canny investors don't bet on ideology because it's too risky. But these are crazy times where a former president and insurrectionist indicted in four jurisdictions is the GOP nominee for president.

Anything could happen.

As it Stands, it remains to be seen if Trump supporters have any more money left to invest/donate in Trump's latest rip-off after being constantly dunned for over a year to pay his legal bills.

Trial Begins: What Are the Chances of Convicting a Former President of a Felony?

Once again, Don the Con is making history for all the wrong reasons.

No former president has ever been indicted for a felony and forced to go to trial.

Add eighty-eight felony charges in four jurisdictions and you have the most corrupt former president and current GOP candidate for the presidency in American history.

Trump's hush money trial is here. Jury selection has begun with a dour Trump listening to prospective jurors who may decide to throw him in jail with a guilty verdict.

The whole thing is a political spectacle like the public has never seen before. Legions of reporters from all over the world clustered around the courthouse like moths around a flame as the drama unfolded inside.

There are 6,000 prospective jurists who have been called up by the court and the long process of vetting them as begun under Trump's baleful gaze.

Publicity for this potentially weeks long trial has reached a fever pitch with the legacy media and right-wing outlets competing to flood American households. It'll be a war on truth. Facts versus lies. Reality versus an alternative universe.

The feeling I'm getting is there's a good chance Trump may elude justice. I've carefully followed what legal experts have been talking about in this trial of the century, and it looks like the prosecution is going to have a rough road to hoe.

There's always the possibility of a MAGA mole worming his/hers way on to the jury. Keep in mind that Trump's followers are a cult and there's no extremes that they won't take to defend him. One determined follower can stop justice from happening.

As it Stands, this is just one of four criminal trials Trump faces this year. The stakes couldn't be higher. It's Democracy versus Autocracy.

GOP House Members Plan on Protecting Home Appliances Instead Giving Ukraine Aid

The GOP House's never-ending saga to stall passing a Ukraine aid bill gets more ridiculous by the week.

Their latest tactic is pure MAGA-inspired bullshit with the usual heavy dose of hypocrisy with a side of stupidity.

MAGA Mike Johnson came back from paying Trump homage Friday at Mar-a-Lago with a brilliant plan to introduce a series of six bills, each relating to government regulations and standards on household appliances.

They just got to save those dishwashers, clothes, stoves and refrigerators that are under fire from the evil liberal Democrats. 

Right now, MAGA Mike has bought himself some time against Marjorie Taylor Greene's efforts to oust him as speaker of the house.

-------------------------------------------------

The bills to be reviewed are the following:

* Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act

* Liberty in Laundry Act (??? Set those t-shirts free!)

*Clothes Dryers Reliability Act

* Refrigerator Freedom Act (who knew they were being held hostage?)

* Affordable Air Conditioning Act

* Stop Unaffordable Dishwater Standards Act

---------------------------------------------------

These bills are more important than giving aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan according to the House MAGA morons shilling for Trump.

Who doesn't think this whole idea wasn't driven by Trump and his numerous phobias about low water flow and stoves?

The waste of time on cultural wars is always a good way to keep his minions happy, but Trump is going to have to yank MTG's leash back a bit before she actually bites MAGA Mike's skinny leg!

As it Stands, the House is on shaky ground with warring Republicans and Trump in the driver's seat.

It's Time the Mainstream Media Admits This is not a Normal Election

The mainstream media is sending signals that they don't know what to do about the most corrupt presidential candidate in history.

Trump gets away with horrendous threats against the majority of Americans daily. You just don't see it consistently covered in the mainstream media which hasn't figured out how to deal with Trump's daily attacks against his perceived enemies.

It's really sad that the industry which enshrines objectivity is at a loss on how to cover an election where one candidate is a normal politician, and the other is a convicted rapist who tried to steal the 2020 election. 

Publishers and editors are afraid to accurately portray events for fear of being biased. Instead, they would rather stumble into a dictatorship rather than to take a side.

In their efforts to be neutral the press can't seem to handle the fact that this is not just a regular election between a Republican and a Democrat. 

It must be understood that ignoring or avoiding Trump's dangerous behavior is a mistake. An error of the first order. We're talking about Democracy versus Autocracy. The most meaningful election in America's history is upon us.

It's not too late for American media to fulfill its basic obligation to report on Trump's escalating threats in a consistent and accurate fashion.

The press needs to stop pretending that Trump rallies calling for the death of Democrats are just politics as usual.

Trump's cult uses a variety of tactics meant to train and socialize the public, including media and cultural elites, into compliance and submission. He uses the threat of violence, coupled with the promise of positive rewards for loyalty and "patriotism."

In essence, sociopath Trump is authorizing his MAGA followers to do whatever it takes to get him re-elected.

None of this is normal. It's the mainstream media's duty to inform Americans of the threats Trump presents to their freedoms on a daily basis. 

As it Stands, worrying about appearing biased (even when you have the receipts) is not serving anyone but Trump.

Mike Johnson and Trump to Make 'Major' Announcement About Election Integrity (!)

House Speaker MAGA Mike is in trouble with some of the far-right members of the House so he's going to make a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago to do a walk-of-shame to save himself.

The supposed reason he's going to the House of Trump is to make a "major" announcement on election integrity. The irony of election deniers talking about voting integrity shouldn't be ignored.

The spineless House Speaker is under attack from ultra-MAGA star Marjorie Taylor Greene who wants to oust the jellyfish behind the podium. Johnson is hoping his master Donald Trump will get him out of the mess Greene's causing.

I think Johnson is in for a surprise if he thinks Trump will solve his dilemma. He's just going to be Trump's useful idiot in a crazed rant Friday to the press about election integrity... of all things!

The two traitors are going to talk about preventing non-citizens from voting. Never mind that there's already a ban on non-citizens in federal elections from voting and it's not a common occurrence.

The event is simply a dog whistle for white supremacists and racists across the country. It'll be like watching Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels talk about world peace. 

The real reason for Johnson's walk-of-shame is how he can help Trump's campaign for president. 

Johnson knows that while groveling for relief from Greene's attacks that he's going to have to ramp up his efforts to enable Trump's corrupt campaign... and that doesn't bother him a bit.

As far as Greene goes, she's a Trumpie trying to outdo the master with crazy stunts and rants designed to get herself attention. It's a 50-50 chance that Trump will call off his bitch because she does cause so much chaos in the House - a situation Trump enjoys.

As it Stands, to be clear, Trump is counting on the ignorance of his followers who more than likely don't know there's already a ban on non-citizen voting. 

An Open Season to Kill: New York Politician Plans on Having a 'Personal Militia'

    A protest outside the Nassau County Legislature. Photo by Zoe Hussain.

A Nassau County politician is pushing a plan to create a list of deputized, armed civilians, to step in during local emergencies.

This despite Nassau County being called the safest community in America by US News and Report.

The county already has roughly 2,500 police officers and the National Guard to assist during emergencies and enjoys an exceedingly low crime rate.

So why the need of an additional armed group? The answer is simple and also a reflection of our times.

Nassau Executive Bruce Blakeman is a Trump cult member. As such he believes he needs a personal army answerable to him and MAGA supporter Sheriff Anthony LaRocco who is part of the plot.

The plan has been deemed dangerous by Nassau County residents and legislators who rallied against Blakeman outside of the Nassau County Legislature on Tuesday in Mineola, New York.

"This is an open season to kill" Barbara Powell, the president of Hempstead's NAACP branch at a protest.

Detractors of this goon force fear the plan will protect some while endangering others - namely residents of color in Nassau County.

Among the concerns raised it remains unclear how they would work with the already sizeable Nassau County Police Department.

There also remains some open questions like who does this new armed group answer too?

How will they be held accountable?

How will the county bear the liability of this special force?

Historically, arming and deputizing large groups of people has always been a form of fascist violence - like the Brownshirts in Nazi Germany. 

What's happening in Nassau County is just a reflection of the culture war we've all been unwillingly dragged into by Trump the traitor.

Texas MAGA Republicans are pushing for legislation that would allow civilians to be deputized to arrest suspected (!) undocumented immigrants.

The Republican party, now referred to as Trump's cult, promotes violence to achieve their ends. Misinformation and flat-out lies are the coin of the new rising Reich under Herr Trump.

As it Stands, the only way to stop the Trump cult's march to tyranny is at the ballot box. Vote blue in November and save our Constitutional Democracy and republic.

Trump's Hush Money Trial: Is it Even Possible to Find 12 Neutral Jurors?

On April 15th more than 500 Manhattanites will be responding to notices to appear for jury selection at what could be the trial of the century.

A former president has been indicted on 34 felony counts of falsification of business records, which stems from alleged efforts to hide "hush money" payments to an adult film star Stormy Daniels. 

Potential jurors will be given a questionnaire with 42 questions, ranging from the mundane and common ("What do you do for a living?" "Have you ever served on a jury before?") to the more pointed ("Have you ever attended a rally or campaign event for any anti-Trump group or organization?").

During the potentially dayslong process of jury selection some potential jurors will be singled out for individualized questioning by Trump's lawyers and prosecutors.

{Go here to read all of the questions}

Despite all of the cautions being taken above I can still see how a Trump minion might get selected.

For starters they are going to lie. That's Trump 101. With no morale guidelines to hinder them a Trump mole can be effective at convincing an attorney of their sincerity.

Just think about it. That mole would become famous beyond their wildest dreams. The MAGA cult would nominate him/her to be a saint in the Nationalist Christian hierarchy.

Let's not be naive. It could happen. More than one mole has sabotaged a trial before in judicial history.

Which leads me to the bigger picture. There are three more felony jury trials ahead. Three more juries to be selected. The odds keep going up for a snake in the jury pool to slither past the questions and into the court room.

Everyone knows Trump. He's the biggest con man in American history... and some people love him for that and others loath and mock him. There's not an in-between in our polarized society.

So how can we expect a neutral juror in any of Trump's trials? It nearly defies logic. But that's how it's done in our increasingly chaotic judicial system.

As it Stands, maybe Orson Wells was right when he said, "Nobody gets justice. People only get good luck or bad luck."

The Rapture Didn't Happen to the Dismay of Trump-Loving Evangelicals

Thirty-two Million Americans turned out to see their last total solar eclipse until August 23, 2044.

The path of the eclipse provided wily marketers with a financial opportunity in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois. Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire and Maine.

It was like an unexpected holiday as delighted Americans loaded up on merchandise associated with the Great Northern American Eclipse.

But there were some Americans who were disappointed. Very disappointed.

Trump-loving Evangelicals were expecting to be "raptured" during the celestial event. Some other Trump cult subsidiary groups were expecting God to climb down off his throne and to anoint Trump as the next savior.

It got scary for many Trump cultists who were wearing Trump-branded safety glasses (made in China). 

Thousands of them were seen at public gatherings in parks and other outside venues with arms stretched out in front of them and walking into trees and other inanimate objects.

Casuality counts haven't been totaled yet for Trump followers who went blind using his special safety glasses.

The good news about the eclipse is it brought families together across the nation to experience a once-in-lifetime event during what has turned out to be a very stressful year. It was like the country took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

As it Stands, for a brief moment in time the majority of Americans agreed on one common thing - how cool the total eclipse was.

An 'Ice Age of the Heart': Kindness Becoming a Casualty in our Chaotic Society

I was reading a book review on The Power of Kindness by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat the other day and was motivated by its message.

The author, Piero Ferrucci, is a psychotherapist and philosopher who was a student and collaborator with Robert Assagioli, the founder of psychosynthesis. 

The following particularly struck a note with me.

Ferrucci says that we are going through "an Ice Age of the Heart" where people are often chilly and indifferent to each other.

Does this sound familiar to you? Are we less likely to talk or help out strangers now than ever before? I fear the answer is yes.

"The single-minded pursuit of money and power knocks aside the values that have animated religions for years, Ferrucci warned. "Kindness is the one trait that can save us," he asserts in his book.

Ferrucci notes that being kind is a way of life that can bring happiness to others as well as to those who practice it.

What a concept in 2024! With all the hate and fear circulating around the country we are just getting further away from being a civilized race and a workable republic.

I've read about the benefits of kindness in many books and other publications how kindness gives meaning and value to our life. As Ferrucci explains,"... kindness raisers us above our troubles and our battles and makes us feel good about ourselves."

Sometimes it's not easy being kind and forgiving in life. It can be a challenge with all the jerks running around in public, but it's not impossible.

I try my best when I go out and circulate not to be a problem, and to help others by being encouraging and understanding. It's not easy because I have PTSD. But when I do a kind act it becomes a healing experience for me and someone else.

As it Stands, kindness can become a superpower in this dark age if we all practice it. If you don't already, give it a try. It's worth it.

Existing in Pre-Apocalyptic America

How are you doing?

What drives you to keep going on in this polarized society?

What gets you out of bed each morning?

Some people say defending our republic motivates them to get up in the morning to fight for our freedoms.

Some people roll out of bed, pull on a red MAGA cap each morning and gladly donate their last dollar to pay a former twice-impeached president and billionaire's legal bills.

Families are finding themselves stranded in red and blue ideological battles that all seem inevitably pointed towards another civil war. 

Americans live with the understanding that we have more mass shootings than any other industrialized country in the world. Most say despite that they wouldn't live in any other country.

If one thing is true about Americans, we are resilient and somehow overcome what sometimes seems to be insurmountable challenges. We've managed to overcome wars and pandemics, always moving bravely forward.

To many, me included, this year is full of challenges like we've never seen before. A rogue former president who failed in a coup attempt to regain office is now the Republican candidate for president in November.

Like it or not we're teetering on a pre-apocalyptic moment in American history where the future of the nation is at stake. 

Trump has openly declared his fascist agenda and millions of his followers are already practicing their "goose stepping" for political rallies and a future dictatorship.

Political pundits say President Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck in the polls... but I don't believe that. It's just too early in the race to make that claim. Media organizations are feasting on election data and opinions for the nightly news.

What if Trump is convicted for felonies prior to the election? 

What happens if he doesn't satisfy the court in New York and post bond in 10 days? 

What about the other court cases in three different jurisdictions?

No one knows what's going to happen between now and when we make a trip to cast our ballots. Instead, we just need to push forward with our lives and follow our hearts.

As it Stands, for a brighter future Vote Blue in November.

Total Solar Eclipse is a Marketer's Dream

Capitalism is alive and thriving in America.

With some 31.6 million Americans expected to be in the path of Monday's total solar eclipse, businesses are booming.

Eclipse enthusiasts are more than willing to pay big bucks to get a prized vantage point for the rare event.

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but it will mostly pass over the Arctic Ocean, with some visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. In other words, Americans are NOT going to have a front row seat to the celestial event.

Eclipse promoters are fully aware of this and that's one of many reasons they're hawking this total solar eclipse so vigorously.

The last time a total solar eclipse struck merchandizing gold for promoters was in 2017 when savvy marketers profited from an estimated 88% of U.S. adults craning their necks skyward.

Today the digital marketplace is abuzz with memorabilia that captures the local essence of the phenomenon.

* In Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio they are mixing a traditional event with an event that combines drones and fireworks, complete with eclipse safety glasses and themed souvenirs.

* Cleveland Metroparks has rolled out a special eclipse capsule collection, featuring glow-in-the dark t-shirts and hoodies that capture the event's magic.

*Sonic introduced a limited-edition Blackout Slush Float, turning a simple drink into a collector's item with free eclipse glasses.

* The editors of Astronomy and Discover magazines are offering a solar eclipse store online at My Science Shop. You can get glasses, books and maps, and fun accessories like shirts, pins, stickers, and more.

I'm waiting for America's top grifter, Donald Trump, to roll out some ridiculous memorabilia like Trump branded gold-rimmed eclipse glasses made in third world countries that use child labor. 

They'll be fake of course and will end up blinding his rabid followers.

As it Stands, hucksters have a special place in America society as demonstrated by a convicted rapist and fraud running for the presidency.

Book Review: 'The Butterfly Tree' Offers Hope in a Challenging World

If you love reading a good book pull up a comfortable chair and open up The Butterfly Tree and enjoy.

It's an Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations by author Woody Woodburn.

The story weaves the history of a family and a giant Black Walnut tree into a tapestry depicting both of their intwined legacies full of learned knowledge of nature and humanity.

The scion of the family line "Doc" Lemuel Jamison sets the standard for healing the sick and accepting everyone regardless of their race, gender, national origin, or crimes they committed in the heat of passion.

The reader is gently guided from one generation to another in a series of challenging vignettes filled with action from the American Civil War to that un-named war in Vietnam where soldiers were sent to die for political reasons.

The characters are so real that you feel like you've known them all of your life. The shy kid who needs encouragement. The kid(s) who were kind to the shy or shunned kids passing on the lessons the Jamison family learned from one generation to another.

The Butterfly Tree is a message of hope regardless of the challenges in life. The main mission pursued by the remarkable Jamison family is to love one another, be understanding, and respect others. It sends a powerful message we could all use today in these chaotic times.

It's a story of hope blended with prose so fluid that you'll flow from one page to another effortlessly, swimming in the vivid imagery Woody has created with his insights into the human soul.

I highly recommend the Butterfly Tree and ask that you tell your friends about it and also share this tour de force on social media. It's available at Amazon and while your there write a 5-star review. You'll feel good and so will others when they read The Butterfly Tree.

About the author

Woody Woodburn was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1960. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara; and for the past four decades has been a national award-winning newspaper columnist - sports originally and general interest for the past 15 years for The Ventura County Star.