Why Trump is Always Praising Al Capone:

The environment Donald J. Trump grew up in was something out of a mob movie. His wealthy racist father gave him a "small loan" of $60.7 million to start a business. 

His business and personal mentor Roy Cohn was a prominent legal and political fixer in the 1970s and during the 1980s. Cohn was the epitome of corruption, cons and chaos in New York City.

While Cohn taught Trump the ropes, he also represented mobster Anthony Salerno who along with other mobsters controlled the concrete unions in New York. Cohn introduced Salerno to Trump which later led to Salerno aiding Trump in the construction of Trump Tower by providing concrete at reduced prices. It wouldn't be the last time Trump worked with mobsters.

Trump's behavior and language has been likened to that of mobsters by numerous news outlets, who have noted that his speech is often peppered with terms typically used by members of the mob, like late Gambino family boss John Gotti. 

Trump used the House Wreckers Union Local 95 run by the Genovese crime family to demolish the Bonwit Teller department store in order to make way for Trump Tower. A large swath of nonunion, undocumented Polish and South Korean demolition workers to work alongside its union members.

Trump created his first name licensing deal with a luxury limo rental company owned by John Staluppi, a "made" member of the Colombo crime family. 

Trump had many other alliances with mobsters, but I think you get the point. He dreamed of being a Godfather-like leader taking control of the entire country and to some extent he's realized that dream.

I suspect that Trump singles out Al Capone as the ultimate bad-assed crime lord because of all the publicity Capone has historically enjoyed during his lifetime and in the afterlife. It's that simple for a malicious narcissist who always wants to be the center of attention.

The Don is currently busy trying to bully Brazil by intervening in their judicial system by punishing a judge who is overseeing the trial of Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of the country and hard-right MAGA ally.

Bolsonaro (Trump's longtime buddy) is accused of orchestrating a violent mob against the government following his election loss, in a similar manner to Trump's Jan. 6 attack to overthrow the American people's choice for a leader.

Like a mob boss Trump is using the powers available to him to levy a 50% tariff against Brazil's legal government. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lulu da Silva made it clear that Trump is not going to stop legal proceedings against the man who plotted to overthrow the Brazilian government.

As it Stands, "You can go a long way with a smile...you can also go further with a kind word and a gun." - Al Capone

Why You Can't Shame a Politician

Once, decades ago I thought there were honest politicians. 

I was inspired by the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring the great Jimmy Stewart. Watching him stand up to the corrupt politicians in Congress and convincing them to do the right thing really impressed me. 

Of course, I was young and naive. I actually thought that justice always prevailed and that men and women in politics stood up for their constituents and always told them the truth.

Time is the great leveler and as the years went by, I kept up with what was happening in American politics and discovered why politicians cannot be shamed in the real world. Their careers are more important than anything in their lives to the point they sacrifice their dignity and humanity. It's all about the money, fame, and power.

Modern politicians have set new standards of corruption that have led to an authoritarian state and a dictator who defies all of the rules and the Constitution. 

The majority of politicians have no spines. It's never been truer than now with the MAGA cult as the perfect example. Once conservative Republicans morphed into mindless vassals of Trump. They disavowed realities in order to join the cult. Their capitulation has been disgusting to watch as they ditch their longtime agendas and shamelessly follow Trump like lemmings.

There was actually a time in our history when shame was a powerful force in politics. But that's changed and we're now living in an era of post-shame politics. For a politician willing to put up with embarrassment, condemnation, a raft of jokes from late night comedians and swarms of reporters chasing them day after day, surviving scandals is easier than ever before.

The fact is short of arrest; there's little way to rein in a shameless politician who doesn't care what people think. If you are completely shameless, then you can get away with quite a bit in our world.

It has become extremely normal for politicians to lie or say something irretrievably dumb on purpose, in order to create a politically beneficial controversy. It's a way to set an agenda.

People's indifference is the best breeding ground for corruption to grow. As long as we don't hold our elected official's accountable justice will just be a dream.

As it Stands, imagine if Mr. Smith would have tried to shame our politicians today... they would have probably arrested him and charged him with being woke! 

Where Have All the Boundaries Gone? Long Time Passing

The transition from the 20th century to the 21st century hasn't been easy on an old geezer like me.

I was born in 1950, a time of war between America and North Korea. I've witnessed some pretty big changes in our society these past decades.

Rather than address all of the inventions I've seen in my lifetime there's another subject I'd like to share with you and see what you think.

Social boundaries

The curse word fuck that was once only used sparingly is now commonly used in public discourse. The president of the United States blurted out the fuck word in a recent interview and no one was really shocked. Of course, it was Trump and nothing he does shocks anyone anymore. As far as I know no other president in modern times said fuck out loud while publicly speaking.

I clearly remember the furor caused by a young comedian's monologue in 1972 at Summerfest in Milwaukee. His name was George Carlin, and his performance of a monologue called, "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television." shocked the public and critics. He was arrested for disturbing the peace after the show.

The words, in the order Carlin listed them are: "shit," "piss," "fuck," "cunt," "cocksucker," "motherfucker," and "tits." At the time broadcasters on the public airways considered those words highly taboo. 

None of those words would raise an eyebrow nowadays. I challenge you to find a drama, comedy, action film, love story, horror film, or documentary that doesn't have words from Carlin's list. It's easy. The ultimate swear word fuck has been neutered in the 21st century. Everyday conversations are scattered with sick slang trying to provoke reactions from an increasingly jaded public.

Social discourse no longer has boundaries. Maybe that's good. Considering the 1st Amendment and all. But part of me misses when every vile word possible wasn't bantered around so casually like it is now. I admit being crude and rude can be funny. But there's no longer any limits in today's public dialogue. 

I guess that makes me sound like an old fogie telling kids to get off my lawn. 

I'm all for free speech, however. That's not the point. I'm a writer who respects words, but I think there's a time and place for rude and crude language. Seeing that kind of language so prevalent in our world today is kind of sad. It's sure not a good argument for a supposedly advanced society in the 21st century.

As it Stands, "Boundaries aren't all bad. That's why there are walls around mental institutions." - Peggy Noonan 

Washingtonian Animal Farm: Pigs in Power

It's come to my attention that George Orwell's satirical novella Animal Farm has a 21st century parallel in Washington D.C. 

A whistleblower in the current administration has been documenting the rise of an old razorback named Trump and his ongoing seizure of complete power and corruption in Congress. 

We have pig bastards mucking up every agency and shitting daily in the halls of power. Like the novella we are viewing the effects of unchecked authority and piles of propaganda put out daily in the name of a totalitarian regime.

The swine, united under the moniker of MAGA, are abusing our court systems and blatantly bashing the rule of law. Pam Bondi is leading the shoat's attack on truth and the American way. Stephen Miller, an experienced muckraker, keeps his snout to the ground searching for immigrants like truffles throughout the country.    

Unlike Orwell's groundbreaking novella where the pigs were the smart ones, the Washingtonian pigs are stupid and blindly follow a demented old bore wherever he leads them. Loyal porkers proudly reject reality for Trump, throwing muck on the walls of truth with piggish abandonment.

In the book the animals establish a government based upon the Seven Commandments of Animalism, ensuring equality and justice.

The Washingtonian pigs have Project 2025 as their guiding principles for destroying equality and justice.

The one thing about Animal Farm that strikes me is how the pigs were able to dominate the much larger animals though the use of propaganda. The comparison today with MAGA is more than symbolic. People can be swayed into believing anything if the pig shit is deep enough.

As it Stands, I'm leaving the last word up to George Orwell who said, "But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."