Pandemic Diary Day 86: Why Biden Should Be a One-Term President

Dear Diary,

I really like Joe Biden.

The country needs Joe's empathy. 

He's a regular Joe. Just like you, and I. He's a people person with a love for this country that guides him.

Biden is what America needs right now. A normal president, and not a wannabe dictator. Joe unites. Trump divides. His ability to reach out to minorities is critical right now, as he enjoys overwhelming support from the black community.

Why one-term is enough for Joe

Biden is no spring chicken. He's 77 years-old. Four years from now he'll be 81.   

He isn't going to be a progressive juggernaut instilling major reforms. His job is to un-do most of the things Trump's done - like neutering the EPA and restoring America's standing with the world and our old allies.

While Joe is the perfect foil in the moment against an unhinged Trump, we can't count on that being the case in 2024. Timing is everything. Right now it's Joe's time.

Regardless of how comfortable most people are with Joe today, the kind old uncle image is only going so far. He's going to be attacked relentlessly in the next four years by Republicans who'll cast him as a doddering old fool out of touch with the country.

The fact that Joe isn't talking about serving two-terms is a good for two reasons; one, the country won't be secondary to a re-election campaign like in Trump's case. Two, whoever he picks as his VP is going to be a woman, and a strong presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in 2024.

At this moment in our history the country needs a caretaker, a healer, and someone who'll unite all Americans into a common cause of equality and justice for all.

On the Homestead - Medford, Oregon

I knew it! 

All along I've been wondering why no one's talking about the upward trend of the virus in Oregon. It's been downplayed for reasons unknown to me.

What I do know is more Oregonians have been identified with coronavirus in the past week than any point since the pandemic began, according to the Oregon Health Authority. 

At the same time, residents in the hospital with the virus spiked by 40 percent. There's been 620 confirmed or presumed COVID-19 infections in the past week, including the state's largest and second-largest daily case totals of 146 on Sunday and 114 on Monday.

Quote for the Day; "Empathy healed the moment. Words were not necessary when compassion created understanding in grief." Mala Naidoo 

Pandemic Diary Day 85: America's Racial Conscience on Trial

Dear Diary,

Nationwide violence marred many of the earlier protests over George Floyd's murder. 

After two weeks of continued protests, arrests have shown a common denominator among the rabble rousers... they were white supremacists mingled with other groups who hate blacks and minorities. 

I've read reports that organized gang members also took advantage of the chaos to systematically loot in their own neighborhoods.

As I watched a video of Virginia's Klu Klux Klan leader drive his pick-up truck into a crowd of protestors a couple of days ago, I couldn't help but think about Trump's infamous Charlottesville comment, "There's good people on both sides," - referring to white nationalists on one, and protestors against racism on the other.

The groundswell of outrage and empathy resulting from Floyd's death marked an inflection point in the American racial conscience.

That point turned into a symphony stating the case for racial equality, and reverberated around the world with protests breaking out from London to Paris in sympathy.  

I'm somewhat heartened to see the most recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll that was released Sunday. The results showed Americans by a 2-to-one margin are more troubled by the actions of the police in the killing of Floyd than by violence at some protest. 

But Trump, the great divider, wants to "dominate" protestors and "start shooting when the looting starts." His hardcore approach that police are heroes and protestors are criminals worked in 2016. The so-called Law and Order candidate resonated back then.

This is 2020 and the majority of Americans have had enough of Trump. They see what he's done to the country in just three-and-a-half years, and fear what four more years could bring.

Stopping intrenched racial bias in any police department is difficult and almost impossible unless everyone is fired and all new people hired. Even then there's no assurance that everything will work out between the new hires and the public.

I've seen what I thought were other turning points in history during the last 70 years, and was disappointed when the conversations slowly disappeared into the political maelstrom of politics and polarization.

Therefore, I find myself skeptical this movement for racial equality will achieve what some hope it will. Good things may come out of it. I sure hope they do.

If Trump's hardline handling of the protests becomes another factor in his loss to Joe Biden in November, then some progress has been made. Getting rid of a racist president should go a long way towards healing.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

Portland police chief Jami Resch (Photo by Beth Nakamura/Oregonian) 
stepped down and had an African American lieutenant fill her job.

Not six months into her job Resch resigned from her position yesterday. 

The stunning change in leadership comes as city police are under fire for their handling of massive protests across the country.

Meanwhile protestors took to the streets for the 11th consecutive night of demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism.

**It's quiet in Medford - Very few people are out and about downtown. A lot of small local businesses opening to less than 50 percent capacity, following safety recommendations.

I'm still not comfortable enough to eat out yet. The way I see it, cases of the coronavirus are still on an upward trend in Oregon. They may be going up slowly, but they're steady.

Quote for the Day; "In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place." -Mahatma Gandhi

Pandemic Diary Day 84: USA Has Been Going the Wrong Way Since Trump Was Elected

Dear Diary,

If it wasn't for the electoral college America could have gone in another direction.

Away from racism.

Away from calling white supremacists "...good people too."

The day Trump was sworn in, democracy took a hit like never before. A sociopath, con man, and egotist set about stripping away people's rights and protections in pursuit of a dictatorship.

After three-and-a-half years of his ruinous reign, the majority of Americans think the country is going in the wrong direction. 

It's official

According to a collection of polls released yesterday, 80 percent of Americans believe we're going in the wrong direction. That's a massive majority of very unhappy, and worried people.

It's taken his total lack of leadership during the pandemic and the national protests for equality and justice, to fully expose what a despicable leader he is.

Fun fact: Trump is approaching 20,000 fact-checked lies this week. Are they finally catching up to him and causing problems? It appears so. You can't lead when people no-longer trust anything you say.

It seems like an eternity between now and November 3rd. That's because I don't know what horrible thing(s) Trump will do tomorrow, or the next day. Continued chaos is guaranteed.

I'm surprised to see the call for racial equality and justice for George Floyd turn into a worldwide protest. There's been a strong fascist movement marginalizing minorities in Europe and other countries for too long. 

The widespread pushback by citizens in major cities got it's spark here in America with the Black Lives Matter movement. We should be proud of that.

Now that the fire has been lit, and the challenge picked up, America has a chance to show the world we are still the leading democracy that bears duplicating.

For this to happen, Americans have to dump Trump at the ballot box.

Whether it's in our police departments, fire departments, or the government itself, we need to set a shining example of democracy for people around the world. 

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

Cheers! 
It's beer-drinking time at the bar in our backyard. 

The weather has been nice - a little rain on the weekend - but week days have been warm (80s and 90s); perfect for gardening or drinking beer.

**Not good news
Forestry officials are predicting a severe and complex wildfire season amid a drought and COVID-19. 

To make matters worse, officials are still searching for money to pay for it! I sure hope the Rogue Valley isn't filled with smoke again like two years ago. Our air quality was the worst in the nation for over a week!

**COVID stats - No new deaths - number is still 161. Confirmed coronavirus cases climbed to 4,570. We still have a slow upward trend of cases and have not leveled off, yet we've entered Phase Two of the state reopening. Not sure what to think about this.

Quote for the Day; "It's better to walk alone than going with a crowd that's going in the wrong direction." -Anonymous

Pandemic Diary Day 83: A Worldwide Call For Equality Starts in America

Dear Diary,

The spark may have started in the United States with the video of four policeman murdering an unarmed black man, but the tinder was laid worldwide.

Racists - whose actions have become too frequent in Europe and America - were confronted by thousands of people around the globe calling for an end to racism and demanding social justice, for two weeks now.

Fascism has been raising it's ugly head around the world for years now. America is fighting another war with fascist forces from within. The Nazis were easy to identify in WWII. Today's fascists wrap themselves in the cloak of the Republican Party under a wannabe Hitler.

Nationalism and white supremacy has blended into a wealthy quasi- conservative culture led by Trump. What's happening now with the protests is a preview of things to come. Americans are tired of racism. Cities, large and small, have made that message clear.

Equality and justice is the goal of all good Americans. Watching the protests, regardless of where they're being held, I see as many whites as I do blacks participating. 

That is history in the making. Looking back at past civil rights protests in the 1960s, and over the years, most of the people marching were of color.

We're experiencing a societal shift in these protests against fascism and racism. Americans are signaling they've had enough of Trump's clown show. 

The violent death of George Floyd took the cork out of the bottle, and released the genie of change.  

There's no looking back. America has to restore it's honor and work through it's challenges... as a people united in the belief that we are all equal before the eyes of God.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

Protest in Medford -

Unlike the small group of bored youth who were hanging around downtown earlier this week, we had a much more organized protest yesterday. (Photo by Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune)

There was an eight-minute stretch of silence during which protestors took a knee in symbolic remembrance of the length for which George Floyd, was held down by Minneapolis police until he died.

It was a peaceful protest with very little police presence.

**COVID Stats - We had two more deaths overnight to bring the total to 163 today. There's been 4,662 confirmed COVID-19 cases thus far reported.

**We made the cut - Jackson County (includes Medford) is one of 20 counties that have met the required number of reported COVID-19 cases to justify moving on to Phase 2 of reopening. Gyms and restaurants are extending hours and offering more services.

Quote for the Day; "Race, gender, religion, sexuality, we are all people and that's it. We're all people. We're all equal." -Connor Franta

Pandemic Diary Day 82: Trump Finally Gets His Wall... Around the White House

Dear Diary,

Take a good look around the White House today.

It resembles a heavily guarded palace, or government compound, in a third world country. Ten-foot tall black fences are stretched around the immediate perimeter, and more fencing surrounds an outer perimeter that covers nearby Lafayette Park.

Hungered down inside is an unhinged president sending out mass tweets to divide the country.

What we know. Trump didn't get his southern border wall completed, and Mexico didn't pay for it. The only wall the tangerine tyrant put up was around the people's house.

The idea of a wall has always appealed to the real estate/ reality star, who likes to build things. However, the desire to rebuild America's infrastructure has never been a priority for a punk like Trump.

A massive crowd of protestors have showed up outside of the White House today, ahead of George Floyd's funeral next week.

On Friday, D.C. police Chief Peter Newsham told reporters, "We have a lot of public, open-source information to suggest that the event on this upcoming Saturday may be one of the largest that we've had in this city."

I think it bears repeating, "...the LARGEST that we've had in this city." Without official numbers, it's hard to tell just how huge the protest is. There'll be plenty of statistics to look at later tonight, and tomorrow.

The police chief also said he expected it to be a peaceful protest. It looks like he was right.

What a contrast. There's 4,500 police, national guard, and active duty Army units, surrounding the nation's capitol as Americans call out for an end to police brutality against unarmed African-Americans.

It's a signature moment. 

Trump trembling in the Oval Office while America voices it's displeasure over his ruinous reign. The protestors today want justice for George Floyd. They're also fed up with Trump's lack of leadership during a pandemic, and throughout his chaotic time in office.

The symbolism of a wall in Trump's rhetoric, and his reality, is appropriate today.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

Medford Police Department - Chief Scott Clauson

Local Law Enforcement  Rogue Valley (includes Medford) cops have presented a united front against the actions of the police officers charged with murder after suffocating George Floyd.

What impresses me is that our cops get a lot of training when it comes to dealing with restraining suspects. 

One of the things they're taught (both in the academy and local departments) is keeping a suspect stomach-down on the ground while handcuffed, or being physically held down, can cause death by positional asphyxia.

I don't think this kind of training is particularly new to police departments across the country. However, there's no national program guiding police departments in the use of safe take-down tactics. Some do. Others don't. That's one of the reasons why we're seeing protests in all of our major cities.

My wife and I have lived in Medford for nearly seven years, and have not seen cases of police brutality against people of color (admittedly there's a small black population here), or any particular race. 

My contacts with the local cops have been positive ones. I see them out in community events all the time, mingling with the people they serve. It's sad that people in all cities can't count on their local police departments to treat them fairly.

Quote for the day; "Choose a leader who will invest in building bridges, not walls. Books, not weapons. Morality, not corruption. Intellectualism and wisdom, not ignorance." -Suzy Kassem

Pandemic Diary Day 81: Welcome to America's National Nightmare

Dear Diary,

If I wasn't a wordsmith, I'd be speechless and unable to describe what's happening in America today.

The feeling of being involved in our national nightmare reality show is like sinking in quicksand. You struggle to get free from the chaos, but it's everywhere around you and sucking you into the maelstrom.

People don't know which to fear the most - COVID-19 - or Trump taking down our democracy and becoming a dictator for life?

The country is ablaze with riots and protests. 

Eleven straight days of protests, and there's no sign they're going to let up. A huge protest is planned in Washington DC tomorrow. I suspect there's going to be more people showing up for this protest than there were at Trump's inauguration.

It's disconcerting hearing what former CIA and military officials are saying right now about the situation the country is in. There's no doubt... were in a crisis. Our society is teetering on the edge of a profound change. 

If Trump steals this election - like he did in the last one - our republic will collapse under his autocratic rule. We'll no longer be a free society. 

Keeping the country divided into warring camps is part of Trump's re-election strategy. He's the chaos candidate the alt-right has always dreamed of.

There's never been bigger or more prolonged protests in American history. Historians will look at this explosion of societal unrest as a teaching tool on what could happen if another president is elected without proper vetting.

Trump wouldn't be turning the military against American citizens today if his taxes were exposed before he got in office. If the Supreme Court forces him to turn over his taxes at the end of this month, it'll almost be too late to matter if he had committed financial crimes.

With cronies like AG Barr and Mitch McConnell, Trump will probably tie up the courts and continue to campaign for another term.

A Constitutional crisis. A pandemic. A wannabe dictator. And a national cry for equality in our democracy. There's never been a time like this before... not just in America, but in the world.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

The morning gathering -
My beautiful wife Shirley is seen here with four of our five animals. 
The missing cat was asleep in another room, and I didn't want to wake him up and piss him off. 
Enjoying our morning coffee with the "kids" is our favorite time of the day.

**For the record - There's been seven straight days of protests in Oregon. Mostly in Portland. 

**The governor ordered our state flag to be put at half-staff yesterday in mourning for George Floyd whose memorial services were held yesterday.

Quote for the Day; "Which is the true nightmare, the horrific dream that you have in your sleep or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?" -Justin Alcala

Pandemic Diary Day 80: Clinging To Democracy Amidst Race Riots and a Pandemic

Dear Diary,

In my mind's eye, I see Lady Liberty and all she stands for clinging to the edge of a cliff as the nation tries to survive the worst president in American history.

Trump's ignorance and ego slowed down the response to the coronavirus, and his continuing assault against scientists and the healthcare experts will bear more grim results.

Because safety measures to mitigate the spread have been scorned by Trump who refuses to wear a mask in public and plays down social-distancing, I expect another wave of COVID-19... before the fall.

Coupled with Trump's despicable handling of the George Floyd protesters in DC and nationwide, Americans are going to have to navigate the biggest threat to our country in history... Donald Trump.

He's already used active duty combat Troops (82nd Airborne and the 101st Airborne) to threaten peaceful protestors in DC. The wannabe dictator also threatened state governors if they didn't follow his orders to call out the national guard in every state.

I haven't seen a time of unrest like this since I was an 17-year-old student in 1968, during the riots about the country's involvement in Vietnam and race discrimination. 

Even so, 2020 is worse.

We have a sociopath running the country now. Nixon was bad, but even he saw the writing on the wall and resigned when his party advised him to.

There's no way in hell this Republican Party will ever stand up to Trump. Most fear him so much they're prepared to go down with the ship in November.

Yesterday was the first time the Pentagon showed any sign of independence when Defense Secretary Mark Esper gave a short press conference. He said he wouldn't go along with Trump's threat to enact a seldom-used law to send out active military troops nationwide in a move to stop any more protests.

Trump, like a cornered rat, is scared. He sees his chances for being re-elected slipping away more every day. I expect he will continue to take a hard stand and to flout laws while doing it.

The question is, how far will Trump go in his maniac quest to rule for four more years? Will this world class con man, and wannabe dictator, be the death of democracy?

Only time will tell.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

Portland protestors form a line at a fence in front of the police and raise their hands before the police use tear gas and stun grenades on them.

(Photo by Brooke Herbert/Oregonian)

Protests went on for a sixth night in a row.

**Even as cases of the coronavirus continue to show a slow upward trend, Gov. Kate Brown announced the framework for Phase 2 of Oregon's reopening.

I can't help being skeptical. It's getting harder every day to believe any politician. Are we putting the economy ahead of safety here? I guess the weeks ahead will tell that story.

Quote for the Day; "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them real facts, and beer." -Abraham Lincoln

Pandemic Diary Day 79: Trump's Tweets Are Not 'Fireside Chats'

Dear Diary,

My focus today... 

there's 156 days before the general election.

Based upon the last three-and-a-half years, these remaining days are going to be excruciating long. 

After being impeached in February, Trump has been on a rampage and his rage has crippled nearly every scientific response to the pandemic, and now his militant rhetoric is stoking riots.

Being a seriously flawed individual, Trump has no empathy, sensitivity, civility, morality, honesty, or shame. 

His ego needs daily strokes. His now infamous photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church holding someone else's bible while tear gas cannisters burst in the background is a snapshot of a sociopath.

It's sickening watching Trump's minions stand up for him and disregard truth, dignity, and reality. 

Loyal lap dog and former Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, praised Trump's waddle over to the church as something Rambo-like, "Hard to imagine any other POTUS having the guts to walk out of the White House like this," he cooed with slavish adoration on Twitter.

Try as I might, I can't recall any other American president who hid in the White House bunker from his own people. Historians may correct me here, but I doubt it.

What's horrifying is that Trump is fueling the fires of unrest in this country during a pandemic. People are afraid of an invisible killer, and the police after watching officers murder a helpless man on live TV.

Trump's tweets are not "fireside chats" comforting a worried nation. They're more like Molotov cocktails tossed from the Rose Garden or the Oval Office. They're expressions of hate and racism coming from a megalomaniac who only cares about being re-elected. 

I hope to see Joe Biden use Trump's lack of leadership like a cudgel in the days and months ahead. The contrast couldn't be more complete. Biden has empathy. Trump doesn't even know what the word means. 

On the Homefront- Medford, Oregon

**COVID Stats - The slow climb upward continues as three news deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 last night, bringing the total to 157 people who've died from the deadly virus. Latest count on confirmed coronavirus cases is 4,335.

**Morons in Medford - After yesterday's pathetic display of bored youths (all white) blocking traffic downtown in supposed support for George Floyd, it's quiet today.

For the record, Oregon is still nearly all white. The state's reputation for racism has been well earned, as a casual perusal of history shows.

Quote for the Day; "The minute you start compromising for the sake of massaging someone's ego, that's it, game over." -Gordon Ramsay

Pandemic Diary Day 78: Crouching Coward, Hidden Bunker: Trump Lashes Out

Dear Diary,

It was two days of infamy for Cadet Bonespurs.

Here's exclusive after-action reports by the Secret Service after protestors showed up outside The White House.

Top Secret Report by Bob, the Agent-in-Charge

"We knew something was wrong when Trump shit his diaper hours ahead of his scheduled potty time. Looking out the window, the Commander-in-Chief was babbling at a gathering crowd of protestors outside on Pennsylvania avenue.

Agent Orville reported the president's eyes looked like two fried eggs and his tiny mouth was gaping open in primordial fear. I signaled Agent Lonny that it was time to take Trump down to the hidden bunker below the Oval office.

Agent Lonny and Orville escorted him to the presidential bunker - which had been recently remodeled with gold trimmings and a wall full of TV screens.

I witnessed the leader of the free world slowly regain his swag until he was walking around the plush bunker like the cock of the walk.

Then he got on Twitter and the threats started. From there, Trump called the nation's governors and called them a bunch of pussies for not using the National Guard to slaughter protestors.

An hour later, the president left the bunker on a carriage pulled by two Republican senators, Mitch McConnell and Mike Pence." 

End of shift. -Bob

Top Secret Report by Bob The Next Day

"I watched as thousands of protestors gathered outside the White House as POTUS was foaming at the mouth and tweeting Fox News hosts for advise on how to handle the tense situation.

Making a command decision, Trump ordered 250 active military personnel from a military police battalion to squat outside the White House between him and the angry protestors.

I tried not to pay too much attention to his hard-working minions Matt Gaetz and Lindsey Graham, who were having to change his diapers every half hour. The two-man chore wasn't pretty to watch. I had to skip lunch. That usually only happens when I have to watch him eat lunch.

The job got a little harder after Trump decided he wanted to go for a short walk to get a photo op at an old church near the White House. I stayed in contact with other teams as Trump turned the military against peaceful protestors in a show of power that was more like a presidential pout.

At last. It was night night time for Trump, and with the help of Lonny and Orville, we three carried his sleeping fat ass to his room. I couldn't help noticing he was still clutching his cell phone in one tiny hand. It was almost enduring. Almost.

End of shift.- Bob

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon 

Name the rioters -

Authorities are asking for help identifying people who broke into the Multnomah Country Justice System and rioters from Portland.

If you recognize one of these clowns on the right, call 503-823-INFO

**An accounting - Gov. Kate Brown fired the director of the Oregon Employment Department over delays in delivering jobless benefits. Good to see someone shake the ancient system up.

**COVID stats - No new deaths reported. There's been 4,243 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the state thus far.

**Here in Medford we had a few dozen morons trying to block cars downtown for no good reason. It was obvious they were bored students because most have never seen a black person in southern Oregon.

Quote for the Day; "The simplest way to make a coward courageous is to convince them that you admire their courage." -Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Pandemic Diary Day 77: American Apocalypse Now

Dear Diary,

I've got the movie Apocalypse Now going through my head this morning.

Briefly...

Marlon Brando played Col. Kurtz, a renegade Army Special Forces officer during the Vietnam War, who had an outpost in Cambodia where he commanded American and Montagnard troops against the NVA. His followers believed he was a demigod.

Martin Sheen played Captain Benjamin L. Willard. His secret mission was to assassinate Col. Kurtz who'd become an embarrassment to American field force headquarters in Nha Trang.

Long story, short. Cap. Willard accomplishes his mission.

Francis Ford Coppola produced and co-wrote the Academy Award winning movie that went on to be considered one of the greatest films ever made.

American Apocalypse

The chaos in America today seems surreal to me at times.

I feel like Cap. Willard wandering through bizarre landscapes of destruction and death. Trying to break through the reality of what's unfolding before me.

A pandemic. Over 100,000 Americans dead and counting. Political polarization. An economy struggling to stay afloat amid massive layoffs nationwide. Over 40 million unemployed. Desperate people unable to work, and standing in food lines reminiscent of the Great Depression.

Race riots in over 70 major American cities. Agitators from the Right and Left capitalizing on the chaos. Protestors inspired by Trump's followers defying state orders for safety and demanding all services, jobs, etc., open immediately. 

Despite CDC and other healthcare experts warnings about another outbreak of COVID-19, right-wing groups continue to press the boundaries between science and politics.

An unhinged president who could start a race war, or conventional war if he thought it would help get him re-elected.

Unlike Cap. Willard, my mission isn't to kill someone.

My mission is to come out of this surreal stage in our history enlightened, and empowered enough to write about it for future readers seeking knowledge about what happened in 2020...
when America teetered on an apocalypse that threatened our republic.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**Crowds return to Cannon Beach (not far from where we live) as the coast town begins to open.

**COVID Count - No new deaths and confirmed cases top 4,200. 

**Martial law again last night in Portland. Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency and imposed curfew after destructive protests.

**Authorities say the key to keeping Oregon open is going to be contact tracing. The question is, will enough people participate?

Quote for the Day; "Don't wake me for the end of the world unless it has very good special effects." -Roger Zelazny

Pandemic Diary Day 76: Protests Create a 'Perfect Storm' in America

Dear Diary,

The storm clouds gathered in January.

Dark ominous cumulus clouds bearing the deadly coronavirus silently settled over the entire planet. Governments were slow to recognize the foreboding signs of a growing pandemic.

In February, Trump was impeached for bullying the Ukraine, but acquitted by a corrupt senate majority led by Mitch McConnell. An unhinged Trump went on a revenge tour and fired inspector generals and other government officials he felt were responsible for trying to stop his crimes.

The dark clouds already hovering over Washington and across America, got darker and more sinister as the country became even more politically polarized.

When Americans started dying in March from the deadly COVID-19 spread, things suddenly got real. Too real. The country had to be shut down.

Businesses were suddenly, shockingly shuttered. Americans were told to stay-at-home to avoid spreading the silent killer. The country ground to a halt - catching the majority of Americans off guard.

By April and May millions had filled for unemployment and businesses, big and small, were crying out for government assistance to stay afloat in the gathering storm.

By mid-May Americans were tired of being shut in. They wanted a return to normalcy, many unaware that the world changed overnight and there would be no return to "normal." That there would be a new reality.

Frustration overcame fear as many Americans shrugged off scientific advise and turned methods of protection against COVID-19 to a political battle. The wearing of masks to protect others degenerated into a Trump/Republican thing versus Democrats who believe in science.

And the clouds hovering over our deeply conflicted nation, caused by frustration, fear, and uncertainty of what the future holds for economic recovery... burst!

Horrified Americans watched four white cops murder a black man on TV. Along with a couple of other recent prominent cases of white cops killing blacks, it was just too much.

Now we are faced with a perfect storm of challenges that will eventually reshape our country - for better or worse.

These riots across the nation (40 cities at last count) are a reflection of the many grievances people have - and not just about the murder of George Floyd.

The country is not ready to re-open to mass crowds, but they're here... we have no choice. I fear what the repercussions of these mass gatherings will be beyond the immediate impact.

The coronavirus knows no limits. Young and old are dying from it. Over 100,000 have died thus far. Most rioters were not wearing masks or practicing social-distancing. I believe a new outbreak will happen in the next couple of weeks. It's inevitable. 

That outside agitators, like white supremacists' and anarchists, are taking advantage of the civil unrest to further their own agendas, there can be no doubt. I also note that the Russians are taking advantage of these terrible times with online influencing causing more chaos.

On the Homefront - Medford, Oregon

**A State of Emergency was declared by Portland's mayor. The shit hit the fan in Portland Friday night, as it joined 39 other cities in violent protests spurred on by George Floyd's murder in real time.

**Gathering of idiots - Hermiston, was the setting for the convergence of right-wing activists and militia leaders from across the state yesterday. 

The event was held to protest Oregon's continued shutdown of some sectors of the state's economy and schools, and to encourage people to be politically active, according to organizers. The latter is the real reason the trolls got together.

Some of the clown groups that attended: Patriot Prayer, Oregon 111percent Militia, and the Oath Keepers. A roundup of anti-government zealots always looking for trouble.

Their purpose? The same purpose outside agitators in cities across the country have - to create chaos in a society they hate. 

Quote for the Day; "Then the storm broke, and the dragons danced." -George R.R. Martin