Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Just like clockwork, I’m hearing Democrats mouthing the tired old tropes of “if Trump and the Republicans screw up badly enough, people will start electing Democrats.”
Oh, Really? So, what will it take?
Category: <span>Blog Posting Topics</span>
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
I’m still trying to process Tuesday’s election loss to Trump by an actual majority of American voters. I’m also watching the inevitable Democratic circular firing squads looking for someone to blame. “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan [1].” So, Democrats are busy looking for that orphan.
Meanwhile, I see one major cause for this horrible defeat. Democrats lost this election, and lost so badly, because too many American are not getting our message. For a variety of reasons, we’re losing the messaging wars.
- J.F. Kennedy, The Socratic Method [↩]
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Today is the last chance American’s have to vote for our future and our President. Do we want a fascist-lite morally corrupt convicted felon who was sued over 4000 times for not paying his bills? Who went bankrupt four times, each time profiting while his investors lost everything. Banned from running charities in New York after stealing from a children’s cancer fund. Who has credibly been accused of multiple counts of rape and pedopillia. A man showing clear signs of malignant narcissistic personality disorders and age-related dementia?
Or do we want a woman who is an accomplished former prosecuting attorney, former California State Attorney General, former Senator, and current Vice President to one of the most successful Presidents in our generation? Who also happens to be a black lady and daughter of immigrant parents.
Amazingly, according to polls, as of last week one third of our nation’s voters had not yet made up their minds.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Way back in 2016, after Trump “won” the presidential election through minority vote, there were a number of experts on authoritarianism speaking out on the results. One particular writer, Masha Gessen[1], summarized three principles:
- Believe the autocrat.
- Don’t be taken in by small signs of normality.
- Your institutions will not save you.
Gessen was absolutely correct, and his predictions are still playing out eight years later. Especially, “Your institutions will not save you.”
- Gessen, M. (2020). Surviving Autocracy. Riverhead Books. [↩]
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Winnie and I recently returned from a week’s vacation in Seattle, Washington. It was a great week. We had a chance to visit with one of our nephews, explore Seattle and the lovely surrounding parks, and attend another Navy reunion. The reunion was the primary reason for making this trip.
Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
Last October Winnie and I added a Native Watercraft model “Slayer Max Propel 10” pedal-drive kayak to our fleet. We’ve used this kayak several times since, enough for me to post a review.
Although these pedal drive kayaks are designed for serious fishing, my review will not be on the fishing capabilities of this boat. My review is written for kayakers who are pedal-curious and thinking about expanding their kayaking fleet.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
We can’t always be walking around outraged about all the bad stuff in the world. Once in a while, we need to refocus on the good things that come along. Even if those things are few and far between. So, for today’s focus on the good, I present a musical interlude with Blondie.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Recently I answered another Quora question on religion. While the answer dredged up another hurtful memory, it also seemed to resonate with numerous Quora members. So, for the pleasure of my many readers I will report my answer here, with additional bonus commentary.
My answer relates how a Catholic Priest once compared being a prostitute to a Protestant, knowing I was attending his Mass and knowing I was a Lutheran.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
A few years ago, during the depths of our Covid 19 pandemic, I published a post on Republicans being careful what they wished for. That specific post was how, by destroying the moderate left of center politician Hillary Clinton during her Presidential run, Republicans destroyed their own futures.
Now, we once again have a serious case of “careful what you wish for” by the Republican Party. This time, with more burn and Karma on steroids. I’m talking about President Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential campaign after Republican operatives, including their friends in our so-called liberal media, have pilloried Biden as being too old to be President.
Republicans are like the dog who just caught a car and don’t know what to do next.
An Open Letter To My Senators on Trump’s Nominees
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
I have been horrified by the train wreck of trump’s nominations for leadership positions in his future administration. While I did not expect much integrity or competence from anyone willing to work for trump, these cabinet posts nominees already exceed my expectations.
Both of my North Carolina senators are Republicans. So, I guess I shouldn’t expect too much of them. But in the fleeting hope that they have some integrity, I decided to write them a letter expressing my feelings. So, here is my open letter to my senators on trump’s nominees.
Opinions & Commentary
Senate Letter trump