BIG BIG BIG STORY -- SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE II????

Trump Reportedly Tried To Fire Robert Mueller In June

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-tried-firing-robert-mueller-report_us_5a6a820ee4b0ddb658c508ad?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Why I support the Democratic Party -- YES WE CAN

If you believe that the government should protect its citizens' rights to breathe clean air, clean water and government's responsibility to believe in science to reverse the existential threat of climate change then you should support the Democratic Party; if you believe government has the obligation to protect its citizens from predatory lending and the excesses of Wall Street greed that lead to the Great Recession of 2007 then you should support the Democratic Party; if you believe it's government's obligation to protect ALL its citizens' right to vote then you should support the Democratic Party; if you are against Republican gerrymandering fixing districts to suit them then you should support the Democratic Party; if you believe in the earned safety nets of Social Security and Medicare with Medicaid to help the poor then you should support the Democratic Party. If you believe health care is a right then you should support the Democratic Party.  If you believe in all the humane things government can and should do besides wage inhumane war then you should support the Democratic Party. 

The Republican Party now is the Party of white supremacy and hate.  If you think human beings do better when we all work together in diversity and when we cultivate empathy for the hardships of others then you should support the Democratic Party. If you believe that truth and justice are the American way then you should support the Democratic Party as the ONLY vehicle to advocate for and achieve the aforementioned policies.

If you believe in all of these human rights then crush the Republican Party in special elections now and in the November election of 2018 because if you do not then all the horrendous Trumpian changes accrued by executive orders and judicial hate designed to obliterate those human rights, the middle class, and the poor will be permanent.  Republicans will send this nation into an oligarchy of white hate taking all of its wealth leaving nothing for you. Unconstitutional policy will remain permanent and the answer to Benjamin Franklin's admonition -- "We have a Republic IF you can keep it" will be we could not.  Do not let this happen.

Think YES WE CAN keep the Constitutional separation of powers Republic our Founders bestowed upon us and return us to a more just nation the world, before the mendacity of Trump, used to

envy!

RESIST as if your life and those lives you love depend on it because they do.  YES WE CAN!

This link says it all and is to the point:  Reverend Dr. William Barber | GOP chooses "Whites Only" platform | Trump; a consistent scum-bag

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/1/21/1734763/-Reverend-Dr-William-Barber-GOP-chooses-Whites-Only-platform-Trump-a-consistent-scum-bag?detail=emailLL

Send this to anyone you choose.

Nazi light

I made a statement on FB that I thought Trump has Nazi sympathies.  Numbers agreed.  One man's thought in particular chilled me.  I will post his response and my comment to it below.  We live, to say the least, in serious times.

Blogger: Trump is a Nazi. He checks all the boxes in a strict definition of a Nazi. He's a race hater; believes (and says) he has "superior genes"; hates and despises the disabled (remember him on video mocking the reporter who had cerebral palsy?); is a reckless, rabid warmonger; views the rule of law (including judges) with vicious contempt; aspires to authoritarian rule, trampling on the Constitution .... so he's a Nazi. His father, Fred Trump, was a Nazi -- and KKK leader -- too.

My Comment: The only positive thing I can see out of this is that finally the extremist of the extreme fascist-like authoritarian politics exhibited in a power crazed leader of no ethics and his followers are reflecting to the rest of the nation why the left and all people of good will and humanitarian politics loathe and are in fierce opposition to the right.  The right is violent, it is hate filled of the "other" and it is dangerous.  It is committed to the end of civil liberties except for themselves, of course.  The right has zero ethics and believes its ends justify the means which means they will not hesitate to use whatever force it takes to eradicate their perceived "enemy" and spread their crackpot beliefs.

If you care about those you love you should join the resistance.  If  you cannot march then contribute to it.  It may save your life, your children's lives, your grandchildren and all whom you love. It may even save the life of our nation's democracy or what is left of it after one year of Trumpian rule.  It may even save Lady Liberty herself.  I agree with what the blogger had to say! Send this to anyone you choose.

JOIN THE RESISTANCE!

Women’s March Returns a Year Later, as Movement Evolves--THE RESISTANCE LIVES -- ALL OVER THE NATION ! :)

Take a look at this!  Women and those who care about humane politics are marching today all over the nation.  It is a

sight for sore eyes!!

THE RESISTANCE LIVES!!!!

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/20/us/womens-march.html?emc=edit_ta_20180120&nl=top-stories&nlid=75028030&ref=headline

Trump’s exam shows serious heart concerns, doctors outside the White House say

"Cardiologists not associated with the White House said Wednesday that President Trump’s physical exam revealed serious heart concerns, including very high levels of so-called bad cholesterol, which raises the risk he could suffer a heart attack while in office.Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, a rear admiral and the White House physician, said Tuesday in his report on the president’s medical condition that Trump was in “excellent” cardiac health, despite having an LDL cholesterol level of 143, well above the desired level of 100 or less.

Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist at the Scripps Research Institute, disputed that rosy assessment. On Wednesday, he said the most alarming fact is that the president’s LDL levels remain above 140 even though he is taking 10 milligrams of Crestor, a powerful drug that is used to lower cholesterol levels to well below 100."

Drumpf lies and he lies ALL the time even in the face of evidence he gets others to do the lying for him. -- RESIST!

READ THE ARTICLE BELOW

www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/01/17/trump-exam-shows-serious-heart-concerns-outside-mds-say-white-house-rejects-claim/moqTAIfte62ZSoYRsG5ctO/story.html?event=event12

Democrats Score Special Election Upset In Wisconsin GOP (Crooked Republican) Stronghold

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/patty-schactner-wins_us_5a5ec4e2e4b096ecfca88c03

Support Democrats running for office and keep those wins coming.  Do not underestimate the GOP gobs of billionaire bucks. They have an endless supply of money thanks to the rancid Citizen's United SCOTUS Republican decision that counts money as speech and corporations as people squashing the middle class and the poor -- of course.  Democrats have their billionaires, too, thankfully but not, unfortunately, as many as the Republican crooks. Ah, good name taken from the Beast's play book.  Now let's call them Crooked Republicans.

Never feel complacent ever.  Crooked Republicans will do all they can to steal middle class bucks, ruin earned social safety nets basing it on so called "law" and, while they are at it, bash the poor! If you, your parents or grandparents have paid into Social Security, Medicare and need it to survive, know someone who needs Medicaid to live then be always vigilant and run people for office who will save these necessary earned programs that extend life!  Trump's so called tax cut was simply a permanent tax cut from 35 to 21% for the top 2% billionaires whose wealth is not enough who, he thinks, needs more including most especially his most important person -- himself.  Middle class tax cuts are minimal and NOT permanent.  Do you really think Trump cares about the middle class?  Think again.  Republicans do NOT care about most of you.

Crooked Republicans want it all and are after your Social Security, Medicare and the eradication of Medicaid for the poor. See Youtube George Carlin in his "The American Dream" rant said it all (WARNING: profanity) for exactly what crooked Republicans are doing!

SAVE LIVES, RUN FOR OFFICE ON PROGRESSIVE VALUES AND ALWAYS

RESIST!

Eliza Dushku, Change and Hope

The actress, Eliza Dushku while filming "True Lies" alleges she was sexually harassed by the stunt coordinator, Joel Kramer (see link below.)  Will the egregious sexual harassment of women by men of power ever change? I am a feminist and have been since I honed my political philosophy over 40 years ago. I know of Eliza Dushku but have not seen many of her films. I know, though, she has a loving family. It is the most egregious thing that men -- triple that for the film industry --  have done to women because they knew women would sacrifice most anything to achieve the most American of dreams - - a Bette Davis success. Young actresses race with the clock to craft a career at a young age before the hands of time wreak havoc on their bodies and fade that dream. It must be a hellish life to desperately want something but to have the stress that aging places on a young woman, especially so on a teenage girl, in her quest to perfect her craft in an unforgiving career where each blemish on a woman's body is a threat to something she so desperately wants to attain.

Having said that to lop blame on those who knew her secret 20 or 30 years ago but did not speak out when it happened during a time when doing so would have possibly ended their loved one's career is unfair. We cannot, I think, and must not levy blame on those who knew about it then but said nothing. It was a different time. It was not so many other victims' faults either at that time who feared exposing their secret would be like ending their lives.

Powerful men exert powerful fear simply look at our so called president to understand that. Times have changed. Is it safe to come out of the Munchkin dark? The hope is it is and it will remain safe. I fear, though, some men's sexual voraciousness and anarchistic actions on that unyielding appetite will change little.  Some into the future will still prey on the less powerful because they know they can. Eliza Dushku shares an egregious experience with millions of women young and old across the globe many of whom still cannot reveal their shame.  Many still wear the scarlet letter. 

It is our right in this nation and, indeed our duty, to speak out in our time because now we can.  Men of good faith and men of ethics must speak out, stand with women and say MeToo.

Will this phenomenon that the powerful have over the powerless ever change? Martin Luther King quoted Unitarian Minister Theodore Parker:  The Arc of the Moral Universe is long, but it bends toward justice.  Let us hope it does despite and, perhaps, because of the right wing extremist Trumpian times in which we live.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/schwarzenegger-eliza-dushku-true-lies-reaction_us_5a5d9c28e4b0fcbc3a12c980?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Haitian Embassy -- Express your apologies

If you want to express your apologies for the disgusting profane comment of our "sable genius" president against the nation of Haiti here is the link.

http://haiti.org/contact-us/

Profound Questions

A man, Alan Milner, who is on my FB feed and who is bright offers his cultural, political and economic views.  I find them challenging and have responded with my own answers and questions. 

Alan Milner:  I just do not believe that you watch billionaires at the Golden Globe awards and you think that they are any more in touch with reality than the current asshole in the White House.Here's some reality for you. Anyone who has billions of dollars is a murderer. They may not have pulled the trigger of a gun, but by hoarding great wealth, they are responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Multiply that by the number of billionaires we have out there now and that equals to millions of deaths. 

Let me say this very clearly: Being a successful billionaire mogul doesn't qualify anyone to be president regardless of your motivations. Billionaires are disqualified by virtue of their wealth because the ONLY way that wealth is ever accumulated is at the expense of the poor and the working classes. If you don't get this, then you don't understand either politics or economics.
But what I am really disturbed about is that you even watch this s%$t and think it bears any relationship to your reality.

John responds: If you think most of the people at the GGs are billionaires, then you don’t know much about the movie business.

Alan:  People do not understand the concept that extreme wealth makes monsters out of people. You don't own the money. The money owns you.

My Comment: I hear what you are saying, Alan, I really do. I have spent my young adult and adult life thinking about the concepts you raise. I need clarification though. How would you want to organize society? What nation on this planet shares all the accumulated wealth equitably? I am not an economist by far but in shaping my political philosophy I examined what was out there. Did Marx have it right? Did Adam Smith the advocate of capitalism have it right? Did Ayn Rand have it right with unbridled capitalism with which Speaker Ryan is in love? Did Castro, Mao Tse Tung or Lenin have it right? Did all the fascist autocrats get it right? Who got it right?

I submit man has not figured out how to equitably motivate people to create the necessities of life and live comfortably. I came to the conclusion that although not perfect capitalism when done right with wealth not horded by a very few provides the motivation for people to create. It needs boundaries though.  What brakes would you want to create, Alan, that put a lid on how much money a person can accumulate? Capitalism when done more equitably creates quality -- a better mousetrap and all that. The problem is when our nation takes off regulation, takes off the brakes on the financial system, takes off brakes on commodities that pollute, denies science to accumulate that wealth just for the sake of its accumulation then chaos happens and many deaths occur.

Everything that Trump has done creates a HUGE imbalance of wealth and power. That is as I see it the problem. Once a culture removes the brakes and allows its people to go haywire in the pursuit of wealth with no or little regulation then it becomes an immoral wasteland where the few take it all and majority will suffer greatly with significantly less. Depressions and recessions happen of which revolutions are made only to be replaced with a system that is often worse. You tell me how you would organize a system where the production of goods and services creates a better standard of living but is at the same time equitable?

Your thoughts are profound, Alan, but I simply do not see an economic system out there that is fair, just and provides the greatest number of necessities for the greatest number of people without incentive to do so.

A More Perfect Union -- Fiddler on the Roof

Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration To Keep DACA In Place  --

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-administration-ordered-daca-in-place_us_5a55931fe4b0b117f880754d?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

"A federal judge in California ordered the Trump administration on Tuesday to keep in place the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children from deportation and allows them to work legally, while a lawsuit proceeds.

The order, signed by U.S. District Judge Williams Alsup, marks a major triumph for immigrant rights groups who have rallied around the program that benefits nearly 700,000 people."

My Comment:

No doubt the racist Trump Justice Department will try to appeal this decision of a lower federal court which will, if let stand, save thousands of lives. The Supreme Court is always a worry. Merrick Garland, Obama's rightful process correct SCOTUS choice was, in historically unique form, derailed by Republicon Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as he waited like a snake stocking its prey to see if Republican Trump was elected. A stroke of luck allowed his mean-spirited calculation to succeed and negated President Obama's rightful choice. Trump was sadly elected and quickly the process correct Obama's SCOTUS choice of excellence, Justice Merrick Garland, was never allowed even a hearing. Neil Gorsuch the right wing extremist Scalia clone, Trump's choice, was seated on the Supreme Court in an effort to swing the Court inhumane right. Justice Kennedy remains progressives' singular lonely choice balancing precariously like a fiddler on the roof making life and death decisions affecting the futures of thousands if not millions of human beings.  Justice Kennedy, the tie breaker, has been entrusted with shaping the character of this nation as either one of diversity or of white supremacy.

SCOTUS can let this decision by the lower federal court stand by not hearing it or hear it, let it stand, or overrule it.

Progressives' hearts will never rest until this Congress is in 2018 overturned, Democrats take power, Trump is impeached, convicted and removed from office to take his rightful place in the ash bin of history. Let us pray if you are a prayerful person that this national nightmare ends and our nation returns to its quest to become as the Constitutional Preamble states "a more perfect union."

Oprah Calls For Day When No One Has To Say ‘Me Too’ During Golden Globes Speech

I thought of writing something on Oprah's magnificent speech at the Golden Globes but there is so much good to say about Oprah Winfrey that I thought it would be too arduous a task to do in the morning.  Thus, I leave the link to her acceptance speech and her appearance to accept the Cecil B. Demille award for career

excellence below. 

I will say, though, one thing.  Her acceptance speech was magnificent and presented with the excellence that she has shown all her life!  I post the story and the speech below.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/oprah-golden-globes-speech_us_5a52451ae4b089e14dbbbf4f?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

The Silent Assassin -- prayer this is possible and not wishful thinking. Posted on FB. I'll believe it when I see it

Avaaz is the campaigning community bringing people-powered politics to decision making worldwide + my Comment--Watch the video

My Comment:  ️FABULOUS video, made me cry with happiness. Those who resist Trump's ugly attempt at the acquisition of total power and the money that sustains it keep on keeping on as there are those billions you do not even know who are with us fighting the Trumpian madness here and other nationalist and right wing extremists around the world.  They are resisting the racist run of the few to ruin the lives of the many by stopping right wing extremism from taking it all--taking our healthcare, taking our savings and finally if we allow it taking our lives. No more passively looking at corruption and hate, shrugging our shoulders because we can do something, we can reject right wing extremist hate here and around the world, WE CAN RESIST!!  Send this to everyone you know and it will be sent to those you don't know. RESIST!  Then watch the video.

This video recorded by Avaaz team members is going viral! It's a shot of hope and love for 2018 -- will you help share it and spread the joy across the world? Watch and share it now:


2017 was a rough year, but wow, is the resistance on fire! We've never been prouder of our movement -- both Avaaz, and all those we stand with.

We've stopped the rise of the far-right in several countries, frustrated Trumpism in almost every major accomplishment it sought, opened our hearts to refugees, won major battles to protect our planet, and defeated toxic foes from Monsanto to Rupert Murdoch.

The best part is the WAY we're winning. Not through fear, anger and manipulation, but through love, hope and smarts. We are being the change we wish to see, and building the world we dream of, each step of the way. And we're doing it, TOGETHER.

So bring it on, 2018!!!

With gratitude for all you lovely people who made all this happen, and hope for the year to come,

Ricken, Emma, Fatima, Alice, Nana, Spyro, Nataliya, Danny and the whole Avaaz team.

P.S. If you're feeling hopeless right now -- yes, the threats are real, but if we give up hope where does that leave us? Our grandparents faced far worse with far less -- we can't throw our hands up now. Lots of love to you! And let's all beware the media we're reading this year -- the far-right and the Russian government have an OBJECTIVE of making engaged citizens like us cynical by spinning stories and lies (especially on Facebook) that destroy hope and trust in democracy, institutions, media and each other. Here's evidence for that (Guardian). Let's fight smart for everything we love in 2018!!!

I love me, I love me, I'm wild about myself

 

Trump Defends His Mental Capacity, Calling Himself a ‘Genius’https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/06/us/politics/trump-genius-mental-health.html?emc=edit_na_20180106&nl=breaking-news&nlid=75028030&ref=cta&_r=0

Trump's Theme Song:

From what planet did Trump originate? Did they hate us so much that they sent this crackpot who must make love to and kiss himself 42 times a day? Great lyrics to a song he must sing: "I love me, I love me, I'm wild about myself!"     Wouldn't you know Youtube has the song!!!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X97SpmoRN2E 

Eddie Cantor

I Love Me (I'm Wild About Myself)

The Definition of Insanity

This imbecile president has zero knowledge regarding the separation of powers, the essence of our democracy and that which nations have copied the world over for its brilliance. He has either never read a historical analysis of the colonial period that was the stone cutter of our Constitutional democracy or he is just plain illiterate and stupid to boot. I suspect it is all of those things as he has read nothing and, perhaps, even cannot read a thing.  This is sadly our president, the occupant of the most powerful office in the world capable of destroying it and all we know in it in a nuclear nanosecond.

The definition, it is said, of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. This dolt president asked his immediate world if they could prevail upon Attorney General Sessions not to recuse himself and then asked FBI Director James Comey himself to drop the investigation of Michael Flynn and Russia. When he would not Trump, in ignorance, fired him and did not give one second of thought to an obstruction of justice charge that could be made against him by anyone assuming the authority of the investigation of Trump's ties to Russia and its ties to influencing a presidential election. This is evidence, yet again, of Trump's profound Constitutional and historical ignorance. He has no idea that his power is profoundly checked by a separation of powers; by a separate and independent judiciary and that he is not a king despite his thinking that he is.

If he remains in office after his and his administration's gargantuan Constitutional abridgements, unethical behaviors as well as his alleged conflicted illegal money laundering business interests then he has successfully subverted our democracy begun by patriots in 1776 and honed for nearly 2 and one half centuries.   If he is not removed from office than he has successfully done what the British could not do in 1776, what Confederates who fought to destroy this nation in 1860 could not do, what Hitler and the Axis powers could not do in 1941, what Communists (including Russia) and Fascists alike could not do in the 20th century.

Surely we will not let this stupid man bring this nation down exposing it to those who would love nothing more than to annihilate it.  This cannot be so. This must not happen. "A Republic if you can keep it" said Benjamin Franklin when asked what type of government the Founders formed. We will keep it, indeed, rather than let a con man, charlatan, classless carnival barker swamp thing kill it and worse leave this nation open to those adversaries in the 21st century, including Russia, that would seek destroy it.

RESIST and share this with whomever you choose.

Who is minding the store?

The latest Bannon vs. Trump Vesuvian blow up in this non compos mentis sad excuse for an administration is that the town -- Washington -- is deserted with the exception of  some crackpot right wingnut hate infused violent extremists. I worry about the safety and security of the nation. Who is minding the store? There is no one home, the leader is a mental case, many have quit, formally resigned or have been fired. The oval office is filled with vipers and paranoids whose ire is directed one against the other,  the State Department is depleted of persons with talent, enemies with strength are knocking at the global door and this country is in the cross-hairs of adversarial nations with nukes.  Add to the chaos is a winter bomb cyclone pummeling east coast millions.  Of course, in Trump's feeble uninquisitive near illiterate mind this is not related to global warming because it is cold!  He cannot cerebrally connect the difference between weather and climate change.  Power could go out and many could die from the cold which will be zero or below with wind.  What else could happen? Oh yes, did I mention San Francisco had an earthquake?

I have never seen a worse historical era in my life. This national insanity is worse than the Cuban Missile crisis, worse than Watergate, worse than the violence of the 1960's, maybe even worse than the dawn of WWII.  At the apex of discord there is a crackpot at the helm of the strongest nation on earth who is drunk with power he should not have and has not a clue how to use it but does know he has a "big button" nuclear biscuit on his desk with an itchy trigger finger just dying to see how it works. Has he ever seen films of Hiroshima or Nagasaki?  I doubt it.  Youtube could give him all the pictures he needs to know of just what a nuclear blast would mean.  Perhaps, he does not even know how to get to Youtube but he surely does know how to tweet.  The tweeter-in-chief, uses only 140 characters with lousy grammar, spelling errors galore, syntax of a five year old to convey a message that imperils the world.

This is what happens when the people place in high office incompetents who care about one thing they can derive from immense power ..... money!  That is what the Russia scandal is about -- money and the laundering of it with conflicts of interest all over the globe.   It is why Trump's administration is embroiled in Everest size scandals and imploding.  Those who have the most wealth in this nation find it is not enough for them.  They want it all.  They want all for them and nothing for anyone else. Elect them at your peril.

God help us!

I'm Melting I'm Melting!

Feast your eyes.  It requires no comment by me. 

Steve Bannon Suggests Donald Trump Met With Russians After Don Jr. Did

The former White House strategist called the infamous Trump Tower meeting “treasonous,” according to a new book.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steve-bannon-trump-tower_us_5a4cde0be4b0b0e5a7a9fe93?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Hanging together

What did Ben Franklin say? "We MUST hang together or we will surely hang separately." Trump is a beast as he lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% ... let me say that again from 35 to 21% permanently, gives the middle class a small break and then raises its tax because its tax cut is not permanent.  He gives the middle class a small break to make one stand on bended knee thanking him and kissing his ring for an extra 18 bucks in one's pay check.

Add to the egregious, unconstitutional not to mention unethical things he and his oligarchic family with a little help from his Russian friends have done and in finality he has raped this nation not only through massive tax cuts he and his Republican henchmen gave themselves and the top 2% but by excreting on our Constitution specifically the Emoluments clause making millions off us. If Clinton had ever done that ... well need I say more?

Trump is a curse on this nation.    Add 1.5 trillion to the deficit through his tax cuts and guess with what this cretinous glutton wants to fill the hole. If you said funds from Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid -- YOU win the prize -- ill health and poverty for millions.  Medicare and Social Security are earned they are not so called "entitlements."  Your children and grandchildren will need the availability of these programs to survive their retirement years.

Trump and his Republicans need to be electorally crushed! 

RESIST

Sentiments from a friend

A friend sent the sentiments below to me.  She is one of the nicest people I know who lives the words on the sign.  It is good advice for the New Year and

I will try to perfect its thought although I know at times I will fall short.  We can only try to do the best we can with the life we were given making the best effort we can to transform the injustice and inequality suffering of others into justice and equality for the world entire.

Confession

I must confess. I want to reflect the characteristics of a Heather Hier who gave her life in Charlottesville protesting against right wing nationalism and extremists.  She stood for the causes in which I believe. I feel, in part, that I am like the person they say she was. She was a person who stood for justice, had empathy for the poor and wanted to provide hope to those who had none. 

It is the injustice of the Trump presidency I cannot bear. It is the lies and the fact that he stands for the 2% richest while he says he stands for the opposite. He is using, I believe, this presidency and the people who should not support him, for one thing -- the money he can make from it and them.  I get infuriated by the injustice he has perpetrated, the minorities he has hurt and the death his policies will cause against those who can tolerate these injustices the least.

I am angry at the lies Trump tells but I am even angrier at the persons who believe his lies and cement a low base that supports him. I am so saturated with anger, fear and disbelief at this unjust and unfit-for-the-presidency man who captured the the most powerful office in the world that sometimes I verbally Vesuvian erupt when the situation does not warrant I should. I fear I become more like the hardened opposition I loathe then the people with whom I truly identify. So I will say here, I am sorry for those things I say in anger; things that should not be said by me. I say them because I am frightened for the first time in my life by my country in which I had so much hope.  This nation which is capable of much humane social change has become in this era at times unrecognizable to me. I begin to feel hopeless that those in this nation who need help will not get it or, indeed, have the things for which they worked so hard get taken away by the richest among us who want it all and found a leader in a zero conscience Trump who will give it all to them and take his helping of it as well.  

The last thing I would want is to become so hardened in my position that like the opposition I do not see the real forest through the trees. The real lush forest of our nation, I believe, is its ability to change and to rescue those who face hardship in this nation and those who face it in the nations of their births; those who face poverty, disease, disenfranchisement and death in nations they once called home.  Facebook offers one the ability to state one's beliefs in a public forum. It is so powerful that things stated in the heat of debate with faces hidden from view can make one immune and not listen to opposing beliefs and worse say things one would not say to another's face.  I do not want to become like that.  I want to stand for humane policy, for understanding, for empathy, for inclusion and, perhaps, most of all for the tolerance I would want others to bestow upon me.

In this New Year I will at least try to not say unto others that which I would not want to said unto me.  I will, in this New Year, I hope, try to do better.

Happy New Year to all my friends and even to those who are not.