Wikipedia identifies three dozen Siluriformes or Nematognathi with names like Ailidae, Bagridae and Kryptoglanis shajii (Superman’s scaled nemesis?).  Hiding in this eye-crossing taxonomy are the channel, pond and mud catfish we consume with hush puppies, fries and tartar sauce.  Wikipedia, ichthyologist and “Fat Fred’s Fried Fish” notwithstanding, two hybrid catfish families go unrecognized: Political and Religious.

At risk of wading in over my head, allow me to examine characteristics of these landlocked fishes.  Politics: Greek for “affairs of the cities” or means through which group affairs are organized.  Religion: Latin “re, back” plus ligare, ligament, to bind or connect , rebind or reconnect.  As if non-aquatic craniates yearn to reclaim something we lost. 

Birth “thrusts” all catfish into foreign water.  With tiny eyes and brains aquatic varieties grope the bottom gulping whatever ill-fated worm, tadpole, dog kibble, dough-ball—hook-less or not—that bumps against their whiskers.  Safe to say, apart from a malign current these catfish never stray from the water and school where they hatched.

Having not yet acquired the tools and experience to discriminate, terrestrial fingerlings gulp cultural norms as their aquatic cousins grab a grub or Power Bait.  We eat what’s served and become what we eat!  Clean Plate Club members get desert!  

Mature terrestrial catfish enjoy an advantage over our water-born cousins.  Unlike aquatic varieties, behind a bulbous forehead a marvelous lump of matter allows landlocked osteichthyes to think!  This amazing, sometimes brilliant, sometimes foolish, ever chattering gray glob makes all the difference!  Adult dry-land catfish acquire the capability to puzzle and worry, to accept or reject a grub, insect or snail their home school offers.

No catfish, aquatic or terrestrial, is exempt from malign currents, turbid water, scarcity of grubs, worms and the ever-threatening treble hook.  Despite a sometimes unbearable environment and suffering, however, the majority of Political and Religious catfish find sufficient support and safety to remain with their home school.

We are Political/Religious catfish hybrids.  If what’s served tastes bad, putrid, poisonous or may hide a hook, we landlocked cats can exercise the wisdom to spit or vomit!  If our school begins to feel toxic, overly aggressive, misled, misguided or cannibalistic, we may leave home water and search out a new more benign school.

Presaging calling America’s military “losers” and “suckers,” candidate Donald Trump would not call John McCain, and by extension other Prisoners of War, a Hero because he got caught.  No current and former member of America’s Military Service, Prisoners of War, friends and families and all who appreciate the commitment and sacrifice of our Armed Services should ever again vote for Donald J Trump.

Vice president Pence says President Trump was on top of COVID-19 “from day one.”  Projecting his fear, Donald told Bob Woodward he lied about the virus’s lethal implications because, not able to handle the truth, Americans would panic.

Bob Woodward recorded Donald Trump saying he knew COVID 19 was a serious problem and lied to Americans.  Did he know the truth then or not?  Did he lie to us or Woodward?  Can’t have it both ways.

Fact is, what escapes Donald’s lips in the instant is True.  Not to get tripped up, however, accomplished liars must be quick on their feet.  Appearance to the contrary, Donald isn’t. 

Before marking your ballot ask, “If three dozen Master Mechanics certified ‘Ol’ Reliable’ is defective and dangerous, would I buy it?”

The way I see it, if we don’t all march in step, if we don’t do as we’re told, if we don’t follow our leaders blindly there’s no hope of saving our freedom.

Major Frank Burns
M*A*S*H

I avoid hating.  Hating an individual hurts us both.  Hating ideas, notions and behavior that hurt people seems called for.  I hate the violence in Portland and other America cities today.  Grasping for what propels this violence had me bewildered.

Seeing younger men—always younger men—desecrate and torch public property you and I paid for and will pay to repair, smash the windows and loot private businesses, left me bewildered.  Why? 

As sometimes happens when I stop to think, really to look, the roots of today’s violence were hiding in plain sight.  Black Lives Mattered is their Trojan Horse.  Striking against a System where they feel powerless, a handful of young white men high-jacked seemingly legitimate alarm over white police officers murdering black men and women.

Truman Capote’s  In Cold Blood quotes Perry Smith.  Something like, “I liked Mr. Clutter, right till I cut his throat.  Somebody had to pay.”  Perry’s feelings of impotence power the violence in America today.  Frustrated, citizens act out their rage against Power over which they are powerless.

Tragically, taxpayers, innocent property owners and shopkeepers “pay!”  Fifty-two inch flat screens and cases of Bud are the perks. 

Republican National Convention speakers projected America’s turmoil under Donald J. Trump’s: COVID 19, Black Lives Matter, riots, shooting, onto Joe Biden’s Presidency!  He’s not President—not yet.  Hello!

How much did the RNC pay for the use of White House facilities and staff to showcase Don’s campaign/acceptance speech?

A thumb-in-the-eye of Americans. 

These clowns are subtle as a tsunami!

With hopes for Donald Trump’s reelection headed south, in an orchestrated attack Republican National Convention speakers hurled hysterical, scurrilous, fear-mongering, groundless allegations Democrat Joe Biden will destroy America!  Did Democrat President Obama do that?  How about Clinton, Carter, Johnson,  Kennedy, Truman, FDR?

Classic, ham-handed, Trumpian hyperbole, i.e. Bullshit!

In Too Much and Never Enough – How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, Donald J. Trump’s niece and Clinical Psychologist Mary L. Trump, Ph.D., provides firsthand data confirming thirty-six psychiatrists’, psychologists’ and other professionals’ hypothesis in The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump.

Watch and listen.  “Off script” President Donald J. Trump reads like a challenged third grader.  He is a rude, immoral, lying, bully, misogynistic, xenophobic—the adjectives keep piling up—with zero sense of ethicist or decency.  His continuing denial and failure to lead against COVID 19 are responsible tens-of-thousands of Americans dead and millions suffering.