Category: Uncategorized

ICE

Nations claim the right to decide who enters their territory.  To monitor and police this claim, the United States Congress created the agency for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

So long as it operates within its mandate, transparently, ICE is appropriate and necessary.  When, in the dark hours of night, anonymous, masked, supposedly-ICE goon-squads kick-in doors and abduct people without indictment or probable cause, American citizens are at serious risk of being illegally detained and deported!

Tragically and increasingly, ICE resembles Adolf Hitler’s Gestapo!

Presidents

Over 2 1/2 centuries, forty-five men have assumed the distinguished title and shouldered the awesome burden of a President of the United States of America.  Within the constraints of human foibles, forty-four held the best interests of our nation ahead of personal wealth, sacrifice, and suffering.  Donald J. Trump is the lone exception, the outlier.

A malignant narcissist and buffoon, America’s forty-fifth and forty-seventh President holds avarice and self-aggrandizement above all else.  Two words capture Donald’s sole domestic policy: self-professed “hate” and revenge

Donald J. Trump crossed the Rubicon.  If he has not stopped, as with Rome’s, America’s Democracy will be history!

Do Something!!!

After midnight Oct. 12, 2025, Donald Trump posted:

“THE BIDEN FBI PLACED 274 AGENTS INTO THE CROWD ON JANUARY 6, if this is so, which it is, a lot of very good people will be owed apologies.  What a SCAM – DO SOMETHING!!!”

On January 6, 2021 Trump was President!  Biden would have no control over the FBI until he was inaugurated two weeks later.

If Donald knows his claim is untrue, he lies.  If he believes it is true, he is insane!

What’s happening, make that what’s not happening, with the so-called White House “press corps?”  It is alarming how Donald Trump’s dishonesty and madness are so rarely  challenged!

What a SCAM – DO SOMETHING!!!

Fascist Manifesto

As I see it, The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 combines a Fascist Manifesto and Procrustean bed.  I cannot bring myself to read this right-wing screed.  My impression and understanding draw on admittedly limited sources.

Fascist derives from “fasces.”  In the Roman Empire, “magistrate” or magistrates were the highest government officials.  Their symbol of office was a bundle of rods wrapped with ribbon, holding an ax head, a “fasces.”  As carriers of the law, magistrates’ words were final.  (Older Americans may recall fasces on the obverse of our Winged Liberty Head dime.)

Merriam Webster defines Fascism as,
“a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) which exalts nation and often race over the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible oppression of opposition.”

A Manifesto is,
“a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, notions, or views of its issuer.”

Wikipedia explains the genesis and function of a Procrustean bed:
“In Greek mythology Procrustes   .  .  .  was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size if an iron bed.

The word Procrustean is thus used by analogy to describe, for example, situations where an arbitrary standard is used to measure success, while completely disregarding obvious harm that results from the effort.”

Project 2025 would strap all Americans into it’s ultra-right-wing Procrustean bed.  They alone have the truth, and the rest of us will damn-well live according to it!

The Fascist creed was articulated by M*A*S*H’s major Frank Burns,
“The way I see it, if we all don’t 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!”

Nazis had Mein Kampf.  The Heritage Foundation has Project 2025.

Ironically, determined to impose Project 2025 on all Americans, far-right Fascists believe that some dark, left wing, cabal, Antifa, anti-Fascist, is working to force its values on everyone.

This is not so.  Perhaps to its detriment vis-à-vis conservativism, Antifa has no organization, no structure, no manifesto.  There are no card-carrying Antifains.  Anti-Fascists share a gut level, conviction that, so long as we do not harm others, Americans enjoy unalienable rights to believe and act according to our unique values and beliefs; however bizarre and incomprehensible those values and beliefs may be to others.

Antifa is not intent on destroying American democracy.

Antifa is the bedrock of American democracy.

The “Interview”

It is said, American President Harding’s handlers were advised, “Keep Warren away from people.  Someone will ask him a question, and the dumb bastard will try to answer.”

October 6, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell aired a scathing rebuke of Jake Tapper’s, October 5, CNN “interview“ with President Trump.  The network had submitted written questions.  Donald(?) selectively texted responses.

Given the President’s maddening, increasingly disjointed pronouncements, l’m compelled to wonder?

The Way of Life verse 81

Real words are not vain,
Vain words are not real;
And since those who argue prove nothing
A sensible man does not argue.
A sensible man is wiser than he knows,
While a fool knows more than is wise.
Therefore a sensible man does not devise resources:
The greater his use to others
The greater they’re used to him,
The more he yields to others
The more they yield to him.
The way of life cleaves without cutting:
Which, without need to say,
Should be the man’s way.

  The Way of Life According to Lao Tsu
  Translated by Witter Bynner