Tag Archives: Vote November 6 2018!

I lied. VOTE!!

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Photographic evidence suggests that I intend to vote on November 6, 2018. But, true confession, I drive with this sticker lied to my bumper. (Yes, intentional unconventional use of “lied” as verb. I just like it.)

I voted October 23, 2018.

Comedian, writer, actor, man-about-town John Mulaney has the best description of the Trump administration regime.There is a horse loose in the hospital.

A horse is running loose in the hospital and elephants¹ across the nation are emboldened to follow suit. But the majority elephants are journeymen and amateurs at the art of the lie compared to the big horse in the hospital.

We’re used to white lies, shades of lies, lies of omission, lies camouflaged with a smidgen of truth, lies that are barely distinguishable from misunderstanding. But this horse lies. Blatantly. Openly. And a lot.

Elephants attempt clumsy, transparent magic tricks with healthcare. Many campaign that health insurance needs to cover pre-existing conditions while simultaneously pulling out the tablecloth on pre-existing conditions. The healthcare coverage table will not be set. See also, current governor of Wisconsin.

An angry elephant fan of the horse took words of the horse in the hospital literally and delivered a spate of bombs to the horse’s critics. Welcome to horse inspired domestic terrorism. Let’s not get ever used to it. K?

The horse’s first wife reported that he kept a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kampf at bedside. Many have observed that although he does not appear to read well, much, or even at all, the accusations of fake news discrediting the press and disparaging lies about opponents reads like Hitler’s playbook. Or the first few chapters I’ve read of Mao’s Last Revolution. Ugh.

Sarah Kendzior, my nominee for Fearless Girl come to life,  has written much about what to watch for as the horse cements and normalizes behaviors to expect in this administration regime.  Political and social markers, gaslighting, spin of events, changes in behavior — written in 2016, her post Welcome to the Authoritarian Kleptocracy contains a wealth of information. A self-described Cassandra for our times, she did not want to be.

Immigrants seeking asylum are walking through Mexico and the horse has directed 800 troops to the border to greet them. Nevermind that they won’t reach the US for a few more months, many will stay in Mexico, and the horse’s alleged “Middle Easterners” traveling in the caravan will disappear. The horse pushes the immigration hot button to rile up his base.

And riddle you this. When the Donkeys have a majority, Elephants are all about fiscal responsibility. When the Elephants are in majority, fiscal responsibility takes a back seat is thrown out with the bath water. After adding $1.5 x 10¹² (a trillion and a half) to the deficit, Elephants now be all about throwing another $2 x 10¹² down the hatch. Paid for by cuts to Medicare and Social Security, the horse is all in. He’s been bankrupt before.

And 2018 election integrity is at risk. In addition to the possibility of more foreign meddling in our elections, known stateside meddling oddities:

  • In Texas, about 30% of the voting machines will spit out select candidates or no candidate on a straight party ticket selection.
  • In DeKalb County Georgia, more than 4500 early voting requests have gone missing.
  • In North Dakota, reservation residents/indigenous citizens cannot vote without an address. To which we say, what kind of spammery is this? Voting age citizens whose ancestors were here BC (Before Columbus) denied the right to vote.

And the beat list goes on. And on. In California, Republican Duncan Hunter is under investigation for felonious use of campaign funds. I like the quote “you can be guilty and still serve.” What!? Guilty of a felony, Duncan Hunter could serve. Meanwhile in Florida, felons who’ve served their time, can’t vote. My mind boggles.

Vote early or vote Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. This election is about restoring a check to the horse in the hospital because the current elephants are enthusiasts and enablers and the hospital is falling into ruin. Okay, I stop with the analogies now.

Vote (D) and restore a check and some balance to this administration regime.

Your pen is mightier and your superpower is your vote.

Use it on a ballot. 

VOTE!!!

¹ No offense meant to actual elephants.

A Small Sundry of Assorted Jumble

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VOTE! November 6, 2018 VOTE!

In no particular order, I humbly present a metaphorical laundry basket of deplorables lights and darks.

Here we go!

Basket I. Be a Hero. VOTE!!!

In the music mix this week, I listened to vintage David Bowie. And I miss him knowing that whatever was in his music vault, it is what it is and only is. That’s it. That’s all.

The song Heroes played. “And the shame was on the other side … we could be heroes for just one day.”

And so please, be a hero with me on or before November 6, 2018.

VOTE!

Your superpower is that your pen is mightier.

Use it on a ballot.

II. A Boring Project

African American entrepreneur and inventor, Elon Musk, announced that he would be done with his Boring Project soon.

Good.

Then he can get back to his Interesting Project.

Whatever that is.

III. Leftovers

While out at dinner with wife Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell’s doggie bag was thrown to the curb by an angry constituent.

Good.

Mitch didn’t get his dinner leftovers.

And he might not call us deplorables, but we know we aren’t the main meal either.  He has his own never-ending Interesting Project and he’s coming for the leftovers.

Us.

“Mitch McConnell says it out loud: Republicans are gunning for Social Security, Medicare, and Obamacare next”.  Well of course they are, because, gunning and NRA. Amirite?

And the LA Times misspelled ‘again’ as ‘next’ but the outcome will remain. Mitch will leave us leftovers out on the curb.

IV. The Horror in the Familiar

Reading of the details of the assassination, torture, murder, dismemberment, and incineration of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudis, I was reminded of the wood chipper scene in the movie, Fargo. For me, Fargo was a true horror movie. Too real to my real life — the characters, the dialog, the interiors, the scenery. I am of, and from the Fargo midwest.

And so, I contend that as Mr. Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Embassy, he knew.

Ugh.

Basket I, 2nd Rinse. Be a Hero. VOTE!!!

In the music mix this week, I listened to vintage David Bowie. And I miss him knowing that whatever was in his music vault, it is what it is and only is. That’s it. That’s all.

The song Heroes played. “And the shame was on the other side … we could be heroes for just one day.”

And so please, be a hero with me on or before November 6, 2018.

VOTE!

Your superpower is that your pen is mightier.

Use it on a ballot.

Show Mitch, et al that we are not leftovers.

 

 

 

 

Vote like you can’t!

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Free and fair elections, right? I mean this IS the United States of America. Democracy is our middle name. Democracy is in our DNA.  Democracy is a struggle for a more perfect union.

This week I heard a story about a farm visit and the invitation included the warning to stay out of the barn. The old, family-farm wooden barn.

Let’s face it. That sounds like a direct come-hither invitation to see what’s in the barn.

And so it was.

You were born here, a US citizen. Your residence has never been elsewhere. When you reached adulthood, ‘voter‘ was assumed as part of your identity.  That barn is not off limits to you. You can vote with impunity. ‘Voter’ is redundant with your standing as a lifelong citizen of the US.

Not so fast.

In the struggle towards a more perfect union, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 reminds us that the right to representation was not guaranteed for racial minorities. Until the 19th amendment was passed, approximately half of the population couldn’t vote. And prior to 1828, white male non-landowners weren’t represented in the struggling union either. Big legislative strokes were needed to include minorities, women, and white male non-landowners.

But “old age and treachery always overcomes youth and skill.” ¹

Not quite so immediate and identifiable, voter suppression laws now are more subtle. Strict voter ID laws² infer a voter has access to a government facility which issues valid ID, limited voting hours restrict those constrained by work requirements, limited voting locations infer access to adequate transportation to and from the polls, and the list goes on. Laws designed to keep you out of the barn. We may not be subjected to a poll tax, but the resources needed to get you to the polls takes its toll — hidden poll taxes in plain sight.

So check out that old, family-farm wooden barn while you can. They are falling apart all over.

And vote like you can’t! The union is struggling.

Check your voter registration status! Today! Many states have voter registration deadlines.

 

General Election Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Vote. Vote. Vote.

(Actually vote once and only once, but VOTE!)

Let America Vote!

¹ From Old Age and Treachery lyrics by Troy Harold Seals, Max D. Barnes, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson.

² Why It’s Getting Harder and Harder to Vote in the US, by Joe McCarthy, October 19, 2016, Global Citizen.