THE CAT IN THE HAT IDENTIFIES A RAT

 

MISSING THE CAPITOL STEPS

 

I am sorry that the Capitol Steps is no longer with us.   

The Capitol Steps was a comedy group originally created by congressional staffers that “put the MOCK in democracy” from 1981 to 2020.  I saw several of their performances on Theatre Row in NYC and in their home base in Washington DC. 

They were known for Weird Al-ish (for those of my generation Allan Sherman-ish) political song parodies.  Who could forget “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea” and “Condoleezza” (“Condoleezza, Condoleezza father named me.”).

Their performances also included a “spoonerism” bit – a monologue given in a kind of pig latin where corresponding consonants and vowels are switched between two words of a phrase.  I remember one that discussed Bill Clinton, “a gorney huy” (huy pronounced “high”).

I would love to hear their take on the second Trump Administration.  There could be “Maaaaaaaaaaar-a-Lago” to the tune of “Oklahoma” (“Maaaaaaaaaaar-a-Lago, where the rich go to kiss Trump’s arse and ring.”).  Think what they could have done with the Knickerbocker’s “Lies”, “The Fool on the Hill”, and Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” (“Lie lie lie.  Lie lie lie lie lie lie lie.”).

TAFN

VOTE!

 

The greatest threat facing America and American democracy is today’s Trump-embracing and Religious Right controlled Republican Party.

It is truly vital for the future of America that you vote against EVERY Republican candidate in EVERY election on EVERY level today!

BE AFRAID. BE VERY AFRAID!

 

It is time to be afraid – be very afraid.

I will continue to say this.  The greatest threat facing America and American freedoms, democracy, and values is convicted felon and indicted traitor Donald “the Man Who Would Be King” Trump and today’s racist and repressive Trump-embracing and Religious Right controlled Republican Party. 

EVERY true conservative and traditional Republican MUST forget political philosophy or Party support.  Today’s political situation is NOT about liberal vs conservative policy.  

EVERY intelligent and patriotic American - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - MUST publicly, vocally, and aggressively oppose and denounce Trump and his every action.

EVERY intelligent and patriotic American - Democrat, Republican, or Independent - MUST vote to defeat EVERY Republican candidate in EVERY election at EVERY level from now through 2028.  The Democrats MUST take control of Congress and state legislatures if democracy is to survive.

America, and the world, will not be safe until we get rid of Trump and his deplorable and despicable Administration.      

TAFN

TODAY’S CHRISTIANITY AIN’T CHRISTIAN

I am a “senior citizen”.  I was born a Protestant Christian – a “northern” Methodist.  My parents were heavily involved in the social and religious life and in the administration of our local church. 

Growing up I regularly attended my church’s Sunday School and ecumenical week-day and summer “Bible School” and as a teen-ager my church’s youth group and Methodist summer conference/camp, where I was taught the true teachings of Christ and Christianity – love they neighbor, accept the different, do unto others, feed the hungry, heal the sick, help the needy, and welcome the stranger.

As a teen-ager and young adult my Protestant Christian upbringing led me to be involved in local and national politics and community and national social action, in ecumenical and secular organizations, to promote the previously identified true teachings of Christ and Christianity - but certainly not to advocate the legislation of the individual “rules and restrictions” of Protestant Christianity.

As an adult I was, and am, truly “lapsed” and a bit more of an agnostic than a full atheist – but I have always acknowledged and appreciated the positive effect my Christian upbringing had on shaping the person I am today.

What has become the more public and vocal Christianity of today – the Christianity of the so-called “evangelicals” of the Religious Right that have taken control of the Republican Party – bears absolutely no resemblance to the Christianity I was brought up in.  The policies of today's "Christianity" are directly contrary to the true teachings of Christ and Christianity I learned in my childhood religious education.

Today’s Christianity truly ain’t Christian anymore.

TAFN

AN AMERICAN NIGHTMARE - A TRUE STORY

 

Once upon a time the absolute worst choice for President possible, an incompetent and totally self-absorbed moron, ran against a competent and qualified woman.

The worst choice was so bad a person that even though the woman was irrationally disliked, and America will not vote for a woman for President, she actually won the election by about 3 million votes.  Unfortunately, the wicked archaic and outdated Electoral College put the absolute worst choice possible in the White House.

Four years later the absolute worst choice possible ran for re-election against a man and lost by about 8 Million votes.  The new President attempted to undo the damage done during the absolute worst choice possible’s Administration and began to turn the country around economically.

Another four years later, now a convicted felon who had been determined by a court to be a rapist and had been indicted by the Department of Justice twice for treasonous acts, the still absolute worst choice for President ran against another competent and qualified woman and, because America will not vote for a woman for President, won the election.

Once in office the absolute worst possible choice for President possible began a campaign to turn the democracy that was America into a fascist country and give himself ultimate power as its king.

The End

I BELIEVE

 

* I believe in the strict separation of church and state.  The individual beliefs of a specific religion, sect, or denomination should never be legislated.

* I believe that extreme fundamentalist Christianity is as much, if not more, of a threat to America than extreme fundamentalist Islam.

* I believe the 2^nd Amendment is outdated and obsolete in today’s world.  To quote conservative Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger – “The real purpose of the Second Amendment was to ensure that state armies – the militia – would be maintained for the defense of the state.  The very language of the Second Amendment refutes any argument that it was intended to guarantee every citizen an unfettered right to any kind of weapon he or she desires.”

* I believe there is no legitimate reason for any individual to own any firearm other than a “traditional” pistol or “traditional” rifle for personal protection, hunting, or target shooting.  There should be a ban on individual ownership of assault weapons and attachments to turn a traditional gun into an assault weapon.

* I believe ownership of a firearm must be treated under the law in the same manner we treat automobiles and driving –

+ All gun owners must have a valid license, which must be renewed each year, and initially issued only after a comprehensive background check.
+The minimum age for owning a gun should be 18.
+To get a license a person must pass a written test and a “practical” test.
+ Gun owners must maintain insurance similar to automobile insurance.
+Every gun must be titled and tagged at the point of purchase and registered in a national data base.

* I believe there should be no federal or state death penalty – but only because, since our justice system is not perfect, an innocent person may be convicted.  Instead, there should be discretionary, and perhaps mandatory in some situations, life imprisonment without any chance of parole.

* I believe that homosexuality is an “accident of birth” and not a “learned” or “chosen” behavior.  Homosexuals should be treated the same as heterosexuals under the law.  If a heterosexual couple is allowed to marry, adopt children, etc. so should a homosexual couple.

* I believe a convicted felon should not be allowed to run for President.  Nor should a person who has been federally indicted for treasonous acts (i.e. inciting an insurrection or stealing classified documents).

* I believe all candidates for President and Vice President must make public at least 5 years of tax returns.

* I believe the Electoral College should be abolished.  The election of a President should be based solely on the popular vote.

* I believe all elected Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Congresspersons must totally divest themselves of all investment holdings before taking office.  You can be a President, Vice President, or Congressperson OR be a businessman or businesswoman – but not both at the same time.  The proceeds should be placed in a blind trust.  The trustees must be unknown to the office holder and the investments of the trust should be limited to Treasury obligations, municipal bonds, and stock market index mutual funds.

* I believe no person, including the President, is above the law.  The President should not have any immunity from prosecution for criminal acts committed either while in or out of office. 

* I believe the power of the President should be limited, and that all actions of a President must be subject to review and reversal by Congress and the courts.

* I believe the greatest enemy of and threat to America, Americans, American freedoms and democracy, and true American values is Trump and today’s Republican Party.

* I believe Donald “The Man Who Would Be King” Trump is a totally worthless piece of excrement, completely devoid of intelligence, integrity, honor, humanity, sympathy, and empathy, who does not possess a single redeeming positive human quality or value, and who has never performed a single totally unselfish act in his entire adult life. 

* I believe Trump does not care one ounce about anyone or anything but himself.

* I do not believe a single word Trump says about anything.

* I believe that in the history of the United States no one single individual has done more damage to America, the American people, American freedom and democracy, and true American values than Trump.

* I believe America will not be safe until Trump is removed from office by any legal means possible.

* I believe Trump should be held accountable in federal and state courts, and appropriately punished, for his multitude of crimes.

TAFN