American Exceptionalism

Starting in October many Americans cast their votes at early voting sites, through mailing their ballots or voting in person on Election Day. The choice was driven by an out of control pandemic and 50 individual State election laws. There was no violence, no abnormal gliches, and a record number of votes cast and counting continues. As expected, it's taking a little longer because of the volume of mailed ballots. There is no evidence of fraud and the American people will except the results regardless of the media coverage of the usual angry suspects. This truly is what makes us exceptional as a democracy. Nothing requires a concession speech, that's only a matter of tradition. If the incumbent loses and it's likely, should he choose not to vacate the WH premises in January, the Rock, Arnold, Col.Vindman and Hillary will happily show him the door. Yes. We are exceptional. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth.

What Joe Biden Has Not Done

Joe Biden has not been hiding in a basement. Joe Biden has not contracted Covid 19. Joe Biden has not tried to humiliate his opponents' children. Joe Biden has not mocked science. Joe Biden has not embraced racist actions.  Joe Biden has not bullied and attacked those who disagreed with him. Joe Biden has not paid a porn star to be quiet about a sexual encounter. Joe Biden has not made fun of disabled people. Joe Biden has not called scientists and doctors idiots. Joe Biden has not used the Bible as a prop. Joe Biden has not tear gassed innocent protesters. Joe Biden has not caged children and stolen them from their parents. Joe Biden has not infected people with a virus. Joe Biden has not complemented Kim Jung Un. Joe Biden has not disgraced our military. Joe Biden has not lied about his taxes. Joe Biden has not pretended that 230000 Covid deaths are a good result. Joe Biden has not made fun of respected Dr. Fauci. Joe Biden has not tried to slow mail by hiring a campaign donor to deliver it. Joe Biden has not supported unproven health remedies. Joe Biden has not mocked the dead. Joe Biden has not tried to suppress the vote.  Joe Biden has not deliberately tried to stoke fear and division in our country. Joe Biden has not denied global warming. Joe Biden has not embraced left wing socialist ideology.  Joe Biden has not been impeached. I will not attempt to convince any trump supporter that their guy is a person of failed character, deserving of the greatest punishment that justice can impart. It is folly to do so. I will hope that my country makes the right choice. Decency over party. Truth over lies. Kindness over hate. Judge them on what they haven't done. Character means something. Let's set an example for our children. You can argue over your tax cuts and Courts in the future.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

To Republicans

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/20/lincoln-project-oped-republicans-stand-up-for-america/

Sympathy For The Devil

I was listening to old Rolling Stones and heard "Sympathy For The Devil". It reminded me of President trump and his Covid 19 infection. Now as any good human would, I am not wishing him harm or worse. I will not, however, feel an ounce of sympathy while he gets the best socialized medicine our country offers and his contribution for that care is next to nothing. trump lied about the virus, mocked the wearing of masks, touted unproven and dangerous remedies, knowingly infected people since we now know he was infected before his NJ fundraiser. He participated regularly in superspreader events and his mismanagement of the crisis has cost 210000 lives and rising. The virus still takes about 800 people a day and new cases are rising to an average of 45000 a day. He has denied the virus effects in public while boasting of his deliberate action of playing it down. He has denied science, sidelined experts and politicized public health. He is actively pursuing the repeal of the ACA and has lied about a replacement. I could go on. Do I wish him a full recovery? I guess so. But sympathy for this devil? Sorry, No. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth. Vote.

You can Whine or you can Vote.

Mitch McConnell is motivated and obsessed by nothing else other than the rightward direction of the court. If you have a pulse you would know this. Therefore his actions from Obama through trump are neither surprising nor hypocritical. Truth is not a tactic. Hypocrisy is not a policy or a direction.

Republicans control the Senate and all the whining, yelling and crocodile tears does not change that fact at least until January 2021. This upcoming confirmation should be the greatest motivator for Democratic voters in modern electoral history. Vote for a Democratic Congress and President if you want to control the levers of power and be as aggressive as Republicans in supporting issues of importance. Climate change, Healthcare, Covid assistance, science, economic equality and opportunity, women's rights, civil rights. Stop Whining. Just VOTE.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth.

It will Count

As long as your mail in vote is postmarked by Election Day, it will be counted. States, not the Federal Government, determine their election process. Nothing that mr trump says on the matter will change that.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

So What?

Today, there are 60 plus million voters saying..."So what.". So what if he lies about the seriousness of the disease. So what that he mocked masks knowing they'd protect us. So what if he dodged the draft and called the fallen, suckers and losers. So what if he said bleach might rid us of Covid. So what if he promised new healthcare for all 3 weeks ago. So what if he stokes fear while saying he doesn't want to panic us. So what, so what, so what. But her emails? And Biden is senile  in a basement taking guidance from Antifa. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth. 

Denial

66 percent of America, according to FOX and Gallup polls rate the President as dishonest. OK, so he lies, his supporters say and so do all politicians so big deal. And Biden has dementia and lives in his basement and is directed by Antifa terrorists who throw cans of soup at police claiming it's their food. (President said this, not me). The President got 4 bone spur deferments to avoid Vietnam. Well so did liberal deserters and others who left for Canada. No big deal. None of the Presidents' kids served a day in service to our country but Beau wasn't killed and Hunter was on drugs and got kicked out. John McCain, a war hero and Republican candidate in 08 was called a loser and mocked for being captured, by the President. So what. McCain saved Obamacare and was against torture.

The Khan parents were made fun of by the President in 16 having lost a son to war. Big deal. It was a campaign and the mother didn't speak up. And they are Muslims. The Atlantic monthly reports on trump's comments about fallen ww1 vets as being losers and that no one wants amputees in military parades. It's OK we know he lies and his denials are just him being him. Also,  I ask, why make fun of dementia. Really?

Where are You Americans for Reason and Truth.

It's A Strategy

Politics as they say is hardball. From the Willie Horton ad to "lock her up". What we are witnessing now is a deliberate strategy designed to use race again as a tactic of fear. Forget the fact of the many crises that have been mismanaged or lied about. That's for you to assess. Now, however, the purposeful starving of States for Covid relief funds is a political attempt to frustrate large cities, spur some violence and show images of lots of black and brown people, those with different eyes and accents that are often the center of any large urban area. Keep financial assistance away from their homes and flames are lit. It's a strategy. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

President Houdini

Harry Houdini was a famous escape artist know for spectacular events where he could challenge police to keep him shackled or to put himself inside water filled milk containers with handcuffs and getting out without drowning. The current President is very much like Houdini having escaped the IRS, Removal, Access Hollywood tapes, mocking disabled people, lying about treatments for Covid, ignoring the real pain of the virus and on and on. I figure there are 62 million voters that will continue to allow his escapes from responsibility, from truth and from decency. They will rally around the false narrative and disrespect of Biden as a demented fool. They will rally around FOX news and its 3 nightly horror shows and they will rally around a new caravan, scaring us about black people in our cities and soon to be destroyed suburbs, hoping white "housewives" will repel the left wing extremist Antifa rabblerousing Democrats. Ok. Good for them. Houdini is dead. Hopefully so too will be the trump Presidency. He's no Houdini. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

Nasty

Whenever the current 

occupant of the White House is faced with a strong woman he brings out his playbook. "She's Nasty".

Really? Where are you Americans For Reason and Truth?

Assumption Racism

Joe Biden will be picking a Veep candidate and his choice will not alter my Presidential voting decision in the least. I am however disturbed by something and that is a less discussed form of racism. I call it Assumption Racism. Many assume that people are unable to support candidates based on views but only based on race. 100 leading black leaders are saying that blacks will only be enthused about voting if Biden picks a black woman. That offends me. Blacks do not vote in lock step with that view any more than whites who voted for Obama, or whites who voted against him based on policy, not race. To assume this about a group of people implies prejudicial and yes, racist attitudes. Amongst black voters, in fact, Senator Warren's positions actually poll higher than do any of the black candidates. I'm not saying whom I support but I am saying that Assumption Racism is insulting to the black voter.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth.

Schools Can Open If.....

In the middle of a nationally uncontrolled pandemic, the clamor to open schools has entered the realm of politics. A disgraced CDC and it's feckless director can no longer be believed. If you really want schools to open it can happen if:

-Classroom spaces with real 8 ft. distance on all sides are provided.

-Student schedules are put in place with minimal to no movement from class to class occuring. This means bring back tracking...sorry education gurus.

-New high tech desks with plastic see through all around inserts and disinfectant wipes,, tissues, gloves and masks supplied and replenished within built in compartments.

-Triple Custodial and Nursing positions to provide twice an hour cleaning and to reach testing protocols.

-One full day school cleaning meaning all remote at least one day a week.

-PPE provided to all staff daily along with twice weekly Covid tests for students and staff.

-Elimination of close contact activities and classes or complete revision of affected curriculum to provide social distance learning with Chorus. band, theatre, Physical Ed. etc

-Remodeling of staff break areas to insure social distance and hygiene guidelines, toilets, refrigerators etc can be to the highest health standards.

-Prepacked lunches for students distributed with social distance and mask standards in place.

-Eliminate assemblies and replace with high tech school zoom/communication systems in place.

-No class trips

This is a start but the costs will never be funded. I guess you are on your own. Remember that we love our students and staff. Health first. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

The Right Way To Open School

I wouldn't ask a florist to perform heart surgery nor a carpenter to be my wedding planner. Training and expertise matter. I therefore would not ask a politician to decide on reopening school unless they were a former teacher or school expert with something credible to say. We should not be surprised that the least competent Secretary of Education and anti public school advocate in history and the demonic idiot she serves are putting students, parents and staff in the middle of a political war during a raging health crisis without regard for their health. We must hope that the thousands of smart minds running public school systems can ignore the noise, the threats, the inaccuracies and the bluster and plan for a safe reopening of school. We cannot look for a one size fits all approach. The reopening plans should run the gamut from a hybrid of remote/in class to a full reopen to full remote. It depends on how you merge the realities of the spreading virus with the essential public health requirements, building capacities and financial flexibility of each district. All 13000 school districts are planning for the new school year but must reflect on their geography, their infrastructure and their local realities. It's easy to create another us vs. them war...those who want to open school and those against it. That is a false and totally dangerous narrative. It's only used by trump to stoke more hatred and division. It won't work. I am a retired educator and Board of Ed member so this issue is near and dear to me. I know that the expertise, professionalism and common sense of the vast majority of educators is up to the task. Knee jerk reactions and political interference will not work. Let the educators and public health officials do their jobs. The rest should just go under a tree and read a book.

Where are you Americans For Reason and Truth?

Mass(k) Confusion.

Let's say you are a MAGA hat wearing supporter of the President. He has told you masks are not manly, they show weakness and the virus has only affected15 people going to zero. Then it was that the virus is only for the old. Then it was it won't kill more than 75000. Then it was, we have to open, the virus will just go away. Then it was the Governor's are handling it great. Then it was Dr. Fauci makes a lot of mistakes. You've bought into it all. You've listened and reacted hook, line and sinker. You worship him. Now yesterday, he wore a mask. Are you confused? Are you less of a man? 

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

trump Math

Math is useful whether you like the subject or not. Numbers do not lie. trump has the support of 40 percent of likely voters. This group is 53 percent men 94 percent who are white. 73 percent are non college grads. 47 percent are women 92 percent who are white and 68 percent non college. These numbers have been gathered from a selection of polls and may not be completely representative of real numbers. That leaves the rest of us. If you do the math, it looks like he is a goner. So how does trump math work? Restrain mail in ballots to reduce the educated participation. Pass draconian voter ID laws in red states to suppress minority votes. Scare suburban white women about Antifa kidnappers coming for their kids so they stay inside on election day. Lie about Covid 19 death numbers calling the lost lives fake corpses and use the three fifths compromise to only count 60 percent of the black vote claiming that one man one vote is not real getting AG Barr to issue such an advisory. It just may work.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

The Old Playbook

In 1987 George Herbert Walker Bush was down in the polls against Massachusetts liberal Michael Dukakis. He dusted off the old Nixon playbook, the Southern strategy and his race baiting Willie Horton ad turned the tables. Be afraid of mean looking black rapists released from jail. It worked. He went on to be our President. In 2020, we again are seeing and experiencing the remnants of racism in this country. This time the incumbent, down in the polls is going full on hate. Good Nazis, heroic Confederate traitors, left wing Antifa, encouraging police roughness, extremist lefties aligned with Pantheresque dark people. The same old playbook. If you don't want it to work again, you better vote. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

From Russia With Love

How do Americans support the denial and credibility of the former director of the KGB over the CIA? Is there a MAGA explanation for that? Or an invitation to rejoin the G7 to a country that invaded Ukraine against our interests? Is there a MAGA explanation for that? Or the financing by Russia, the killing of coalition forces as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Is there a MAGA explanation for that? I am just asking. I'd like to make an informed decision.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth.

Why Won't They Listen?

I am a left of center citizen. I am educated, generous and accepting of different points of view. I never disrespect a person just because their views differ from mine. It does however produce incredible sadness in me to know that there remains a substantial number of my fellow Americans who just don't listen. Forget partisan differences related to size of government, taxation and originalist vs flexible interpretations of our Constitution. Whereas these are viable, relevant and acceptable points for debate, the non listeners will not accept the most basic, human and decent elements of reality. Masks work. Bleach should not be ingested. The virus did not magically go away. There is no caravan of rapists on our border. Confederate monuments do not represent America, they represent secessionist states. North Korea is not reducing it's nuclear arsenal. Telling 20,000 lies as a President is not a good thing. Trying to deflate real numbers during a health crisis is not safe. Encouraging people to rally in hot spots is not good policy. Trying to take health care away during a health crisis is mean without a replacement. Lying about mail in voting while voting by mail is disingenuous and isolating scientific experts in the name of a political campaign is dangerous. Applauding autocrats, ignoring the opinions of intelligence experts and antagonizing allies is unhelpful. Using racist language, encouraging violence and creating division is hurtful to our nation's principles. Still, they won't listen. Vote.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

Good Government

Many people rail against government. It's too big. My taxes are too high. I don't want government telling me what to do EXCEPT when it affects them. Then, they love government. When it finds you a job (New Deal) or protects your health and retirement (ACA, SS and Medicare), or helps rebuild your home after a hurricane or gives you incentives and loopholes to avoid taxes. Then you love government. Most of the animosity comes from those who actually rely on it the most. Statistically those states who are most likely to be red, take a larger proportion of Federal aid than what they contribute but are the loudest in railing against government. BUT, it is functioning good government that should be debated and demanded. This is what is most important. Government that works, that cares, that makes a difference. What we are seeing now is BAD government. 3 months into a pandemic that has affected us all, we are seeing the worst case counts so far. Why? Bad government. We need Good government. One with leadership, compassion and truth. Wear a fukking mask. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

The New Normal? What's that even mean?

Today, Memorial Day, will likely mark the 100 thousandth Covid 19 death in America. Notwithstanding the utter failure, inhumanity and denial of our President in the handling of this crisis, a lot of dialogue about a new normal is being had. What does that really mean? If anyone tells you they know, they are drinking bleach. We don't know when or if an effective vaccine is coming. We don't know the level of a fall surge. We don't know (yet) how reopening measures will affect the health care institutions. We don't know if positive antibody results protect you from a reoccurance. We don't know how children reexposed to each other will handle the virus. We don't know which underlying conditions give certainty to the virus strength in your body. These are just the tip of the iceberg. We do know that masks work to mitigate spread. We do know that drinking bleach or disinfectant is not a good idea. We do know that hydroxychloroquine can cause fatal heart arythmias. We do know that lengthy crowding in closed spaces causes viral spread. We do know that fresh air, exercise and social distancing work in controlling the virus. We do know that 

Scientists, Doctors and Researchers know more about viruses than do politicians. And, we do know that a healthy, careful and science based population can restore economic growth quicker than any tweet or reckless recommendation. The New normal? Beats me. Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth.