The Republican Platform

Fight with Mickey Mouse because of his tolerance.

Raise taxes on Orlando, Florida.

Stop food at the border to raise prices and cause spoilage.

Sunset medicare, medicaid and Social Security.

Take away the right to vote from minorities through blatant gerrymandering.

Control a woman's body.

Support Insurrection.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth.

Pandemic Response.

First post in awhile. Kind of burnt out.

President Biden has ramped up vaccines and made them free and available. He has promoted boosters. He has made masks available for free. He has made at home kits free and mailing a few to our homes. He has worked with big pharma to distribute vaccines worldwide and to make treatment drugs available. He convenes bipartisan meetings with Governors to address covid response needs. He has distributed billions of dollars in recovery aid to states. He has worked to keep schools open.

He has tried to put mandates in place that would keep us safer pushing against all odds. He addresses the reality of the virus and tries every minute of every day to help us defeat it. Donald Trump denied the seriousness of the virus, divided the country with conspiracy advocacy and recommended we drink bleach. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Guvs

What has happened to our Governors in this country? Let's look at the 4 largest States accounting for one third of America. 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans. Gavin Newsome has to run in a recall election. In the midths of a health crisis handled well initially, he goes out publicly to dine with rich donors. Gregg Abbott is trying to keep Texans from voting and trying to stop public health safety measures as cases explode. Andrew Cuomo's abusive behaviors and questionable book release to feed his ego will likely destroy him. Ron DeSantis cannot find any more room up trump's rear end and wants to stop the pay of School Superintendents who try and protect children. I could cite at a least a dozen more examples from smaller States too but the point has been made. I don't know about you, but we can do better. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Obama Problem

I believe Obama was a transformative President, mostly for the good of our country. Certainly more humane and dignified than his successor, whose hate, racism and lies will be the foundation for a big chunk of our country for decades to come, posing a real existential threat to our Democracy. BUT Obama blew it big time as party leader. He de emphasized down ballot elections in States all across the country. His low prioritization of party building at the grass roots is manifesting itself in voter suppression laws that are legally being passed by legitimately elected Republican state legislatures. For that, he deserves condemnation and publicized accountability for that failure. To the victor goes the spoils. Congress can step in with national voter rights laws but they probably wont. Too bad. If Dems cannot do that, perhaps we don't deserve the mantle of leadership. Where are you Americans for Reason and truth?

Easy Call

Fourteenth Amendment 

• Section 3

  No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

• Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth

Civic Illiteracy

I taught American Government for many years. I would expect that of the thousands of students I tried to impact, most would know that the Bill of Rights and Constitution protect us against Government intrusion. These documents do not say "Facebook shall make no law". They would know, unlike the recently elected Auburn's football coach, that the Senate is not the third branch of Government. They would also know that speech leading to a "clear and present danger" vis a vis Schenck 1919, is not protected speech. One reason why Wednesday's historic day, an act of domestic terror, instigated by a President and his enablers took hold, was because our citizenry is void of good civic education. The rioters do not know what our founders created. They do not read. They do not look at the inconveniences of truth. They are dangerously gullible. Political differences will always exist, but when outrageous lies are told, received by an ill informed and uneducated population, those differences evolve into the kind of insurrection we painfully witnessed. trump's arrival was not promulgated by an informed and literate group of voters, it exists and was activated by those who prey on our collective lack of knowledge about our democracy. Civic Illiteracy may prove to be the most alarming thing about our country. Educators.....beware.

Where are you Americans for Reason and Truth?

It's Always About Race

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

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?