Culture and Politics

The Correspondent

In a novel

attempt

to preempt

the event

of the President

and

DC

correspondents,

there were shots

fired

and lots

of confusion

over an

intrusion

at the 

White House

Correspondents’

Dinner,

making everyone 

nervous

before

salad

service.

The Secret

Service

rushed

the dais

and escorted

the POTUS,

FLOTUS,

and VIPS,

while

everyone

else,

with

unease,

exited

safely,

except

the uninvited

guest

correspondent

whose message

is not yet

clear.

Nowhere

near

the President’s

ear,

this incident

was different.

Still,

the ability 

to break

through

security

when everybody

who is

anybody

in DC

was present

as either

a correspondent

or close

to the 

President,

seems

less incredible

than inevitable

that some

violent

message

would be

deliverable.

Thankfully,

it was 

quelled

immediately

with the 

gunman

taken away

in custody.

A night 

dedicated

to freedom

of speech

began 

with

a security

breech

and then

each 

correspondent

ready

to present

a story

of the evening’s

terrifying

event.

Freedom

of speech

and press—

all there

to report

the mess.

I’m sure

the shooter’s

intent

was not

meant

to highlight

the role

of the

correspondent.

It almost

seems 

an elegant

message.

Swalwell Pulled Out

All’s well

without Swalwell,

unless

you’re his

family

or a victim.

Because of 

him

your life

is now hell.

Thanks,

Former Representative

Swalwell.

And now

Dems must

face

another

race,

this time

in the great

state-

the richest

state-

of Cali.

The tally

of men

who 

got caught

harming

women-

multiple 

women-

still shocks

and appalls,

as it should.

Who would

do this?

Men of

such 

hubris

and much

power.

I’m glad

he pulled

out 

of the race,

though he

was running

apace,

and could

have become

Newsom’s

successor

for governor.

Before Swalwell

fell,

I didn’t

like him,

though

I agreed

with his

legislative

actions.

His ubiquitous

presence

became

distractions,

and he was

overly

ambitious.

There’s

the story

that 

Dems

destroy

themselves,

but Trump

has destroyed

the US.

The biggest

messes

are MAGA

Congress’s,

as they

refuse

to hold

Trump

accountable.

Trump

and his

party

are responsible,

no doubt,

but still,

I’m glad

that Swalwell

pulled out.

No need 

to throw

the baby

out

with the

bathwater.

Just

let him

go

and show

the world

that

we can

recover

with another

Democrat

in charge.

Fat Jesus

The ever hilarious,

gregarious,

never nefarious,

POTUS,

posed as

Jesus,

the healer,

using AI,

to defy

the pope.

In his social

media

rope-a-dope,

the actual

dope

lashed out

at the pope,

saying that

he is “WEAK

on crime,

and terrible

on Foreign

Policy.” 

The blasphemy,

you see,

was really

just

a joke;

he was

actually

a doctor

in a 

lab coat

(channeling

remote

energy

through

a golden

orb

so the sick

could

absorb

HIS light).

This oh so

humorous

reaction

and its 

swift

retraction

followed

Pope Leo’s

Palm Sunday

statement

that God

“does not 

listen

to the prayers

of those

who wage

war.”

I believe that 

was for 

Pete Hegseth

who constantly

invoketh

not only

death

by glory

but

holy

war

(for US,

not them).

Pope Leo

has criticized

harsh treatments

of immigrants

as well 

as Trump’s

war in Iran.

Such a fan

of Christianity,

Trump’s hilarity

as you know,

always

falls flat.

Jesus

is fat

in the Trump

bible,

in the gospel

according

to social

media.

John Lennon

said

way back when,

that 

The Beatles

were 

bigger

than Jesus.

Trump’s

Jesus

is even

bigger

of course,

because

he has no

remorse.

He’s fat

and fatuous,

and certainly

no Jesus,

despite claims

that he “alone

can fix it”.

Size Matters

Trump finally got

the biggest

crowds

ever

in US

history,

but will

it be 

enough?

The No Kings 3

demonstrations,

3000 

confirmations

of approximately

8 million

frustrations

with this administration

and demand

for democracy

to be

the rule,

not a cruel

fool,

infantile

and vile,

gauche,

louche,

driven

by money

and epic

fury,

proved 

that we

can unite

peacefully

for decency

and democracy.

A protest

alone

can’t dethrone

a would-be

king

or authoritarian

ring.

(See Tiananmen

Square, 1989).

But 

it’s a sign

nonetheless,

that 

in

nearly

every

municipality,

fearlessness

against

venality,

brutality,

criminality,

and more,

is growing.

Knowing

the size 

of the resistance

to the persistence

of this 

menace

should help 

us

flip the House

and Senate.

Let him

take credit

for ending

the war

soon.

It doesn’t

change

that he’s

still

a buffoon,

who will

soon

realize

that congress

must authorize

this “exercise”.

It’s the size 

that matters

most

to him,

whether

bright

or dim,

news

of multitudes

gets 

his attention.

Any mention 

of size

is a prize

to be had

or denied.

Regardless,

he’ll go on

attacking.

Your presence

is paramount

in order 

to dismount

this weak

yet pugnacious

anomaly.

Or is he?

Is he US?

Are we

just a  huge

country

that is obnoxious,

old,

fat,

ignorant,

and gluttonous?

Yesterday’s

No Kings Day

would suggest

otherwise,

based on

the size 

of the crowds

of those

who chose

to exercise

their

right to protest.

I hope

it’s a test

to show

that size 

matters.

Cesar Dressing

Many 

a school

and boulevard

is named

for the man

whose

reputation’s

now marred

by the revelations

in the NYT

investigations

into

sexual abuse

by the Latino

and Farm Workers

Union hero,

Cesar Chavez.

Dolores Huerta

the “abuela” 

of the same

movement,

chose silence

about being

raped by him

and his abuse

of girls

and other

women,

for the sake 

of the Farm 

Workers

Union

and Latino

rights.

Now 

at almost

96,

her admission

could help

fix

the trap

of hero

worship.

Leadership

is an ego

trip,

but the script

must be 

flipped

more immediately.

The fear 

and shame 

shouldn’t be

for the victims

of abuse,

but for those

who confuse

title

with entitlement.

Victims

of Chavez

were as young

as 9,

and Ms. Huerta,

whom he twice

raped

at the time,

each time

resulting

in children,

was so 

committed to

her work

with the UFW,

and the rights

of farm workers

and Latinos,

that she chose

silence

for what she

believed

was a greater

good;

but also

for what she

believed

she could

do.

In many ways

our culture

is now more

aware

of the reality

of the pervasiveness

of sexual

abuse.

But many

refuse

to accept

the concept

that women

and children

are actually

not objects.

Even other

humanitarian

projects

carve out

sex

as somehow

irrelevant.

The recent

revelations

show Chavez

was malevolent –

not just

the macho

hero.

And now

bro

culture-

the manosphere-

does appear

to embrace

misogyny.

Accountability

for irresponsibility

much less,

abuse,

finds

an excuse

among

the obtuse

and those

who have

something

to lose.

Of course,

everyone

has something

to lose,

and to choose

to ignore

abuse,

or deviance,

for the convenience

of political

expedience

is itself

an abdication

of responsibility.

Sure,

we give females

our blessing

and yet

insinuate

that dressing

a certain

way

causes

inappropriate

behavior

by invitation.

Only

such a notion

removes

responsibility

for action

and gives

agency

to spaghetti

straps

and mini

skirts.

It hurts

my heart

to learn

this news,

not for Chavez,

but for

Huerta.

She had

to endure

for 

sixty

years

for fears

of “greater”

pain.

But the greater

stain

will be 

on

all of us

who let

injustice

remain.

The Shows Tell

“One Battle

After

Another”

and

“Sinners”,

both

Oscar

winners,

neither

of which

excited me,

still 

invited me

to cheer

the resistance

to the various

nefarious

forces

that resurface

to undermine

from time 

to time.

That Hollywood

would

create

a spate

of movies,

and include

a Brazilian ,

after a million

and one

heinous

acts had

been done

by the current

administration,

is validation

that all

is not lost,

though the cost

increases

daily.

Movies

reflect

and inspire,

which

is why

the vampire

genre

won’t die.

White nationalism

and supremacism,

dystopian

and historic,

with the allegoric

vampire

never dying,

always

vying

to take 

over,

lives

among us

forever.

One battle

after

another

describes

reality,

not just

the movie.

It feels 

like only

recently

the tragedy

of the strategy

of evil

and chaos

would be

possible.

We thought

we won

after WW2.

Humanity

was saved

and would

inevitably

evolve.

But humiliation

and fear

always

reappear

in the form

of aggression

and oppression.

We relaxed

and became

too confident,

never imagining

a modern president

like this one.

Hollywood

has finally

begun

to confront

white nationalism

and supremacy

as democracy

and the world

are now

in peril.

Interestingly,

the supremely

talented

Timothée 

Chalamet,

(who knows

a thing or two

about ballet),

was denied

his Marty

Supreme

Oscar

dream,

perhaps 

because

the theme

was 

him

being

a jerk.

It would

appear

the good 

guys

won

in Hollywood

this year.

In the face

of fear,

it’s clear

that the

real sinners

will reappear

to fight

one battle 

after another.

Everybody

A year ago

my second toe,

and first,

and third,

required

corrective

surgery.

Recovery

would be

slow

to show,

but now

the issue

is scar

tissue.

Meanwhile,

a terribly

difficult

infection

causing

inflammation

in a finger

to throb

and linger

has meant

that treatment

for another

ailment

is contingent

upon

what’s going

on

elsewhere.

And now

my problematic

hips and hamstrings,

additional

chronic

disablings,

can no longer

be ignored.

For all my

recovery talk,

one year later,

I can barely

walk;

an issue,

like my first toe,

started aching

decades ago.

I confess

my anatomical

mess,

less 

to complain

than to sustain

attention

on our duties

civic

to impact

our pathetic

body politic.

See what

I did there?

Compare

my shoddy

body

(and the ailments

I mention,

like 

you may

have,

are only some)

with the problem

of our politics.

As you 

well know,

pain sticks

when what

needs to be

fixed

isn’t.

Like 

an autoimmune

condition,

fighting

itself

into 

submission,

we’re in

a prolonged

flare.

There are

remedies

for various

maladies,

but much

effort

is required.

Mired

in pain

and war

is sure

to make

recovery

slow going.

But knowing

we still

have capacity

and muscle

memory

for democracy,

means

exercising

appropriately,

regularly.

Offerings

like 

No Kings

rallies

may seem

useless

against

our maladies,

but I believe

participation

is the medication

needed.

Support

candidates

beyond

your community

in order to 

strengthen

congressional

immunity

against

the MAGA

virus

inundating

us.

Donate,

show up,

email,

call….

do it all!

The process

of healing

requires

dealing

with building

strength;

a process

of length

and endeavor.

Nothing’s

forever,

but our injuries

may need

surgeries,

and certainly

therapies,

in order 

to facilitate

recovery.

Ultimately,

it’s up

to us

to do 

more 

than discuss

our disgust.

Democracy

is of,

by,

and for,

and therefore

requires

everybody.

Formerly Known As Prince

You knew

that Andrew

was in

a Windsor 

knot,

and not 

because

he draws

positive

attention.

But the arrest

of one 

of the 

highest profile

friends

of Epstein

by a mile,

is the one

formerly known

as Prince

Andrew.

Whom did he

talk to?

Or was it

just Epstein?

And what intel

did he tell

if he told

bad old 

Epstein,

and why?

The plot,

not

just sickening,

is now  

ever thickening,

with tales

of international

intrigue.

In a league

of his own,

Epstein brokered

connections

in all directions,

while trafficking

girls

as objects

of sex.

This tale

of abuse

and lies

and powerful

ties,

perhaps of spies,

still denies

most

of the victims’

voices.

The choices

to ignore

his crimes

before

accepting

favors and gifts,

show a classless

class

of grifts

and thrifts

among the wealthiest

and most powerful.

This spectacle

of unacceptable,

is a basket

of deplorable,

that should make

us nauseous

and wince.

Formerly known

as respectable

people,

we presumed

more than 

innocence.

A former prince,

left untitled,

though still

entitled,

must be held

accountable.

Truth to power

can feel

insurmountable

when the most

powerful

get slapped

on the wrist.

A nice twist

to this list

of influencers

influenced

by a confidence

guy

with cultivated

connections,

instead of deflections

and rejections

of what 

was known

to be true,

would be to

witness

the prosecution

of the real

prostitution

at the highest

levels

and see,

not just

transparency,

but actual

accountability.

Winter Games

Everything 

I see

lately

is curling-

in the Olympics

and in politics.

Meddling

at home

without

much medaling

in Italy

yet,

from the outset,

has been

great upset.

Booing Vance

in advance

of the games

brought me

no pride.

Inside

I cringed

at how fringed

our stature

is

on the world

stage.

The rage

against

Trump

is

justified,

as the 

slide

to authoritarianism

can not

be denied,

but mostly,

I felt sad.

And then

the great

losses

early on

by the bosses

of skating

and skiing,

felt metaphoric.

This season

of ICE,

the most

chilling

in memory,

could be

an opportunity.

But not 

yet.

Shutting down

Homeland Security

even partially,

may be

a Hail

Mary,

but it feels

like a lose-

lose.

And gutting

the EPA

and throwing

away

environmental

progress,

much less

democratic

process,

make today,

Presidents Day,

nothing more

than a day

to buy

a mattress.

If you’re feeling

powerless,

know that

you are not.

Politics,

unlike

The Olympics,

is not

a spectator

sport.

The dual

crises,

existential,

democracy

and environmental,

require your

participation.

Sure,

bring your bags

to the grocery

store,

but before 

you do,

take a few

moments

(literally, a few!!)

to take

actions:

Home
Dashboard for Democracy

Use the tools

of democracy

to save democracy

and the climate

crises.

Already crafted

emails

and petitions,

download the apps

for your signature

additions.

I get nothing

out of sharing

here

other than knowing

we are daring 

here

to do democracy

together.

It’s better 

than just watching

the screen

as we careen

off course.

And of course,

share with 

your friends

and family

and your 

networks.

Be a reason

democracy

works.

That’s

how we

win.

But His Emails (A Tale of Whoa!)

They’d have you

believe

that if you 

retrieve

an entitlement,

guaranteed

by our government,

that somehow

you’re just

a taker.

And,

the wealthy

are smarter,

and work

much harder,

and make

things

for you

and me.

They have relevance

and benevolence

as benefactors

and contractors,

providing

the world

we consume.

Well, don’t 

assume

they don’t

believe it

even though

they did

conceive it.

It would

all be

utterly

pathetic

except 

for unapologetic

abuse

by the obtuse

who excuse

themselves.

The neediest

among us,

aside from

the current

POTUS,

are apparently

the economically

most advantaged.

Presidents

and celebrities

need

favors and freebies,

always with please

and thank you.

Well mannered

shnorers,

who always

cut corners,

are praised

as the most

successful.

They’ll take

what they can

because they can

even when 

the man

who provides

each gift

lives on grift

and sex crimes.

How many times

will we have 

to see

a dump

of files

pertaining

to Jeffrey

of the most

wealthy

and influential,

seemingly

with the most

potential

needing

a favor

or cashmere

sweatshirt

from the guy

who

perpetually

hurt

young females?

The endless

emails

from powerful

males,

and occasional

wives

whose lives

were golden,

were somehow

beholden

to Epstein

without 

having seen 

any crime.

I’m 

most amazed

at how 

unfazed

the least

deserving

are 

at preserving

the worst

kind

of need.

Their greed

and entitlement,

and lack

of enlightenment,

is evident

in each

email.

It’s a tale

of whoa,

now that 

we know

just how

low 

the “elite”

can go.

The receipts

always show.

Just go

to that 

inbox.