Author: lou sight

Wicked Gladiator and A Real Pain

Not quite 

“Barbenheimer”,

“Wickadiator”

might

be the invigorator

that Hollywood

needs,

as the movie house

bleeds

since the pandemic.

“Wicked”

and “Gladiator II”

are the new

block busters

at a theater

near you.

One a prequel;

the other,

a sequel.

The former, 

a musical;

the latter,

well…

a gladiator

spectacle.

Remarkable

to me,

as I tend 

to see 

connections,

it’s the perfect

cultural 

and political

projections

these titles

unwittingly

mention.

I mean…

really…

Wicked

and Gladiator II

are true

descriptions

of the nature

and prescriptions

of the next

administration.

And a smaller

movie

I saw 

recently,

has a title

that says

it all

completely:

“A Real Pain”.

The Wicked

Gladiator,

who “governs”

as dictator,

is a real pain

and an ass

on top 

of it all.

I’m thankful

for a brief

reprieve

from grief,

as I will 

share cranberry 

sauce

across

the table,

and steer

clear

of the political.

I’m grateful

I’ll be celebrating

Thanksgiving

with family

and friends

whose connection

depends

not on

policy position,

or opposition,

but on disposition

and love.

Despite a real

pain

so many 

sustain,

we remain

capable

of being

better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Advice and Consent

The trouble

with a pass

for past

transgressions,

including

aggressions

sexual-

non-consensual,

is the essential

foundational

understanding

of power

structure.

A financial

agreement

may quiet

the chatter,

but the matter

still matters

even when

the accused

has denied 

it.

3 nominees

for cabinet

appointees

have had

involvement

and/or charges

of sexual

misconduct.

Leading defense,

justice, 

and education

these department-

head 

potentials

without

credentials

beyond

loyalty and fealty,

in reality

have each

been accused

of having known,

paid off,

and/or

abused

women

and/or

children.

Is Trump 

getting advice

or just

ignoring

the vice

for which

he’s been

found

to be

a criminal?

Gaetz 

withdrew

as he knew

that gory 

detail

of his 

chasing

young tail

and paying

everyone

would derail

his nomination.

It remains

to be seen

if claims

against

Hegseth,

possible

Secretary

of Defense,

who insists

his

innocence,

saying 

there was

consent,

will prevent

his confirmation.

And the latest

revelation

about the 

top education

spot

is not 

befitting of

that 

or any

position.

The wrestling

McMahons

were named

in a lawsuit

that claimed

they failed

to stop

their announcer

from grooming

and sexually

abusing

boys

in the 80s

and 90s.

Knowingly

negligent

allows

empowerment,

including

payment

for 

behavior

abhorent.

3 nominees

in a week

who seek

power,

lose 

stature

hour by hour.

Or do they

stay

around

in the background

doling

advice

with the

consent

of the president-

elect?

Trump

will protect

Trump,

and remain

obtuse

on abuse,

except

if the effect

will infect

his standing.

Somehow

he escapes

accountability,

but the probability

of others

is another

story.

Now he’s got

Bondi,

the blondie

AG

from FL.

To hell

with the

rest.

Remember,

Be Best.

He’ll consent

to advice

to entice

despite

choosing

poorly

thrice.

There’s

little

to no

price

to pay

now.

Ed. McMahon

No,

not that one

next to Carson;

but the one

tapped to run

The Department

of Education.

Her association

with the WWE,

heading

the entertainment

promotion

company

was her claim

to fame,

and her name

long

linked

with the guy’s

whose instinct

has always been

akin

to wrestling.

A lover 

of spectacle

of the not respectable,

Trump’s

BFF

is selected

to ref

the referendum

on education.

The McMahon

pick

for Secretary

of Education

has nary

a hint

of a stint

as an 

educator,

but has been

an administrator

of sorts.

She led

the Small

Business 

Administration

during 

Trump’s first 

administration,

stepping down

in 2019.

She chose

her lane

behind the scene,

helping maintain

his re-election

campaign 

and then 

became

chair 

of the super PAC,

America First

Action.

More recently,

prepping 

for another

Trump

presidency,

she chaired

the America First

Policy Institute

which sought

to contribute,

like the Heritage 

Foundation’s

Project 2025 

preparation,

outlined

policies

for federal 

agencies

shifting

priorities,

including

the teaching

of history.

It’s no 

mystery

why 

I 

(who taught

history)

am wrestling

with 

how best

to deal

with this

real threat

while maintaining 

sanity,

as eliminating

and vanity

are the principals

of the strategy.

So the World

Wrestling

Entertainment

chief

shares the belief

with Betsy DeVoss

that the boss

of the department

of ed.

should be led

by someone

who 

has few,

if any,

ties

to education,

and seeks

to dismantle

it’s administration,

stating

that educating

belongs 

as an issue

for the states.

We’ll see 

how that goes.

But Trump 

knows

and shows

that

he loves

the undereducated.

The Pearly Gaetz

Clutching pearls,

swirls of shock

over the king

of schlock’s

sick picks

to stick

it to

who

ever

he can,

there’s 

consensus

that he’s 

doing what

he said

when he

ran.

Now we’ve got

Gaetz ,

who ingratiates,

insinuates,

conflates,

debates….

the perfect

sycophant

intransigent

who kept 

Kevin McCarthy

at bay

and had 

his day

and night

in the limelight.

Apparently,

it’s loyalty

that qualifies

one

to be

Attorney

General,

no matter

how incredible

or un-credible

the selection.

An ethics

investigation

for sex trafficking

and obstruction

of justice

is just

so last

administration.

Deposing

The Speaker

showed that

the weaker

are the ones

who run

from

Trump. 

What looks

like cowardice

to me

will now 

lead Justice

as  chief

Attorney,

although

he barely

practiced 

law.

With his

shiny

teeth and hair

and not

a care

for decency,

his lust

for power

or just

luster

as the guy

who will

try

anything,

giving him

the bling

in the Trump

ring,

the gates

are open.

Along with

Tulsi

directing

national intelligence,

the oxi-

morons

pile up.

We’re a part

of the global

warming trend

toward “strong

men”;

a reminder

that artificial

intelligence

demands

astronomical

energy.

The synergy

within

the incoming

administration

is like everything

shocking

but not surprising.

With the stench

of Musk

reeking,

wreaking

pain

with insane

people

who are

his personal

best,

the country

now waits

at 

the pearly

Gaetz’

department

of justice

for the 

ridiculous,

now serious.

Scrambled (It ain’t over easy!)

The  price 

of eggs

begs

the question

of what 

decided

this election—

the price that

women

pay

to bear

the cost

of a lost

pregnancy

or 

scrambling

to pay for

the grocery

bill

that

for many

is still

unbearable.

Scrambling

to get

healthcare

or scrambled

eggs without

welfare.

It’s all

fair game

but not quite

the same

when 

playing

chicken

with eggs.

Economic

pain

trumped

the strain

on women

to attain

self reign

or the right

to obtain

reproductive

care.

In a free

and fair

society

economic 

mobility

and bodily

integrity

are intrinsic

to being

free.

I actually

still

see 

possibility

and will

continue

to pursue

the issue.

We’ve

scrambled,

poached,

feeling hard boiled,

and toiled

for too long.

It ain’t

over easy,

and we’re

prepared 

for the sleazy

plays.

But success

occurs

in different

ways,

and I’m confident

along with

a huge percent

of the electorate

that we can

yet

achieve

what it means

to believe

in freedom.

Lost in the Woulds

Would that the first

First

Gentleman-

Elect

reflect

the scope

of change

and hope

and range

we thought

we ought

to be celebrating

after electing

the first 

Black-Asian-

American

woman

POTUS…..

we would

still

be terrified

about 

a result

denied

and would

be bracing

for 

more

terror.

Would

this moment

become

some

abberation

or recalibration

or decimation?

Would we

continue

as who

we thought

we ought

to be

or would

we flee?

Would

chicken eggs

be worth

more than 

human

eggs

without

Citizens

United

and the Supreme

Court determined

to abort

women’s 

reproductive

healthcare

everywhere?

Now that 

we are getting

a sequel,

we would

have 

insured

a different

prequel.

America

the beautiful

is full

of ugly

Americans

full

of greed

who concede

racism

and misogyny

and who 

need 

to be freed

of their pain.

What seems

insane

and inane

to half

of us

doesn’t

matter

to the rest.

Who would

have thought

we’d fail

the test

of what

we were

taught

to matter?

I am sadder

that we 

are so 

desperately

lost,

than angry,

though

admittedly

somewhat

scared.

I guess

my anxiety

prepared

me

a bit

for what

would

have never

been

imagined

until

recently.

The fantasy

of individuality

and “Don’t

Tread on Me”

will always

be

selective.

It’s the stupid

economy,

I hate to say,

that seems

to sway

the most.

We’ve lost

our way

when 

we would

rather

say anything

and do

anything,

no matter

how harmful,

because 

we are

so broken.

Everyone

is broken.

This would

not be

a revelation

had this

election

gone differently.

But apparently,

breaking

bad

with a mad

man

(and lots of

angry

men

and the women

who support

them)

is where 

we are

no matter

how far

gone

we have

lost

ourselves

in the

woulds.

Swing State

My state of mind,

I find,

swings between

despair 

and hope,

repair 

and NOPE—

I will never

submit

to THAT

which I know

to be

evil

and cynical

and also

cyclical

in the story

of people.

My apology

to history,

the people

who endured

before me,

as I blindly

thought

I was taught

that we are

always advancing.

And yet,

pendula 

swing;

never still,

as people

will

always

want 

change

and security.

In my immaturity,

I believed

I was conceived

in a world

so naive,

and that each 

generation

has more 

sophistication.

Survival

of the fittest

survives

the silliest

interpretation,

as though

those

who perished

in concentration

camps

or gulags

or at the hands

of thugs

anywhere

at anytime

were somehow

not clever

enough

or sufficiently

strong.

I was wrong.

How many

martyrs

have been made

of great

men

and the unknown

women

whose notions

caused commotions

and retreat

from promotions

of freedoms

barely perceptible,

held unacceptable,

untenable,

and therefore,

killed?

My current

state

of anxiety

swings

wildly

from hour

to hour,

fearing our

future,

and lamenting

our past.

History

has given

us everything,

and we are

swinging

at curve balls

and striking 

out.

This one

feels like

we might

swing

and miss.

and kiss

the whole

game 

goodbye. 

But as I

have stated

before,

I can’t ignore

the strategy

of hate

and fear,

for some,

a career,

so easy

to fall 

prey.

Election Day

feels so 

consequential;

even existential,

but life

will not 

suddenly

stop.

We may

enter

a new 

swing state

that may

bring

a slate

of new

legislation.

But like

millions

before

us,

who wouldn’t

ignore 

us,

they too

maintained

ideas

of progression

from which

each digression

when the pendulum

swings back,

feels like history

is pale

by comparison.

Yet the rhymes

or echoes

swinging

back

and forth

bring forth

for me

all of history;

not just

the infamous,

but the anonymous

people

who stood

for goodness

sakes

even when

the stakes

were life

and death.

For all 

the difference

tomorrow

will make,

for the sake

of those

I will never

meet,

I will treat

this state

of swinging

from or 

toward

something

familiar

or untoward

as an imperative

for a  more

creative

and inclusive

way to live.

Barreling Toward….

Every day

we’re barrel 

bombed

with crude

explosions,

inciting

emotions

and dread.

What used

to be

dead 

on arrival

maintains

survival

as a barrel

of laughs,

disregarding

gaffes,

using

the haves

to potentially staff

his administration.

He administers

sinister

sayings,

saying

he never

said such

things.

SO exhausting!

I saw

“9 Barrels”

for sale

everywhere

for “enhancing” 

your AR.

Closing the race,

Trump,

keeping pace,

with his incessant,

pre-pubescent

hyperbole,

suggested shooting

Liz Cheney.

In the face.

On the face

of it,

it’s sociopathic.

And whatever

magic

he displays

with his cosplays

and legal

delays,

the most

tragic

part of all

is the fall

of the once

party of

Lincoln,

now linked in

to every

shenanigan

because they

can.

To those

who can’t

support

Kamala

because of

Gaza,

please know

that your

position

won’t show.

If you value

democracy

and decency,

then voting

in privacy

AGAINST
MAGA

would allow

a chance

to use your

stance

in the future.

If we truly

value

disagreement

and compromise,

then one

size

will not fit all.

It’s a tall

order.

The willingness

to tolerate

and not be obstinate,

means imperfection.

Perfection

can not be

the enemy

of the good.

But Trump is. 

Garbage Man

Regardless how much

billionaires 

invest in 

The Don,

he’ll wear

the neon

orange 

vest

to attest

to his

(faux) working

classless

appeal.

The Garbage Man

dumps

recyclable

material

from real

20th century

fascists;

a practice

of malice

and 

some sort

of phallus

obsession.

He talks

trash

to amuse

himself

to disabuse

himself

of his fears

and what’s

left of his

years,

but mostly,

for attention.

Each election

there’s always

a mention

that we get

who we 

deserve.

From what 

I observe,

this is 

far from 

true,

as we are

and

can continue

to be 

much more

than

the refuse

of the guy

who refuses

to buy

into 

a society

of decency.

His costume

was lame,

but also

the name

of his 

game;

a fitting

closing

statement

to the argument

for which

he stands,

atop

of the spoiled

and soiled

enjoying

the recoiled

until

he’s foiled.

The rest

of us

are the sanitation

workers,

who will

clean up

long after

the election.

“Hard work

is good work,”

Kamala reminds,

and finds

there is much

good that

we should

and will

in deed

need

to continue

to do 

together.

All the anxiety

in our society

is real

despite

conspiracies.

If democracy’s

our destiny

then it seems

best to me

to seriously

lean in

and actively

participate.

Make your

voice heard

against

the absurd

and dangerous,

venemous,

outrageous 

who seek

to out rage

us.

The Garbage

Man

will do what

he can,

but he will

ultimately

lose

(hopefully Tues.),

even if not

a clean sweep.

Don’t stay

stuck

in all 

the muck;

take some

actions

despite

loud factions

who want

you to

believe

you can’t.

Yes,

we still

can

be better

than 

what’s been,

and dump

MAGA

and Trump

to the dustbin.

I won’t give in

to the love

of hate

and fear

that seems

to appear

everywhere.

American Democracy

is a verb;

an action,

ongoing;

a life

worth choosing-

not abusing-

and cleaning up

along the way.

MSG

In The Garden,

The Paradise

lost,

the cost

of democracy

too great,

hate

was cherished

as the climate

perished; 

slashing

and burning

while feeding

the yearning

for owning

the Libs.

And the actual

owners

of the factual

papers

in DC

and LA

chose not

to say

whom they

endorse-

another coarse

event

in this course

of events:

a course

on what

prevents

democracies

from thriving.

The striving,

conniving,

and disdain

reign

freely,

while the wealthy-

greedy

are the most

needy

in their

reality.

The love

of fear,

hate,

and retribution

was considered

contribution

in The Garden

event.

I’m spent,

yet must

invent

ways 

to circumvent

the craze

over the next

several

days,

and the after-

math,

despite

the math,

of election night.

It’s the fright

in sight,

or that

I can 

envision,

that the division

so heinous

and obvious

that the rest

of us

feel helpless

after 

having voted,

is like 

living

inside

a loaded

gun.

But that’s

what’s 

fun

if you’re

one

of the MAGA

dramarama.

The MSG
was hopefully

too hyper

tensive

and unhealthy

for a majority

of Americans.

The shenanigans

are still

serious,

as those

delirious

pursue

the view

that a new

America

is overdue,

which looks

white

and pregnant.

None of it

is funny

or sunny

in that 

Garden

of evil

that they

say is 

good.

But we 

should not

let their love

of fear

be ours too.

The MSG
additive,

so addictive,

is the loathing

and fear

and simple

smear

that requires

merely

hate.

I will not

satiate

myself

with bottom

shelf

MSG

only

to feel

hungry

for more.

The legacy

you leave

is not

your blame,

but your

love

and care;

and that

you dared

to not 

despair,

but insist

we repair

with love

above

all else.