America

Pep Talks

If  Anti-MAGA

has a

new pep

in our step,

it’s due

to

a renewed

concept

of freedom.

A-list

speakers,

including

teachers—

studied

and social—

heroes

local,

political,

musical,

comical,

Legend,

and aspirational,

all inspirational,

including

Ohhhhhpraaaaah,

clad in purple.

Images

and sound

bites

from last night’s

DNC convention,

too many

to mention,

deserve attention.

I was left

with a great 

sensation

of love.

Amanda Gorman

blows me

away

every time

she finds

rhyme 

with profundity.

In her cape-like

dress

this supra-

shero

addressed

America

with her new

poem,

“This Sacred Scene”

reminding us 

to not just 

dream,

but to convene

with love:

“…We are one family regardless of religion, class, or color

for what defines a patriot is not just our love of liberty, but

our love for one another.

This is loud in our country’s call because while we all love

freedom, it is love that frees us all.

Empathy emancipates, making us greater than hate or

vanity. That is the American promise, powerful and pure.

Divided we cannot endure but united we can endeavor to

humanize our democracy and endear democracy to

humanity…

…Let us not just believe in the American dream. Let us be worthy of it.”

An exquisite

linguistic

ballet

to relay

the connection

between

freedom

and love.

It was so 

far above

what we’ve

been living

or dreaming.

So many

great speakers

in unique 

ways,

teachers,

leading up

to the VP

nominee.

Walz radiates

joy

and common

sense

without pretense

but with 

the essence

of decency:

being neighborly;

friendly

with competency.

And let me say,

he makes it all

FUN.

Overcome

with emotion,

Tim Walz’s

son

wept

when his dad

came to accept

the nomination.

Who couldn’t

love

the love

so prominent

and authentic?

That football

team

with guts

a plenty,

the COACH
chants,

and the chance

to feel

free,

makes the prospect

to elect

the Harris and Walz

team

seem like

a labor

of love.

Because love

was revealed

to be concealed

by fear

and anger.

Peppered

with love

and joy

and fun,

we can

keep the momentum;

keep Trump

on the run.

Rededicated,

reactivated,

resuscitated

are we

to actually 

do

and be

democracy. 

Trump is a Scab

On the second

night

what could

excite

the DNC

Convention

more than

two Obamas?

Our dream

team

seems

still

in its

prime,

able 

to outshine

everyone.

Michelle

didn’t

utter

the name

of 

the utterly

despicable,

predictable

opponent

who has been

dominant

in our politics

for the equivalent

of two terms.

With pointed

reference

she gave

preference

to not

dignifying

him 

by name.

She led

with mothers

instilling

in us

character

and integrity,

honesty

and community,

and yes,

family,

finally

reclaiming

MAGA’s

reframing

as American

values.

Mothers

are the central

issue

and the connective

tissue

as Mrs. Obama

reminded us.

Who gets

to be 

a mother

or not

and how

is now

based

on how

you vote.

And the GOAT,

Barak,

never stooped

to mock,

but certainly

took stock

of Trump’s 

schlock

and very dangerous

efforts.

Obama, the POTUS,

showed us

again

that 

Yes We Can,

but with clear

eyes—

not to fantasize.

This long 

division

requires

a decision

to DO

something.

And that means

everything

that could

possibly bring

Harris and Walz

to the West Wing.

After reading

the recap

of the rest

of the night

the best

line just might

be:

“Trump 

is a scab.”

United Auto

Workers President

Shawn Fain

may now reign

up there with Walz

as the stellar,

clever

truth teller

who nails it.

Trump feigns

blue collar

sympathy,

when,

in actuality

his classless

act

gets blue collars

to react

and send money

to him.

Biden 

stood with 

union

strikers,

literally

on the line.

Trump’s

online

conversation

with the gross

Musk,

was full 

of adoration

and adulation

for Elon’s

lack of elan

cutting costs

by using

nonunion

labor.

“You’re 

the greatest

cutter,”

Trump praised

Musk,

for firing

as many

as he could.

The ever-cross

Trump

would cross

a picket line

just because

he could.

But the scab

jab

was just so

perfect

because he’s 

not only

a sore 

loser,

but a sore

that we can’t

ignore;

infectious

and perpetually

inflamed.

They’re weird.

Trump is a 

scab.

Yes we can

deny Trump

that Black

job 

he so desperately

needs.

The Political is Personal

“The personal

is political”

was the critical

theory

of my youth

that guided me

as the truth

and a mandate

to activate

as a feminist,

humanist

first.

Identity

as strategy,

not tragedy,

suggests

and tests

structures

of power

and relations

often leading

to realizations

that individuals

are not alone.

The slogan

became

a way

to frame

individual

presentation

as illustration

of political

situation;

each person

a politcal

representation.

Fast forward

toward

this 2024

election,

and the selection

of speakers

at the DNC

convention

last night,

was notable

for the historical.

Two political

icons,

symbols

of aspiration,

determination,

competency,

and champions

of democracy-

particularly

around the world

and in opposition

to Trump-

gave a last

blast

before

the torch

is passed

forward

to the next

generation.

Hilary

and Joe

similarly

know

success

and political

heartbreak.

Their individual

stories,

different

trajectories,

still

filled

eyes 

with tears

for their

years and years

and years

of service,

and what 

could be lost

or gained.

So ingrained

with democratic

norms

their forms

of politics

seemed

typical.

But their

individual

contests

against

Trump

suggests

that the best

of humans

is an incredible

test

not as easy

or normal

as we assumed.

I can’t imagine

how hard

last night

must have

been

for Biden

and Hilary.

Their personal

emotional

lives

set aside

to raise

the tide

for Walz

and Harris

to defeat

the nefarious

and carry

us 

forward.

Last night,

the political

was personal

as was

also clear

from the victims

of Dobbs—

the decision

that robs

American

women.

The political

is personal,

whether

you are 

a victim

this time

or next.

Cat Fight

Bring it,

JD!

More 

Cat Lady

snark!

As if

your riff

had any

bark

or bite.

He might

not want

to double

down

and clown

around

when his

delivery-

so cringe

worthy-

brings 

new found

hope

for change.

This strange

yet now

exciting

race

has race

and gender

front

and center;

diversions

from 

the other

perversions

of the MAGA

agenda.

But Harris

I think 

is ready

with a steady

and smart

demeanor.

Meaner

and rough,

Vance

and Trump

will stump

with hate

to excite.

The fight

from the right

is joyless

and sour,

about boy-ness

and girl-ness

and executive

power.

As we await

Harris’

running mate

choice,

her voice

is strong

and up lifting.

She’s got

quite 

a selection

for this

election,

eager

to reach

as many

American

citizens

beyond 

the base

of this

existential

race.

MAGA
has cat

fights

while

withdrawing

rights

of voters

and women

and immigrants

and LGBTQ+

all for a POTUS

who cares

nothing

for us,

or the climate

crisis

or anything

else 

except

avoiding prison.

Listen,

the next

100 days

we need

to raise

money

and momentum.

In this 

brat summer

moment,

the intelligent

and confident

Kamala

for a new

era,

hardly

a sad,

childless

cat lady,

makes

the Trump

Vance

team

seem

even 

more 

unacceptable

and bizarre

and far

from where

we want

to be

as a 

democracy.

Let’s make

history

for our freedom

and future,

more secure.

I’m sure 

we can win it

if you’re all

in it.

The catastrophe

could be

behind us

if you’re

behind Harris.

That would

be

so much

winning. 

Risky Business

America’s not ready?

Was America ready

For Trump?

For the Pandemic?

For an assassination attempt?

For Biden’s exit?

For Harris’ ascendance?

The Veepstakes

are on

and everyone 

is buzzing.

I hear

the fear

that America

isn’t ready

for two women

at

the top.

Too risky?

Seriously?

Democracy

could lose

if Harris

would choose

a woman?

I suspect

that those

who reject

a two- woman

team

would 

not seem

to lean

D.

I know

it’s the 

indies

and uncommitted

that have 

everyone

twisted

in nots.

Firsts

are tricky,

and then

prove

not risky

quickly

after 

we see

them.

Bill Clinton

defied

what many

decried

to be 

the “rules”

that always

should be

applied.

He selected

another

similar

young,

Southern,

white guy,

and they got

elected

to two 

terms.

The first

(real) Black

president

also spent

8 years

serving,

preserving

and 

advancing

the best

that could

be.

The disruption 

age

in which

we live

creates

such rage 

and fear

that what’s 

so dear

can be lost

overnight.

So the plight

of two women,

or a gay man

or a Jewish man

along with

a mixed race

woman,

creates 

a sense

of insecurity.

With maturity

and sobriety

we’ve had

to face

changes

unexpectedly.

Were we

ready

then?

And if not,

when?

No one

predicted

the last 

few weeks,

much less

the last few

days,

And yet

we are rising-

not flailing 

or failing-

as the right

thing to do

was the best

thing to do

and feels

as exciting

and good

as it is

new.

We weren’t

ready

for Trump,

or Dobbs,

or mobs

storming

the Capital.

Mass deportation,

no abortion,

diminished

education,

and the rest

of the Heritage

Foundation

stuff

is exactly

why

two tough

women

could be

possibly

the key

and what

America

is ready for.

Marvel Us

As Comic Con 

descends upon

the city

I call home,

super heroes

will be 

in line

for days 

at a time

to get inside

the convention

center.

What a marvel

we get to 

see

as thousands

agree

with decency

and civility

to 

continue

the tradition

with whatever

addition

moves the

conversation

at the convention.

I think you get

where I’m going

here.

It’s clear

the marvel 

happened 

yesterday

when Biden

announced

he’s stepping

away,

so Harris

can earn 

your vote.

The Marvel

Universe

is always 

threatened

by destructive 

forces

and ego.

But the hero

and shero

know

they must go

forward

for

more

than their

own selves.

How marvelous

for us

to witness

what fitness

really means.

The courage

and strength

and great 

length

it took to be

our superhero

of democracy,

without

a stage lit

like a show,

showed

the world

our marvel.

I imagine

his grief

will not be

brief,

but his 

legacy

will be

an inspiration.

I’m so grateful

for this

moment,

and moved

by a torrent

of emotion.

Excitement,

relief,

new-found

belief

that good

could

still

win

over spin,

but also 

compassion

for what must

have been

excruciating

for Biden.

So now

the comical

Comic Con

that will soon

surround me,

will oddly

ground me

in knowing

that real

heros

and sheros

and so much

fantastic

is not made

of plastic

or on green

screen.

It’s democratic;

at times,

dramatic,

a universal

marvel

that is US.

With All Due Respect

With all

due respect,

Sir,

I suspect 

it’s impossible

to accept

the possibility

of losing

our democracy

because of 

a bad night.

You would

be right,

Sir,

if what did

occur

was merely

an hour,

but our

attempts

to rectify

can not

justify

what seems

like a weakened

state.

The spate

of outcry

grows by

the day,

Sir,

as your stiffened

spine

looks less

fine

than arthritic.

Those who

play critic

with your 

performance

were surprised

not by

the other guy’s

lies 

or word 

salad,

but by your

eyes

looking lost,

and muffled

speech

with its

cost

too great

to proceed.

Mistakes happen.

That’s not

the problem.

Your presidency

has been

legislatively

powerful.

Your passion

and compassion

are the aspiration

for this nation,

and you saved

us from Trump

and Covid.

You are a super

hero

but not super

human,

Sir,

and we respect

you 

and your

legacy.

As you have

fought

and taught

us,

reliance

on defiance

has brought

us

to a dangerous

precipice,

now on

this side.

Your pride

won’t win

and we can’t

spin

this 

any more.

The American

people

deserve

respect,

and I suspect

you detect

what they

reflect:

We need

amazing

grace;

for you 

to

step aside

in this race

and decide

someone

else 

should take 

your place

or release

your delegates

and open

the convention,

however

unconventional

this may be.

It’s where

we are,

Sir,

at this moment.

It would be

most constructive

and instructive, 

and certainly 

most brave.

You could

save

your legacy

with our 

democracy

in this emergency,

with All

due respect.

Patriot Acts

“I know how

to tell

the truth,”

declared

the POTUS

the day after

the rest of us

saw 

he couldn’t claw

his way out

of a debate

with a liar

lying

about 

everything.

Telling 

the truth

for the uncouth

MAGA man

is seen 

in the ways

he conveys

fears and aches.

The stakes

being grilled

have filled

our capacity

on this anniversary

of America.

Patriotism

on display

today,

waiving in 

red, white,

and blue,

hate and fear

is still clear

while professing

love

for America

above everything

except embryos.

I chose

anniversary

instead of birthday

because a union

was created

and debated

since 1776.

America

is not

biological;

it’s philosophical

and ideological, 

though sometimes

with 

the logical part

missing.

We are all

patriots today,

celebrating

this anniversary

of possibility

for humanity

to live decently

in democracy,

once 

associated

with liberty

and justice

for all.

Truth

has been

spinning

for winning

elections.

But reflections

of  acts

of patriotism

reveal

less cynicism

and criticism

than truism,

until the era

of MAGA.

Now,

truth telling

is telling.

Claiming

to be

a patriot

with mendacity

and audacity

to blatantly

lie

is the truth

this 

4th of July

of one party

claiming

the future.

The truth

is grim,

but patriotism

for US

has meant 

a system

dependent

upon

truth

and accountability.

A patriot

acts

for 

a more

perfect union,

not for

a savior

or

not with 

a diety

but with

democracy,

where 

the truth

is not easy

to accept.

Energy Crisis

I couldn’t watch.

I wouldn’t watch.

Governance

is not 

a debate.

Yet our 

tradition 

of performance

of endurance

to provide 

assurance

is the substance

we use

to  choose

the POTUS.

By all 

mounting

accounting

in real

time

and thereafter,

I glimpsed

the sad

theater

of our absurd

election.

A weak-

voiced

Joe

seeming

slow

against

each

blow

no matter

how false

the statement,

was a statement

of fitness

to those

who witnessed

what should

never

have taken

place.

Sad 

to say

that the

job

at bay

is partially

appearance.

The grievance

guy

with

each lie

conveys

energy.

He may 

be cruel

but his

fuel

is addictive

despite

being

convicted

so far,

34 times.

We are

addicted

to energy

at all

costs.

But

thoughts

of being

slow,

embodied

by Joe,

are dreadful.

Last century’s

model

seems

on the way

out,

as autocrats

plow through.

But 

dictators

playing

orators

is also 

old

while selling

retold

as something

new—

or at least,

something

strong.

A power

fueled

by desperation

supported

by

exasperation,

cannot

trump

our democracy.

This is crazy.

Alternative

energy

seems necessary

now

more than

ever,

while

voters

still

have power.

Separation Anxiety

Wait…

Are we

breaking

up?

or down?

I thought

you taught

me 

everything

I knew

without

knowing.

I threw

myself

into 

you,

believing

the conceiving

was a

how-to

create

fulfilling

life.

Strife 

is inevitable,

but this

is incredible

in the worst

way.

Our 

ancestors

split

into the pit

of war

and tore

themselves

apart.

The scars

inflamed

but were

tamed

until

recently.

The cult 

of personality

of indecency

is claiming

it’s all 

about

policy.

You want

to be

free 

from 

Me?

You,

who insist

on Christ

first

as a

gun toting

misogynist

and homophobe

in a judge’s

robe,

without

limit

to prohibit

that which

you deem

oppressive.

You

are

overtaxed?

It’s impressive

how simple

minded

people

like

to be

told

day and night

that they

are right

to be

aggrieved

and wanting

to be

free.

A civil 

war?

A cold

war?

A revolution?

It feels

like dissolution

of the evolution

of what could

be 

a better

future;

a more

perfect

union.

I see

the enemy

of the good.

We should

be able

to reconcile,

but the infantile

bile

has been

weaponized

to legitimize

some fantasized

perversion,

while an infantilized

conversion

has materialized

before

my eyes. 

I’m still surprised

by this uprising,

making

it seem

like our thing

was a long

fling.

But truth

is enduring

despite

luring

attempts

to 

undo

US.

We have

much

work

to do;

not just

to protect

and defend,

but mend.

I can’t 

pretend

it’s just

one

election

to be

won.

But it 

could be

the last

of the past

248 years.