Democracy

Making Ago of It

MAGA

became

a party

to insanity

with no

real

vision,

just 

division.

The sense

of impending

ending

of what 

we treasure

is the measure

by which

we react.

Humanity’s

mortality

(and certainly

Democracy’s)

is what we

tend

to see.

At least

let’s not

go further

but add

some fervor

to be the

preserver

of this

life

now.

The party’s

over

so let’s 

stand

our ground

into the ground

this time

around.

Screw

decorum—

a forum

for repression.

Bring

obsession

and regression

to the fore

and the floor

of our House.

Hats off

to 46,

who wants

to fix

so much

that is broken.

The Center

of Gravity

has normalized

depravity,

self serving

and unnerving.

Calling themselves

Conservative

is interpretive

at best.

Suggesting

Great

while exhibiting

hate

is actually

reflecting

our past.

We’re better

off

and on 

a path

forward,

certainly

since

COVID.

But what

we thought

was outmoded

has a devoted

following.

Wallowing

in grievance

and demanding

allegiance

will not

forward

us.

Looking toward

what was

is blurry,

leaving out

the worst

and worry.

But many

feel 

more confident

in the current

fever dream.

The wish 

of 4 years

ago

is merely 

to hold

on.

Making

America

Great

Again,

as though

it’s something

we only

know

from long

ago,

is oh so

hollow.

Track and Field

I track

my body’s

expenditures–

tallying

steps,

REM,

and deep

sleep.

My  convenient

device

provides

advice

to keep 

me resilient.

Physically,

it’s working;

I’m doing

better 

than expected.

But my

field

of vision

is narrowing,

as the harrowing

crises 

overwhelm these

data points.

In order 

to prevent

sleeplessness

and foster

resilience,

I need 

to care

less.

But I can’t.

We need 

to engage

in ways

that are 

interactive

and creative;

that address

the mess

from fossil

fuels

and plastic.

Truly drastic

measures

require

forgoing

pleasures

to which 

we have

become

accustomed.

Losing

trust,

witnessing

those 

intended

to see a

democracy

upended

is exhausting

to track.

And depressing.

The alienation

in this nation

is in part

caused by

a conflation

of news 

and entertainment

—infotainment—

and cruelty

so that duality,

not plurality,

is insisted

upon.

We are lost,

and the cost

is literally

killing

the country

(and others)

and the planet. 

Helplessness,

more than 

sleeplessness,

is the urgent

and important

crisis to meet.

As we track

our daily

routines,

we are 

far

afield

from living

from what

we’ve been

given.

We have 

retreated

to repeated

tasks

when what

is actually

asked

of us

is to heal

each other

and our

environment.

Elder Care

Some don’t 

care

about one

candidate’s

age

or

gaffes

or (potential?)

crimes,

because:

demeanor.

The meaner,

the better;

such

a go

getter.

His vim

and vigor

and ability

to trigger

libs

is his

super 

power,

despite

his dour

countenance

and incompetence

at everything

but delaying.

He’s playing

the game

to win

at all 

costs,

which,

as of now,

costs him

about a half

a billion

dollars

plus interest

each day

he doesn’t

pay.

“So what?”,

they say,

“He’s here

to stay”,

because

he’s the

Mr Fixit.

But if

the fix

is in

unless he

wins…

oh there is

no

logic

to the diabolic

hyperbolic

sclerotic

neurotic

chronic

liminal

criminal

chief

cheat,

other than

to serve

himself.

And the slow

moving

Joe

is suffering

from low

approval

ratings

despite 

succesful

governance.

But media

presence

presents

a problem

for the elder

statesman.

Looking

frail

on the campaign

trail

is worse

than the prospect

of going

to jail

in our current

democrazy.

Will stopping

Biden

be easier

than stopping

Trump 

from running?

This could 

be stunning.

Write

to your 

pols

regardless 

of polls

and tell

them how

much

you care.

A democracy

is not 

a one man

capability.

We are much 

more

than this

sore

spot

of old

white

guys

clinging.

Never Mind?

Lemme just say

that one 

should pay

one’s bills.

The latest

threat

to NATO,

though,

we can’t ignore

as a sure

bet

to upset

yet

again 

the anti

MAGA

as the saga

continues.

The irony,

as Andy

Borowitz

reminds us.

is that

the guy

who never

pays 

his bills

somehow 

instills

a sanction:

a sort of

permission

for Putin’s

aggression

and obsession

with expansion.

Trump

is playing

quarterback,

wanting his

own

Super Bowl

back;

treating this

as the halftime

show

Ushering

in 

the third

quarter

after ordering

House

Repubs’

ignoring

the border

deal

that could

have helped

our immigration

situation,

and also

Biden.

And who 

could forget

Hur’s hurling

insult

at the aging-

before –

our-eyes

POTUS,

who 

side steps

stepping aside.

Designed

to undermine

Biden’s

candidacy,

Hur’s report

tends

to distort

his role.

Now 

what’s on

everyone’s

mind:

Who’s

mind

is more

demented?

The tormented

one 

who foments

aggression

and hate

with a spate

of indictments

and trial dates?

Or the decidedly

decent,

accomplished

statesman

whose

lack

of alacrity

walking to

pressers

has had no

bearing

on his

ability

to engage

in serious

matters

at home

and abroad

with some

of the greatest

successes

despite

what impresses

the minds

of voters

most.

It used

to be

“It’s the economy,

Stupid!”

Now,

it’s just 

stupid.

And we can’t

never

mind.

Immune from Immunity

Phew!

What we knew

we knew—

(iykyk)—

that we need

immunity

from

POTUS
immunity

as decided

unambiguously,

unanimously

by a panel

of 3

bipartisan

judges.

Now the matter

shifts

to the supremes.

Will they

or won’t they

take the case

that sets

the pace

for the race

against

time

for trials

and a trying

election

season?

There is no

immuno-

compromise;

only immuno-

suppression .

And our immuno-

deficiency

is the inefficiency

of our system

of democracy

where time

and norms

seem easily

distorted

and contorted

through sordid

actions

and throwing

spaghetti

with ketchup

at the walls

of justice.

Now I worry

about some

justices

who curry

favor

with the uber

wealthy

and stealthily

conceal

their

deal

making.

Our system

is not immune

to the opportunistic,

parasitic,

narcissistic

one(s)

who herd

the weak

as they seek

power

with immunity.

But for now,

this inoculation

immunizing

us from

presidential

immunity

is welcome.

Next,

we brace

for the case

of Colorado

and the 14th

Amendment

in the POTUS

race.

At least

there’s

the Super

Bowl

to distract,

and the debate

will shift

to Taylor

Swift—

silly stuff

when we’ve

heard enough

about immunity

for now.

American Idle

The story 

of 

“The Golden Calf”

is a warning

against idolatry.

But only

recently

did it occur

to me

to consider

why

a calf?

Ancient cultures

and cults

and myths

regarded

bulls as sacred.

Among

the cattle

prominent,

the bull’s

dominent

stature

was a godlike

feature

in the ancient

world.

So why 

a calf

on behalf

of the Israelites

awaiting

Moses’ return?

Perhaps

the calf

is merely 

half

of the force

of the all

powerful.

And now

the maga,

at least

in Iowa,

have their

bull

ever ready

for the next

bullfight.

How perfect

that bull

means the opposite

of real

much like

the appeal

of the bs 

king

who says

it like

it is(n’t).

The bullfight

has officially

begun

although

this bull

has been

bullying

and running

forever.

He’s been 

stabbed

and tested,

but he has

bested

the best

efforts

to contain 

him.

He worships

idolatry

especially

of himself.

It would be

laughable

or a parable

if it weren’t

so horrible.

He’s the

American Idol

of the maga

nation—

a minority

whose sacred

cow

may be

a criminal—

and is 

no longer 

liminal.

America,

we can’t 

remain

idle.

American Dream

Leader

unique 

in our history,

upending

the status

quo 

of politics

and society.

Charismatic.

Inspiring 

a movement.

Protesting

the status

quo.

Calling out

institutions

that have

failed

Americans.

Shifting 

perspective

at home

and around

the globe.

Revered.

Feared.

Cheered.

Jeered.

Creating a

movement

and a moment

of history.

MLK.

DJT.

Both

American

sons.

Both dreaming

of freedom—

one from segregation;

the other

from incarceration.

One marched

to change

laws

to invite

democracy

for all;

the other

threw catsup

on the

walls

after inviting

others

to overthrow

a democratic

election.

One exuded

grace;

the other,

not a trace.

Demonstrable

authority

whose priority

was leading

through

new tactics.

One sermonized;

the other,

demonized

and weaponized—

literally—

by proxy.

Both understood

that violence

could

erupt 

in an instant.

One welcomed

it;

the other

became a victim

of it.

And the one 

who boasts

the most

of anyone

ever,

claims

victimhood

of every 

situation

and

negative

comment

other than 

his own.

One taught

non-violence;

the other 

sought

compliance.

Will DJT

have a

holiday

in his 

memory,

or will

today’s

caucus

in Iowa

be the coldest

reminder

of a chilling

future

that has

no historical

precedence

for presidents

of the United

States

of America?

Don’t 

just 

have dreams.

Take

just

actions

in honor

of MLK Day

today

(and as many

days ahead

as possible).

What 

will

you do?

The Sopranos and The Base

Fuggedaboutit!

Back at 

The Bing

after 25 years

since The Sopranos

premiered,

those

good fellas

and those

big haired,

long nailed

gals 

revealed 

almost all,

and unsealed

the sociopath’s

psyche.

Americans

love 

gangster

shows

and anti

heroes.

And prestige

tv 

started

with

The Sopranos.

The culture

exposed

in each

episode,

showed us

the familiar

family

ties

but also

the lies

that most

of us

would never

encounter

otherwise.

Fitzgerald

and Puzo

knew

so well

that Americans

love

excess

and power.

The Gatsby

type

disguise

and the wise

guys

do whatever

they want.

They have 

it all

and all

they want

is more.

And 

respect.

Gatsby,

nearing 100,

the Don

(Corleone)

over 50,

and The Sopranos’

25th

anniversary

are certainly

testament

to great art.

But what sets

them apart

is their

familiarity-

despite 

distance-

as stories

of the American

experience.

They live

the American

Dream

in unseemly

fashion.

And what 

is the

reaction?

Adoration.

Now look

at the blob

whose mob

stormed 

The Capitol.

Running

to be made

POTUS 

again,

he ups

his ante

being anti

everything

except 

the base.

The Sopranos

touched

high notes

consistently

for years,

while

Trump veers

lower and lower

toward 

tyrant;

defiant

as the base

is compliant.

Nikki Hailey

won’t criticize

as she has

her eyes

on 

I don’t know

what

prize.

But as 

I watch

The top notch

Sopranos,

I’m uncomfortably

aware

of the American

love

affair

with gangsters

and their 

base.

Old Spice

It stinks

to holy hell-

the old man

smell-

that leaves

the future

behind.

Like bad

body spray

that won’t go

away,

the redolence—

the prominence

and dominence

of intolerance—

is fetid.

Shamelessly 

reeking

while constantly

seeking

money

and political

support,

intent to 

distort

and contort

the law,

I remain 

in awe

that he can

clench

the nomination

with the stench

of abomination.

Ballot removal

has found

approval

in some states

thus far.

His odor

persists

as he 

insists

he’s clean

as he vents

his spleen

on the rest

of us.

Meanwhile,

the elder

once fiesty

pol

needs to call

a life line.

He smells 

fine,

but too benign

and in

decline,

which is sad

and also

terrifying.

Gimme that

Old Spice

as when 

he was

Vice,

or entice

someone

else to run.

Voters want

vim

and vigor,

(and some 

want vinegar);

we can’t 

let it

all

come undone.

The new year

upon us

when we’ll

vote for 

the POTUS

should be

one for 

the ages.

And their

ages 

will play

into the fray

with a bouquet

of toilet water. 

So hold

your nose;

here it goes:

2024 is here.

Volunteer.

Persevere.

Be sincere.

And vote.

Here’s 

to a high note

ending

with all

that’s impending:

we’ll be

sending

the offending

away.

The Nutcracker

I never understood

how a nutcracker

could

be

a favorite

gift

until now. 

Oh how sweet

the suite

has been

this week. 

Like the famed

ballet

our nutcrackers 

today

are soldiers

of the good

and just.

The Nutcracker

kills

the menacing

7 Headed

Mouse King,

allowing

the land 

of the sweets

to thrive.

Earlier this week

The Mouse King

made references

to his preferences

for dictators

and his desire

to hire

those 

who will impose

restrictions

and revenge.

But our 

Nutcrackers

have been

cracking

while

the nutty

keep attacking,

because

it’s what

they do.

Now Rudy

owes Ruby

and Shaye

a ginormous

pay day,

and more

to come

because

he won’t

succumb

to accountability.

Judge Engoron

closed the door on

the lies

of the “expert

witness”

of the Mouse King.

And Bravo,

Colorado,

for disqualifying 

the horrifying

candidacy

of the Mouse King.

Letitia James,

Fani Willis,

Jack Smith,

and so many

other

Nutcrackers

among us,

are doing 

the work

of justice

as we wait

for Christmas

whatever

time of year

it comes,

bearing

the gift

of blocking

The Mouse King

forever.