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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.

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.

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. 

Who’s Your Daddy?

EEEWWWWWW!!!

It never occurred

to me 

that JD

could be

out-creeped

by any peep,

but alas,

the ginormous ass

Tucker,

that Mother

F-(rhymes with Tucker),

actually 

compared a family

dynamic

(that in the Menendez

home

became tragic)

to our national

politic.

“There has to be

a point at which

Dad comes home.”

“…you know what

he says? You’ve

been a bad little 

girl

and you’re getting

a vigorous spanking

right now.” 

He continued 

his tale

of the ultimate

male

behavior as

somehow

the savior

of the American

family

by punishing

THE BAD
GIRL,

who would be

the rest of the

country.

There’s much

to unpack

in this brand

spanking

new view

of the old

guard.

For many,

any 

insult

from the 

cult 

of MAGA

is the result

of a drama

between

masculine

and feminine,

in a particular

play

performed

a certain

way,

except 

if born

otherwise,

or seen

as a 

disguise

from

some ideal

gender

form.

The threats

seem to

be most

offensive

when a male

adopts

culturally

female

props

and dispositions,

with little

care

for the reverse,

other than

regarding 

as perverse,

in their

perverted

ethos.

So little girls

and child bearing 

age 

young women,

and women

post-menopause

are somehow

the cause

of the hell-scape

where

the only 

escape

is violent

punishment

or imprisonment?

Other than

the immigrant,

of course,

the (liberated) female

is the source

of problems.

No need

to make

room

for Daddy’s

protection

or direction.

This election

could be

an inflection

in our democracy.

Remember 

Puff Daddy

who became

P. Diddy,

then

DIddy,

now back to

Sean Combs,

now

awaiting trial

for sexual

assault?

Me too.

So few

women 

have proven

to actually

be

as problematic

compared to

the autocratic,

fascistic

tendency

in the patriarchy

that gives

the finger

to Lady Liberty.

I am not

worried

that Daddy’s 

coming home.

I think 

the chickens

will.

Trump’s Helene

The next Helene

won’t be seen

on doplar 

or radar,

though more

storms 

are in store

for sure.

Our climate

has changed

to an environment

estranged

from sustained

productivity

and health.

The VP

debate

will not 

indicate

much that

we don’t 

yet know.

Hungry

for power,

angry,

and dour,

Vance

will provide

snickers

for the other

boot lickers

as Walz’s

smile

that extends

a mile

will soften

his more

serious

side.

But don’t

be fooled

by the 

ghoulish

tool

who’s

willing to

stand 

in the eye

for the guy

who wants

to be

a Helene.

Flooding

with bluster,

creating

disaster,

devastating

what was

once

thought secure,

he’s sure

of his ability

to evade

responsibility

and focus

on a specific

path.

Disaster relief

will require

belief

that civic

action

matters.

Tonight’s

midwest 

contest

for best

vice

may entice

a few,

but the top

two

is only part

of the crew

to pay 

attention

to.

From school

boards

to courts

and of course

senate

races,

down ballot

places

are essential.

The potential

to mitigate

the next Helene

may not mean

eradicating

storms.

But new norms

and laws

that prevent

descent

into chaos

are up to us

to elect

those who

represent

the majority

whose 

priority

is democracy.

Wearing Protection

The incel

in distress

gave an address

at a rally

where his

success

is based

on protection.

I know

it’s exhausting

and costing 

us 

too much,

but such

idiocy

and hypocrisy

will always be

counter

to progress,

much less

security.

And he’s 

still a ridiculous

threat 

to be taken

seriously.

The involuntary

celibate

celebrates 

a masculinity

that is 

abundantly

toxic.

And those

who are

satisfied

with their

stride

(or hide

their shame

and enjoy

the blame

game)

somehow

or other

feel

power

in their

projection

of the need

for protection.

Trump 

has always

been protected

and protects

no one,

of course,

but Trump.

And on 

the stump 

he told women

he’ll “be

your protector”

and they will

“no longer be

thinking about 

abortion”

if he’s elected

in November. 

First of all,

EEEEEEWWWWWW.

The Chief Creep

in deep

doo-doo

wants you

(whoever you 

are

if you are 

in his

audience)

to protect him.

He’s protected

by money

and cheating

which he calls

winning.

So changing

the rules

at the 5 yard

line,

and changing

the refs

and point

values,

is clever

though never

done

by decent

people.

If you can’t

beat ‘em,

cheat ‘em.

And in another

lame

attempt

with contempt

toward women,

Bernie Moreno

senate 

candidate

in Ohio,

amused that

abortion isn’t

an issue

for women

past 50:
“It’s a little crazy

by the way,

but—

especially 

for women

that are like

past 50.”

(heheheheheh…

because,

who cares,

if you can’t

get pregnant?)

It all sounds

too dumb

that we 

become numb,

but I ask you

not to succumb

to weariness

and to do

something 

instead.

Go ahead

and go to

app.oath.vote

to maximize

your impact

and protect

what matters

most

for us.

I don’t get

anything 

from this 

suggestion

other than

protection 

from what 

used to be

the GOP.

All this is tiring,

I know,

but wearing

us down

is what 

that sick clown

has to offer.

Disseminating

your contribution

all at once

to the races

most impacted

is a practical

and tactical

way

to responsibly

counter

their endlessly

offensive

and dangerous

attempts

to over

power.

Check out

https://app.oath.vote/set?p=top-issues

and give

what you can.

They’ll

need more

protection

than

they think.

Down The Escalator

Going down 

that escalator

path

of wrath

for 

more

than three

races,

he faces

his face

downward

or straight

with hate

and a spate

of lies—

not falsehoods

or inaccuracies—

but strategies

to change

the conversation

from observation

to obfuscation

and creating

doubt. 

He is uninhibited

with his unlimited

attempt

to stir contempt

while we wait

for him

and them

to hit bottom.

Infinity 

is not divinity.

It is endless

mess

that humans

address

throughout

history.

We think

we 

know now

how 

and why

and so

deny

that humans

will always 

try

to win.

Actual success

reveals

progress,

which to me

feels

like liberation.

Freedom from

oppression

and freedom 

to pursue

without 

harm,

a charming

thought

that ought

to be

easy

in a democracy,

but we know

it’s not so.

Of course

definitions

in opposition

make interpretation

a contest.

But why debate

when it’s 

so easy 

to escalate

hate

going 

ever 

lower?

Taking down

The Escalator

means taking

The Elevator

up to

new

heights.

It’s in our

sights,

despite

the polls

and trolls.

The Escalators

are always 

brought down

by taking

The Elevators 

up.

The Elevator

defies

gravity,

and denies

the depravity

that The Escalator

exudes.

Choose 

the Elevator.

The Escalator

must lose

or he’ll

abuse 

what he can

taking us down

with him.

(** I know 

I’ve used

this metaphor

of The Escalator

before,

but now’s

the time

for action.

Elevate 

your conversation,

participation,

and donation

in preparation

for election day.)

The Weak That Was

Loud and

pre-ashamed

he claimed

that if he 

doesn’t

win

the election,

the “jewish people”

will bear

a lot 

of the blame.

And to whom

was Trump

addressing?

If you’re guessing

not Jews,

you’d lose.

Because, 

when the theme

is anti-semitism,

my pessimism

resurges

as Trump’s urges,

guided by fear,

endear 

the worst

of the worst

to him.

America’ Hitler

hands littler

to supporters

than hate.

And this is 

the “great”

to make

America again.

Meanwhile,

Mark Robinson,

a North Carolinian

Republican

running for 

governor,

was exposed

as a loud

and proud

“Black Nazi”.

Not backing

down

from these 

comments

found

that he made

on 

porn 

sites 

now public.

These men

so brash

who live

in trash

talking

old tropes

to collect 

votes,

because

evil

will feel

powerful,

though

stemming

from 

defect.

The way

to protect

is to deflect

and divide

while they

try to hide

through

bluster.

They muster

the flock

chock

full of hate

claiming

to love

this country.

The strength

of power

that makes

others cower,

is always

temporary.

But successive

gains

holding the reigns

is still 

a chilling

strategy.

Pagers exploding

in Lebanon,

a coordinated

phenomenon

by Israel

to derail

Hezbollah,

weighs

heavily

internally

for so many

who want 

peace

with dignity.

And for 

the Jewish

state

of being

part of

the family

of democracy,

being Jewish

is always 

something

to distort

even to 

an audience

whose support

is needed

to win

an election.