election

Daylight Savings Time

Who could predict

that the attempt

to redistrict

would be met

with contempt

and interest

in conflict?

Not Trump.

And whodda

thunk

that the shut down

funk

would flunk

the GOP 

in key

races?

Not Trump.

Would Trump’s

once foe,

Andrew Cuomo,

get a bump

from a 

complimentary

Trump?

A resounding NO!

And Zohran Mamdani

may just be

the guy 

in New York City

to respond

to Trump

most creatively

and effectively,

making

Not Trump

a possibility.

Big wins

in Virgin-

ia, and 

California

(for Prop 50),

NYC,

and New Jersey

gave a big

bump

to the 

Not Trump

sentiment

across the continent

and beyond

the pond.

From mourning in

America

to saving 

daylight

on Tuesday 

night,

the right

proved

to be

wrong

(which we’ve

known

all along),

as democracy

won 

too-

this time.

The Reckless will Reckon with the Wrecking Ball(room)

Why have elections,

if gerrymandered

sections

ensure protections 

from voting

rejections?

Abolishing everything

like demolishing

The East Wing

while insisting

upon citizens

paying,

is not really

playing well

with others.

He’s no king,

but a tyrant

who regards

our government

as his

own business,

and everyone

knows just

how that goes-

just look at his

casinos.

The East Wing’s  

now lost

and we’ll bear

the cost-

and not just

the bill

for 300 mill-

but for the 

recklessness

atop Capitol Hill.

We’re all

nervous wrecks

as he goes on

and wrecks

each aspect

of American life.

I think 

he’s having

a ball

with all

his destruction

pretending construction

of some home

improvement.

Our movement

away 

from democracy

each day

will bring

a reckoning,

I’m sure.

If not for 

him,

then for

each supporter

who 

knew better

than to gamble

with what followed

the preamble

and ambled

toward creating

the end.

But it’s not

over yet

so don’t forget

that there’s

more that we 

can all do.

You can help 

flip congress

from this

mess:

https://app.oath.vote/.

And Election Day

is not far away,

with propositions

and positions

of import.

Please support

our democracy

from the crazy

recklessness.

Happiness

and the pursuit

of justice

is not about

retribution.

Each individual

contribution

to building

a more perfect

union

may seem 

inadequate now.

But doing 

democracy 

is the way

that we

will ensure 

its longevity

and the brevity

of the recklessness.

Shame Must Change Sides

This week

in between

is really seen

as a global

holiday

season.

The contrast

is vast

between 

the miraculous

and the rest

of us;

darkness

and light

and not

just

at night.

The kindness

reminds us

that our

gifts

mend

our rifts

and drifts

from basics.

The memory

of

the year

with a new one

so near

is condensed

to the election

and the fear

of  an inflection

point.

But another

story,

details

quite gory,

is still

quite worthy

of our

consideration.

In France,

was a

trial

so vile

it was almost

beyond

comprehension.

Gisele Pelicot

didn’t know

she was 

being drugged

and raped

and video taped

by her spouse

in their house

while men

he arranged,

(this is all

so deranged),

to violate

her

as he watched

dozens

of them

over dozens

of years.

It sears

the heart

and brain.

In 2024

Gisele

could restore

herself

and us

with justice.

The disregard

of humanity,

the insanity,

and the evil

lengths

to which

people

will go

for their

libido 

and ego

satisfaction

is not

the story’s

end.

With unfathomable

strength

and grace

she reminds

us 

to face

and say

what is so:

“Shame

must change

sides.”

Gisele Pelicot,

my shero.

Beyond

2024,

though

we will

have to endure,

we shall

restore,

and

it will

surely be

a rough ride.

Shame 

must change

sides!

And hope

resides

in action.

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. 

In General

Old news

by an old

and obtuse

loser

afraid he’ll

lose his 

freedom

in this general

election,

has surfaced

anew.

We knew

who

Trump was

then and now,

but the wow

factor

from the now

detractor,

General John F Kelly,

longest serving

Chief of Staff

of the nutty

former POTUS,

informed us

that Trump

is actually

a fascist.

Well, 

duh.

He relayed

a conversation

once (or more)

that he had had

with the cad, boar, bore,

lunatic galore,

when the POTUS
said he wanted

“the kind

of generals

that Hitler had”.

It’s terribly

sad

that such 

stupidity

has such

a hold

on much 

of the country.

See,

I know 

what Trump

was saying

or conveying.

He wants

passionate

loyalty,

except 

that because

he is so 

ignorant

he doesn’t know

what’s significant

beyond some

fantasy

of masculinity

and being 

the one

most dominant.

Hitler’s generals

tried to kill him.

That’s not

the part Trump

knows ,

so he crows

about strength

at length

(and about length

width and girth,

for what it’s 

worth—

although

that was about

Arnold Palmer).

Trump’s

suggestions

and digressions

and incessant

transgressions

too many to

mention,

are somehow

not costing

him

anything.

In general,

that’s his

modus

operandi,

which comes

in handy,

with folks

who are like

him.

Any whim

won’t cost 

him

this general

election,

if in fact

facts

don’t matter.

What’s the

matter with

us?

When feelings

trump

facts,

validation

is for ego,

not proof

of truth.

To forgo

actuality

for fantasy

is actually

crazy

(and lazy

and stupid).

Confusing

“authenticity”

with freedom,

cruelty

with manifest

destiny,

and chaos

as a strategy

is certainly

a crowd 

pleaser.

It’s easier

to rant

and chant

than  work.

But the jerk

is incessant 

and will

demand to be

President

no matter

what happens

in the general

election.

But we can

all help

not just

by voting,

but also

promoting

and supporting

other races,

and efforts

to undermine

our longtime

system

that generally

worked for

progress

and equality,

decency

and democracy.

Specifically,

there’s much 

more to do,

but 

in general,

we need you.

Faux Finish

Forgive my French

terminology

while exploring

the psychology

of the art of

trompe l’oeil

(sounds like

Trump Ploy).

It’s a trick

of perception;

a bit

of deception

with the intention

of confusion.

The illusion

comes from

the tension

between 

what is real

and what isn’t,

always drawing

attention

to it’s own

chicanery.

Architecturally,

creating 3-D

interiorly,

painting

faux columns

or walls

may not be

exactly

high art.

But faux

finishes

are part

of the art

of deception,

challenging

perception.

Ah….

Voila!

The Trump Ploy

to destroy

includes

not just

enemies

within 

his mind,

but the behind

the scene

design

of a faux

finish.

It will likely

not end

in a couple

of weeks

as he seeks

to paint

objects

as real

and appeal

any objection.

As this election

is his deflection

from crimes

and accountability,

in addition

to voting,

join me

in promoting

democracydocket.com.

Voting rights

and election

litigation

shaping democratic

institutions

should not

be illusions.

Help defeat

the delusions

of the faux finish.

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.)

Reigning Cats and Dogs

First 

and foremost,

I confess,

for most

of prime

time,

I did my

best

not to watch

the no contest

debate.

There was

punditry

aplenty

that provided me

with clips

to witness

after the fact

the exact

statements

and expressions,

deflections

and projections

and the take away

lines

of the day.

Generally,

debates 

have been pivotal

based on demeanor

and/or

zinger.

Whether

one contender

seemed under

the weather

or better

than the other

being funnier,

what sticks out

as significant

is the participant

who introduced

something

not yet 

seen or heard.

As though

it couldn’t get

more absurd,

the bit about

eating pets,

specifically

dogs and cats,

is not only

not sticking

to

the facts,

but a weird

intention

to make

some connection

to immigration.

Seriously?

But Trump

saw it on

tv,

so, you know

it bears repeating.

From JD Vance’s

cat lady stances

to his latest,

pet feast lie,

the tales

of dogs and cats

pales,

of course

to the course

they endorse

if elected.

Taylor’s Swift’s

swift response,

posing with her cat,

reins supreme

as an important

endorsement

by a celebrity

for the apprentice,

VP Harris.

But if any of this

has any meaning,

the screening

must lead to

more action.

The crazy distraction

of cats

and angry,

childless cat ladies,

is somehow their

weird attraction.

But thwarting

Trump before 

and after 

the election,

when he contests

the contest,

requires preparation

which means

your donation

to efforts to suppress

his suppression.

Your contribution

will ensure 

distribution

of enough people 

to assist

and ensure

that democracy

is fully restored

and rights protected

from the demented

fantasy flights

and cat fights

that will surely 

reign,

while he will feign

the victim.

If today’s date,

September 11th,

is to resonate

it must be 

to secure

democracy

from the reign

of terror

foreign

and domestic,

no longer foreign

to us.

Don’t just shop.

Stop Trump.

Help protect

the electorate,

before, during,

and after

this November.