politics

Thoughts on Criminal Minds

My attempt

to document

current

events

with an injection

of reflection,

was put

on hold,

at least

in brief,

as I examined

my grief

and belief

in humanity.

6 hostages

executed,

forever muted,

just before

they were sure

to be rescued.

Hamas is

beyond

horrific,

and fond

of specific

cruelty;

utterly 

sick

and dangerous.

For the rest

of us,

Hersh’s name

garnered fame

as his parents

spoke 

at the DNC

convention.

But each victim

of this insane

and disgusting

situation

is dying,

though desperately

trying to survive.

The victims 

are people;

all of the people

who reside

inside

the nightmare

of Israel

and Palestine.

It’s all distorted

as Bibi

has 

contorted

himself,

having aborted

peace negotiations.

Israel

will be a pariah

as long 

as this war

in Gaza

persists.

Bibi’s bet

that he’ll 

hang on yet,

and help 

Trump

bump Kamala

from winning

is sickening,

when thinking

about who

really suffers.

It’s profoundly

upsetting

but I’m still

betting

on humanity,

though not

from the demented

insanity

of those players.

The Labor Day

protest-

although cut short-

was the sort

of show

in Israel

that lets 

me know

that principle

still exists.

And Bibi

persists

with Trump

assists;

another 

reason

to resist

him.

Turning 

grief

into belief

in something

more 

than to restore

what was,

is before

us.

More than

for a blessing,

a memory

of a person

could be

an opportunity

to see 

differently

and act

accordingly.

May the memory

of those

who died

be tied

to a new

proposition;

a resolution

towards

some solution

beyond

what was tried

when the 

innocent

and innocence

died

at the hands

of criminal minds.

Cemetery Plot

Nothing is sacred,

even for the dead,

when Trump is

found 

around

a burial ground

dedicated

to our most

profound

(s)heroes.

He knows

he chose

a hallowed place

to place 

himself

in the 

campaign race

outside the space

of the ordinary.

He went to Arlington

National Cemetery

on Monday,

the 3rd anniversary

of the attack in

Afghanistan

that killed 13

American

troops

during the disastrous

withdrawal

after all 

those years

of war.

Laying the wreath

at The Tomb

of the Unknown

Soldier,

a familiar

ceremony

at Arlington National

Cemetery,

the Trump team

was informed

by ANC staff

that only 

ANC staff

could photograph

or film in

Section 60.

But as is

his

style,

his team

also vile,

violated

rules

and decorum.

Neither the military

nor a cemetery

is suitable

for political

activity.

TFB.

The Trump staffer

verbally

and physically

abused

the ANC

employee,

and of course,

then denied

accountability.

But a Tik Tok

video

was found to show

him

in the Arlington 

section

despite

the prohibition.

When Trump

was interviewed

about what had

ensued,

he denied

knowing

anything 

about it.

He doesn’t know

the people,

or about anything

wrong-

the song

refrain

he can retain

and repeat

replete

with accordion 

hands.

That’s his tell

like a distinct

smell,

or a nose

that grows,

with each lie

proposed.

And with Trumpian

chutzpah,

blaming the media,

Vance,

ever detracting,

said,

“You guys…

you’re reacting 

like Donald Trump

filmed 

a tv commercial

at a grave site.”

He might have

stopped there,

but took

the dare

saying that

Trump was there

“providing 

emotional support.”

So should 

we be

shocked

and awed

by this event

to circumvent

a simple rule

with altercation?

It’s a new

taboo

we learn

about

each time

he flouts

then flaunts.

It haunts

me 

as much

as policy,

because

truth and

decency

must be

at the core

of who

we are

before

all else.

Appalachik

All of West

Virginia

is contained

in Appalachia,

along with

parts of states

from The Catskills

to the Blue Ridge

and Great Smokies

too.

It’s true,

it’s a region

that’s seen

seemingly

endless

poverty;

struggling

economically,

though

rich in natural

resources.

Symbolically 

significant

of the indigent

white folk,

powerless

to the political

process

until relatively

recently.

And most

potently,

with an emissary

who began

his career

with 

Hillbilly Elegy.

JD,

as you know,

won 

a seat

in Ohio,

with Trump’s

support

and Thiel’s

backing.

Vance’s

pay pal

from 

venture capital

to The Capital

advanced

Vance

to VP

nominee.

As JD

claims

to be

the Harvard

guy

and venture

capitalist

now

representing

the Midwest,

it’s his roots

in Appalachia

that he gets

to claim

as authentic.

He gets it,

right?

The region

emblematic

of the tragic,

left behind,

produced 

a guy

with gumption

to have 

the assumption

that the dream

was his

to reach.

However,

what actually

produced him

was rebellion

and disdain,

and the world

of the elite

with whom

he’d complete

his aspiration.

Power

is inspiration,

a motivation

of and for

itself.

He literally

sold himself

and proved 

himself

to be

an Appalachik—

an agent

of the powerful

using the powerful

story of his humble

beginnings

deprived

but survived

and thrived

to unimaginable

success.

But he doesn’t

represent

the Appalachian

address,

other than

to confess 

the terrible conditions

of his 

youth.

He remains 

true

to himself

for himself

and will

say

and do

anything

to have pals

who pay

for him to 

stay

an Appalachik—

his version

of diversity

equity

and inclusion

identity

for straight,

white,

men,

comfortable

with misogyny

and 

just weird

when it comes

to biology,

or frankly,

humanity.

On Mute

Lips

connect us;

the nexus

of affection

and expression

of language

heard-

absurd,

or credible.

Sound

can be

found

watching

lip movement;

an improvement

on mere

voice.

Now 

the choice

whether 

to mute

the debaters’

mikes

might

make

or break

the date

to debate.

This was,

of course,

expected

as a matter

of course

directed

by 

the guy

whose

Big Lie

will

be bigger

this time

around.

Cutting

the sound

during

the opponent’s

round

was actually

found

to help

him.

Less taunting,

sure,

but more

beneficial

for his

official

standing

lure

is

that

less

is more.

He gets

distracted

and is too

attracted

to the sound

of his own

airing.

It’s too

waring

to

hear

year 

after 

year

much less

anything

to adhere

to.

His own

crew

wants 

him on

mute,

but now

he’ll dispute

the rules.

An excuse

at hand

to not

withstand

the shame

of losing

any game.

Muting

Trump

is the whole

goal

of this 

election.

He’s a mutation

in our politics;

a mix

of fraud

and assault.

Now he’s 

caught,

and fraught

with fear

wanting

to appear

unchallenged.

He’s

a mutant

strain

of ranting;

planting

seeds of

outrage

on stage

and posts.

He’s a variant

of the worst

we’ve seen;

a deviant,

no less.

Would muting 

the mutant,

impudent,

deviant,

variant

be more

expedient

and thereby 

more

decisive

than

when 

his divisive,

pathetic

rhetoric

is too 

much

for most

to endure?

The sure

fact 

is that

he needed

a reason

to bow 

out

of debate

season.

When his

sound 

is on

he sounds

off 

and sounds

quite off

his rocker.

Meanwhile,

the sound

of Madame

President

is resonant

with excitement

as he plans

his incitement

to rock

her.

He’s losing

ground

and his

once sound

intention

to interfere

with 

the election

sounds

familiar.

There’s no

real debate

about

the need

to mute

the mutant

deviant

variant,

if you’re

a democratic

patriot

of the

American

republic.

The Incredible Journey

That is America.

We saw 

us all

all

week.

“…the incredible journey

that is

America….”

was a 

line

from Kamala

that struck me.

It wasn’t her

historic

representation

of the first woman

also Black

and Indian.

She spoke about

what is

American.

“…the most

extraordinary

story

ever told.”

Her personal

story—

her journey—

put forth,

outlined

not a freak

of nature,

but the unique

nature

of American

life,

with freedom

to pursue

through

hard work

and talent.

While 

the rich malcontent

has us all

spent

as he 

will never

relent,

she defied

and denied

him

the DEI 

label

by turning

the table

and identified

American.

Harris

was all

business—

a north star

not just

an avatar.

And like

Amanda

Gorman

whose

gorgeous

poem

show’d ‘em

and us 

that we 

must

be worthy

of The American

Dream,

Kamala

continued

the theme,

admonishing

us all

to be worthy

of the “privilege

and pride

of being

an American”.

The other 

theme 

of the week,

it seems,

has been 

Mom.

Not just

Momala,

the nickname

for Kamala

(a name

Trump

has difficulty

saying),

but the sage

wisdom

we inherit

from our 

mothers

and of course

the other

glaring

issue

blaring

in silence

at the RNC:

Who shall

be

a mother

and how

is somehow

now

a defining

matter

despite 

being

long past

passed.

“Never 

do anything

half assed”,

Harris said

quoting her

mother,

and “Don’t

be limited

by what

has always

been.”

A wise

woman

was 

Shyamala. 

Kamala’s 

journey

toward

the presidency

seems

incredible

yet perhaps

soon

ordinary

for an extraordinary

position.

So much

has seemed 

incredible

and indelible;

even this 

joy

feels new.

But we’ve

just been

reminded

this is 

who

we are

and need 

to be:

“worthy

of the privilege

and pride

of being

an American”.

We are 

part 

of the incredible

journey

that is

America.

Thank you,

Kamala.

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.

Has Been

It has been 

a while

since 

a smile

was so 

contagious

it countered

the outrageous

ones

hell bent

on enraging

us.

Meeting 

the moment

to counter

the foment

has taken

nearly

a decade.

We’re not

done yet,

but there’s

a reset

that feels

like a

Hallelujah!

At first,

her laugh

felt 

like

a gaffe—

somehow 

wrong,

like

it didn’t

belong.

Some thought

she was

not ready

for prime

time.

And then

just when

all seemed

so bleak,

and fear

mixed

with grief,

she provided

relief

and a new 

belief

that she’s

grown

and shown

she could 

own him.

She 

has been

building

enthusiasm

while he

has been

in

emotional

spasm,

watching

the momentum

shift.

His grift

is his

gift

that keeps

on giving

him

desperation.

He needs

the election

stolen

for him,

in order

to win

freedom 

from the 

prospect

of prison.

She has

been

a prosecutor,

a state

AG,

a US senator,

and VP.

And somehow

he

has been 

a POTUS.

As she 

brings

intelligence

and joy,

he brings

belligerence

and loves

to annoy

and destroy—

a ploy

which 

has been

effective

with invective

and the incentive

of promises

from grievances.

Abuse

is his muse.

Denying/

lying

has been

his

chorus.

It’s beginning

to bore

us.

His playbook

to win

is rather

thin.

He’s a

has been

who belongs

in prison.

But 

has beens

remain

until forced

to go,

so

be unrelenting

in preventing

The Has Been

a future

free

of accountability.

Do more

than ever

to sever

what

has been

a forever

threat

that must 

be met

now and

in the

coming weeks

as 

The Has Been

seeks

a zombie

presidency,

keeping

him free

while ending

democracy.

Freedom

Release

from prison

and poison

and isolation

in a nation

ruled

by fear,

the negotiations,

based on relations

with allies

with spies

and assassins

for Putin

willing to help

the US 

free

the innocent—

dissident

and reporter—

is nothing

short

of incredible.

Germany

Slovenia

Poland

and Norway

gave away

some bad guys

to help us

swap 

the ones

who stop

at nothing

to speak

truth 

to power.

Allies

or lies—

that’s the stark

choice.

We each

have a voice

to resist

the dark,

and insist

on the light

of freedom.

And in

the Mideast,

as fighting

increased,

how many 

hostages

will be

released?

Our friendships

in that difficult

region

once legion,

now so 

complicated,

make being

dedicated

to an ally

predicated

on peace

and security

an almost 

impossibility

but for the 

possibility

of swapping

hostages

for freedom

and security.

Peace,

like freedom,

is an unending

task

that asks

us 

to cultivate

allies

to fight

the lies

and terror

that imprison.