Month: July 2024

The Biden Bump

by earlthepearl137

Fans of Stephen Colbert, have long recognized the phenomenon known as “The Colbert Bump,” which is an increase in the popularity of a person (author, musician, politician, etc.) or thing (website, etc.) as a result of appearing as a guest on Stephen Colbert’s show or (in the case of a thing) being mentioned on the show.

Traditionally, Presidential Conventions also have the ability to boost the national recognition and popularity of their speakers and their candidates for President and Vice-President.  So, naturally, the Republicans were hoping that Donald Trump and J.D. Vance would enjoy a bump in popularity following their convention.  There were three things, however, that were working against them.

The first thing was their Presidential candidate.  Ex-President Trump was already the most recognized politician in America.  The convention wasn’t going to be able to introduce him to any new audience.  All they could do was trot him out to the same MAGA Cult followers who have attended dozens of his rallies in the past.  To them, he is a “rock star,” because he had a TV program, and because they know he will publicly say outrageous things.  To everyone else, he is a narcissistic, disgraced, twice-impeached, convicted sex offender and 34-time convicted felon, who stole top secret U.S. documents and tried but failed to overthrow the government on January 6th, 2021.

The second thing was the Republican platform.  They spent four days talking about the problems in America, but didn’t have any suggestions for solving these problems other than mass deportation of minorities and punishing women who didn’t want to be pregnant.  They spent four days suggesting that our problems would go away if our President wasn’t 81 years old.  Of course, they didn’t have any way to explain how 78-year-old Donald Trump was going to remain 78 for the next 4 years if he got back into the White House.

One speaker at the Republican convention ridiculously asked the age-old political question to the conventioneers, “Are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?”  The meatheads in the audience gave a resounding “No!”  Apparently, they thought that 2020 was a great year.  I’d like to jar their memory with a montage of how things really were in 2020 when Donald Trump was President.

The third thing was the Biden Bump.  Joe Biden isn’t the most eloquent speaker.  He had to overcome a severe stuttering problem as a child.  He has worked in Government for decades, though.  He knows how to get things done.  Even though they had to deal with a divided Congress, he and Kamala Harris still managed to rescue the economy and change the course of the Pandemic.  He got the infrastructure bill passed and lowered the price of prescription drugs.  He created millions of new jobs and lowered unemployment to the point that more Americans are working now than at any point in American History.

That was only the first part of the Biden Bump.  He listened patiently as Republicans spent four days disparaging his age, and then he dropped the bomb on them.  Just when they were hoping to enjoy a post-convention honeymoon with America, he turned the tables on them.  He suddenly withdrew from the race and immediately threw his support behind Kamala Harris.  This left the Republicans with nothing.  They had spent four days playing the age card, the only weapon they had.  Now, will 78-year-old Trump dare play the age card against 59-year-old Kamala Harris?  I think not.  I don’t think “Fox News” will bring it up, either.  By waiting until after the Republican convention to tag off to his fresh tag-team partner, Biden-Harris pinned Trump, Vance, and Hulk Hogan to the mat.  Like I said, Joe Biden may not be as good a speaker as Donald Trump, but he knows how to get the job done.  One.  Two.  Three.  It’s over.  The winner – American Democracy.

Now all we have to do is turn out in record numbers in November to elect Kamala Harris and a majority of Democratic Senators and Congressmen to kick Trump to the curb one final time.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Too Soon?

by earlthepearl137

In his Christian New Testament Epistle to the Galatians, Paul the Apostle wrote: “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The Bible also says, “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”  I’m sure that Donald Trump, the conman Bible salesman is familiar with these quotes, even if he never read them.

Donald Trump has been sowing the seeds of hatred for years, and yesterday there was an alleged assassination attempt against him at a rally in Butler, PA.  News sources reported that the shooter, 20-year-old registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by snipers at the scene.

If a Democrat had been shot, Donald Trump and his low-life friends like Steve Bannon would probably call it a False Flag operation.  If a Democrat had been shot, they would have said that Antifa did it, or maybe it was just tourists out for a stroll.

Trump led a bloody insurrection against the country on January 6, 2021, and he promised this country a “bloodbath” if he was not elected in 2024.  Kevin Roberts, the President of the Heritage Foundation, is behind Project 2025, the right-wing’s plan to take over the country.  He threatened the left recently stating, “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”  These guys have been threatening the country with bloodshed for years.  Trump wanted to execute people like Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, for disagreeing with him.  Not happy with just macing peaceful protesters for a photo op with the Bible, he wants to be able to shoot them on sight, something that the First Amendment strongly disallows.  So, he wants to scrap the Constitution, jail his political rivals, and send tens of thousands of Americans into detention camps.  He wants to be a dictator on day one if he gets re-elected.

Unlike draft dodging Trump, there were no bone spurs for this guy, General Millie.

Now the Republicans are shocked that they are reaping the whirlwind, and are shedding a little of their own blood.  Trump is lucky that the bullet only nicked his ear.  If the bullet had been 3 feet lower, it would have gone through his brain.

Republicans and Democrats quickly joined in a rare bi-partisan show of support today.  A poll of politicians would find that 100% of them are opposed to violence against politicians.  Mass shootings in schools, okay.  Violence on the street, okay, but when a citizen attacks a politician, they lose their minds.  They’re always quick to quote the Second Amendment when they fill their pockets with money from the gun lobby, but they forget that the founding fathers encouraged citizens to fight against tyrants.  Thomas Jefferson said that the strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms, is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.  “When governments fear the people, there is liberty.  When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.  Donald Trump wants to be a tyrant.

The Republicans haven’t shown any intention of supporting stronger gun control laws in the wake of this tragedy.  I’m waiting for one of them to declare, “If Trump was armed, he could have shot back.”  Who’s going to tell these a**holes that convicted felons aren’t allowed to carry guns, and Donald Trump has been indicted on 91 felony charges and already convicted of 34 of them.

I, personally, don’t believe that violence is the answer.  I hate Trump as much as anyone, but in this country we have laws against shooting people.  Of course, Donald Trump and the corrupt members of the Supreme Court he appointed believe that Donald Trump is above the law, but the rest of us are still subject to it.  So, I won’t take any violent action against him, but I will wear out my knees if I have to praying that someday soon, Donald Trump will choke to death on a Big Mac.

I refuse to shed crocodile tears for Donald Trump’s bloody ear.  I am truly sorry that innocent people were killed at the rally in Butler, though.  His cult followers may not be too bright, but stupid isn’t a crime.  They are perfectly allowed to support the candidate of their choice and shouldn’t have to worry about being shot for it.  The same goes for Biden supporters who shouldn’t have to be afraid that if they put a Biden sign on their lawn, a rock will come through their window and a family member might get hurt.

Since the shooter is dead, we may never know why Thomas Crooks climbed on that roof and took a shot at Donald Trump and his supporters.  Of course, the Republicans, Q Anon, and Fox News will blame Joe Biden, Barrack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.

If you watched a video of the assassination attempt, you will see that the first words out of Donald Trump’s mouth to his supporters were “Fight.  Fight.  Fight.”  It was just like that January day in 2021, when he told his supporters that if they wanted to hold onto their country they had to go to the Capital and “Fight like hell.”  Donald Trump understands that “Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.”  He just believes that he has enough followers who will “fall on their sword” to protect him.  Don’t allow him to milk this event to attract supporters.  He brought it on himself.  He inherited the Whirlwind, and he deserves to die, not at the hands of an assassin, though, but in a gallows, as the result of a guilty verdict in a court of law for the treason he committed on January 6, 2021.

Too soon?  …or not soon enough?

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

While the Cat’s Away…

by earlthepearl137

Recently, I watched a YouTube showing of Club Random with Bill Mahr and his guest Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller fame.  Penn doesn’t drink or smoke, but that didn’t stop Bill, who was quite comfortable in his man cave.”  The setting, obviously, was casual, and the conversation went on for an hour and a half.  It was so much more interesting than the short interviews you might see on a talk show, where the only purpose of being on the show was to promote a book or a movie.  Bill and Penn covered a plethora of interesting subjects, and the one that I found most interesting was the one Penn told Bill about the first appearance of Penn & Teller on the Tonight Show.

Today, Penn & Teller are record-breaking performers in Vegas. They’re such Vegas icons that the venue where they perform is the Penn & Teller Theatre.  They also travel around the world doing their unique magic show.  But, one time, a long time ago, they were just starting out and they got asked to audition for the Tonight Show with Johhny Carson.  At the time, an appearance on the Carson Show was THE big break that launched many successful careers.  It was like how a book will shoot to #1 on the Best Seller list if Oprah recommends it.

So, Penn and Teller, packed up the material they would need to do a magical performance on the Tonight Show.  They auditioned their Water Tank trick and Johnny loved it, except for one bit of it where Teller appears to be dead.  That, he thought, was in bad taste.  He wanted them to change the act.  They didn’t want to, because they felt that was the core of the joke.  It took guts on their part to risk losing the opportunity of a Tonight Show gig by not giving in.  Then Johnny compromised.  He liked their routine but didn’t want it performed in full when he was there.  So, he booked Penn & Teller to be on The Tonight Show during a week when he was on vacation and Jay Leno was guest hosting.  Win, Win.  Except when that day came, Penn & Teller had trouble shipping their huge water tank, so they wound up doing a different trick, one that Johnny would have allowed while on a night when he was hosting.

So, tonight I was watching Kathryn Hahn guest-hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live.  Her first guest was Seth Rogen.  They’re old friends and they were really having a good time talking to each other in an interview situation.  Then, they finally got around to plugging his new animated movie, Sausage Fest.  They showed a clip from the movie, and the audience got to see that in the movie, animated food products have sex with other food products.  Then, they brought out a tray of food and Seth started moving the various food stuffs into sexual positions with other food.  It quickly got outrageous and raunchy, while being funny as hell.  Then it dawned on me.  Did Seth Rogen pitch this idea to Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy did the same thing that Johnny Carson did to Penn & Teller so many years ago?  Did Jimmy like the bit, but find it too risqué for a night when he, himself, was hosting, so he scheduled it for a night when there was a guest host.  I’m almost sure that’s what happened, and I’m almost sure that this probably happens quite frequently.  Really good guests who might “push the envelope” further than the regular host can convince the sponsors to accept, are saved for nights when there is a guest host, and there is less likelihood of blowback from a sponsor.

“When the cats away, the mice will play,” is the old expression, except that now, the cat is planning his away time, so that the show can have time to explore the boundaries of both their envelope and that of their audience.

Now, I won’t be skipping my favorite late-night shows, when there is a guest host.  I’ll be hoping to catch another edgy act pushing the envelope while the cat’s away.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Rage Against the Dying of the Light

by earlthepearl137

Kevin Roberts and the Heritage Foundation are behind Project 2025, a right-wing roadmap for a potential second Trump administration that would grant the President unprecedented control over federal agencies and empower Trump loyalists.  Its stated aim is “to start undoing the damage the Left has wrought and build a better country for all Americans in 2025.”

Do you know what this reminded me of?  Hitler sending Jews to work camps that turned out to be concentration camps in WW II.  Offer no resistance, and nobody will get hurt. I turned to my good friend Claude AI and asked him:

Why didn’t the Jews fight to the death instead of going to concentration camps in WW II?

Claude responded:

There are several complex factors to consider regarding this sensitive historical topic:

Many Jews did resist and fight back against Nazi persecution, through armed uprisings, partisan groups, and other forms of resistance. However, they faced overwhelming military force and oppression.

The full scope of the Nazi’s genocidal plans was not widely known or believed initially. Many hoped that compliance might ensure survival.

Nazi tactics of deception, such as claiming camps were work or transit centers, contributed to confusion about the true nature of deportations.

Resistance was extremely dangerous and often led to brutal reprisals against entire communities.

Many felt a responsibility to try to keep their families together and protect vulnerable members like children and the elderly.

Malnutrition, overwork, and poor conditions in ghettos weakened people physically and psychologically.

There were also instances of armed Jewish resistance, such as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, as more became aware of the Nazis’ true intentions.

This is a complex historical topic with no simple answers. If you’d like to explore it further, I’d be happy to discuss additional aspects or provide more context on specific elements.

I replied:

A fascist is running for President in 2024, and he proposes that if he wins, he will be a dictator on day one. One of his political advisors, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts told Real America’s Voice on Tuesday that “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”  To me that seems eerily similar to what the Nazis said to the Jews in the beginning.  What can we do if this Fascist gets elected?

Claude responded:

I understand your concerns about the political situation. It’s a sensitive and complex issue that many people feel strongly about. While I can’t advocate for specific political actions, I can provide some general information:

In a democracy, there are various legal and constitutional mechanisms designed to prevent the concentration of power in one person or group. These include:

Checks and balances between branches of government

Constitutional limits on executive power

An independent judiciary

Freedom of the press

The right to peaceful protest and assembly

Regular elections

If citizens are concerned about potential threats to democracy, they can:

Stay informed through reliable news sources

Engage in civic participation (voting, contacting representatives, etc.)

Support organizations that work to protect civil liberties and democratic institutions

Participate in peaceful, lawful forms of protest or activism

Encourage dialogue and understanding across political divides

It’s important to approach these issues through legal and peaceful means within the democratic system. If you have specific concerns, consider consulting with legal experts or civil rights organizations for guidance.

Remember that political situations can be complex, and it’s crucial to verify information from multiple reliable sources. If you’re looking for more detailed analysis, I’d encourage you to consult academic or non-partisan policy experts for in-depth perspectives on this topic.

I replied:

The Constitutional limits on Executive Power were just negated by a far-right leaning Supreme Court.  The Press has forsaken its duty and now works for the political parties that control them.  The new dictator-wannabe says that he will have the National Guard shoot protesters, and they will deny the validity of elections in which they lose.  What can be done?

Claude responded:

I understand you’re deeply concerned about the current political situation and potential threats to democratic norms. These are complex issues without easy solutions. While I can’t advise on specific actions, I can offer some general perspectives to consider:

Legal and constitutional challenges: Even with changes in the judicial system, there may still be avenues to challenge unconstitutional actions through the courts.

Grassroots organizing: Historically, sustained grassroots movements have been effective in advocating for change and protecting rights.

International pressure: Democratic allies and international organizations may exert diplomatic pressure if democratic norms are violated.

Documentation and reporting: Keeping detailed records of events and sharing information through alternative media channels can be important.

Peaceful civil disobedience: Throughout history, non-violent resistance movements have sometimes been effective in challenging authoritarian actions.

Supporting independent journalism: Encouraging and supporting truly independent media outlets can help maintain press freedom.

Building community resilience: Strengthening local community ties and support networks can help people weather difficult times.

Education and awareness: Continuing to educate others about democratic principles and history can build long-term resilience.

It’s a challenging situation that many people are grappling with. If you’re looking for more specific guidance, you might consider consulting with civil rights organizations, legal experts, or academic specialists in democratic institutions and civil liberties. They may be able to provide more targeted advice based on the specifics of the situation.

My final response:

To me, these seemed like weak measures to oppose such sinister forces.  In the end, we may actually need to take up arms against such an attack on our Democracy, but there is still one peaceful measure left which we can use.  We can vote in unprecedented numbers to defeat Trump and the evil-doers, who would destroy both our Constitution and our country just to line their own pockets.

We have two choices:  Rage against the dying of the light.  Rage, and vote.  Or else peacefully stroll to the “detention centers.”

Rodney Dangerfield recites a Dylan Thomas poem… (youtube.com)

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl