Category: Uncategorized

Saddle Up, Donnie, and Ride Off into the Sunset

by earlthepearl137

There is a Spanish proverb that says, If one person calls you a jackass, ignore him. If two people call you a jackass, think about it. If three people call you a jackass, buy yourself a saddle.  It’s time for Donald Trump to buy a saddle.  Here is a collection, compiled by Zachary B. Wolf of CNN, of things that former Trump allies and aides have said about him.

Zachary B. Wolf, CNN

1. His vice president, Mike Pence: “The American people deserve to know that President Trump asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution. … Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.”

2. His second attorney general, Bill Barr: “Someone who engaged in that kind of bullying about a process that is fundamental to our system and to our self-government shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office.”

3. His first secretary of defense, James Mattis: “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us.”

4. His second secretary of defense, Mark Esper: “I think he’s unfit for office. … He puts himself before country. His actions are all about him and not about the country. And then, of course, I believe he has integrity and character issues as well.”

5. His chairman of the joint chiefs, retired Gen. Mark Milley, seemed to invoke Trump: “We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We take an oath to the Constitution and we take an oath to the idea that is America – and we’re willing to die to protect it.”

6. His first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson: “(Trump’s) understanding of global events, his understanding of global history, his understanding of US history was really limited. It’s really hard to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t even understand the concept for why we’re talking about this.”

7. His first ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley: “He used to be good on foreign policy and now he has started to walk it back and get weak in the knees when it comes to Ukraine. A terrible thing happened on January 6 and he called it a beautiful day.”

8. His presidential transition vice-chairman, Chris Christie: “Someone who I would argue now is just out for himself.”

9. His second national security adviser, HR McMaster: “We saw the absence of leadership, really anti-leadership, and what that can do to our country.”

10. His third national security adviser, John Bolton: “I believe (foreign leaders) think he is a laughing fool.”

11. His second chief of staff, John Kelly: “A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. There is nothing more that can be said. God help us.”

12. His former acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, who resigned as US special envoy to Ireland after January 6, 2021: “I quit because I think he failed at being the president when we needed him to be that.”

13. One of his many former communications directors, Anthony Scaramucci: “He is the domestic terrorist of the 21st century.”

14. Another former communications director, Stephanie Grisham: “I am terrified of him running in 2024.”

15. His secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, who resigned after January 6: “When I saw what was happening on January 6 and didn’t see the president step in and do what he could have done to turn it back or slow it down or really address the situation, it was just obvious to me that I couldn’t continue.”

16. His secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao, who resigned after January 6: “At a particular point the events were such that it was impossible for me to continue, given my personal values and my philosophy.

17. His first secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer: “…the president has very little understanding of what it means to be in the military, to fight ethically or to be governed by a uniform set of rules and practices.”

18. His first homeland security adviser, Tom Bossert: “The President undermined American democracy baselessly for months. As a result, he’s culpable for this siege, and an utter disgrace.”

19. His former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen: “Donald’s an idiot.”

20. His White House lawyer, Ty Cobb: “Trump relentlessly puts forth claims that are not true.”

21. A former director of strategic communications, Alyssa Farah Griffin, who is now a CNN political commentator: “We can stand by the policies, but at this point we cannot stand by the man.”

22. A top aide in charge of his outreach to African Americans, Omarosa Manigault Newman: “Donald Trump, who would attack civil rights icons and professional athletes, who would go after grieving black widows, who would say there were good people on both sides, who endorsed an accused child molester; Donald Trump, and his decisions and his behavior, was harming the country. I could no longer be a part of this madness.”

23. A former deputy press secretary, Sarah Matthews, who resigned after January 6: “I thought that he did do a lot of good during his four years. I think that his actions on January 6 and the lead-up to it, the way that he’s acted in the aftermath, and his continuation of pushing this lie that the election is stolen has made him wholly unfit to hold office ever again.”

24. His final chief of staff’s aide, Cassidy Hutchinson: “I think that Donald Trump is the most grave threat we will face to our democracy in our lifetime, and potentially in American history.”

So, if you have a relative or loved one, who got sucked into the Donald Trump – MAGA cult, it appears that there is only one surefire way to save them – get them a job working with Donald Trump.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

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

Conversation with Claude

by earlthepearl137

Whenever I want an unbiased opinion, I turn to my AI program, Claude. Here’s our latest conversation.

Me: There is talk today of replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for President because of his lackluster performance at a recent debate. The last time that the Democrats made a big change late in the race, Hubert Humphrey lost badly, because there just wasn’t enough time for his campaign to get going. Any comments on that election?

Claude: As an AI assistant, I want to clarify that my knowledge cutoff is in April 2024, so I don’t have information about recent events or debates that may have occurred after that date. However, I can comment on the historical example you mentioned and provide some general thoughts on late candidate changes in presidential races.

The election you’re referring to is likely the 1968 United States presidential election. In that race, incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek re-election, which led to a chaotic Democratic primary season. Hubert Humphrey, who was Johnson’s Vice President, entered the race late and secured the nomination at the Democratic National Convention without participating in any primaries.

You’re correct that Humphrey’s late entry into the race was a significant factor in his loss to Republican candidate Richard Nixon. Some key points about that election:

  1. Timing: Humphrey didn’t become the nominee until the Democratic National Convention in late August, leaving him only about two months for his general election campaign.
  2. Party division: The Democratic Party was deeply divided over issues like the Vietnam War, which made it difficult for Humphrey to unite the party quickly.
  3. Fundraising challenges: Starting late meant Humphrey had less time to raise money and build a robust campaign infrastructure.
  4. Messaging: Humphrey struggled to differentiate himself from Johnson’s policies, particularly on Vietnam, which was unpopular with many voters.

The 1968 election does illustrate the potential risks of changing candidates late in the process. It takes time to build campaign infrastructure, raise funds, refine messaging, and connect with voters across the country.

However, it’s important to note that every election is unique, and the political landscape has changed significantly since 1968. Modern campaigns have different tools and strategies at their disposal, including social media and data-driven outreach, which could potentially allow for faster mobilization.

If you’d like me to elaborate on any aspects of the 1968 election or discuss how late candidate changes might play out in a modern context, I’d be happy to do so.

Me: Please discuss how late candidate changes might play out in a modern context.

Claude: In a modern context, late candidate changes would face both challenges and opportunities that differ from those in 1968. Here’s an analysis of how such a scenario might unfold today:

  1. Media landscape: The 24-hour news cycle and social media platforms allow for rapid information dissemination. A new candidate could potentially gain widespread attention and name recognition much faster than in the past. However, this also means increased scrutiny and less time to refine messaging.
  2. Fundraising: Modern campaigns rely heavily on online fundraising. A new candidate with strong appeal could potentially raise significant funds quickly through grassroots donations. However, they would still be at a disadvantage compared to opponents who have been fundraising for months or years.
  3. Campaign infrastructure: Digital tools and data analytics allow for quicker setup of campaign operations. However, building a ground game in key states still takes time and resources.
  4. Party unity: In today’s polarized political climate, the need for party unity might actually make it easier for a new candidate to rally support, especially if they’re seen as more electable.
  5. Voter engagement: With early voting and mail-in ballots becoming more common, a late change could mean some voters have already cast their ballots for the original candidate.
  6. Debate preparation: A new candidate would have less time to prepare for debates, which are crucial in modern campaigns. This could be a significant disadvantage.
  7. Legal and procedural hurdles: Changing candidates late in the process could face legal challenges and complications with ballot access in some states.
  8. Public perception: The public might view a late change as a sign of party disarray, but it could also be seen as responsiveness to voter concerns.
  9. Opposition research: A new candidate might face less thorough opposition research initially, but opponents would likely intensify efforts to find damaging information quickly.
  10. Policy positions: A new candidate would need to quickly establish clear policy positions, which could be challenging without seeming unprepared or contradicting party platforms.

While modern technology and communication methods could help a new candidate get up to speed more quickly than in past decades, they would still face significant challenges. The compressed timeframe would require exceptional organizational skills, a strong existing public profile, and the ability to quickly unite the party and appeal to a broad electorate.

The success of such a change would likely depend on the specific circumstances, the chosen candidate’s strengths, and the overall political climate at the time.

Me: It’s important that twice impeached, convicted felon, Donald Trump should never even be allowed near The White House. Many Democrats would make much better Presidents than Don the Con. Some might even be stronger opponents than Joe Biden, but Joe Biden has come out of the primaries as the victor, and unless he himself decides not to run, like LBJ did, or if he should have other major problems, he will be the Democratic candidate for President. It’s time for the party to unite behind him. A split Democratic Party, and the impact of RFK Jr.’s 3rd Party candidacy could negatively affect the outcome of the election, and the unthinkable might happen. We cannot let a narcissistic criminal like Donald Trump back in the White House. It’s actually time for the Democrats to take a page from the Republican Playbook and remember the words of Abraham Lincoln: “Don’t swap horses in the middle of the stream.”

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Buyer Beware

by earlthepearl137

The other night, I was happily watching old clips of my favorite late-night hosts mocking Donald Trump’s legal problems.  This particular clip from 8 months ago was from a Seth Meyers segment called “A Closer Look,” and I did take a closer look – at one of Donald Trump’s Lawyers.  Alina Habba had appeared, up until this point, as a lawyer who Donald Trump hired just for her looks.  In this clip, however, I could see the legal wheels turning inside her head, as it dawned on her that her client was incriminating himself.

Trump was outside the courthouse explaining why he couldn’t possibly be guilty of defrauding anyone, because there is a disclaimer at the beginning of all his financial statements that basically says, do your own research, this report is “Worthless.”  Alina Habba, who had been standing dutifully in the background trying not to look bored, suddenly realized that her client was saying something he shouldn’t be saying.  She realized that he was verbally putting a noose around his own neck, and she wondered what she could do to stop him.

She looks over at the other attorneys, with a look that says, You’ve got to stop him, before he digs a hole so deep that we all fall into it.

She was probably thinking about all the lawyers whose careers were ruined because they got involved with Donald Trump.  Rudy Guiliani, who at one time was known as America’s mayor, served as Trump’s personal attorney and is now hawking organic coffee to try to stave off bankruptcy.  The number of lawyers Trump has thrown under the bus to save his own sorry ass is legion, and I’ll bet Alina was thinking that the name Alina Habba was about to be added to the long list of collateral damage that has resulted from an association with Donald Trump.

Trump rambled on and I guess Alina’s mind did, too, as she thought of the people on the list of disgraced Trump lawyers that she would soon be joining.  Kenneth Chesebro, James Troupis, and cute little Jenna Ellis, who we all remember pleading guilty to RICO charges in Georgia with tears pouring down her remorseful face.  Then, of course, there are John Eastman, Christina Bobb, Jeffrey Clark, and Sidney Powell.  Who could forget her?  She threatened to “release the Kraken.”  Instead, she opened up a can of whoop ass that she spilled all over herself.

Michael Cohen went to jail for Trump.  Nowadays, he’s a star witness against Trump.  There were more.  If Alina searched her memory for other lawyers who had been tossed overboard in the wake created by Donald J. Trump cruising through their lives.  In Georgia alone, there were Cleta Mitchell, Ray Smith, and Robert Cheeley.

Maybe she was also thinking about the Trump supporters who went to jail for the insurrection at the Capital on January 6th.  In his current campaign for the Presidency, he’s proclaiming that if elected he will issue pardons to them.  Funny how that thought never occurred to him in his last two weeks in office, when he actually had the power to issue pardons.  Maybe he was just too busy issuing pardons to some of his other criminal associates, like Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Stephen K. Bannon, or George Papadopoulos.  He didn’t think about his “J-6 warriors” in jail, until he got the idea to use them in his run for re-election.

Alina wanted desperately to stop Trump’s rambling speech that day.  Look at that last picture.  She’s not looking at Trump.  She’s looking at her colleagues.  Her eyes were trying to send a message to the other attorneys, “Somebody, please, stop him.”

Of course, she wasn’t able to control him, and, of course, Trump lost another legal case.  Sure, he can get thousands of red hat cult members to attend his rallies, but he just can’t seem to find a single juror, who isn’t convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty.  E. Jean Carroll beat him in court twice.  His corporation lost a big fraud case in court.  Then he lost almost a half billion dollars in his own personal fraud case.  He was recently found guilty of 34 felony charges and 10 acts of Contempt of Court.  He has a few more court cases coming up, which look like slam dunks for the Prosecution, which his appointees on the Supreme Court are trying to stall until after the election, so that he may be able to pardon himself.

What Alina’s eyes were saying that day outside the courtroom is exactly what I would like to say to all the people who will be voting in November, “Please, stop him.”  The best way to preserve our Democracy is to use the most powerful tool that Democracy has ever given us to do just that, the ballot box.  The barbarians aren’t at the gate anymore.  They crashed the gate long ago, and they’re gonna try to storm the Capital again.  Please, stop Donald Trump.  Use your vote against him and his ilk, and stop them all.  A grateful country will thank you by flying the flag right-side up.

If you care to judge for yourself what Alina Habba was thinking just watch this clip from A Closer Look  (to save time, you can just need to watch 50 seconds of the 30-minute clip from the 5:36 to the 6:26 mark):

Bing Videos

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Ten Cent Jimmy

by earlthepearl137

There was a clue on “Jeopardy!” today that needs some clarification.

The “answer” was “Who is James Buchanan?”

The nickname is correct, but the context is way wrong, as are many details about President Buchanan that have been widely disseminated.  Here is the full story as told in “President James Buchanan” a biography by Philip Shriver Klein:

Pages 133-134.

The program of attack on Van Buren presupposed attacks on all his lieutenants.  In Pennsylvania there was a very effective propaganda campaign to prove that Buchanan had urged a banking program that would reduce the wages of labor to ten cents a day.  “Ten Cent Jimmy,” the pamphlets were labelled.  Buchanan, in formal debate, always presented as strongly as he could the case of the opposition, and then proceeded to demolish it systematically by his own arguments.  In supporting the Independent Treasury Bill, he had outlined the terrible conditions which would prevail unless banks were reformed and had then gone on to show how much better all would fare under the proposed bill.  Senator John Davis of Massachusetts took the first section of this speech, and offered it as Buchanan’s reasons for supporting the Independent Treasury.  He took the “ten cents a day” phrase and quoted it out of context, asserting that Buchanan supported the Independent Treasury Bill in the hope that it would reduce wages, destroy banks and deflate property values.  Davis’s speeches, when circulated in print, had tremendous political impact.

Forney reported from Pennsylvania:  “I do not know when I have been so much disgusted with the course of any political opponent as with that of this Mr. Davis-…  He must be either a mere catspaw of others, or a weak, addle-brained man, or a malignant and unscrupulous ruffian…  When I see the effect they are making here, by means of his villainous perversion of your intelligible Defence (sic) of the laborer, I cannot but put such a construction upon his unworthy conduct.  Why, Sir, they have flooded this county with his so-called Reply to you….  A copy has been sent to nearly every Democrat….  His whole speech is the assumption of the broad ground that the people are ignorant, and unable to discriminate between right and wrong.”

The human mind has not yet discovered the way of counteracting promptly the effect of the bold lie propagated by the prominent man.  History is full of pertinent illustrations.  If representative government has a nemesis, this is probably it.  The “Ten Cent Jimmy” lie seriously weakened Buchanan in Pennsylvania.

Forney proposed that the Democrats “challenge any responsible member of the opposition here to join in the republication of both yours and Davis’ speeches, both of which are to be published correctly and … bound together, and so circulated… If they do not accept, they are down forever.”  The opposition did not accept, nor was it down forever.  Instead, it proceeded to improve its advantage by reviving the “drop of blood” smear and sending that out with the “Ten Cent Jimmy” pamphlets.  Editor Middleton, of the Lancaster Examiner, did much of the printing.  He had recently distinguished himself by shooting James Cameron when Cameron came in to beat him up for other lies he had published.  Buchanan was for “carrying the war into Carthage,” but his friends advised against it.  “It’s only giving tone to falsehoods by heeding them,” wrote Judge Champneys.

Buchanan made several long defensive speeches in the Senate on the “Ten Cent Jimmy” accusations.  “If the most artful and unfair man in the world had determined to destroy any public measure,” he asked, “in what manner would he most effectually damn it in public estimation?  It would be to enumerate all the terrible consequences which would flow from it, according to the predictions of its enemies, and put them into the mouth of its friends as arguments in its favor.  There could not by possibility be any stronger admission of its evil tendency….  This is the ridiculous attitude in which I am placed by the Senator’s speech.  If these imputations were well founded, I must be one of the most ferocious men in existence.  Destruction must be my delight. No wild agrarian in the country has ever thought of waging such an indiscriminate war against all property, my own among the rest, as that which has been attributed to me by the Senator.”  But Buchanan’s exposure of Davis’s fraud proved a futile effort.  People found it easier to say “Ten Cent Jimmy” than to read a rebuttal, and the nickname stuck.

Today, we have another Presidential candidate, who delights in bold lies and giving horrible nicknames to his opponents.  Nancy Pelosi was called “Crazy Nancy” and “Nervous Nancy.”  Hillary Clinton was called “Crooked Hillary.”  Even fellow Republicans were verbally attacked if they dared to run against Donald Trump in the primaries.  Jeb Bush was “Low Energy Jeb.”  Ted Cruz was “Lyin’ Ted.”  Well, that one was probably well-deserved, though.  Ron DeSantis was “Meatball Ron” or “Ron DeSanctimonious.”  Nikki Haley was “Birdbrain.”  Marco Rubio was “Little Marco.”

Now, Trump has turned his sights on Joe Biden with nicknames like “Basement Biden” or “Sleepy Joe.”  But some people have turned the tables on the orange hate-spewer.  Stormy “Horseface” Daniels was one of the star witnesses against him in the case that found him guilty of 34 Felonies.  The other star witness against him, Michael Cohen also turned the tables with a nickname of his own for Trump, “Donald Von ShitsinPantz.”

How are we supposed to act when our opponents are cruel or act like a bully?  Michelle Obama said, “When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their level.  No, our motto is ‘When they go low, we go high.’”

James Buchanan, himself, had advice for settling differences, when he said, “The ballot box is the surest arbiter of disputes among free men.”  Keep that in mind this November, and make sure that Donald Trump will no longer be able to bully the country like he tried to do on January 6th, 2021.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Happy Father’s Day

by earlthepearl137

MY DAD AT REUNION TIME – A story I wrote for the 3rd Armored Division’s website.

By Earl Paulson

3AD.com Web Editor’s Note: This is a part-humorous, part-serious “must read” for anyone who knows Hap Paulson personally or knows him through his Army-related poetry. The author is the oldest son of Harold “Hap” Paulson (703rd TD Bn & 3AD Association Poet Laureate). In this true and often side-splitting story, Earl writes of events surrounding the trip he made with his father to the Association Reunion in July, 2005, in Indianapolis. This work first appeared in Earl’s personal newsletter called “Earl’s Wearld” and then in the Association Newsletter in Sept., 2005.

I’m back from my Dad’s 3rd Armored Division Army reunion. What a week! I hadn’t spent five straight days with my father since I was a teenager at Boy Scout Camp. It was quite an experience. I’m amazed that my mother lived with the man for more than fifty years and never once tried to kill him (or herself). My Dad has both a photographic memory for old jokes, and the uncanny ability to spot them in everyday life. He also has the gift of gab, though I’m not really sure that it would rightly be called a gift.

The night before we left for Indianapolis, I stayed with him at his summer house in Yaphank, NY. Reveille was at oh-three-thirty. That’s 3:30 A.M. to you civilians. My 86-year-old father, who can no longer read without his glasses and a magnifying glass, but still has his Florida driver’s license, drove us to Islip Airport in the middle of the night. Surprisingly, I wasn’t afraid, even though it was pitch black and pouring rain, because I couldn’t see either.

Somehow, we managed to get to the practically vacant airport long-term parking lot around 4:30 A.M. We sloshed the couple hundred feet to the terminal to find that they were only kidding us about having to be at the airport two hours before our 7 A.M. flight. The counter wasn’t even open yet — nor was the coffee shop.

My father is a very religious man. While we were waiting in the airline terminal, he took out his rosary beads to pray. All the security guards saw this. When we got to the security check we were both strip-searched before we could get on the plane. Despite this, the flight to Philadelphia did, still, leave on time and with us on board. The connecting flight in Philadelphia, though, was delayed, because of bad weather the day before. We had a three-hour layover in Philly. We took a shuttle bus from Terminal F, where we had landed, to Terminal C, where the connecting flight to Indianapolis would depart. After that, we still had two and a half hours to kill.

My dad loves pancakes, so we decided to find a MacDonald’s and have breakfast. Surely, there had to be a MacDonald’s in one of the food courts. There was. However, it was in terminal A! The original reason for me to take this trip was because my father’s heart condition made him feel uncomfortable about traveling alone. My Uncle Leon, who went with him to the reunion held in Europe last year, was going to go with him again this year, but he had heart problems of his own and was unable to make it this year.

So, aware of my father’s heart problem, but also aware that we had a lot of time to kill, I asked my Dad if he was up for a leisurely stroll to the McDonald’s in Terminal A. He told me that he goes to a gym regularly and does 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the stationary bike every day, so, he could handle it. It took us almost an hour, because it was so far away, but we made it there no problem. On the way back though, Dad tried to stop all of the golf carts taking handicapped people from one gate to another. He faked three heart attacks trying to get them to stop. Nobody stopped. They just rang their little bicycle-type bells at him and sped by.

When we eventually got back to terminal C, we still had plenty of time before our flight. So, he wandered about our waiting room asking everyone over 60 if they were going to Indianapolis for the 3rd Armored Division Reunion. Anybody who wasn’t going to the reunion was regaled with a brief history of the famed “Spearhead” Division. Finally, though, he found someone who was taking his grandson to the reunion. We all agree to share a cab from the airport. Well, the reunion committee had mentioned something in their newsletter about an arrangement being made with a local cab company for a special rate for those people attending the reunion. So, when we got to the terminal in Indianapolis, my father asked the girl at the limousine desk where we could find that cab service. “Right here,” she said without missing a beat, and I knew this girl was a natural for sales. The next thing I knew, the four of us are riding in a limousine capable of holding an entire Army platoon. I felt like a rock star.

We drove past the downtown section of Indianapolis, and then just kept going and going. The hotel seemed to be closer to Chicago than Indianapolis. Finally, we got to the hotel, and the old soldiers who were already there saw the size of the stretch limo and thought a General must be arriving. The Sheraton hotel we stayed in had two buildings. After checking in, we wandered up and down the 6th floor for an hour looking for room 643 before we found out it was in the other building. Hup-two-three-four. On we marched. We registered for all the events Dad wanted to attend, and then found ourselves with time on our hands before the first event. We had already done enough walking for the day, so we decided to visit the hotel pool and relax. We changed into our bathing suits and headed for the 3rd floor pool. When we got there, we found that it was closed for the day for routine maintenance. We got back on the elevator which was now full of Dad’s old Army buddies. “How’s the pool, Hap?” (That’s what my Dad’s friends call him. His initials are H.A.P., Harold A. Paulson.) “We got thrown out,” he tells everyone on the elevator, as he sees an opening to tell a joke. “The lifeguard caught my son peeing in the pool and threw us both out.” My son argued that it wasn’t fair because everyone occasionally pees in a pool, but the lifeguard said, “That may be true, but nobody else does it from the diving board.” Half of his buddies laughed at the joke. The other half gave me a strange look. Fortunately, we had reached our floor by then.

The week was filled with enjoyable social events, but there were also many serious moments, such as the memorial service for the many “Spearheaders” who died during World War II. A list of their names was posted, and I didn’t have time to count all of them, but I counted over 700 names in just one Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Armored Division. My father’s unit, the 703rd Tank Destroyers, had 71 guys killed in action. During the war, my father was lieutenant-in-charge of a platoon of 32 men. Those 32 guys were collectively awarded a total of 64 Purple Hearts, but only one died. He was Earl R. McCleary, and I was named after him, even though he was a poor illiterate sharecropper from Virginia who had absolutely nothing in common with my father other than that they had gone through Hell together. When I listened to the stories these guys told me during the week, I thought of that Billy Ray Cyrus song, “All Gave Some; Some Gave All.”

That’s enough of the serious moments. I have a lot more bloopers to share. Being guests of the hotel gave us privileges to use Bally’s Fitness Center next door. I decided to accompany my dad on his daily trips to the gym to do the cardiovascular routine prescribed by his doctor. Since I was there anyway, I figured I’d take advantage of the machines too, especially after I saw my reflection in the full-length mirrors on every wall. I knew from previous experience years ago how to use the Nautilus equipment, varying the weights to amounts that I could do without killing myself. I didn’t want to push myself too hard, even if I did need a good workout. After all, I was there to keep an eye on my dad’s health, not create problems with my own. I had never been on a treadmill before, but I figured I’d give it a try since walking is one thing I know I’m naturally good at.

So, while Dad did his stretching exercises, I headed for the fancy machine. It was computer operated, but there was more to it than just turning it on. I had to use a keyboard to enter all sorts of data. The machine calculated my target rate based upon factors such as my weight and age. My target rate was 106 heartbeats per minute. I pushed the button for an aerobic workout and started to walk. There were sensors in the machine that automatically monitor the heart rate, but you have to be wearing some kind of belt. I wasn’t wearing one of those devices, so the machine just assumed, as a starting point, a normal pulse around 60 or so and the conveyor belt started. When the machine did not detect any increase in my pulse rate, after so many seconds, it increased speed and inclination to help me reach my target heart rate. So, every testing cycle, the machine would continue to measure my pulse rate at the same 60 beats per minute and determine that I was not yet expending enough energy to produce an effective workout and automatically increased both speed and elevation. Before long I was on a machine going 90 degrees straight uphill at the speed of sound – that sound being my screaming as I did my best imitation of a Vonage “stupid things people do” commercial.

On Saturday my father and I headed for a post-workout dip in the pool, only to find that the pool was once again closed. This time some kid pooped in the pool. We got back on the elevator and another group of Army buddies suddenly became the audience my father needed for the chance to tell the same exact diving board joke another time. I pictured my Mom in Heaven rolling her eyes, shaking her head, and saying “That’s Harold.”

Since Dad and I now had time on our hands, we changed out of our bathing attire and went to the Spearhead hospitality room for a beer. Sure enough, as soon as we got there, Dad told all the guys who asked him why he wasn’t in the pool, that we had gotten thrown out because I took a dump from the diving board. (Author’s note. The pool was only 5 feet deep at the deepest end and didn’t even have a diving board.)

On our way home from the reunion, Dad was at the flight gate again praying his rosary. Now, London had just been hit by four terrorist attacks the day before. Everyone in the waiting room who was watching him was getting nervous. So, he was strip-searched again. This time they let me go, but I noticed that they kept an eye on me. Boarding the flight home on the Philadelphia-to-Islip leg, my father and I were sitting in the aisle across from one another. A pretty coed is sitting next to me. The seat next to my father is vacant. Then just before takeoff time a middle-aged woman comes up the aisle with a huge potted plant. Naturally, she has the window seat next to my father. Instantly, he starts making conversation with her. I turned to him and said, “I did what I could to make sure you stayed alive the last five days, but if you tell this lady I pooped in the hotel pool, I’m going to strangle you right here on this plane.

“Get well soon, Uncle Leon. (Please.)

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Paradise Lost

by earlthepearl137

Today, I asked Claude to write a parody of the John Milton poem Paradise Lost in the irreverent British style of Ricky Gervais, but performed before an American audience, with Donald Trump, of course, in the role of Satan. After a few tweaks, we got this:

So, there’s this dude called God, right? He’s made the universe and everything, but he’s pretty ticked off because his favorite angel, Donald J. Lucy-fer (it’s a tremendous name, really the best), has gone and thrown a yuuuge tantrum. Apparently, Lucy-fer didn’t like God’s new policy of “worship me or else,” calling it “fake news” and a “total witch hunt.”

Well, God’s not having any of that. He kicks Lucy-fer and his gang out of heaven faster than Twitter banning an account. Down they go into this place called Hell – imagine the worst Trump property you’ve ever seen, but on fire. We’re talking “We have the heats.” It’s like someone took Trump Steaks and cranked them up to well-done with ketchup… for eternity.

Now Lucy-fer, who we’re calling Satan because it polls better with evangelicals, is seriously pissed off. He’s thinking, “We’re gonna make Heaven pay for this. It’s gonna be great, folks.” So he slithers up to Earth, not so much auditioning for “Snake’s Got Talent” as hosting “The Apprentice: Garden of Eden Edition.”

Meanwhile, God’s gone all NSA, watching everything on his celestial TV (which, by the way, has the best ratings, just fantastic). He sees Satan coming but does he do anything? Nah, he’s playing 4D chess, apparently. “My son will sort it,” he says. “He’s got the best words.”

Down in Eden, the world’s first gated community with a strict no-clothes policy, Satan finds Eve. Now Eve’s never seen a snake before, let alone one trying to push Trump-brand apples. “Listen, honey, you gotta try this fruit. It’s gonna make Eden great again, believe me.” So she does, and then she gets Adam in on it too – it’s a perfect phone call, really. Suddenly, they realize they’re buck naked and go into a panic like they’ve just found out their tax returns are being audited.

God finds out because of course he does – he’s got angels, the best angels, in the FBI (Fruit Bitten Intelligence). He goes ballistic. “Adam! You’re fired!” Adam, being the first man to throw his wife under the Access Eden bus, replies, “She made me do it! Grab ’em by the apple!” Real presidenti– uh, chivalrous, dude.

So God kicks them out of Eden. No golden parachute, nothing. Just a flaming sword at their backs and a lifetime of “I’m Eve, and I don’t really care, do U?” jackets. Eve’s thinking, “All this for an apple? I thought the Trump Diet was all about McDonald’s.”

The story ends with Adam and Eve wandering off, probably to invent locker room talk and the phrase “I’ll release my medical records when Eden releases its birth certificate.” And God’s up there planning the mother of all redemption arcs involving his son and a bestseller called the Bible – because nothing says “art of the deal” like a flood and some plagues before the big finale.

And that, folks, is Paradise Lost – where the snake talks like he’s at a rally, the humans are dumb as rocks (the best rocks, from Trump Quarries), and God proves he’s got a flair for the theatrical that makes WrestleMania look like community theater. Thank you, and don’t forget to tip your waitress – she’s working for minimum wage in a universe created by an omnipotent being who, I assume, has some good people on both sides.

Peace & Love, and all of the above.

Earl