The Unanimity of the Grave

You have this amazing writing service that your taxes have paid for and to which, as a result, you have a permanent subscription. I’ll tell you what it is in a moment, but first, listen to the clueless Authoritarians:

John Kelly is not pleased with Trump’s NFL culture war, but ‘appalled’ by players’ lack of respect

Washington (CNN) White House chief of staff John Kelly was not pleased with the fight that erupted over the weekend between President Donald Trump and National Football League players who protest by kneeling during the national anthem, two administration officials told CNN…. In a brief interview Monday evening, Kelly told CNN he is “appalled” by what he sees as a lack of respect for the flag and national anthem.

“I believe every American, when the national anthem is played, should cover their hearts and think about all the men and women who have been maimed and killed,” Kelly said. “Every American should stand up and think for three lousy minutes.”

Now, here’s what that subscription service says to General Kelly:

Advertisements

Hart’s Poetry Corner

Republicans Attempt to Buy Murkowski’s Vote in New Draft of Health Care Bill
Haley Byrd /Independent Journal Review 

—  A Republican Senate aide told Independent Journal Review Thursday that Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are attempting to buy Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s support through new changes …

I have never seen any, let alone SO many American representatives hell-bent on murdering their constituents. Well, at least since the Civil War.

You’ve got to hand it to them, though. They’re as persistent as leprosy and just about as horrific. We live in an age of utter corruption, so why would it surprise us that this transparent attempt to bribe a United States Senator to kill thousands of her countrymen (to assuage the imaginary money lost that causes such real pain in the minds of the ME FIRSTers*) is under way?

[* Hint: It’s actually not “America First!” but, rather, “ME FIRST!” See the potboilers of Ayn Rand for more info.]

Words, or, at least, sober analysis PROSE words cannot begin to limn the category five hurricane of self-inflicted ordure we’re smack dab in the middle of. Therefore, some GOP poesy.

I am not a poet, even though I have been accused of it. However, my doggerel manages to stifle my caterwaul, so there’s that.

Herewith, an olla podrida of uncategorizables while we wait for The Hairball to light the bonfire of the Apocalypse.

Warm and Fuzzy Were the Eclipses

[Disclaimer: I take no position here. Anyone who attempts to pin one on me will be expunged from the discourse, with all possible prejudice.]

By Tuanna2010 (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Five thousand years of astrology says that eclipses are bad omens. NASA, the talking heads and all the modern “psychological” astrologers say that no, eclipses are warm and fuzzy and “activate” exciting new vistas in your life.

Well, let’s take a little look at the month that just was, shall we?

All Power Out as Hurricane Maria’s Winds, Floods Crush Puerto Rico
NBC News

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Maria is likely to have “destroyed” Puerto Rico, the island’s emergency director said Wednesday after the monster storm smashed ripped roofs off buildings and flooded homes across the economically strained U.S. territory….

September Drawings

I haven’t been posting my drawings here for awhile. Mostly they’re on Facebook. But I have reconsidered and they ought to be here, too.

So:

Kumbaya for Ostriches part i

Yesterday, Trump took his road show to Arizona, to repeat his campaign shtick, up to and including ‘greatest hits’ like “Lock her up,” et al.

Trump goes to Arizona – Gustav Doré

James Clapper calls Trump speech ‘downright scary and disturbing’
Leinz Vales / CNN

(CNN) James Clapper, former director of National Intelligence, said Wednesday morning he questioned President Donald Trump’s fitness for office. “I really question his ability to be — his fitness to be — in this office, and I also am beginning to wonder about his motivation for it,” Clapper told CNN’s Don Lemon on “CNN Tonight.”

Hours after Trump delivered a defiant speech in Phoenix, Arizona, Clapper said he found the President’s rally “downright scary and disturbing.” Clapper denounced Trump’s “behavior and divisiveness and complete intellectual, moral and ethical void…. How much longer does the country have to, to borrow a phrase, endure this nightmare?”

Well, at least I wasn’t alone in my assessment. It was 77 minutes of deflecting blame and dealing hate the way a Vegas dealer deals cards: slick and mechanical.

Leaks? Leaks! LEAKS?!??

Today’s screaming headlines:

Paul Ryan: Intel leaks ‘the problem of the leaker, not the journalist’
Joe Concha / The Hill

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) defended journalists Friday, saying that while intelligence leaks compromise national security, it’s “the problem of the leaker, not the journalist. Leaks are concerning because leaks can often compromise national security, but that’s the problem of the leaker not the journalist,” Ryan said at an event in Muskego, Wis., on Friday afternoon.

Ryan’s comment comes just hours after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a government-wide crackdown on leakers.

Then again, I already WROTE this column., On Valentine’s Day:

Unplugged From The Chaos

I guess I’m not the only one who’s sick of the Trump clown car:

Trump Is Woody Allen Without the Humor
Peggy Noonan / Wall Street Journal

Half his tweets show utter weakness.  They are plaintive, shrill little cries, usually just after dawn.  —  The president’s primary problem as a leader is not that he is impetuous, brash or naive.  It’s not that he is inexperienced, crude, an outsider…

A few weeks ago, we unplugged from cable and went to streaming TV only. The transition was smooth. And, soon, we noticed something wonderful: