Thumper's mother would be proud...

I encounter many “book-thumpers” in my travels. I am not one.

Certainly I have become a strong believer in the books, the two main texts of recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous was the first, about 1939, the same year as “Gone With The Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz.” It is that from which all other recovery books are descendant.

It’s not perfect, though. It talks too much about God, with a capital “G,” and not enough about other, nontraditional, nonreligious forms of Higher Power.

It”s also horribly sexist, but no surprise there, right? Only 25 years after women got the right to vote, there was and is still a long way to go for equality.

Narcotics Anonymous, of course, is much more contemporary, as it is a much younger text. Naturally, it appeals to a younger audience and that’s a good thing, since the median age in NA is much younger than AA.

So, while I am very much a believer in the books, I am not a book-thumper. The basic answers are found in both books, and I view them as interchangeable, but there are other life lessons to be had.

I am also not a hardcore traditionalist, as far as the Steps.

My focus in helping other people is on their success — no matter what their program looks like. If they are an atheist, fine. Atheists recover too. If they are a traditional religionist, that’s also okay. If they can’t embrace one or more of the steps, depending on which ones, of course, that may be okay, as well.  

I know of a guy who uses a Martian as his higher power, and he’s been sober for seven years.

Okey dokey. The focus has to be on success, no matter how unorthodox a path might seem.

So, anyway, I am not a pure book thumper. On the other hand, I AM what I describe as a “sign-thumper.”

Here at the Ranch, there is a sign on the wall. Brown background, yellow lettering. “You can’t think yourself into a new way of living. You must live yourself into a new way of thinking.”

This is not rocket science. It’s a well-known concept to anybody making changes in their life, most often in their mission to add an exercise regimen. After 30-60 days of forcing yourself to exercise, it becomes a necessity, a second nature that you miss if you don’t do it.

While a well-known concept, it is of particular importance to addicts and alcoholics. Our best thinking got us where we are in life and simply rethinking is not a viable option.

Stoppage of drinking/using is just the beginning. The substances involved are just a symptom of the underlying cause(s), a method of medication.

When we cease the intake, we struggle for the first 90 days, and then it becomes easier.

When we first go to meetings, it is often a burden. Many people use the “90 in 90” formula, meetings in days. The intent, of course, is to get a foundation in place. At some point, meetings also become second nature — just a normal part of life.

Yes, exercise is the tough one, whether it’s biking, jogging, running or swimming- but there are many other things.

Meditation: For many, it’s tough to get into this habit, to just let everything go and be one with where one is. Finding a good spot is important, and you might  have to create one. A special spot in the garden, off the patio, maybe a fountain and/or pond?

Yoga? It’s not for everybody, but those who do it absolutely love it. It’s not for me, even though I can still do up — and down — dogs. My knee won’t let me do what I really would like to do, so I just don’t try and avoid the frustration!

Service? Addict or not, we now know scientifically that helping others is spiritually good for everybody. The rewards are pretty quick to happen, too, in just a matter of days, perhaps, but sometimes immediately.

For addicts and alcoholics, the odd statement that “We can’t keep it if we don’t give it away!” is key. Helping others who are also afflicted is key.

A kind word, a boost here and there are nice, of course, but sponsoring somebody is epic. We never learn a subject material as well as we do when we are put into a position of training others.

Not everybody gets to be a sponsor, though, and the more general being of service is vital. Set up or take down of meetings. Making coffee. Being a secretary or chairperson. Reading one of the preambles. Passing the basket. Serving on a local or regional committee.

For me right now, service is key. The other sides of the triangle are important, as well, but unity and fellowship are second and third to service. I try to provide the right comments at the right time, but I am not always sure, of course. Is it a caustic, tough-love moment, often prefaced with “AYFKM?” Or is it the steady, empathetic time.

I get up early, clean up the dregs of the night before. I make breakfast every day. I distribute meds and cook dinner four or five times a week.

From a management standpoint, I walk the line between friend and boss. If I can be supportive and at the same time keep them focused on me, then they don’t quibble amongst themselves as much.

Leadership 101.

Flaws & Faults

One of the ongoing, lifelong parts of the journey of an addict is working on defects of character.

The texts talk about asking our higher power, whatever that looks like, to remove our defects of character.

The perfect human being? I don’t think so, not even if you are Yoda or the Dalai Lama.

The Spirit of the Universe of my understanding doesn’t remove shit, and I don’t even ask her to do so.

The object of my journey is to temper, to minimize, my character flaws. I have been happy with my success so far, with one glaring exception.

For the early part of my life, I felt worthless, and it was hammered into me from many directions. Father, schoolmates, girls, nuns, teachers — just about everybody in my life. One beautiful exception was my grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. I don’t remember anything from them but love and support.

That all started to change when I was a sophomore, as I have said before. Two events. I went out for JV soccer and I stood up to a bully that was picking on somebody else.

On the latter, I came around the corner of C-wing, and there was a weak guy cowering before one of the assholes. It it me wrong, the timing was right, and I went for it. As bullies do, he folded his tent up. There were plenty of witnesses, too, from all classes. Phase I

In hitting the soccer field, I defied the physique stereotype. The portly guy was quick and smart, and the more I played, the leaner and meaner I got. I spent hundreds of hours kicking the ball against the concrete-block wall of the Albertson’s grocery down the street, and I played school, summer and spring leagues. Even in immigrant-laden Sacramento, I rose to the top tier of defenders, and I had an absolute blast roaming the field from my center defense position. I had some excellent wing-men along the way, including Jeff Allgeier and Rick Grabner. With Curt Siebe or Grant Nelson in the goal, we were always known for a solid defense. Losses were not uncommon, but neither were one-goal differentials.

A couple of years after school, I moved to Folsom, but didn’t know anybody in town. Consequently, I joined the volunteer fire department to meet people.

My life was changed forever, my future in place. Although I didn’t have a history of wanting to be a firefighter, I loved it, and I was good at it.

Moved to Fairfield, CA to go to school, and never left — until I retired.

Anyway, back to my defects and contemporary times.

There seems to be one blind spot — one area that consistently gives me problems –dealing with self-centered, sometimes brain-damaged, people, even alcoholics and addicts.

When daddy comes to visit and buys you a new electric guitar, but no amplifier, I have a problem with you expecting staff to take you on a three-hour trip to take you to get one. Get an Amazon account and order one. Take care of yourself.

If you have mastered the art of bullshit and can talk the talk to whatever audience is listening, but you really are a walking dead man with terminal uniqueness, I have a problem with you. You are dragging down the place and the people in it. Nothing pleases you, and the constant, “woe is me” gets old.

This place is not like most rehabs. It’s not going to be handed to you on a platter, it’s not going to be force fed to you. You have to want it and you have to go after it with a vengeance.

Anyway, what’s my problem? I have been trained to believe that any time I have a disproportionate reaction to something, it’s somehow my fault.

I believe that. Even when I have done nothing to create the problem, the reaction to it is my responsibility, especially if I grab on to it and won’t let it go.

The first suspect is the generation gap. Is it something as simple as that? Maybe. The immediate-gratification, spoiled rotten folks just simply irritate me?

Maybe, but it sometimes seems more visceral than that.

One cause of these types of feelings is projection — one often finds fault with others for a very basic tenet of their own personality. Maybe.

Of course, I have an Amazon account, and my own PO box here. I take very good care of the Ranch and myself. So, no, I don’t think it’s projection — not in this case, anyway.

Another frequent cause of these feelings for a lot of people is that they were once one of that type of person, but are now reformed, and in the process they become an avid critic.

I think this is it. Growing up worthless, never being good enough, being treated like the bastard I turned out to be. Even the transformation that started as a sophomore and culminated in being a well-respected fire officer and an elected official could not change that very basic imprint.

So, my self-loathing has resulted in me being intolerant of what I once was. No surprise there. My task now is to consciously be more patient. I can do that.

On the other hand, I need to have reasonable expectations.

Will I ever be serene with people who expect us to buy lactose-free milk, but are the ones who eat the most ice cream whenever we have it available? Probably not.

Will I ever be as patient as I could be with the guy who whines about our menus because he has a heart condition, but eats bacon every single time we serve it? Probably not.  

Like Clint Eastwood once famously said: “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

Polite-ically Correct

Absorbine Jr. as a metaphor of modern life?  Sure.

When I was a boy, AJ was used for a lot of things- cuts, scrapes, bug bites, sore muscles.  In my houses, it still is.   

The label says differently.  Lawsuits, I am sure, and perhaps the FDA, have reduced a very effective, significant first aid item from my youth to a simple treatment of sore muscles and pain relief.  Somebody got a rash, or an inflammation- got their little feelings hurt, n’est pas?  Somebody was offended, which is a way of life these days, led by the POTUS.  Tantrum 101.

As you probably remember, for Chris Rock, it was Robitussin.  “Broken leg?  Robitussin.  Got to get me some of that ‘tussin!”

Hysterical.  Chris is a comedic genius.

So, it’s an easy jump from Absorbine to modern political correctness, right?  Nothing is like it used to be, the sometimes-not-so-good old days?

That being said, I hate that term because it is most-often used by people who are prejudiced or judgmental, and who want to just say whatever they want about people different than themselves- gays, minorities, women, atheists, Jews, Catholics, etc.

However, being polite does not mean ignoring reality- at least as I see it.

There are Black people in the world.  There are not any Negroes (in any form of the word), nor any brown, red, or yellow people.  Period.

Women are women, equal citizens.  They are not girls, chicks, bitches, etc.

Babe is a word you use with your wife or girlfriend.  The “C” word?  Never.

Frankly, it’s long past time for women to run the country.  Men have been screwing it up long enough, and matriarchical societies are usually more successful.

Many Central and South Americans are Hispanic or Latino- or Ecuadorian, Panamanian, or Mexican.

No Spic, which comes from Hispanic, no wetback.  Besides, this was their country before it was ours, and they are welcome here with open arms in my book.

Catholics should not be judged by their sexism, nor by the actions of a few corrupted priests.  “Fish-eater” is classless, but not the end of the world.

The Washington Redskins should simply change to the Washington Potomacs.  They wouldn’t even have to change their logo, right?  Local interest, local history- and honor for a local tribe.

I have mixed feeling about the Cleveland Indians and the Golden State Warriors.  And in Winters, CA, the logo of the high school, the Warriors, has caused them to be having the same discussion that takes place nationally off and on.  Wolverines, Wildcats- or perhaps the Winters Wintuns, a local Native American population?

For the Jews, I never knew what Kike meant so I looked it up.  The best explanation is that at Ellis Island they refused to use an “X” to make their mark, because it was too close to the Christian cross.  So, they used circles, and the word comes from the Hebrew word for circle.

Kike is not allowed, period.  Jokes about money, or being rich, come from the old days, and the Christians are actually to blame.  Non-Christian moneylenders were ok somehow under the rules of the Christian Bible, so the Jews became the bankers of old.

Jew and Hebrew are acceptable words, but there is no “Jewing” people down on prices.

Personally, I walk a fine line with the Jews, because a few of the Jews in my life are pains in the ass, one of them a self-described Jewish American Prince- one who likes to use the “N” word.  AYFKM?  And you objected when you pissed somebody off and they called you a Kike?  Really?

He leaves the shower a mess on those rare occasions he even takes a shower.  I might have been heard to say that wandering lost in the desert for 40 years makes you pretty filthy.

On the other hand, I told my friend who was trying to take a picture of the Jew cleaning the oven to knock it off!

No oven jokes, no Nazi jokes, no heathen jokes.

Quite simply, they are gays and/or lesbians.  And there are bi-sexuals, transgenders, and those who are questioning.

Nothing else, you homo-phobic pinheads.  Get over yourself, and your goddamn Bible, too.  Leviticus is Judaic law, not Gentile- it’s for the Jews to follow, nobody else.

Oh.  “Abomination?”  Right next to, literally, Man Lying Down With Man, is eating shellfish.  If being gay is like eating lobster, bring on the conversion therapy!

The bottom line is this: if you want to complain about the current environment being too “politically-correct”, you are probably an asshole. (_*_).

People should be typically be just described as they prefer.  Yes, once they were Negroes, but now they are not.  Just like WASPs don’t particularly like to be described as gringoes, and we get particularly miffed when the native Hawaiians describe us  Haoles, right?

How about “polite-ically” correct?  Try it.  It’s not that hard.  If you struggle with being considerate, with being a decent human being- try AA- Assholes Anonymous.

No, POTUS cannot pardon himself...

Ostensibly, I am the political science writer for these pages. Certainly, others dabble in politics all the time, but if I had to categorize my own assignment and/or status, it would be the Poli Sci Guy.

The problem is that “science” implies logic. Common sense. Facts. Cause and effect.

Americans elected a cheerleader as their president, choosing the man who broke all previous records for lack of policy positions during a campaign. Long on rhetoric, short on specifics.

Six months into his tenure, POTUS still enjoys the support of 80 percent of the GOP.

Despite “I will release my tax returns.”

Despite “I will not touch Medicare.”

Despite “Who knew healthcare was this complicated?”

Et Cetera.

Science? Hardly.

“There were no meetings with Russia.” “Well, I didn’t know there were any meetings.” “The meetings were about business.” “The meetings were about many things, but all perfectly legal.”

“There was no Russian influence.” Yesterday, Pompeo said there was Russian influence, “…in this election, in the last election, and the one before that…”

Look, I don’t need to go on and on about the shenanigans in this White House, the utter chaos in this administration. Anybody who’s paying attention knows what’s been going on for the last six months, and if you are one of the many who are not paying attention, shame on you.

For years and years, we have watched the double standard that the Republicans have. As long as you are one of theirs, you are forgiven — even if you get caught being gay in a restroom in a Minnesota airport, or consorting with hookers in Texas.

“The party of God” on Sunday ignores transgressions for the rest of the week.

So, where are we now?

POTUS is thinking seriously about firing his earliest supporter, Jeff Sessions, from his job as Attorney General, for having integrity (a little, anyway, right?) and recusing himself from the Russia investigation.

He is also thinking seriously about firing the second Special Investigator, Robert Mueller, a man of integrity by all accounts, who is now reportedly investigating Trump’s business dealings with Russia.

To hear many people speak, even those in the GOP with integrity, a second firing from each of these two positions would bring about a Constitutional crisis.

It most certainly would, just as it did when Nixon fired Archibald Cox from his position of SI.

The United States Attorney General has a Pardons Section. Lawrence Kupers runs it, and there are statutory guidelines for pardons.

Richard Nixon being pardoned by Gerald Ford notwithstanding, here is what the statute says:

§ 1.2 Eligibility for filing petition for pardon.

“No petition for pardon should be filed until the expiration of a waiting period of at least five years after the date of the release of the petitioner from confinement or, in case no prison sentence was imposed, until the expiration of a period of at least five years after the date of the conviction of the petitioner. Generally, no petition should be submitted by a person who is on probation, parole, or supervised release.”

It is very clear, then, that pardons cannot be granted for people not convicted of a federal offense, and not before they have been free from some sort of bondage for at least five years.

End of discussion.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states about POTUS: “and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment”.

It seems to me that the legal issue here is clear. POTUS cannot interfere with any impeachment process — OR WITH OFFENSES THAT MIGHT LEAD TO IMPEACHMENT.

Impeachment deals with, most notably, “high crimes and misdemeanors,” and other offenses against the United States.

Any pardon before impeachment commences still constitutes a case of impeachment, and the Constitutional Convention’s intent is clear. If impeachable crimes were pardoned, they disappear, and so do the grounds for impeachment.

So, no, POTUS cannot pardon himself, his VP, or anybody else that has not been convicted of federal crimes.

End of discussion, and I frankly do not know why we are having the conversation. Granted, it has never been adjudicated, but methinks that even that idiot Clarence Thomas couldn’t screw this one up.

But that’s just me.

Pardon me, I am off to feed the cat and make breakfast.

I am a political science writer. 

The problem is that “science” implies logic. Common sense. Facts. Cause and effect.

Americans elected a cheerleader as their president, choosing the man who broke all previous records for lack of policy positions during a campaign. Long on rhetoric, short on specifics.

Six months into his tenure, POTUS still enjoys the support of 80 percent of the GOP.

Despite “I will release my tax returns.”

Despite “I will not touch Medicare.”

Despite “Who knew healthcare was this complicated?”

Et Cetera.

Science? Hardly.

“There were no meetings with Russia.” “Well, I didn’t know there were any meetings.” “The meetings were about business.” “The meetings were about many things, but all perfectly legal.”

“There was no Russian influence.” Yesterday, Pompeo said there was Russian influence, “…in this election, in the last election, and the one before that…”

Look, I don’t need to go on and on about the shenanigans in this White House, the utter chaos in this administration. Anybody who’s paying attention knows what’s been going on for the last six months, and if you are one of the many who are not paying attention, shame on you.

For years and years, we have watched the double standard that the Republicans have. As long as you are one of theirs, you are forgiven — even if you get caught being gay in a restroom in a Minnesota airport, or consorting with hookers in Texas.

“The party of God” on Sunday ignores transgressions for the rest of the week.

So, where are we now?

POTUS is thinking seriously about firing his earliest supporter, Jeff Sessions, from his job as Attorney General, for having integrity (a little, anyway, right?) and recusing himself from the Russia investigation.

He is also thinking seriously about firing the second Special Investigator, Robert Mueller, a man of integrity by all accounts, who is now reportedly investigating Trump’s business dealings with Russia.

To hear many people speak, even those in the GOP with integrity, a second firing from each of these two positions would bring about a Constitutional crisis.

It most certainly would, just as it did when Nixon fired Archibald Cox from his position of SI.

The United States Attorney General has a Pardons Section. Lawrence Kupers runs it, and there are statutory guidelines for pardons.

Richard Nixon being pardoned by Gerald Ford notwithstanding, here is what the statute says:

§ 1.2 Eligibility for filing petition for pardon.

“No petition for pardon should be filed until the expiration of a waiting period of at least five years after the date of the release of the petitioner from confinement or, in case no prison sentence was imposed, until the expiration of a period of at least five years after the date of the conviction of the petitioner. Generally, no petition should be submitted by a person who is on probation, parole, or supervised release.”

It is very clear, then, that pardons cannot be granted for people not convicted of a federal offense, and not before they have been free from some sort of bondage for at least five years.

End of discussion.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states about POTUS: “and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment”.

It seems to me that the legal issue here is clear. POTUS cannot interfere with any impeachment process — OR WITH OFFENSES THAT MIGHT LEAD TO IMPEACHMENT.

Impeachment deals with, most notably, “high crimes and misdemeanors,” and other offenses against the United States.

Any pardon before impeachment commences still constitutes a case of impeachment, and the Constitutional Convention’s intent is clear. If impeachable crimes were pardoned, they disappear, and so do the grounds for impeachment.

So, no, POTUS cannot pardon himself, his VP, or anybody else that has not been convicted of federal crimes.

End of discussion, and I frankly do not know why we are having the conversation. Granted, it has never been adjudicated, but methinks that even that idiot Clarence Thomas couldn’t screw this one up.

But that’s just me.

Pardon me, I am off to feed the cat and make breakfast.

I Miss Facebook

Facebook version 1.0 was the recruitment period, when it spread like a wildfire in California. People were clamoring aboard like lemmings, and the site was in constant transition. People would just get comfortable, and there would be changes. There were false starts, some retreats, some revisions, some growing pains, of course.  

Then, Facebook hit its stride, and the changes were smooth, mostly popular, and we were having fun.

Version 2.0 was the golden years for Facebook, methinks. It was all about life, and the members. Births, weddings, pets, family events.

Starting during the onslaught of double-standards and racism that Obama faced, Facebook is now focused on politics, and the polarization of the country has never been greater. Trump leaves the nuclear option on the table, no criticism. They would have advocated lynching for Obama.

The lies about Russia are more numerous than flies on dog excrement — which is a very apt comparison.

Et cetera. Ad nauseum.

I have been guilty myself, so I’m not pointing fingers, just making an assessment.

I miss my friend Gary posting song links routinely, giving me shit about this or that, and taking crap about being from Vacaville and “loving” cats. This past week’s pictures from Boston were fabulous, and it seemed like old times. And the “discussions” we had about “classic” songs were priceless.

It’s been months since I got a comment from my friend Norb about being the “hyphen-tatted” one, a reference to my tattoos and my hyphenated last name.

Sports? My friend Matt was once the leading sports commentator of all my Facebook friends, particularly his love of the University of Spoiled Children’s Trojans. I don’t want to be too hard on Matt, though, nor anybody else either. Matt has done a fabulous job of educating us about some of the social ills that are the bane of a civilized society.

Frankly, the “Like” button has made some of us lazy. Many of us still read everything, but we don’t respond — it’s too easy just to click Like, and move on. Maybe we need “I agree wholeheartedly!” and “You are full of shit!” buttons, instead. Hehe.

Politics has taken over, and it started under Obama — we were sick and tired of the criticism, which began before he was even sworn into office, and continues unabated to this day. How dare we put a socialist-Muslim-Kenyan terrorist in the White House — one with a faked birth certificate!

How dare he travel to Hawaii a couple times each year? Clearly, we know now that he should have just gone to Florida every weekend, because spending more in smaller increments is OK, obviously.

We know now that he should have kept Michelle and the girls in another city, perhaps his hometown of Nairobi? Job security for the Secret Service, right?

Sad, funny, and pathetic all at once.

I digress.

What can I do to help, to maybe bring back some of the old times? Well, I can try to post one song link a day, serious or otherwise. Charlene’s “Never Been To Me” and the Royal Guardsmen singing “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron” are always crowd favorites.

My personal favorites might just be Lee Marvin singing “Wandrin’ Star” or Clint Eastwood’s rousing “I Talk To The Trees”.

I can also regularly post pictures without comment simply for their comedic value. I loved the one yesterday, where the baby boy was giving advice about women: “If you yell loudly enough, tits will fly into your mouth!” Buahahahaha!

As far as my writing, I can seek more balance, as well. My sense of humor can be brought to bear on these pages more often, and there is no shortage of humorous subjects available besides POTUS.

Facebook is not a total political desert — I don’t want to imply that at all.

My friend Jake still keeps us informed of all things Scottish. One of my Matt friends keeps us informed up his latest epicurean delights. And there are many others who dabble in the non-political, but the numbers are dwindling.

If you agree with my assessment, consider setting some Facebook goals. A daily post goal? A funny picture, a favorite song. The book you’re reading, or maybe your favorite of all time. A song you love — or a song that drives you crazy. A post about Jayden K. Smith’s latest endeavor? A favorite recipe, or a funny label you see in Wal-Mart or Target.

The latest news about your team(s), or a funny pic about the team you hate, which may very well be the Dallas Cowboys, right?

Anyway… just a thought. I’ve already started doing my part, to have more fun, to make people laugh, to tag people in appropriately caustic posts.

Of course, we cannot give up on Trump completely. The country deserves our very close attention, especially right now. That being said, we can seek more balance, and provide ourselves with some stress relief at the same time.

Tweak or Tweet

The word of the week is “healthcare.”

Or not.

I am tired of hearing how much premiums have increased under the Affordable Care Act. All legitimate studies have shown that the rate of increase in healthcare premiums has slowed under the ACA. Sure they have gone up, but not as fast or dramatically.

One faction is pissed off that the GOP proposal does not go far enough to do away with coverage, to reduce government.

The other faction is not supportive of the cuts to Medicaid, which go well beyond just the expanded formula levels. The proposed cuts are huge, and they fly in the face of the very-specific promises that Trump made during his campaign for POTUS.

Somebody asked me the other day why I am picking on POTUS, because all politicians lie. Huh? Really? How about the buck stops there?

This is going to be controversial, but so be it.

Arguably, the greatest prayer ever written is the St. Francis Prayer. It’s not a Catholic prayer, but a prayer designed to make us the best, most selfless, spiritual people we can possibly be. It is right there with anything Buddha or any of the Dalai Lamas have written.

There are many versions of the prayer, having been tweaked by many, to suit their fancies, or to suit the environments in which they are used. Here is one of them, which may be the original:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

This is healthcare, and the debate thereof, in a nutshell.
What would St. Francis do? What would Jesus do? Buddha? Mohammed?

You see, they were not just Sunday Subscribers, getting their religious books delivered only on Sunday. They lived it — not without failure along the way, but with overall consistency and fervor.

Every. Single. Day.

If you support what the GOP is trying to do, you are not a Christian. Period.

This is not about politics anymore. This is not about smaller government, nor is it about priorities.

It is about people with severe character defects, with out-of-control egos.

They unblinkingly want to throw more money at the most powerful military in the history of the world, more money gifted away to the rich, more money sent to our allies around the world — while ignoring our own.

Where is the decency? Where is the humanity?

Where are the jobs? Where is the $1 trillion infrastructure package? Where is the easily-funded Medicare for all? Why hasn’t somebody pivotal stepped up and said that the military should not get more than 50 percent of the federal budget? Somebody needs to say to the generals and admirals: “Deal with it!”

Jesus is your co-pilot, and you want to take medical care away from the poor, from children, from those with pre-existing conditions? We are the only first-world country without universal health coverage — even under the ACA, too many have no coverage at all.

And, of course, there is a racism component to all this.

Screw the poor minorities, right? They didn’t support Trump, and he has shown that he intends to retaliate or withhold funds from states/people that oppose him.

So, where are we now? We are looking at “Repeal, Replace later.” AYFKM? Things are not getting better, they are getting worse.

Personalities over principles. I hear that comparison often in my life, of course, in my meetings.

I have found that it’s not too difficult, but also rare, to have principles, to have a philosophy, and to stick to it most, if not all, of the time.

One of my favorite movie quotes: “John, it’s not easy dealing with a man who sees things in black and white.” Mr. Skimmerhorn, sometimes it’s not easy being a guy who sees things in black and white…”

Sure, sometimes my philosophy costs me more money, or inconvenience, or outright angst. But that’s the cost of having beliefs, of being consistent. One thing I can say without hesitation, is that I have never knowingly violated my sworn oaths in serving the public in my various capacities, even if there were personal deficiencies involved.

Repeal.

I am tired of hearing that the ACA is a disaster. It’s all PR bullshit.

Millions have coverage. Pre-existing conditions cannot be held hostage. The economy of the masses.

Some areas have only one provider. They may very well have had none without the ACA, but you never hear that.

“We need to be able to cross state lines in covering people.”

Red Herring, because they can do that now.

Yes, it needs some tweaking, of course it does.

So, perhaps the slogan for the weeks ahead should be “tweak over tweet.”

The Hill has eyes- and ears!

The GOP elected and appointed officials in the White House are running for the hills. Even Vice-President Mike Pence has now retained a criminal lawyer to represent him over the ongoing probes into the connections between the Trumpsters and the Russians.

POTUS has confirmed via Twitter that he is under investigation.

Talk shows are rife with discussions about whether or not POTUS will be firing the Special Counsel, or even Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Unconfirmed, anonymous reports are stating that the staff is vehemently opposed to firing anybody right now, because, coming on top of James Comey’s firing, the guilt-appearance will be a tidal wave.

The Administration is now relying on that philandering slimeball, Newt Gingrich, to anchor the defense, to defend the president. “The POTUS cannot, by definition, obstruct justice.”

Photo source: The Movie

Wrong.

The articles of impeachment against both Nixon and Clinton — and of course, Gingrich was there in support of Clinton’s impeachment — included “obstruction of justice.”

This week, as we noted the anniversary of the Watergate break-in, the comparisons between Nixon and Trump are bubbling to the surface, like old bones in the La Brea tar pits.

How come? Well, maybe it’s because POTUS tweeted that Comey better hope there are no tapes of their meetings together?

They have secret tapes in common, perhaps? Well, they certainly have paranoia and insecurity in common.

On the other hand, there is no record that Richard Nixon ever convened a meeting for the express purpose of having his cabinet kiss his ring and tell him how great he was doing — disgusting, pathetic, but mostly sad.

Look, he’s out of control, and he’s picking on himself. Two-thirds of the people in this country see that clearly, and are simply pointing it out.

They can run for the hills, but they can’t hide. We know that the national security people have been recording contacts with foreign governments for quite some time now. Unfortunately for them but fortunately for us, the hills have eyes — and ears.

No guilt can or should be apportioned to the retention of an attorney. That’s not the way our system works. All of us have a right to an attorney, sometimes despite law enforcement’s desires to the contrary. Dangling the carrot out there is a favorite technique, and one I have used myself during my qurater-century as a fire investigator. However, I did so always with the thinking of myself as an officer of the courts, and sincerely offered a carrot simply to get to the truth.

Those of my liberal friends, who are being smug, that are saying, “I told you so!” are wrong. Flat wrong.

This is nothing to gloat over, nothing to celebrate, nothing to take satisfaction from being prescient. This is quite simply a tragedy. We put a man in the White House with no political experience, with no experience at putting together a cohesive team, with no experience at delegating his authority to people more experienced, more knowledgeable. We know he really only trusts himself, and anybody who does not dance to his tune becomes the enemy — or at least becomes expendable.

Our allies are either afraid, uncertain… or they’re laughing hysterically.

Trump has alienated or offended our closest allies: Trudeau, Macron, Merkel, individually, and the French as a group. He has engaged in a running battle with Mexico, literally pushed tiny Montenegro aside, and ignored the world, climate science, and most of the business giants in his own country by casting aside the climate accord.

He knows best. He’s a legend in his own mind, and the numerous divorces, bankruptcies, and lawsuits that he has lost have not noticeably altered perhaps the “greatest” ego to ever reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, 20500.

As I write today, we are celebrating the ratification of the second greatest document in recorded history, after the Magna Carta — the United States Constitution, in 1788.

Certainly, the country will survive this, but we need some changes. We need to get back to talking, to compromising, to getting some of the things we want, and letting the other guys get some of their needs met, too. We have never been so polarized, so far apart, so pigeon-holed.

And,now — and likely to be the subject of my next column — is the devastating Trumpcare bill. Making the rich richer, voiding many campaign “promises,” and ruining the healthcare net for so many Americans, many in states that supported Trumpelstiltskin.

Sad. Pathetic. Despicable.

The truth, the hole truth…

What do we know so far?  

Last week, James Comey testified before Congress and called POTUS a liar, and by implication, a sneaky, conniving SOB.

No surprise there — at least for two-thirds of the country, anyway.

Hmmm. I accept his congratulatory comment, congratulatory because of the source, right?We also heard from Eric Trump that Democrats are not “…people.”

This week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify, under oath.  

Well, we know that Sessions 1) recused himself from the Russia investigation, and 2) has claimed that certain meetings with Russian officials did not happen.

Sessions has reportedly offered his resignation to the Trumpster. He also was, by POTUS’ description, involved in the firing of the head of the Russia investigation — Comey.

We also know that the NSA tracks and records meetings and phone calls between Americans and officials that represent countries hostile to the best interests of the United States.

So, in Jeff Sessions, we find a man embroiled in the shitstorm that is the current White House, one of the many suffering under a cloud of inconsistency, turmoil, and pressure to remain loyal at the expense of the truth or reality.

We have a man who aspires to be the main occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

And now he will be under oath, in the unenviable position of, perhaps, being caught between the truth and the defenses put forth by his spokesmen.

What should we expect?

Full survival mode, methinks.

What choice does he have? Stay on the Titanic, or get off and keep his hopes for the future alive?

Big Brother has been watching and listening, and there are certainly NSA videos and tapes. Trump has eroded any loyalty that this man once had. Remember, Sessions was the first United States senator to jump on the Trump bandwagon — firmly and loudly.

However, Trump thinks he needed nobody but himself to get where he is and is always in “What have you done for/to me lately?” mode.

I believe two scenarios are likely.

The first, and most likely, is that he throws Trump under the bus, follows in Comey’s footsteps, and confirms that he participated in Comey’s firing under pressure after even after recusing himself, and that he met with Russian representatives with the full knowledge of POTUS.

The benefit of this would be survival, living to fight another day, and keep his aspirations alive.

The second scenario would be to use his 5th Amendment rights to refuse to answer some of the questions, and perhaps to claim confidentiality and/or executive privilege as well.

Decisions, decisions.

Well, it depends.

If he still hopes to be president, he goes one way, and the Trump bandwagon takes another hit.

On the other hand, if Sessions realizes he is slightly-burned toast, he punts. He protects Trump as much as he can while maintaining his credibility and stays as Attorney General until Trump nominates him to a Federal judgeship. He can still count on his former Senate colleagues to confirm him as a judge.

He cannot, however, afford to wait for a SCOTUS vacancy, and that particular battle would be bitter under any circumstances anyway — and he probably would not get through it successfully.

I would guess that Trump has been lobbying him already, probably more than once. Sessions is no dummy, and he truly embodies many of the positions that Trump has put forth. On the other hand, he is working for a president who has only a one-third approval rating from the American public, and perhaps even less from the rest of the world.

Consequently, I predict that he will be satisfied with a federal judgeship, with hopes of being elevated later on to a position where he can chip away at what he views as the liberal evil in the world, and the erosion of Mom, of apple pie, and of the domination of the white man in this country.

Amerika. Given the choice, he will not turn his back on Comrade Trump.