What We Did Forget

 

"Never Forget" has long been a battle cry in the United States and after September 11, 2001 it became cemented in our minds. After the 9/11 attacks Americans and even our politicians set differences aside. We all came together in support of first responders, New Yorkers, the people lost at The Pentagon, the families of those lost on Flight 93. We ( us non-New Yorkers) didn't hate the Yankees that year. Most of the country could cheer for the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl. The U.S. flag was flying everywhere you turned. We cared a little more about our neighbors. 

We were willing to let the government take away a little bit of our freedom in the name of fighting terrorism. We sent care packages to troops who were sent off to fight "the war on terror." We gave donations for any fundraiser in the name of first responders. Through the horrible events of 9/11, as the dust cleared we learned of amazing stories of bravery, sacrifice, compassion. Strangers helping strangers. Strangers rallying together on hijacked plane, to not let what happened three times already, happen a fourth time. Evil arrived and it brought out the best in us.

But it didn't last. Yes, every year on 9/11 we post pics and write "Never Forget," but our every day actions show the rest of the year show differently. 

As time went on we all drifted back to a regular day to day. We and our politicians dug back into our political trenches. First in ways like withholding military funding and money for the First Responders Survivors Fund, as a way of grandstanding and playing politics with people's lives. Then, as we were struck with another test of our resiliency and humanity, a large portion of our country, who have pumped full of lies from Trump, Republican politicians, Fox News, Alex Jones and and other right wing media outlets, refused to come together to fight off COVID. They were willing to give up freedoms with "The Patriot Act" but wearing a mask is a bridge too far. They want Trump's name on the COVID Vaccine, but they refuse to get the vaccine.

"Never forget! Never forget! NEVER FORGET!"

Yet 650,000 Americans have died in the last couple years since COVID hit, with more every day and most people forgot them seconds after they passed. The number of COVID deaths is equal to 9/11 happening 217 times. Why is it so easy to forget the lives lost from COVID?

Americans yelled "Never Forget" after the Sandy Hook school shooting, but nothing legitimate was done by our leaders to prevent it from happening again. School shootings and mass shooting continue and many forgot all about the young children from Sandy Hook who would have been starting high school this year.

Americans seem to have no problem forgetting. Forgetting loss, forgetting facts, forgetting science, forgetting history. What we forgot most was our decency, compassion, humanity, our togetherness.

So when you post your yearly "Never Forget" bullshit, think about how much you really have forgotten.

Cam Newton the First COVID Cut

 

Today the New England Patriots cut their presumptive starting quarterback, Cam Newton. No matter how the Patriots try to spin it, or whatever short, monotone, annoyed response Bill Belichick gives the media, Newton was cut because he won't get the COVID Vaccine. 

The NFL made it clear that they are not dealing with COVID bullshit this year. They aren't rescheduling games and moving games around because of an outbreak on a team. If you get COVID because you're unvaccinated, they're holding you accountable. Your team will forfeit, not get paid and have to pay the game checks for the team you forfeited to. They have set up strict protocols and standards for the players who have stubbornly chosen to not get vaccinated...

And Newton broke protocols with the Patriots that cost the team having him present for meetings and practice for 5 days. If you know about Bill Belichick, you know he only cares about winning. Doing things his way and the team comes first. Newton's actions showed that the team doesn't come first to him. That he isn't all in with Bill and "The Patriot Way." 

Bill can't have that. He doesn't tolerate it. It's not a political issue with him. It's not about anti-vaccine or pro vaccine or anything to do with science. It's all about winning football games and getting back on top.

Newton isn't the only QB or high profile player to be opposed to getting the vaccine. There are plenty of those dolts. Problem for Cam is, that he was on a team that cares more about what's best for the team and winning, than they do about whatever the fuck nonsense he cares about.

If you think Newton's cut was about anything else than him not doing everything he could for the good of the team, which includes getting vaccinated, you're almost as big a dolt as him.

    

Afghanistan, Republican Bullshit and COVID

 

There is a mess of things I need to get off my chest and I'll start with the mess in Afghanistan. The Republican party and the media, both Left and Right leaning outlets have been shitting all over President Biden for going through with Pulling U.S. forces out of that hellhole, even while they all have said we should get out of there. 

It's time to speak some truth about this shit people. The GOP and many Democrats fully Supported President Bush sending out Troops in there 20 years ago, with no real plan of ending our time there. President Obama talked of wanting to get out but got loads of pressure from Republicans and lobbyists to stay, as well as not having a solid plan to get out. That asshole President Trump, went ahead and released 5000 Taliban prisoners and gave them a seat at the head of the table to negotiate the U.S. military withdrawal, giving them a watered-down, candy-coated treaty that basically said, don't shoot our guys and we'll leave. Then left it in the desk for President Biden to deal with, while bragging about the deal he worked with the Taliban and praising them and Republicans in Congress and Right Wing news twats like Fox News fully supported him. Now the GOP and their networks are trashing Biden for working with the Taliban and this garbage deal they all supported.

By the way, never forget the Taliban was born from the Mujahideen, who were guerilla fighters fully funded and armed by the United States to fight Russia from 1979-1989. We loved them so much Hollywood made a Rambo movie where he fought alongside the Mujahideen, and the original ending, dedicated the film to them.

Back to present day...

This week while evacuating over 100,000 people, our Military suffered a horrible loss of 13 lives. The Right used this to attack Biden and called for accountability, which he in a press conference, without hesitation took responsibility for the lives lost. Something Commanders in Chief do. Well, most do. Trump didn't while he was in office and 63 servicemembers died in Afghanistan, nor did grandstanding jackasses in the GOP, call for him to resign or be impeached over it, like they are now. Dickhead, JOSH HAWLEY this week was one of them, suddenly against our withdrawal from Afghanistan. I guess he for got when he tweeted at Biden in April that we should pull-out immediately. Something his father should have done! 

We also have had many Republicans and media members screaming how we need to help the Afghan people and get these refugees out of there, while in the same statement or tweet like Ted Cruz did, say how we shouldn't let them come here. Nothing like a son of a refugee telling refugees to fuck off! 

And yes, after losing 13 U.S. servicemembers, suddenly, many Republicans wanted us to stay there, and send more troops there. They're so angry about the lives lost, they want to risk more lives. For Fuck's sake, Kevin McCarthy in a press conference Friday changed his mind 4 times on whether we should have troops in Afghanistan permanently or not.

I find it incredibly hollow that so many in the media and the GOP said little to nothing about Afghanistan over the last 20 years, as well as saying nothing about the 2,372 U.S. Servicemembers who have died in Afghanistan over the last 20 years. The major news networks covered Afghanistan from 2015through 2019 for less that a hour of airtime combined. ABC: 16 minutes. CBS: 25 minutes. NBC: 16 minutes. Now, suddenly after 20 years war, lives lost, military funding and VA funding be held up in the name of playing politics, underpaid troops, now you care. They only care, because war, suffering and controversy boost ratings and poll numbers.

The biggest fact we all should know is there was no winning this thing. History has shown this. Afghanistan is a place of constant civil war. There are 14 religious sects (mostly fanatical) fighting for power and control. If U.S. forces stayed any number of years, they would be at risk. Whenever our forces started leaving a power grab was going to start. All these pundits and politicians have a shitload to say and criticize, but none...NONE of them have offered a real solution or a better plan. They are all just trying to get clicks, likes, and political points. 

Military members, especially those who have been in action or served in Afghanistan, gladly say what you wish, your perspective means a great deal more than some dick in a suit who spend his life in a studio, behind a desk, reading a prompter. Unfortunately the networks don't do much of that. (TRIGGER WARNING): Military guys, don't talk about how you fought or are fighting for my freedom. Have you fought for our security? YES! But the United States military has not fought for our freedom in DECADES. They have been used to fight for the "Country's" political and economic interests. I respect you dearly. You do a job I know I could never do and you are grossly underpaid.

To the COVID section...

What I am going to say next is not to belittle or try to take lightly the military deaths in Afghanistan...A few days ago when a suicide bomber killed 13 servicemembers and over a 100 civilians, that day more Americans died from COVID than all the U.S. military deaths over 20 years in Afghanistan. 900 just in Florida alone. Where is the "Pro-Life" party screaming for the head of GOP governors trying to ban mask mandates. GOP politicians and media figures pushing anti-vaccination bullshit? They pushing people to treat them self with medicine made for farm animals. These dolts are against science and doctors until horse de-wormer gives them the shits and they catch COVID. Suddenly they want a doctor's help. Fuck them, let them die!

I can say that here, I'm not allowed to on social media. These two images got me suspended on social media for "promoting self harm."

Yet they aren't stopping the people who spread anti-vaccination bullshit and anti-mask bullshit and 'go get some horse or goat or cow medicine and you won't get COVID' bullshit. 

I spend too much time on social media and lots of it trying to combat this ignorance that is running wild in this country. It rattles me. It angers me. I had someone (now former friend) private message me about why I get so worked up and post so much about it. (they are an anti-masker for kids in school) I had some shit to say.

I'll sum it up like this. Over 635,000 Americans have died from COVID. If that alone doesn't make you take this seriously, I don't know what will. I don't want businesses to shutdown again. Most won't survive it a second major shutdown. I don't want people losing jobs and homes and loved ones. Americans, we love sports and to talk about TEAM. If you can't get onboard with the team to stop the spread of death, I'm done with you. I have a 10 year old daughter, who is not yet eligible to get a COVID vaccine. Which means compared to the rest of our household, she's at the greatest risk of getting it bad. (especially since the Delta variant is hitting kids harder than the original) If my daughter gets COVID, you're all done. I burn this fucking world to the ground. 

I'm not being dramatic. This shit was preventable, but a bunch of ignorant-ass, fucktards, lead by Qanon dipshits and Trump, decided there is no greater freedom in the world than to be inconsiderate, selfish, assholes. The right to get sick and die a horrible death or just merely spread that death is the most important thing to them.

The stories of those who chose to not get vaccinated and fought against vaccines and masks, now dying, do not make me sad. they had plenty of time to get their shit straight and they chose ignorance and a death cult. But their choices are impacting us all now. So I will shame them. And if my child get COVID because of their ignorance...It's over.

One last thing for all you full of shit Republicans and Trumpers...

If Trump was still President today, he wouldn’t have gone to meet the returning U.S. military bodies as Biden did. He would be ignoring the COVID surge and not getting briefings on Afghanistan and a major hurricane, he’d be fucking golfing! 

Sunday Night with Beer and a Blog

 

Today we dropped our oldest daughter off at college. Normally a BIG moment in people's lives and for families. But it didn't have that exact feel that you expect, because like so much in these times it was kind of fucked up. You see, this event was meant for last August, but two weeks before move-in we were informed she would have to do her first year online from home, yet the only money we saved was on her dorm and meal plan. Personally I think some of the tuition should have been kicked back to us as well.

Sadly, fucked is something becoming normalized for us. Her Senior year of high school got fucked by COVID and then going away for her first year of college get fucked by COVID. Now there she is, a second year student feeling like a freshman...with things still fucked by COVID. Still on high alert. Still wearing masks still not getting the full experience.

 I said fucked by COVID, but at this stage things are fucked by COVID mostly because of the ignorant, Trump loving, FOX NEWS watching selfish, brainwashed, fucking assholes! Fucktards that would rather buy fake vaccine cards instead of getting a free vaccine. Cunts who would rather buy cow deworming medicine instead of getting a free vaccine. Dipshits who scream about the evils of vaccines while they have had a lifetime of getting vaccines and never bitched about it until Tucker Carlson and the crazy QAnon lady told them to.

 By the way, all Fox News employees are vaccinated and have to show proof and wear masks at work. They and those jack ass governors in Florida and Texas don't care if you and your kids live or die. These cocksuckers are screaming that mask mandates are "government overreach," yet them making laws banning mask mandates and cutting funding for school districts and staff if they do implement mandates, is somehow not "government overreach." Sorry dickheads, you can't have it both ways!

These fucking people who scream "my body my choice" about wearing a fucking mask, but never gave a damn about anyone else who said "my body my choice." Typical Republican hypocrisy. 'My rights to not wear a mask are important, your reproductive rights aren't.'

These fucking dolts are out here trying to shutdown COVID testing sites and vaccination centers. They are screaming to not allow children to wear masks...Children who cannot get vaccinated yet...And they say God will protect them and save them. These types of religious people are the worst because they cheery-pick what God is good for. They give him credit for creating this and that, damn near everything, themselves included, but somehow, in their uncle fucking mind, their God didn't create smart people and doctors and scientists. 

They'll thank God for when they won that high school football game back in the day and they'll thank God for the food on their table, but their God had nothing to do with science? Odd huh? Since Science helped figure out growing that food...And what, God was all in with the butcher shop and the grocery store and the trucking industry that got everything where it needed to be so you could eat, but God has no hand in the people who create medicine and vaccines. God has nothing to do with the amazing Doctors and Nurses trying to heal people and save lives? 

Okay God will save you people, here's the deal. When you or your spouse get sick or your kid, that you as such a great parent, didn't protect, gets sick to this point pictured above...FUCK YOU! Don't go to the Hospital! Go to church! Call up your God. Ask him why your kid is dying. Ask him to help. 

If you're lucky enough enough to get an answer, you know what he'd say? Hey asshole, I gave you a free vaccine and scientific experts who told you what precautions to take, and instead you bitched, moaned and complained like a bunch of cunts!

This will sum it up a little nicer:

12 years of Catholic school, I came out less religious, but smarter than you Bible thumping fuckstains. What you read maybe 2 Bible verses and thought you knew something...and Stone Cold 3:16 doesn't count!

Assholes

#GetVaccinated

#HaveEmpathy

#MaskUp

#CareAboutOthers

#Love

COVID, The Walking Dead and Us

 

I hate the TV show, The Walking Dead. I think it's stupid, stupid and annoying, simple minded and crap! My wife and oldest daughter are big fans and put up with me mocking it. I don't know the full deal of the show. while they're watching it, I find something else to do, even if it's just sitting their and shitting on people on Twitter. But I have caught enough in the background and having watched some, that I feel strong about my opinion. But I also see that this show gave us a warning, that we are clearly ignoring.

The zombies were caused by something. These fucking zombies represent something like a Pandemic. But what has been the number one enemy to all of the characters in this show? It was not the pandemic/zombies. It's their fellow humans...and to be technical, their fellow Americans. Throughout the show Americans are killing Americans, stealing from Americans, double crossing, trapping, raping, murdering fellow Americans, instead of uniting and working together to not only wipe the Zombies, but figure out what caused this and try to fix it. 

If you look at how Americans have behaved during COVID, you can see many are willing to go down that path. It started with people denying COVID was real, fueled even more by political leaders on the right who called it a "liberal hoax" as tool to "control us." We had a President, Trump who was on tape saying he knew how bad and deadly it was, but admitted he wanted and did downplay it. Even after the tapes came out he continued to downplay COVID and rally up his cult that it wasn't that bad and liberals just used it to attack him.

How bad wasn't/isn't it? 525,000 Americans dead and counting, that's how bad. And who has been the biggest enemy during COVID? Our fellow Americans. Starting from Trump, to members of Congress, to governors, state legislatures, mayors, to every day regular people who scream and cry about wearing masks. Who call wearing masks an infringement of their rights. 

 So many of these same people are willing to strip other Americans of abortion rights, voting rights and civil rights, but wearing a mask for the health and safety of all is just a bridge too far for them. There are Republican members of congress screaming for the need for schools to be open, but every singles Republican member of the House and the Senate voted against a COVID Relief bill that will give money to schools to help them better prepare to reopen safely...That will help push vaccinations out faster, including getting teachers and school staff vaccinated. These same people are screaming for small businesses to be able to reopen, but again, that bill they voted against included money to help small businesses keep their heads above water.

Americans claim to be tough and can beat anything. They love The Walking Dead, because it shows their definition of tough. Shooting, stabbing, fighting, killing, not realizing far too often they are fighting and killing each other instead of the pandemic. With our real life pandemic, the only toughness needed is patience, caring, respect for our fellow humans, wearing a mask and a bit of social distancing.

But every day there's another video of a selfish cunt that thinks they're being a tough American, screaming how they won't wear a mask. You're not tough! You're the weakest form of life.

This week, a number of states (with Republican Governors) started lifting mask mandates, and opening places to allow full capacity. We are a few months away from having a large portion of the population vaccinated and these dolts can't have just a bit of patience. President Biden called them out, saying they were using "Neanderthal thinking." Of course a bunch of Republicans have tried to turn this into their latest battle cry. They're now pro-Neanderthal. There's nothing like a sitting Senator, (Marsha Blackburn) singing the praises of the Neanderthals. I guess her and her fellow idiots missed that day in junior high when the teacher discussed that the Neanderthals went extinct 40,000 years ago!

I don't know how The stupid Walking Dead is going to end, but I do know if we keep electing ignorant, lying Republicans, we're going to go the way of the Neanderthals.

Rush Limbaugh Is Dead, Good.

 

Rush Limbaugh died this week and I had no intention of posting about it. My good friend BOB posted a rant about people trolling and celebrating his death online, a pointed out one of our flaws as humans, especially in this digital age where it's so easy to shit on people. I agreed with his post. I hated Limbaugh, I still hate him. People will always tell you hate is wrong, but how can you know love, if you don't know hate and vice-versa. But I thought, why pile on. I know the pain his loved ones are feeling, they don't deserve that.

Or do they? As I saw Republican politicians and "conservative"/"right wing" media praising this man and celebrating his "accomplishments" and showing my sympathy and respect to him than they have for the 500,000 Americans who have died from COVID, or for the Capitol Police Officers who lost their lives from the attack on January 6th, I started thinking about what he actually did. What he said. Who he really was. He was an awful fucking person.

Why shouldn't people celebrate Rush's death. In the 90's, this fucking scumbag had segment on his show, where he read off names of gay people who died from AIDS, while playing bells, whistles and horns, celebrating their deaths. Hate and division were his art and he made millions off of it. 

"You're a foreigner. You shut your mouth or you get out."

"Blacks are 12% of the population, who the hell cares!?!"

"Let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work."

"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals look like Jesse Jackson?"

"Holocaust 90 million Indians? Only 4 million left? They all have casinos, what's to complain about?"

"We need segregated buses."

"The NAACP should get liquor stores and practice robberies."

"Women still live longer than men because their lives are easier."

"Take that bone out of your nose and call back" (said to a black female caller)

"If ant race of people should not have guilt about slavery, it's Caucasians."

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."

Those are just a very small number of examples of Rush Limbaugh's sexism, racism and hate.   

Limbaugh lead the charge when it came to bashing "The Elites." Wait, what? Yeah, Millionaire, cigar smoking, on the best golf courses, pill popping junkie, five days a week rallied his ignorant listeners to hate "the elites," ignoring that he was one of them.

Republicans and Christian Conservatives gave Limbaugh great praise when he came out swinging and telling people Trump "wasn't a Republican." That was quickly followed by Rush, Christian Conservatives and the vast majority of the Republican Party laying down for Trump like a $10 Russian whore. Limbaugh carried Trump's "Birtherism" lie. He was a vocal COVID denier. And yes, he was one of the many loud voices pushing Trump's "Big Lie" about the election as well and a full throated supporter of the terrorists who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Maybe somewhere in his personal life, Rush Limbaugh was decent, but we never saw it and I find it hard to believe it was there to be seen. I don't want him to rest in peace. He can burn in hell. This bastard brought nothing good to the world and I don't think we should all place nicey-nice now that he's dead. He was a horrible person, fuck him!

Maybe I shouldn't have written this and stayed on the high ground. Does he win by his hate drawing out my anger? No! I've spent the last year using this blog and socially media (mostly) to call out lies, bullshit and hate and speaking truth. Sometimes that means getting in the mud, and I'm fine getting dirty.

Monday Moaning: "Is This America?"

 

A group of Capitol officers sat, defeated, crying, talking about what had just happened, one saying, "What the fuck was that? What the fuck? Is this America?"

That was January 6, 2021 after domestic terrorists attacked the United States Capitol. A black officer mentioned about the insane number of times he had been called a "nigger" that day. Police were beaten. One will lose an eye, one lost 3 fingers, one had a heart attack as the crowd dragged him down the stairs, beating him, trying to take his gun, and tasered him multiple times. 140 officers were injured. 1 was killed. 2 killed themselves after that day. All of this done by the hands of the people who screamed "Blue Lives Matter!" every time someone says "Black Lives Matter."  Every time a cop unjustly kills a black person, these people say "Back the Blue! Blue Lives Matter!" 

But then January 6, 2021 they attacked the Blue. Everything so many of us thought, was put on full display to prove our thoughts were right. To these Trump-loving, white supremacists, it was never about supporting Blue Lives, it was always about hating Black Lives. Blue Lives only Matter when they're killing Black Lives! 

There is video of a police officer being beaten with a flag pole, that has the idiot, "Thin Blue Line" Flag on it. Yes, I have great issues with that flag, and not only because it's been co-opted by White Supremacists.

What baffles me about these Trump-Cultists is they are the ones who claim to be the most Patriotic of all Americans. All Johnny Red-White-Blue...But their actions are the furthest thing from it. They wrap themselves in clothing with man's name all over it. They fly flags of a man's name instead of their country. Yeah, some fly both...Christ, some also fly the ignorant Confederate flag and the Nazi flag too. But I will never forget the moment on January 6, 2021 when attackers climbed scaffolding and cut down a United States Flag and hung a TRUMP flag in it's place. They have accepted to throw out Democracy and wish to have an Authoritarian ruler. 

These people aren't "Patriots" as they claim to be, or as Ivanka and Donald Trump praised them to be. They are Traitors. 

They committed treason. Treason is defined as: "the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government."

January 6, 2021 These people's intent was to overturn our election results, as well as killing Vice President, Mike Pence and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, the next two people that were in the line of succession of power. That shit is treason and the punishment for treason is: "Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death."

You know, last week I wrote about the "Super Bowl" and commented on how odd it was that it had been so long since I wrote about sports, considering I, not too long ago, co-owned, operated and for a sports blogging site. A friend of mine, who I met through blogging at "The Sporting News" commented how he liked it when I write about sports. 

I appreciate that. 

I know I have turned a lot of people off by mostly blogging and posting on social media about politics. There are moments when I get frustrated by it...Where I wish I could just write about the latest horrible trade the Cleveland (still) Indians made, or why the fuck the New York Rangers can's score AT ALL on the Power Play. The thing is, as much as I love the Rangers, it's just not that damn important. Not when you consider we have a large portion of our country that is willing to accept Authoritarian rule. When you have sitting members of Congress who are willing to accept that. Members of Congress who have sided with a would be dictator over their country and the citizens/taxpayers they represent. 

We have people who still say COVID isn't real, ignoring that 485,000 Americans have died from it. 

These aren't minor little things going on in our country right now. These are huge, terrifying problems. I have three kids and I want them to grow up in the America I grew up in, that was full of hope instead of fear. That stood up for what is right. That aspired to greatness instead of playing down to the lowest common denominator.

To answer the officer's question, yes, this is America...But it doesn't have to stay this way.

One last thing. Going back to both sports and treason. I have a great idea for next year's "Super Bowl" Halftime show. Every single one of the these traitors, receives their punishment for treason on live TV. Halftime Executions!  SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY! 

Monday Moaning: SNL, I'm Over It!

 

I have to get this off my chest. Yes, I know SNL has always based much of their content around social and political issues. I'm 45 years old, I remember when the show was not only good, but when it was great. I have never had an issue with the show touching on politics and social issues, but I'm starting to get annoyed with the trending theme of how everything is awful these days. 

I love Kate McKinnon. She funny, a good writer, good actress, but I don't need Kate telling me hard the last year has been. I don't think we need to hear Kate complain about how nothing in America works anymore. I don't need her on-air meltdowns because everything is all fucked up. Yeah her doctor bit was okay and it was funny when she lost it and Colin Jost broke character, and asked "Kate are you alright?" To which she responded "no." That wall being broken down was fun but the show seemed to follow that line and now each episode has a couple skits reminding us how broken or fucked up things are.

I always watched the show for laughs and if you can make a bigger point while getting the laughs, great...But people don't need to be reminded shit blows right now. We're all looking for escapes from that, if only for brief moments.

And we really don't need to be told how bad things are by people who don't have it that bad. Kate McKinnon don't lose her insurance because she's in multiple unions that keep her insured. She still has a nice contract with SNL, so she isn't missing any paychecks. Yeah Quarantine/lockdowns suck. Lack of physical and social contact can suck. I get it people are dealing with even more mental health issues now, then ever before. People in her shoes, have a bank account with big-time movie money in it, giving them many more avenues to get help, unlike countless Americans who are scraping by, hanging on for dear life.

 Yeah, 2020 sucked and 2021 has started out shitty, but something tells me Kate and company haven't had to go through the pain in the ass and embarrassment of having to file for unemployment or standing in line at foodbanks. So when a well-off movie star/comedian keeps losing it, or harping on how bad things are over the last year, that shit kind of rings hollow. 

I don't mind celebrities speaking up for the everyman, trying to support the little guy, but I can't stand celebrities acting like their the everyman, when they have all the means to get through shitty times.

I hope, SNL gets past this phase quickly. I'll tune in this week, not to see if they do, because I doubt they will, they tend beat dead horse. I'll be tuning in solely to see Phoebe Bridgers sing.

Have a week.

Monday Moaning 1/18/21

 

While polls are showing Trump's approval ratings are at an all-time low, those polls are nation wide and include people from all parties. In a poll of just “Republicans” Trump has a 77% job approval rating...mind you, for the last 3 months he has done nothing that would be considered doing the job of the President. 85% believe he shouldn’t be impeached. While a decent number except he lost the election, 70% don’t trust U.S. elections...not realizing that if there was no Electoral College, Reagan would have been the last Republican President ever.

Yes, much of this is because of the non-stop lies spewed by Trump. But he wasn't alone. A vast majority of idiots in the Republican party as well as the full force of Fox News went along with his four years of lying. They helped push his lies, propaganda and misinformation, like the corner boys pushed drugs for Avon Barksdale. (If you don't get that reference you need to watch The Wire)

What happened after that was the GOP is being overrun by weak minded dolts who have to immerse themselves in conspiracy theories, so that they can ignore facts and go along with the bullshit and lies. Leading the way is these QAnon idiots. These idiots will tell you the government is controlled by Satanic child molesters, and "we need to save the children," but they didn't seem to give a damn about the children their leader Trump had taken away from their parents and locked in cages. Odd how they scream about the evil's of government while the party they support and claim to be a part of, has been in the majority and the White House the last four years.

There is a entire faction of the Republican party that is willing to accept an Authoritarian-Trumpism-White Supremacists government. People who side with the Klan and the Nazis. These people lead the charge in screaming about ANTIFA, and blaming ANTIFA for everything they do, and anything they don't like. ANTIFA which stands for Anti Fascist. I saw a dope at the attack on the Capitol wearing a hoodie that said "Anti-ANTIFA." So this group of Red, White and Blue, self-proclaimed "Patriots" are support Fascism. They don't make a much sense do they?

These are the same people who spent the Summer counter protesting Black Lives Matter and repeatedly screaming "Blue Lives Matter!" But there's plenty of video of them beating the shit out of police officers at the Capitol. There's video where they are chanting "fuck the blue." They beat a police officer to death.

Everything these people say they believe and stand for, the do the opposite.

This isn’t going away when he’s out of office. This is problem our country will have to deal with for decades to come. If you don’t believe me, look at those numbers at the top again. It doesn't bother me that while 81 million Americans vote the same as I did, 74 million voted for the other guy. That's great. Elections should have massive turnout. It bothers me that way too many of those 74 million refuse to believe math and science. They refuse to accept reality and proof...Realize Trump is on tape saying he knew how deadly COVID is, back in February, while he was lying to the public about it. These people chose to believe the lies instead of the tape. We now have 400,000 Americans dead from COVID. He and his enablers lied about the elections with no proof, while actual proof showed they were lying. They lost 64 court cases trying to fight the election results, including getting tossed out of the Supreme Court. The members of his cult chose to stick with the lies instead of the facts.

So many talking heads are saying "This isn't America." Bullshit! This is America and you need to realize it. This shit isn’t going away when Trump does. Joe Biden’s corny line about this being a fight for “the soul of the nation” is for real. This country's soul is severely fractured. I'm not sure we can heal it.

If you read all of this, and you support Trumpism...if you support the idea that people can attack the Capitol because their candidate lost an election...You are no patriot. You are a traitor. You are an enemy of this country and our Constitution.

In closing, take 9 minutes and watch this.

Farewell 2020, Hello 2021, More of the Same

 

It's New Year's Eve and it seems like a lot of people are hanging their hats on 2021 being a better year. Kind of hard to do worse right? I don't know folks. 

The U.S. is sitting at 344,000 COVID deaths and the infection rate and death rate are not slowing down. The Trump administration talked a big game about have 20 million people vaccinated by now but we're only at 2 million. We may be stepping into 2021 but the vast majority of things won't get better tonight or tomorrow or next week. If we are lucky we are months and months away from things getting better COVID-wise. 

Politically it's still going to be a mess. We have assholes like JOSH HAWLEY to deal with. This dipshit says he’s standing up for the 74 million Trump voters. He’s doing so by saying us 82 million who voted for Biden don’t count. This is treason. This is leading to authoritarianism and from his past history, it’s subtle but not too subtle racism. Hawley, just say what you mean: 'Those minorities that voted for Biden shouldn't count. As a matter of fact I view all of you 82 million people as niggers.'

 Besides Hawley we have to deal with that prick Mitch McConnell and closet case Lindsey Graham. Today it was reported that a couple House republicans expect at least 140 of their colleagues to object to the Election results. I get that people say this is just a show and no big deal because it's all procedural bullshit, but the fact is, it's damaging to Democracy and how people, not just citizens here, but around the world, view free and fair elections. 140 House Republicans are traitors to the oath they took, The Constitution, Democracy and the people. The GOP is full of traitors and have made it clear they are not the Patriots they claim to be and excepting of a Trump Authoritarian rule.

Democracy is under attack, Thanks to Trump and his Trumpism cult.

So flipping the calendar isn't going to fix that.

-

2020 has gotten the blame for every bad thing that has happened. Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, 2020 got the blame instead of cancer and old age. Eddie Van Halen died and instead of Cancer and a stroke, 2020 took the bullet. Kobe Bryant and his daughter died. 2020 got the blame instead of the helicopter/weather and whatever else. Countless other died and people lazily blamed the year instead of the illness or violence.

Wildfires in the U.S. and Australia destroyed, lives and property and wildlife. 2020 got the blame, even while scientists and a young girl tried telling us, that shit is our fault.

Life is all fucked up and lots of shitty things happened and we blamed the year instead taking a long, hard look in the mirror.

Shitty things happen every year.

-

In 2020 My oldest daughter did not get to have her traditional Senior year of high school. No graduation, no Prom, none of that. Then she lost out on going away to college as she is forced to do the first year online, from home. My son is doing high school from home and he has a focus on art classes which is a bitch from home, not getting the full hands on teaching and doing things in a proper environment. My youngest daughter is doing school from home as well. Fourth grade, and they have made it clear the focus is on Math and English. There is going to be a whole generation of kids lagging behind when it comes to science, social studies, art, music and physical education.

 2020 lead to an increase of depression, frustration and alienation. It's also shown the true colors of many. It's clear now, there is a frightening number of Americans that don't care about others. Wearing a mask to protect themselves and others, including loved ones, is too damn inconvenient and is part of 'a hoax to control us all.' Americans love to talk about how tough we are and we can do anything and deep down inside we're all Marines and can "Adapt and Overcome."

BULLSHIT!!! 2020 has shown us that far too many Americans are selfish. Far too many Americans are pussies. They can't handle staying home for a month, let alone a week. Too many aren't willing to do anything for the good of the country or humanity. Too many can't "Adapt and Overcome." They're just full of shit, selfish, pussies and they are part of the reason why there are 344,000 dead Americans and counting.

Americans have overrated themselves. The only way 2021 is better is if we start being better humans. Otherwise it's just going to be the same fucking shit-show we've been living in.

(Sorry, this post feels a little disjointed, but fuck it, it's 2020! Right?)

Happy New Year!

Getting In the Mood (vol. 7)

It's hard to not get the Holiday Blues, especially in this COVID era when everything is so messed up. I'll always get a touch of the Blues after Christmas is done. come the 26th when Christmas movies stop airing and Christmas music stops getting played. But now I get some of the blues when thinking about my Mom and other loved friends and family who are no longer with us...The fact that they can't share in all the fun and food and presents and music and joy with us just sucks. The best we can do is think of them, tell stories of them, not let each other forget how much they mean to us. 

So today's song, "Blue Christmas."

Our Lady Peace is my favorite band and I love their rendition of this tune, but you can't go wrong with the beauty and simplicity of Chet Atkins' version.

Then there's Joe Perry's version he did for the first "Merry Axemas" album, where he showed off some slide skills.

This last one is nice and stripped down by Max Jury.

Love the ones still with us and remember those who aren't.

See you tomorrow. 

Getting In the Mood (vol. 5)

 

Her in our build-up to Christmas, it's Saturday, so let's have some fun. A classic rock Christmas song that's fun. At least many viewed it as funny and comical. It does have that vibe, but it also gets to a bigger issue. Christmas isn't always fun for everyone. We see it right now as millions of people are suffering from not only the physical and emotion complications of COVID, but also the economic. 

Today's song is none other than The Kinks' "Father Christmas"

Enjoy it, have fun. Listen again and understand the lyrics, with a touch of humor were making a larger point.

see you tomorrow. 

Getting In The Mood

 

We all know 2020 has been a big-ole bag of shit and I would say a large number of us are in a battle with anxiety, stress and depression. Personally I have been feeling on edge for weeks and have waves of depression. COVID life life sucks! 

Our family started earlier then ever pumping Christmas cheer into our house. (Yes I said Christmas! I celebrate Christmas, I respect other holidays, but I celebrate Christmas, and I'm talking about me and my life so I'm talking about Christmas, not Holidays! Not everything is a political and social justice fight.) We put the tree up and decorated before Thanksgiving. I did the outside lights a week later. The Elves on the Shelf have been in full force. In our house we have three Elves and three Elf pets to deal with. We have watched a bunch of Christmas movies and have driven around looking at lights. We're really trying...But I'm not there yet, and that's unusual for me. 

In the past I have posted blogs about my top and favorite Christmas movies and songs. I started looking through them and they are definitely changing as time goes by. Instead of doing a ranking, since we are ten days away from Christmas, each of these ten days I am going to post a Christmas song I love. No order, just what I'm feeling that day. 

Today's song, since I think getting some snow falling might help me get in the mood, I give you a song from one of my favorite bands, Dead Sara : "Snow in Los Angeles"

Biden's Win Gives Birth to Trumpism

 

I have been waiting to post about the post election bullshit that has been going on. I was hoping to see cooler heads prevail. I was hoping to see people who call themselves leaders, to standup and lead. I have been greatly disappointed. 

I never expected Trump to act like a responsible, decent human being. I did however expect Republican leadership to step up and push him in the direction of civility, fully knowing he'd be faking it. But Republican leadership has not done that. Many have remained quiet as Trump and his band of the worst and dumbest lawyers in the history of law, have spewed ignorant and ridiculous claims of election fraud. Worse are the one who have piled on and tried to help push these claims. ALL of these claims being pushed with no evidence. The Trump campaign and other Republican groups filing cases in courts throughout the country, have lost 40 times and have withdrawn many others because the lawyers know it's bullshit.

This has all lead to many Americans...Millions of Americans believing the the election was rigged, solely because Trump said so. It doesn't seem to matter to them that Trump's DHS and DOJ have said there is no legit fraud, as well as a number of Republican election officials, Governors and Secretaries of State. 

So now we have a frightening large amount of the population that don't trust our election process just because their guy lost. There's something even worse, even more frightening. There is a huge part of the population that agree with Trump, his lawyers and elected officials supporting his lies, that the election results should be thrown out and overturned by the Senate and Supreme Court, giving Trump the win.

Here in Pennsylvania we have this asshole Congressman, Mike Kelly.

This is what happens when Trump and Pence fuck and 9 months later Pence shits out a used car salesman.

Kelly has been pushing the fight to throw out the PA election results. First trying to throw out all Mail-in-ballots, then trying to just throw out mail-in-ballots from Philly and Pittsburgh. Then it was trying to stop the certification. Now he's trying to push to go top the SCOTUS to throw out the certification, throw out the election results (which would include his victory) and have the election victories given to only Trump and Republicans. If you ever wanted to know what a traitor looks like, it's that fucker right above.

Asshole Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz was vocally supporting this along with having the votes thrown out in Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona. Cruz who hated how Trump behaved while running against him, now is using the Trump playbook. Talking shit on Twitter, spewing lies and misinformation, attacking media, members and fellow politicians, acting in the same uncivilized and disrespectful way Trump does, while ignoring the people of his state are starving and dying. The "Grand Old Party" seems to not want that moral high ground they claim they stand on.

There is a huge fact that Trump and Republicans want you to ignore. They are hoping you don't know and they don't want you to see the facts. In Pennsylvania the election laws/rules were written by and unanimously voted into place by REPUBLICANS. Wisconsin's election process and procedures were built and put in place by REPUBLICANS. Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Michigan  as well, the election laws/rules/process/procedures were written, voted on, put in place by REPUBLICANS. Now many, FAR TOO MANY of those same Republicans are trying to call foul. I'm no legal expert but they all should be impeached. Hell, I think they all should be tried for treason. 

It doesn't stop there...

Recently pardoned piece of shit Michael Flynn has said Trump should declare martial law, put the military in the streets and invalidate the election, which would make me look brilliant when I wrote, warning that  Trump is a FASCIST. 

All these Johnny Red, White and Blue people who claim to be patriots and talk about our freedom and democracy, are actually saying they're such patriots, that we need to throw democracy out the window. They are willing to instill a dictator. These are the same fucking idiots that scream about people who don't stand for the National Anthem or people who burn the Flag in protest, while they fly the Nazi Flag, Confederate Flag and the Trump flag. If you fly any of those flags, you are the patriot you think you are. You're a traitor and an asshole.

We are also talking about the party and people that claim to be the "Pro-Life" party. Odd since so many of them have been COVID deniers and anti-maskers. Never mind those 270,000 dead Americans.

Now I have heard some outspoken members of the media calling Mitch McConnell and the GOP and so many other Republicans, cowards for not speaking out against Trump and his dolts and not acknowledging the election results...Well, they acknowledge their victories. And let's be real fucking honest here. If Democrats/Liberals/and whoever else pulled off some grand, nationwide scheme to rig the election, we would have damn sure seen to it that McConnell and Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy would have lost in the same type of landslide Trump did. Speaking for myself, I hate those cocksuckers (Lindsey loves the cock!) as much as I hate Trump. 

Back to the original thought, they have been called cowards, "afraid of a mean tweet from Trump." But that thought doesn't make it clear enough. They aren't afraid of the tweet. They are afraid of what follows the tweet. The Trump supports who see the tweet which is their green light from their Cult Leader, #Diaper Don...A green light to attack. These Johnny Patriot, red, white and blue fucktards start with their death threats. They are making death threats to members of their own party. Threatening them for doing their job, defending democracy and our election process. Don't forget these are the same fanatical Trump supporters who plotted to kidnap and kill the Governor of Michigan and her family. the same people that plotted to take control of the Michigan state capitol and livestream daily executions. These aren't patriots, they are terrorists and Trump is the head of the terrorist cell.

For fuck's sake a right-wing pastor, Rick Wiles promoted the killing of Democrats and media members by firing squad...Here's a LINK. I'm sorry, but you don't get to call yourself "Pro-Life" and promote and support the unlawful execution of people you don't agree with. You're just a cunt.

Now there are many people who believe in this fraud shit because of mail-in-ballots. Some don't get how Biden dominated the mail-in-voting. Well, remember your fearless leader Trump told people not to trust voting by mail, so right off the top, fewer Republicans voted by mail. And you dummies all ignored while he spoke of the evils of mail-in-voting, him and his whole crew VOTE BY MAIL. Again, I must point out, that Republicans did very well in this election, while Trump lost. This makes it clear that plenty of Republicans voted for Biden. it also makes me believe many "Independents" and some Democrats voted for Biden but voted for Republicans in down ballot races. It's long past time for the Republican leadership to acknowledge this, it make it clear to the public, as well as Trump.

But it may be too late. The Republican party is attacking itself. Republicans are making death threats to fellow Republicans. As I type this, there are Republicans in Georgia telling Republicans not to vote for those two scumbag Republicans in Georgia's Senate runoffs. A number of us have hoped for a third party that can contend in American politics. I think we are seeing it form right before our eyes and its a party none of us really should want. 

Trumpism

 And the Trumpers, the vocal supporters of Trumpism seem to have no problem with Authoritarianism, which Trump would definitely push towards Fascism. 

While the idea of seeing the Republican party eat itself alive doesn't make me sad, I fear what will come out the other side. 

#WakeUpAmerica