With Chanukah beginning tonight at sundown, the holiday season is upon us.  Each year, children are asked what they would want for Chanukah or Christmas and most reply a new pet or toy.  But what do adults want?  Some want a simpler life, one based upon traditional values recalling in positive and glowing terms our past (as if only good things happened in the past and no bad things ever did), like GOP Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore's statement in response to a question of when America was last considered "great" - "I think it was great at the time when families were united — even though we had slavery — they cared for one another.... Our families were strong, our country had a direction." What? Slavery as an institution played a positive role on our country? I'm sure slaves felt differently about those times, right?  Is that what some folks really think is required to "Make America Great Again?" (See: www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/politics/roy-moore-slavery/index.html).  Now that President Trump and the Republican National Committee have officially endorsed Roy Moore, how low can this country go?  So what do I wish for this holiday season?  For Americans to wake up and realize that politicians promising a return to the "good old days" are selling snake oil to those most susceptible - those somehow believing that "back in the day" it was somehow much better than in present times.  Having dirt floors, outhouses and no electricity was so grand back then, right?  
      And you can bet it will get a lot worse.  But how?  Just this week, a letter to the editor in our local paper railed against those demanding Civil War statues be removed because  they "have been there for centuries!"  Although I am not always sharp with arithmetic, I know statues commemorating the Civil War could not have been "there for centuries!"   How do I know this?  The American Civil War was fought from 1861-1865.  So what else would I like for this holiday season?  For Americans to get their heads out of their collective asses and realize that too many are either unwilling to think for themselves or simply have abdicated their ability to think - period.  So, like the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, I wish they would collectively realize they would be much better off  "If they only had a brain." (See: www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/339323/Wizard-Of-Oz-The-Movie-Clip-If-I-Only-Had-A-Brain.html).   I know, I know.  Diminishing Americans comes with great peril.  I mean, how dare I?  Easy.
      This past week someone I know posted on social media their glee in Olympic Skier Lindsay Vonn being injured in a practice run.  Glee?  Yes, glee.  Seems they posted a hope she would be injured before the Olympics because she publicly stated she would not visit the White House after the Olympics because of her opposition to Trump. The poster went on to say it was his lucky day (due to her injury) and how he was going out to buy a lottery ticket because she "deserved" her "fall."  This is where some Americans are?  Demand total loyalty to the president or else forget about representing America in the Olympics?  Actually wishing for their physical injury? The most ironic part?  This is someone who routinely posts biblical passages and boasts of being an "Evangelical Christian!"  So what else do I wish for some Americans?  To stop using whatever rational to think themselves superior over another and to get back to a position of loving and caring for our neighbors - no matter the color of their skin, religious or sexual orientation or political beliefs.
        By now I think you have caught on to what I an wishing for.  It's time for a change in America.  A change where knowledge is power and power is no longer determined on who's influence can be purchased on the open market.  A change where our political leaders can agree on the most basic and fundamental concepts of equality, liberty and freedom.  And a change that moves us beyond a desire to have political tribalism trump national pride and core values.  I guess we'll see how things go starting with tonight's special election in Alabama.  Either way, I don't see it as a "win" for America, but unfortunately, just another step toward the abyss (unless wished can be granted).   So for this holiday season,  I wish for all of us to unite and to promote the greatness of what it means to be an American and that love of country supersedes love of political party and power.  
        As President Woodrow Wilson once wrote; "America is not anything if it consists of each of us. It is something only if it consists of all of us."  Happy Holidays every one.  May we all enjoy health, happiness, safety and a heightened state of awareness for what our country is gong through.  

* I will be out of the country from December 17-January 8.  Please check back then for additional blogs.  Be well!

         
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         After another fun-filled week of political games, where are we now this Monday?  Last week, Former Trump campaign advisor and National Security Advisor Micheal Flynn ("If I did a tenth of what Clinton did I would be in jail" (See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRSxw2KKYVE) pled guilty of one count for lying to the FBI.  Yes, he already pled guilty in a plea-bargain deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.  If one was innocent, why would they enter a guilty plea during the arraignment hearing?  Because he has clearly struck a deal with the investigators to avoid jail time by providing inside information relating to the Trump campaign and Administration, that's why!  But unlike so many others, I am not "jumping for joy" over this revelation thinking it will ultimately lead to the indictment of Donald Trump.  You see, the "Swamp" Trump campaigned on "draining" actually is quite deep and filled with plenty of GOP operatives in and outside Congress, hell-bent to preserve power rather than acknowledge the law - especially if it renders the Democrats some power in upcoming elections.  
       Now the president is trying to sell a con-job that he really never said the things in the Access Hollywood/Billy Bush interview, regardless of the fact that when it was released, he and his surrogates passed it off as harmless "locker-room talk."  Now that several allegations of sexual misconduct are raining down on celebrities and politicians, the president amazingly claims the video tape of his comments are FAKE!  It's one thing for Trump to admit to being taped saying "locker room talk" and yet another to now somehow claim the taped statements were "Fake."  It's an entirely new twist though when Trump supporters now believe the tape to be fake - because their "guy" is more honest than Jesus Christ! (See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZxIwDXSqF0). (See: www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mark-lee-donald-trump-jesus-christ_us_5a1319b6e4b0c335e9964d7c).   And there you have it!  In the event Trump is actually indicted/charged with Obstruction of Justice (the very same damaging charge that brought down Nixon), the GOP will stonewall efforts to remove him.  Many of his supporters will decry the charges mean nothing because Clinton is not in jail.  And unfortunately, many will claim a willingness to actually take up arms if Congress decides to remove the man via impeachment. 
          And what does Congress do?  The GOP slammed a last-minute late night "Trickle-down" Tax Reform Bill about 496 pages in length with hand-written amendments in the margins, demanding the entire Chamber vote on it within hours of it being printed.  And per the GOP game-plan, the GOP-led Senate passed the new Tax Bill - admitting they didn't actually read it.  What does a Republican say in response to this?  "Obamacare was passed without debate and anyone reading it" - why else would Nancy Pelosi say "We won't know what's in the Bill until we pass it?"  Except this is a LIE.  The ACA was debated in Congress in several committee meetings and floor debates spanning over 11 months.  Like anything else, the impact of any Bill will not be fully realized and appreciated until it is in effect.  THAT was what Pelosi was referring to (See: www.snopes.com/pelosi-healthcare-pass-the-bill-to-see-what-is-in-it/).   Republicans seem to have dementia when forgetting how many "Town Halls" were held by them in an effort to denigrate the ACA before it was passed.  No such luxury was afforded the people in this recent Tax Bill.  Why?  Because the GOP was batting .000 in passing legislation under Trump.  They needed to pass something to claim a victory, no matter how damaging the Bill is to average Americans. (See: fortune.com/2017/06/27/ahca-less-public-debate-than-aca/).   How many Town Halls were held to publicly air the new Tax Bill? Um, none!  So here we go into another week of shell games and cons.  The GOP is getting quite proficient with it.  Richard Nixon would certainly be proud!  But what about the fact that "Trickle-down Economics" has proven NOT to work? (See: www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/01/congressional-research-service_n_2059156.html). 
         As the mid-term elections approach, we can already see how skewed they will be.  How?  The special election in Alabama is a blatant example of what is wrong in America - the belief that voting for a known low life with little to no regard for the Constitution is better than voting for a Democrat!  What?  Has the Right Wing media finally succeeded in convincing many Americans that their neighbors, family and friends that vote  for candidates other than Republicans are somehow less American than themselves, so are therefore, deserving of scorn and hatred?  Take a look at social media and comments from Righties - they firmly believe they and they alone have a superior claim to patriotism, and anyone that disagrees with them on even a single issue, is a "Leftist Commie" - all the while turning a blind eye to Trump's efforts to cozy up to Russia (a country led by a former KGB Colonel). (See: www.vice.com/en_us/article/j5jn7y/despite-everything-roy-moore-could-still-win-in-alabama). 
       So let's strap in for another ride on the Trump Train fueled by the Right Wing GOP  propaganda Machine and pray that one day soon, serious Americans will use their voices and votes to steer our great nation from the cliff the GOP is pushing us all towards.   When will "thinking" Americans wake up from this nightmare? As the legendary Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia (also once a GOP member of the House) said pointing out that trickle-down economics never works - "Forget trickle down, safeguarding business profits would not restore prosperity."  I guess we will just have to pray our economy lasts long enough for us all to find out "what's in the Bill" now that it's passed.  Have a great week!
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