The Storming of the Brazilian Capital Last Weekend is a Very Bad Sign

January 6th, 2021, was not just a hallmark of American history that no one in this lifetime will forget. It was a sign that democracy overall is not as solid as we once thought it was.

One week ago today, the Brazilian capital was assaulted in what essentially is a mirror image of 1/6. Like their American counterparts, the “protestors” believed that former President Jair Bolsonaro was denied another term based on the lie that he lost the election.

The major difference between both events was the speed at which the accused were found and arrested by the authorities. By last Tuesday, over 1000 people had been located. About half of them have been detained in prison. Compare that to the US where it took months for the police and FBI to do the same.

I heard somewhere last week that one of America’s greatest exports used to be democracy and freedom. These days, it has become autocracy, and the idea that if you are not chosen by the people to lead the government, you can cry foul.

What I find particularly disturbing is that several people in you know who’s circle have gleefully and openly admitted to stoking the fire. Among them is former Presidential advisor Steve Bannon.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I continue to hope and pray that political leaders across the world will one day return to respecting the rule of law and the voice of voters. But for now, it seems like we are on the path to despots once more taking the leading roles in the running of the nations.

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You Know Who: Judged by the Company he Keeps

The late William J.H. Boetcker once said the following:

A man is judged by the company he keeps, and a company is judged by the men it keeps, and the people of Democratic nations are judged by the type and caliber of officers they elect.

If that is the case, then you know who is a criminal. Earlier this week, former Presidential aide Steve Bannon was arrested with three other men for fraud in regards to a fundraising campaign for the border wall that was revealed to be a scam.

Bannon is the sixth person from among you know who’s inner circle to be arrested and charged for breaking the law.

In a few months time, Americans will be going to the polls and voting for our next President.

Do we want a President who is connected to fraudsters, liars, and those who are in politics for their own personal gain? Or do we want a President who puts his needs and the needs of his aides around him aside to lead the country? I don’t know about you, but I would prefer the latter to the former.

#BidenHarris2020

Thoughts On Donald: The Musical

There is nothing like humor to make us laugh when we feel stressed or anxious.

From my perspective, the only good thing about you know who is that he is comedy gold.

The latest submission into the world of political satire comes from The Late Late Show with James Corden. Using the song, “When I Grow Up” from the musical Matilda (based on the book of the same name by Roald Dahl), the song perfectly satirizes how you know who is destroying this country.

The quartet of performers is as follows: Ben Platt is Sean Spicer, Tim Minchin is you know who, Abigail Spencer is Kellyanne Conway and Corden is Steve Bannon.

I couldn’t ask for a better way to end the week.

Happy Friday.

 

Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency Book Review

To those who politics are to the left or vote on the Democratic ticket, the one-two punch of Donald Trump and Steve Bannon was unnerving and terrifying. Donald Trump, the political neophyte who somehow won the 2016 Presidential Election was previously known as a reality show star and a real estate business mogul with a big ego, a big mouth and a very thin skin. Steve Bannon was previously known as the executive at Breitbart News who was and is still open and unapologetic in his right-wing and racist beliefs.

How these men came together to create a new era in American politics and history is detailed in Joshua Green’s new book, Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency.Based upon six years of interviews and research, the book details how these came together to take down Hillary Clinton and ensure that they would be in The White House.

This book is a must read for any modern student of politics and history. Exceptionally researched and easily read, this book tells the story of a hijacked Democracy and how two men conspired to use the basic democratic principles to claw their way to the top.

I absolutely recommend it.

New Randy Rainbow Video- “Yes, We Have No Steve Bannon”

Randy Rainbow (the genius that he is) has done it again.

In the wake of Steve Bannon‘s ouster from the White House last weekend, Randy Rainbow has created the perfect musical satire.

Enjoy!

What President Trump Should Have Said

A President, regardless of his or her party or beliefs is the moral authority and should be leading the nation, especially during a crisis.

President Trump has failed in both areas (no surprise there). His remarks after last weekend’s rally in Charlottesville proved that he is neither the moral authority nor is he far from qualified to lead the nation, especially during this crisis.

What President Trump should have said is in the video above. Thank you Arnold Schwarzenegger for standing up for what is right and speaking truth to power.

It’s not uncommon knowledge that Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner. It is also common knowledge Jared’s grandparents survived the Holocaust. Their children are being raised Jewish. I would think (and hope) that Trump’s reaction, not a President, but as a father and grandfather would be of outrage and anger.

I know this has been said many times since last weekend, but my grandfathers, like millions of their brothers in arms, fought against fascism in World War II. The sons of Jewish immigrants, they put their lives on the line to protect America and her values. The fact that Trump has subtly given the alt-right the go ahead to slither out of the rocks they came from speak to his incompetence and how ill prepared he is to lead this country.

P.S. Did anyone else do a happy dance when Steve Bannon was fired?

Dear Donald Trump: An Open Letter From A Democrat To The Republican Presidential Elect

Dear Donald Trump

You won the election. As much as I would have loved to say the words, Madam President, it was not in the cards, at least not for this election.

We have to talk.

But before I get into the things that I disagree with you about, I need to thank you for some things:

• Supporting Israel. Israel is one of our greatest allies and the only true democracy in the Middle East.
• Not repealing the gay marriage act. It is the most important civil rights legislation of this generation.
• For keeping the parts of Obamacare that work. While I can certainly attest that Obamacare has its problems, when it works, it works.

Now I need to get to the reason for this online conversation.

• Steve Bannon. This man is dangerous and scary and represents what we need to fix in this country.
• Mike Pence. His extreme discriminatory law against the LGBTQ community and the scary and antiquated anti-abortion law have honestly sent shivers down my spine. As much as I disliked George Bush Jr when he was in the White House, I don’t recall that he went as far as Mr. Pence did.
• The Hamilton incident last week. It was not a personal attack on your potential policies or your Vice President, it was simply a group of citizens speaking their mind.

 

 

• Your twitter rants. Being Presidential means having a thick skin and not attacking everyone who disagrees with you. If every President since George Washington responded with the same fervor to every citizen who publicly disagreed with them, they would have barely lasted a day, much less  4 or 8 years as President.
• Your anti abortion stance. Frankly, sir, it is quite scary. You have a wife, daughters and granddaughters. While they are lucky to have the financial support should any potential future pregnancies turn for the worst, there are millions of American women do not have that financial backing. Defunding Planned Parenthood would be disastrous for these women, who use Planned Parenthood for more than abortion.
• Your attacks on the press. Freedom of Press is one of the cornerstones of our country and our democracy. We have the right to use the press to openly disagree with our leaders.
• Your anti-immigration policy. Unless you are Native American, you are an immigrant. Someone in your family at some point in history made the decision to leave the land of their birth and take their chances in America. America is made of immigrants. Your statements, frankly scared many people, myself included.

That sir, is the end of this online conversation. You will be President, I wish you luck.