Helped out yesterday refereeing soccer games at a Special Olympics event in Central Florida. If anyone reading this hears me complain or whine about anything in the next few weeks, please reach out and give me a good swat to the face . About the only upside I could see was the sheer joy on the face of the participants, the same joy you see in a little kid’s face on Christmas morning. WHAT THE HECK !
Our fearless emperor, the one who promised to “bring us all together”, failed to attend the funeral of a Supreme Court justice, the first time in history this omission has occurred. Did I mention that Scalia was a conservative justice. Since he had a free calendar, guess he was busy preparing for his huggy kissies with the Castro hoods in March. Shameful. WHAT THE HECK !
Within the context of a hotly contested Presidential election year, with multiple flawed candidates, I thought it prudent to quote a columnist from the Tampa Bay Times, David Brooks. This is a fellow that I seldom agree with, but his words in today’s fishwrap rang true.
“A great nation doesn’t divide in times of natural disaster. It doesn’t choose leaders who angrily tear it apart. Instead, it chooses leaders like Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan, leaders who radiate sunny confidence, joy and neighborliness. That is what FDR and Ike and the Gipper were able to do with their leadership styles. With fireside chats and golf jokes, they were neighborly even in times of great difficulty and stress. But they were also able to set an emotional tone that brought people together and changed the nature of Americans’ relationships with one another. During their presidencies, the bonds of solidarity grew stronger and the country more formidable. They were able to cultivate a deep sense of unity, responsibility and sacrifice. They didn’t call for sacrifice as something painful, but as what one did for one’s friends.”
Does this passage remind you of the current crop of leadership in our troubled times, names like Clinton, Trump, Sanders, and Obama ? I didn’t think so ! WHAT THE HECK !
WHAT THE HECK !
Since my Packers were unfortunately not invited, I wasn’t overly enthused about yesterday’s Super Bowl. Peyton Manning and his now-rag arm, ho-hum ! But spicing up the day to my surprise was a celebration, orchestrated by entertainer Beyoncé, of the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther movement. Good old family TV, with a human tribute to patriot (or is it pinhead) Malcolm X, and some good old fashioned black fist pumping, a replay of one of the most disgusting displays of demonstration in our nation’s history, the black power salute during the National Anthem by our sprinters. Doesn’t anybody at the NFL or at ABC bother to screen Super Bowl performances ahead of time ? WHAT THE HECK !
Seven years ago, I realized that Republicans and Democrats (or Proglibocrats as I like to call them) are really no different. They speak differently, but act the same in most matters. And my metamorphosis into an “L” just gets confirmed each and every year. As an example, since 2014, the party of elephants has controlled both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with their ascent based on promises of a repeal of Obamacare, entitlement fixes, a stronger military, and some movement toward a balanced federal budget. And what have voters gotten for their trouble ? SQUAT, ZIP, NADA, ZERO ! They haven’t even tried to send a bill to the White House ridding us of step one toward nationalized health care. The clock keeps ticking toward Medicare and Social Security insolvency, and the Republicans are scared to offend voters with even a proposal or two. Our military is weaker than at any time since World War II. And in the 5-6 tedious Republican debates, there has been nary a word from any of the gang of 17 regarding movement toward a balanced budget. Worthless, worthless, Republicans. WHAT THE HECK !
Now that the X-Files have returned to the television screen, I’m having illusions that a monster is at work in my mind. On three separate occasions during the past few weeks, I have found myself in total agreement with Hillary’s thorn in the side, Bernie Sanders.
As part of his “hang the bankers ” campaign, Bernie has for several months now beat the drum on a return of the Glass Steagall Act of 1933. This post-Depression bill effectively separated the low risk activities of commercial banks and the higher risk activities of investment banks. Under lobbyist pressures, and spearheaded by then-President Bill Clinton, the meat of the Act was repealed in 1999, leading to the eventual formation of financial behemoths like Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch , Chase Manhattan/ J. P. Morgan, and JP Morgan Chase and Bear Stearns (that last one really worked out well !) After repeal, American taxpayers were on the hook for losses, not only from staid commercial banking activities, but for any darn financial instrument the investment bankers could concoct, instruments like derivatives and packaged sub-prime loans. And we the taxpayers certainly paid a dear price from those activities in 2008-2009. Now Bernie Sanders wants to reinstate Glass Steagall, and I say bully ! It’s about time !
Next, I find myself in line with Bernie’s views on guns in our country. I respect and would defend every American’s second Amendment right to bear arms, but golly, we’ve let tolerance and the NRA to get way out of line with common sense. There is absolutely no part of “self defense and resistance to oppression” that automatic weapons apply to. This is unpopular with my conservative brethren, but I see no reason that anyone other than law enforcement needs a pistol of any kind. Defend your house, target shoot, hunt deer, and resist oppression with a rifle or a shotgun. In the hallowed halls of the Florida legislature this week and last, our elected officials have been debating an “open carry” law. Are you kidding ? More than half of the people I run into in the daily course of life should never hold a gun in their hand, much less on their belts in open view.
And thirdly, Bernie thinks that corporate money pollutes the political process and simply opens the door for “bought elections”. Of course it does, and let’s not forget to add union money and George Soros money to the evil Wall Streeters Bernie has such a hate for. To me, the first amendment applies to people, not companies or unions. Fund national and local and state elections with public monies so everyone is on a level playing field.
Just want to remind my readers that the above list are the only topics with which I am in harmony with Bernie Sanders. WHAT THE HECK !