Adios y buen viaje, 2018. Bienvenido, 2019.

Today's Kibitz features the value of saying Goodbye/Good Riddance and why Immigrants are not the boogeymen. We also review our 2018 predictions, and boldly post what's going to happen in 2019!

Good Riddance Day! What could be a better idea for the closing moments of 2018? This has become a tradition in NYC Times Square, where the public is invited to write down what they most want to say 'Sayonara' to. Then, after being posted briefly for everyone to read, these thoughts are placed into a shredder and away they go! Yes, good riddance and it's so therapeutic; if only it could be that simple.

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nydn-people-shred-their-2018-bad-memories-at-good-riddance-day-in-times-square-20181228-photogallery.html

Vying for the top spot of The Daily Kibitz's own 'Good Riddance' note is Fox News and specifically Tucker Carlson. In a year that featured a Fox fleet of supertanker's worth of BS being broadcast every day, Carlson finished the season strong with his recent comments about immigrants. They "are making our country poorer, dirtier and more divided" was a just-in-time-for-Christmas feel-good statement.  And before there is any question, Carlson spoke of Immigrants. No "illegal" or "undocumented" qualifiers.

Stay with me here, it may sound crazy but it just might be that Tucker Carlson and his like-minded friends at Fox are simple-minded, nationalist racists. If they aren't, they are broadcasting messages that connect with a simple-minded, nationalist racist audience. You know, the Trump base.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/15/tucker-carlson-said-immigration-makes-america-dirtier-so-an-advertiser-took-action/?utm_term=.31624a0ce056

The overwhelming majority of economists agree that we need immigrants. Our country consistently experiences significant socio-economic churn. Our population ages. We need a constant labor and brain supply to fill the gap of what we can't provide on our own. Immigrants represent the needed "in-take" for our economic engine to expand and thrive. Cutting them off would be like pinching off the gas line of your car. Here's what our friends at the Brooking Institute have to say about this issue:

https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/in-defense-of-immigrants-heres-why-america-needs-them-now-more-than-ever/

Immigrants come in all colors and classes. From Laborers to CEOs. When we place an "Immigrants Not Welcome" sign at our door, well... guess where the next generation of non-American doctors, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, etc. are NOT going to go. Our colleges are a major destination for overseas students - for now. But other countries have great colleges too and will be seen as more welcoming. This "No Immigrants Allowed" idea has been a policy goal within the Trump Administration since ever (see Steven Bannon and Stephen Miller). It's nothing new for hard right wingnuts who want a White Christian Nation.

So... Good Riddance! I shredded my note, and I feel a little bit better.


As you may recall, at this time last year I went into a trance and uttered out a brief series of events/scenarios called The Daily Kibitz 2018 Predictions. Let's take a quick peek at what kind of prognosticating skills I have:

-- Trump is not impeached, but may not remain in office past early 2019. His criminal culpability will be revealed. There may be an arrangement made for him to just go away...

-- Jared Kushner and Donald Jr. are toast. Ivanka cuts a deal and skates.

-- Congress does not act to impeach because some GOP-ers are complicit with Russian money, influence and "kompromat". Republican leadership is "circling the wagons" to prevent damning details from emerging.

-- November Mid-Terms will be tumultuous and see Democrats winning back the House by a slender margin. Senate remains Republican by one vote. There will be enormous problems with voter suppression and tech-based voting "glitches". Epic long lines of people waiting to vote.  Russia continues its bot and disinformation campaign in service for the GOP.

-- Threat of war in North Korea (there may even be a coup that ousts Lil' Kim), but the real action takes place in the Persian Gulf region.

-- Many more present and past Members of Congress revealed as sexual harassers/predators... both parties. In fact, the whole #metoo movement will upend virtually every corner of American life. Long overdue!!

-- More drought out West, working its way to the East. Ocean and Air Temps continue to rise.

-- The Chicago White Sox finish last in their division in 2018, but will win the Wild Card in 2019.

OK... not bad. A little wobbly here and there, but what the hey. Some of these happened and others may yet occur. I continue to think that Trump won't be impeached, but he won't finish his term, either. Kushner and Jr. will face a judge at some point, and Ivanka will not.

What I didn't see coming was how a Supreme Court nominee confirmation process could distill the #MeToo movement into a month of outrage, galvanizing both bases which resulted in a historic 40-seat Blue Wave in the House of Representatives.

Another event not foreseeable was the super fun Trump-Putin Helsinki summit. Spending hours with Putin with just a translator - no records were kept and no review of the meeting was ever released - was bad enough. But when The President took Putin's side against all 14 U.S. intelligence agencies... well, I can't imagine any other President remaining President for very long. But then, he had a complicit Congress to protect him.

Oh, I could bore you for hours about other events transpired that were unforeseeable... but instead, let's turn to future unforeseeables - The Daily Kibitz 2019 Predictions!

-- There will be a major reveal through the Mueller investigation that makes everyone say, "huh". By mid-year or so, we see that Mueller, the SDNY and other investigations have plenty on Trump, but he is not the primary target.

-- Chief Justice John Roberts will disappoint the GOP this year. Watch him "manage" Kavanaugh and Gorsuch.

-- There will be some sort of Bump between militaries in the South China Sea, near the artificial islands that China has been constructing.

-- As the US exerts more pressure against Iran, there might be some retaliatory Iranian/Russian cyber shenanigans involving US infrastructure.

-- More Cabinet members will get canned. Likely next on the block: Dr. Ben Carson of H.U.D.

-- There will be a tumultuous confirmation process for Bill Barr as Attorney General. He will get confirmed, but it will be a Pyrrhic Victory with no trust or confidence in his actions or office.

-- The U.S. economy goes into serious wobble mode by Halloween.

-- Another record year for high temperatures world-wide. More droughts here and more rainfall deluges there. Greenland will continue to be in the news as its ice blanket melts. The House of Representatives will hold high-profile hearings on climate change and the immediate socio-economic negative impact it brings.

-- The 2020 primary season kicks in after Labor Day. Trump keeps others out of the GOP race. It's his party. The Democrats squabble and scrabble, looking for messages and candidates. By the end of year, it's Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O'Rourke, Cory Booker and Amy Klobucher at the head of a crowded pack.

-- The Chicago White Sox will finish last in their division. Injuries and front office screw-ups keep them from progressing. This prediction is on repeat.

Wow. That's a lot going on for 2019. I won't even tell you what I see happening in 2020, because you wouldn't believe me... and I don't believe it, either. Regardless, we're in for a helluva ride this next year. Hope it's safe and healthy and fun for you, and - as always - thanks for reading!!

Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah

Season's Greetings! May 2019 be better than 2018. May our 401Ks recover. And may the president get a lump of beautiful clean coal in his stocking.

For your holiday soundtrack, Bob Dylan (!!!) swings out with a fantastic version of "Must Be Santa". This is my kind of Christmas party:

Can We Cross The Finnish Line?

We at The Daily Kibitz spent the previous week in sun-kissed Southern California. Happy for us? After spending a couple of days at Disneyland for business (weird and kinda fun), we witnessed first hand the conditions that create the infamous California wildfires. While hiking up a Mt. Hollywood trail, we observed wide swaths of recent burns. Fires happen in this kind of terrain because of parched plant growth and dry hot air; when a combustion event happens, it travels fast.

Climate change is the primary culprit, creating long term drought patterns and shifting, strong Santa Ana winds that create classic cases of widespread wildfire catastrophe. Climate change also plays into the overpopulation factor of the region and the ongoing water management dilemma of People v. Crops.

The area was still reacting to President Trump's recent visit to the state. He had memorably toured the  awful Camp Fire site, twice referring to the incinerated town of Paradise, California as "Pleasure." After viewing the charred remains, he commented on how firefighters were working hard to retard the fire. He then remarked on how, as a technique, some firefighters were raking burning leaves on the ground away from trees. On a roll, Trump invented a recent conversation he had had with the Finnish president regarding Finland's lack of mega-wildfires. "They spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't have any problems," Trump observed. This lead to much ridicule after the Finn Prez denied ever saying anything like that.

Trump shouldn't have stopped with seeking Fire Fighting Tips. Considering how Finland leads the United States in many Quality Of Life categories, he really let an opportunity slip by. We should be getting Finnish tips on improving our Health Care (#6 vs. USA #29), Education (#6 vs. USA #24), and their premier Social Safety Net programs. Also, how they are world leaders with the all-important Happiness rating (#1 vs. USA #18).

Trump famously questioned why there aren't more Norwegians immigrating to America, instead of people from Shithole Countries. Why should they? Scandinavian countries in general rank at the top of any QOL listings. They are taxed much more than here, because, you know, Socialist. But... you get what you pay for. And their citizens seem to think it's just fine.

What is definitely NOT fine is the Trump Administration's stance toward Climate Change. This is the most important issue the world faces, bar none. Trump and the GOP are lockstep in their moves to deregulate and defenestrate environmental standards and policies that affect Business. For example, the new EPA head, a former coal industry lobbyist, announced plans to do away with CO2 emission rules. (To number similar instances of anti-Environment practices supported by Trump/GOP would be much too long, mind-numbing and enraging for our purposes here.)

It is very possible that Trump just doesn't care. Shocking, right? Like other business honchos, he prolly figures that the environment's collapse won't happen until after he is dead... so it just doesn't matter and in the meantime, let's maximize profits! Certainly, his dismissive reaction to the recently released (mandated) report from the EPA, the National Climate Assessment, which portrays a truly dire picture for our world, was Classic Trump. Subsequent follow-up studies are similarly damning. Take two minutes to peruse this powerful thread from the Washington Post environmental writer:

https://twitter.com/chriscmooney/status/1070715518963904514

Yep, Greenland ice melt has kicked into overdrive. Thanks, carbon emissions! Oh, and how is more CO2 affecting other accelerent factors to Climate Change, like methane gas release from thawing permafrost in Alaska, Canada and Siberia? As a "greenhouse gas" methane is 30 times more powerful than CO2. And a whole bunch is already seeping into the atmosphere, with a critical mass more poised to enter, thanks to rising atmospheric temps. Add methane to carbon to spike the atmosphere, which melts the ice, which causes more drastic changes in our world. Refugees by the millions abandoning uninhabitable lands. Widespread drought, crop failure, famine, insect infestation and disease. It's the planet's way of trying to shake off the thing that is hurting it, which is us.

"I don't believe it" just doesn't cut it. The current climate crisis is what our military has been planning for and warning about for years. It's what the Paris Accords are all about, with the US being the only nation to withdraw. It's what oil companies have known for decades, and sought to cover up.

According to the National Climate Assessment, we have a slender window of opportunity to seize the day. No more than a decade or so. After that, the tipping point becomes unstoppable. Meanwhile, our White House, its agencies and the GOP Senate are set to cement their retro-climate policies to 1950s standards, the age they see as When America Was Great. What we really need is to Make America Finnish.


On Thursday, Pete Shelley passed away at age 63. He was the frontman for Buzzcocks, my favorite band from the late 1970s. There were other bands that were more popular and carried greater cachet with pop culture opinion-makers. But Shelley never seemed concerned with being This Year's Model. Buzzcocks emerged with the Sex Pistols in the early British punk scene. But they weren't really Punk, except in their Do It Yourself attitude. Power Pop, oh yes. Shelley's songs were about things falling apart, the frustrations of the everyday, the constancy of romantic despair. Downers? Nope. They were witty and super-smart.  Shelley took his strong sense of poetics and harnessed punk's energy with terrific melodies. Here is a typical song that plays as well today as it did in 1979:

"Everybody's Happy Nowadays". Somewhere in an alternate universe, on Planet Earth X, where everything we always wanted exists, Shelley and Buzzcocks rule the airwaves. They ruled here, too, but too few knew of their realm.

Waving "Bye Bye" to our Dunning-Kruger country?

It is a good start. The Midterm elections are now over. And what seemed, early on, like another version of the 2016 election night debacle has since played out in a satisfying way. But it felt really ugly for a short time.

Mrs. Daily Kibitz and I were at a fun and fancy Election Night Party when the results began to manifest on the TV screens. The crowd was of a decided political Blue persuasion (and I helped provide some "blue" commentary). Expectations for the long-predicted "Blue Wave" were very high. After two years of living in TrumpWorld, everyone wanted to see the electoral push-back that would certify that our country wasn't going anywhere near 1932 Germany.

But by 11pm, the party was experiencing a collective sense of dread in the pit of our stomachs. Florida, which polls had Dems taking for Senate and Governor, was going Racist Red. Polls had also looked good for Indiana, but it flipped from Blue to Red. Missouri and North Dakota flipped Red. Even an indicted Republican Member of Congress was beating his opponent in upstate New York. Texan Beto O'Rourke, though a long-shot, conceded to Ted Cruz.  Everything we knew or hoped for  was wrong, again. Why, O Lord? Was Job a Never-Trumper?

TV talking heads spoke of a No-Wave, even a Red Tide. The Senate races had become a rout against the Democrats, with some experts suddenly predicting a GOP bump of 5 - 8 seats! The presumed House lock for Democrats was not assured. It was going to be a long night. Party glasses of prosecco were exchanged for tall tumblers of vodka and bourbon. Several attendees quietly left.

And then something happened. The results from the Mountain and West Coast time zones began to find their way onto the screens. Blue began to flip Red. Close House races in Virginia and Georgia went to the Dems. The lock on the House was secured for the Democrats. And then, it began to build.

The next morning, Trump held a bat-shit press conference where he announced the Midterms were "very close to a complete victory" for him, despite the House would soon be controlled by Democrats. Evidently, he had gone to bed when the TV pundits were suggesting that the GOP had staunched the Blue Wave. In fact, as time went on, Trump clung to the belief that the votes counted on Election Night were the only ones that mattered. Then he spun some inane BS about voter fraudsters changing disguises, and needing an ID to buy cereal. (As historian Douglas Brinkley has observed, Trump is a bull who brings along his own china shop.)

But Trump was wrong, as usual. In the days following Election Night, the Democratic vote continued to swell. Absentee ballots, provisional ballots and military ballots were added to the mix. Recounts were held. More and more House races went to Democrats. What seemed like a humble ripple early on Election Night has since swelled into a massive Blue Wave.

How big is Big? Pretty damn big.

Before the election, the House was 242 - 193, advantage GOP over Democrats. Today, the sides have switched: 235 Democratic seats to 200 Republicans. The Democrats picked up 42 seats, many more than predicted during Election Night and the most they've achieved since the days of Richard Nixon. Moreover, looking at all 435 House contests as a single nationwide popular vote, the Democrats amassed an 8% surplus over the GOP. That is significant in a democracy (although our Electoral College has something to say about whether we live in a democracy).

Here's a personal benchmark for this being Big: In my hometown of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, there hasn't been a Democratic Member of Congress representing it since... 1938. Yup, since the Great Depression. Since before World War 2. Since before Television. Well, say hello to Democratic Representative Sean Casten!

"OK, but what about the Senate?" The Republicans have added a couple of seats to their Senate total. Their advantage will be 53 - 47.  But the Senate electoral map here was especially tough to contemplate anything better than a "hold" for Democratic best case scenario. The GOP had to defend 9 seats, all in Red States. They lost two of them. The Democrats had to defend 35 seats, including 15 in Red States that Trump won handily. They lost four of them. The Dems did well here, considering the radically uneven playing field.

So... what does it all mean?

It means that beginning January 3, 2019, Democrats will control the House of Representatives. They will chair all House committees. These committees have wide-ranging abilities to conduct oversight and investigations with subpoena power. The potential for unearthing what has been covered up/ignored since the 2016 election campaign is enormous.

The current hallmarks of the GOP Kakistocracy in DC are rank, grifting greed and amoral/unethical  power politics applied to achieve long-standing ideological goals at the expense of the nation's health. These goals have been to kill the ACA/Obamacare, kill Roe v. Wade, kill watchdog regulations across the board, and kill government entitlement programs like Social Security. With a Democratic House, these GOP platform planks become very unlikely.

And despite Mueller-loathing Matthew Whitaker acting as a "temporary" Attorney General, the Special Counsel investigations will continue. There are nearly 36 unidentified sealed indictments on the DC Federal Court docket. There are other ones resting on the Eastern District of Virginia court docket, too. These could drop very soon; moreover, there will many new ones to compile.

And the House Judiciary, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees will now be acting as collaborative agents of Justice with the Special Counsel as the investigations continue. As I've suggested before, there will be a TON of shocking revelations as time goes on. Prison sentences. Careers will be ruined. Businesses will be destroyed. The GOP will be staggered. Some Democrats will be affected, too. It's not wrapping up anytime soon - the scope of these investigations is too enormous for a quick wrap-up. Spend a few minutes with this (pre-Helsinki Conference) extraordinary analysis of Trump as Russian Asset to better envision the real enormity of things:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/07/trump-putin-russia-collusion.html

Wowzers. Now use this info to understand the behavior of certain individuals over the last two years... Deny, Deflect, Push Back, Double Down. Repeat.

Anyhow, yes! Big Blue Wave!! If we survive the next six weeks, our country is poised to begin turning things around. Appreciation for quaint and neglected values like integrity and expertise will seep back into the system. We're not near the end. We're not at the beginning of the end. But we are past the end of the beginning.

To help celebrate the Blue Wave, check out this hilarious picture! When a couple posed recently for a Wedding Proposal photo, they were joined by some "significant otters." Sorry about that... Should be quite a wedding party!

On The Eve Of Something Huge About To Go Down

Something is happening with Trump. And though I am skeptical of many things, and not particularly conspiracy theory minded, recent events are kinda puzzling.

The morning after the midterm elections, he fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and immediately put in Sessions' Chief of Staff, Matthew Whitaker, as Acting Attorney General. The transition was described as frenzied with an imperative rush to get Whitaker into office ASAP. Whitaker is widely seen as a stooge having one job to do: put the kibosh on the Mueller Investigation.

There was an immediate blowback to Trump's placement of Whitaker, with experts insisting that it is an unconstitutional/illegal move. While this crisis plays out, Trump and the GOP are sussing out the Democratic "blue wave" that flipped the House of Representatives. The Democrats will have full oversight responsibilities and subpoena powers in January.

The President flew to Paris for the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War 1. He filled his transatlantic flight time with angry tweets, mostly berating the media, talking up Whitaker,  and accusing Democrats of stealing the election.

Then he arrived in the City of Lights and things became quieter.

On Day One there, Trump chose to not attend the ceremony at the cemetery where 2,289 American soldiers are buried, mostly from the Battle of Belleau Woods. There was drizzling rain. The official excuse was that the presidential helicopter shouldn't fly through inclement weather. However, as a former Obama travel coordinator reports, there is always a back up travel plan for inclement weather regarding presidential visits and travel. In fact, Chief of Staff Kelly, Secretary of State Pompeo, various generals and staff were all there. They drove the 50 miles.

Instead, Trump spent the extra 7 hours holed up in the residence of the US ambassador to France, Jamie McCourt (Trump fundraiser and former Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner). No one knows what was happening inside. The dome of silence had descended.

The next day, he was scheduled to join the leaders of Europe in a unified march down the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe to observe the WW1 centennial remembrance ceremony. Except he didn't show up with the others. So they march on without him. He arrives, late, at the ceremony site.

Coincidentally, so does Vladimir Putin. In fact, they are the only two leaders to not participate in the unified march. As Putin takes his place among the leaders, the recently arrived Trump gives him a rare big creepy smile. Followed later by a thumbs up and friendly ol' pat on the back.

Trump listened to the host French President Macron describe how the demons that caused World War One are returning again. Macron explicitly rails against the notion of nationalism and extols patriotism. Trump, the self-described Nationalist, nearly plotzes! Here is that moment:

Afterwards, Trump's handlers are distressed at the awful PR situation. They assure the press that Trump's Big Moment will be when he delivers the trip's Major Speech at the Suresnes Cemetery before heading home the next day. Meanwhile, more quiet from Trump.

And the next day he did show up, and on time. But he spoke in barely audible tones, in what has been charitably described as "disjointed" and "inarticulate". For a look at this bafflement, check it out:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/ideological-battle-lines-clear-at-armistice-centenary-commemorations-1.3694347#.W-nEC3dPgyE.twitter

"Mr. Trump delivers a history lesson for beginners, calling it a 'horrible, horrible war, but a war known as The Great War...' Mr. Trump conveyed no depth of feeling, no sense of gravitas or history. Much of his speech was comprised of lists of American men in the audience: top military brass, congressmen and Second World War veterans. He said "thank you" 33 times, calling out their names individually." Yes, that was a 10-minute Major Speech; Demosthenes would have been proud.

Then it was off to the airport and back to DC. Some more transatlantic tweets about how Democrats are stealing the Midterm elections. Once landed and returned safely yesterday evening to the White House, the Trump quiet grows.

Today is Veteran's Day observance. It is a President's unofficial duty to take the 10 minute drive over to Arlington National Cemetery. To lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and deliver appropriate remarks. But today it was overcast, with a chance of drizzle. So Trump declined to attend the de rigeur event. Something that all other Presidents, like Barack Obama always did, including in 2009 during a steady rainstorm. I love the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Obama later went out of their way to wander into the cemetery proper and spend significant time with surprised, bereaved and wet family members of fallen soldiers.

Obama at Arlington on a rainy Memorial Day

Back to point. Trump has been quiet in the White House all day - no events, nothing on the planner. In fact, Fox News twitter, Wikileaks, and Drudge Report have all been quiet; Fox has been down for over two days.

Someone who was NOT quiet today is Michael Cohen, Trump's onetime personal lawyer. He flew down from NYC today and visited with Robert Mueller's investigators for several hours. They appear to be prepping him for a Grand Jury appearance this Friday.

The brouhaha about appointing Matthew Whitaker spins on the notion of his ability to end the Mueller investigation. Even if he is able fire Mueller and otherwise starve the investigation's budget, it is probably too late. Reports over the weekend indicate that there are DOZENS of sealed indictments ready to go public at a moment's notice.

https://observer.com/2018/11/mueller-holding-dozens-sealed-indictments-intel-source/

"An Intelligence Community official who assisted the Special Counsel's investigation told me this week that Team Mueller is holding "dozens of sealed indictments" of people associated with the president, his 2015-2016 campaign, and his administration. 'Nobody who's close to the Russians is getting out of this,' said the IC official."

This was the same claim made much earlier by Wild Loon Lady and former Member of Parliament, Louise Mensch. As crazy as her assertions have been, she seems to be earning the title of Modern Day Cassandra, delivering predictions that no one believed until they came true. She has insisted that Trump is already the subject of two sealed indictments, and that "dozens" of other sealed indictments exist as of this time last year! When contacted for comment about this common claim, Ms. Mensch said that her sources are different from the source cited by Spy Guy Mr. Schindler. Hmmmmm:

https://patribotics.blog/2018/11/10/the-trump-russia-indictments-what-to-expect/

The upshot here is that many indictments are ready to drop. Sometime between right now and Thanksgiving, most likely. These won't be penny-ante variety. Think Donald Jr, Roger Stone and a cast of A-List players in Trump's D-List Reality TV Administration. And Matthew Whitaker may not be able to do a thing about it.

All this may be my fevered mind playing up a hunch. But why did Rupert Murdoch pay a closed door, after-hours visit to Mitch McConnell while Trump flew to Paris? This is one crazy thread:

https://twitter.com/gregolear/status/1061461804403056640

Following his visit, Murdoch's Fox twitter site goes dark, as do the other aforementioned conservative sites. Trump cancels visits in France and spends inordinate quiet time in isolation. Except a visit with Putin. Then he gets back to DC -- and cancels a visit to Arlington Cemetery. More quiet time in isolation, except for some more bogus tweets about Democrats stealing the election. It's very odd.

Long story short: If you thought October was crazy, the next few weeks are going to be WILD. It won't slow down until January 3, 2019 when the Democrats officially take over the House of Representatives. Then it becomes a very different kind of crazy.

On a concluding note, Stan Lee finally departed from our mortal world after 95 years. Like many others, I viewed Stan Lee as a kind of secret mentor. The creator of the Marvel Universe juggernaut played an integral part in the development of my own early teen values system. The mid-60's was a weird time to be growing up - heck, it was a weird time for everyone. For a goofy, messed-up kid like me, the characters of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, The Silver Surfer, Prince Namor and others provided a moral clarity I often lacked and a sense of union in their vulnerabilities.

Lee's super-hero characters hurt. Sure, they hurt villains - but they themselves hurt, deeply. Their suffering was not the stuff of Superman & Co.. They were filled with human complexity, feeling the sweet sting of life. Lee's stories thrived on moral conundrums and dilemmas. The actions taken by his characters were sometimes successful, but often they opened the way to greater conflict and doubt.

Yesterday, I saw a brilliant slogan: Belief+Doubt = Sanity. It made me think of Stan Lee. Stan Lee's story-telling and stable of relatable characters helped develop my inner compass. In the tumult of a time when civil rights were fought for and a horrible war was fought against, young Americans like me could open a comic book and feel like they were being spoken to directly by a dependable wise man. Here is a prime example: following the conclusion of an issue's story, Stan Lee had a sort of forum where he'd ramble on topics, answer questions, and so forth. I ran into this today, and remember reading it back then. It stuck with me.

Smilin' Stan Lee. Excelsior! You will be missed.

Set the Controls for Fear and Loathing

INVASION!! Did you know that our country is being invaded? Drop everything and get your "Go Bag" ready! Our President and his acolytes have been raising the alarm and now thousands of American soldiers are deploying to defend our southern border against the invaders.

Upwards of 5200 US troops will bolster the border against... maybe 3500 asylum seekers from Guatemala and Honduras, mostly mothers and children bugging out from a murderous local scene. That's a lot of firepower against teddy bears and blankets. But it's all needed because this foot-borne invasion is an Imminent Threat - they are only 1000 miles away!! By the time they get here sometime in December, our troops will be dug in and ready for action. Unless the migrant/asylum caravan (they are traveling together for group protection) never even makes it to the border, which is far more likely.

By now, we all know how the MAGAbomber and the Tree of Life shooter took their lethal cues from the rhetoric emanating from Trump, the GOP, and Fox News/Hate Radio. Such "caravan people" are criminals, murderers and rapists. MS-13 gang members and Middle Eastern terrorists. Infected with smallpox, leprosy and rabies. Young, strong bad guys. Really bad. Coming to a darkened alley near you.

In fact, today on a radio ad, Virginia gubernatorial Republican candidate Corey Stewart says Democrats "allow criminal illegal animals to assault our daughters, murder our sons, and deal drugs. The Democratic Party of today is an unhinged angry mob of thugs." Such wild, hateful and emboldened racist rhetoric is possible because it echoes the very things Trump has said over and over. It takes a page from the blatant but trusty Brown Thugs Raping White Women appeal.

And, aside from the Democratic Party and maybe ISIS, who else do Trump & Co. hold responsible for this Caravan of Existential Calamity? "Globalists". Like philanthropist George Soros and Jewish refugee agencies such as HIAS. Living in this climate of Fear and Loathing, the MAGAbomber sent a bomb to Soros (and 13 other Trump "enemies") and the Tree of Life killer targeted that synagogue through a "hate directory". It's pretty easy to connect the dots.

Someone who predicted all of this is Daryl Johnson, a former analyst for the Department of Homeland Security. His 2009 report envisioning the current fever swamp of right-wing radicalism was seen then as too controversial. Since 2016, its conclusions are prescient. Please give this a read, it unveils all you need to know about Trump's deliberate rhetoric and the rise of extremism it engenders:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/10/29/trumps-hate-and-lies-are-emboldening-extremists-just-ask-the-analyst-who-warned-us/?utm_term=.e8cfb2488435

Wow. Any questions?

So what does our Trump Administration do to reduce the Fear level it's been churning out? Well, nothing. The band plays on. On the other hand, it has done a swell job in ratcheting up the Loathing quality to the equation. The following is one of the best reads of the year. It's about VP Mike Pence and his decision to bring out a Jews For Jesus "rabbi" at a political event, to say a few words regarding the Tree of Life massacre. Though awful to consider, this piece is very funny, and absolutely to the point:

https://www.wonkette.com/mike-pence-gets-fake-rabbi-to-offer-fake-blessing-sparks-real-outrage

Oh, ho ho. Come for the subject matter, stay for the comments section. But honestly, how was it judged to be a good idea to bring in this "off-brand rabbi", a Christian convert, to deliver up a "prayer" for the Republican faithful in Michigan. It's so hugely insulting, as Five Dollar Feminist outlines in her article above. Although it must be said that Pence is a big Conversion kind of guy. He made his political hay in Indiana by touting "Gay Conversion Therapy" programs. You know, Gays can be converted to Straighthood, ya just need the right tools and a positive attitude. He seems like just the kind of guy who has gone through such therapy. Loathsome? Why yes, yes!

There are plenty of other examples of how Trump & Co. are using Fear and Loathing to manipulate their voter base. Holding them accountable is up to all of us, but in particular it is up to The Enemy Of The People.  Here is a nice rundown on how this can be done:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1055440819283353601.html

And what if these approaches can't help? Well, there's always Divine Intervention. The Creator Of Heaven And Earth has not been pleased lately, as you can detect from the deity's two twitter accounts:

https://twitter.com/TheTweetOfGod/status/1055847614690713600

and

https://twitter.com/TheGoodGodAbove/status/1055905151809150977

Finally, it should be noted that Saturday's Tree of Life Synagogue massacre took place in a neighborhood in Pittsburgh called Squirrel Hill. Aside from being referred to as the intellectual and moral center of the city, it is also known as the home of the late Fred Rogers. It really was Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

Here is Mr. Rogers himself, speaking after yet another award had been bestowed to him. He really was a gentle genius of children's television. And what he says here resonates so deeply:

"Look for the Helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Amen to that, Mr. Rogers.

Turning Lies Into Bombs

It is surprising that it has taken this long. Presently, there have been at least a half-dozen bombs sent to targets seen by many as opponents to President Trump. The MAGAbomber has selected long-time objects of Trump's ridicule and wrath: Hillary "Lock Her Up!" Clinton. President "Birth Certificate Is A Fraud, Founder Of ISIS" Obama. Representative Maxine "Crazy, Low IQ" Waters. Billionaire George "He Pays Professional Protestors" Soros. Former CIA Director John "Loudmouth, Political Hack Who Can't Be Trusted With The Secrets Of Our Country" Brennan. Obama's Attorney General, Eric "He Better Be Careful What He's Wishing For, I Can Tell You That!" Holder. Representative Debbie Wasserman "Must Not Let Her Off The Hook" Schultz. CNN and The San Diego Union Tribune, both examples of Trump's "Enemies Of The People". Who knows where this ends?

It's hard to find a positive note in all this. Trump's hateful and dangerous demonization of his opponents has fractured the country. The enmity that he has helped spawn is now alarming. The main question is how long will it take to mend? Certainly not while the Divider-in-Chief and the complicit GOP Congress remain in charge. Empty words of "unify the country" will be spoken, then it will be off to another Two Minute Hate rally session. Just last week at one gathering, Trump congratulated a Republican congressman for body-slamming reporter Ben Jacobs of The Guardian. Let's see what he says at tonight's rally in Wisconsin.

Harsh, but true...

He typically vilifies anyone or anything that does not bow down to him. He defines them as hateful objects, worthy of being physically harmed. His opponents are harmful impediments to Making America Great Again.

The Press have become "The Enemy Of The People".

The Democratic Party is "the party of massive crime... they want to unleash violent predators and ruthless killers..."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-11/trump-attacks-arsonist-democrats-as-polls-show-house-at-risk

"They are not just extreme, they are frankly dangerous and they are crazy... They want to dismantle law enforcement and attack the heroes that keep us safe."

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/sep/22/trump-blasts-democrats-20180922/

Is it any wonder that the MAGAbomber is following through for Fearless Leader? In his twisted mind, the bomber has to be convinced that violent death to traitorous enemies is the path set forth by President. The incredibly toxic rhetoric favored by Trump is finally blooming into domestic terrorism. Again, it was only a matter of time before the Firehose of Hate created this degrading moment. It's Lies, Incorporated. Lies R Us. All Lying, All The Time.

To verify this claim, let's let the terrific reporter Daniel Dale of The Toronto Star (of Canada, a former staunch US ally) tell us about the torrent of BS blasting out of Trump's oral orifice:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/fact-checkers-identify-increasing-rates-of-false-claims-by-the-president

Yes, as time goes on, so does the velocity of whoppers and fibs. From 2.7 falsehoods a day in 2017 to over 5 per day now. And the last couple of weeks have been remarkable for the sheer volume of fabrication, a veritable Niagara of mendacity. Take one minute to check these out:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1054802555727986690.html

and Trump's contention that there are riots going on in California:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1053729767692926983.html

and that possible ISIS infiltrators are mixed in with the refugee "caravan" approaching the southern border:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1054352194777047040.html

and just general WTF-ery:

https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1055083496014839809

Oh, thank you, Mr. Dale. It can't be easy covering what amounts to be the Mt. Everest of Fallacy every day. It might be frustrating, it might even be comical, but today, it is dangerous.

And my humble apologies for striking such a strident style with this post. As you probably know, I do attempt to couch my observations with what passes for wit and perspective. But what has transpired today, and over the last couple of weeks, has pulled my patience out of the plug.

Putting it into the context of classic mid-60's power pop, here are The Knickerbockers singing their One Hit Wonder, "Lies". Two minutes of Beatlemania without the Beatles...

"All The President's Men" meets "The Producers"

After a two-week descent into the maelstrom, let's settle back a bit and ramble through some random observations gleaned from this past week.

As usual, there was an enormous amount of news and malarky. But what stuck with us was the hilarious and terrifying interview of President Trump and his core advisors, conducted by a truly surprised and disbelieving Olivia Nuzzi, of New York Magazine. Plucked unexpectedly from the press gaggle, she was escorted into the Oval Office for a lengthy session with, well, ya gotta read it to believe it. This is a remarkable and jaw-dropping interview; nearly every line is worth a king's ransom:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/10/my-private-oval-office-press-conference-with-donald-trump.html

It all comes off like a poorly-produced TV Reality Show: "Oh, look who's behind Door Number Three!! And Wow, here's a surprise guest star we have walking in!" It's so very weird, as if David Lynch has taken over the Trump Administration, which has morphed into a bizarre dreamland mashup version of The Executive Branch and Mulholland Drive. It reads like a speed freak's fever dream, chattering away about nothing, over and over. Oh, the author, Olivia Nuzzi, bears a passing resemblance to Ivanka. Maybe that's why he went head-over-heels throughout the interview.

Going further into movie comparisons, the present administration is really more like "All The President's Men" meets The Producers. What began as a Not-Serious Presidential campaign that would have set Trump up with an easy and lucrative Major Media Platform in 2017 ended with a shocking electoral turnabout, the equivalent of "Springtime For Hitler" becoming a hit. As the Mueller investigation continues, Trump's fortunes will probably end with the imprisonment of various family and staff, and the collapse of his businesses. Life can be funny sometimes.

Speaking of humor, the Conservative funnybone was on full display this week. In a Thank You editorial to Senator Susan Collins, who provided the "Yes" vote to confirm Kavanaugh, the Wall Street Journal editorial board decided upon "Susan Collins Consents" as its headline. Oh, Ha Ha, it's a rape joke double entendre! Those scamps! You can almost hear them hooting in their work space...

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/10/6/17945228/wsj-editorial-board-members-susan-collins

Well, boys will be boys. And some girls, too. Drinking beer to celebrate the Kavanaugh confirmation became a thing, because, you know, he's now Justice Kegger. The following quick read is quite a carnival ride. After a brief summation of events, we experience a rapid pass-through of the Pro-Kavanaugh crowd, as the bubbles rise. Quite a rogue's gallery of supporters, hoisting their suds:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/remysmidt/beers-for-brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-confirmation

In another attempt at Funny, GOP Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), longtime party leader and member of Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted: "Not quite #Beers4Brett but #Bubbly4Brett instead" Ha Ha, I get it! The guy who by most accounts was a sloppy drunk who'd drink to extreme excess is now on the Supreme Court! Conservative humor is sooo funny:

https://twitter.com/JohnCornyn/status/1048696008513925120/photo/1

Not to be outdone, Chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley (R-Trumpistan) said that female Republican senators haven't asked to be on the Senate Judiciary Committee, ever, because they don't want to do it. There's just too much work involved and the poor dears don't have the time:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/05/politics/chuck-grassley-judiciary-committee-women/index.html

Meanwhile, Senator Susan Collins (R-Patriarchy), delivered her own deep thoughts. She attempted to put a pro-Women spin on her vote, but fell headlong into the Land of Farce by declaring it a vote with a "silver lining":

https://www.bustle.com/p/susan-collins-believes-theres-a-silver-lining-to-the-kavanaugh-allegations-12181696

"The one silver lining that I hope will come from this is that more women will press charges now when they are assaulted,"Collins said. Yes, that's the message millions of women embraced from last week's shitshow - women should no longer be concerned about not being believed like Dr. Ford (who Collins "believes" but doesn't believe was correct in ID-ing Justice Kegger). After the last two week's worth of escalating verbal assaults against Dr. Ford, and other accusers, by President Trump and the Republican firmament, resulting in death threats and forced relocation, women everywhere should take heart that they can now step forward with their stories. It just could be that Susan Collins is simply trolling us.

Then there were more wild and wooly Trump rally claims... "You don't hand matches to an arsonist and you don't give power to an angry left-wing mob, and that's what they've become. Democrats have become too extreme and too dangerous to govern. Republicans believe in the rule of law, not the rule of the mob." Actually, Republicans believe in the minority's Law of Rule over the majority:

http://theweek.com/articles/800880/gops-sneaky-attempt-paint-majority-angry-leftwing-mob

Also, too, there was this mysterious moment after Kavanaugh's swearing-in ceremony, where now-retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, Kegger's sponsor, seemed to be unpleasantly shocked by something Trump said to him as they walked off camera. It set DC conspiracy theorists over the top:

https://twitter.com/Eleven_Films/status/1049449309790322688

Yes, it is curiouser and curiouser... something about Kennedy's son? Prolly more like "I like big butts and I cannot lie."

Also, there was the President's Guest Editorial on Health Care that USA Today published. It was a thing of beauty, one where the Washington Post exulted that nearly every line of it was false:

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/10/fact-checking-president-trumps-usa-today-op-ed-medicare-for-all/?utm_term=.44025f683402

On a related note, there was Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer's wickedly funny analysis of the same piece:

https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1050053956993503232/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1050053956993503232&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fpolicy%2Fhealthcare%2F410763-schumer-rips-trump-medicare-for-all-op-ed-as-smears-and-sabotage

Yes, it was quite a week. The First Lady claimed to be "the most bullied person in the world." Trump spent Thursday morning with Kid Rock and the afternoon with Kanye West. Kanye wants the 13th Amendment repealed, the one that abolished slavery. I'm sure that his new White House friends can get behind that. It's too bad he couldn't have walked in, special guest-star style, on the Olivia Nuzzi thing the day before!

Finally, we found out that if massive, radical and unprecedented globally-coordinated changes in energy consumption are not implemented within 10 years, we are forever doomed:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2018/10/08/world-has-only-years-get-climate-change-under-control-un-scientists-say/?utm_term=.a3e0660af43b

Oh, and a record-setting hurricane hit Florida as an exclamation mark for that study, too.

Our final finally, this week was All Time Favorite Musician Thelonious Monk's 100th Birthday. Check out this ebullient three minute dip into bliss. Also, watch the dancing otter up at the top while listening to it!! He's got it going!

"We are the Hollow Men..."

These past two weeks have been extraordinarily painful for Americans and America. For thinking people, it has challenged basic concepts in governance and civil society. It has forced a harsh spotlight on the most private of personal actions, gender vulnerabilities, and triggered long-long-overdue examinations into the constant of Sexual Assault as an unreported crime.

There is no better analogy for what has happened to our country, to millions of women and of this moment than a comment I read the other day:

With this in mind, Your Obedient Servant attended the #CancelKavanaugh protest in DC, marching  from the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse to the steps of the Supreme Court.

Of the 2000 or so attendees, baking in the uber-hot and humid air, I can only guess how many were Survivors. But I sense they were in the large majority of attendees. Their passion helped fuel the enthusiasm and energy felt throughout the crowd. One could feel the waves of emotion pass through the columns.

The shouts and the chants never ceased along the way. At one point, I was walking along with a trio of accomplished a capella singers as they sang "Come this November, we will remember" and other slogans in three-party harmony. It was lovely and moving.

Standing in front of the Supreme Court building, we listened to other Survivors from across the nation. We were asked if Kavanaugh was the best this Clown College could offer up, and if so, what were the alternatives like? As more speakers continued, it reminded how absolutely toxic this man is, and how his presence will contaminate, like a chunk of high-grade radioactive crud, the entire Court. Kavanaugh will be a weaponized political Justice. His forced confirmation is the result of an amoral Patriarchy in action, desperate to hang onto power while the winds of change begin to blow.

When the speakers had concluded, we were urged to head over to the Hart Senate Building for "direct action". So about half of the crowd headed over, as did I. Here are some pictures and a basic rundown of what happened:

https://www.bustle.com/p/these-cancel-kavanaugh-march-photos-show-thousands-came-out-to-protest-the-scotus-nominee-12165290

While waiting to clear the metal detectors to get inside, I spoke with a few fellow protestors. "If you get inside, be prepared to get arrested." The protest was going to ramp up into the realm of Civil Disobedience. Your Humble Reporter chickened out as several Republican Party Reptile staffers walked past, giving cynical glances and chuckling to each other.

I did manage to put myself in the way of a rapidly-departing Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, getting in his face and shouting "PLEASE VOTE NO!!" It slowed him down enough that others realized who he was. And it was off to the races! Corker went into Power Walk mode while a group of Survivors ran after him, giving him their Bumper Sticker versions of what had happened to them. "Please vote No for the future of our country!" I heard one say. They walked back, crying. I couldn't think of a damn thing to say except, "Well Done". It was, but it wasn't enough.

Here is what I missed inside; I wish I had the nerve to have followed through:

https://twitter.com/AyannaPressley/status/1047945508705259525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1047945508705259525&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bustle.com%2Fp%2Fthese-cancel-kavanaugh-march-photos-show-thousands-came-out-to-protest-the-scotus-nominee-12165290

Nearly 300 arrested. The Atrium and walkways were filled with hundreds more spirited and determined protesters who No Longer Have A Fuck To Give.

The following Hart Senate Building moment is a perfect encapsulation of how odious the GOP really is. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah is on the Judiciary Committee. In fact, he is the Senate's President Pro Tempore, THE FOURTH IN LINE OF SUCCESSION TO SUCCEED THE PRESIDENT.  Here is a video clip of a protester describing what happened when she attempted to ask Sen. Hatch a question as he walked by. Watch her video, it's sickening.

He waves her off and then snarks on about meeting her "when she grows up". Which enrages everyone there. As they press towards the open elevator, his staff bark out "we'll have you arrested!" And as the doors close, there is a grinning, mocking Senator Hatch waving Bye-Bye to them. What a complete and utter putz.

The great Sarah Kendzior brings forth the intro to T.S. Eliot's iconic poem, "The Hollow Men", with a fine relevant pictorial format to provide Poetic Commentary on this colossal fustercluck:

https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/1047313401553276928

What she doesn't have room for: "Between the idea/And the reality/Falls the Shadow... This is the way the world ends/Not with a bang but a whimper."

Speaking of Hollow Men, our Leader was having a fine old time at a political rally the night before. Yes, he is an awful person. They are out there among us - you may know a few. What continues to appall, though, is how many (white) women think he is so good and kind and is God's imperfect vessel and laugh at his slanderous jokes and GRRR during his Two-Minute Hate and fall in line with the GOP-driven protocols of Patriarchy. I know that Tribalism is strong, but this is ridiculous.

Let it not be forgotten that he is our Sexual Assaulter-In-Chief:

https://www.businessinsider.com/women-accused-trump-sexual-misconduct-list-2017-12

I really wanted to dive deeply into the GOP/Conservative mindset that abide by this avalanche of awfulness. But I've broken down a couple of times already writing this. All I can say is that, in general, things are going to get a lot worse. But the worse it gets, the better it will become. And it will. Until then, we all need to persevere.

One way to hang on is through music. I know it works for me. Let's see if it can work for you! Try this one on for size: The New Pornographers, the wildly under-rated World Class band from Canada, perform "It's Only Divine Right." Turn it up to 11. And let yourself dance like no one is watching!!