In the fabulous 60's, some of us chose to join VISTA as a way to delay our exposure to the draft. I will avoid a discussion of the implications of that. But, as a volunteer, you were an actual employee of the Federal government. The good news about that was that we regularly opened our mailbox and found a check!! We also ate a lot of surplus Velveeta cheese. But, here comes the point: we were also subject to the Hatch Act. You know that law which restricts federal employees from using their employee status to advocate for or against political candidates. You know that law that Kelly Anne
just got busted for and that POTUS will certainly ignore. No surprise--the unpleasant entanglements posed by existing laws like the Hatch Act need not be followed. Moving on.
--The continuation of the war against people of color and/or poor people is undiminished. SNAP, which essentially is what we used to call the food stamp program, has been under attack. Stores like 7/11 do not want to follow regulations which tend to support healthy food choices. It is basically too much trouble. Now many of those stores are in low income neighborhoods whose residents have no access to supermarkets. So let the folks buy cigarettes and liquor but not bananas.
--Does anyone else look at Jared and believe he is old before his time? Does he ever wear a T shirt or go without a tie? We all know he would have been hated in High School.
--So excited when I was recently on our North Shore--I actually saw a Dairy Queen and a Sonic. While seeing all those ads (especially the Sonic one with the 2 knuckleheads sitting in a car), I was dying to figure out where they were located. Don't go West young man; just go North.
--Nate "the great" Silver sent me an email urging me to send money to a number of candidates. Nate is the same guy who lulled me into believing Hillary would win. Now these might be good people to support, but why should I believe Nate?
--Speaking of which, I am ignoring all polls predicting an election 16 months from now. I am also refusing to watch the Democratic debates--there are too many candidates and I am worried Joltin' Joe might actually get nominated. Say it aint so, Joe!! Call me when it is "mano v (wo)mano".
--From the fine pages of the Boston Globe: A picture of a bulldog undergoing surgery for swallowing a disgusting number of pacifiers. And we saw his iv's too. Then our crack but corrupt State Police
rescued 12 ducklings from a sewer.
--Mitch and his wife really do need to be kicked to the curb. She has now been revealed to be a double dipping thief. We know marble mouth Mitch just wants to appoint right wing judges.
--Between "nasty women" and the loser who is mayor of London, POTUS has had a great time calling people names but not doing a fucking thing except almost bombing Iran. I said almost.
-- The high temperature range in Austin this coming week: between 93 and 100. Get that AC going now. I will be heading in that direction for an important/happy celebration.
--And a reminder. I won't be bothering you again until the fall. Have a good summer and a good Shabbos.
Shalom
Friday, June 21, 2019
Monday, June 3, 2019
I'M BACK
I know I have been missed because of all the questions I received about where I was going and when and why. A glorious 4 days to Maine and Ipswich, Ma. Maine continues to be in my list of top 5 states. Rhode Island just got demoted because of the RI Bishop's nasty message to parishioners about LGBT Catholics.
In other news:
--Bear in mind that the following people were not elected: John Bolton, Stephen Miller, Kelly Anne Conway, William Barr, Jared, whats her face, and those two new guys on the supreme Court. Don't tell me that one prerogative of the President is to select his staff. I Get it. But picking stupid ideologues for key positions is also his prerogative. But when these unelected people start making decisions that POTUS is unable or unwilling to make, we are all at their mercy. Miller, for example is behind the new plan to set high tariffs on Mexico. He is a member of my tribe and I am both embarrassed and horrified at his words and messages.
--Bolton wants more troops sent to the Middle East to "counter" what appears to be a trumped (!!) up fantasy about the dangers of Iran.
--Kushner continues to work on a Mid-East peace plan which no doubt will empower Israel even more. But with Netanyahu in trouble, his plan is likely going to be focused on supporting Bibi and giving bubkas to the Palestinians. Kushner is a man old before his time.
--A great New Yorker cartoon cover showing POTUS having his shoes shined by Lindsay, Mitch, and Barr. All pathetically important acolytes.
--I am in the weird position of rooting for John Roberts who now seems to be the swing vote on SCOTUS. If these new batch of anti abortion/anti women laws reach the court, he is now the key. Him and the continued health of RBG.
--Additionally, we have to thank our lucky stars that there are still other Federal judges appointed either by Clinton or Obama who are overturning some of these ugly ugly state laws and POTUS policies. The abortion fight is a reminder to me that things we fought for in the fabulous 60's and thought were resolved are back on the table--especially down in the old South.
--Fifteen billion dollars was found to compensate farmers which is fine by me--but that money was lost to them because of these nationalist tariffs not because it makes any fiscal sense. When will some of those POTUS supporters who are conservative begin to worry about the trade deficit and how these tariffs will worsen it?
--Btw, we continue to separate kids from their families and in some cases put them on planes and send them to who knows where. Just sayin.
--In the latest episode of Animal Kingdom (otherwise know as the Boston Globe), I share the following: Pictures appeared with big headlines about a squirrel who was on a subway and was being fed by passengers. There were also ducks rescued from a sewer. Just inform me when the Orange line cars are finally replaced not when animals are along for the ride.
--AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF MONUMENTAL IMPORT: I will be sending another screed out on or about 6/20. Then, summertime and the living is easy according to Ray Charles. So you won't be bothered (at least by me) again until the fall.
--GO BRUINS!!
Shalom
In other news:
--Bear in mind that the following people were not elected: John Bolton, Stephen Miller, Kelly Anne Conway, William Barr, Jared, whats her face, and those two new guys on the supreme Court. Don't tell me that one prerogative of the President is to select his staff. I Get it. But picking stupid ideologues for key positions is also his prerogative. But when these unelected people start making decisions that POTUS is unable or unwilling to make, we are all at their mercy. Miller, for example is behind the new plan to set high tariffs on Mexico. He is a member of my tribe and I am both embarrassed and horrified at his words and messages.
--Bolton wants more troops sent to the Middle East to "counter" what appears to be a trumped (!!) up fantasy about the dangers of Iran.
--Kushner continues to work on a Mid-East peace plan which no doubt will empower Israel even more. But with Netanyahu in trouble, his plan is likely going to be focused on supporting Bibi and giving bubkas to the Palestinians. Kushner is a man old before his time.
--A great New Yorker cartoon cover showing POTUS having his shoes shined by Lindsay, Mitch, and Barr. All pathetically important acolytes.
--I am in the weird position of rooting for John Roberts who now seems to be the swing vote on SCOTUS. If these new batch of anti abortion/anti women laws reach the court, he is now the key. Him and the continued health of RBG.
--Additionally, we have to thank our lucky stars that there are still other Federal judges appointed either by Clinton or Obama who are overturning some of these ugly ugly state laws and POTUS policies. The abortion fight is a reminder to me that things we fought for in the fabulous 60's and thought were resolved are back on the table--especially down in the old South.
--Fifteen billion dollars was found to compensate farmers which is fine by me--but that money was lost to them because of these nationalist tariffs not because it makes any fiscal sense. When will some of those POTUS supporters who are conservative begin to worry about the trade deficit and how these tariffs will worsen it?
--Btw, we continue to separate kids from their families and in some cases put them on planes and send them to who knows where. Just sayin.
--In the latest episode of Animal Kingdom (otherwise know as the Boston Globe), I share the following: Pictures appeared with big headlines about a squirrel who was on a subway and was being fed by passengers. There were also ducks rescued from a sewer. Just inform me when the Orange line cars are finally replaced not when animals are along for the ride.
--AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF MONUMENTAL IMPORT: I will be sending another screed out on or about 6/20. Then, summertime and the living is easy according to Ray Charles. So you won't be bothered (at least by me) again until the fall.
--GO BRUINS!!
Shalom
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