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