Today's MOZEN: Becoming a Big Person

F LoBuono

Man, I was down. I mean I was lower than whale shit. The woman I had every intention of spending my life with had seen the light, changed her mind, and left me. It wasn't the first time and, unfortunately, it wouldn't be the last, either. I suppose that I'm a glutton for punishment. Be that as it may, I was a hurtin' cowboy. And, it showed. I walked around wearing my sorrow like an old, cheap, wrinkled suit.

At the time, I was working as a producer/reporter for the local cable company in West Nyack, N.Y. It was my first job in television and provided me with the necessary experience to build my career. But, it was small potatoes. I mean you couldn't get more basic for production facilities. We didn't even have our own space. We shared a garage-type building with a company called Tidy Car that undercoated vehicles to prevent rusting.

You can imagine the type of chemicals they were using for their product. I think it would be safe to call many of the ingredients toxic. On days that they were very busy, the noxious orders would get so bad that we would have to evacuate our side of the building. But, hey, it was a living!

One of the men who worked for Tidy Car was a middle-aged black man named Henry. Henry always had a good word whenever you encountered him. He had a deep voice that had a hint of Southern molasses mixed in. It gave me the impression that he had probably grown up there, although I didn't know for sure. But, whatever his circumstances, he was a jovial fellow.

Another thing that I remember about Henry were his eyes. They were always terribly blood shot. I mean it looked like you could train a pint of blood out of each one! Perhaps, Henry was a "hard liver" and drank too much on his down time. But, I always attributed it to the fact that he was exposed so directly to those toxic fumes. If it was harsh enough for us to evacuate from the other side of the building, one can only imagine the deleterious effects on someone right on top of them - hour after hour, day after day. One thing was for certain, it didn't get Henry down. He always had something positive to say.

One day, in the midst of my misery, I needed a short break from work. I just wanted a few minutes away from my office to go into the fresh air where I could collect my thoughts and, quite frankly, get my shit together. There was a little patch of woods adjacent to our parking lot where I found a little shade and a rock to sit on. As I sat there alone, contemplating the depth of my misery, Henry noticed and walked over. When I saw him coming my way, I hopped up, hoping that he wouldn't notice what bad shape I was in. Well, he did. And, then he said something strange to me:

Young man, you are going to be SO BIG someday, whoo hee, yes sir!

It took me completely by surprise and I had no idea what he meant.

Hello, Henry. Waz up? I replied.

Then he said: you don't know it now. In fact, you won't believe it NOW. But, someday, you are going to be a BIG PERSON.

I looked at him in disbelief: Henry, that's just crazy. I just couldn't be any lower than I am right now. I may never get over this!, I cried.

That's the point, my friend. You are being tested. Everyone gets tested in their lives. Those people of character who survive use that experience to grow into more complete humans, capable of tremendous compassion. If you can just hang in there, you will be one of those people.

Henry didn't say another word. He patted me on the back and just walked away.

At first, I just kind of dismissed it as the ramblings of some crazy, old black man. I mean, after all, he was inhaling all of that toxic junk all day long. Maybe, it had gone to his brain.  I dragged my sorry ass back into the building.

But, I just keeping hearing his words, over and over again: someday, you are going to be a BIG PERSON. Eventually, they started to sink in. Henry didn't mean BIG in a physical or economic way. He meant it in an emotional way. If I could overcome the pain associated with that tremendous sense of loss, it would put me in a position of REAL power - as a person who leads with the compassion that only comes with perseverance based on personal experience. In times of trouble, people would look to me to guide them through their own wilderness. And, you can't get any BIGGER than that.

Eventually, our studio moved into swanky new digs and, I believe, that Tidy Car went out of business. After our move, I never saw Henry again. But, I'll never forget him, or the words of encouragement that he gave me when I need them so desperately. I could only imagine the indignities he suffered before becoming a BIG PERSON himself. I honor him by returning the favor to others.

Today's MOZEN: Go For It!

F LoBuono

In an effort to create a more inclusive world, we now have a dizzying array of terms to describe the incredible range of human gender and sexual identity. There is hetero, homo, bi, cis, non-binary, trans, fluid, queer, neutral, inter, variant, and, I'm sure, others that I haven't learned of yet.

For many of us, they are coming at a rate that can be confusing and, yes, frustrating, to keep up with.

My way of coping, as it usually is with such complicated issues, is to simply things to their essential essence. And, for me, in this case, that means -

I don't give a shit what you identify yourself as!!!

And, I mean that it in a good way.

Why would anyone care how anyone else chooses to call themselves? It does YOU no harm. Furthermore, you don't need MY permission, or anyone else's for that matter, to be who you FEEL you are! And, if someone judges you for that choice, there is an appropriate response. It might go something like this: I'm sorry that you feel that way. But, if you can't accept that, the problem is yours, not mine. Then politely add, if that's not good enough, you can go fuck yourself.

I understand that the labeling is done in a sincere effort to establish more, not less, understanding among people. However, because creating labels can also produce a mindset that people are too different and, therefore, weird, it needs to be addressed. Well, in my world, different and weird are GOOD things - especially if they do no harm to themselves or others. It kinda' makes the world go 'round.

To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, I yearn for the day when people will be judged by the content of their character rather than the identity of their gender/sexual preferences.

LIVE your life how you imagine it without fear or hesitation. It is YOURS to have and keep. It is the only one we have. So, in the final analysis, what the rest of the world thinks about you is irrelevant.

GO FOR IT!

Today's MOZEN: Before You Sleep

Words and photo by F LoBuono

If you can say yes to the question; have I affected the world in some positive way, any way, even in the simplest sense, then you have done enough and you may rest easy.

Today's MOZEN: A Cautionary Tale

Julius Caesar

“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world. Like a Colossus, and we petty men. Walk under his huge legs and peep about. To find ourselves dishonorable graves."

Shakespeare wrote this line for is play "Julius Caesar" over 420 years ago as a cautionary tale of absolute power corrupting absolutely. It could have been written yesterday in reference to President Donald J. Trump and his lackeys.

Beware my friends, beware . . . 

Today's MOZEN: The Message

F LoBuono

It is estimated that there are about 4300 religions* in the world with Christianity being the largest, followed by Islam. So, it means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it means EVERYTHING.

I spent my formative years being well indoctrinated in the Roman Catholic version. I went to a parochial grammar school, attended church regularly, and even became an alter boy. Religion taught me many lessons, some of them even profound.

But, that was then. And, this is now.

I no longer subscribe to ANY organized religion. The thousands of rituals, rights, rules, and superstition simply became too much for me to bear. I felt like my karma had run over my dogma!

You see, I'm more interested in the message rather than the messenger. And, there have been many of those: Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Abraham, etc. They have come in various shapes, sizes, colors and cultures. All of them are considered divine in one way or another. However, I am also not interested in their divinity. It matters not to me. What is MOST important to me is their shared message of compassion over cruelty, generosity over greed, diligence over sloth, kindness over malice, awareness over neglect, joy over sorrow, perseverance over aversion, peace over discord, inclusion over discrimination, and most importantly, love over hate.

I have no issue with those who practice traditional religions in a traditional way, especially is it brings one to a place of peace. Because that's the purpose of spirituality - to bring peace and love to not only ourselves but those around us. And, any way you get there is just fine by me.

*https://www.quora.com/How-many-different-religions-are-there-in-the-world

Todays' MOZEN: Bloomberg or Bust?

Photo: Calla Kessler/NY Times

The first-time presence of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, made last night's (2/19/20) Democratic Debate in Las Vegas highly anticipated. Because Mr. Bloomberg's extreme wealth gives him the ability to self-finance his own campaign, he was not able to participate in all of the previous debates. However, due to a rule change by the DNC, he was able to join this time.

Instead of the finely crafted message that the $400 million he has spent so far can buy, potential Democrat voters would be able to see Mr. Bloomberg in "real time". They wanted to see if he could earn the nomination instead of simply buying it.

And, in my opinion, he stumbled - terribly.

Because of who he is and his billion dollar personal fortune, and the fact that he was the new kid on the block with rising poll numbers, he HAD to know that he would be the target of the other 5 candidates he would have to share the stage with. In addition to his money and status, he also entered the fray with a considerable amount of baggage such as his support of the controversial Stop and Frisk policy under his administration, as well as multiple accusations of sexual misconduct within his business empire. That's why I was so surprised that he had such limited success in response to their attacks, especially for a man with such resources and a reputation as a meticulous organizer.

Elizabeth Warren took him to task on the women's issue. Bernie Sanders attacked him as just another oligarch. The other's piled on over various other issues. All of it should have been expected! Yet, Mr. Bloomberg had vague, limited responses to the most pressing issues. As for women, he defended against those criticisms by saying, in a sense, he likes women and promotes them regularly within his world (a la DJT). As for his money, when pressed on releasing his tax returns, he claimed they were too complicated to do so at this point (also a la DJT). And, he also came across as old, frustrated and pedantic.

Bloomberg's supporters know that debating is not his forte. It never has been. His voice is often whiny and his presence aloof. They say that personally he is none of these things. But, for those of us who will never meet or know him personally, we can only take away what he shows us publicly. And, if last night's performance is any indication, he is in serious trouble.

Some will question what could be expected from a situation where all of the other candidates spent most of their time attacking him? They'll claim that he went high when the others went low. Well, Presidential politics ain't no place for the faint of heart! It is getting to the time when the gloves come off and we are left with a bare knuckle brawl! As one pundit put it, he brought a wallet to a knife fight.

Look, I don't like the fact the Democrats seem to be eating their own as it falls right into the hands of Donald J. Trump. And, I agree that people of conscience must do everything within their power to support whomever the eventual nominee will be in defeating him. However, because the ultimate contest will be for the heart and soul of America, we need a person tough enough, smart enough, and resilient enough to take on someone whose greatest strength is being a bully.

If Mr. Bloomberg is that person, he cannot do so by buying us. He must show us. Last night, he fell well short of that goal. However, it is important that, as a leader, he demonstrate that he can roll with the punches, pick himself up off the floor, and come back stronger than ever.

Time will tell.

Today's MOZEN: More Than Money

Michael Bloomberg, The Hill

With former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg firmly committed to running to be the 2020 Democratic nominee for President of the United States, his critics (of which he has his share) are crying "foul". In addition to their concerns over his controversial Stop and Frisk policy which unfairly targeted people of color in the City, they site the extraordinary amount of his own money the billionaire is spending to advertise his campaign (over $400 million).

And, I get it.

No one wants a tainted election where the winner was only assured success by the power of the purse rather than by their strength of character. But, if history has proven anything it is that money alone is not enough to guarantee victory in the election.

Certainly, having a huge war chest gives one significant advantages like the ability to higher the best political operatives and buy enough media to make certain that your message will be heard. And, there within lies the key.

Simply put, if your message does not resonate with voters NO amount of money will buy you the election.

Ross Perot/David J. Phillip AP

In recent years, in addition to Bloomberg, there have been at least 5 other multi-millionaires/billionaires who have vied for the title of President: Ross Perot (1992), Steve Forbes (2000), Mitt Romney/Donald Trump (2016) and Tom Steyer (2020). Of the 5, only Donald Trump was successful in his bid for the Presidency. All but Mr. Trump did not even make it to their perspective conventions. And, Mr. Steyer, currently in the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination, has not risen about 3% in any poll of voters indicating that he is a VERY unlikely candidate to win it now.

So, if money were enough, why is the success rate of these wealthy and powerful men so anemic?

Well, thankfully, it appears that as important as money is in running a campaign, there are MANY other determining factors before a voter makes his or her choice.

George Washington/Painting John Trumbull

Now, this is NOT and endorsement of Michael Bloomberg. Rather, it's a call to reason. Money has indeed been a reality in politics - not only now, but since the inception of this Country. Virtually ALL of the Founding Fathers were men of considerable means (George Washington was said to be worth over $525 million when adjusted for today's standards). So, as much as progressives would like to see money virtually eliminated from modern politics, the reality is much less clear.

So, in the meantime, remember, NO candidate is without flaws. ALL of them have negatives in one form or another. It's just a matter of whose message and plan for success compliments your own. WE have the ultimate power - it's called THE VOTE -USE IT!

F LoBuono

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT: Life in the Big City

Words and photo by f LoBuono

Birds are known to be arboreal creatures. If you are lucky enough to have a bunch of trees surrounding your house or apartment, I'm sure that you must spend some time in delighting in the music of their calls and the antics of their behavior. I am indeed fortunate to have that be the case at the place I call home.

So, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, how do you explain the many thousands of birds that populate large cities like New York, with its steel and glass canyons and dearth of trees? But, they ARE here, often in the most unlikely of places.

For example, I was making some photos as I often do from the rooftop of the CBS Broadcast center on W57th St. in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Suddenly, a small, flying black object that was moving west to east down 57th St. caught my eye. At first, I thought that it might be a black plastic bag that had gotten caught in the steady breeze blowing towards the river. But, as I looked more closely, I saw that it was a bird, a raven or crow, steadily flapping his wings as he continued to gain altitude. He had a large twig in his mouth and was making steady progress, going higher and higher, apparently heading for the taller building across the street from my location. I was on a building 10 stories into the air and the one that he was aiming for was twice as tall.

Two things struck me: the bird's flying seemed almost effortless as he climbed higher and higher, heading for the roof of that high-rise. I assumed that the twig was in his mouth to use for constructing a nest with his partner there and, apparently, proved no nuisance. It was as if the skyscrapers were merely canyons of glass to him.  Next, 57th is virtually devoid of trees. There are a few that line the street but they might be described more as saplings than full fledged trees. In fact, the closet mature ones inhabit Central Park, about a quarter mile away.

Yet, here was a black bird, far from his natural habitat, obviously still doing what birds do everywhere - building a nest to ensure future generations of his kind. This one just happened to be on a steel, brick, and glass monolith. After watching for a few minutes he disappeared somewhere on the roof.

Perhaps, you have to be a New Yorker to truly appreciate this, but, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, doesn't that bird represent what we all feel about living here? We all find a way to make it work. From the birds, to the bees, to the horse drawn Hansom cabs carting tourists through Central Park EVERYONE is part of a larger whole, living, working, and making New York the Greatest City in the World.

Today's MOZEN: The World's Greatest

F LoBuono

Even with my very healthy ego firmly in place, I have to admit that Donald J. Trump is a much bigger man than me in almost every way. He's a little over 6'2". I'm just under 5'10". He weighs over 250 lbs. I'm about 185. He lives in any one of a plethora of mansions and is chauffeur driven. I have a one bedroom apartment and drive a car with over 285,000 miles on it. I work as a technician. He ran a multi-million dollar real estate empire. I was president of my high school class. He is the most powerful man on earth.

So, what right do I have to criticize a man who in so many ways is larger than life (certainly MY life, anyway)?

Well, I believe that it has everything to do with a few things called honesty and integrity.

I have tried to live an honest life in all its aspects, including my appearance. I do not adorn myself with fancy clothing or jewelry. I would NEVER even consider dying my hair or beard, now flecked with copious amounts of silver and grey. I have never straitened my nose or teeth, both of which tend to go in their own directions. I drive a simple car with hundreds of thousands of miles on it - not because I can't afford a new one but, rather, because it suits me and still runs just fine. I live alone, simply and quietly, not by necessity but by choice. And, as a career, I have done honest work from the very beginning, never screwing anyone in the process and earning every dime.

Mr. Trump cannot make the same claims.

First, EVERYTHING about his appearance is phony. His hair, piled on top of a balding head in an elaborate comb-over, is dyed a pale gold. His teeth have obviously been straightened and whitened artificially. His skin glows with an orange luster caused by some type of spray on tanning chemical.

As for his business empire, so much of it has been predicated on various smoke and mirror techniques that it would send even an economist's head spinning. In a recent NY Times Sunday Magazine cover article (2/9/2020), "I.O.U. Donald Trump - The inside story of Donald Trump and Deutsche Bank, his lender and last resort", author David Enrich paints a picture of a man desperate to find money when, based on his previous track record no entity would lend him any, and a bank so intent on name recognition, they would break all the rules to do so:

Trump was among the beneficiaries of these shortcuts. Before making the Chicago loan, Deutsche Bank conducted an informal audit of his finances. Trump had declared to the bank that he was worth more than $3 billion, but Deutsche Bank concluded the real number was closer to $788 million - a quarter of what Trump said it was. For most banks, this would have been disqualifying, but Deutsche Bank was undeterred. Executives were so eager for growth and big deals that they managed to look past the obvious red flags. In February 2005, they agreed to lend him $640 million for the Chicago project.

The bank went on to create numerous "special purpose vehicles" for Mr. Trump to quietly and inexpensively acquire international properties. In other words, the tactics may or may not have been illegal. But, they certainly were questionable within the banking industry.

Even with the help from Deutsche Bank, Mr. Trump's so-called empire was once again in dire straights until he was rescued from the junk heap by another dose of smoke and mirrors. As exposed in a New Yorker article, How Mark Burnett Resurrected Donald Trump as an Icon of American Success (1/7/2019), author Patrick Radden Keefe, wrote how the masterful producer Burnett used The Apprentice to mythologize Trump - then a floundering "D-lister" as the ultimate titan, paving his way to the Presidency.

In other words, in order to create a hit TV show, Burnett used all the tricks of the trade that he learned in producing other successful reality TV shows like "Survivor" to give the APPEARANCE that Mr. Trump was something that he was NOT.

Simply put, his entire life, from his personal appearance to his business affairs, is based on a lie. It is said that he even cheats at golf! So, yes, Mr. Trump is so much greater than me but only in ways that I care not to be, i.e. as a phony.

Today's MOZEN: King MINUS

F LoBuono

When you have published as many TalkFrank blog posts as I have (nearly 1500), the danger is to avoid repetition - especially when considering that I feel that I have a moral imperative to respond to the daily assaults on the Rule of Law and Common Decency by a ruthless Administration. However, because these transgressions are so numerous and egregious, certain themes must be repeated. For me, it's this:

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

I have used this as a direct quote or within a theme on at least 4 other occasions over the course of the last year and a half (1/6/20, 10/27/18, 10/20/18, 10/3/2018). The redundancy is simply unavoidable because the President never changes. If anything, his boorish behavior actually gets worse.

And, this should come as no surprise.

Because, we've GOTTEN what we paid for.

Donald J. Trump was never anything more than an Emperor With No Clothes. New Yorkers, the people he interacted with more than any other, knew that he was ALWAYS a phony and a blowhard. He was no King Midas but more like King Minus. He screwed contractors. He bullied underlings. He dodged the draft. He bankrupted multiple businesses. He cheated charities.

Then came reality TV, a brilliant Executive Producer in Mark Burnett, some great editors and cameramen, and a show called The Apprentice. It was a perfect format for a larger-than-life character like Donald J. Trump. It managed to turn a failed business man, barely hanging on in the brutal NY real estate market, into the image of a deal making powerhouse.

The show catapulted Mr. Trump into the role of a lifetime - a ruthless businessman who would bring needed change to the American Political System that so many of us had become disillusioned with. And, he rode that tide of discontent to the very highest position in the land.

But, we never got more than we paid for - and, we never will. He is the host of a Reality TV Show whose success is predicated on bluster and deception - a winning formula for banal TV viewing but disastrous for the Leader of the Free World.

His latest assault on decency comes in light of the capitulation by the Republican controlled Senate on the Articles of Impeachment. They have given an Egomaniacal, Intellectually Challenged Bully license to run rampant over any form of reasonable civility.

So, what did you (do you) expect?

Yes, we got what we paid for . . . 

THE WORD OF THE DAY: IMBECILIC

F LoBuono

Imbecilic is defined as an adjective meaning contemptibly stupid, silly, or inappropriate. It should also have a photo of President Donald J. Trump next to it, especially considered his most recent faux pas at one of his lovefests, a.k.a. rally.

While speaking to another wildly enthusiastic crowd of his unshakable minions in Concord, New Hampshire, Mr. Trump began firing up his base by saying how much he loved their historic town, the town that EVERYONE talks about, the cradle of the American Revolution, CONCORD.

There was just one problem: the CONCORD that EVERYONE talks about, the place where legend says the American Revolution began with The Shot Heard 'Round the World, is in MASSACHUSETTS!! And, equally lame and inexplicable, the crowed roared with approval.

Coupled with his recent topographic miscue putting the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas instead of their home state of Missouri, this latest massacre of US geography is beyond a simple slip of the tongue: it's proof that his is incapable of meeting the most simple demands of his office. This is AMERICAN HISTORY 101!

Look, everyone makes mistakes. We are ALL human - even him. He doesn't have to be a genius. We have had many Presidents who's IQ's were sorely lacking. However, this man is still the leader of the entire Country. He is President of ALL the people from ALL of the States and he should know the important history and contributions each of them has made to the whole. But, that would mean he would actually have to READ and LEARN something. His incredible lack of knowledge in this area should be shocking (and, insulting) to EVERY AMERICAN!!!! The fact that his sycophants take no issue with this shameless lack of important, basic knowledge is as disturbing as it is lame.

Unfortunately, from the beginning of his Presidency, this man's goal has been the Dumbing Down of America - for the Common Man to rise above the so-called Educated Elite. Well, unfortunately, he seems to be succeeding - to the benefit of no one - except himself.

And, it's up to us to stop it - come November.

Today's MOZEN: The Man Who Would Be Emperor

F LoBuono

As a student of ancient history, I have always marveled at the similarities between Imperial Rome and the United States. Evidence of that connection can be found in the structure of many of our laws and in the use of Latin for many of our bedrock principles like E Pluribus Unum.

Well, I see another parallel between that ancient power and what is happening to us under Donald J. Trump.

Bronze Image of Spartacus

At the time of the slave revolt (73-71 BCE) against Rome led by the legendary gladiator, Spartacus, the City/State was still a Republic and featured a senate of democratically elected officials led by two (2) annually elected co-consuls. This was one of the earliest versions of Division of Powers so that one branch of government could not dominate the other. And, ONE man could not consolidate HIS powers. In other words, it was a democracy (at least of sorts). In times of great distress, the Roman senate would appoint a dictator with absolute power for 6 months to deal with the emergency. However, at the end of that time period, the single dictator would, at least theoretically, relinquish his post. And, this system worked for many hundreds of years.

As the revolt roiled and the slaves defeated inept Roman general

Bust of Marcus Lucinius Crassus

after general and threatened the city herself, the Senate panicked. They looked for a savior and thought that they found one in Marcus Licinius Crassus, a wealthy statesman/general from one of Rome's patrician families. Crassus pledged to defeat Spartacus by training and equipping an army at his own expense and leading it against the gladiator. He would use this as leverage to consolidate his power and, eventually, become Emperor, thereby signaling the beginning of the end for the Roman Republic.

As is often the case with people who thirst for absolute power, Crassus' strengthened his grasp of it by eliminating any and all rivals, often by violent means. In the classic Stanley Kubrick film, Spartacus (1960) which puts a Hollywood spin on history, Crassus, played by Laurence Olivier, finally defeats Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) on the battlefield. After his triumphant return to Rome, Crassus begins to purge any and all officials who may have disagreed with his methods and his thirst for absolute power. One of them is Senator Graccus, played by Charles Laughton (who co-wrote the script), Throughout the film, Graccus represents the consciousness of the Roman people, often in opposition to Crassus' lust for glory. Eventually, Crassus summons Graccus to the palace to confront him. Crassus explains that he has a list of enemies of the state and that they will suffer the consequences of their actions. Graccus responds by asking where HIS name appears on the list. Crassus shoves the list in Graccus' face and says "FIRST", sealing his fate.

Photo: Caroline Brehman

This, in it's own modern form, is actually being executed by President Trump even as I write this post.

After being acquitted by a Republican stacked Senate in a sham of an Impeachment Trial, Mr. Trump, was given virtually unlimited power by his minions. He has now set out to not only consolidate his power, but also reap his revenge on those who had the temerity to oppose him. In addition to his vicious verbal attacks on Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff, he had three men who had the audacity to suggest Mr. Trump had abused his power during their testimony before the House of Representatives removed from their positions within the government. These men include decorated veteran Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman , his twin brother (who never testified but one can only assume was removed because he looks like his brother), and former EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland. All of these men are well regarded within their communities and only spoke the truth as they saw it.

This wanton, vindictive assault on men of integrity and service by a bloated, draft-dodging demagogue who would be Emperor, makes a mockery of the Rule of Law. The only thing more damning than the President's abhorrent behavior is the sycophantic loyalty demonstrated by his minions in the Senate. They have not only supported Mr. Trump's demeanor, but their lack of fortitude has encouraged it to become even worse.

For these reasons, it is not hyperbole to fear for the future of OUR Republic. Just as Rome lost hers through greed, avarice, and lust for power by the few, we are in danger of losing our freedom to a man who lacks intelligence, grace, wisdom, compassion, and foresight - unless we stop him and his supporters from stealing it. 

WE have the power - don't let a MAN WHO WOULD BE EMPEROR, take it from us. Resist. Write. Scream. Vote.

Epilogue: Just a few examples of Roman Imperial Power -

The Emperor Nero (54-68 AD) allegedly had his mother murdered to consolidate his power.

Caligula (37-41 AD) had is adopted son, his father-in-law, and his brother-in-law, executed to keep his.

Today's MOZEN: MAKE A STAND!!!

Words of wisdom from the Mahatma Gandhi. Simply replace India with the United States:

Violence the Choice

I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence... I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor.
But I believe that nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment. Forgiveness adorns a soldier...But abstinence is forgiveness only when there is the power to punish; it is meaningless when it pretends to proceed from a helpless creature....
But I do not believe India to be helpless....I do not believe myself to be a helpless creature....Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
We do want to drive out the beast in the man, but we do not want on that account to emasculate him. And in the process of finding his own status, the beast in him is bound now and again to put up his ugly appearance.
The world is not entirely governed by logic. Life itself involves some kind of violence and we have to choose the path of least violence.

Today's MOZEN: The Heroine.

Photo from her website

Women, we have found our heroine!! Her name is Nancy Pelosi. She stood up to a liar and a bully and spit!! She looked him right in the eye and never blinked.

A CHAMPION HAS RISEN -

And it's a WOMAN. An Italian-American Woman.

Small in stature. Huge in courage.

Women, ladies, girls -

YOU HAVE THE POWER - TAKE IT - RALLY AROUND HER.

Dispatch this terrible man. We will follow you. We have a champion.


BE FEARLESS.

I am with you.

WE are with you.

Today's MOZEN: Brava, Ms. Pelosi

F LoBuono

Last night, at the end of President Trump's 3rd and final State of the Union Address that lasted well over an hour, The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, stood in front of a packed gallery and millions of TV viewers around the world, and in plain sight, tore her entire copy of the speech that was given to her by the President himself to pieces. Standing behind him, she rendered the legal sized papers in half while Mr. Trump basked in the bright TV lights and to the thunderous applause of his fanatical devotees. With a look that left no doubt as to her sentiments, she cast the remnants unto her desk.

Of course, Conservatives and the President's rabid supporters were outraged at the temerity and disrespect shown by the Speaker. Some even explored legal recourse to find an appropriate punishment. Their disdain was palpable. I mean, how could she?, they cried. However, they seem to ignore the fact Mr. Trump apparently refused to shake Ms. Pelosi's hand when she offered it at the beginning of the address.

Then, their are others, like me, who applaud the bold defiance of Ms. Pelosi in the face of the baldfaced lies and blatant exaggerations* uttered just moments before AND throughout the entire 3 years of this Administration by Mr. Trump. It cannot be easy to take such an outrageous stance to defend your position against the Most Powerful Man on Earth who also happens to be an inveterate bully. In fact, it would take a WOMAN of great courage to do so. And, she sure as shit did!

This is a veritable battle for the truth - something that Mr. Trump seems to have little grasp of, or desire for. Ms. Pelosi stood in his face and said, "No, sir. No, thank you!"

In addition to the wanton lying and shameless self-promotion, The President cemented his position as a bigot, misogynist, homophobe, and braggart by awarding a man with the same characteristics -who for 25 years, spewed his gospel of intolerance on the radio, with the Nation's highest civilian honor - The Medal of Freedom. That man is Rush Limbaugh, who's exploits as a bilious bully are well documented. But, he represents what Mr. Trump and his minions WANT America to be be - UGLY. The fact that Mr. Limbaugh has been diagnosed with terminal cancer is, in the final analysis, immaterial.

It's long past time to take, and MAKE, a stand - like the one Nancy Pelosi did last night. People will say that it's all so divisive. We need to come together. Well, of course we do. However, we can never compromise the TRUE principals of The American Way to do so - like it said at the end of the old Superman TV series: A NEVER ENDING BATTLE FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND THE AMERICAN WAY. Well, we need to fight for that.

In order to accomplish this we need to practice non-violent acts of defiance as The Speaker did last night. We cannot, we must not, allow America to be controlled by people so desperate to do so that they will compromise all of their ethics to control the true power in this Country. It's time, again, to stand and be counted!

So, Brava, Nancy Pelosi. Brava.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burker



*https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2020-02-04/ap-fact-check-trumps-claims-in-his-state-of-union-address

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT: The Silver Lining

F LoBuono

In my nearly 20 years with CBS News in New York, I have had the great privilege of being involved with 4 different Iowa Caucasus as a technician and photographer. In additional to the quality of the work, it gave me an insider's view of not only the political process on the highest levels, but allowed me exposure to a part of the Country that I may not have had the opportunity to otherwise explore. And, I was certainly there long enough to get a flavor for the people and place.

For the most part, I was restricted to Des Moines, Iowa's largest city. And, it's a nice, modern, little place. The State Capitol's gleaming dome, located on a hill overlooking the entire city, dominates the landscape. It's clean, the people accommodating and friendly. In an effort to keep the city relevant, the downtown area is dotted with high-end hotels (where the media, etc. stay) and a few hip bistros and bars. I remember getting my first taste of Templeton Rye, an excellent local whiskey, at one of the hotel bars there. But, the pace is certainly not near the frenetic one I deal with on virtually a daily basis in New York. 

However, I was also able to get out and explore the State just a bit, including a brief stay in Iowa City, home of the University. In doing so, I was able to see just how rural Iowa truly is. I remember marveling at the seemingly endless cornfields. In fact, it impressed upon me that there certainly seemed to be corn and hogs in Iowa than people. It sure didn't look like where I come from! I spent my years growing up between New Jersey, the 4th most diverse State in the Country,** and Brooklyn, NY where I could hear 5 or 6 different languages just walking two blocks on the Coney Island boardwalk.

Anyway, one of the things that I found both town and country had in common was an incredible lack of diversity, i.e. it's overwhelming white (just over 90% *). Even in the heart of their largest city, the black population was virtually none existent. Now, I have been in parts of the Country where forms of segregation are still practiced - minorities exist, but in their own place (Jim Crow lives - a story for another day). But, this was different. They just didn't seem to exist in any great quantity.

I always found it both brilliant AND odd that the Iowa Caucuses should foster such political importance. It's brilliant because it took a State that could easily be overlooked politically (the winner still only gets 41 delegates), and, using an quaint election system (the caucus) and good timing, thrust themselves into the limelight of both National and International political communities.

But, it's also odd to me because it IS Iowa, and Iowa, in my opinion, does NOT reflect that image of the great majority of this Country. Now, that is not to say it is of no importance, but rather to give it it's rightful place - and, that ain't at the top.

So, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, perhaps The Silver Lining of the incredibly awkward bungling of the results from last night's (2/3/2020) Iowa Caucus by the Democratic Party, will serve as a wake up call that, if they want to be the party of the people, they'd better start by looking like it. Failure, in no longer an option.

BE the Party of the People - or, don't. And, just like what happened with Trump, you will get what you pay for . . .


*https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/IA
**https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/most-diverse-states-in-the-US-2019-wallethub

Today's MOZEN: The Lesson of the Hurricane

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

When I get tired and feel like I just can't carry the fight any more, I think of this man - Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who was falsely tried and imprisoned for a murder in Paterson, NJ that he was later exonerated of. For the nearly the 2 decades he was in prison, he REFUSED TO WEAR A PRISONERS UNIFORM. He told the guards that if they tried to make him, he would FIGHT them, literally, then, the next day, the day after that, and to the end of time. He simply would not allow the corrupt system that sent him to prison identify him. He could not be broken - and, he never was.

At the time of his arrest, he was the #1 contender for the middleweight crown. He could have risen above the poverty stricken chaos of his youth to become World Champion. That distinction was stolen from him. However, he became much more important than a mere boxing champion - he transformed into an international symbol of resistance against oppression.

I need to remember that. . .