Today's MOZEN: Dead Shark

 

F LoBuono

When I think about the state of near anarchy our Country is in, my feelings range from extreme depression to raging indignation.

I've never seen anything like it - and, I'm old enough to have experienced the deceit and heartbreak of Vietnam, the lies and deception of Nixon, and the greed and avarice of Reagan. All of those eras saw the Country nearly torn apart by the intense differences in opinions by Americans on exactly what America herself was, and is, supposed to be.

On the one hand, we have so-called Conservatives and on the other, Liberals. One group is dedicated to preserving the status quo while the other seeks more progressive change. Generally speaking, Republicans represent Conservatives while Democrats are associated with Liberals. If you would like to know the difference in the two platforms, go to a dictionary and look the two words up.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Now, that you've done that, let me ask you this question: which description would YOU rather be defined by?

I know where my heart lies.

That's what so disturbing about where we are now. The fight is on for the very Heart AND Soul of this Country. 

In the past, our Republic has been strong enough to survive the blows inflicted upon it by people who stubbornly cling to the past as if it were some shield to protect them against the change so necessary and inevitable to keep our Country growing and, therefore, strong. To paraphrase Woody Allen in his movie Annie Hall: relationships are like sharks. They have to keep moving forward or they die. What we have on our hands is a dead shark. Just replace relationships with Country and you'll get my meaning.

Those people who continue to support Donald J. Trump and his entire Administration are dealing with a dead shark. His/their very slogan, Make America Great Again, is a harkening to the good ol' days, forgetting that often meant segregation, intimidation, degradation, and blind ignorance. These things are to be left behind, not yearned for!

We must continue to make progress (i.e. be progressive) and not cling to the past, but build a brighter future. In my mind, that is impossible under the likes of Mr. Trump who has managed to dupe so many into believing that his ethos is dedicated to improving anyone or anything besides himself and his family. In fact, convincing working people that the Republican Party is actually on their side is one of the greatest marketing feats in the history of the world. It could also be considered one of the world's greatest jokes if it wasn't so sad.

Yes, I must admit that it actually makes me angry to think what's so obvious to so many - that Mr. Trump would do and say almost ANYTHING to stay in power, even at the cost of our personal freedoms. And, yet, their are millions of others who have been blinded by his Cult of Personality. You see them in their pickup trucks, horns blaring, Trump banners proudly flowing, spitting their hateful rhetoric wherever they go.

So, let me close by repeating a popular slogan: Vote like our life depends on it. Because it does . . . 

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT: I'd Rather Be Alone

 

Now that the most important, and divisive, Presidential election in my lifetime (65+ years) is imminent, I've witnessed a surge in social media memes that are asking people to be more civil in their discourse. Of course, this is an admirable goal. Even when we vehemently disagree on policy issues, we should always keep our humanity in mind - and, that means, in the end, we need to respect one another.

However, there are limits. At least there are to me.

Disagreements on so-called political issues are one thing. There have been, and always will be room for differing points of view in my life. However, when those views express feelings of turpitude, I am going to call you on them. 

Politics are one thing. Morality is quite another.

So, if you wish to defend bigotry, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, mendacity, greed, sloth, cruelty, malevolence, fear, loathing, and hatred as part of your political ideology, I'm going to call you on it - EVERY TIME. There is absolutely no room in my life for people who espouse these traits as part of theirs'.

People will often offer that we can agree to disagree or we can still be friends.

Well, that depends.

If your moral compass lies in my Red Zone (literally as well as figuratively), the answer to those questions is a resounding NO. I will NOT agree to abhorrent moral behavior OR ideals. And, NO, I will not accept immoral people as friends.

So, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I'd rather live alone than be surrounded by people lacking in even the least in moral courage.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT: Reprehensible

Illustration by kaya Mar

Let's be fair and give the man his due when it is warranted. So, just when you thought the bar couldn't be set any lower, Donald J. Trump has set a new standard in abhorrent behavior.

Making ridiculous, child-like facial gestures to mock not only his political opponents but anyone who may have had the audacity to question his integrity or acumen, may be his idea of just having fun at someone else's expense. However, inciting violence against ANYONE, particularly against a sitting governor of one of the Country's largest States, is beyond deplorable - it's downright despicable.

His recent campaign rally (aka, Super-Spreader event) in Michigan set the bar lower than the *Mariana Trench. And, put in the simplest terms, that is lower than whale shit. His criticism of Michigan's Democratic, and lawfully elected governor, Gretchen Witmer, was so vitriolic in its presentation that it whipped his minions into such a frenzy that they began chanting, LOCK HER UP! And, for what - her efforts to keep her citizens safe? Really?

And, the worst part is that he not only refused to calm the crowd, his smiling, applauding approval actually encouraged them to become even more enraged! Considering the fact that the FBI just foiled a kidnapping plot by White Supremacists against Governor Witmer, the reaction was simply vile. Shame on him AND those people who roared with delight!

This man is supposed to be not only the leader of our Country, but also that of the entire Free World. And, here he is making faces and grinning like a buffoon. Worse still, his rhetoric emboldened his howling minions towards violence against not only a political adversary but a woman, wife, and mother.

So, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, Hillary Clinton was wrong; his hardcore supporters are not a basket of deplorables. It's beyond that - they are REPREHENSIBLE (and, just about any other negative adjective you care to add) - and, so is Donald J. Trump - soon to be FORMER President of the United States.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench

Today's MOZEN: Dead Man Walking

Illustration by Kaya Mar

This post, especially at this time, will be like virtually all of my others regarding President Donald J. Trump and his entire Administration: it will be relentlessly negative and will not change a single mind. Those vehemently opposed to Mr. Trump need no more prompting to vote his sorry ass out of office. Those in favor of rewarding him with another 4 years will exercise their right as well and cast their votes for him.

I suppose the difference with this post is that I've become more convinced than ever that Mr. Trump, despite the unwavering support among his minions, is heading for a crushing defeat on November 3rd.

My reasoning is two-fold. First, virtually every National poll has the President trailing challenger Joe Biden, often by double digits. Furthermore, he trails Biden in key, so-called swing States that delivered an Electoral College win for him in 2016. But, as we saw in that election, polls can be inaccurate or, at least, misleading. Therefore, now is not the time for complacency.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, Mr. Trump's already controversial behavior has taken an even deeper decent into the realm of the unhinged. One need not be a psychologist or social scientist to see that he has become so desperate with even the thought of his defeat that not only his words, but his actions too are those of a madman.

He and his Administration's plan (or, more accurately, LACK OF one) to deal with the COVID pandemic has backfired on him to the point that he actually became infected with the very virus he earlier called a hoax. And, his reaction to contracting COVID-19 can only be described as bizarre. His return to the White House after a short stint at Walter Reed Medical Center was right out of the Benito Mussolini handbook! And, we all know what became of il Duce.

His vicious attack on Democratic Vice President candidate, Kamala Harris, calling her a monster and a communist, is the language of a man who has lost not only his cool, but, quite possible, his mind, as well. This, on top his lack of morals and/or scruples, is the mark of a man who is losing his grip on reality.

Unfortunately, the cult of personality which guides his followers cannot be shaken. Despite his obvious meltdown, they will never leave his side. As a comedian/friend said to me, Mr. Trump could walk into one of his follower's homes, shoot their dog, and they would blame the dog. There is no reason or logic as the foundation of their support. I suppose that they are as damaged emotionally and spiritually as he is.

But, that doesn't matter. This Country still has a conscience. And, if that man has done one thing right, it has been to awaken our sense of duty, honor, and compassion - all things Mr. Trump lacks so completely and, to his lasting shame, will prove his undoing. Think of him as the proverbial dead man walking. . . 

F LoBuono

Today's MOZEN: Karma Can Be A Bitch

TRUMP>COVID>KARMA 

Today's MOZEN: The Buck Stops Here

One of the most notable things associated with President Harry S. Truman was a sign on his desk that read THE BUCK STOPS HERE. It was made at the Federal Reformatory in El Reno, Oklahoma and sat on the President's desk from October 1945 until he left office.  It's a term that was first used in frontier poker games. A buckhorn knife on the table was pointed at the man whose turn it was to deal the cards. When a player wished to pass on his turn as dealer to someone else, the knife was moved, thereby passing the buck.

Harry Truman

Truman referred to the slogan on more than one occasion to emphasize the enormous responsibility that sits squarely on the shoulders of the President. He simply CANNOT pass the burden of leadership on to anyone else. No matter what the pain my be, the President must stand alone, resolute in his convictions and decisions.

This is what leaders do.

At least that's how it use to be.

We now have a blustering bully for a President that only takes responsibility for his own perceived greatness. According to him, he has never made a mistake in his life. If anything has gone wrong in his administration, it was not by his ineptitude but rather at the hand of others lacking his great insight and skills: China is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of Americans. The Press is always lying about him. His staff deserts him because they are corrupt and inept. Health care has not been passed because Congress acts against him. Woman accuse him of sexual misconduct because they are after his money. Businesses sue him because they are jealous of his success.

And the list goes on.

Illustration by Kaya Mar

The Buck Stops Here means that the for better OR worse, the President is ultimately responsible for EVERYTHING that happens on his watch. Excuses be damned. OWN UP or SHUT UP - this President is incapable of either. In fact, it seems that for Mr. Trump, based on a recent NY Times article claiming that, in fact, he is in a great deal of debt, the buck stops NOWHERE - literally as well as figuratively.