Monday, December 28, 2015

Round and Round I Go


I have had so much difficulty writing these past few months.  So much is going on in the world that I have definitely gotten overwhelmed by it all, and focussing on one subject has been impossible.  It's almost the end of 2015 and we are nearing a clean slate for 2016.  Before we go, I just have a few things I want to ruminate about.  

The first is the all encompassing and media darling, Donald T***p.  It's hard to bear watching.  The things that come out of his mouth and the cheers and applause he gets from his disciples are unsettling and appalling.  Since I live in the world of eternal hope with some dips in depression, I have to believe the likelihood of us inaugurating President T***p are slim to none.  I am going with that premise for this rumination.  Then what?  What does Donald do after he loses the nomination?  How can he pick up the pieces after all he's said and done?  Would I ever give one dime to anything with his name or likeness on it again?  I had already boycotted T***p Tower in New York.  A personal choice, but how can his business associates turn the other cheek?  According to him, some of his best friends are Muslims.  How do they ever break bread with him again?  How do you spend thousands upon thousands to be members of any of his golf courses?  How does the PGA continue to go all in with their prestigious tournaments at any of his courses?  How do you find construction crews to build his next ostentatious tower?  I just can't see him being able to go back as if nothing happened, as if all the things he said didn't have an impact, as if he didn't insult every minority group multiple times, as if, as if, as if.  I can't imagine sitting around the family table with all the extended family, as if.  He has been married to two immigrant wives.  The current wife wasn't a citizen until after they got married.  How can he ever go back?  The Pandora's box is open.  The curtain has been pulled back completely.  How can he ever continue, as if....

On the other side of this, is Hillary Clinton.  I absolutely don't get the hate and the visceral reactions when her name is mentioned.  Many women are the worst haters.  I don't get it.  What did she actually do?  What is her sin?  It feels so anti-woman to me.  Can someone please explain it to me?  She is a thoroughly accomplished woman. She went to Wellesley College and Yale Law School.  She fought for women's issues all her life.  As First Lady, she dared to present a comprehensive health care plan that may have crossed the traditional lines for a First Lady, but she tried and got roundly demonized.  She suffered through public humiliation and thrashing for her husband's dalliances and Congress' unending hearings for everything under the sun.  She stood by her man.  Is that her sin?  She ran for President in 2008 and made some huge campaign errors.  Is that her sin?  She was chosen to be Secretary of State under Barack Obama.  Is that her sin?  I am constantly stunned by the lack of support from so many Democrats.  I don't get it.  If someone could explain to me why she is so hated, I'd appreciate it.  She's done more than most in this world.  I know that polls say she has a trustworthy issue, but they all do in politics, so why does she get so vilified?  I really don't get it.  

What I do know beyond any reasonable doubt, is that the next President of the United States must be a Democrat, and for the three that are running, it really only leaves one.  I know that many people love Bernie Sanders.  I have always admired him, but his socialist views will stop him, even before his Judaism gets realized.  Martin O'Malley is not ready yet.  That leaves Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  It would be amazing to have a woman for President, but even more so, an extremely qualified woman.  There may be 4, I will say that again, 4, Supreme Court appointments during the next Presidency.  For the millennial generation that don't understand what that means, please do your homework.  That is more important that almost anything else anyone says or does.  Those appointments are for life.  Life, you hear that?  You must register to vote. You must take the time in your day when the primary and general elections are held.  OK?  Sigh.  

Okay, and the last thing that has been really sticking in my craw is the great Pete Rose.  The MLB commissioner has continued Pete Rose's baseball ban for life.  It was crushing, but whether you agree or disagree with that decision, it's the total hypocrisy of MLB that kills me.  Pete Rose is banned because he allegedly bet on baseball and still gambles today on sports.  He lives in Las Vegas and it's legal.  He is one of the all time great baseball players to have played the game.  No one argues that.  Robin Manfred, commissioner, didn't like that Pete still gambles and yet, MLB is a huge investor in DraftKings and FanDuel.  Both sites have been called gambling by NY State, Illinois, Nevada and others to follow.  So, let me get this straight Commissioner Manfred, it's not okay to gamble if you're Pete Rose and one of the greatest players ever, but it is okay to invest heavily in websites that promote heavy gambling to keep people interested in your sport?  Maybe we should just go back to steroids for the players to keep people watching. 

Things that I have been ruminating in my head about for weeks now.  I hope that 2016 brings us all a world full of peace, love, and prosperity.  Happy New Year and drink responsibly.  

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Don't Want Your Prayers!

This umpteenth mass shooting that's still active in this moment, these are the tweets  90 minutes since the news was released from our candidates:

California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!

My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.

Marco Rubio nothing

Praying for those impacted by the shooting in California today.

Chris Christie nothing*

Carly Fiorina nothing*

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.



John Kasich nothing*

George Pataki nothing*

Rand Paul nothing*

Rick Santorum nothing*

Lindsey Graham nothing*

* Nothing meaning they are tweeting about other things than this tragedy or they haven't tweeted for awhile....