Psychic Infection

Epilogue

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 23:32:00 +0000

Carl Sagan's quote says it best. "We are stardust." The elements that make us up were formed in a red giant star, billions of years ago. After our time is done, those elements remain, in one form or another to rejoin the universe. Our star stuff remains.

Philosophers have rightly pointed out that life is a duality. At its most basic there is life and death, the greatest duality. Each gives the other meaning, but in our day to day lives death is ignored.

Death will come to us all. It is inevitable, it is a part of life. It can be happy, sad, a release or tragic. But at it's most basic,it simply is.

My life has been a good one. I've been happy,sad,fearful,brave, stupid,smart,loving and hateful.

I've been unlucky, lucky, loved, feared,hated, joyful and blissful.

As everyone does, I've experienced all of what life has to offer. I can't complain.

I've had friends,good friends. I've worked with good people. I've made a good life. Lucie and I have made a great family.

Lucie,Hannah and Russell each have been a wish granted. My family is everything.

As my time,perhaps, comes to a close,I feel ready for what awaits me. Disease has helped me try to put all of this into perspective. Death gives meaning to life,and life is finite. Star dust is eternal.

Time will tell.

The Death of Jamaica Avenue Queens NYC.

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 03:52:00 +0000

Where it all began. My old neighborhood.

TWISTED SISTER - Live North Stage 1982 (Full)

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 04:50:00 +0000

Back in the late Seventies and early Eighties of the Twentieth Century, I was an "SMF'. An SMF was an NSFW term for the ardent fans and followers of the rock band Twisted Sister. The band achieved some brief national notoriety with an over-the-top stage act and a powerful rock voice that appealed to folks that happily identified as "SMFs". Good music, good booze, good times.

In 1982, after signing a record deal, the band would head off to England to record what they hoped would be their entre into the big time. This was their last concert before heading off to the U.K.

Now, we are into the second decade of the twenty-first century, the band has only recently finished their latest farewell tour after years of on-again-off-again activity. All of us are now older and wiser(?), and we live in a YouTube world, where one can stumble upon concerts like this one, as I did a few nights ago. I was browsing YouTube on my SmartTV, reclined in my bathrobe in an unflattering position on a recliner in my living room on Long Island. My two teenagers ignoring me and my wife in another room reading, with a Home Shopping channel on for background noise.

Early in the concert, someone in the crowd hands the lead singer, Dee Snider a copy of "Kick-Ass Monthly", a fanzine newsletter. I remember knowing the guy who published it. A nice fellow named Bob Muldowney I had met back then through a good friend of mine named Mark Salomon. We were all metalheads and big fans of Twisted. I hadn't thought about Bob or Kick-Ass Monthly in years, Bob had passed away some years back, gone too young and way too soon. But there was Dee, holding up the newsletter and riffing on his cover picture. I guess Bob was at this show! I settled in to watch, remembering the good times and marveled at how it all looked so familiar. As I said, I was a card-carrying SMF, I had seen Twisted countless times back in the days they played in clubs throughout the tri-state area.

The show was terrific, all of their songs done in the speed frenzy that Twisted Sister was known for. It was so much fun to watch and reminisce about those times. For their big finale, they would do their only cover song of the set, the Stones' "I Know It's Only Rock 'n Roll", but it would be done their way. While the Stones version seemed almost laconic, Twisted sped it all up until it was a raging celebration of the freedom that the best rock songs could inspire. It was always a Twisted show highlight.

As usual, the band would pause in the song to interact with the audience with a call-and-response interlude (When I say "I Know, it's only Rock and Roll", you say "I LIKE IT! ) interspersed with patter about the band's philosophy and mission. The audience would react as one, with a howl of joy ("I LIKE IT!!!!!) as we had all done so many times before, in so many dives over the years.

During Dee's cajoling of the crowd, the camera angle shifted to a side view. As the stage lights would alternate the spotlights, I did a double-take. Could it be? Was that ME I just saw in the audience? I was gobsmacked. I had to stop and rewind the video a couple of times to be sure, but it was unmistakable. There I was, close up to the stage right next to my friend Mark as we were yowling along with the writhing crowd!

On the one hand, I guess it shouldn't have surprised me, I really did see a lot of Twisted back then. I didn't specifically remember this show, but this was a mind-numbing 38 years ago! This was Reagan -was-President, Disco-sucking, hair on my head 38 years ago! Me and Mark, as we were, probably 20 years old, just barely older than my daughter is now. DAMN!

A lot of water under the bridge since then. I showed the video to my family (mostly unimpressed) but I was saddened to think that I could not call Mark to show him and share the shock, he passed away a few years ago. But there he was, probably a bit drunk, but still on his feet at the end of Twisted's show, handing out copies of Kick-Ass Monthly.

I was moved to reopen this blog, to mark this occasion. I can't talk about it with Mark, so the internet will have to do. It was the internet that brought back this memory for me, so I suppose it's probably poetic justice.

I probably should spend less time in the damn recliner also.

Pastor Jeffress, Alien

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 05:28:00 +0000

I think we can guess that this Trump supporting pastor is from another planet.

Bruce

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:06:00 +0000

The long awaited "Springsteen on Broadway" concert film is now showing on Netflix for the price of a subscription, or free if you are on a limited trial. It is the bargain of the year, as the film is a wonderful recreation of the live experience of being at the show.

The original Broadway engagement, with its famously pricey tickets, also happened to be the bargain of the year for his die-hard fans, of which I am one. I was fortunate to get a ticket last January through the byzantine TicketMaster "Verified Fan" distribution setup. Even that was, in retrospect, well worth it.

The show I saw back in January was, as I described in my most certainly biased way, was absolutely transcendent. It was achingly intimate, with a connection between performer and audience that was beyond raw. It was an emotional joining between Bruce and his fans that was impossibly ramped up from the already intense bond with his audience he has always achieved during his "regular" arena shows.

The film has received great reviews, and deservedly so. I have an annoyingly critical eye, so the one or two jarring edits are probably imperceptible to most people, and except that I have mentioned them, are not worth mentioning(!).

Even as an old guy now, with my rock show days mostly in my rear view mirror, the film brought me back, with nostalgia and pathos, to those halcyon days when the road ahead was mostly an unknown. As Bruce tells it, at this stage of the game, and with more pieces of the puzzle in hand, looking back at the examined life is well worth the pain. And the tears.

Jello Pudding Pops and Tic Tacs

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:14:00 +0000

Sexual predators have certain defining characteristics. Often they have economic power over their prey. They isolate their victims when they strike. The scenario too often becomes a "he said, she said" affair. Humiliatingly enough, the victims are often blamed as the instigators, or their stories are simply not believed.

Bill Cosby is on trial now for raping a one-time protege of his. Apparently, his behavior goes back decades, as a string of victims has come forth with eerily identical stories of Cosby's methods of sexual abuse. Trump's methods were caught on tape during his Presidential campaign, as he bragged about his style of victimizing women.

In Cosby's case, the accuser is a woman, and her story is being picked apart by high priced lawyers. The outcome of the case is still to be determined, but Cosby is now and will forever be known as a serial sexual abuser.

Trump's accuser, curiously enough is a man, James Comey, ex-head of the FBI. While not a case of sexual abuse, the methodology is strikingly familiar. In seeking to obstruct an investigation into his one-time National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, Trump sought to isolate and intimidate Comey into doing his bidding.

Comey was savvy enough to document Trump's attempts to thwart justice and being fortunate enough to be a man, his story will carry a great deal more weight than if he were a woman. Such is the sorry state of our culture that a victim's gender would determine how their account of their victimization would be received.

Oddly enough, during testimony from Comey today, Senator Diane Feinstein wondered of Comey, "Why didn't you tell anybody about this?" She sounded just like a male police officer admonishing a female rape victim that her skirt was too short.

I guess you haven't come a long way, baby.

Things Unneeded

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Wed, 10 May 2017 02:49:00 +0000

Marketers have been trying to sell unneeded things to gullible consumers for years.

Believe it or not, people buy the oddest things.

Why do people buy such unnecessary things?

Sometimes it's just a dumb fad.

Sometimes it's just a con job.

TodayTix, the mobile app that caters to millennials that don't know how to buy Broadway theater tickets, now, after raising their fees, offers to sell tickets to shows up to thirty days in advance. That's a remarkable development in the same way that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Who knew that a service that offers LESS than the primary ticketing platforms could trumpet the fact that their services are, without exception, duplicative and unnecessary, yet spin them as innovative and novel?

I guess it's just all in the marketing.

Swamp Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 03:16:00 +0000

There's a scam that homeowners are warned about every now and then. Crews working neighborhoods ring bells and offer to do some sort of work, yard work, plumbing, anything like it. They will say that they have a special deal, but that it's a one day special, that they need to close the deal quickly so the work can begin.

As you may guess, when the job is paid upfront, the work may not ever get done. Or, more cash will be required because of unexpected difficulties in the job. Senior citizens are most often targeted for this con, but it can happen to anybody that will fall for it.

During his campaign for the Presidency, a signature issue for Donald Trump was that he'd build a wall on the southern border and "Mexico would pay for it".

Well, Donnie Boy wound up winning and he's trying to get something accomplished as the first one hundred days of his Presidency are coming to an end. Since Mexico has stated, in no uncertain terms, that they will most definitely not pay for Trump's Wall, the Donald is trying to have billions of dollars appropriated from a finance bill that is necessary to keep the government from running out of money. Trump wants American taxpayers to front the money for his wall, and he'll somehow get Mexico to pay us back down the line.

Once a con man, always a con man. How is this any different from the home repair scam? Convincing folks that they need work done and squeezing more and more money out of them to get the project done is a known and typical fraud. Looking at his record, it's clear to see that Trump is just as much of a fraud.

Looking Out for Number One

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 03:15:00 +0000

"How can Trump be in bed with the Russians when he just called them out for their ties to Syria? It doesn't make sense! He himself has called the relationship with Russia to be as bad as at the height of the cold war!"

You might think these were logical questions and statements that put the investigations into Trump's campaign ties to Russia and the sentiment of U.S. intelligence services conclusion that Russia did interfere in the U.S. Presidential elections into a whole new and skeptical light.

Well. logic be damned. Let's look at the facts.

Donald Trump has a long checkered and documented past of self-dealing in every way imaginable. From stiffing private contractors to abusive use of lawsuits, Trump is a known devious and dishonest manipulator. Just because the Russians may have helped him or simply preferred him to Hillary Clinton doesn't mean that when the chaos and ineptitude of Trump's still less than one hundred days old and derailing administration that a nifty turn to military action in Syria and diplomatic name calling of the Russians wouldn't be just the tonic for the embattled Trump Administration.

Even now as he pushes out his buddy Steve Bannon, Trump will do what he must to survive. Skip out on payments to small businesses in Atlantic City? Check. Declare bankruptcy multiple times, leaving co-investors holding the bag? Check. Even throw your Russian patrons under the bus, in spite of having the election tilt your way with their help? No problemo.

It's just about the Donald, and it doesn't matter who he betrays when the going gets tough. And besides, the Russians may be crafty, but that doesn't make them smart. Getting in bed with the Trumpster may have felt good at the time, but now that Donnie-boy has shown a propensity for launching cruise missiles without the lawful assent of Congress, maybe Vladimir might be starting to have a bit of buyer's remorse right about now.

Just like a wistful bride with her hunky but abusive husband, maybe Vlad thought he could change him. We know how that scenario tends to play out, don't we?

Fool Me Once

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 03:45:00 +0000

Donald Trump has nominated for the Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch. Gorsuch is a Federal Judge pre-approved by the radical conservative special interests that Trump was pandering to during his presidential campaign. Gorsuch is nominated for the slot that Senate Republicans denied to Merrick Garland, an Obama nominee, that resulted from the death of Antonin Scalia. The Supreme Court has been working short-handed for over a year.

It is in this toxic situation that Republicans hope to secure for themselves the "Conservative slot" of Scalia on the Court for themselves, by way of Gorsuch.

First off, this is a fiction wrapped in a lie. There is no such thing as a "Conservative slot", and the unconstitutional actions of the Republican majority were an embarrassment to this country. The Republican majority denied Judge Garland a hearing and a vote, and now, with the prospect of a Democratic filibuster to prevent Gorsuch the 60 votes needed for confirmation, there is talk of the "nuclear option". That would be a change in the Senate rules that would negate the right to filibuster by the minority and allow approval of a Supreme Court nomination with a simple majority.

The Republican majority can do this. They can change the rules. The Democrats did this when Republicans blocked all of President Obama's nominations for all manner of positions. The Democrats left in place only the sixty vote requirement for the Supreme Court.

With Democrats now a powerless minority, they have no way to prevent the Republicans from simply changing the rules on the Gorsuch nomination. Some are counseling the Democrats to hold off on the filibuster on the Gorsuch nomination. The rationale is that Gorsuch isn't so bad, that it's just a replacement for a "Conservative slot" on the court. They should save their filibuster for when Trump gets the opportunity to replace a liberal judge.

No, No, and NO!!!

Yes, it's true that the Democrats can't stop the Republicans from putting Gorsuch on the bench. But who in their right mind thinks that come some future situation, perhaps when the elderly and not in great health Judge Ginsburg retires or dies, that the Republicans won't use their majority to set rules that would allow yet another corporatist Conservative onto the court? Who in their right mind believes that the wretches that comprise the Republican majority in the Senate wouldn't gladly take Democrat acquiescence now and strong arm another horrendous Conservative cretinous nominee into the "Liberal slot" down the line?

This sort of strategy is exactly how the Democrats have allowed the gerrymandering of the country and created the sort of culture of losing that has long vexed the party.

The Democrats MUST stand united in resistance and defiance to any and all attempts by the Trump administration to hack away at the very foundations of our American values and culture. Have they learned nothing from the Republican debacle in their idiotic attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare? The Republicans are a party not at all interested in governing, and the Democrats must stand against their entire program. Democrats must use the Republicans own ineptitude against them.

If the Republicans want to ram through Gorsuch, let them. The Democrats can not be a part of the political appeasement of Trump or his minions.

As the country becomes aware of the results of Trump's platform, as it is implemented, there are two ways things may go. The country will either continue its descent into chaos, or there will be a new awakening to what has been taken from us. The rising up of the real majority, no longer in its comfortable stupor, will take back this country and restore its true greatness.

Sadly, the first option is set into motion so far.

Now It's In Public

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 04:14:00 +0000

Now we know what's been going on behind closed doors in the Trump Organization all these years. Lies and duplicity, disloyalty and all manner of slimy behavior. The stories about Trump and his business dealings are legion, and now that he is President, all of his worst machinations are on display for the country, and the world, to see.

The business world is run in a dog eat dog, Machiavellian way. No news there. The fact that Trump has operated his business through multiple bankruptcies, the stiffing of private contractors, and the bullying use of lawsuits has worked well for him in the private realm, clearly has no analogous method in the realm of governance.

All that's left, after a mere two-plus months into his tenure is the ragged and pervasive stench of failure with more than a pinch of corruption and treason. And instead of behind closed boardroom doors, it's all out in public view.

Ebony and Ivory

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 05:08:00 +0000

For years, radical conservatives have described the drug problem in this country in terms of race. Minorities that used illegal drugs were considered less than human, unable to be productive members of society. Minorities lacked "family values" the conservatives said. Divorces, single mother led families, high crime rates, and joblessness were all the proof these conservatives needed to justify their racist beliefs.

Odd how now, nearly four decades into the "Reagan Revolution" and the near total collapse and destruction of the middle class, we are finding these same destructive social problems in white communities all across the midwest.

A news article today highlights the incredible drug overdose rate in West Virginia, of all places, a whiter state you'd have a hard time finding. With the advent of crystal meth, a cheap and powerful drug, deaths from drug overdoses are skyrocketing. A fund for aid to indigents funeral services has run out of cash because of the high rate of drug deaths. Funny, there is no talk of moral failings of these white communities that are now suffering from the same afflictions that minority communities have suffered from for decades.

Obviously, it is not and never has been a racial problem. It has always been a matter of economics. When minority families are oppressed by high rates of joblessness and suffer from the despair of no hope for better prospects, the very fabric of society frays and comes apart. Now that white communities across the country are facing the same conditions, the bonds of their communities are disintegrating and the results are remarkably similar. High divorce rates, poor education, joblessness and drug abuse are the scourge of whites, just as they have always been to minorities.

People are horrified when America is described as a racist society. Given what we've seen and now know to be true, it's time to accept the facts as they are.

Living the Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 17:15:00 +0000

Like many Asian industrial powers, South Korea has had great success in taking good ideas and making them better. In the consumer electronics realm, South Korean companies have made great strides in improving products with each new product cycle.

Politically, these economic powerhouses have used the blueprint of American democracy to enhance their standing in the world and to provide a secure economic environment for their well educated and upwardly mobile middle classes.

Now it is time for the student to instruct the teacher.

South Korea has impeached and removed from office their head of state. Corruption and political malfeasance justified the move and new elections will be held. There are defenders of the deposed President, but the mature populace has not resorted to violence. It is a textbook example of modern political maturity.

The United States has a similar situation. A democratically elected President is enmeshed in corrupt practices and foreign intrigue. His cabal of fascist advisors is enabling the crippling of the nation economically and politically. For the good of the country, the only logical solution is the impeachment and removal of President Trump.

Will this country live up to its principles and promises, or does this administration mark the unstoppable slide to oblivion of the great American experiment?

Stay tuned.

Truth With No Consequences

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Donald Trump is still having a hard time with the truth. All about him are leaks and the truth trickles out painfully slowly.

Since his January twentieth inauguration, he's lost a National Security advisor to a lack of truth, and now his newly installed Attorney General has had to recuse himself from investigating the Trump campaign following the revelation that he told lies to Congress during his confirmation hearings. He perjured himself, but maybe that's just semantics. Lies under oath may not actually be perjury to the Republican-controlled Congress. The Republicans do a good job of watching out for their own.

But, I wonder, what's all the hullaballoo about, anyway? So what if Trump and his campaign unlawfully colluded with the Russian government to tilt the election to Trump? So what if Trump has installed a cabinet that will carry out Steve Bannon's fever dream of tearing up the country's social contract? It's not like his constituents care about the truth.

Trump's base, his voters, are aware of what a liar Trump is. He's a sexual predator, a con artist, a thief, a serial philanderer, but none of that mattered to his base. They proudly voted him in.

As we know, his voters were the basket of deplorables, the racists, misogynists, know-nothings and the alt-right gang. Those cretins were tuned into the racist rhetoric spewed by Trump during the campaign, and they ate it up.

Another group were the Hillary-haters. That group that would have voted for ANYONE other than Hillary Clinton. That Donald Trump was the opposing candidate was just a happy coincidence for Donald. These misguided souls would have voted for Hitler if Hillary were the only other choice. Even with all of the tumult of the first months of Trump, this group still continues to rationalize their choice, cognitive dissonance being what it is.

A third group, mislabeled as "Never Trump"-ers, were the "principled" Republicans that opposed Trump during the primaries, but now that Trump is President, the use-by dates of their principled stances have long since run out. These collaborators are cynically attempting to get their repugnant radical Conservative platform implemented before the inevitable Trump meltdown, or after, when Pence is elevated to the Presidency.

The truth has no place in the world of these groups of Trump voters. Trump has the freedom to lie to their faces and smugly be certain of there being no significant push back from any of these groups. Rather than waste a lot of time, Trump ought to come clean about Russia's involvement in his campaign. He should release his tax returns so that the mystery of his financial entanglements will no longer arouse the righteous suspicions of the minority Democrats.

The truth will deflate all of the obstacles and clear the way for an easy enactment of his fascist agenda. He has nothing to fear.

The truth will set him free.

FBI or LifeLock?

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 17:05:00 +0000

This amusing commercial for LifeLock points out the futility of monitoring a problem if you don't fix it. It makes the case for their (very high priced) credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

The bigger point that one might inquire about is the role of the FBI in the recent Presidential election.

It appears that the FBI was well aware of ongoing inappropriate and possibly illegal activity involving Russian intervention in the election and collusion with various members of the Trump campaign.

That's all well and good, but it's now four months after the election. Why was the FBI, if aware of these activities as it now seems clear, unable to put a stop to it? Is it not the role of the federal law enforcement agency to protect the nation from any unlawful activity? Or, are they merely like the "dental monitor" in the above LifeLock commercial, only to monitor but not prevent illegal activity?

What is the point of the FBI monitoring the illegal activities of anyone if they do not act to prevent these activities?

It might be costly, but perhaps we ought to swap out the FBI for LifeLock.

Reagan is Right

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 23:02:00 +0000

I can't believe it! I'm down with Reagan!

RON Reagan, that is.

Whiff

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 03:17:00 +0000

Now MLB has decided, in the interests of speeding up the game, that they are changing the intentional walk. Rather than throw four balls, the manager will signal from the dugout, and the batter will trot on down to first base. No pitches required.

This is yet another assault on the venerable game with no thought given to how the game is being diminished with all these new rules designed to counter the very nature of the game. Without the need to pitch four balls, the pitcher is given a reprieve to his tired and inaccurate arm. There will be no chance for a wild pitch, no chance for a ball to come too close to the plate and be hit by the batter, an occurrence I saw happen just last season. There will be no chance for any mayhem on the basepaths by the opposing team, should they wish to further rattle a pitcher already in trouble.

Like all of the unadvised rules changes being put into force recently, the goal is to make the game faster, for the sake of new fans with no connection to the game, its history or its charms. The problem is that it hurts existing fans, and changes the game into something very different from the old familiar pastime. We see this during playoff and World Series games, when casual fans or non-fans are watching, and rather than focusing on the game, the cameras inevitably focus on the faces of the managers or bench players looking for "reaction shots" that may play well on the tube. For a baseball fan, these telecasts are always the worst.

There is really no hope for changing these new and unnecessary rules. The powers that be have no faith in their own sport and will continue to willingly morph the game into something soon to be unrecognizable.

Fruit Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 01:51:00 +0000

Fruit salad. That's the military slang for the ribbons that appear on military dress uniforms. They are symbolic of heroism, service, and sacrifice for members of the armed forces. High ranking generals and admirals usually are loaded with fruit salad, the spoils of years of military service.

For reasons fairly easy to discern, President Trump has deigned to appoint several generals to high-ranking positions in his administration. It's not unusual for military retirees to move into civilian government positions. They have served in administrations of both parties. What is different about Trump's presidency?

During the campaign, Trump often disparaged generals that he blamed for "allowing" ISIS to continue to operate. He claimed to "know more than the generals" about how to fight and defeat ISIS. Trump's ridiculous blatherings notwithstanding, Trump has no knowledge of military tactics or the nuances of foreign policy. His political victory remains a testament to the unimaginable stupidity of an electorate fascinated by celebrity and inanity.

But, what does it mean now that there are generals in charge of civilian functions of our government? What expertise do they bring other than their military views and experience? How can generals operate within the very different confines of civilian authority when all they ever have known was the discipline of the military?

When the corrupt machinations of Trump and his administration are ultimately revealed, as they surely will be, how might generals respond to the ensuing chaos? I remember decades ago when President Reagan was shot, in the ensuing chaos of the response to the assassination attempt, Reagan's Secretary of State, General Alexander Haig, incorrectly and unconstitutionally declared himself "in control". The Vice President is next in line, whether present or not, and the 25th Amendment describes the remaining line of succession.

When the Trump Presidency implodes, what will his hardened generals think is their responsibility? The President, the Commander in Chief, is a civilian role. The fruit salad on their uniforms doesn't give them the right to usurp the Constitution and let us all hope they don't.

Suicide Squad

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 02:55:00 +0000

At the end of WW II, when Nazi Germany was on the brink of defeat, there were mass suicides throughout the country. Not only Nazi party members and government officials, but also regular citizens. Entire families, children murdered by their parents before killing themselves, chose suicide rather than face defeat and justice at the hands of the Red Army or the Allied Forces.

The Germans that bought into the Nazi myth of invincibility, that victory was their destiny, could not bear the humiliation of their ultimate defeat. Of course, many didn't want to stay around and be held to account for the horrible atrocities committed by their brutal and inhuman countrymen.

That was then and this is now. Then it was a death cult sheathed in political garb, but its followers were held in total thrall to their charismatic insane leader.

What about now? We have a charismatic and severely personality disordered leader that has risen to the Presidency on the backs of the self-pitying racist and prone to violence disaffected groups in this country. Skin-heads, neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members are in total thrall to the Trump cult of personality.

Less than a month into his Presidency, the Trump administration is in total chaos. Rank amateurs with no clue how to work the levers of power in Washington D.C., their racist and unconstitutional agenda is floundering.

There is a feeling that Trump won't last the entire term of his presidency. Talk of impeachment fills the air along with other constitutional maneuvers extant to provide for the removal of the President, should his closest aids find him unable to serve due to ailments physical or mental. With any luck, the Trump years may fade into just a laughingly ridiculous aberration.

When that happens, what will become of the true believers, the fellow travelers, the 60+ million people that believed in Trump, that he was somehow different, that he'd not only make America great again, that he'd make them great again too? The people that jammed his rallies at every campaign stop, that ridiculed the press covering them, that reveled in Trump's victory as if it were their own, what of them? The base that ignored every idiotic pronouncement, every lie about protecting the little guy, lies about bringing back jobs, what of them?

When the crisis happens, will these people don their Nike sneakers and slink into their homes and find that the humiliation of their having been duped by a conman too much to bear and emulate the Germans of 1945, even as Trump has tried to emulate the Germans of 1933?

History does seem to have a way of repeating itself, doesn't it?

The 25th Amendment, explained: how a president can be declared unfit to serve - Vox

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:51:00 +0000

The 25th Amendment, explained: how a president can be declared unfit to serve - Vox:

'via Blog this'

Sadly, it's hard to imagine the current Vice President and the Cabinet of Misfits having the patriotism or integrity to carry out their duty under the 25th Amendment, should the need arise. It's Party before Country for this band of self-dealing wretches.

45 Seconds from Broadway

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 21:41:00 +0000

It was a long while since I had seen my Broadway friend, so after many attempts to set up a lunch date, we finally found a suitable time. I think it was my offer to pay that got things moving along.

"Hey, how ya doin'?" he called out to me from across the way. He was about a half hour late, but that was early for him. "I'm doin' fine," I replied, knowing that despite his feeble attempts at small talk, he didn't really want to know. We go way back, and organ recitals just aren't part of our relationship.

After ordering the most expensive items on the menu, and a bit more chit chat, he mentioned what I knew he'd be anxious to talk about.

"Did you see that Times article about how the producers of Hamilton and Harry Potter are crying the blues about scalped tickets? Are these guys for real?" I think I knew where this was headed.

"You mean how they are concerned that an out-of-control secondary market hurts people trying to get tickets to popular shows? That and the fact that the excess price on those tickets is lost to the cast and creatives of the shows? Those blues?" I knew I was baiting him. I felt a tinge of guilt, but it's always fun to get under his skin.

"Oh jeez," he murmured. "You really are kind of a putz, aren't you?" I wasn't offended, I've been called worse.

"These producers are putting on such a con, and you have fallen for it hook, line, and sinker!" Our waiter was just now bringing our order.

"A con? What's wrong with trying to help the little guy? You know nobody can touch Hamilton for face value for many months. With Harry Potter coming it could be the same or worse. At least somebody is trying to figure something out." I'm not sure if I fully believed it myself, but I love to watch my friend go off on a rant. He looked like he was gagging on his food as he tried to reply.

"How can you be so pathetically naive? That's not how the system works!" He wasn't shouting, but he was speaking with his usual amped intensity. "It's all P.R.! Nothing more! There's always bad publicity when regular folk can't get tickets, but who benefits? Why, for goodness sake, it's the producers! What makes a tight ticket? Do you have any idea?"

The train had left the station and was picking up steam. Tactically, my best option was to step aside and let it roll.

"Come on now! Don't be dumb with me now! It's the scalpers and speculators who scoop up all the seats, that's what makes a tight ticket! Since 9/11, who buys tickets in advance anymore? Not enough people to matter. How do you think a Hamilton or a Book of Morman, or Harry Potter can possibly build up their stratospheric advances without the brokers digging out all the seats? And what's more, these days they are buying out months of premium-priced tickets to boot!" He started to finally chew his food, so it was safe for me to answer.

"Well, that may be true, but what about seats that go for thousands of dollars each? Is it fair that the shows don't get a piece of that?" A little logic could go a long way, even in emotional arguments, I thought.

He still had food in his mouth, and when he spoke, he sprayed. "Fair??? This is business, my friend. There is no "fair" in business. Besides, what spurs demand more than crazy headlines about crazy prices along with a lack of supply? Consider those transactions loss-leaders. It helps the show to keep selling those voluminous premium-priced tickets, which by the way, aren't they going for $849 now? Ha! I'm sure a lot of little guys are buying up those!! What a joke!!"

He was always very passionate when we spoke about "the business" of Broadway. It was almost as entertaining as a show itself. Still, I needed to prod him with more opposing ideas.

"Well, everyone seems to agree that scalping is bad, right? The producers and politicians are on the right side of this, aren't they?" I covered up my plate, I didn't want any of his food or spittle to find it's way across the table.

"Hahaha!!! You CAN'T be that dumb!! You're just pulling my chain now, aren't you? AREN'T you?"
He was chewing and laughing but there was a steely stare from his eyes.

"Well," I didn't really know which way to go now. I didn't want to cause a scene in the restaurant. " it would be nice if all the seats didn't wind up on the secondary market, wouldn't it? I mean, in general terms." It was time to be more conciliatory. I didn't really want him to have a stroke.

"Nice??, yeah, I guess it would be nice. It would be nice if we didn't have a lunatic in the White House. It would be nice if there were peace and harmony in the world. It would be nice if everyone that had a pit bull had a Pekinese instead. It would be real nice. Don't hold your breath! Nice doesn't cut it in the real world, my friend!" He seemed to hit all the major bullet points. My eyes began to lower.

"Look," he continued, "here's the deal. It's a smokescreen. The producers profit from the secondary market. Hell, Ticketmaster runs its own secondary market. Could that happen without the producers assent? Could Stub Hub continue without funnelling lobbying cash to politicians? More than all this though, could Hamilton have a weekly gross of over three million dollars, without the existence of this entire infrastructure? It ain't nice, but it sure is profitable." The next table had stopped what they were doing and were listening to him, nodding their heads. I wondered if they were Broadway investors? My friend seemed like he was summing up for the jury. I knew what the verdict would be.

"Look, I gotta run. I'll take the rest of this to go. Are you finishing yours? If not, put it on my plate, I'll have it later." I don't even know what I had ordered. "Sure, take it all, that's fine."

As he got up to leave, the check arrived. "We should do this again sometime," he said as he scooped up his doggy bag and headed out. Before he got to the door, he turned to me and said, "Don't forget, Show Business is all about putting on the show."

I paid the check, left the tip, and walked out. But, I was still kind of hungry.

Chris Matthews Comes Clean

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 04:13:00 +0000

Chris Matthews Criticizes Court Decision On Muslim Ban: “The Courts Have Gotten Into Somebody Else’s Marmalade”:

'via Blog this'

Chris Mathews, he of MSNBC, home of the most liberal hosts on cable TV, has always been an odd fit on that network. For years, he was vehemently an anti-Clinton voice and he goes back to the days of Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil backroom political deals. At best, he's a Reagan democrat, at worst a phony liberal, in spite of his admiration of Barack Obama.

Now that Trump's racist and fascist travel ban was struck down by the Ninth District Court of Appeals, Matthews is now kind of queasy. He says that he prefers "strong Presidents, even this one". I guess that when a court uses its constitutional check on the co-equal executive branch of government, Chris Matthews grows soft yearning for a strongman as President. Even a misfit such as Trump.

No, Matthews need not toe a liberal MSNBC line. Just look at the idiotic neo-con they have in their morning slot. But views that are soft on and wistful for a fascist presence in the White House have no place in American political discourse.

The danger to this country is not the lack of a "strong" President, it's the long lack of a strong Congress and Supreme Court to help to preserve and protect the American principles of justice that we all claim to love so dearly.

U.S. Senate Censorship

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 03:56:00 +0000

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B95srxu7CLGYNTZXV1VkSFF3N0k/view?usp=sharing

The link above will show the letter from Coretta Scott King from 1986 that she sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee when it was considering Jeff Sessions for a Federal Judgeship. He was not appointed to the post.

During the current Senate debate on Sessions' appointment to President Trump's cabinet as U. S. Attorney General, Senator Elizabeth Warren tried to read the letter from Martin Luther King's widow into the record. She was silenced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell using a procedural maneuver to prevent her from reading aloud the contents. He said that the letter was "impugning" Sessions.

If you think that McConnell's behavior is reprehensible and overtly racist, click the link and have a read to get an idea of the character of the man Donald Trump has chosen to be his Attorney General.

Then count down the days until the midterm elections.

Mourning in America

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 01:37:00 +0000

After just two weeks in office, it's clear that Trump and his administration are the rank amateur fascists we feared they were, with no understanding of the U.S. Constitution or the principle of divided government with checks and balances.

Trump is just an empty suit, after all, with his power being manipulated by shadowy behind the scenes malevolent and seditious bad actors. Nothing new here for a Republican administration. We saw similar situations with Reagan and George W. Bush. They were both bumbling incompetents controlled by cadres of evil self-serving war mongers.

It's hard to imagine Trump lasting for his entire term, but in any case, it's a dark time for America.

Rump Roast

noreply@blogger.com (Senorvoce) — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 04:36:00 +0000

The radical conservative Republicans, by changing the Senate rules in various committees to allow the rubber-stamp approval of Trump's various unqualified cabinet nominees, have reduced this government to a state of "rump government", that is, just a shadow of what it was once upon a time.

The American Experiment, a government of checks and balances, is in imminent danger of failing. When political norms are ignored, such as the Senate refusing to act on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, then the notion of Constitutional fealty is gone. There can be no loyal opposition when the majority rules with no regard for anything less than ideological conformity.

Now, Senate Republicans threaten a "nuclear option", encouraged by Trump himself, to jam through a Supreme Court nominee and remove the prospect of an opposing filibuster. It may be the Senate's prerogative to set its own rules of order but without any respect for tradition and precedent, there will be no longer any place for the separation of powers into co-equal branches of government. All power will be consolidated by the executive.

Never before have we seen a President rule by edict the way Trump has begun his presidency. It is up to Congress and the Supreme Court to reign him in, and the sooner the better. The longer Trump is allowed to continue on his reckless and ruinous path, the less chance that this country will survive.