May 15, 2018

Mixed messaging??

I was on the way home from a quick trip for groceries and prescriptions when one of those huge pickups roared up and cut in front of me. Big beast, jacked up high above its wheels, rumbling and loud. On one side of the rear bumper there’s a Trump-Pence sticker, on the other side an obscene Obama sticker. I’m thinking, “Could this guy be any more stereotypical?” Then, when he pulled ahead a bit, I saw that he’d further adorned his vehicle with trucknuts hanging from the rear axle. Blue trucknuts. Blue?? Ummm…….


.

May 14, 2018

Of course Trump talks with Hannity every night.

Of course Trump talks with Hannity every night. It’s called mental masturbation for a reason.



.

May 14, 2018

Is not

.

May 13, 2018

Ad bits

Gotta love late nite TV. Back to back commercials. First is an ad from a local “adult” store, they’re promoting special sales on Stormy Daniels videos. Next ad immediately following, two guys in suits opining that “sometimes do-it-yourself is not a good idea” : lawyers.


.

May 12, 2018

It's time to say "Permission Denied"

Originally posting this content on the Colorado page, I decided to share it more widely. Given all the articles and discussions about the effectiveness of Russia's social media ads with divisive intent, this is germane. It's crucial to keep in mind that the Russians didn't create the ammunition they used against us in the election; rather, they exploited something that long pre-dated their interference. They own their manipulation, but this country owns the racism that was so willingly manipulated; in other words, they picked up our knife and stabbed us with it. The racism exists everywhere, visible in greater and lesser degrees. It's insidious, ugly in intent and horrific in execution and consequence. And it is also patient, waiting in the background until the right moment and the right persons give it permission to erupt. Thus the story shared below, in hopes that we might finally stop granting that permission:


Rep. Ken Buck meets with AG Jeff Sessions, others to talk immigration

From the article: The meeting was an opportunity for the three congressmen to share their concerns and seek ways to partner with the attorney general to strengthen immigration enforcement, according to the release.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/local/ken-buck-meets-with-ag-jeff-sessions-others-to-talk-immigration/

Not mentioned in the article: Ken Buck's part in helping to arrange the raid on our meat packing plant, nor does it reference his assistance in exceeding the warrant for that raid. Further, there is no mention of Buck's subsequent illegal raid on a private tax preparation office in which he perused the tax returns of persons (mostly Hispanic) who worked and paid taxes; the state Supreme Court later slapped Buck for that raid, saying it was unconstitutional. Suffice it to say, Buck is a good match for Sessions' bigotry.

In the documentary linked below, Buck is featured. Also featured: the priest who worked tirelessly to help the families impacted by the raid that happened less than two weeks before Christmas; the mayor of Greeley, Tom Selders, who went to Congress to speak against how the raid went down and thus became persona non grata to his party (he's since become a Democrat).

The food bank is two blocks west of the meat plant, and I was working there at the time. We stood out in the parking lot and watched the raid happen, with black helicopters hovering over us as though our watching was somehow threatening their action. That day remains one of the most heartbreaking memories of my life.

I bring it up now because we have some candidates going for the seat currently occupied by Buck. After the primary we have to get behind the winner to replace Buck with a representative who truly represents all of us. C'mon CD4 -- it's boots on the ground time. GOTV!

.

May 12, 2018

In CD4, we have GOT to GOTV. Buck has got to go!

Rep. Ken Buck meets with AG Jeff Sessions, others to talk immigration

From the article: The meeting was an opportunity for the three congressmen to share their concerns and seek ways to partner with the attorney general to strengthen immigration enforcement, according to the release.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/local/ken-buck-meets-with-ag-jeff-sessions-others-to-talk-immigration/

Not mentioned in the article: Ken Buck's part in helping to arrange the raid on our meat packing plant, nor does it reference his assistance in exceeding the warrant for that raid. Further, there is no mention of Buck's subsequent illegal raid on a private tax preparation office in which he perused the tax returns of persons (mostly Hispanic) who worked and paid taxes; the state Supreme Court later slapped Buck for that raid, saying it was unconstitutional. Suffice it to say, Buck is a good match for Sessions' bigotry.

In the documentary linked below, Buck is featured. Also featured: the priest who worked tirelessly to help the families impacted by the raid that happened less than two weeks before Christmas; the mayor of Greeley, Tom Selders, who went to Congress to speak against how the raid went down and thus became persona non grata to his party (he's since become a Democrat).



The food bank is two blocks west of the meat plant, and I was working there at the time. We stood out in the parking lot and watched the raid happen, with black helicopters hovering over us as though watching was somehow threatening their action. That day remains one of the most heartbreaking memories of my life.

I bring it up now because we have some candidates going for the seat currently occupied by Buck. After the primary we have to get behind the winner to replace Buck with a representative who truly represents all of us. C'mon CD4 -- it's boots on the ground time. GOTV!

.

May 9, 2018

No doubt

.

May 7, 2018

Podium

.

May 7, 2018

Another parking lot encounter

Living in a red town brings its challenges. Like Sunday afternoon, in the grocery store parking lot. I was getting out of my minivan, it takes a minute or two what with the cane and the oxygen stuff. Anyway, as I stood up I noticed a guy standing there watching. A big guy. As in burly. He had his arms crossed as he glowered at me from under the bill of his red baseball cap. I was somewhat relieved that the cap had a team logo on it instead of, you know. He nodded toward my bumper stickers and said, “I take it you didn’t vote for Trump.” Ulp.

Locking the car door and picking up my oxygen, I decided to take a non-confrontational route. “What gave me away?” I smiled. He smiled back and shook his head. “I don’t know how to explain all this to my kids,” he said. “I’ve worked hard my whole life to give them a good world. I just don’t know what to do any more.”

“Well, I’m not giving up just yet,” I said. “Midterms are coming up, there are lots of good people running.” He nodded, then pointed at my stickers and said I had a lot of guts to show them around here. I showed him where the car had been keyed in response to those stickers, and told him that it just compelled me to add more.

“These people are just rotten,” he said. He went on to say, “My son is in high school. We were watching the news this morning, and I looked at him and told him that I’m so sorry, that I wanted better for him.”

I was going to urge him not to give up, but he held his hand up, shook his head with a sad smile, got in his pickup and drove away.

At least he knows that, in his town, there are some Democrats not giving up. Time to get some more bumper stickers.


.

May 6, 2018

Twisted

Stormy Daniels on Saturday Night Live was more believable than the current press secretary speaking from the White House press room.

How’s that for sad?



.