Bring Back America

Sixteen days after our election the GSA finally releases the funds and gives the go ahead for the transition to the Biden/Harris administration. 16 fucking days of total bullshit. And still Trump will NOT concede and promises MORE court shenanigans. The shameful, corrupt Republican party remains silent and defiant. It’s clear that Biden WON the election, no question. This election was monitored and run ultra efficiently because we KNEW this was going to happen. We knew that Trump would do exactly what he has done. And what a MESS he made of it with Giuliani’s melting face and crock of conspiracy crap and 34+ LOST filings and a 37 page scathing rebuke by a federal judge in Pennsylvania.

This year has been overly historic. From a worldwide pandemic to the most intense and stressful election season I’ve ever experienced. Our country has been under seige by the GOP for the last 4 years, and 80 million of us stood up and say NOPE and took it back. The most shameful, corrupt group of old white men have torn our government agencies and institutions apart and put us at the highest risk we have been at since the 1950s. Power hungry, money hungry and cruel and inhumane.

That’s what I saw over the last 4 years. And that is what we have to continue to battle hard now as they will try to rise up again and overtake us once more. The Democratic party MUST get more ruthless and stop being so meek and forgiving, We are dealing with a autocrat and his disciples, we must battle back with force and determination. The Trumpist Cult will continue to exist and the conspiracy theories will persist. It’s our job now to right our country, reset our values and retake our place in the world as a strong democratic republic.

The crippling things done to our national security in the last 16 days is astounding. It’s not being talked about, but Pompeo and Trump withdrew the US from the Open Skies Treaty which we had two specially equipped planes that would fly over countries like Russia and then the other countries in the treaty and the US would share information about what was going on. This prevented troop build ups for invasions, nuclear build ups, etc. While the withdrawal was done illegally because they were supposed to have 4 months notice given to Congress before withdrawal, they have ALREADY dismantled the two specialized planes – like overnight! Also, Pompeo had a secret meeting after the G-20 with Bin Salmon and Netanyahu. First time Israel and Saudi Arabia have spoken in decades. WHY? You have to wonder what Pompeo and Trump are up to with the Saudis and Israel. Nothing good I am sure. And who knows what ELSE they have done.

Trump has take us backwards 70 years, to when Truman pulled the country out of 150 years of isolationism and began the American Century. Trump recklessly and carelessly destroyed so much. It will take us years to rebuild. Biden has to put in the best and the brightest of diplomats and workers to get this job done as soon as possible.

Thus far Biden’s picks for cabinet level positions has been done with precision and perfection. Historic picks, such as Janet Yellen for Treasury Secretary; people who will help move us out of the mess we are currently in. While it’s going to be a long haul over the next 4 years, I am personally looking forward to this administration and the history that will be made, the advances that will happen and in seeing just what kind of sinister things they uncover that Trump and crew have been up to over the last four.

I’m happy these 16 days of limbo and uncertainty are over. I’m still fearful of the backlash of the radical right, but we’ll handle them when that becomes a major issue – if it does. Those diehard groupies of Trump’s are certain to cause some trouble somewhere.

This election was not close, yet Trump and his corrupt buddies STILL tried to steal the win from 80 Million PLUS American voters. His refusal to concede his loss, coupled with his completely embarassing conspiracy theory court filings – 36 altogether so far, all LOST – never should have happened. All of this was just too close for comfort. We need to now look keenly at our democracy and make reforms to insure that any situation close to this is NEVER permitted to happen ever again in our Republic.

One of the most starkly visible aspects, to me anyways, was the real deeply racist inflection of ALL of his claims of fraud or cheating. It was black votes, predominantly black cities, counties, districts and even polling centers. Trump and the GOP openly threw as much nasty, hateful and dispicable racism into their fraudulent claims, their conspiracy theories and their illegitimate lawsuits as humanly possible. You could not infuse any MORE racism into it than they DID, outright even from the beginning of the campaign. His hate for the Black Lives Matter movement, for anything that would bring one iota of equality and decency to reversing the inequity of American politics; to validating Blacks and minority people of color as “less than” and “people who are criminal and do not count”. It was horrible to witness, I cannot even imagine what it FELT like to so many of the hard working black and POC politicians, representatives, public servants, and good hearted, much loved citizens of America. Trump brought deep corruption and shame to America and our beloved Democracy, the experiment that we are all still working so hard to make work – for every single American person and those who come here for refuge and a better life. THAT will be his legacy, shame and divisive hatred.

Joe Biden said today, and this hit home with me… “I have told every one of my chosen cabinet members that anything they do they should first ask themselves this one question: “Will this be good for the American people and our country?” (or something to that effect, wording probably not exact. I will put the video of his presentation today right below. I highly recommend watching it if you did not catch it live this afternoon, it’s very refreshing to hear people who CARE about America and all of us speak from the heart about their plans to bring American back. Biden demands honesty and truth. He’s told every cabinet member to always speak truth to power, no matter what. I have hope. For the first time in 4+ years I have HOPE that we WILL be Okay again!

Best thing you will watch and hear today…probably all YEAR!

On some personal notes:

Here at home I put my bird feeding station back up, further from the house this time and with a different base. I put feeding in for birds and squirrels both this time. I’ve been staying home 99% of the time, only going out for essentials and then making very strategic plans for those trips, like curbside pick-ups. I’ve been very, very careful in hopes of having dinner on Thursday with my parents – just me and them. I have been tested 3 times and like I said above, haven’t moved much!

My mental health is about like most everyone else I know…scarily shakey. I have my up days and down days, like normal. It’s just now, since March and this pandemic became a top-of-the-mind issue for most of us across the country, I find myself working harder to maintain focus and not let myself go into doomsday scenarios in my head. That’s not where I want my thoughts.

I’ve been doing a lot of personal journaling – by hand! I sorted through my 1000 pens and grouped them by quality then donated about 700 of them to Goodwill – I exagerate, but not a lot! I DO have a gazillion pens because I am addicted to GOOD pens and fine paper, always have been attracted to those items because of my penchant for writing in general. When I was young, a tiny Butch lad I say, (grins) my grandmother was so proud of my nice handwriting, which made me only want to make her even MORE proud!

See, I was a bit of a loner even as a little kid; never had many “friends” really and I didn’t mind. I was a weird kind of kid probably because I actually liked being alone, I liked reading my books – Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Clan of the Cave Bear, and Tolkien – EVERYTHING Tolkien! I had these secret places around my parents property and up in the forest of the old town farm that our property abutted. I built forts, tree forts, caves, lean-tos and fun camouflaged hidey-holes. I had a good imagination and didn’t mind being alone in my little fantasy world, where I was a Prince in a Kingdom where many of my followers were of animal kind. I even had an imaginary Raven named “Atticus” that I imagined always perched on my arm or close by watching over me. Yep, kid with a wild, fantasy imagination. I’ll tell you more in another blog if anyone is interested in hearing some of the stories of my imaginary world as a kid. I think we all had one, some were just more detailed and vivid than others.

Ok, time to get some shut eye! I sooo need a new bed! I’ve been shopping for a new mattress, looking at either a Purple or a Serta Luxe….I need to choose soon because this one is killing my back and hips! Bad mattresses suck! I stupidly switched this one out a couple months ago – went up to a queen size – but it was a mistake, so I am going to rectify it very soon, maybe before Christmas…or maybe for my birthday right after Christmas!

Good night…Peace and tranquility to you always. ~ MB

Blindsided

I – like most of my friends and acquaintenances – am stunned beyond belief tonight. The red mirage was bad enough, but then seeing all that red and knowing that 50% of the country actually VOTED for a racist, anti-American pig.

It’s difficult to even form thoughts that make any sense around this unfolding election aftermath. How do I reconcile the fact that most likely every other person I see in my daily life is a closet Trump supporter and dead up racist asshole in disguise?

We didn’t expect to get this kind of response after 4 years of the atomic turd in office and all the shenanigans he’s perpetuated while there. How could anyone cast a vote for such a vile person? Truly 50% of this country has VERY different views and tolerance for some pretty extreme shit.

On January 21, 2017, the day after 45’s inauguration we took to the streets in one of the biggest movements in history. Women rose up and said “No, not on our watch” and began the fight for righteousness against 45 and his ever growing list of vile associates. That day we entered a new time, a new era in American history. The revolution got it’s start. We mobilized and brain-stormed for the next 3.5 years, right through yesterday’s election.

This morning we woke up and saw that we had not worked hard enough. The battle must continue. We ARE going to change this country; save the “soul” of America so to speak, and they cannot stop the movement. The next few months will be hellish. Right this minute we aren’t seeing the Trumpettes causing too much trouble, but they ARE starting to slowly gather at polling places and are trying to gain access to stop the vote counting. One thing I do know for sure is that in an American democratic election we count EVERY valid vote. Due to the volatility pre-seen for this election our state attorney’s generals all came together to insure that this election went off correctly, legally and by the letter of the law for each individual state. The margins are razor thin, but Biden/Harris is holding the line while 45 is crying like a little bitch for them to stop counting anywhere where he is obviously ahead. HIm and his marauding band of slimey lawyers are filing as many lawsuits as they can cook up.

This is just another glitch in the year 2020. We’re getting super used to problem solving and dealing with unexpected surprises one piled upon another. This will work itself out, our poll workers will remain safe behind the state police departments and the National Guard units in reserve. When the count is done I predict that Biden will hold the presidency and the country will be split right down the bloody middle 50/50.

It has affirmed to me that we have a ton more work to do. We need to figure out why there is such hatred in this country and we need a ton of dialogue and huge amounts of other work done to help unify this country. We have to find ways to live together peacefully and acknowledge that our personal view may not be the only one – even if I believe deeply that it is the only RIGHT side to be on. Goodness and love must prevail. WE must save our Republic.

Breathe…. ~MB

November 2

You could say I have “writer’s block” but I believe its more of an election stress that’s keeping my creative and literal energy down, way fucking down. I bet I have 50 half written posts, I just lose my motivation and interest too easily lately. Then add the anxiety of covid on top, too. Just focusing on one thing is so damned difficult.

It’s a strange and scary time in our country’s history. Ten, twenty, thirty years from now you’ll look back and remember these strange days of covid, political unrest, a hateful president and racial strife. Your kid, or grandkids will ask you what it was like. You’ll glaze over for a few seconds, recalling the anxiety in the pit of your gut and the emotions of fear and rage that went along with it. They’ll ask then, what did you do about it all?

This is what remains now to be seen in the coming days and weeks ahead. What will Americans do after this election? See, we are right in the middle of living our reality. This, what is happening around us is now our reality. We have to deal with it. We cannot allow the minority bully administration and cowardly president tell us how it’s going to be, we cannot allow them to skew the facts and create a false reality – one they want us all to just accept; buy into and settle for.

It’s Sunday before our Presidential election, tension is high across the country. Trump’s welfare truck posse – they can’t pay child support, but they can buy big tires, ha! – in Texas is trying to run Biden’s bus off the road. Nothing short of a bunch of brain-dead, believe-anything, cheating idiots with election envy, that know they’re losing this battle. Then some blocking polls in several other places. That’s a bit stupid, seeing that they are also blocking voters who “would” vote for Trump, except now they’ve been intimidated and went home without casting a vote. Not likely they will return either. Stupidity personified.

Plumpkin has got an army of lawyers who have filed over 300 lawsuits trying to block ballots, suppress votes and negate the legal results ahead of time in 44+ states. Man, they KNOW they lose if ALL the legal votes are counted, so they are trying to devise a way to cheat and keep King Donnie in office…at what cost? Those who are filing these suits need their brains – and morals – examined closely. They don’t deserve licenses to practice law in America. Maybe that kind of “law” is good for Russia or China, but NOT America.

I have questions about LOTS of people who are in federal employ and are doing things like mistreating children at the borders, and where THEIR morals ARE? So, if Trump says “kill the kids” will they actually follow his orders like they obviously blindly have been doing the last 4 years? Has Trump brought in Russians to run these “camps” and replaced the American Border Patrol and ICE? Sometimes I wonder if THAT could be true because I find it so hard to swallow that a real American, who understands human rights and humane treatment of children (and adults) would actually DO the things they are being told and ordered to DO. I was in the military, while you don’t normally disobey a direct order there ARE circumstances where it IS appropriate to do just that. Like if you are ordered to slaughter a village of women and children, like happened several times in Vietnam resulting in quite a few court marshals and prison sentences for murder. Some disobeyed, not participating at all. THOSE were the brave ones.

This administration has run wild, so many injustices, so many wrongs and immoral directives across the board. A leader who has methodically and intentionally divided us and pitted us against one another at the worst of times. He has NO concern for American values, ethics, customs, or kindness. He has no pride in our country, thus he calls 70% of the population terrorists just because we do NOT agree with all of his disastrous and hateful policies and rhetoric. Terrorists because we peacefully protest injustice and march for what we BELIEVE is right for us and others. His own party does NOT protest, they terrorize. They send in lone shooters (Kyle Rittenhouse) and bands of gun-toting wanna-be soldier boys wearing Hawiian shirts (Proud Boy uniform) for distinction. The shirts say, without using words “I am a RACIST and will use violence against anyone of color or anyone who does NOT agree with my ideals and those of my God (Donald Trump)”

It’s sick and pathetic behavior. Every single one of those groups should – and will be – labeled as Terrorist organizations and followed closely by law enforcement – law enforcement people who DO NOT enable or assist them in their idealistic goals of perpetuating white supremacy and hatred on America. I mean, seriously, just go LOOK at the photos of people in those groups, or Trump rallies where they are the majority present. They do not appear to be upstanding, educated or law-abiding citizens of THIS country as far as I can see. Yes, they need to be called out for what they ARE – Terrorists and fear mongers and I for one will fight to see that that happens.

I have voted in eleven presidential elections in my life thus far. The first when I was 18 years old. I developed an interest in politics in the 5th grade when Nixon was running, the Vietnam War was raging, young men were arriving in Deleware in body bags by the thousands – we watched it on TV back then, that has been prohibited now, evidently our government doesn’t like to “look bad” when our dead boys come back home from foreign, useless wars. I did a long report on that election for my 5th grade class. I remember how the price of gas and wonder bread were even on the table…and here i am now, 58 yrs old and experiencing PTSD because of the current “president” who’s tearing our country and our beautiful culture apart; destroying all we have ever worked for with his stupid sharpie and “executive” orders, appointing unqualified people to powerful positions based only on their “loyalty” to his stupid white ass. And worst yet – ignoring the climbing death toll (231K today) of Covid-19. Donald Trump is the WORST and most DANGEROUS president in the history of the United States.

Trump should have been impeached in 2017, but noooooo….the republicans LOVE his imperialist ass. They love his meanness, his hate, his damning policies, his cruely to children and migrants, his filth filled rhetoric, the fact he fucks little girls and laughs about it bickering with Epstein on which on of them would take the virginity by force of 1 13 yr old girl once then getting angry when Epstein beat him to it…sickening. He has even said he’s fuck his own daughter when she was like 12! Yes, they LOVE him…and FEAR him. He has Jeffrey Espstein”s black book of clients and you just KNOW most of them are IN THAT book with their preferences noted…not something they want disclosed to family or constituents. I know this will eventually come to light, I am betting heavily on it. What ELSE could he hold so tightly over their heads to garner such pathetic silence and undying loyalty from people who USED to have backbones???

So, Tuesday will be a true nail-biter. I’m sure that most of us will not eat all day, we’ll agonize on every report that rolls across the TV or blares from our car radios. We’ll call one another, video group together, and we’ll wait…if we have done what we set out to do enmasse at around 10pm we will SEE a blue wave wash across our Country and we will breathe a short sigh of relief. Then we will become fearful of the back-lash of the Trumpanzees and the alt-right that back them. What will they do? Who will they kill? You know people are going to possibly die.

It will be during the morning of Wednesday that we will need to start assessing what needs to happen NEXT. Many of those conversations and plans have already happened and been laid. We need to rise together, as one people and resist the violence and rhetoric that will be thrown in our ways. The days between Nov. 3 and January 20, 2021 will be long, angry and hard on EVERYONE.

….written on Nov. 2, 2020….

Peace….MB