Trickle Down

 Okay, so this is the 4th of July weekend.  Last night one of my neighbors fired off a single firecracker.  Someone is a little overanxious.  I like fireworks, I just hate dealing with the traffic in order to get to a place where I can see them.  Oddly enough, I can kind of see them from my attic window, of course that would mean standing in a unairconditioned storage room where the temp can be 20 to 30 higher than outside.  While I enjoy fireworks, I don't enjoy them that much.  

Yesterday was hot.  Forecasters were predicting a likelihood of rain.  Didn't happen.  Today's they say we have a 55% chance of experiencing some form of precipitation.  I'm going to water the garden because that % is really nothing more than a medium good guess.   Temps are fine.  90 (F) is not bad.  We are in summer.  I'd rather have that then temps in the triple digits.  

I froze another 4 quarts of peaches yesterday. This is yummy, tasty stored away for the winter.

One of the things that amazes me about people is that so many seem to have long term memory problems.  I always thought there were little gray cells which specialized in documenting and possibly even categorizing things that happened for future reference.  Here's an example.  When I hear people say that Trump is responsible for the greatest economy the country has ever seen, I wonder how they could have so easily forgotten that the Republicans, under George W, also voted for big tax breaks for corporations, aka Trickle Down economics.  The economy flourished.  The stock market boomed.  Because Wall Street was going like gangbusters, the GOP started throwing out suggestions on how Americans could be moved from Social Security to something similar to a national 401K program.  There was talk, not only about how this was going to be managed, but who might manage the accounts, surely not a government agency; no one would make any money if that happened.  People don't remember this.  They do, however, remember Bush's version of Trickle Down economics failing.  Corporations began laying off people who had gotten mortgages they couldn't afford, mostly those without a fixed interest rate, and the housing market began collapsing, leading to the Great Recession.   Based on Trickle Down economics, Trump's great economy was doomed from the start.  Perhaps a more important question might be: did he know this, and is that why he wanted people to die from Covid to brace up an economy that had failure written all over it?

Greece kicks Covid - 19's ass

Well, it's Saturday.  Ho... hum.
I do get to go into work again today.  Yesterday I was on the door for most of my 5 hours.  I only had 1.5 assholes to deal with... well maybe 1.75 assholes.  One man in a red coat (no MAGA hat) complained about people being "afraid they're going to get sick," because we're only allowing 100 in the store at a time.  Another man in his early 50's looked at the signs notifying customers that as of Monday everyone needed to wear some for of face mask and shook his head angrily.  And one Asian man said "there's no line at Lowes.  They're letting everybody in the store."  My response.  "Well, then go to Lowes and get infected."  He and his friend stayed in line.  Of the approximately 250 people I dealt with, the vast majority were fine.  Some said "stay safe."  I had some nice conversations with customers and I can tell you, many, many, many are concerned.
If you're like me, you peruse Internet media a lot looking for tidbits that catch your attention.  I found this one interesting a few days back, talking about how the Idiot Jerk in the White House couldn't understand why the US just didn't let the virus 'wash' over us.  And there wasn't just one intance when I saw his 'herd' mentality surfacing.  There were a number of articles from a number of different sources.  I say this because he and his administration are saying there are enough tests to safely send the public  back to work, while many Governors, including Cuomo, are saying just the opposite.  Not testing is how you let 'herd' immunity work.  In case you hadn't realized it, neither he, nor is billionaire cronies, are concerned with how many Americans die as long as they, themselves are safe.  There's going to be a price to pay and they're going to makes sure someone else pays it.
And here's a bit about his ratings.  By now everyone in the country understands he needs to feed his ego... constantly.  Some were stunned when he bragged about his ratings during one of his daily lie sessions.  The fact that he mentioned the Bachelor Finale loudly screamed about where his priorities were.  Just so you know, his highest rating was 12.2 million viewers.  This does not mean they were loving his performance, rather it means 12.2. million Americans had his broadcast turned on.  In actuality, that is only .037% of the American population.  Oh, dear me, that's a problem if you're desperately trying to be popular.
And since we're there, shall we look at approval ratings?  George W's went up to 90% after 9/11 and though the did drop by the time of his re-election they still helped him win a 2nd term in the White House.  The Idiot Jerk's approval ratings shrieked up to a voluminous 54% (now that's screaming, eh?) and have since dropped down to 44%.  Ouch!  Is it any wonder he's angrily Tweeting to his base in Michigan, and Wisconsin, and Virginia.  His re-election is anything but guaranteed.
And Finally, I think we should all send a strong round of Congratulations to Greece, one of the few countries to kick Covid - 19 in the ass.  The EU was was not nearly expecting them to do such a great job.   They were simply amazing.

I think everybody should stand and give birthplace of Democracy a rousing round of applause.

Under-performance by and Idiot Jerk

Well, it's Sunday and I get to go to work.  In just a few hours I will find out if I'm going to be wearing a mask.  I have one hear at the house, but I'm saving it for special occasions, like when I go to the supermarket.  I don't have any snazzy handkerchiefs I can turn into face masks.  If I get really desperate I can pull an old T-shirt up over my nose.
Yesterday I mowed my front lawn for the first time this year.  It needed it.  My mower's battery powered so there was no need to go fill up the gas can.
I also baked bread, again.

And it is out of reach of doggy paws.
Of course, you've have to be in a coma to not understand the reason the Idiot Jerk in the White House uses his daily updates as a campaign platform.  Normally, this would lead to a surge in his approval ratings.  Remember George W after 9/11?  His approval went through the roof.  I knew, when I saw him standing on the ruins of the Twin Towers there was no way he wasn't going to get re-elected.  That was W's presidential moment.  That hasn't happened for the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  People tune in to his briefings for 2 reasons:  Birx and Fauci, the only 2 people on that stage who don't lie.  Who is it that people are paying attention to?  Governors and Mayors across the country who give daily updates have approval ratings that are soaring. Those who side with the administration are not doing nearly as well.  The governors of Florida and Georgia?  Not so good.  And not so for the Idiot Jerk in the White House.  He got an itty bitty bump.  That's it.  And that little bump is already fading away. 
And the Washington Post had this really snarky piece on Jared Kushner.  This guy should be flipping burgers at some seedy, greasy spoon, not standing at the podium in the press briefing room.  After the next election, I'm certain he will self-quarantine on some little island where he can grow grapes and raise chickens.
And finally, the last song whose lyrics made it into "The Body in the Well," is little gem by Dan Fogelberg.  This is the extended version, not the one on the album.

Rock and Roll, you know.  

Eulogies

Well, today is the first of 3 days off in a row for me.  Lily and I were outside for a bit - there's a slight drizzle..  They're calling for a heatwave - starting tomorrow, with temps in the mid 90's (F).  I don't know if I'd call it a heatwave - more like a heat spell.  Soon fall will be here and people will be lamenting about the oncoming cold and snow of winter.  Get over it, people.  In this region seasons change.  If you don't like it, move somewhere else.  Down south the seasons change, too.  They have hot... and they have hotter than hell.  Take your pick.  I'd rather spend 3 or 4 months dealing with snow than roast through that time being hotter than hell.
Yesterday was John McCain's funeral.  I watched some of the eulogies when I got home from work and went through some serous tissue time.  One of the bloggers that I read ranted about George W's presence, venting about the man's failed presidency.  He totally missed the point, but then some people are so obtuse they will never be able to angle in on reason, and purpose.  Democrats and Republicans were unified.  And... who... was... missing?  Who was specifically told not to show up?  There were three eulogies, by a Democrat, by a Republican, and by a daughter.  They all spoke of respect, and honor, and sacrifice, and all of them, while doing so, drove a nail into the political coffin of that one person who was told to "stay away."
I understand that as many in the nation watched, and wiped away quiet tears, this man who never gets an invitation, surrounded by snotty nosed leaches, cheated his way through a game of golf.  His behavior is appropriate for one with no moral compass.  Should we have expected anything else?  His disapproval rating has hit an all time high, and his supporters are getting really angry.  They are beginning to see his future is already lost.  They are starting to understand he is going to be uninvited out of the White House.  Their minority numbers are showing themselves to be rather small.  The temperature is going up.  They are beginning to sweat, not only the small stuff, but the big stuff as well.  Almost daily we get to see another one of his compatriots pleading guilty, and flipping.
This whole thing is, well, rather funny because this is what they voted for: a scumbag who has been lying and cheating all of his life.  A self-centered lout, he has colluded with anyone, and everyone, who could give him what he wanted. He is a living obstruction that will soon be flushed from the system.
Will he be eulogized when he's gone?

Meanwhile... back on the ranch

Well, I saw Jeb dropped out.  This was inevitable.  He was milquetoast next to Trump's racism and bigotry.  He came across as perhaps a nice guy, even though he wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, and the Republican base is looking for a nasty boy.  More then anything else, however, he was George W's brother.  That really hurt him.  No one in the Bush family seemed to know their name is scarred worse then Ryan Reynold's ass in Deadpool.  Of course, they're super rich so there is a lot they don't understand.  They don't understand the repercussions of having one of the worst presidents in American history standing prominently in their family tree.
So, one wonders what Jeb's doing now that his hours of free time have just increased... dramatically.  Wouldn't surprise me if he didn't stop by the Crawford ranch.  You know?  Where W lives?  And maybe pay is big brother a visit.  And somehow, I don't think they're going to be going on a run together.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he tried to put a womp on his older brother.  Give him a couple of jabs upside his head, all the while screaming "idiot! idiot! idiot!"  Let's face it, Jeb was the one they were grooming for the presidency and W was the one who shit their hopes away like Montezuma's Revenge.  Of course, I may be wrong, the brothers may have a nice run as Jeb chases after W with a baseball bat, all the while screaming "idiot! idiot! idiot!"

 

The GOP and Divine Wrath

I've been thinking about Ben Carson and his inability to get the record straight.  I say this because under scrutiny a lot of his personal history, the stuff he uses to manipulate people, seems to have been padded.  Now he is saying all that jazz about being offered a scholarship to West Point was really a problem with semantics.  Dropping the "semantics" word bomb is a clear indicator that a lie has been told, and this is Ben's way of tap dancing around the truth.  However, because he's a Krazy Kristian a number of other Krazy Kristians believe he's the real thing... how quickly they forget.
Remember George W?  He was also a Krazy Kristian.  He's the one who said to Bob Woodward "I talk to my Higher Father."  There were a lot of jokes back then since it did not seem as though his Higher Father was actually listening to him.  Of course the Krazies ignored the sarcastic humor because they were in love with his words.  He was the answer to their prayers, his presidency a gift from God.  Except nothing really good came out of those eight years.  In fact, if you think back, it seems as though we were actually suffering from Divine Wrath.

Pat Robertson makes a lot of predictions about what is going to happen to the United States since Marriage Equality has come to pass.  However, every one of those predictions has already happened to us during the George W. Bush presidency: worst terrorist attack in history, failed war in Iraq, Katrina, the second worst economic catastrophe in American History.  Someone needs to tell Pat Robertson those were not our salad days.  In fact, someone should point out to the Krazies that the last time one of their guys was in the White House, this country was smacked back again and again and again.

And, of course, the Krazies, and the GOP, will put the blame on someone else.  The fact that their phoniness, just like Ben Carson's, may have resulted in Divine Wrath is totally beyond their ken.

Republican Clown of the Day

Way back when George W was president, I remember how adamant the GOP was as a party, how anyone not agreeing with his policies on Iraq was not only Un-American, they were also Un-Patriotic.  This was not something one or two loose cannon Republicans were muttering, no, this became the party mantra which they repeated over and over again.  Of course this was the GOP showing only one side of its face, the other side, the one belonging to its base, popped out at the Missouri State Fair.  In case you haven't heard, some clown wearing an Obama mask did a very Un-Patriotic and very Un-American show to end the rodeo.  The first thing that went through my head when I first heard this was that he must have left his Darryl Issa mask at home; that was not the case.  This was nothing more then the base of the GOP showing its face.  These people are its heart and soul.  They are the reason the Republican Party is in trouble.

Republican Clown of the Day



 

If you are a centrist Republican, this is not the far right crazy shenanigan for which you want to be recognized.  Talk about stepping into a pile of shit.  If you are a far right Republican, you can not comprehend why every one is complaining.  Talk about dumb as a box of rocks.  They don't seem to understand that alienating voting blocks is no way to get themselves a Republican President.  They talk about being more inclusive yet don't seem to know who to even find that path.  Instead they seem to be going in the opposite direction, disenfranchising more and more conservative voters.  In fact, the only thing they seem to be able to do these days is send in the clowns.  Eventually, the only way they may be able to save themselves is by amputation.