AND THE FILTH KEEPS COMING ALONG....

  The minute this man opens his mouth the more garbage spews forth. The man is friends with the editor or publisher of The National Enquirer, a prime example of rag journalism and they were going to publish a story about Mika and Joe that had nothing to do with news and all about scandal and the ruining of reputations. Joe spoke to Jared about killing the story - not to Trump - and he told them they would basically have to apologize for their coverage, critical coverage, of him on their show. Just like a king demanding that his subject crawl on knees to beg forgiveness. Except this man is not a king nor even a normal human being and Joe said no, emphatically so and good for him. In the meanwhile, Trump, who can never let go of anything, tweeted around how one day he would tell the whole story of those "clowns". This man is like the mean alpha girl in the grade!! Except he is 71 years old and not a teenage girl!! And Melania says she is going to fight cyberbullying?! Look closely into your own home, Melania, very closely indeed.
     But this Trump is not finished yet. The proposed healthcare bill is one that proposes to take healthcare away from millions upon millions, make it far worse and very much more expensive for  tens of millions more of people - and these people form his base! - and then take all that money saved and give it to the rich for their pocket money!! Yes, a backwards Robin Hood - he steals from the poor and gives to the rich- his own version of a highway robber! And do not forget the people, the Senators and House Reps that are gung ho for this, those with  no feeling, those who think that any and all social welfare net programs need to be destroyed. He has now instructed the Senate Republicans to REPEAL and never mind replace!! Such care, such concern, such worry for his people.
     And why are they so hot to trot on this? Because of prejudice and fear. They fear the madman in the Oval Office, they fear the next election and they could care less about the electorate And remember - all this time they have pushed the idea that the majority of those on social welfare programs are those of a darker hue, not like "us", are lazy, do not work nor want to work. Yet how many people do I know who are white and who need the programs that help feed their children, train the workers, give healthcare to those who are ill. Why not take a tour of Appalachia, or the backwoods of Maine, or the hollers of Kentucky and Tennessee? Personally, I cannot stomach this selfishness, this nastiness, this cold and harsh attitude towards any and all others. It is time to ditch it for good!!
    People need help. Period. It is not the faulty thinking that still remains in the halls of government, particularly Republicans. People get sick. People fall behind in a fast moving world and there is no retraining because the funds are cut. There is no help for them. Kids cannot learn because they are hungry. We mistreat our citizens and curse the rest of the world as unimportant as America First policies eat away at the foundation of the country and the foundations of the world.
      "President Trump launched personal attacks against us Thursday, but our concerns about his unmoored behavior go far beyond the personal. America’s leaders and allies are asking themselves yet again whether this man is fit to be president. We have our doubts, but we are both certain that the man is not mentally equipped to continue watching our show, “Morning Joe.”
     So said the two talk show hosts and so do many of us feel. This man is most emphatically not fit to be president and he did not win it in a valid manner either. So what are we going to do about it? There is a huge push and an organization which says - Impeach Trump Now. What a great idea!
   

TODDLER TANTRUMS YET AGAIN!!

     There are no two ways about it. We already know that this man is not intellectually gifted, to say the least. We already know that he is semi literate, with not one mention of a book or even a magazine that he has read. But what is worse, is the fact that he has a mouth that spouts filth, particularly filth directed at women. He calls a man psycho - must have been looking in the mirror at that moment - but insults women for how they look, for physical issues, encouraging other crude men to do the same. Whether he likes it or not, this is sexual harassment and it goes on every day in the working world so to have the President do it - major taboo, major no no.
     This man should have been facing charges of sexual molestation or at the very least declared ineligible for the position as President. Others are fired for less than this with twisted moral turpitude. How people could vote for him after that was exposed is beyond me. Any woman who voted for him has no pride of being female. And any man with a mother or sister or daughter should have been ashamed that there are men like this in public position and office.
     Now he continues with a week out of misogyny hell. First we have the comment he made to the Irish prime minister about an Irish reporter. “She has a nice smile on her face. So, I bet she treats you well.” Yuck!! A pig beyond words. On Sunday, once again he referred to Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas, meant to demean her. And today was the worst of all. Today he states that Mika Brzezinski "was bleeding badly from a face lift" - in public, meant to hurt and demean. He called her low IQ Crazy Mika. She is a TV journalist from MSNBC, a station Trump cannot stand for all the truth they disclose. 
     And this is not the first time. During the campaign this happened.  Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever,” he said after Kelly asked him — ironically — about his treatment toward women.  People need to stand up and say enough or is it that it is okay to talk about women this way, including his own daughter, Ivanka, to whom he referred to in sexual terms.  “She does have a very nice figure,” Trump said of his daughter, Ivanka Trump, in 2006. “I've said that if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I would be dating her.” Oh, ich!! Double ich!!
     The only way this man can deal with women is to reduce it all to gender and then demean them, a man weak and knowing he is weak and therefore he must bring someone lower than he is. But this is the President of the United States and yet he show signs of deep mental imbalance and a filthy mind as well, a true pig in that sense of the word.
     "It's a sad day for America when the president spends his time bullying, lying and spewing petty personal attacks instead of doing his job." Toddler tantrums.
      Surely, there can be somewhere a rule or act or legislation that can be passed that will force a mental test, checking to see if this man has lost parts of his brain, for certainly he has lost parts of his soul and heart. This man is not capable of being president and will bring ruin upon us all. Even his wife states that he gets back at people, takes revenge, hits them harder. What the hell kind of crap is that. This is adolescent behavior of the worst kind. Actually, it is terrible twos behavior in a man over 70 or indeed, any adult. Can't stand the heat - get out of the Oval Office. This is not business. This is politics where things are stated and feelings run high but there is a boundary and this man has overstepped those boundaries. He says he has red lines - well so do we.
     The free press has always been an integral part of our American history. From the trial of Peter Zenger in colonial times, and the result that stated that there was freedom of the press and Zenger was fully entitled to criticize the English governor to the present times, the media's job is to keep track of what is going on, of keeping politicos on their toes, of ensuring that the rights of American citizens and indeed, the human rights of the world, are maintained. Truth sometimes hurt but if one cannot accept what comes with a job, then get out of that job before ruining so much for so many.
     His own Party Senators concede that he seems to know nothing about the bills or healthcare and is having a hard time catching on- if ever. He blusters and lies and lies and lies yet again. Respect this man? Not on a bet!
     In office now we have a man who thinks that dictatorship is the way to go. He has demanded voter registration information which includes the last four digits of social security numbers along with other identifying data. I do not want my info going to the government, knowing for whom I voted - remember the secret ballot - and several states have already said no to this. Kudos to them.
    This man needs to go, I care not how. Resign, impeach, dismiss due to mental imbalance, give him Playboys to look at while the country is run by humans who are balanced, but remove him from office. At present we are the laughing stock of the world, and pretty close to being pitied by them. There is no more trust from anyone and certainly we should not trust him either. He lies as easily as taking a breath, promising jobs where there are none, with jobs that are moving away, with Better Care that will literally prove to be the death of millions. Talk of death panels!!! And he is obscene all along with these such wonderful qualifications. And do not forget his conflicts of interest, his deep ethics challenges.
     And the troubles and woes continue. Hawaii is demanding to delineate for them "close" family relationships. Evidently Trump thinks grandchildren and grandparents do not count. Well, sorry for him, but I would lay down my life for mine and I believe so would most others and who gave him the right to determine family and its definition. "Ohana" is the Hawaiian term and should be the term of all of us. And in the meanwhile, the House voted for two crazy immigration laws so they can say they are doing something!! Truly? Hate and hatred is not anything but wrong. And in the meanwhile we have ICE barging in on restaurants and hospitals and churches - anywhere they think there are immigrants, you know the people Trump calls "bad men'' and infusing terror everywhere they go.
     And as for foreign policy, with Trump now scheduled to meet with Putin next week, people are terrified about what Trump will give away to his best bud. Putin can weave circles around Trump so who knows? Perhaps we will be incorporating Russian into our school curriculum as our new first language! Or maybe we will just cede power and influence over half the world to Putin and Russia.
     Give the man his marbles and send him packing. Now!!
     In fact, give David Israel his marbles as well. More cheating. More lies. More shenanigans with contracts and our lives and our pockets. He boasted that Atlantic would not raise fees more than a tiny amount each year and lo and behold, now there is a raise of 3% annually, just like Comcast had proposed and was castigated for. And then  he really gives away the store when he will rent to them for $1.00 a square foot!!! Truly? Try buying your unit for that price. In fact, go to the worst slum in the country and you will pay more. Again - what is in this contract for David and friends. It is certainly not in there for us nor was it there when we approved it. This is another contract we need to negate, get the hell out of. David illegally signed once again after screwing us royal yet again. And elsewhere, he fixes a drainpipe which the DA allowed if we did only our section and lo and behold, Waldman crooked his little finger and what do you know - his section was fixed too because he wanted it that way, he needed to get drainage for his Reflection Bay and David rolled over and played doggie dead yet again - and screwed us yet again.
     These two - David Israel and Trump and all their pathetic liar buddies and ethically challenged people need to go home where they can do no harm to the rest of us. Today!!
     

FORWARD AND BACKWARD

     Taking a look at the major stories of the day, and the minor ones as well, it is discouraging no matter where one looks. Here we have a victory, temporary though it might be, in the holding off of the vote on Trumpcare, and yet here we are, with Trump sticking in his literally two cents of knowledge into the fray. So desperate is he that he even sanctions the going after of one of the Senators, Heller, who stated non equivocally that he will not and cannot vote for the bill as is. Too harsh on the electorate and those who need Medicaid, help with coverage, etc. One stalwart on the bill even gave a statement that the $3.8 million tax cut in the bill for the wealthy needs to be removed and the higher deductibles and higher premiums will prevent his people from coverage and healthcare. So no deal as is.
     The Republicans play games with the Medicaid cuts, a member of the city council of Middleton, Ohio, now states that any overdoses in his city will not be addressed and the people can just die. Aha!! There we have it - the Death Budget. The poison is beginning to spread over the whole country, a non caring toughness that has a distinct anti humane approach and philosophy. We read of a Cardinal adviser to the Pope being charged with major counts of sexual molestation and we read of supposedly religious Jewish couples cheating the government of funds in social programs. Both stories make me nauseous as the very people who should be setting examples are indeed doing so - but in the wrong direction. You should excuse me, but these people have as much true connection to religion as does a muskrat!! None!! And the poison spreads worldwide as a Japanese company insisted they could not allow a man in a wheelchair to be carried up the ramp by friends and nor could they themselves help him, so this poor guy dragged himself up using only his hands. What use is an apology here?
     Gorsuch has decided he can now uncloak himself as the avenging super dude of the ultra right and is pushing his agenda big time. Everyone should be able to carry a gun, with cover, no restrictions - lovely thought. There should be no restrictions on public funds going to religious schools and just follow that thought. I taught and worked in the Jewish day school arena and I am totally against this. Textbooks yes - infrastructure that can be used in a religious manner, tuition vouchers - no way. This is the same thinking that makes me opposed to those who would impose their religious outlooks on me and all women with their anti choice demands. This man would upend the country within his first full term and the Republicans who put one over on the country with his lies and evasions during his confirmation hearing and the violation of tradition in his confirmation vote are laughing all the way to their right wing masters!!!
     In the meanwhile, we have Tillerson going bananas at the head of the presidential personnel office because they are blocking his appointees for the State Department, contradicting his statements and I guess the boiling point was reached. Kushner and others were in the office and they did not approve this outburst - tsk, tsk! Guess they do not want people to hear that they are cracking from within, but what is more of a worry is the fact that Trump discusses North Korea for an hour a day and we all know that this man can go berserk on a dime, with his verys and his biglys and tremendous and fantastic!. Well, it will be a tremendous mushroom cloud if he does not calm down and sits on that finger. I, for one, do not wish to die in a nuclear devastated world when there are other ways to impose limitations on this country and its madman dictator.
      Homeland Security is tightening up security again so soon enough guess we will have to be at the airport three hours before a domestic flight and four or more for an international! Probably should invest in tear away clothes to make it easier for the patdown!! Maybe renting cots in the airport would make the lines go more smoothly as people can be there at the crack of dawn and move it along!! There needs to be a sane limit and plan for security and if the mixups and screw-ups can be eliminated for the most part, if there can be better training, then maybe that will work out better. Till then.......
     And for the piece de resistance, we have the new head "of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, who says he plans to turn the committee away from its investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, ..." Of course he will. Why keep exposing the cracks and the corruption and the collusion in his Party. More fun to go chasing off on more neutral topics and perhaps they can screw that up as well. A nice target? The National Census that is coming up and needs preparation starting immediately.
     This lack of forward thinking can be found here in the Village too. Millennium Agreement, anyone? Any prep being done? Nope, much more important to foist the third lowest TV provider on us in a multi million dollar boondoggle! Much more important to keep that nasty CV Messenger out of the Clubhouse for evidently our poor overworked and tired brains cannot take a bit of disharmony and opposition thoughts. Social clubs are just that and they have no interest in bringing politics into their meetings, Eva. Think about it. Truly. ESignatures? Uh uh. Oh yes, shriek about the Internet, but when it comes to making it easier to propose new thoughts, corrections, and more forward thinking, suddenly David Israel and crew turn into Luddites. Good enough for business and the government but not for David Israel. Sniff, sniff!
     So the whole world is infected with the nasty virus, with the selfish virus, where principles do not count, only money and the more the real people are screwed, the better it is. So let them die in the streets, or even in their beds for it is their fault that they are sick, their fault that they are poor. Just ask Trump and his circle of friends. That is certainly not the Circle of Life!
     What a depressing morning set of thoughts but what else is there to think? Well, at least there are protesters. At least we know that there will be an end to the Trumpian thoughts and proposals but can we last that long? Thinking, thinking....

THE FUTURE IS HERE - CALL 911

    Well, I got a taste of the future yesterday and I did not appreciate it at all. First, we needed a refill of migraine pills, an item I have used for years as necessary and as Disney sings, "as old as time". Well, guess I am supposed to have migraines without these pills to help with the pain and the lights as a new bottle would cost over $300. Yup, you read that right.
     Then came the second ding of the day. We went to renew some of my diabetic items and were told suddenly that it was not covered, would cost $435 and mind you, this is an item used on a daily basis so that same charge would be recurring every few weeks. Huh! What the heck happened? And by the way, my insulin was supposedly not ready to be renewed. Considering that I was down to my last pen that was a bit worrisome, don't you think! what was going on. The first piece of advice was to switch to another system and perhaps that would be covered. Uh uh. No go for me because I am sure I was still covered. And thus began the journey through Alice's not so wonderful Wonderland.
     Oh, and by the way, I have a little tidbit from the day's events that meanS something special just for David Israel so hang in there. So....off to the phone and the computer, getting numbers and names to call and contact, companies, government outlets, whatever. We were sent hither and thither but no answer or definitive suggestion as to how to solve this. So I guess I was supposed to go curl up in a corner with a massive headache and then just let the diabetes take over and die - Trumpian medicine before its time!! 
     Poor Gerry as he was the one who sat on the phone. After having to deal with so many governmental offices and officials during my professional years, I seem to have developed an allergy to them!! Oh, I can walk the walk and talk the talk, but oh, those hives! So round the bushes we went and then, a burst of music, glorious light as we finally reached a person in Medicare who knew what the facts and the procedures were and what happened.
     So it seems that the drugstore - that shall remain nameless - was doing it wrong and I was covered for diabetic supplies under Part B and not Part D and somehow it only caught up to us now. So, one problem fixed - or would be when we spoke to the pharmacy. Next? The insulin. Aha! Computer glitch as the pens were there in the fridge awaiting our pickup. The migraine pills? Still working on that!
     Now here is the part special for you, David. As Gerry was the one who spoke to these governmental officials, I had to give him permission to speak about my business. For the first time ever, someone asked me if I wanted this permission to be forever - at least till I croaked - and I said oh yes. But how? So she proceeded to ask some questions, and read me a long declaration with all consequences listed and I confirmed my agreement to the terms and then - Guess What, Davy boy. Oh yes - I signed with an ESignature!! Yes, the government of the United States of America accepted - even solicited - an ESignature! Oh my. Did not have to fax anything, email anything, just ESignature. Now seriously, dear boy, you and  Anita Buchanan and any and all other suckers and brownnosers. If the government accepts an ESignatue, especially on  something as important as health related issues, then sorry, David, so can UCO.  Hmm... UCO vs. Federal Government. Hmmm. You lose, - so GET OVER IT, DAVID!! I just punctured your self important bubble and there you are, revealed behind the curtain, a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing but hot air and self aggrandizement. Humph!! Just like Trump!! He has had to get himself a lawyer, a whole slew of them so maybe that is the way we need to go, yet again. But make sure it is not a dirty lawyer such as he picked who is now revealed to also have diverted charitable donations to the charity called Self charity!! Shame, Shame!
     You see, truth always comes out and misdeeds of people crawl out of the wood work at the most inconvenient times. What would happen, David, if there were a forensic accounting going back years, to the destruction of the Clubhouse,  and all the alleged financial shenanigans that went on then and ever after, including the smelly dealings at the time of the road job, the misappropriation of funds at that point, the financial misdeeds in transferring money without legal right to, and everything that has followed. What would indeed be the result? What would happen if an investigation into the lies you spew forth, an investigation into the violation of the civil rights of American citizens all came  about. What a dirty river of truths violated would issue forth.
     People are getting more and more up to the neck with you and your obstructionist behavior. Oh, you can keep on using delaying tactics, but the truth does come out. Here is a simple one. You lied to the DA about the Sheffield mess, that it was going to be sold and yet there we are, with Ed Black going there to advise the creep, Kelly, and meanwhile all the suckers in the DA who believed you and clapped so heartily, are now sitting with their thumbs up their rears!!
     Same as Trump. Seems he knew all about the Russian hacking and yet for six months shouted out how he did not know. Really? Smell something? Guess he was so deeply involved, with everything, from himself down to his bud, Manafort, his campaign chairman,getting millions from Russian sources. HA!
     Do you also have a fake Time magazine cover in your office or are you better than that? What an idiot that man is, what a self conceited overblown ego he has. He does what every kid does and gets a picture on a fake cover of a newsmagazine for the yuks it gets but for an adult to do that!! And to try to pass it off as the real thing? I am nauseous again.
     When leaders, or supposed leaders, lose the respect of their electorate, trouble for them ensues. The legislators have neither reverence nor adoration nor liking nor fear of Trump anymore and so this horrific bill goes by the wayside until the people haters try yet again. And for that, perhaps the cure is to read the medical report about a little boy and all the medical care he has received and how he lives and is doing fine right now - all thanks to the health insurance the family has, all due to the no cap policy, and where would he and his family have been under Trump Care? Dead and in mourning.
     The country is falling apart what with plague being found in New Mexico, hospitals getting hacked along with other institutions today, people hating each other, getting violent with each other but Trump and his minions have one track minds and never you mind, on they forge!! And the same with the Village. There is a growing divide within the Village. There is a growing strong dislike of David Israel, his tactics and his followers, his intransigence, his obstructionism as we try to get the Village back on the right track and enough with the harmful and unwanted multi million dollar contracts and enough with the constant alleged stream of lies and mistruths and yes, FAKE NEWS. Perhaps we should get a federal government employee to come in and explain the legal correctness and validity of ESignatures. Perhaps then we can move forward.
     Impeachment for both Presidents? Sounds like a good idea to me.
     Here is a good PS for all of us. Consumer Reports rated 32 TV providers and guess where Atlantic Broadband is? - it is 3rd from the bottom, 30 out of 32. Wow, what a great deal David has gotten us into yet again.

AND IT KEEPS ON COMING

     Yesterday I finally had the chance to watch the Megyn Kelly interview with Alex Jones.  I think she did a wonderful job, pressing him for answers and insisting he recognize his own ploys and she did it all in a calm voice yet clearly indicated what she thought of his views and expressions. So did Tom Brokaw later on in the program. Kudos to her and Tom. As I sat there listening, I marveled at her ability to avoid throwing up and the next thought was Lordy, Lordy - there are now two of them, two men who make me nauseous at the mere sight of them as the ugliness of their views take on physical representation and portrayal. You remember the saying, from Nietzsche I believe, that if one looks into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you. Well, here is a fine example of it, for the ugliness of their views, the hate they spew and generate, lines their very faces - and their souls too, I am sure.
     There was a Pew research poll that shows that more than three quarters of the world have no confidence and no liking nor trust in Trump. I am embarrassed to my core that this man supposedly represents me, mine and my country to the world. Actually, he most emphatically does not and we must make sure that the rest of the world recognizes that Trump has not changed the majority of us, we are still the Americans of old who stand up for the values of their country, who remember the true history and meaning of America and who actually have a functioning brain between their ears along with a command of our native tongue.
     Actually, the question is how could anyone still consider this man a true president of the American people. He picks and chooses those whom he approves and most fall into the white and rich, rich, rich category along with a few "privileged" others such as Ben Carson and his own daughter and son in law, Jared Kushner. But as for those who do not make those distinctions, well, watch your health, for as I have stated and as others are jumping on board with the same feeling, this new proposed healthcare bill is a 'just die bill' for any of moderate or lower income for they will never be able to afford it, and certainly never make it thru a six month waiting period with pre existing conditions. Just die is the thought and hope and think how much money the government will save for no longer having to help these people, cut Medicaid and give the saved money to those wealthy dudes who have no need of it but are greedy as the day is long, and rival Uncle Scrooge in their grasping of money. Die ins have been held all over the country making the meaning and purpose and result of this healthcare proposal loud and  clear. 
     More senators are rejecting it, but let us hope they remain firm as Republican senators and lawmakers have a habit of caving in at the end. And in the meanwhile, let us look at the newest Supreme Court Judge, Gorsuch. What a disaster that is going to be as his participation in yesterday's decisions clearly delineate where he stands and trust me, to consistently stand with Clarence Thomas, yet another pervert in office, is bad news for any civil rights or progressive thinking in the nation. Federal money for religious schools to improve physical plants and land, enforce the whole travel ban - good grief!, and let everyone get cover licenses for guns for evidently, the more the merrier? And this guy stands to be on the Court for many a year, G-d help us. Long and healthy life to Kennedy, to all the ladies, and Breyer, the last hope of fresh air and progressive ideas for us in the Court.
     And for a closing touch to indicate where this nation is headed if these super religious and super conservatives take over more of the governments, we will have more stories of the woman who was told that she is responsible for the behavior and thinking of males around the pool and thus it is incumbent upon her to dress how they deem appropriate. I might not have liked her bathing suit, but then again, it is my right to like or not, approve or not, but not my right to dictate to her. We here in the Village already have issues where religious dictates (supposedly) have infringed upon the decorum of the Village and it is not pretty.
      So 15 million to die next year, 7 more million over the following years and uh oh, a problem. I just read that cemeteries are running out of space so what will we do with all these dead people? Better research that, my non caring people in Congress! Such problems. Such issues.
     This hateful and hate filled and contemptuous attitudes of the privileged towards those whom they consider the opposite must stop. We left those attitudes behind and were continuing to work on those who would rather they return, but today is the worst it has been in a long time, with hate being expressed out in the open, with threats being bandied about and there appears to be no end in sight. So what will it take? How many more people do we have to hurt? How many more people will we deny refuge? How many more people will grow up in a changed for the worse United States? How many and for how long?
     The choice is ours. The work is ours. Step up folks, step up or forever lose your place.

PULL THE THREAD

     We all have had it happen. There is a little thread of whatever hanging from a piece of clothing. It does not look nice and ruins the image, so we pull at it hoping to tear it off and oh no! the thread just gets longer and longer and before you know it there is an unraveling of the item of clothing. Oops!
     Well such seems to be the case with two people and/or administrations, for the head of one gives the signature color to an administration and if a thread is loose in one, then the other begins to unravel as well, usually with a faster and faster pace. Such is what we have in our two "favorite" administrations and administrators. So today we go first with David Israel and UCO. For a man who seems to push the idea that he is an advanced person, like a Da Vinci of his time, a man of advanced ideas, every new idea is opposed by him and his crew, with his 'Eddie' managing from behind the throne, putting words and ideas in David's mouth.  So the man who sits all day, alone, pushing buttons on an inanimate computer - because the man cannot deal with real people - this same man opposes any new ideas of the age of computers and electronics. So... no esignatures, this from a man who claims he enlightens the world with his email blasts. This from a man who takes years to move on say to - changing the manner and method of voting. He pushes it away, finds excuses to deny, denies his own errors, until down the line and years later he is forced to acknowledge his hanging threads, not chads, but just as bad, perhaps worse! 
     Esignatures are accepted in major deals. Houses can be bought and sold, business deals completed, but in CV, for UCO, oh no. Not here, for then it would be too easy to gather up the signatures of the growing opposition to David Israel and his loose ways with our money, his incessant insistence on his desires and doing it HIS way, his years of long denial of guilt in the road mess and the loss of over five million dollars and the necessity of doing it again. It took him years to acknowledge the massive flooding it produced after every rain, large or small. It took years to move off the ridiculous hand voting with its massive openings for manipulation and still more years to get him to go with one man one vote in a CV version. He is still fighting that for he knows that the majority of the population of the residents despise him, even hate him, for what he has done and continues to do to our Village, to the detriment of our Village. Time to pull on one of the many threads that are hanging loose and pull, pull hard, and get this man gone from UCO. Time to oust him any which way - via impeachment, or vis election loss, a hard thing to do as he controls too many of the older, unthinking delegates that he drags out at voting time, who suddenly arise from suddenly reconstituted Association Boards. Time to change the whole system. And by the way, the opponents are denied access to the officers and Associations - only the obstructionist man in the back room and his buds have access. That thread is a calling.
     And then again, we have our so esteemed loony president. Trump. Lord help us for we are in more than a pickle. We are drowning in that pickle juice even as our own version of Nero keeps rolling along, not with a violin, but with threads a flying.
There is a rule, basically a courtesy rule, that shrinks do not define a public figure as sane or not, as mentally balanced or not. Psychiatrists have been champing at the bit of this rule since Trump began his campaign for if ever a man needed public definition.... One states that "it is appropriate for mental health professionals to "condemn specific patterns of behavior such as habitual lying, blatant disrespect for others, self-contradiction and erratic behavior as inappropriate for a person holding a public office." She continues with "Such behavior patterns can be pointed out without the need to label them as a specific psychopathology,". "The behavior speaks for itself." 
     'Nuff said there! But the very fact that this man is President makes it not just a laughing matter, but even a crying matter. Just look at his record on the whole Russian collusion and interference issue. He deflects and obfuscates, throws tantrums, but all the while refuses to fess up or open up. So what do we have as the hanging threads abound? We have - a Democratic hoax, or China did it, or a 400 pound man sitting on his bed, or even a hacker from New Jersey, or maybe there was no hacking at all. Guess 17 intelligence organizations can all be wrong - not! He refuses to admit the hacking and the collusion and the fact that it was done by Russia to get him elected and once again I will state that this man is not a legitimately elected President and more and more people are coming round to that thought and voicing it.
     He lies as a matter of fact, a sign of mental disruption. He has disappointed the Carrier workers, that is unless they move to Monterrey, Mexico and become immigrants in Mexico! But then again there will be plenty of company for people who refuse to die as orchestrated in his health bill - what a misnomer! - will move to Mexico. Can you imagine setting up a six month waiting period for cancer survivors or those who suffer from any chronic disease that needs medication, but there it is - the Death budget again.
      "...the so-called health care bill, will be the most devastating attack on the working class of this country in the modern history of the United States of America......will cause devastating, unprecedented harm to millions of people in my state, in your state and all across the country."
     And among the frenzied efforts to convince Senators to pass this horror, we have the increased awareness that Trump has deserted his base and in fact, never was with them. All along he has seen the Presidency as a way to making new deals with countries and other companies, with banks, such as The Deutsche Bank who own him to the tune of 364 million dollars and that is before we add in Kushner's debt to them!! And the timing of these loans....We need to pull up our pants and straighten our shoulders and get this man gone and in the meanwhile impress upon our representatives in DC that we will not tolerate his ruinous policies, his lack of ethics, his use of the country and our government as a means to an end - the further enrichment of Donald Trump. Period!! Think that "I" word is looking better and better.
     And all the while the hatred grows, and rather than build upon what was a growing beating back of racial politics, we now have a growing hatred that permeates the land. African Americans in some areas want to pull away, hold black only affairs where they would definitely rail against mandated all white affairs. What is this?! Why the separation? Why the hate? Why? Because this man, supported by hate organizations, is now sitting in the Oval Office. That is why. I do not care where this hate comes from nor where it is manifested. All I care about is that we once again combat it, beat it back before it rips us apart once more.
     Americans. Villagers. Take a good long and evaluating look at what we have and what we should have instead. Listen to the rest of the world, hear their words. Look at who has backed Trump - a sworn enemy of our country for decades. And they love Trump. So why is that?
Think, people, think. Put aside your defense mechanisms about having voted for Trump. That is past. Time to look towards the future. If there is a future.

SHATTERED AND TORN

     Was reading a book I had come across, The Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin, and read a line which struck me hard in its accurate description of what happened during Hitler's rise to power. It was impossible to protect from the hatred, the growing animus and his "message became a stench in the air that everyone was forced to breathe."
     I thought how apt a description and how accurate it was to the times of today, the messages of hate that we are receiving, the messages that some people do not truly matter, the hatred that now permeates the very air we breathe. And we get the dangerously dumb statements and excuses from people like Kellyann Conway who tell us not to pay attention to the tweets of that hulking man, that bigot and predator. But that man is President of the United States, a formerly prestigious position in the world, and what he says does matter, certainly so.
     Last nite I finally had the chance to watch a concert from PBS about the music of the 60's, not the 50's music that began the decade, but the rest of the music, the music that charred the country, that shook up the world and all complacency. It was a music that began with sweet dreams and hopes, that love would find a way to break through all barriers, and hopeful and hopeless dreamers swayed to the sounds of groups such as The Association, moving into the Turtles, into The Lovin' Spoonful, and the acid rock that truly was acidic in its effects and meaning. It was the music that was angry, the music and the words, the rasping sound of Barry McGuire singing Eve of Destruction.
     The words of that song truly struck me hard for how apt it was for these times as  well, with the same worries and fears so evident. '...if the button is pushed there's no running away, there'll be no one to save with the world in a grave....handful of Senators don't pass legislation....when human respect is disintegratin'..." Get the point, the picture painted? Retro is in style, but is it this retro that we are wanting, the retro that will destroy us.
     Once again the Eastern world is exploding with the same characters under somewhat different names, but the hatred and the blood remains the same. What is truly sad is that we have learned nothing from all the tense times the world has experienced, all the times when final destruction was not so far away. And today we have a man whose finger, attached to a bizarre mind, is that close to the button and the shredding of the world and the human race.
     But at this point I am hoping that even he and his advisors will realize that they too will be caught in this and the apocalyptic world that remains will not be pleasant or even survivable, not even for them. What concerns me more is that we will survive in a world where there is no 'human respect", and this supposed health plan, a misnomer if I ever heard one, will continue to shatter the rules of civilization, or at least what and where we thought we had finally reached, and the Budget of Death, the harsh bill which will see so many die for lack of care, for lack of access, for lack of medicines, will continue to implement the apparent goals of this administration. The world is evidently meant for the fabulously wealthy and the rest can go hang unless they are needed for the physical well being of the wealthy. Sounds extreme but take a look at the proposed bills, the Executive Orders which target the environment, the people of the world who are not white and Christian and wealthy. Take a look at the plan in its final goals. No worry about withdrawing from the Paris Accorde for with fewer people on earth, the pollution will of necessity fall and thus the world will be saved!!! Sounds crazy, but follow it all to the end and see where it leads.
     We have a massive meeting of the Koch brothers and their ilk and see who will also be at that meeting.
"Several key players in the ongoing Senate negotiations are at The Broadmoor resort for the network’s twice-annual gathering, including two of the five GOP holdouts: Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Mike Lee (Utah). The No. 2 in GOP leadership, John Cornyn (Tex.), is also here, along with Cory Gardner (Colo.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Ben Sasse (Neb.).
Some conservatives who could determine whether anything that passes the Senate would subsequently clear the House are coming to the Koch conference, including Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (N.C.), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Dave Brat (Va.) and Justin Amash (Mich.). Reads like a Who's Who from the Congress and the goal of this conference is to get a harsher bill, for to these people it does not go far enough in stripping healthcare from the middle and lower classes. Nope, these people will not be happy till people are dropping in the streets all the while they have the triple gold plated health plan of the Congress and federal workers. So much for equality. So much for concern for others. So much for hatred in the air, for contempt for others. To use the language of Trump - it is a bigly horribliness!
     So why are people still surprised when the lack of ethics highlighted in the behavior of governmental officials causes more trouble or raises more questions. The great savior, Kushner, seems to have hit a roadblock in the Middle East even though according to his father in law it would be an easy solve. Perhaps he was holding out for the Palestinians to see reality, that the land between the river and the sea would not be handed over to them. Perhaps there was disagreement on some issue on the Israeli's side, but whatever it was, these things take time and yes, more time and perhaps even one today we will have peace with Russia!! Patience is the key word, but we have a president who does not know that word, who never reads a book, who never thinks beyond the next 140 characters, who thinks he can run the government like his own business, all the better to enrich that very same business and all the while the flouting of ethics.....
     And then of course we have the little juicy tidbits that just go to prove that lack of ethics appears to be contagious. Ivanka Trump, whose idea of writing a book seems to be at great odds with the rest of the world, whose ideas of struggles of the working woman are not exactly attuned to the middle class or lower class and sorry, not feeling it for those who have access to multiple nannies or who can tell an underling at work to watch the kids brought to work! - this same Ivanka has now been called to testify about the alleged theft of a shoe design. Now I do not know much, if anything at all, re shoe design, but when a person tries to deny knowledge that a shoe design was stolen and excuses herself from that whole chain of intellectual property theft by saying that "My involvement was strictly limited to the final sign-off of each season's line after it was first reviewed and approved by the company's design team,". Oooff, wimpy excuse. If you sign off on something you had better ask the proper questions. Any executive at any level knows that if one signs off on something one had better be well versed in what they signed off on!! The buck stops there. Hope she is not so careless with our lives as she advises her father in a blatant display of nepotism.
     And one more question - Mnuchin, the Secretary of the  Treasury just got married - to an alien! oh my! Does she have a green card? Has she been vetted and then vetted again to make sure she is not a terrorist? She originates from Scotland, part of the UK, a 'former" ally of the USA, so we had better be sure!! Goose and gander.
     And while we are on the topic of contempt and hatred, that same atmosphere, that same stench permeates the air right here in the Village. One man and his buds Hate those who oppose them and try any and all pathways to keep them away from UCO. They make up stories, make up rules, turn away the very thing they supposedly push - use of advanced and more modern techniques- or so they say - but Esignatures, used in major contracts, - uh uh. Nope, for this will make it a tad easier to start a process wherein they will have to watch their steps. Even now the fear of eyes watching them are causing them  to pay more attention to flooding, to broken infrastructure and on that topic, I thought we were going to fix only our portion of the drainage pipe so why all of sudden did we make nice nice to Waldman and thus make it easier for him to use our drainage system thus making it easier for him to say that he has a drainage plan thru the Village - right into our lakes, so look for more flooding that way!! What the hell are you doing, David? And how are you going to keep any shenanigans out of the clicker system like handing it over to someone else to use as one leaves or any number of other ways to cheat. Just using a clicker does not remove possibilities of cheating - and we all know who does the cheating!! Do we not??? Let's just count those papers waving in the air! Just who is on the committee who will be supervising the learning process? Gee, should I name the names without even getting  a hint?
     The world has that stench of the evil message, the reflection of evil deeds and thoughts. Hard to escape, but there are enough people who will close their eyes, shut their ears, and think we will just muddle through. Nope, not anymore. Not here in CV and  not here in the country and not here in the world. No more. Too much intertwining of countries, no matter what the nativists and populists and nationalists say. Isolation does not work. Nor does hatred. Nor does evil in the long run. Dictators do fall. Check your history. Check the daily newspapers. No, not the Rag. Real papers. Shattered and torn - there must be a better way - and soon.
     

PINOCCHIO, NOSES, FIERY PANTS AND NASTINESS TO BOOT!

     I recently read a message for World Refugee Day that stated that people are 99.5% the same, the difference only .5%. I thought to myself, "Wow!! so what is the big deal then with skin color, ethnicity, place of origin, religion if that all amounts to .5% and that is assuming that genes play a role in all that. I believe that environment, nurture, plays a role in that and if were to get  a sudden taste of brilliance, a lightning bolt to our heads, we would realize that people are so much more the same than different.
     But people refuse to understand that and here are a few examples. David Israel thinks that he and his are different as he attempts to tar and feather any and all oppositional players in the Village, for to him, they are demons, out to get him. Well....perhaps that is true to an extent, (LOL) but actually we would find no problem working with him if he behaved as a reasonable human being Ahem! And I guess he gets all the road sign hints and directions from such as Trump, our ever so 'esteemed' leader. There are two excellent postings on the Century Village Messenger blogsite that present David's use of fear and threats, implied threats to the quality of lives of the Villagers, of the lies he tells and of the money he wastes to the tunes of millions of dollars. Read them, they are excellent.
     Trump has got to have the biggest nose ever and must have surgery on it every night to counterbalance the lies he tells. Or perhaps it is his pants on fire that must be doused every nite for those same lies. But what is worst of all are the attitudes he takes towards people who are different - and thank the Lord for that - and his contempt for them comes thru loud and clear.
     Here are several promises he made re the healthcare issue and here also are the results as we look at the ever so secret healthcare proposal the Senate Republicans wish to foist upon the American people. They are now calling it, you should excuse me and go barf if you wish, the Better Care Reconciliation Act. A more brazen lie is hard to find, unless we discuss tapes that are not! His base is going to be royally screwed and don't forget the announcement today that Carrier is moving 600 jobs - you know, the jobs he "saved" -all the way to Mexico. Build that wall! Tote that bale! You are all the poor anyway and he does not want you anywhere near him, certainly not in  his administration, just there out there in Iowa cheering your own ruin.
     Back to healthcare. Uh huh. It will lower deductibles he said. This bill will raise them. It will preserve Medicaid. Yup, tell that to the 50 wheelchair bound protesters arrested today as they heard about the cuts to Medicaid. But what the hell do they know - they are poor and elderly, a double whammy in Trump's book. His plan will totally replace Obamacare. Nope, some even more evil GOP members are saying it is too generous!! Really, I kid you not. Wonder what they give their kids for Christmas - the wrapping paper? It will guarantee insurance for everyone - not really with Medicaid being cut and coverage being limited.
     The plan will be great for women. Huh!? They are planning to cut ALL funds to Planned Parenthood so no breast exams, no physicals, no advice and help, no nothing! And no insurance policies will be funded at all if there is access to abortion coverage within that policy. So much for women's rights and respect for women. But then again, a man who paws at women and who thinks he is G-d's gift to them, what else can we expect.
     It will be a plan with heart. Truly, he said this even as this plan is being protested by all major medical associations for what it will not cover, for the heart it has lost. "much less expensive and better care" - truly, with Medicaid and funding cut, with less coverage, what a heart indeed - Trump's black heart and the heartless schemes of the GOP. It would take care of those with pre existing conditions even as it comes out with plans to gut pre existing coverage. It cannot be both ways, this talking out of two sides of the mouth at the same time. And finally," Republicans will come together and save the day." Well, they are arguing, thank G-d and long may they do so, but they are for sure not saving anyone except themselves as they give all those needy rich folks a massive tax cut via this bill. And watch all the hypocrites join hands at the end as they, the GOP senators, suddenly feel the kumbaya spirit and sell the voters down the river once more.
     And the lies and verbal dodgeball keep on coming. First he threatens Comey that he has tapes of the conversation in an attempt to intimidate him and now that he is being pushed to the wall for them, he weaseled out of it by saying he really does not know if there are tapes what with all the taping and surveillance going on but he does not have any. So....THE MAN LIED THROUGH HIS TEETH PLAYING CEO. But he is not CEO. He is the president and he is supposed to behave presidentially. And yet again we hear that he tried to pressure another person, Dan Coats, to say publicly that he, Trump, is not under investigation for collusion with the Russians.Way over his head and ability. You see, government does not work that way. His business was run into the grounds of bankruptcy and using other people's money and failing to pay his bills or proper taxes as he squirmed and twisted to get out of them. Government is different and he needs to learn that.
     But the best is the line of Stephen Colbert who is now in Russia for his show. He told Trump in a tweet not to worry, for "“If the ‘tapes’ exist, I’ll bring you back a copy!” Don't ya just love it!!!
     So we have to choose what we want to have as our government and we need to let these people know. WE are the people in the "of the people, by the people and for the people" statement. WE are the ones who will decide who gets elected. WE are the ones who might be needy, who might be poor, who might be in ill health, who might need food stamps, who might need help with jobs, or paying education bills, or help in being absorbed into the country, but WE are the people of the United States and Trump et all must realize that 99.5% we are all the same and who is not to say that his .5% of difference is severely damaged. Certainly not I.

MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE - CALLING, CALLING...

     Sweet land of liberty...sweet land of liberty...sweet land of liberty.....
      What is happening to this country, the country to whom we sang in loyalty and joy, in appreciation of the fact that we lived here, under its flag and constitution? What has happened, to us, the citizens of this once upon a time country?
     We have turned into a country where the divisions are almost at Civil War point and degree. People are separating themselves according to how they think. Friends have become non friends and family members have become stilted and awkward as they try to avoid politics.
     Thomas Friedman quoted the words of Dov Seidman, an author and adviser to companies on building ethical cultures within their companies. He said that we are experiencing an attack, a vicious and dangerous attack on our very foundations - truth and trust. We would depend upon legitimate authority and agreement to disagree in a civil manner. It would always be "we the people" but that WE has disappeared, fading fast. And why?
     Because we share little of what used to be. There are no legitimate leaders, no commonality for us to base our unity upon.Fake news is spread in a viral manner, pushing to deepen splits and anger rises. And as for authority, well, it has disappeared in any positive manner. Those with legitimate authority such as Trump have no moral authority and hence there is no trust, no faith in them.
     Moral leaders "...trust people with the truth....They're animated by values - especially humility- and principles of probity so they do the right things, even when they are difficult or unpopular. And they enlist people in noble purposes...."
     This, my friends, leaves Trump out in the cold and us too. And it does not look as if it will be getting better as far as Trump is concerned, so what to do? Well, we can look for leaders amongst ourselves, those who fit the definition of one with moral authority. France seems to have done it, Russians are protesting their own leader and who knows, maybe there is one amongst us to inspire us, to help us reach that country of old to whom we sing. And in the meanwhile.....
    What we have now is what I call the kingdom and budget of death. We will balance all on the backs of those who need help and insure the increased wealth of that 1%. Leakage about the Republican health bill tells us that Medicaid funds will be drastically cut, medical care and coverage for those who need chemo and insulin - no coverage there at all, pre existing conditions - good luck finding insurance at an affordable rate. So just die I guess and that would include me and many others I know. Addiction, particularly to opioids will have less money budgeted towards helping recovery so again, think how much money we will save via death!! And as for those pesky immigrants, no problem, no worry, we will just throw more money at arresting and deporting and blocking. Oh, what will happen to our armed forces which have so many immigrants and foreign born in their ranks? I dunno. Ask Trump! Even as he plans to send more boots on the ground to at least three countries. More of our people dying. And don't forget that this is all up to Mattis for Trump has ceded authority on this to him and General McMasters. Screw the civilian control over the military. What the hell, just another tenet of our country down the tubes. And as for the rights and safety of workers - what rights?
     Yesterday Trump added some 'lovely' new statements. First of all he ran back to Iowa to get his ration of applause. What, is it that it is mostly hate filled people who live there in Iowa? Does he need their guaranteed applause as he spews more garbage, saying that immigrants cannot get welfare for five years - already on the books by the way, with exceptions so we do not have people keeling over, dead from starvation in our country - not even Iowa!
     He adds to these just so wonderful statements with one that says that in his economic appointee positions he just does "not want a poor person". Oh, G-d forbid an honest yet poor person - and define poor here, please - gets into position. Ever so much better to have a rich and unethical person, correct?! And of course, lest we forget the wall, Trump is now pulling for a solar wall - so it will cost Mexico less money, he says, even as Mexico once again reminds him that they are not paying for his monstrosity.
     This is shaping up to be another Watergate as far as disasters and lying and criminal offenses - remember how many were taken off to jail on that one - but, remember it took five years and I do not think we have five years to wait for Trump to realize he needs to resign or face impeachment and then possible criminal charges or espionage or whatever lovely thing he has done to us. Five more years with this guy is a disaster. Total and complete so we need to make 2018 an election to neutralize him and show people that loyalty to country and not Party or Leader is the American way to go.
     My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Liberty and truth, honor and morality, legitimacy of law and soul, a country of WE the People. How much, how far we have fallen. How much work we have left to do. Trump said yesterday that "those coming in to our country must embrace our values". Pray G-d they do or already have them - our values and not his nor those of his unethical administration and backers.

I'VE GOT A SECRET, NAH NAH N NAH NAH

     Well, we have descended well and truly down into schoolyard tactics and behavior. Our President (not mine) has hunkered down in some room somewhere in the White House and is refusing to come out in public. He has a series of favorite appointees coming and giving him private briefings, even intelligence briefings and remember when he said he was so smart he did not these daily briefings? Huh! So much for smart. And I am sure along with these private briefings come heaping tablespoons of more praise along the lines of his cabinet meeting.
     There have been no presidential meetings or conferences or speeches for quite some time - not that he ever has anything worthwhile to say - but still, he should be talking to the people of his charge - the American public. But he is afraid for he cannot speak well, has nothing intelligent to say and every time he opens his mouth something worth lampooning emerges. Again, yet he is the president and this is part of his duties. the burden of office, so to speak.
     Instead, what we have is an administration, the one that truly is not there, that functions on the teasing motif of I've got a secret, so Spicer does not hold briefings, not even his replacement holds them, Spicer gave up hiding in the bushes for briefings and in the rare off camera one he does hold, the answers are "I do not know" or "I'll get back to you" or "the President will talk about that soon" and of course, soon never comes.
     What the President is doing or not doing is thus held in secret. Evidently no one in the country other than his sycophants are allowed any insight or factual knowledge about what is happening and this I've got a secret attitude has evidently proven contagious. Watch the Republican Senators hold their plans and their bill on healthcare in secret, holding no hearings, letting in only a small number of fellow GOP members, a very few and even they get little to no information and as for Democrats, well they can whistle Dixie for all McConnell cares. And the plan is to throw this at the Senate, no hearings and very little to no discussion and call for a vote, a hasty vote prior to July 4 recess. Perhaps they should take that as a sign and remember that July 4 marks a bid for independence from tyrants and take that warning to heart.
     This holding close to the chest is something tyrants and dictators, petty or not, use as a technique of power. We have our own David Israel along with his trusty 'Eddie" who hold all in secret, plot contracts and their signing, throw it at the DA for a five minute perusal, of tiny print yet, and then push through a vote. Even a one vote majority is fine with him although he certainly loves big numbers in the announcement that now 100 signatures are needed for a petition and he even blocks E signatures, he of the love of the Internet and all that is found in the vast world of the clouds. Hypocrisy? For sure. Fear of what should and might be? For double sure. He of the secret huddles and life in the backroom? For double sure. He of the lover of secret and double dealings, the signing of contracts in secret, the lack of open and honest and translucent government - oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. But then again, Trump is such a good role model! Not!!
     Tell me if you have heard this before. "A small group of failed voices who think they know everything, and understand everyone, want to tell everybody else how to live and what to do and how to think."
     Yes, I know it is ungrammatical, but then again, he is always butchering the English language and yes, this is Trump at a religious right wing college commencement and brother, close your eyes and one can hear the whining voice of David Israel with the same nonsense. Cowards all, afraid of open competition, afraid of opposition, afraid of free thinkers, afraid of life, afraid of the truth. In both case, these are not the leaders we want nor need. Ossof lost in Georgia and one of the reasons being bruited about is the fact that he was too civil, took the high road even when battling all the low road people, civil protest rather than civil unrest. I am not so sure I welcome that unrest as a first line but I surely am deathly afraid that that is exactly what is waiting for us down the road and not too far down the road. The wise leaders we need are nowhere in sight.
     The House Republicans turn down the sanctions bill for Russia and Iran and whoo!, the stink of that! The pettiness of that. The wholesale ignoring of what this country must be, must say, must continue to show if people are to believe us. Instead, we are turned into wimps of no courage and no honesty, turncoats to the United States of America. Even Jill Stein is now being caught in the nest of Russian interference with the election. Just how deep does this go and what happens when people are proven to be traitors, knowingly or not. What do we do then? Has anyone thought of that or is it still the I've got a secret mode and we will not know till the very end. What will be with our country, our democracy, our history, our values, our people?
     The author of "Americanah", Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, spoke at the commencement at Williams College and hear and read the difference between what he said and what Trump said.
    "....I know how easily injustice becomes normal. I know how quickly, in the face of sustained mediocrity, we collectively lower our standards so that unacceptable things  suddenly become not so bad. (Does that sound familiar as it describes our time - my comment).
    And it continues. "This is not a perfect country. It is, in fact, not as hallowed as American nationalists like to think. But it was built on an idea that is humane, beautiful, and very much worth perfecting. ....You cannot be complacent, you cannot afford to become complacent because democracy is always fragile."
     Read and hear those words. Trouble is acoming, soon enough. Be prepared.

http://www.centuryvillagemessengerclub.com/

AND THE WINNER IS.....

     The eyes of the nation and even the world are turned to Georgia today where an otherwise minor election is taking on profound proportions. Will the Republican candidate win, or will the young Democratic candidate win, giving the Democrats not only another seat in the House, but also a major push and encouragement as we get nearer and nearer to the midterm elections of 2018.
     Yet the question arises about the whole ballyhoo. This has been a Republican seat since the time of Carter. The Democratic candidate is a kid, 30 years old, which might put people off, unnecessarily so. There are many factors, including weather, that come into play, but the bottom line is the importance and the attention paid to an elected positon and what that increased attention means for the 2018 elections. Win or lose, the Democrats must keep up this vigor, this drive if we are to push out the Republicans who have turned into the most electorate annoying and ignoring bunch ever.
     At present, these Republicans are trying to rush and push through a healthcare bill that will prove to be disastrous for millions upon millions of Americans. Details about it? Uh uh - it is secret. No one allowed in, kind of like the clubs kids make where only selected people are allowed in. Guess the GOP likes the dark inner child, the one that runs to the bully of the yard, the one who will help them oppress those they do not like nor care about. Hey, kinda familiar to anyone who lives in CV where contracts and negotiations are conducted in secret and people not given enough time to read them before voting on them. Yes, a video is aired, but we all know of the after meetings that go on, where the real business goes on and just in case, the attempts to change the voting system and rights here in the Village are constantly stymied. Kind of ironic that the man who pushes all the 'advances' of the Internet, has decided that E signatures are not okay for CV, never mind that people can buy houses using E signatures. Guess he needs to be picky to insure his continued dictatorship!! Stomach turning.
     We talk of winners, but the true losers are the American people who are losing the right to have people truly represent them as the right to openly discuss politics declines, and a new poll shows that 68% of Americans feel that political discourse is getting less and les civil. I know that amongst much of my circle of friends we will remind each other that there is no political talk should any of us forget. It is too divisive, but at some point there must be that talk. Polls now show that Trump has the lowest rating ever, with his approval rating at 35%. Sad - sad for us that we are stuck with this man and all he represents and all who follow him in the administration.
  Secret bill negotiations, secret trips non disclosed, secret meetings non disclosed, selective condemnation of terrorist deaths and should a victim or victims prove to be of a background other than white, Trump and his infernal twitter site are thunderously silent. Nothing about the van running into the crowd at a mosque. A week delay acknowledging the hate crime of two Indian born people. This is the President of the people of the country? No, most emphatically NO.
  The winner is not us for sure. Spicer is to be 'retired' into a less public position but he will still be there. Laura Ingraham mentioned as a possible substitute - oy! We find that the GOP has left nearly 20 million people with their rears hanging out in the air as their data was exposed. Too late, even as they say they will cut ties with the company involved. If the Dems had done this - we would never hear the end of it.
  If we are to be truly winners, we must press our representatives on the agenda before Congress, open or secret. We must make sure that healthcare for all is approved and kept intact. One can fix details but does not throw out that proverbial baby with the bath water. We can remember that today is World Refugee Day, remember what we, as a country, have done for refugees throughout our history and what we are doing and/or not doing these days.  We can emulate the French in their Parliamentary vote.We can all remember our origins.
 We can learn to be civil again, to be able to discuss, openly and freely, the politics of the day, discuss where we are headed as a country, discuss what we, as individuals, must do, how to be true Americans, loyal to our values and not to the values of a misguided, incompetent, mentally unbalanced man and those who follow him along the path to destruction of our republic.
 Yes, we can vehemently disagree, but we cannot encourage people to use violence. Yes, we can talk, but the talk must be fair, listened to, honored as the opinion of others. Yes, we are allowed to criticize the president and have been allowed to do so since we began as a country - in fact that is how we DID begin, by criticizing the head of government then - George III.
  Once we remember our history we will all be the winners. Once we remember that the Village does not have provision nor room for a dictator we will all be the winners. To be a winner is to take upon oneself a load of hard work, but the result is worth it. And the winner is all of us.
 

INNER VOICE, INNER SOUL, INNER CHILD

     From where I sat there were misty eyes throughout the room. Every adult was pounding hands together for all they were worth. They had to, for if not, if they did not clap long and loud enough then Tinkerbelle would die, not even make it to the story itself.
     But the adults were clapping for more than Tinkerbelle. They were clapping and tearing up for what was, for the innocence of childhood, for the optimism that once permeated the very air we breathed here in the United States and they clapped in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, we could pull ourselves out of this miserable current situation and fairies and what they represent would live once more.
     The play Finding Neverland is now at the Broward Center and worth a visit. The cast was wonderful, the play both serious and funny and they hit every line the way they were supposed to. And the message it sent was clear. Look into your eyes, the mirror of your souls, of your hearts and minds, and truly see what is there. Find the inner child that still remains inside and use it, allow it to guide you in moments of need - that is the inner child that represents what is good and healthy, innocent yet wise.
     It is a funny thing to say that when we have a child now in the Oval Office. It is a weird thing to think that the inner child of one is sitting there in UCO allowing his own temper tantrums to be displayed right there on stage or ring throughout the halls of UCO. But these 'children' give us glimpses into that inner heart and soul of these people and it ain't pretty. One ensconces himself on the couches of the White House or his fancy gilt encrusted hideaways and watches, obsessively, the TV screens and tweets away as his favorite and perhaps only true way for him to communicate his thoughts, such as they are. The other hides in his back room in UCO, never mingling with the residents, never taking advantage of the facilities, of the shows, of the very company of anyone other than perhaps his 'Eddie' and his computers.
     Watch children in action, See how they reach out to new people and sights. See how they can react to adults, see the truth of adults. Children and dogs they say. (Personally I could do without the dogs but that is just me. Do not deal well with critters of any type.) Hmm, guess that includes two legged critters as well. When we lost that spontaneity, when we lose that honesty, when we lose that ability to empathize, when we turn to the dark child within us, that is when we begin to lose the world. It is that dark inner child that blackens the world, that puts business over people, that puts personal gain and personal desires over the good of the electorate and it is that dark remnant of childhood that is now ruling the world in too many places and when a person in power embraces that child, turns to murder and hatred, turns to oppression, turns to rampant prejudice, well, Tinkerbelle and other fairies are dying. We need to clap once more, loud and long and clear.
     When we have a human animal who now crashes a car into a crowd leaving a mosque, when we have an Alex Jones telling the world that those Sandy Hook kids did not die, when we have him not dealing well with Megyn Kelly and good for her, when we have a lawyer, one supposedly who comes along complete with a brain and we have that very same lawyer trip multiple times over his own tongue denying Trump's part in the whole mess and the fact that he is under investigation - when we have all that - those fairy lights are dimming. 
     We need to be aware of those who would kill off those lights for good, those who see their own needs as the driving force of whatever community they infect. We need to be aware of the rot they encourage, the rot that eats away at our own values and cause us to turn on our neighbors, the rot that raises evil and disturbing thoughts in one's mind.
     No one is perfect and we have both the good inner child, the one that allows us to look within and see what is right and the evil one, the dark one who encourages us to the wrong side of life, the one who chooses to leave the goodness of childhood behind and only take the schoolyard bully along. That is what we have now too often. We must clap those hands, truly look ourselves in the eyes and be honest with ourselves, not defensive, not ashamed at the wrong turn we took, but merely put it aside and go the right way now. And if some tears come along with this road of rediscovery, then so be it. And remember the tears that were shed, the blood that was shed when man behaved inhumanely towards other men, be it the Holocaust or slavery or other genocides. Today is Juneteenth, the day the Emancipation Proclamation reached the ears of the Texans, two and a half years late. Would that we could all emancipate ourselves from evil that still remains in the world.
     "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."  (Victor Frankl)
     "In spite of everything, I believe that people are good at heart." (Anne Frank)
     These people stated these beliefs in truly a most horrific time and in an unfathomable set of circumstances, when hate ruled the world. If they could say that, if they could put this positive spin on humanity and its power to choose does it not behoove us to think on that and choose the right child and pound those hands. Let the light shine again.
     
     

THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IS NOT

     In two days we will be hitting the fifth month anniversary of Trump's administration, but wait! Did I say administration? What administration? It seems that the only jobs that Trump can fill are those beginner jobs filled with younger folks who are looking to build their resumes, to getting a toe in the door, but as for the secondary and tertiary levels? Forget it! Just not happening.
     First it seemed as if the man could not make up his mind. Then actually many questioned whether in fact he actually had a mind!! Then it seemed to be that those nominated for the job could not get properly vetted and approved as there were too many issues, or they backtracked and turned the offers down as they would have to give up the chance for lobbying or divest themselves of their stocks, etc. Not quite sure why these lower levels were so stressed about that issue as their leader(s) seemed to have been able to keep their wealth in stocks and investments without a problem, particularly el Donald!
     In any case, Republicans who were offered jobs turned them down as they felt they were then too exposed to toxicity of proximity, or of being thrown under the bus, or of getting publicly reamed out like a child under the thumb of the schoolyard bully.
     The latest turndown of a job was by a Milwaukee County sheriff who decided he did not actually want the job in Homeland Security and this from a controversial man who had a person die of dehydration while in his custody. Lovely caliber of people we are looking at!!
     Potential appointees are worried about being tarred with the same brush of stupidity and  cupidity that has smeared Donald thru his own actions and statements. You see, no one is immune from the consequences of one's actions. Sometimes it takes a bit longer and sometimes it is immediate, but - the truth always comes out. Always. No one wants to be mixed up in this toxic atmosphere and so our government goes unstaffed and G-d forbid we have a dire emergency - who will be those that take care of it? Where will our administration be then as they cannot take care of the people that this administration is supposed to serve. And all the while poor Spicer suffers from delusions as he insists that people are just about banging down the door for a job. Uh huh.
     History is too often filled with those who thought they could get away with anything and yet history also shows us that these dictators were unhappy in their assumed roles and gave in to paranoia and murderous impulses From ancient times till today, there is not a dictator who has not done this and look at el Donald. If he thought he could get away with it, he would go for it, shred the Constitution and take all the reins of power in his hot little hands. The dictators are the ones he emulates as best he can and whom he praises to the sky. And why not, for they seem to return the "love". Look how Russia has seemed to safeguard his trademarks in their country. It just all smells to the heavens.
     He is involved up to his neck, red tie or not, in the shady dealings with and of Russia. He has refused to clarify his own holdings and wealth to the satisfaction of all, ignoring the standing tradition of all recent presidents of opening their books. But this man thinks he is above the law and fumes away on Twitter, accusing one and all, of 'hunting' him. How does he not see who is in his mirror looking back at him? And how does he not realize that no one but no one wishes to work with and for and in a toxic and dangerous environment where the boss does not give you his loyalty and in fact, will throw you under the bus without thinking anything of it.
     This same category of an administration that is truly not,  is to be found right here in the Village. Read the lists of the committees, check the names against the listing of all the committees and the officers and see the truth. This place is being run by six or seven officers plus another inner circle of ten people or so and I am being generous in that number Any other person will be blocked especially if one opposes the Lord and Master, David Israel, who emulates Trump to a tee. Then we will get the plaintive calls in The Rag to volunteer but no one wishes to unless they are willing to give up their independence, their very heart and soul.
     Secret dealings and meetings in both administrations. Health bills being concocted in secrecy. Contracts being signed in secrecy and notice that the problems that we raised in the DA were NOT addressed. For one, though we ostensibly have received funds for a project manager - where is that same person? Looking at resumes they say. Truly? I have  a private bet with someone as to who will fill that job. And as for the possibility of Atlantic not being ready at close of the Comcast contract and their ostensible VERBAL offer to pay up for us, that verbal never got translated into writing in the contract as David rushed to sign his name. What is in it for him that he rushed to sign while major areas of contention and of major importance to us were left dangling? What about our choice and surety of available channels. Why the hell would Atlantic now sign an amendment to the contract, now that they have us exactly where they want us. So is this why suddenly  David was oh so worried that there would be too many people in the room during signing so he had it done in secret and announced it later.
     Two administrations that need to go. Here in the Village we need to get that one resident owner one vote passed and enacted. Snow birds are to be included in that but as for renters - uh uh. There has to be some degree of ownership, of a stake for a person, if one is to vote. Too easy for renters to up and leave. The question of snowflakes would need to be decided but personally, if a person owns and comes down and does not rent to another - then voting privileges should be  allowed and one to a person, not multiple votes for multiple units. Resident! We need to use tamper proof on line voting and no, I think we are safe from the Russians so we can do this online.
     The lies and the chicanery that go on in both substandard administrations are awful to contemplate. Both need to go. Impeachment? Voting out at the proper time? Non violent implosion? Choose a way but choose quickly for the future is not too bright with these invisible administrations and these naked emperors. Then perhaps we can go back to a normal situation and then maybe  almost every book and every movie and TV show will not have to have a pejorative statement re el Donald! I understand why and I truly feel the same way but I wonder - how the hell did we allow this man in office and in fact, how the hell did we allow David Israel to stick around and pull his shticks, much to our detriment.
     The administrations that are not. Just lovely!!
 

1825? SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD YEAR?

     Civil rights? The rights to a better education? The right to protect the consumers, the workers? The right to revoke and rescind all civil rights and prevent any settlements made from becoming law and setting precedents? And just add to that the money that Trump wishes to return to banks that will not "trickle down" but would rather go to the shareholders and we all know that. Making for a great vintage year, does it not and then just add to that the increased and more vocal demand from the Republicans to loosen the gun laws. Duel at the Capitol at Noon? A new picture?
     It seems that despite all the hullabaloo made about the travel ban and the immigration stalkings, that ICE is proceeding apace and made a deal with Iraq to corral and send home immigrants here, mostly being Chaldean Catholics. Many of these people are kids who were brought here as young children and who do not even speak the language any longer. Some have committed crimes but when and are they hardened criminals? Do they deserve a death sentence for evidently ICE and Trump seem to be blind about the discrimination against and the killing or rather slaughter of Christians of all sects in Iraq.
     There is a verse in Leviticus that states "You shall not stand idly by the blood of your fellow human being" (Chapter 19 verse 16). Are we going to stand around while people are consigned to the dust heap of the world. Are we going to ignore the fact that death sentences are not only being passed on the immigrants but also upon standard good old Americans who happen to be needy, are poor, are in poor health, have low paying or no jobs at all, no retraining, are aged, alone and now we have the oh so astute appointment of an old crony of Trump's, a party planner, a liar who claims a law degree from a school which says it has no record of her ever being granted this degree, and now she has been given the authority over the billions of dollars involved in the NY metropolitan area for housing. Wow!! His appointments get worse and worse and we are the losers because of them.
     We are responsible for our fellow man and by the way, that includes women as well for the rights of women seem to be trampled upon by Trump and his crew ever more so on a daily basis. This morning we even find out that the policy found in DAPA, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, has been cancelled. So less protection for these "terrible" immigrants and parents of legally American citizens. Just about what is expected from a heartless and soulless administration. And lookee here - Trump has just now changed his tune and says he will allow the Dreamers to stay. For how long will this stand?
    ".... to investigate Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election — and any "collusion" with the Trump campaign — his assignment also includes "any matters that arose or may arise” from the Russia probe."
     This is the assignment and responsibility given to Robert Mueller and his assembled staff, a very capable crew, to do. Evidently Trump does not appreciate this and is ranting and raving over the "witch hunt" he is suffering. Truly!! He is vehemently stating that there is nothing there and should not be subjected to a charge of obstruction of justice. Now we read that Jared Kushner is being investigated by Mueller for his role in this whole abominable mess. In the meanwhile, Trump seems to think that his position as President puts him above the law, as he does with his ethics violations, his business conflicts and anything else his tiny and mean heart desires. He will find out otherwise but then the question is raised and what, we get Pence? Oy vey!! But then again, maybe the Republicans and the Trump worshippers will have finally learned that Trump is not only naked, but is also dangerous to life and limb to our country, the world and all within, even our very planet.
     In any case, I like living in today's times with all that I hold dear and 1825 and its outlooks of that time are not attractive at all. The question is - why do these others find it indeed attractive and why are they trying so hard to drag us all back there? Sniff, sniff. Smell anything, folks?

A LONG SHADOW

     There is much anger in this country. I have written time and time again of the explosive anger and yesterday warned of the impending implosion if the situation remains the same. And yesterday there was a first exposure of that anger as a senior citizen took shots at a group of congressional baseball players. He was afraid of Trump and his politics, afraid for loss of social programs and basically angry at the world at this point. Thank the Lord above that he had bad aim for it could have been worse and actually, some of the consequences are not good at all. Aside from the wounded, we are looking at potential disastrous results. First of all, we have the first shots fired in a war that until now has been mostly non violent, just overlaid with that burning anger, disappointment and fear. First shots often lead to more, especially if we do not pay attention, but I am afraid that the attention will be to try to attempt to tighten the reins and turn America into  that Amerika that many in DC would like. 
     Second of all, we have those who are now crowing that they will start carrying around their pistols and guns. This is not, at least now, a daily occurrence but the anger in Congress rises each day. Are we going to have congressmen shooting at each other as a result of that anger and gun carrying? And what will that bring about? A dissolution of that very same Congress? We already have the Koch brothers at work trying to organize an attempt to totally destroy the Constitution and replace it with a new one that would severely change our country. Long may that flag wave? Not by them it won't.
     And what is another bad consequence, what ensues from the behavior coming out of DC is the long shadow that it casts over the country. We have our own UCO where the president is desperately trying his best to emulate the dictatorial and insane policies of Trump. He pretends openness but does most after secret meetings of his immediate officers and his most trusted man behind the throne, 'Eddie" Black. He proclaims he is after the benefit for the Village, yet signs a contract in secrecy giving the excuse that he was 'concerned' over the crowd! Truly!! And we do not know whether those concerns we had about who will cover the huge cost of Comcast when Atlantic does not reach us in time? What will the channel set up be, for with a look at the contract signed, it appears that those who wish to watch in Spanish, or French or even Portuguese will be quite happy. Others? Well, tough on  us I guess. What about reviews, what about specifics that are truly pinned down as to how many will service the Village, how they will attempt to fix problems, will they keep us up to date on their progress in getting to our area? None of these are answered and who knows what is going on in Davidland and who benefits? Qui bono - who benefits is always the answer and it is certainly not the Villagers. Not at all.
     Maybe we should let the shadow get even longer, but this time in our favor. First, we will formally announce the promotion of Lanny Howe to the position of chief brownnoser to David and he can learn from Pence who is "blessed" to work for Trump, "privileged" at that! Second, we can get a lawyer like Mueller to investigate just what has gone on over there in the UCO building. Today it had been announced that Trump IS under investigation. Wow, I am so shocked - not!! Perhaps we need that lawyer over here to investigate all the breaches of David - fiduciary, politically in his running of meetings and anything and everything else. We need to prevent him from  passing his new documents wherein new bylaws will just about shut down the democracy that is still here in tattered remnants.
     Well, at least David Israel does not have the power to turn on a dime and curse out Qatar as a terrorist funding country and then sign a deal for $ 21 billion dollars arms deal with an immediate sale of $12 billion dollars worth of warplanes and other such lovely items. Think it would mean something extra special if we and our troops are bombed by our own drones and planes, shot with our own weapons? Oops, silly me, that is already happening to a degree! Nothing new under the sun, is there? ISIS is already adapting our drone technology and using it with a great deal of success, to the detriment of our armed forces.
     People, the time has come to stand up and be counted, both here and in the Village. Brian Mast poses as the friend of us even as he votes to dismantle the protections afforded us in the Dodd-Franks bill, so I guess he is not worrying about another 2008 meltdown and as David and his crew pretend to service the Village, neither in Washington nor in the Village are our elected and appointed officials serving us but are rather serving themselves. Not a good situation at all.
     It is discouraging to sit here and write most every morning and see the situation worsen rather than improve. Oh well, at least I can depend on Samantha Bee taking it all up in her own inimitable way and making me and millions of others laugh. Even the Australians can laugh at the imitation of Trump. Sad, is it not. We are the laughing stock of the world, even of our allies, we, who used to be the leader of the Free World, an example to others, a role model. Now what do we model? Nothing good. Bigly sad.