TREASON BY ANY OTHER NAME......IS TREASON

     We all know the Shakespearian phrase of "a rose by any other name" and the principle can and should be easily applied here. Treason is treason is treason, no matter how it is colored in or explained away by anyone. And when that treason is performed by the president of the United States, well, friends, no more saying that something must be done or should be done. It has to happen and the first act is to remove this man from office pronto by declaring him incompetent and unable to perform his duties. No more wimping out and no more usage of technicalities to try to explain away his yet another misdeed, this one more serious than any other to this date - at least that we know of. It confirms what we have suspected for a long time - this man is either incompetent in so many ways, and/or mentally ill, and/or colluding with the enemy, that enemy being Russia. How many more times must we see him grinning with the Ambassador and with Kislyak? How many more times is this man going to endanger us, the country? And how many more times are the Republicans going to turn their backs on their country in the name of strengthening their party, uber alles!! What they are doing now is being complicit in the treasonous act and yes, Ivanka, that is what it means to be complicit in something - to aid in its taking place, either before or after the act, being an accessory in any which way. I]If the shoe fits, wear it.
     So once again the Trump people try to weasel out from under. The president has the right to declassify information and thus it is not against the law, but, a big but, the material has not been declassified from highly confidential - 'just' breached by the moron or the traitor. The WH has been desperately begging the Washington Post not to reveal more details due to the high importance of this information and the danger to the source. In other words, Trump is now complicit in the possible death of the source, in the exposure of this source and how he gets the information, and has endangered millions, yes, millions of people as it is now revealed that the reason for banning the computers on flights had a good reason behind it. Well, Trump could care less as he plays the childish behavior of see what I know, I know more than you, nah, nah, and see - you did not know this! And out the mouth comes what should not!!
     That we should be talking about the President in such words, in such misdeeds boggles the mind indeed. "....the president shared details of ISIS plots involving explosives concealed in electronic devices and potentially smuggled aboard US bound planes" A staffer states “With news like this I’m beginning to wonder why Trump ran in the first place and if he really cares about the country."
     This man who screamed in his pathetic tweets how Hillary should be locked up, how she was a traitor, could not be trusted with secrets - well, as always, the answer to all that is self denial, the result of looking in the mirror and seeing there all that he has accused others of doing - leaking and leaking and leaking. Well, here is the leaker!
     And then again, we have the Republicans who wimp out, including, to my shock, McCain. We have others who are willing to state that this White House is a mess, has endangered this country, but as for 'brave' souls like Rubio - “I haven’t seen the story,” Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said, .... “Sometimes this stuff is breaking faster than our ability to check online.” Ahh, our Senator!!!
     This is a body blow to US intelligence workers. This is not the first time nor will it be the last unless he is removed from office. I do not like nor trust Pence, but at this point, I will have to go with security of the country over all else. What with Korea playing nuclear games and now their being very suspicious in the Wannacry computer hacking worldwide mess, we need someone who can actually think, rationally and boldly, who can help put down risks without pressing a button.
     He has further called their actions reminiscent of Nazi Germany because information about his campaign and collusion with Russians came out. He has spoken in front of their Wall, of officers of the CIA killed in the line of duty - and spoken of what? His campaign, his win, and how he is president and how is he doing!! Koch, he is not!!

     He has stated that, G-d help us, he is too smart to need daily briefings and has revealed highly classified knowledge to the Russians. All this all by himself and his staffers are always behind trying to clean up his mess. Yup, like the elephant standing in the middle of the room and  at the end of the parade. But what we need is a President who is presidential. We need someone who has some working brains, who understands his responsibility towards the country and its people, that he is not there to increase his holdings or to have people tell him how clever he is, how he won Michigan or supposedly, how millions of votes were fraudulent - jerk!. This man is not the man we need and, is, in fact, the direct opposite and is endangering us every minute he remains in place.

    When two personalities report that Kellyann Conway actually hates what she is doing, that "Bleeech, she needs a shower" after being on the show and defending Trump, when all the little gofers in the White House lie and lie and lie for him, well, this is not what we need. We have crazy Korea, we have a crisis in confidence by our allies, when we have world wide hacking begun in our NSA as it was hacked, when we have a story out today that United Health Care and other Advantage companies were working the government, using the woes of patients to squeeze more money from Medicare, endangering the program, well, folks, we need a working brain at the head of it all and that is surely lacking in Trump. If there is no way of sidelining him, giving him ice cream by the quart and making nice nice to him every so often, then he seriously needs to be out of office and that is in the hands of the Republicans at this moment - unless he can be impeached and convicted if done properly.

     I worry for our country if this man remains in office. He talks of running again for another term? Well, folks, he will not need to if he remains in office now for the United States will not be recognizable as such by that time, either by being destroyed in actuality, or so changed that it is a dictatorship and a disaster on the hoof and for what that looks like just go reference Venezuela.

     We all need to speak up. We all need to demand action from our supposed reps in DC. We need to wake up wimps like Rubio and force Mast to regain the courage he once had. We need to do this nationally. We need to assure our allies - France, England, Israel, Australia, et al that we are trustworthy once again, that we are back! That we will enforce the values of humanity. That we will work with the nations of the world to end the crisis in Syria, will do something about what is happening in Turkey, will speak out against the violation of human rights, will have the courage of our Founding Fathers, imperfect as they might have been. But for sure, the President needs to be put out to pasture. Let him down gently, but get him gone from the Oval Office - for the sake of our country and the world.

NOT SO FUNNY

     I hope you all got the belly laughs I did this weekend as I watched SNL and then a tape of a Full Frontal. Trump was skewered from every end one could think of, but after laughing, reality sets in. What the hell are we going to do about this seriously demented man who has the power of the atom at his fingertips and the ability to destroy the world, in one big blast or in smaller increments.
     The other day a young man told me that he was seriously considering leaving this country, a young man who has much to contribute to this country. When asked why, he said it in one word - Trump - and then explained his fears that by the time this man was finished he will have turned our democracy into a dictatorship run by a madman. When I said it would never happen because there would be civil war first, he said ,"That is even worse!" And he is correct. So what are we, the older generation doing about this for we have allowed this to happen. Yes, it is funny when the man stumbles from one crisis to another, when he bumbles just about everything, but it is not so funny when the funding disappears from major departments, when the opioid epidemic runs rampant and there is no money for any programs as the budget for it is slashed. It is not so funny when there is a decision not to go after the fake 'universities' that are stealing the money and the hope from people and gee, I wonder why! Ha!!
     It is not so funny when he has ceded our position, our importance, and our values, given them over to the crazy, the hateful, the darker sides of humanity. On Saturday pictures of the march led by that extremist bigot, Spenser,  complete with lit torches, should have been enough to send chills down the spines of all. What the hell are we doing? What have we unleashed?
     So we send a marriage breaker who is oh so religious to the Vatican as our ambassador and incidentally, gets Newt out of the way of Trump. We have a statement that the Senate GOP is "less afraid" of Trump so perhaps we should pin our hopes on that. But why the hell were they afraid in the first place. Yes, he is nuts, but what could he essentially do? Nothing, if Congress and its inhabitants actually exercised their souls and their courage and shut him down. But they did not so now maybe they will. I hope so. I certainly do.
     Today there are rumors that there is going to be a big dustup in the West Wing, a wholesale night of the long knives. Gee, no more Spicer to laugh at, no more Bannon to hate, no more Priebus to question. Huh! Wonder who is next and why they would even agree to become part and parcel of this three ring circus, replete with clowns masquerading as statesmen.
      For the cherry on top, we have Clapper telling us that Trump is attacking our democracy and our government from the inside as he works on his Executive orders, as he fires Comey in the middle of an ongoing investigation that has far reaching import, as he talks of tapes. Now if those tapes do not exist, the man is an outright liar. NO!! Never knew that!! And if they do exist, then they are to be presented, handed over. This is not up for debate; it is the law, but, does Trump obey the law? Not in his prior life and certainly not here.
    So what is to be done? Will Pence be any better with his political viewpoints or will he be a sane fascist? How far will he push this rabid conservative program and how far is he willing to go for it? What is to be done? We are in a quandary but I still say - if Trump was elected due to the Russian interference and it is indeed so proved, then he is not the president and Clinton is. And no, not lock her up, but lock Trump up and all his crew that allowed this, that set it up, that colluded with an enemy of the country, that gave over the reins of the country to others, that suborned and committed treason. And where is Pence in all this? Is he the duped one or the one who allowed it to go through as he thought ahead?
     These are questions that must be answered, but priorities must be made and the first one coming up today is the Ninth Court decision on the travel ban, the first attack on our democratic backbone. My fingers are crossed. What are yours doing?

FROM MAMA TO MATER

    Today is the day traditionally set aside to honor the mother in our lives. Frankly, I think it should be an every day occurrence - hear that, children? - but seriously, what does this mean and who is Mama?
      From the very first ma ma out of the baby's mouth, to the mama or mommy or mom or mater, there is nothing like a mother. This is the woman who will defend you with her life - and we saw that in Israel as the mother fought off the murderer at the door so her children inside would be safe. We see that in Somalia as the mother holds her skeletal child and gives it the last bit of food. We sees it in the refugee boats as the mother hangs tight to her child, the child she wishes to grow up in a better world. And we hear it in the last anguished cry of a dying soldier, a sound to break the heart of the coldest person.
     My mother was always there. In fact, I can remember how unhappy I was, even as a teenager, to come home to an empty house on the rare occasions that my mother was not home, waiting for me, waiting to ask how my day was. To the day I married, she and/or my father were always there to kiss me goodnight. Call it what you will, for me, it was important.
     Mommy was the one who bandaged my boo boo on my knee, who encouraged me to do well in school, to try, even in the subjects I hated - like chemistry!! She was the one who demanded that I live up to certain standards and understand my behavior. She was the one who dispensed not only the hugs and kisses, the TLC, but also the one who punished us when we were disobedient, as kids. So play the mommy/daddy game I did, knowing to whom I should go for special dispensation or for a signature on a paper. Thanks for that, Pop, but also thanks to you, Mom, for demanding that I challenge myself and not take the easy way out.
     So it matters not if it is Connie Francis singing  "Mama" or the whole world singing "My Yiddishe Mama" for no matter the nationality or culture, Mama is Mama, the woman who loved you beyond all measure, the woman who put you before her life, the woman who bought you that special item, who cooked your favorite food, who lavished you with love and extra care when you were sick. That woman is worldwide.
     Thus it is not so bad when you stop and wonder, "Was that my mother coming out of my mouth?" Or OMG, Mommy always did that and now me?". Or most of all, when one looks in the mirror and sees one's mother. It matters not whatever name you gave to that special person - Mama, or Momma, or Mom, or Mother, or Mater or Mommy, or whatever special name you made up. So to my Nellie, and to all mothers of the world - and that includes my own family and friends, a wonderful Mother's Day and remember, it is okay to miss your mom if she is gone. I miss mine more than words can say- but at least I see her in the mirror!! So get out there and get that extra hug and kiss and maybe even that item you've been wanting! But I must say, the hugs ands kisses are the best gift ever.

A PACIFIER, A RATTLE AND A CRIB

       These are the words of a former CIAo fficial as he describes our current President. "You feel like you have to give the President of the United States a pacifier and a rattle and put him in the crib."
     Columnist after columnist, speaker after speaker, all have commented today on the infantile behavior of Donald Trump. This is whom we seem to have chosen as our leader. Now would you not be embarrassed to take the alien who says, 'Take me to your leader' to this particular dude?
      Today the Democratic Party was seriously talking of impeachment and even possible criminal charges. This man, this Trump, is so used to doing everything his way, bossing around his employees, reporting to no one, that he cannot deal with a public, a media, that stares astoundingly at his infantile behavior, that calls him on it, that most emphatically does not appreciate his tweets nor plan to applaud his deed and tweets.
     In today's Times there were two excellent articles, one by Paul Krugman and the other a serious comparison and warning about Fascism in America in the 40's and now. Very scary indeed.
     While I cannot take the time now, do not have the time now, to write a longer article, remember all that I have said all along about this man. He is a danger to our country, to the world and needs to take himself off some place, to the dunce corner perhaps, and allow the business of running the country to those prepared to do so and with him need to go the Fat Cats he appointed to his administration and his fantastical imaginary scenarios of illegal voting by the millions and hiring a man who agrees with him to run an investigation about it. Talk of foxes and hen houses!!!
     Do I like Pence? No, a resounding no, for his politics are anathema to me. All these new fangled Republicans have no feelings for people, no compassion, no sense of humanity, but at least the man is technically sane and rational.
     Time for action. Time for subpoenas to Trump. Time for this moronic constant stream of rantings and ravings and time for facts and reality to come in to play. If it does not - well, think ahead. Anyone speak Russian here?
     Please think. Please think. Please be honest. We are lost otherwise.

FLY ON THE WALL

     We often say that we wish we could have been a fly on the wall so as to hear what went on in a room or conversation. Well, imagine if we were that fly in on conversations with Donald. What we would have heard and learned or confirmed, is that Trump is definitely amongst the top ten idiots of the world. He is truly ignorant, does not know much of anything and does not even remember what he has said not days or even hours ago.
     Open your fly eyes and read and hear the interview with The Economist and hear him ramble all over the place and worse, hear his appointee Mnuchin, try to pull his nuts out of the fire as he forgets that he always says his taxes are being audited as his fake reason for not releasing.
     Hear how now only hours after firing Comey - for what - he is confused. Lest he uncover Trump's treasonous behavior with the Russians? Now he states that he fired him because he had been thinking about it all this long while even as his aides try to remind him that he had said otherwise. , "Oh, I was going to fire regardless of recommendation..." This, despite all the words he has said and the actions he has taken and the efforts of his aides to get things straight.
     Time and again we have conflict of interest statements, statements that make no sense. Try to make sense of his statements re NAFTA and Mexico and Canada. Try to make sense of what he speaks re the Chinese and manipulation of money. It all makes no sense.
     Just imagine him figuring out what to say to a possible new FBI head.
Trump: Did you vote for me? Did you know I won Michigan?
Candidate: Uh, it is a secret ballot and yes, I knew.
Trump: How am I to trust you if you did not vote for me? Will you give me briefings in secret?
Candidate: I am sorry but that is not allowed. This must be an independent investigation.
Trump: Will you hide evidence that is critical of me and my campaign?
Candidate: No, sir, Mr. President. I cannot and will not.
Trump: Please leave, as you are unqualified.
     Soon there will be ads in the paper, perhaps on Craig's List, for people willing to be a companion to a man with somewhat violent tendencies who shouts a lot, particularly at TV screens and at people who disagree with him, especially in early morning hours. Must love junk food and have hairstylist skills for strange hairdo.
     The scary thing is, that this man is President. It is a far cry from the man who was President who lived in the White House according to his daughter as sung in the early 60's. It is a far cry from the intelligent person we expect to be sitting there, one we can trust has knowledge and knows his responsibilities towards the people of the country. Even if one disagreed, at least the country came before Party, if push came to shove but now, it is different. Either he is a moron, totally incapable of an intelligent thought of more than two words or the man is unable to control his staff or his staff him, and/or the man is treasonous, conniving and criminal in both civil and criminal issues. In any case, this man has a following consisting of Republican Party blind loyalists who think that finally, they will get their plans through and never mind that the ruler has gone insane, mad in every sense of the word - like George III who had to be watched over and decisions made by his son. But we did not elect his appointees, his ethically challenged critters of the swamp. Trump, unfortunately, was elected and if he cannot do the job, well, Amendment 25 is there to be used. It only takes a man with courage and conviction to call it out but where oh where shall we find someone like that amongst the administration and the Republican Party. Where indeed. Nowhere!
     I write this on Thursday late day but do not close it because I need to see what else this man will perpetrate on us, the people of the country. Sad situation. Bad situation. Amazingly, bigly sad.
     So here we are in the morning and more people have called out on the fact that Trump is like a 6 year old - at least I gave him the age of an adolescent! He has storms of tantrums and needs the adulation of others in a constant feed, not as a six year old, but as an infant who needs the constant input of clapping and cheering parents and family.
     So....latest little tidbits to share with you, my readers. The FBI is talking of 'war' against Trump. Lovely!! But understandable. Drilling on the pipeline was halted as there was a disastrous spill into wetlands. Hmmm. Thought we were assured that would not happen. Uh huh!! Then we have a wonderful humane Republican lawmaker from  Oklahoma who knows how to save money - just arrest all those kids in school who speak Spanish, drag them into detention and then check their status and that of their parents and arrest and deport, thus saving money on education!! And in the meanwhile we have Russian jets flying within 20 feet!!!! of a Navy plane. Such is what we get from our eavesdropping interfering best buds of Trump. Just perfect!!
     Finally, to close, Trump has been having little fits about Colbert and his show so here is the latest. Please note the wonderful sentence construction and the mature thoughts and feelings expressed by our leader. "You see a no-talent guy like Colbert. There’s nothing funny about what he says. And what he says is filthy,” Trump told Time magazine. “And you have kids watching. And it only builds up my base. It only helps me, people like him.”
Trump also took credit for Colbert’s newly-improved ratings: “The guy was dying. By the way they were going to take him off television, then he started attacking me and he started doing better. But his show was dying. I’ve done his show. … But when I did his show, which by the way was very highly rated. It was high — highest rating. The highest rating he’s ever had.”
     Guess we now know what is important - TV ratings, name calling, hurt pride and a very thin skin with an overlay of idiocy.
     Colbert's response?
"Colbert then broke into a gleeful, maniacal cackle. “Yayyyy!” he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together, looking genuinely grateful as the audience chanted “Steph-en! Steph-en! Steph-en!”
“Mr. Trump, Mr. Trump,” Colbert said, composing himself as the crowd noise died down. “There’s a lot you don’t understand. But I never thought one of those things would be show business. Don’t you know I’ve been trying for a year to get you to say my name?! And you were very restrained. Admirably restrained.”
“But now you did it!” Colbert said triumphantly. “I won.”     Would be hilarious, if the chuckles would laugh more than a minute and if the situation were not so dangerous for us and the world as this man, this Trump, this infant in a man's body, plays at being president - but it is not a game nor a reality show, but actual reality with the world at stake. Life as a fly - not so much fun.

SPEECHLESS

        Mouth agape, jaws locked open in stunned disbelief, eyes wide in astonishment and shoulders slumped in despair. What have we wrought? What have we done to the world and to our democratic government, to the heritage we have, to the history which owns us and to the future waiting in the wings? What are we doing to our children, our grandchildren? What are we doing to ourselves?
     Okay, full disclosure. After the initial first stunned reaction, a bubble of laughter had to escape. You can't make this up. A screenwriter for a TV program would have his script handed back as a do over and unbelievable and yet, here we are.
     This man is now tampering with the very backbone of our country and government. There is a definite distinction and  border between the branches and the institutions of our government. That is a safety feature and yet this man, this detestable man, who thinks he is the be all and end all, dares to tamper with it and expects adulation. When it does not come, he screams at the screen and resorts to more lies, more obfuscation, more and changing stories and as for the country, we are left in despair.
     What do we have? Let us count the ways and means of disaster via Trump. We have a man who thinks he is still a reality star where an audience will hoot and holler as they see him skewer another poor soul. We have a man who thinks that it is okay for him to interfere with an ongoing investigation, one that could lead to findings of collusion with the enemy, with full blown treason and it is reaching right into his own living room. We have a man who allows, against all security protocol, a Russian photographer into the Oval Office even as he stands there and shakes hands with the Russian ambassador and lo and behold! there is Kislyak, the very same one with whom Flynn and Sessions met before. So hmmm, what do we have here? Was there collusion so blatant and so dismissive of our country that the president openly showed his treasonous behavior? is the entire administration guilty of collusion? Why was Sessions involved in this whole Comey business when he had recused himself! So much for honesty and dependability. Just screw the American people, why not?!
      We have a man who rolls through people like a hot knife thru butter. Suddenly we have a deputy to Spicer who is becoming visible more and more but she is no better than Spicer. The same dumb and dangerous statements when one thinks about them after controlling the laughter. Comey, no favorite of mine, committed "atrocities"? Really? Does this woman need a history lesson to understand atrocities in their reality? Perhaps she needs to understand that the election of Trump to this office is an atrocity of history, an affront to the world.
     Who, really, is this Rosenstein and his true assignment for as soon as he came on board Comey became the devil incarnate. I believe he screwed up the election with his announcement and wondered why he did not announce the probe into the Russian affair, but to fire him as he undertook an investigation which totally touches upon the Oval office? Whoa!!! This is critical. And the boneless and backless and balless Republicans who fall in line behind Trump and his lying and perhaps treasonous administration and the puppet McConnell are doing this country no good at all and are in fact doing it great harm.
     We have a man who never grew up and believe me, this is no Mary Martin Peter Pan. This is a stalled adolescent who thinks if one lie does not work, well just try another until one gets a good fit. Well, there is no good fit here, just bad lies and dangerous actions. It is time this man realizes that he is not in his own business world any longer and he must report to the people who are watching very carefully and closely. He is responsible to them like it or not and wild hair behavior does not work here. He thinks his past lies are automatically disappearing and do not matter, but he is now dealing with the media and with people who have longer memories than his business subordinates. And for that he screams and for that he returns to the election, even as Anderson Cooper rolls his eyes at Trump's spokesperson! You have to see that moment. It is priceless - but sad, too. Trump has utter contempt for us, the people of the United States of America and contempt for the country, its history, its government, its tradition and its rules and regulations.
     “Just turn the lights off,” Spicer ordered. “Turn the lights off. We’ll take care of this.”

      I think that these people have already turned off the lights and are remaining cloaked within it, hiding in the bushes and saving their anger for those who leak their misdeeds rather than their misdeeds themselves.

     The touted pair of Ivanka and Jared are noticeably quiet here and why is that? Where is their supposed 'moderating' influence, or are they too busy selling themselves, their businesses and their souls for the almighty buck and selling the rest of us down the river? In fact, I believe that is what the entire Trump administration is doing - Business as usual as the rest of us are stunned into speechlessness and despair. And then, we have to laugh as he pulls another boner!!
     It is time for the special investigation and prosecutor. In fact, we need to be prepared for what it finds and be prepared to have major scandal and major changes. Such is the week that was and that is, but this is real and not TV.

OMG!!!!!!!!!

     Well blow me down! This man manages to top himself every time and it is always in a bad way. So the man is an idiot, a narcissistic one at that and that would be okay if he were not the President of the country, but he is and every time he blows something to pieces he sets a terrible example and drags the country into even more riot and confusion.
     It is not a good time to be an American right now. The country is filled with hate and anger and it just keeps growing or rather, devolving. Airlines are finding that out to their detriment as passengers riot and demand action and justice and refuse to be cattle in a smooshed up plane. Protesters have a tone of anger, are tense and demanding action and refusing to hear the lies of politicians who appear to be out there protecting themselves, rather than the people of this country.
     And right they are to feel this way. A reporter yesterday was arrested for asking Secretary Price a question - was domestic violence considered a pre existing condition. Price refused to answer the persistent journalist and had him arrested. Truly!! Freedom of speech? Nah!! Forget that, not in this USA any longer.
     This anger, this in many cases righteous anger will not stop and appears to follow the actors in this dangerous farce. When Ryan came to NYC he was met with protests at a school where the chant was "healthcare for all, not just for Paul" as some protesters beat drums, and "health care is a human right, how can you sleep at night?" People are frightened along with angry and this is not a good situation. It is good that people are realizing that they must stand up to this administration or else face loss of all they need and hold dear, but it is not good to have this simmering anger. Anger and crowds have led to riot, have overturned governments all around the world. Look at the countries of Eastern Europe and look at Russia itself, once more having huge crowds protesting. They overthrew the nation's government already, before, with protesters and what will happen now? Will Putin crack down and will his BFF try to crack down here, on us? Will  we follow the riots of South America and have them here? Frightening indeed.
     And it is all coming to a head with this rash firing of Comey. I am no Comey fan and believe he played a great part in the loss of a sane president getting elected, but this firing stinks to the high heavens. It is all but impossible now to not have a special and independent prosecutor take on this case. Trump sulks in his WH sending out tweets about Sally Yates and Comey and has a man find out he is fired via TV!? There is much that is wrong with this Trump and this has to stop. Did he knowingly work with the Russians, allow them free reign or is he just a moron? Either way it is no good. He is incapable of running the country in any sort of sane and balanced manner and he needs to be removed from office. But will this happen? Doubts plague this idea for no sooner than he fired Comey, there were Senators of the Party jumping on board. These supporters are like the followers of Hitler, of any dictator, as they ride coattails and put themselves into a position where if they lose their 'leader' they fear for their own future in place. This is interference by a sitting President into an ongoing investigation, Interference like this is unacceptable. Hey, why do we not get rid of that same interference by our local president, David Israel? Interesting idea!Well they should worry for people are getting fed up. Enough already! OMG!!! How long do we let this situation fester and eat us up from the inside?
     When one ignores a growing movement, a growing and ever more insistent demand for justice and clarity, one does so at one's own risk. This is what Trump is doing. There will be more subpoenas. There will be more committee hearings and there will be more demand from the public for clarity and transparency and details and the truth in this matter. Are there ties between Trump and Russia. What about the use of Trump's name by family members to sell and use the EB-5 program? What about all the ethics conflicts? What about the hate fueled by the Trump administration? What about the impending loss of healthcare and the anger of the people about this, their concern that they are deemed worthless and throwaways?
     When a political leader, or indeed any leader, ignores the people in the entity he/she leads, danger arises. People can be fooled but eventually they do hear and see the truth. It is happening here in the country and right here in CV. David Israel has been pulling the wool over the Village's collective eyes for lo these many a year and the time has come to say ENOUGH!! Pushing this Atlantic, this horrible company with poor records of service, with miserable selection of shows, with very poor internet and a new company at that - at least this part of it anyway, untried and definitely not set up  to service us with any assurance - bad news for us and for him, for David et al? Who knows. But in this quickly changing world of communications, with the announced merger of Comcast and Charter, with Comcast setting up its own mobile phone system, with the day to day changes to the industry - why the hell are we signing up for a ten year contract when who knows what will be in one year? In ten months or whenever? Yes, we have to sign a contract as we cannot go day to day or month to month, but we need to get the best deal and assurance of continuity for us. We must!! Time to chant against David. Time to let the anger and the frustration show. Time to escort the man out of office. Hey! Give him a party but gone he must be!
     OMG!!!! How long do we let these bad situations continue? How long do we play the sheeple and let our rights be violated, be it nationally or locally? Action is called for. Time for people to step up to the plate, speak up, run for office and deny these dictators their time in office for they are wrong and  bad for us - for the country and for the Village.
     Hey, at least we can look forward to getting them out of office - term limits, Ooops, forgot. That is only for the country, but not here in CV when after three attempts David Israel finally rammed thru the end of term limits here. Poor us.

CHANGE? TRULY?

     Although Trump lost the popular vote and got into office only because of an antiquated electoral system, it must be noted that most of his supporters were of the population which called for, shrieked for, change. They wanted their old jobs back. They wanted Obamacare gone but for what they did not say. They wanted a world back which would be nevermore. Their present world was harsh, lacking fulfillment of their dreams of adolescence and early adulthood. They wanted a change which would bring them more. More of what? How to do that? No answers, just CHANGE.
     Thus the votes of many for Trump who promised change and after all he made such a good reality star, how could TV be wrong. He was just what was needed. And let us look now at the change that has supposedly been wrought.
     It is a crock when we talk of a new government, one meant for the common man and woman for the entire government is now staffed with the rich, the obscenely rich, at that. Family members of the Trump family, of the Kushner family are just oh so busy running around the world and promoting themselves and their businesses via their so casually and not so causally mentioned ties to Trump. Ethics? What is that again? Is it really important if and when it stands in the way of business? Not really apparently.
     Our representatives in Washington are voting lockstep style. It is not important what is good for the people, only what is good for the Party. The country comes a distant second to the Republican party and now that they have the numbers what change are they bringing about? Why, a whole bunch of it. We are going to live in a changed environment with business unrestricted as to safe disposal of toxic elements, with our waterways okayed to be polluted, with coal mining, strip mining just oh so welcome once more and the air, oh do not worry, just get a tank of oxygen. Sacred land, dedicated to our national federally owned and protected monuments and national parks? Oh, why do they need so much land or do they really need to be so pristine? C'mon, be realistic.
     So change has come and now these poor people are being shafted or perhaps being knifed in the back is a better analogy. They have basically been told that their health does not matter, that their dreams of a bit of extra money, enough money even, to buy food and clothing, to pay for shelter, to send their kids to school - why, just forget it for that is part of the change, to shatter the dreams totally and insure that the possible troublemakers just die off quickly as they are denied coverage and care. Trumpcare is the change. Poor us.
    And now for the biggest change of all. We have become a subject of the Russian government. The new president knowingly, knowingly, appointed a national security adviser who was enmeshed deeply within the Russian sphere of influence, so much so that he discussed things with the Russian ambassador! Isn't that special? And all that moron Trump wants to know is who leaked, not why did he do it or think he could get away with it or why he wanted to get away with it. Some change there, right? An American President who shills for the Russians!!
     Want the piece de resistance? In court, defending that horrific and prejudiced and most un-American travel ban, they used one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever, one which has long ago been discredited, to back their position up. It was a decision that basically okayed segregation, a racist decision and shame on them!! Change? Right back to the past? Is that what people signed up for? Is that the change that they envisioned? I highly doubt that. So now we are stuck. Recall, resignation, impeachment or even imprisonment for any of his major misdeeds - those are the roads to explore and the pressure must be kept up for change, the right change to take place.
     Most of those same options are available right here in CV with reference to David Israel. I do not know about imprisonment, despite many of us feeling that he certainly has earned that privilege! But as for the other options, they are certainly there. He has knowingly made poor and costly decisions. He has willingly not listened to the voice of the people. He has purposefully winnowed down the members of the administration of UCO to those who will support him, follow him like little obedient doggies. He has pursued his own wishes over the needs of the people and does so in a blatant and dismissive manner. Because of him we are looking at a bleak future here what with broken down roads, poor TV options and expensive and useless internet connections and a ruination of many as he forces them to pay highly expensive retail prices to Comcast due to the fact that we are having Atlantic shoved down our throats. On top of all that - he is one nasty dude, misogynistic, maniacal in his megalomania, paranoid in the world of his own fantastical thinking, and way past his sell by date as far as UCO and the Village are concerned. Time for him to play with his computers on his own dime and time in his own apartment and perhaps even crawl out of his shell and actually talk to people and participate in the doings in the Village as a resident, a normal resident. Hey, he could even be a delegate! 
     Change? Yes. The time has come. But that change has to be a positive one, a change that is necessary and right for the people, for the Village, for the country. Time to send the selfish people back home to other jobs and bring in the new, the fresh, the honest, the nongreedy. It will not be easy, not here nor in Washington, but it must be done. As the Brady boy sang, "when its time to change...'
    

PLOP, PLOP, FIZZ, FIZZ

     "Oh what a relief it is!"
     Remember that? So simple. A bellyache? Just get those Alka Seltzer tablets, plop them in, fizz grows and down the hatch and evidently, bye - bye to the bellyache. Simple. Fast and not costly at all.
     But medical issues are not that simple and in fact, none of the many issues that pertain to the health and welfare of people is simple. There are moral issues as well as economic ones all tied together and there are some ideas that simply will not disappear into the mists of history no matter how much we think the human race has evolved.
     So yes, taking care of people is costly in terms of money. But also yes, taking care of people, or rather not taking care of them, is also costly, this time in terms of being "human and humane" and all that those words mean. We have had more benighted periods of time in  history when the prevailing thought was that if one were poor, if one got sick and was poor, well, that was G-d's judgement on that person. He/she, old or young, must have done something wrong for otherwise G-d would never have permitted this to happen. Right? Wrong! But it never occurred to people that their engrained mistaken and cruel ideas were just that, for they were of the privileged and evidently blessed group who were being watched over by Divine providence.
     So if one did not work, well, that person did not deserve anything. A child of the lower economic class who sold things on the streets, in the markets, who ran errands, who dragged heavy bundles, who swept streets for the privileged to walk on, well, such was fate, but the kids of higher economic classes, well, they got to go to school and look forward to a future and were lucky enough to be blessed with a childhood.
     Think that backward thinking is over and done with? You are quite mistaken. When we have Congressmen who can say or agree with the statement that nobody ever died from lack of healthcare, or that healthcare is not a human right, or that only those who work are deserving of some monetary aid, or that the chronically ill are deserving of it because evidently "they did not do the right thing". Really! Truly! Such are the sentiments coming out of the mouths of Republican Congressmen who are supposed to take care of the peoples of America rather than just insure that they themselves have the best care ever while others can go to hell in a handbasket!
     There is a moral question here, a huge one. Are we to put money over people? At we to take upon ourselves the decision as to whom is deserving of aid and whom not? Who are we to judge this? Are we not here to reach out and help those needing help and perhaps in doing so we will benefit society, raise its status and the economic benefits will generate funds? But no, evidently not, or so the Republicans have chosen.
     What follows is a principle that states that it is better to never have given anything so that these poor and ignorant and undeserving souls will never have realized that there is another way, that there is actually help that could be given, that they do not have to die and suffer in poverty and ignorance, that there are people who are humane, a simple act of adding an "e" and all that it means to the word human.
     Can people die from lack of healthcare? Of course! My grandmother died because the healthcare of that time was inadequate to her needs but at least she did get care. I, myself, would have died several times if healthcare had not reached me, if the medical personnel had not figured out what the hell was wrong and it was not simple and in certain cases took several years with accompanying damage so does that mean that I should have died according to Republican thinking, that I am undeserving of medical care and coverage because I have a chronic situation, that I must have done something wrong in this life or a past life to have these issues? Follow these thoughts to their logical. or rather illogical, conclusions and that, my friends, is the world that Paul Ryan et al wish for us to inhabit. Well, he can keep it and G-d willing, people will wake up and smell the rot of disease and uncaring power people and vote them the hell out of office in 2018 and take their miserable leader, Trump, with them.
     So my father, whose birthday it is today, died because healthcare was not adequately versed in taking care of his heart issues and perhaps today more could have been done. This man did not die because he was lacking in humane qualities and in fact was one of the best people I ever met - but not according to these cruel people in Congress who would now so callously condemn so many millions of people to death and so many millions of others to unemployment as the man who would "provide" jobs actually takes them away. It is not a sin to help others,. It is not a wasteful idea to spend money to help others. It is not morally acceptable to damn people to a living hell because of one's twisted and cruel thinking.
     How and why have we fallen back to a way of thinking, a selfish and cruel way of thinking that should have long ago lost its power to exist yet we find that privilege seems to be the ruling thought in so many countries today. Changing names from Communism to unnamed dictatorships does not change the fact that there are privileged classes and classes that are trod upon. Look at India, Russia, Communist China, African Republics, the nations of Venezuela and Brazil and yes, right here in good old USA.
     What is even worse is when that way of thinking extends into more far reaching areas such as perverting the power of the law, perverting those who work as law enforcement officers, and encourage and no, demand, that they be cruel to people, that they "follow orders', and even threaten them if they do not. So where there are 'sanctuary cities", where people actually care for others, where they understand these people coming from the Land of No Hope (see yesterday's posting) there are now to be no such places and any thinking this way, any acting upon those thoughts are illegal, - Deutschland, Deutschland.... Anyone hear the tune? Texas evidently does for it has passed a law - signed by their benighted governor - that " lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the U.S. legally and threatens sheriffs with jail if they don't cooperate with federal immigration agents."
     And this attitude of 'I am better than you" is growing here and in the world. The French seem to have come to their senses, at least partially, and elected Macron. No Trump or worse for them, but look at the hate generated there and even right here in America. We had far right organizations here that worked to boost Le Pen. The hatred is out there folks and one can sniff it in the air, hear it in the words and see it in the behaviorisms of people. Even petty dictators of some states or cities or small divisions think they can rule the roost with  no thought of others save that they exist to be ruled. Look at our own CV and look again.
     We, the people, have allowed this situation, in fact all these situations because we became immune to what was happening. It was not us so there ya go. It was someone else's problem so let them take care of it. But we should have remembered, must always remember, that the arrogance of the privileged never seems to lose itself somewhere along the line and in fact, grows exponentially with every 'victory' they achieve.
     We are at a crossroads. Morality, humanity, or privilege for the few. Excuses that mean nothing or the truth, harsh as that might be. Which do we choose? Which do you choose? Remember, there is no plop, plop medicine for it all. It needs unselfishness and hard work. Sacrifice and heart. Please G-d let that heart be there.

LAND OF NO HOPE

     Reading a book yesterday, I came across the above phrase. It referenced the flood of immigrants from torn asunder countries, lands where there is no hope, and thus implies that the flood from these countries will not, cannot, be stopped - unless the causes are addressed. I have long stated that treating the symptoms of the anomie of these countries is useless. The diseases itself must be addressed, the reasons that underlie the name Land of No  Hope. And yet, we do no such thing.
     In any case, according to this theory, there comes a time of The Burial Hour, a time when the host country is flooded beyond all expectations and the country tips into riot and revolution for it too has become a Land with No Hope. I posit that we in America have become a Land of No Hope and the question I have is if we have time before we reach the Burial Hour, before we totally lose all resemblance to America as it should be, as it was, as it was always becoming. And if that is not enough, even the smaller entities are becoming Places of NO Hope and for that take a look at CVWPB and the dictatorial and illegal reign of David Israel. I can just see him work with an occupying force for nothing and no one seems to matter except as how it affects his remaining in office. So, to details in both areas.
     We have allowed a megalomaniac with severe emotional and mental issues to take over the highest office in the land, and perhaps the world. We have a man who is supposed to be president of all yet what do we have? A man who wishes to cut funding to historically black colleges under pretext. A man who appoints people to office in Health Services who wish to do the exact opposite and take them away We have appointees who believe that abortions cause cancer, that contraception does not work. We have people who believe it is far better to force women to carry to term, despite any and all reasons which point otherwise, including the fact that women have the innate right to control their own reproductive self.
     We have haters in our ruling legislative houses. We have Congressmen who supposedly are there for the people but who say such things as "Nobody dies because they don't have access to health care." Or that healthcare is NOT a basic human right. Such care. Such concern. Spoken by a Congressman who has access to the best medical care in this country. Spoken by an ally of our ostensible leader who never should have been the leader at all if not for interference by Putin et al.
     We have corruption on a large scale as to a one, every single appointee to the government has conflict of interest and not teeny ones either. There is a crassness to the government as the slogan seems to be 'business as usual' with the usual being to make money at all costs. So we have the crass attempts to capitalize on name and connections to an extent unseen since the presidencies of Grant and that of Harding. We have the truly crude and low class attempt of Ivanka to sell her book, a book which is not exactly great literature nor does it truly speak to those who need it. Do you really think that Ivanka had any trouble finding daycare for her children? Truly? What does she have in common with the waitress or the teacher or the nurse whose daycare is cobbled together or taking a huge chunk out of the budget? Truly!!! And then of course we have Jared's sister pandering to the Chinese so that they will buy in to their real estate project and do you really think that the connection to Jared and Trump are not the elephants in the room?! If you do, well, I have bridges and tunnels to sell you. Great discount! Terrific savings!!
     And just to add a cherry to the top, a Texas wrinkle has just arisen. Now, in 2017, a Jew, a Muslim, a gay, a single or interfaith couple can be denied adoption. Gives one a warm and cuddly feeling. And do not think that people who pass these laws are far from you. Yet another proposed Secretary of the Army has had to back off due to his statements regarding gays and trangenders etc. Are there no normal and caring people out there or are they so scarce upon the ground that Trump has to appoint all these hate filled people and write Executive orders which are destroying our country, making it a land of no hope and quickly coming to the Burial Hour,from whence we will not be able to return.
     Now for the local news. David Israel is dangerous to the health of the residents of CV. No, I do not mean medical health, but the health that should be their rights as Americans. He blatantly violates all rules that bother him or that would hinder him and his plans so we have people thrown off committees or never being allowed on in the first place. We have threats to committee chairs as to their fate should they try to buck him. We have blatant refusals of David Israel to hear sunggestions for new by laws, not even proppsals, just suggestions that need no petitions but these suggestions, if accepted and then worked on, would lessen his control, would be better for CVand worse for him so never they mind!!
    We have a man who consistently pushed things not good for us such as DSL or now Atlantic, a company which stinks, to put it politely, at service, at what it offers us, at what it will demand from us. No On Demand unless one pays for Internet so they can get Tivo and then have On Demand. Complicated and highway robbery especially for those who have no need for Internet. We are offered Miami interest stations because that is where they started and we have no guarantee that they will be able to service us at the deadline time. So why is David pushing so hard? The questions arise and the fingers rub together. People are alleging things. It is time that we get rid of this man and turn out the crew in UCO who follow him along on a leash and who have no independent brains. We have a man who allows an illegal vote to take place on the Atlantic issue, a knowingly illegal issue wherein one vote at least was illegal and yet there is not even a recount or a count of the votes for Comcast. This man is a charlatan, an opponent of democracy, a danger to us all.
     It is time for him to go. It is time for someone to step up and run against him next year or time for us to recall this dangerous man. Pray that we here in CV have not come to make our CV a Place of No Hope for its residents. Pray that we have not reached our Burial Hour though I must say it is perilously close if not already here.
     We have no need of any Land of NO Hope and no Burial Hours. Time to stand up to all the despots and bigots of the world. Time to send letters and make phone calls to Brian Mast who says he voted for our healthcare -and really, does he think we believe that as he sold us down the river? Time to protest and time to raise voices. There is a Town Hall for Lois Frankel -
  

LOIS FRANKEL TOWN HALL

Where: Wellington Town Chambers, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd, Wellington

When:  Monday, May 8, 7:00 pm

   She is one of the good guys but let us let her know what to carry back to Washington and her fellow Congressmen. Politely, as she is a good one, but let the Congress know what they have done and what we will do in answer and response. 2018 comes up quickly.

     Make us the Land of Hope once again. Turn away that encroaching Burial Hour.

    

DIE, WE ARE BEING TOLD. YOU ARE WORTHLESS, WE ARE TOLD!

     Well, they went ahead and did it. The bill that Republicans who voted for, the bill that will within a few years cut off 24 million people or more, the bill that the Congressmen have voted to make themselves exempt from being caught in it, they and their aides, the bill which has every aspect of the health world against it - doctors, hospitals, drug companies, professional organizations and health insurers - but the citizens of America are being told that if you will not be able to afford the higher premiums, the higher deductibles, if you have a pre existing condition and thus will either be uninsurable or unable to pay those extremely high premiums and deductible you will be hit with - well, you are deemed worthy of dying. Or rather, not being worthy of being saved.
     We have now entered a world where the wealthy will not only just get tax breaks or permission to pollute the environment any which way they want, but a world where states can take a waiver and refuse coverage for whatever they want, so HIV sufferers can be denied medication and maternity care? Forget that? Work for a church or religious organization - well, there goes your reproductive rights. Had any previous symptoms like, oh, a toe hurting you, well, cross off podiatric care or orthopedic care there and that goes for any prior condition even if it makes no sense. Have diabetes, MS, in fact, any chronic condition, well, move to a state which allows assisted suicide for it will be easier to do that than live in agony. Cancer ridden? Well, either hope you get it after 65 and thus Medicare kicks in or just go ahead and write yourself off for no one can pay that bill - only, perhaps the 1% to 2% out there but then again, we middle and lower income classes have been deemed unworthy of being saved. So talk of death panels? You bet.
     And think it is not upon us as yet? Well it already has been prior to ACA, when people were denied coverage. And golly gee, why here it is again. And by the way, just a note to those of you who have allergies too severe to be treated with benadryl. There are no epi-pens to be had anywhere. The entire CVS drug system is out of them and how do I know this? I tried to get my prescription filled as I am deathly allergic to insect stings and bites and have been there before and it is not pleasant at all.
     The Republican Congressmen went off to the Rose Garden to visit Trump and celebrate in the Rose Garden. Celebrate what? The coming deaths of so many? Their own survival as they themselves made sure to be exempt? The fact that they now have "proved" they can govern and can pass something? The fact that they have pleased a crazy man, a lunatic with weird and strange behavior? And now they own this healthcare, this healthcare that will be literally the death of so many. But how many will be dead before 2018 and the new elections?
     That is, unless the Senate pulls their nuts out of the fire and that is what many are hoping. “This bill is highly imperfect, imperfect, okay? There’s no doubt about that,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart said after supporting the legislation. “Is this bill good? No, I don’t like it,” Diaz-Balart said. But he suggested that voting for the bill would allow him to be part of future negotiations: “So my decision was, how do I stay involved?” This, from a Republican representing a district in Florida!! But no, he is not for this bill  or so he says -and these Congressmen who voted for it are representing only themselves and what they appear to believe will show they can indeed pass a law, murderous and harmful as it is. This bill, if allowed into action will destroy people, will destroy hospitals who will go broke, will destroy America.
     Every day in every way this man Trump is destroying the America that was. Every Executive order, the very same for which he castigated Obama for writing and who has far surpassed his precedent's use of it in many ways, particularly in the harm it will cause. This man is dangerous to us all and to our country, our beloved country which is bleeding, desperately. 
     And now these weak Congressmen who could care less about its impact on their constituents and on the insurers who will now hold back, on the drug companies who will hold off on production for who will be able to pay for these drugs. These wimps are depending upon the Senate to stop this in its tracks, to tie it up in negotiations that will never be fruitful if that is the word. These cowards have not the balls to stand up for the right and those of the supposed and misnamed Freedom Caucus should be given the freedom in 2018 to become civilians again, not lawmakers, and let themselves be subject to all the harm they will have caused. Or just recall and impeach and what a good idea to do that with Trump!!
     So take your choice. And what we need to do now is protest in massive waves and amounts. Show our anger to those who voted for it - like Mast. He walks around with his shorts to show his legs, well, while we thank him for his sacrifices, if a civilian has an accident with similar results that person could not, would not, be able to get the same help for his coverage would be totally inadequate so the statement in our own Declaration, the very first sentence - 'All men are created equal" will have proven false. Demonstrate - and here is a place to go today and then bombard the offices of your Reps to show your anger and to the Senators, especially Rubio who seems to have no lasting backbone. Do something!!!
     Details for today's protest in our area.
  : PROTEST AT MAST NPB OFFICE 3-5 PM on 5-5

420 US 1, NPB - in Village Square Plaza (corner of Anchorage and US 1)

We will protest on the sidewalk adjacent to the street.

This is a peaceful protest. We are angry but not violent.

There is parking in the plaza, however, we may get kicked out if the property owner doesn't want us to park there. Park in the plaza at your own risk.

You can also park in the Publix plaza at the SW corner of Northlake and US 1 and walk over to the Village Square Plaza.  Do NOT park in Frigate's lot - you will likely get towed.

I will be there at 3 pm.  We need people to maintain order and observe the protest.

I will try to get the media there, if I can.

We need to let Mast know that his vote today is not the end - it is only the beginning.

May G-d bless us all for we certainly need His blessing.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT RE THE CABLE CONTRACT

     DAVID ISRAEL HAS POSTED A LIST OF THE CABLE CHANNELS FROM ATLANTIC AND COMCAST. THE LSIT FROM ATLANTIC, HOWEVER LONG IT IS, IS AWFUL. IT CONTAINS CHANNEL AFTER CHANNEL OF MIAMI AND SOUTH MIAMI CHANNELS - GOOD LUCK ON THAT AND VERY LITTLE OF THE REAL CHANNELS. COMCAST HAS WHAT IT ALWAYS HAS.
 THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU VOTE ASND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MULTI YEARED CONTRACT. aTLANTIC IS NOT FOR US.

AW, C'MON ALREADY!!

     It seems as if there is a never ending supply of silly and dangerous steps and plans from this national administration. Some are more dangerous than others for they are a massive change in what drives us a country, one with values, one which tried to stand for those values and live by them as best one could. That is not to say that we were perfect for we made many mistakes, some larger than others, some more consequential than others, but we learned from them and tried to advance from where we were to being a better nation. When we interned the Japanese in WWII it was a horrible mistake, an overreaction that has taken literally decades to try to make amends and understand where we went wrong. It was an act which showed up flaws in FDR, just as much as when he refused to allow in the people on the ship St. Louis, sending them back to their deaths in Nazi Europe, when he refused to allow in more refugees fleeing that murder pit called Europe.
     One would think that we have gotten better, improved our humanity score and achievements. We have Peace Corps, we have numerous NGOs who sent funds and people to places where they are needed. We have people who march and protest for improvement of terrible situations all over the world and right here in our own country. But, a major but, we seem to have come to a crossroads and our very soul, our very values which have defined us as a people, as a nation, are in the crosshairs of this administration. Money before people. Cut one's losses in terms of people if it affects our money making powers. Let people die as they cannot afford medical care, as they lose jobs and then their coverage and are denied due to that or because they have pre existing conditions. This latest attempt for a GOP healthcare plan, or rather disaster, is the brute attempt to bribe some representatives with money - $8 billion, to be precise. Sounds like a lot. Does to me, but c'mon! Divide that by 50 for these states. Then take the states which have rampant unemployment. Take the states which have hardscrabble farms. Take the states which have lots of seniors who have very little to their names to pay higher fees. Take the states that have workers in low pay jobs and now their overtime is also threatened by this administration. Take a state where there are so many single mothers with children. Take a state where American poverty is alive, and unfortunately thriving such as the back hollers of West Virginia, or the areas of upstate NY which have been hard hit. Now divide that $8 billion by this all. Not so much now, is it, and the Budget Office is trying to warn Congress about this but the GOP and our moronic President are trying to rush this through before they recess for two weeks. Screw the people. Screw their health. Trump and uncaring GOP members want what they want!
      Then, best of all, we have Tillerson, a man who comes from nowhere related to values and diplomacy, a man who comes from the world of obscene money,  and now this man states the following:  "Donald Trump’s “America first” approach to the world means decoupling US foreign policy from values such as human rights and freedom." Want more? Here ya go! “Our values around freedom, human dignity, the way people are treated – those are our values. Those are not our policies." Straight from the horse's mouth. Are you all ready out there to give up on our values? Are we going to abandon all those in countries where they are being slaughtered? Are we going to avoid helping countries with natural disasters or drought or starvation or tribal warfare?
     Evidently the answer is yes, a resounding yes from Tillerson and his master, Trump, whose values are reflected in his policies of go for the money and screw the rest. Ride roughshod over the people, over American values for money is the be all and end all of what is driving this administration and by extension, this country. We, who have always provided a place of refuge for the down trodden, for the helpless, for the immigrant looking for a better and safer world, who have provided a place for those who ask for asylum, whether it be women running from reality slavery, or from genital mutilation, or teens running from gang environments of unbelievable savagery - we took them in, investigated and allowed in those who were real. But now? Oh no!!! The border officers are telling these applicants who reach our borders after great struggle, that there is no room at the inn for them. Without investigation or interview they are being told there is no asylum here and now in this - our - country. True that! Values are no longer driving us, only greed and heartlessness. And good friendships with murderous dictators.
     So we are left with a man who whines about sarcasm and funny skits - all driven by his own stupid mouth and ridiculous statements and actions. This man who has removed safeguards for the environment, for the worker, who pretends to care for the common man even as he hands it all over to the Fat Cats, this man does not like to be made fun of. Tsk, tsk. Too bad. Such is life in the world of national politics and if he cannot stand it - then resign. Oh, please resign!! C'mon already!
     And then of course we have the First Daughter who is oh so active in our government and why? Because it seems that she is the only person who can even somewhat calm this lunatic down. And yet she could not get him to apologize, truly apologize, for his miserable statements re women and his thoughts about them and his behavior with them. She cannot get him to stop plundering the lives of the middle and lower classes even as he benefits the 1%. So she writes a book, poorly reviewed at that, and people quoted in there are none too happy, particularly as we see the actions that are being taken. Trump is emphatically not the friend of women. He will take away insurance. He has no respect for them. He objectifies them. He cuts programs both here and abroad that would help them such as the one that provided for education for girls in countries which have traditionally kept them uneducated and practically in bondage. He has cut the small loan programs overseas that helped women make a living. He has cut programs here that would provide for the health needs of women,  is obsessed by the thought of women having control over their own bodies and lives. Just look at his wives and one can understand this whole attitude of his.
     I am sorry, but there is a time and place to say enough, c'mon already, for how much more are we supposed to take. There is already violence in the streets. There is already a huge schism, an ever growing schism within the people of our nation, once a nation which stood for something, imperfect as it was and is. So c'mon already. Is it not time to stand up to this guy and his stooges and take back our government. Warn your reps that their remaining in office is a no go unless they hear the people. Send letters, call, deluge them with emails. Tweet about them. Text them if you have a number for that. Do anything, but let us get the message thru that we are done with this, that we are done with having our values stripped from us, that our nation stands for what is right and good. At least we try but what are these people doing to us and our country? And what are we doing to the people of the world? C'mon already. Think about it.
     In a less important sphere, I just want to say a few words about broadband here in CV. We are served well by Comcast, a known company, one which has improved over the years and who provides service and quality. Are there errors or situations where things are not perfect? Of course and that will be with any company but surely a company that is financially not as stable, and an out of the country company, a company which has lots of work to do before they are required to perform in two years - who the hell says they will make that deadline and then go get service from Comcast!! And Comcast would be right to be slow and not so responsive as we threw them under the bus, a typical strategy of this UCO, as is acting without forethought and screwing the Village as a result. And by the way, how are we assured that there will be enough service personnel and trucks available?
      If one reads the letter of Jack Adams one will see that there is a financial cost to us as we involve ourselves in inferior Internet service, with a company that has an awful reputation for the internet, for its services, for its communication. The only lower score they could get would be a 0 out of five so why are we getting enmeshed in their plans? How can we expect them to serve us properly? And the answer is we cannot so again, what the hell are we doing? Talk with Comcast again, tell them we are a huge asset for them, an example to use in gaining more business, a way to show people that even as they have a huge footprint in this area of business, they remember the people they serve. Think carefully before one votes tomorrow to continue negotiations with them, with Atlantic only. Who says we will be served in a timely manner and are you ready to be without TV, without internet, without services and why are we doing this under a contract that will take us to 2029. Who the hell knows what will be in this sphere in  two years, let alone twelve!! Ever hear of Hulu and  Roku too many years ago? Where is all this going and why are we cutting ourselves out of the road of progress? C'mon already. Demand either that we table this vote or vote to continue with Comcast or both as far as I am concerned and let us get the best that we can in a responsible manner. And if David's feelings are hurt because some of the reps of Comcast seemed "snippy" - well, deal with it, or request another rep but for his feelings - sorry, no go. C'mon. Let us have some sense here.
     Here is a first step for action for our nation.
URGENT Call to Action: Save ACA
ISSUE—DON’T let the House dismantle our current healthcare legislation and take away basic coverage while creating high risk pools of people because of pre-existing conditions. This heartless bill will rob millions of Americans of their healthcare while giving tax breaks to the wealthy among us. YOU must MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD NOW--People are counting on us! No time to waste so please make haste!
SCRIPT: My name is XXX and I vote in your District [or I am a concerned citizen]. I am watching what you do and I won't accept BAD healthcare legislation that hurts hundreds of millions of Americans. I demand that you stand up for me and those people who need coverage. Don’t allow a bill to get pushed through the House that hasn't been reviewed by WE the PEOPLE.
Call your elected Rep’s today using this easy dialing tool or any tool you like! https://www.palmbeachindivisibles.org/to....
Also call MODERATE House Republicans! Here they are.
District/State Party Affiliation First Name Last Name Phone
MI-03 Republican Justin Amash (202) 225-3831
TX-06 Republican Joe Barton (202) 225-2002
IA-01 Republican Rod Blum (202) 225-2911
VA-07 Republican Dave Brat (202) 225-2815
AL-05 Republican Mo Brooks (202) 225-4801
NC-13 Republican Ted Budd (202) 225-4531
OH-08 Republican Warren Davidson (202) 225-6205
TN-04 Republican Scott DesJarlais (202) 225-6831
NY-11 Republican Daniel Donovan (202) 225-3371
TX-01 Republican Louie Gohmert (202) 225-3035
MD-01 Republican Andy Harris (202) 225-5311
GA-10 Republican Jody Hice (202) 225-4101
NC-03 Republican Walter Jones (202) 225-3415
OH-04 Republican Jim Jordan (202) 225-2676
NY-24 Republican John Katko (202) 225-3701
ID-01 Republican Raúl Labrador (202) 225-6611
NJ-07 Republican Leonard Lance (202) 225-5361
NJ-02 Republican Frank LoBiondo (202) 225-6572
KY-04 Republican Thomas Massie (202) 225-3465
NC-11 Republican Mark Meadows (202) 225-6401
PA-04 Republican Scott Perry (202) 225-5836
FL-27 Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (202) 225-3931
FL-03 Republican Ted Yoho (202) 225-5744
IA-03 Republican David Young (202) 225-5476

GOBSMACKED INDEED

     The dictionary definition of which is utter astonishment, being astounded. And that is precisely what I and many others are when it comes to certain actions and questions that cannot be explained by logic or by sensibly defined behavior and motives. So gobsmacked is what happens.
     Let us take up local gobsmacking. For years already we have been hounded that we need Internet here in the Village. We would die off if we do not get it for the younger and/or new people looking for retirement residences would not buy if we do not have it. So, Gobsmack number one. We do and did have internet and in fact, since we bought in 1998 we have had internet though I cannot speak for what went before. Gobsmacked at the lie!! Comcast has indeed presented us with excellent internet connections and has improved greatly over the years since 1998.
     Gobsmack number two coming up. The next thing we heard is that we need Village wide broadband and the only one who could provide it was first, DSL, a company that was a notorious failure in Boca CV so gobsmacked that David Israel kept pushing it until finally shut down by the common sense of the Villagers. But wait, there's more!
     Now we have the push to accept Atlantic Broadcast as our new TV and internet provider, as well as phone connections. They are the new kid on the block, no connections up here, basically in the Miami area and we have to assume they will be here on the time designated or we will be out TV and internet and I do not think Comcast will give a #$@% whether we are or not. Certainly not at that point since we would have dropped them - the largest company in this business!! And for the last two years of the contract with them just try getting service! Gobsmacked indeed at the lack of foresight and forethought here. And, by the way, Atlantic is a Canadian company so why do we not stick with the American one? Gobsmascked!!!
     And wait, still more. Go online and check the ratings of Atlantic. Bad indeed. The service, the connections, the fixing and the response - all for crap!! People said they were voting for it because there is a good TV deal here, better than Comcast. Not really, but let us ignore that. Gobsmacked indeed am I when I hear this because what happened to the cry that we need Internet or else we will fade off as a poor place to buy. So why will people buy when Atlantic is rated as ONE OUT OF FIVE on their Internet service and connection!!Comcast is THREE OUT OF FIVE so why are we giving this up. Oh, yes, for sure people will buy here because all they are looking for is  crappy internet!! Gobsmacked at this lack of logic and forethought. The whole thing just does not make sense! And it stinks to high heaven. Comcast seems to have angered David Israel because they were "snippy". Really!! First of all, what does that mean? And so what? Did they not treat him as the maven of all things internet related and is that why we are going to have major troubles for the next ten years because his ego has been hurt?! Really? Gobsmacked indeed if the DA votes to go only with Atlantic. Please, delegates, think carefully and do not simply follow the "leader' and leash as he pulls you  along for bad reasons. Otherwise, screwed indeed are we!
      And now for the national gobsmacking. We have, like it or not, admit it or not, an imbecile for president. He appears to have slept through all his school years and his common sense seems to have long ago dissipated. That is, if he ever had it in the first place. His ability to distinguish between his business and the nation's business seems to be severely damaged or non existent and he thinks he can run the nation like his business - bankrupt, abrasive and offensive to the common man. Gobsmacked I am at the number of people who fell for this and at the stupidity and outworn use of the electoral system wherein the popular winner was the loser! Gobsmacked!!
     The USA looked like a Third World country in this election as we allowed interference by outside agencies and people as well as Russia and Putin, Trump's best bro, his BFF, to influence the election. Now we are supposedly investigating at a snail's pace and this imbecile who knows nothing about our history - Fredrick Douglass apparently is still alive, Andrew Jackson was apparently able to reappear 16 years after his death to fret over the Civil War - guess he was worried he would lose his 150 slaves!! - a battle that never was seemed to need a plaque and  I am just gobsmacked that someone can remain so ignorant after all the years of schooling. Wonder if he wore out the dunce cap in school!! Sure seems to!
     But the biggest gobsmacking of all took place yesterday. I was speaking to what appeared to be an otherwise intelligent person and when the topic of the President's idiocy and lack of knowledge arose, this woman stated in all seriousness that there was a purpose to this all, to his apparent ignorance of our history and the fact that he opens his mouth to allow this ignorance to spew forth. Guess he is like G-d, for I was told that while we do not understand why he said this or did that, he has his reasons and one day we will understand! Truly! Gobsmacked! Gobsmacked! Gobsmacked!!
     So here we are, spending over $65,000 so Jared and Ivanka can go skiing, poor things needing a vacation from their hard work integrating the profits of their business to the business of government. Tsk, tsk. The Republicans are still trying to pass a repeal of the healthcare even as they keep losing votes as the Representatives realize that their constituents are just a tad unhappy at losing their healthcare coverage. Now, gee, wonder why that would be? Wonder why they thought all of us would be so stupid as to keep quiet about it?
     Need more gobsmacking? No problem at all. Glad to serve. Now we have a president who just loves to befriend dictators and murderers and keep quiet about others so Duterte was invited for a playdate, Putin, well, we know about him, and now there is going to be a playdate for them. Erdogan who appears to be putting half of Turkey under lock and key - sshhhh - nothing heard about that from the White House. Threats to allies. Nonsense about "the Wall" ad infinitum. Secret waivers for lobbyists even as this man boasts of draining the swamp, the very swamp in which he loves to slither, and every single one of his appointees has major conflicts of interest but who the hell cares is apparently the motto of the year!! Gobsmacked!!
     No wonder I was woken up with a huge migraine during the night that took hours and many pills to eradicate. All this gobsmacking is not good for body nor soul, not mine and not yours. For whom is it good - well, smell the swamp, look at the rich folk salivating at the thought of the money to come their way if this tax "reform" goes through.
     Enough gobsmacking and join the tens of thousands, the millions, who are marching and protesting, who are resisting - here in America - and let us fix our government before it is too late. I see the crack widening and that is not good news. We need to awaken those whose gobsmacking has smacked the sense right out of them. Peace and love - and common sense. That is what we need. But if you need entertainment, just watch for Trump's campaign ad - yes, never let it be said that he does not look to the future! - just watch and  see his portrayal as a superhero standing there watching out for us. Barf!!

A HEART CONFUSED AND OVERWHELMED

    I sit here today like many Jews filled with both sadness and joy, with mourning and with celebration deep within my soul. Most of yesterday was spent scrolling thru the various sites which had the scenes of two days - Israel Memorial day or Yom Hazikaron and Israel Independence Day, its 69th birthday in modern statehood, Yom Haatzmaut.
    Much of yesterday was spent in tears as ceremony after solemn ceremony was held. All throughout the land there were such events, all mourning together the death of so many, over 23,400 , soldiers and civilians alike, the cost of being a nation unto ourselves, the Land and the State of Israel. These civilians, these victims of terror ranged from the unborn to the babies, the toddlers, the children, the kids and the adults, including the elderly. The knives and the guns, the smashing cars and the bombs made no distinction. It was the blood of Jews that these terrorists wished to spill and it mattered not the individual.
     The ceremony held at Gush Etzion was particularly moving, I have relatives living there, my grandson is there in yeshiva learning for a second gap year. This area has suffered terribly and we can all remember the three boys kidnapped and killed, the American boy from Boston killed there and many, many more. The tears ran and the mourning prayers were chanted, the sad songs that sang of the flowers taken from us, of the mother who waited for her son who promised to return - but did not but the reasoning, the need behind all this still remains unclear.
     Why, among all nations of the world, are the Jews not allowed to have their own nation, this tiny state surrounded by enemies, this tiny state that barely existed 69 years ago yet managed to take in thousands upon thousands of Holocaust survivors without a penny to their name, with just the shirt on their back, many still wearing the striped shirt worn in the death camps, why was this state so forbidden to be in existence.
     It seems that the hatred of the Jewish people is doomed to be neverending but this day of mourning, of true mourning, not the start of summer, not the day of sales, not the day of backyard barbecues, this day reminds the world that argue though we might amongst ourselves, today, we mourn together, as one, as one people and one nation. These are all our children and believe me, when the camera panned over the crowd one saw the universality of that -the blonds and the bruntettes, the black hair and the skin tones that ranged from black to brown to white and all shades in between. It mattered not their origin for they were all Jews, all returned to their homeland, all as one.
     So here in Gush, where the battle to save it failed in 1948 and the defenders slaughtered, including seven who were the last surviving branches of their families, the day is particularly meaningful. They have returned, the descendants of those slaughtered here and the area now has 20 cities and over 20,000 people. Thank the Lord above for watching over us. We know that the cost of survival is high, but we do it with an open and understanding heart even as we mourn the dead for what comes after this Memorial Day is a day of happiness. This is the day of barbecues, of kids with shaving cream, of special seders for this day, of special prayers of thanksgiving and joy. We are a nation. We are a state and there is no one on this earth, no power other than G-d that will change that fact.
     And so even as we mourned we knew that the mourning led to a time of joy and a time of gratitude towards those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to G-d who has watched over His people lo these thousands of years. Thru the pogroms, thru the burnings and torture of the Inquisition, thru the expulsions and the hatred, thru the forced conversions and after the Holocaust - WE ARE HERE!!
     So Chag Sameach - a happy Holiday to all who support the State of Israel.

THE TRUTH IS WHERE YOU FIND IT

    Some interesting experiences this weekend. First I read the entire transcript of Trump's interview with John Dickerson. I could not believe my eyes and my brain rebelled, but what else could be expected from the incompetent man. He did not allow a question to be finished before he interrupted and then answered with nonsensical statements and again harked back to the media, the false media as he calls it, the media that he seems to feel eats his heart out - and great for that, I say!!. He doesn't know, he says, what happens if North Korea shoots off another missile, he will not be 'happy" and what follows he is asked and responds, "I don't know." Wow! This inspires such confidence, especially when he calls the nutjob of that country a pretty smart guy. I guess he joins  the pantheon of admired dictators by Trump, along with Putin and Xi of China. And now he invites that murderer from the Philippines, Duterte, to come have a playdate with him at the White house!! Wow, my heroes!! And this is our president. How sad. How bad. How very, very terrible. And the 'poor' man complains of this not being easy. What did he expect? A vacation?
     This man who did not go to the White House Press dinner, and missed a funny session by the way, told the people at his campaign rally - for that is what it was - that he is their protector. Excuse me while I barf. Their protector - he wants to take away their health coverage. He wants to feed the Fat Cats with money, money, money. He calls Washington a swamp but forgets to add or rather confess that he is the biggest critter of all. He says he will still build a wall, but who knows when or how and as for trade - well, he is negotiating now rather than ripping it all up. This man is a pathetic liar who cannot choose a stand and stick to it.
     I finished reading a book this weekend that is on the best seller list and scary it is with truths, hard truths, about what might be within our own country if it keeps on going down this dangerous path. It is American War by Omar El Akkad and has nothing to do with jihadists or Moslem terrorists but rather with the breakup of our country into segments, with secessions and a Mexican protectorate, refugees from the battered and disappearing East and West Coasts and frightening it is. It is the epitome of what hate does, what ignoring the truth about the environment and climate change will bring about.
Here are the opening lines of the journals that form the basis of the entire book in a way. Read and understand. Read and weep.
     "When I was young, I lived with my parents and my brother and my sister in a small house by the Mississippi Sea. I was happy then."
     Finally, we just returned from an excellent production of Matilda at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale. What a wonderful performance it was and while as an English teacher I recommended Roald Dahl books to some kids and to lower grades for class novel, I did not admire Dahl due to his anti Semitic statements but there are truths to be found in his books other than that. In Matilda we have the oppressed child, the oppressed people of the world, the despised "others", those who need to find a way out of their misery. We see how the courage of one can inspire the courage of many, how the innocent and the seemingly helpless can bring about revolution where and when needed.
     Matilda, a remarkably poised little girl, managed to convey that a person can develop almost super powers in a time of need, become more than they were before or will be after. She fought for what is fair, for what is right and for what is honest. Certainly I know of several political entities right here in our country who can be improved upon  adhering to these principles!! Yoo hoo, Donald and David, pay attention.
     So poor overwhelmed Matilda stands up for her beliefs, that she is an equal and not a "worm" or a
"maggot". It is right at times to be a  "little naughty" if that is what is needed and boy, do I agree with that. And her statement says it all. "You mustn't let a little thing like little stop you....if it's not right, you have to put right." So out of the mouths of babes we have a most adult sentiment and thought.
     The truths do appear and in the strangest places. We need more truths in our lives and in our government officials for sure. Pick up a book and read. Think seriously about some topics and face the truth. Admit where one is wrong and do not be ashamed to admit that. Errors can be corrected and join in with all of us who march for a better world. Tens of thousands in DC yesterday and more all over the country for truth in the climate change sphere of knowledge, for demanding that Trump get his head out of his ass and stop ruining our country, stop rolling back the laws which will protect it and us and our loved ones. March today on May Day and demand labor rights, proper tax reform, civil rights, abortion rights and the list is long. But grow up and stand up for what is right. If not you then who?