The Free Press - Front-line Soldiers in the Culture War

 

If you've read my rhymes before than you are well aware

I'm concerned the fabric of our nation's gonna tear.

We're divided into camps who cannot get along;

Each of us convinced the other side has got it wrong.

We can't even seem to all agree on basic facts;

True or false depends on how the president reacts

Which depends on how his friends on FOX report their "news"

Based on some conspiracy as asinine as Q's.

Donald Trump continues to attack the 4th Estate,

Saying they're the reason why America's not great.

He's called them "disgusting...traitors." Claims reports are "fake"

Anytime he doesn't like the news, for heaven's sake!

What about the evidence out there for all to see?

What about objective truth or plain reality?

Hard to spin the cold, hard facts ('though Giuliani tries)

Can't ignore that Donald Trump is telling voters lies.

Yet, somehow, the president has managed to convince

His supporters they should not believe reporters, since

They're all out to get him with their slanderous attack

And he needs true blue Americans to have his back.

So, they all fall in to line and truth's a casualty

In this culture war Trump's launched against a press that's free.

Journalists are patriots.  They're holding down the fort.

They deserve our gratitude and have my full support.

Common Ground?

Trump continues proving that he hasn't got a clue

What it is the country wants its President to do.

Most of us do not want chaos - don't want World War III.

Don't like governance by tweet or - worse - Sean Hannity.

But, a large minority of voters think it's fine...

Don't see any reason for the Donald to resign.

Do not care that he's disruptive... Feel that it's a plus.

They applaud whenever Trump starts kicking up a fuss.

Maybe they are entertained by him but I am not.

I am in a state of deep despair.  My nerves are shot.

I can't understand why Trump's supporters aren't afraid...

Unless they do not believe the statements that he's made.

That is something we agree on... Maybe there is hope?

Could it be that they're aware the President's a dope?

If they do not trust him either, that could be a start.

It would mean Americans are not that far apart.

Land of the Free? Home of the Brave?

 

New York and New Jersey, Illinois and, maybe, Maine

Are imposing quarantines because we've gone insane.

Fearful of the people most deserving of our praise...

I don't think the homeland's looking very brave these days.

This is not Liberia; with many dead or dying

And it only serves to keep the help they need from flying.

We stuck one nurse in a tent out in a parking lot

Without any proof Ebola's really what she's got.

Only one man treated in America has died;

Still, our politicians feel the need to pick a side.

Never mind what experts say; when everyone's afraid

Chickens roam the land where deer and antelope once played.

Good Job ISIL

ISIL has accomplished what the U.S. never could;

They've united all the countries in their neighborhood.

What's the single issue on which everyone agrees?

ISIL's brutal fighters must be driven to their knees.

Nations in the region who have always been at odds -

Fighting ever since the mind of man conceived of gods -

Put aside their arguments to face a common foe;

All of them determined, now, that ISIL has to go.

Maybe these alliances between them all won't last

Once this existential threat to Islam's in the past...

But, it's also possible a corner has been turned

And extremist ideologies might yet be spurned.

Now a man who'd only say "America" to cuss,

Iran's Ayatollah's, making overtures to us.

It's an opportunity the U.S. shouldn't waste.

Good job ISIL...  Thanks alot.  We'll see you guys post-haste.

Dear Mr. Cheney et al. - You're Kidding, Right?

Former Vice President Dick Cheney

ISIS is establishing a modern Caliphate

Based upon fanaticism...  Isn't that just great.

Thank you Bush and Cheney; you guys kicked the hornets' nest,

Certain that America was right and knew what's best.

Ever since, the region has been going up in flames.

Now Dick Cheney's claiming it's Obama who he blames.

It was not Obama who invaded on a whim;

I cannot believe the gall of Cheney blaming him.

This war has been brewing for a century, or more.

It's about religious sects and settling a score.

Once dictators fell, removing pressure from the lid,

Experts warned some countries might explode - and so they did.

All the blood and treasure spent on playing global cop

Didn't make this process one the U.S.A. could stop...

But, to say Obama caused the current Mid-East mess,

Means you're badly misinformed (by FOX, would be my guess.)

Happy Memorial Day

When you're at your barbeque this weekend, don't forget -

If you love America and freedom - thank a Vet.

I don't mean a thanks with words for words have proven cheap...

We made Vets a promise but it's one we didn't keep.

They embody virtues that have made this country great;

It's disgraceful some of them are dying while they wait.

Situation's FUBAR at the VA, I'm afraid.

They don't have the staff and those they've got are underpaid.

Congress needs to spend the money now and screw the cost...

Right away! Before another soldier's life is lost.

There are no excuses for non-treatment of our Vets;

We owe them our sacred honor and must pay our debts.

Putin's Jedi Mind Tricks

Putin met with reporters to answer questions about Russian involvement in Ukraine.

Putin answered questions he'd collected on a list

And, though this is not a quote, what follows is the gist:

Troops in Russian uniforms, insignias torn off?

"Those are not the droids you're looking for."  We Russians scoff.

Clearly the Americans and NATO are at fault;

Caused these wounds between our countries, now they're adding salt.

Those are not our soldiers planting mine-fields in Ukraine.

'though we should invade, we didn't... That would be insane.

Tanks throughout Crimea and in cities farther East?

Russian speakers asked for help, and so we felt the least

That a caring, parent country is obliged to do

Is protect those people from the Fascists.  Wouldn't you?

Do not fall for Jedi mind tricks; Putin's not a knight.

True, he acts mediaeval and he's daring us to fight,

But he is delusional.  I think he finds this fun,

And there's nothing chivalrous in anything he's done.

JFK Conspiracy Solved... It Was Us.

50 years ago today John Kennedy was shot.

Many still believe in an assassination plot:

L.B.J., the CIA, or Castro, or the mob.

Presidents could not be killed by one pathetic slob.

Looking back we all remember it as Camelot;

Dreaming of our glory days, but maybe we forgot

We were simply not a most congenial spot back then.

My mom is a Northerner who lived down South and when

She was at the Commissary they announced the news;

People started cheering and expressing racist views.

Toxic atmospheres build up and then some loser acts.

Let's not try to kid ourselves; we have to face the facts...

No one fled the grassy knoll; Lee Oswald was alone.

He was not the patsy here.  He acted on his own.

But the ugly politics and scandals of the day

Also had a passive, but important, part to play.

Maybe we should think about that as we're looking back

From our current, constant state of partisan attack.

This new generation of Americans must change...

Who knows which new lunatic is at the target range.

Drone Strikes and Due Process

Photo/ProPulica.Org

As a former member of the military, I

More than understand why drones are authorized to fly;

Maybe save a soldier's life with less civilian loss.

No trials for al-Qaeda members? I don't give a toss.

If your aim is to destroy America then, fine;

You have just declared yourself at war with me and mine.

Am I truly horrified when innocents are killed?

Yes.  Despite the fact our troops are trained and highly skilled

People on the side-lines in a war zone tend to die;

Whether by stray bullets or a bomb dropped from the sky.

I suspect that fewer people die when we use drones

And, no matter how much that the ACLU moans,

'though we skipped due process when we killed a citizen

It was not a question if  he'd try something, but when. 

Still, it's not a bad idea if, when the next drone flew

It was first submitted to some judges for review.

Happy Birthday America - A Little Bit Early

Happy Independence Day!  I'll be at the parade

Where I'll stand and cheer each time the anthem's being played,

Stand again - salute the flag whenever she goes by,

Make sure I get up for vet'rans, so I don't know why

I bring any chairs to this - I'm always up and down.

Thank God it's a short parade we have in my small town.

(By the way, I know today is really just the 3rd

But I have potato salad on...  It must be stirred.)

Didn't want to miss the 4th, but I won't be around.

When you live where I do, opportunities abound.

Many people pack a lunch and go to see the Pops

Playing on the Esplanade - They pull out all the stops.

When they do The 1812 the Old North Church bells ring.

We will watch it on TV 'cause - not for anything -

Could I drag my darlin' spouse back to the river Charles;

He was not a fan of the post-concert traffic snarls.

We'll pursue our happiness at home on our back deck.

That means I'll be busy because, right now, it's a wreck.

(Cannot let the guests suspect their hostess is a slob)

Then I have some ears to peel for our corn on the cob.

So, I'm sending wishes now to you and all of yours

Happy Birthday everyone - on all our shining shores,

'cross the amber waves, on purple mountains - out of reach.

Yikes! I've started sounding like a bad Mitt Romney speech.