"What's Happening?"

I don't know what's happened to this country that I love.

Cannot understand it...  How, when push came down to shove,

There would be so many of my fellow countrymen

Who'd applaud un-Presidential Twitter tirades when

He goes off on, yet another, narcissistic theme.

(I'm so outraged by his antics that I want to scream.)

But, a large minority of voters think he's great,

Think it's only "sour grapes" when "libtards" demonstrate. 

I thought that, at most, there might be 4 or 5 percent.

It's a shock to see how deep the hidden anger went.

Now it's in the open, unamenable to facts,

Reveling in ugly, "Modern ... Presidential" acts.

"SAD!" to quote the President... "What's happening!?!" scream I.

How can 44% of us support this guy?

I Guess We Won't Always Have Paris

 

Trump just pulled us out of Paris...  Makes me wanna weep.

Stomach's churning and I'm having nightmares when I sleep.

Planet Earth's the only home the human race has got -

I'll be dead before the oceans rise...  My sons will not.

'though it's hard to narrow his disasters down to one

So far, this could be the worst thing Donald Trump has done.

Climate change is global. Now our country's walked away.

China's filled the role of leadership we used to play.

All the nations of the world and scientists agree

Global warming's happening.  Well, all except for three:

Syria and Nicaragua...  The United States.

Maybe we can lead the countries Mother Nature hates?

Sincere Apologies to the World

I get so embarrassed at the way we're now perceived

Overseas; they marvel at how easily deceived

We Americans are proving many of us are -

Throwing our support to Trump: a loud-mouth TV star.

Just like P.T. Barnum, Trump loves stupid people, too...

Angry people who don't care if what he says is true,

Folks who don't believe that we're, already, pretty great.

Folks who are susceptible to messages of hate.

The whole world is getting nervous that this race is close.

(Global leaders using Xanax have increased their dose.)

How could the Americans be falling for this guy?

Someone whom the Russians have been helping on the sly?

Do they really want proliferation? Are they nuts?

ISIL and the Taliban are laughing in their huts.

Trump - who's what the British call a "bounder and a cad" -

He and his supporters make the rest of us look bad.

Not Feeling The Bern

I would love to "Feel the Bern" but fear that I'm too old

And great age has taught me, Sanders' platform's much too bold

For a country as divided as the U.S. is;

There's no way to implement these grand reforms of his. 

Does he think that President Obama hasn't tried,

Only compromising to appease the other side?

Bully pulpit doesn't guarantee a bargain's struck.

What makes Bernie Sanders think that he'll have better luck?

'though there's little Bernie's said with which I disagree

All my years confer (along with an arthritic knee)

Just enough experience in politics to know

You can vote for hope and change but that won't make it so.

Shame On U.S.

 

I can't help but be ashamed we haven't done our part

Taking in more refugees from wars they didn't start.

People fleeing terrorism, bombings, drone-strikes - death.

U.S. should be helping more...  I wouldn't hold my breath.

Even though the chaos in the region can be traced

Back to wars we started, that's a fact we haven't faced.

We have a responsibility.  Don't like it? Tough.

Yes we send a lot of AID but that is not enough.

Less than fifteen hundred refugees accepted here.

Europe's seen 360,000 just this year.

U.S. must take its fair share of desperate people, too.

Short of war - again - it is the least that we can do.

Sticks and Stones

U.S. Cent. Com.'s on-line social sites have been attacked;

Both their YouTube Channel and their Twitter feed were hacked.

Postings made by something called the Cyber Caliphate:

Threats and a recruitment ad for the Islamic State.

It's a war of words in which we find ourselves engaged;

Battles in the chat rooms of the web are being waged.

'though we clearly lost this one, the war ain't over yet...

So we need to strengthen our defenses on the net.

Sony and Home Depot and at least a dozen more

Companies whose customers must track their credit score

After hackers stole their data...  Happens every day

To the folks who've dared to use a credit card to pay.

We could all be victims of this type of cyber crime

But that's not what ISIL's hackers did to us this time...

We were cyber-bullied; had our noses rubbed in dirt.

Meanwhile, ISIL's getting more than just their feelings hurt.

Thumbs Up for the President

If only...  (Photo/compliancecampaign.wordpress.com)

If you were the Emperor of these United States

You could have opponents' heads served up to you on plates.

If you found the arguments they used against you dumb

You could silence critics with a downward twist of thumb.

You could make your Senators (or Congressmen) obey

If you really were the lord of all that you survey.

But, if you're a President who wants to fix a flaw

You must keep your actions in compliance with the law.

You may only act as other Presidents have done;

Setting your priorities so things are smoothly run.

Even though the lions say they'll fight you "tooth and nail"

Leaders do not let our immigration system fail.

Goosing Turkey

  

 As Kobani's Kurds - with help from the United States -

Hold off ISIL fighters, Turkish forces shut the gates;

Haven't let the Kurds from Turkey reinforce the town,

And it isn't just their borders Ankara's shut down.

They've been less than useless - even bombing local Kurds.

Were their promises to help with ISIL only words?

Erdogan's demanding more than we're prepared to do;

(He wants us to promise that Assad's a target, too)

Taking on another foe before we've crushed the first.

Assad is a tyrant, true...  But ISIL's still the worst.

Time that Turkey offers us a neighborly assist...

Let's take care of ISIL before adding to our list.

Is Turkey Chicken?

Even though the Turks agreed to help us hunt them down

ISIL fighters are about to seize another town.

Feet across the border into Syria, it sits

But, 'though U.S. airstrikes have been blowing them to bits,

ISIL (with its heavy, hand-held  weapons) will still win

If the town can't get some reinforcements coming in.

U.S. wants the Turks to help...  So far, they've said "No thanks"

Even though the border's lined with Turkish troops and tanks.

Since Kobani's Kurdish there are people who believe

Turkey thinks its residents deserve what they'll receive.

I think it's more complicated - but it's also time

Turkey does its part to help us stop a new war-crime.

Dear ISIS... You Wanted Our Attention?

ISIS sent a "Message to America" last night;

Murdering a journalist - a sad and gruesome sight.

Foley's from New Hampshire, it's my next-door neighbor state.

Prayers go out to those impacted by this act of hate.

As for ISIS members... Guys; your message is received.

Thought you'd like our full attention?  That's what you believed?

Wanted us to notice when the A.Q.A.P.* guys

(They're the ones with plastic bombs) signed up with you? Surprise!

Although we've been thinking we should put a stop to you

You've just made it likelier that that is what we'll do.

You've been getting beaten by our air and drone attack?

What you guys may not have known is - we've been holding back.

All you've done is make us angry.  Trust me when I say

You won't like it when we're angry. You will rue the day

You got the attention of the whole United States

Who'd now like to see you bastards' heads served up on plates.

*al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Spying On Germany

(Photo/Courtesy of usatoday.com)

What a tangled web we weave

When we practice to deceive...

Berlin says they've caught 2 guys;

Claim that both are U.S. spies.

Merkel, who's already mad

We were bugging her i-Pad,

Caught up in this web we've woven

Acted like our feet were cloven.

Germany gave us the heave;

Asked our diplomat to leave,

Leaving our relations strained

(Even if  the anger's feigned.)

In A Democracy You Get What You Deserve

Weekend saw a few elections held across the pond...

Politicians who would like to loosen ties that bond

European Union member nations won the day.

Tired of austerity, the voters voted "Nay!"

Half of Ukraine voted; not much turn-out in the East.

Faced with armed militias... Don't blame voters in the least.

In the West the winner was a candy billionaire.

Putin said he'd honor the results if they were fair.

Egypt held elections, too; the outcome no surprise.

Winner is a former Army General in disguise.

After leading Egypt's coup, took off his uniform.

In the region, that's not the exception, it's the norm.

U.S. will hold mid-terms soon but most of us won't vote.

By default, we'll let the special interests steer the boat

All the while complaining...  We have got a lot of nerve.

People only get the government that they deserve.

Google Won't Forget This

People throughout history have tried to leave their mark,

Hoping we'll name streets for them, or schools...  Perhaps a park.

Something that survives us after we are in our grave,

Yet we all  have made some marks that we don't want to save.

It might be a drunken photo or a careless tweet;

Information you don't want to share with folks you meet.

Something you don't talk about with people from your church...

Things that they can learn about you with a Google Search.

In the state of Denmark though, if you did something rotten,

European Union passed the Right to be Forgotten.

You can have those links removed - you only have to ask.

Google says complying is a monumental task.

If you're an American you do not have this right

So, if you're debating if it is or isn't bright

To do something that you'll later wish you could forget,

Just remember - what you do stays on the internet.

Syria, Still.

Syria keeps grinding on with still no end in sight.

Civil wars are battles where nobody wins the fight.

It's the kind of war that has a tendency to spread;

Gaining new recruits in search of vengeance for their dead.

Syria is shattered - half its population's gone

And, still, the atrocities continue on and on.

There are more than 2 sides now (perhaps as much as 5)

Seems like they'll keep fighting until no one's left alive.

There are calls for intervention by the USA,

Like we have the power to swoop in and save the day.

If we have those kinds of skills we haven't shown them yet.

Plus, it's hard to get involved with Russia saying "Nyet!"

I'm not Isolationist; at least, I never was...

But I'm leery of the situation there because

Following the Arab Spring the Middle East has changed;

Focused on religion and fanatics are deranged.

Islam's in a Reformation like the one we had.

Students of our history can tell you - ours was bad.

Can't impose a reformation, can't force compromise.

Muslims have to be the ones who finally stop these guys.

Middle East Update - Bad Timing for a Visit

Secretary Kerry doesn't seem to be enjoying himself on this trip.  (Photo/Presstv.ir)

Secretary Kerry has been in the Middle East;

Pretty awkward timing for his trip - to say the least.

Many of our "allies" in the region aren't thrilled

With our current policies and so relations chilled.

Kerry went to Cairo first; he'd not been in a while.

Next day, Egypt put its former President on trial.

Military overthrew his government and now

Claims that it was not a coup...  But I cannot see how.

Even though it's clear from all the evidence we've got,

State Department hasn't said if it's a coup or not.

U.S. law forbids assistance to a government

Which has come to power through a coup. The law is meant

To promote democracy, so now we're kinda stuck...

'though we'll send them aid, their military's out of luck.

Kerry went to see the Saudis next; they're also mad.

Feel the U.S. backed out on agreements that we had.

They've turned down a Council Seat 'cause we did not attack

Weapons sites in Syria...  Ain't chutzpah that they lack.

Any place where radicals are bred goes back to them;

They're the ones who fund those mosques and schools (which costs a gem.)

Now they're scared those angry chickens may come home to roost...

Here's an idea for you; just stop giving them a boost.

I wish Secretary Kerry luck - which he will need -

'cause the only thing on which the region has agreed

Is that the United States is, somehow, all to blame...

I guess it is comforting that some things stay the same.

Syrian Strategy Stalls

(Photo/Courtesy of AIM.org)

Bashar al-Assad was interviewed by Charlie Rose;

Sounded like a gay vampire with a stuffy nose.

Said that bombing him will not get any problems solved;

Warned that we'd be sorry if the U.S. got involved.

President Obama has been very busy, too.

Meeting with reporters; giving each an interview.

Speaking to the nation last night; laying out his case.

He agreed to wait, thus saving diplomatic face.

'though I'm not in favor of a war, I'm feeling bad.

I would love to rescue Syrians from al-Assad.

But, 'til other nations will agree to do their share,

It's too large a burden for America to bear.

Secretary Kerry gave the President an out

Once the Congress made it clear approval was in doubt.

Now they can delay the vote...  Give Lavrov a chance,

Let the U.N. diplomats commence their song and dance.

The 113th Congress - The Company We Keep

Is this really who we want to associate ourselves with?

Here's a piece of irony; the "Evil Axis" grew.

Guess who their new member is.  That would be me and you.

North Korea, Syria, Iran...  United States?

Do we want to join the countries everybody hates?

UN passed a resolution regulating arms;

Aimed at keeping weapons from a terrorist who harms

Innocent civilians in pursuance of his cause.

If there's a "no-brainer" than this resolution was.

US voted for it but our Senators will not

Ratify this treaty.  Seems the GOP forgot

We are known to others by the company we keep.

Evil Axis members - every one of them a creep -

Those are not the kind of people I'd consider friends.

If we choose to side with them, the GOP extends

Them an invitation; 'though, they aren't a friend of mine...

Neither are those politicians who refuse to sign.

Across the Pond - Rape

Photo/GlobalPost.com

Think rape victims have it bad in these United States;

Stuck with politicians being stupid in debates?

Women in the Middle East and northern Africa,

India and, worst of all, the ones in Syria

Raped as part of strategy in someone's gruesome war

Or, if they report a rape, they're treated like a whore.

Even those who wear a veil - are covered head to toe -

Know that there are places in their countries they can't go,

Like a busy city street or movies with a friend.

Even if you don't get raped they're pinching your rear end.

Treated like an object; just a way to scratch an itch,

Think it's time that women over there began to bitch.

Veils have not protected them from violence and rape.

Women have to organize and help their nations shape

Future legislation guaranteeing rights for girls...

Women need their laws to start protecting them from churls.

Across the Pond - North Korean Missile Launch

If you believe that North Korea's missile program is for peaceful purposes, then Kim Jong-un has some unicorns he wants to sell you.  (Photo/Hypervocal.com)

After years of trying, North Korea's  had success;

Launched a missile into space - a diplomatic mess.

Kim Jong-un has claimed the missile launch is not a threat.

South Korea and Japan aren't comforted, I bet.

Neither is America, 'cause he can reach us here, 

And he's just as crazy as his father was, I fear.

All the offers meant to help his people out, he scorns.

Now he says his scientists discovered unicorns.

Can those be the scientists who got him into space?

Helped a lunatic to threaten all the human race.

Or, are they the guys who helped enrich uranium?

Either way, it seems to me, those scientists are dumb.

There is not a nation in the region which is thrilled;

Nor impressed that North Korea's scientists are skilled.

I think that, despite his word that Kim Jong-un means well,

If they're buying that, he's got some unicorns to sell.