Parkland, FL - Just Another Massacre

Thoughts and prayers. (Photo courtesy of palmbeachpost.com)

I guess all our "thoughts and prayers" from last time weren't enough...

We don't like school shootings every 60 hours? Tough.

Can't infringe on rights the Constitution guarantees.

Think some more dead children come before that? Honey, please.

We've become like moving targets on a shooting range.

NRA has bought the Congress... Nothing's gonna change.

Maybe if we found some way to siphon off their wealth;

Taxed gun sales and used the cash for funding mental health...

But - of course - we won't do that...  Or anything at all.

Only tired "thoughts and prayers." The writing's on the wall;

This is our new normal and it's likely to persist.

Just another massacre. We'll add it to the list.

The Best Tax Plan Money Can Buy

 

Looks like the Republicans' new tax bill's a done deal.

It will give big corporations licenses to steal.

They get permanent relief for sitting on their butts;

Middle class gets screwed, again, with temporary cuts.

Corporation leaders have no plans to reinvest;

They've said that they'll buy back stocks and pay down interest.

No new jobs or higher wages on the drawing board.

Still, they'll get a tax break that the country can't afford.

Bernie Sanders called it "looting..." I tend to agree.

Debt grows by a $1,000,000,000,000.00.  (Trillion, with a T.)

GOP says wealth will "trickle down" and help the poor

Even though that's never worked when we've tried it before.

I fear it's too late to stop it... Pointless to resist,

Since the wealthy donors to Republicans insist

That, if they don't pass this bill, the money well runs dry.

Now they'll get the best tax cuts their lobbyists could buy.

Have We No Shame?

 

As the list of women who've accused Judge Roy Moore grows,

Some in Alabama's GOP have hit new lows.

They still plan to cast their ballots for a pedophile

Rather than a Democratic moderate...  How vile.

One guy used the Bible, claiming Mary was a teen,

Joseph was an adult...  Jesus Christ! I feel unclean.

Others tried to weasel out by saying that "if true"

Then Moore needs to step aside - which he's refused to do.

Have we really reached the point where people will excuse

Child abuse from Senate candidates who share their views?

Please tell me that there are still some standards that we keep...

If not, then we're truly lost and I can only weep.

Another One Bites The Dust

 

Jeff Flake's said that he won't be "complicit" anymore,

During an impassioned speech made from the Senate floor.

"Reckless and undignified and dangerous," said Flake.

Arizona's Senator has had all he can take.

Flake's resigning rather than continuing his fight

Against this extremism we're seeing from the Right.

Principled conservatism takes another hit,

'though I cannot say I blame those Senators who've quit.

Should they stay and kiss the ring on Donald's "liddle'" hand?

I wish more Republicans would also take a stand.

But, instead, most choose to put their principles aside

To support a President who isn't qualified.

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.

Shocked At The Gamble

Tennessee Republican Bob Corker said that he

Fears that Donald Trump will get us into World War III.

Claims his colleagues know it, too...  Well, isn't that just great.

Nice of them to realize it now that it's too late.

With their trumped up culture war the heartland chose to back

Someone who was only qualified at "talkin' smack."

Like Claude Rains in Casablanca, now they're shocked to find

That they gambled on a man who isn't sound of mind.

Now we get to wait and see which way the dice will fall;

If we're in "the calm before the storm" that kills us all.

I sure wish the usual suspects would grow a pair;

Take a stand against the "chaos..." Get Trump out of there.

Resistance Is Futile

 

'though the Trump resistance has protested 'til they're hoarse

They can't stop a bully with the power to enforce

His agenda...  All that they can do is slow him down

Since Republicans are choosing to support this clown.

Travel ban is back in place.  Our health care is a mess.

What his ties to Russia are is anybody's guess.

Making policy decisions for the Pentagon

Via tweets... And still supporters back the orange Don.

President's approval ratings matches those of FOX

Viewers of the types of programs where the panel mocks

Those who think that Trump's a con-man and cannot believe

That Americans would prove so easy to deceive.

When the country doesn't share the same reality

"Resistance is futile," say the Borg...  I must agree.

In a time when lines get blurred between what's true or "fake"

I can't see what difference someone like me could make. 

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Political Scientists

I've got Poli Sci degrees (for all the good they do -

Not a field of study I would recommend to you...

There's not any money in it. Not a lot of jobs

Pondering the voting habits of the angry mobs.)

But, for all my "expertise" I'm simply at a loss,

Can't explain how Donald Trump remains the nation's boss.

Yes, I know the Russians meddled... That's not an excuse.

It's the GOP that's claimed this crazy, golden goose.

Clutching tightly while ignoring all the angry tweets,

Willing to embrace the loony just to grab the treats.

All the golden goodies they've been hoping for for years:

Tax cuts, slashing regulations for their wealthy peers.

That's the kind of politics I learned about in school

But, back then, I never dreamed Republicans could fool

Voters into acting against their best interests

And, had I predicted it, I would have flunked my tests.

Collaborators?

 Claiming that our rookie President made a mistake,

Speaker Ryan says we ought to give the guy a break.

Why would someone clear a room if they were unaware

They were gonna cross a line? Republicans don't care?

Trump did not collude with Russia...  He's not smart enough.

He is just a bully who is bent on acting tough.

Not the "best negotiator" if he couldn't see

James Comey's reaction to a "pledge of loyalty."

Trump cannot control himself but that does not excuse

Politicians who think he's a tool that they can use.

I'm no longer blaming Donald Trump...  I fear he's ill.

I DO blame Republicans and hope that voters will.

President-Elect Donald Trump

What is there to say?

I just never realized how mad the middle class

Must have been to vote for Trump, a total horse's ass.

Didn't understand how bad their lives have got to be

If they'd vote for someone as unqualified as he.

I cannot believe that they're all bigots - though there's some

And, though many lack degrees, that doesn't mean they're dumb.

Were they right that Washington, D.C. was broken? Yup.

System didn't work for them and so they blew it up.

For my fellow Clinton voters, still in states of shock,

Knowing Mitch McConnell said Republicans would block

Anything that Clinton tried, perhaps it's just as well...

Roll the dice and pray the country doesn't go to hell.

A Salute to Senator Lindsey Graham

 

Never thought that Lyndsey Graham and I would both agree;

Strange bedfellows brought together by the nominee

Of the party Graham's supported his entire life...

In the spirit of rapprochement, I won't twist the knife,

Lyndsey's said it well enough...  There's not much I could add:

GOP's gone "bat shit crazy," Donald Trump is bad

For the party, for the country.  Donald is unfit.

Graham will not support Trump.  I admire him for it. 

Lyndsey's love of country's trumped his hate for Hillary;

Too bad he's a lonely voice inside the GOP.

Most Republicans are falling neatly into line:

They support their candidate... Don't worry. He'll be fine.

Never mind his bigotry, the awful things he spouts.

They'll ignore his ignorance; they're swallowing their doubts,

Catering to angry voters yearning for the past,

Putting party first, ambition second, country - last.

Unsolicited Advice for Senator Sanders

 

I like Sanders very much but do not "Feel the Bern."

I think that, like Hillary before him, it's his turn

To drop out and unify the Democrats behind

Hillary because Republicans have lost their mind.

Just like Trump - although not such a total horse's ass -

Bernie's making promises that Congress wouldn't pass.

We need someone with a chance of getting something done;

Out of all our choices, Hillary's the only one.

She's got the experience; she's been around the block.

Donald Trump... (forgive me, I'm still in a state of shock)

Calls her "crooked" - like the pot that called the kettle black -

Using Bernie Sanders' quotes as part of his attack.

Clinton's clinched the nomination. Bernie needs to quit;

Start supporting Hillary...  Stop acting like a twit.

Nothing matters more than making sure that Donald Trump

Loses in November...  Bernie, please get off the stump.

April Fools?

I've got all my fingers crossed that this will be the day

Most of Donald Trump's supporters laugh at us and say;

"April Fools! We didn't mean it...  This was all a joke.

No one sane would vote for Trump; we've just been blowing smoke."

"Donald Trump for President? Do you all think we're nuts?

"Donald Trump, who's clearly demonstrated he's a putz?

"Ha ha...  We sure fooled you guys.  You really fell for it."

Got me good. Congratulations.  Now, could you please quit?

Joke is over and it isn't funny anymore;

Not with talk of rioting on the Convention floor.

No one's laughing now - not even Democrats like me -

Watching as the Donald tears apart the GOP.

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.

The Lesser of Two Evils?

(Image/Courtesy of www.speakeasyfacilitators.co.za)

You might think Republicans - opposed to Hillary -

Should take time to think who their alternative could be.

Hillary conspiracies, the kind that FOX News panders,

Have resulted in a surge for Vermont's Bernie Sanders.

Do they really want a guy who claims he's Socialist

Or a seasoned politician who's a realist?

(FYI: Real Socialists say Bernie isn't one...

That he's more conservative than David Cameron.)

Shouldn't they be worried Mrs. Clinton's in a slump

While their leading candidate's an idiot like Trump?

He is unelectable. Because of him, they'll lose.

I'd think Hillary's the lesser evil they would choose.

Break Time's Over

Though the media declined to take my good advice

I've ignored most politics this summer...  It was nice.

Now that it's September 1st, I fear it's nearly time

To examine Presidential candidates in rhyme.

Sorry, I don't want to ruin anybody's day

But ignoring problems doesn't make them go away.

Just ask the Republicans who have to deal with Trump,

Such a pompous, rude, bombastic, narcissistic chump.

They cannot pretend the Donald isn't polling first;

They can only grin and bear it as he does his worst,

Blathering away without a modicum of tact

Driving off the voters they were hoping to attract.

The Donald Pulls Ahead

(Political cartoon by Gary Varvel/Courtesy of www.cagle.com)

Donald Trump is polling 1st; he's pulled ahead of Bush;

Racist birther looking for more buttons he can push...

Offering new insults every time he flaps his lips.

Trump!? A guy I wouldn't trust with decorating tips.

He's the guy who leads the polls?  A clown so crass and loud

He even embarrasses the Honey Boo Boo crowd.

Could it be Republicans responding to the polls

Sit there laughing quietly into their Wheaties bowls?

Knowing that by answering The Donald's who they'd pick
All their other candidates look better?  It's a trick!

And a way conservatives can take a little poke

'cause they can't be serious; it's gotta be a joke.

Keep Congress Out Of Iran

With the framework for a way of dealing with Iran

President Obama's busy talking up the plan,

Saying that the deal's the best one that we're gonna get...

He has not convinced U.S. Republicans quite yet.

He can keep on talking but it won't do any good.

They insist they want to vote but I don't think they should.

If Barack Obama were to say the sky is up

Would there be Republicans in disagreement? Yup.

I don't trust they won't be playing petty politics

And it's too important that this new agreement sticks.

If we don't give peace a chance - don't trust and verify -

We could watch a chance to re-engage Iran slip by.

47 Senators have made their feelings known;

Give them all a chance to vote and this deal will be blown.

Let Obama do his job and try diplomacy,

Speaking with one voice on Middle Eastern policy.

The Problem With Hillary 2016

This is how the GOP sees Hillary. (Courtesy of/www.veooz.com)

Lately I've become convinced that I don't have a choice;

I can argue politics until I've lost my voice...

Won't convince Conservatives to change their point of view.

So I've started thinking that it's time for someone new.

Since there is no compromise, our government is broke.

All the plans Obama has are going up in smoke.

Nominees are languishing and sex slaves have to wait

Because they don't like Barack...  But, Hillary they hate.

If you think that things are bad right now then wait and see

Just how bad it gets if we elected Hillary.

Knowing Clinton represents the sum of their worst fears,

I don't know if I can stand 4 more contentious years.

I could vote Republican to spare myself the pain;

If someone like Snowe, their former Senator from Maine,

Were to be the GOP's selected nominee

They might still convince me not to vote for Hillary.

An Open Letter to the Leaders of the GOP

47 Senators have written to Iran

In an effort bent on sabotaging any plan

We are still negotiating - don't yet have a deal -

Threatening that Congress won't give its approval seal.

Siding with the Ayatollahs (who want talks to fail)

Feels as if Republicans who signed this piece of mail

Undermined our own position with their little note

Just because they're angry that they do not get a vote.

Congress votes on treaties but the deal we'd like to make

Wouldn't be a treaty and, therefore, it wouldn't take

Anything from Congress which is, clearly, just as well...

If they ever backed Obama things would freeze in Hell.