Shakespeare Revisited

 

"Something's rotten in the State of Denmark," Shakespeare said...

Then, in just a few short acts, the whole damn cast is dead.

As our current tragedy unfolds - the play undone -

I'm afraid our State will end up like that other one.

Men and women merely players; all the world a stage.

Our mad king's soliloquies are on his Twitter page.

Something isn't only rotten here...  It stinks like hell.

Alas for our democracy.  I thought I knew it well.

Methinks I doth smell a rat.  Its name is Donald Trump;

An Othello with the intellect of Forrest Gump.

In this comic tragedy we're in, perhaps it's best

If a flight of federal agents sing him to his rest.

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.

A Piece in Ukraine

Leaders meet in Minsk today, regarding the Ukraine.

You're forgiven if you're thinking 'Here we go again.'

Poroshenko, Merkel, and Hollande will all be there

Hoping there's some way they can appease a Russian bear.

President Obama won't be present for the talks;

He's at home considering our move if Putin balks.

Do we arm Ukraine to fight a war they cannot win

If the Russian bear's decided that he's coming in?

Putin wants a piece, alright... A piece of the Ukraine

And he seems prepared to suffer economic pain.

Even if we arm Ukraine - increasing Putin's dead -

There's no way to stop this Russian bear until he's fed.

Putin's Fairytales

 

Secretary Kerry's on a visit to Ukraine

Where he'll be a welcome guest when he gets off his plane,

Since Kiev is hoping that he'll promise lethal aid;

Weapons meant to counter recent gains that rebels made.

Eastern Ukraine's rebel forces, armed with Russian guns,

Plus an unknown number of poor Mother Russia's sons,

Started bombing towns - anticipating an attack -

Pushing forward in the knowledge Putin has their back.

Now that he controls what Russian media dares say,

Putin won't let little things like truth get in the way.

He's convinced his population that it's worth the pain

Sanctions are inflicting 'cause they're "rescuing" Ukraine.

Putin says that Russian aid is sent to help the poor;

That the big, bad West is slavering at Russia's door.

This time though, when Kerry's in the Russian news tonight

Putin's story that we're intervening might be right.

Turning the Economy Around?

(Courtesy of jazminmercer.com)

With their plan for turning the economy around,

GOP could send the country crashing to the ground.

Unemployment rates are down... The markets? Record highs.

Fuel is cheaper, we're insured, new housing's on the rise.

Since we're in recovery already ('though it's slow)

Why would they turn that around?  There's not far down to go.

We have got to hit the gas 'cause that is what it takes.

Do not stall the country now by slamming on the brakes.

The Pottery Barn Rule - Belabouring a Metaphor

"If you break it then you've bought it;" so we've all been told.

Even though the cost is high (and I ain't talking gold.)

Even when the thing was damaged long before we came;

Even if it isn't - ever - gonna be the same.

It's not like we were not warned 11 years ago

That the thing could shatter into pieces...  Now we know

It's not just a single item that we went and broke;

We've brought down the whole damn store in flames and toxic smoke.

Now the rats are scurrying throughout the neighborhood;

We're obliged to go back in and clean them out for good.

But, while we are hunting them, let's try hard not to make

Any major purchases of something else we break.

Whacking Moles

Critics are complaining that Obama's stated goal -

Going after ISIL - is like playing "Whack a Mole."

First we hit al Qaeda hard - invade Afghanistan;

Hit again when they reorganize in Pakistan.

Hammer them in Africa; they pop up in Iraq.

When they crawl out of their holes we take another whack.

'though the critics have a point, it isn't quite the same...

These moles want to hurt us and the fight is not a game.

True, these guys are vermin who we'll have to hunt and kill

And this infestation will keep spreading there until

Countries in the region put their differences aside;

Muslim leaders find a way to heal their great divide.

If they cannot pull together things will fall apart...

Still, our coalition to fight ISIL is a start.

Enemies of enemies could, possibly, be friends;

That's the only way extremist terrorism ends.

Dear Mr. President; Wish You Were Here?

Should have stayed in Massachusetts, Mr. President;

Here, on Martha's Vineyard, where your 2 weeks "off" were spent.

Skies are blue and cloudless and the weather's, finally, warm...

But you're back in Washington and face a nasty storm.

Tear gas clouds from Ferguson are drifting down your way;

Turbulence across the pond as borders start to fray,

Plague winds out of Africa, a Middle Eastern front,

With you at the epicenter - where you'll bear the brunt

Of the rain of fecal matter critics throw at you,

Blustering in outrage at 'most anything you do.

Come on back to Massachusetts.  Stay 'til Labor Day.

(I'd still be exhausted...  That's a lot of golf you play.)

Not as if you don't deserve it.  If we're keeping score,

You've had less vacation time than most who came before.

Not as if you're really out of touch so don't feel bad...

W. took twice as many days as you have had.

Across the Pond - You Gotta Know When to Fold 'em

Israel, on Sunday, proved - again - they never bluff.

Seemingly decided that their hand was strong enough.

Syria had weapons which Assad might choose to share;

Fateh missiles - difficult to shoot out of the air.

'though they won't confirm the rumors, we are pretty sure

Israel bombed Syria - not once, but twice - to cure

Any apprehensions they were feeling towards that threat.

Were I the Iranians, I'd start to hedge my bet.

Israel's not playing 'cause, for them, it's not a game

And they've made it very clear that they would do the same

To Iran as "someone" did to Assad's weapons yards...

If I were the Ayatollah, I would fold my cards.

The 113th Congress - Kick the Can

Photo/Cognidissidence.blogspot.com

When I was a little girl we all played Kick the Can;

Someone kicked one down the road and everybody ran.

Person who was "It" then had to run and bring it back,

Put it somewhere safe and then protect it from attack.

Then he had to go and hunt the other players down;

Chase them anywhere they chose to hide throughout the town.

If the person tagged you then you're caught and you were jailed

'til somebody kicked the can again and you high-tailed.

One thing I remember is the "It" job really stunk...

Turn your back for just a minute on the can? You're sunk.

Congress also seems to thrive on playing childish games.

G.O.P., aware that they're who everybody blames,

Chose to kick debt ceiling controversy down the road,

Meaning our economy remains in "stand-by" mode.

You can never win a game like that - which isn't fun.

Congress needs to grow up now. There's work that must get done.

Lies, Lies, and More Lies.

People tell each other lies and most of us get caught.

People lying to themselves (and who of us has not?)

We can always justify our lies if given time.

Think we've got it covered until someone drops a dime.

Lance and Manti Te'o - on a very public stage 

(Everywhere I look they're splashed across someone's front page)

Victims and the perpetrators caught up in deceit.

Facts in both their cases are still somewhat incomplete.

I am torn on this 'cause Manti Te'o's just a kid.

Kids are known for doing stupid stuff...  I'm sure I did.

Armstrong? Here, I find myself reminded of Claude Rains;

Shocked that Rick's  has gambling while raking in his gains.

Maybe we should let it go.  We know that both men lied.

Held a public hanging before anyone was tried.

Both now face a future in which neither one is trusted.

Lies can turn around and bite your ass...  And then, you're busted.

The 113th Congress - The Party's Over

I guess it's too much to ask that Congress do its job.

They're too busy moaning that the President's a snob;

Doesn't hang around with them or have them in for drinks,

Doesn't seem to care what Mitch McConnell really  thinks.

Hey! I love a party just as much as anyone;

And I know that, sometimes, they're a way to get things done.

Sometimes, though, a Party only wastes the People's time.

Right now, the Republicans - the subject of this rhyme -

In a fit of pique have said, if they don't get their way,
They won't foot the bill for debts that we're obliged to pay.

Neither side is speaking now; they won't negotiate.

Party's almost over folks.  It's getting pretty late.

Speaking as a hostess who's had more than just a few

Parties, let me tell you what the Congress needs to do;

Put a pot of coffee on.  Sit down and share a cup.

Those folks are our drivers and it's time they sobered up.

The 113th Congress - A Sisterhood of Senators?

Twenty women Senators...  I guess that it's a start.

Mustn't get excited; put the horse before the cart.

Just because they're women doesn't mean they'll all agree.

Still, I'm very glad that Warren's representing me.

She might soon be senior in a funny twist of fate.

Kerry, if confirmed, will leave to take the reins at State.

(Barney Frank would like his job, but doesn't want to run.

As of now, in recent polls, Scott Brown is number one.)

As the Senior Senator from Massachusetts, she

Steps into the shoes once filled by Teddy Kennedy.

Warren's smart; she'll learn the moves for Senate cloakroom deals,

And, like 19 others, she'll be making them in heels.

The 112th Congress - Making Sausage

Cartoon by Christopher Weyant of The Hill and The New Yorker

Politicking, posturing - they pander to the press.

Every day the two sides drifting further from success.

Racing towards the fiscal cliff like lemmings to the sea,

Leaving me concerned we've got a broken polity.

Maybe this is sausage making and I shouldn't look;

Simply close my eyes and hope that I can trust the cook.

Even should I choose that course, I fear the markets won't.

I may trust the government; the Dow and NASDAQ don't.

They don't think that, privately, there's progress being made

As their hopes that we'll avoid the cliff begin to fade.

Congress may  produce a tasty sausage we can try,

But it looks like not before we see pigs learn to fly.