Flashback to that storied time in America....
Update 12-12-23: Former House Speaker Paul Ryan refers to Trump as a "populist, authoritarian narcissist."
Update 1-2-24: As for Trump's tall tales about voter fraud, they are clearly lies. Donald was once a frequent flyer on Jeffrey Epstein's private jet, as was Bill Clinton.
Update 1-25-24: Trump prematurely launched his dictator when he threatened Nikki Haley donors.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed Americans for Prosperity as “the political arm of the China-first, America-last movement.”
“No amount of shady money from George Soros, Democrats and Never-Trump RINOs in partnership with endless-war swamp creatures in Washington will stop the MAGA movement or President Trump from being the Republican nominee and defeating Crooked Joe Biden,” Cheung wrote in a statement responding to the Haley endorsement.
Somebody's undergoing Koch withdrawal. That's alot of villains to pack into one statement.
The author of TrumpNation wrote:
Trump once told me, while driving together to one of his golf courses, that his favorite Bond villain was Auric Goldfinger, the chunky thug who wanted to wreck the global economy and help China and his own fortunes by tainting the U.S.’s gold supply at Fort Knox. “I thought Goldfinger was just a great character,” Trump said. “To me, he was the best of all the characters. Semi-believable.”
Goldfinger's enforcer butler "Odd Job" could fell opponents with the toss of a hat. We'll see if Steven Cheung has similar skills.
Trump's ceaseless pursuit of power and money feels like an old movie. It'd be nice if people let him do that on his own, but their are swamp creatures in Washington that need the money.
Update 2-6-24: A sling of the hat towards the D.C. Circuit Court for ruling against Trump's Presidential lifetime immunity claims.
Trump's weekend included calls for sweeping raids, giant camps and mass deportations. It also included calling his political enemies vermin, a page out of the Hitler/Mussolini playbook.
Historian John Meacham stated:
"to call your opponent vermin, to dehumanize them, is to not only open the door, but to walk through the door toward the most ghastly kinds of crimes.”A Trump spokesperson defended his boss with:
“Those who try to make that ridiculous assertion are clearly snowflakes grasping for anything because they are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome and their entire existence will be crushed when President Trump returns to the White House.”
The spokesperson later amended his statement:
“their sad, miserable existence will be crushed”
Really? That's your improvement. It's kind of sad and miserable...
The U.S. made considerable fun of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini back in the day. Charlie Chaplain's The Great Dictator saw him playing Hynkel:
The message is that Hynkel is not a brilliant strategist or a mighty leader. He is an overgrown adolescent – as demonstrated in the sublime set piece in which he dances with an inflatable globe, dreaming of being "emperor of the world". He is an insecure buffoon who bluffs, cheats, obsesses over his public image, manhandles his secretaries, revels in the luxury of his extravagant quarters, and reverses his own key policies in order to buy himself more time in power. "To me, the funniest thing in the world is to ridicule impostors," wrote Chaplin in his autobiography, "and it would be hard to find a bigger impostor than Hitler."
Trump's values are political retribution, personal aggrandizement, lying, cheating and saying whatever he believes will optimize his image in the present moment, even if it's the exact opposite of something he said just minutes before. That also entails projecting his sins onto his political foes with nary a care, not even the slightest reflection. His mirror tells him one thing. Trump's the greatest of them all....
The Trump of today is far more dangerous than the man who said "We're going to march to the Capital and I'll be there with you..." His retaliatory impulses are on steroids and he plans to enact retribution without restraints.
He's a poor fit for democracy. Please don't destroy.....
Update 11-15-23: Trump called for the citizen's arrest of the New York Attorney General and Judge presiding over his civil fraud trial.
Update 11-26-23: Red Team Senator Mitt Romney called for nearly anyone over Trump.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) signaled that nearly any candidate in the 2024 field, of either party, would be an “upgrade” over another term for former President Trump.
“I’d be happy to support virtually any one of the Republicans — maybe not Vivek [Ramaswamy] — but the others that are running would be acceptable to me, and I’d be happy to vote for them.”
The billionaire class seems to be coalescing behind Nikki Haley.
Update 12-3-23: Trump said "We've been waging an all-out war on American democracy" in a campaign speech.
Update 12-7-23: Trump's minions have plans of the Insane Red variety. His revenge tour could be enacted by a number of wingnuts.
The UFC demographic is 90% male and 10% female. The "highest chunk of UFC viewers who regularly tune in to events is between 25 to 54 years old, with the highest percentage belonging to the 25 to 35 age bracket."
Donald Trump is interested in mobilizing young males with little interest in politics.
I was not aware UFC set the standard for classy behavior.
UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis was arrested Oct. 25 and charged with reckless driving after police allegedly recorded him driving 136 miles per hour in a 50-mph zone, according to Harris County (Texas) court records.
UFC star Conor McGregor was arrested after a rampage at a UFC event.
Video footage appears to show the promotion’s most bankable star throwing a hand truck at a bus full of fighters after a Thursday news conference for UFC 223 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
McGregor was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief.
A former UFC star was arrested for choking out a boxer on Bourbon Street.
I would suggest Mrs. Burr's behavior fits clearly within the UFC framework and she won the skirmish.
Update 11-16-23: Trump's lawyer Alina Habba wore a "f__k Joe Biden" necklace to the UFC fight show. Now that's UFC class!
Intentional death, wounding, destruction and the debilitating conditions of war are inhumane. Our leaders want to automate war. Will they automate ignoring the will of the people too?
Update 11-12-23: On Face the Nation National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Israel is "searching for ways" to keep Gaza City hospital patients safe. How about not attacking them?
Sullivan spoke after Margaret Brennan interviewed the head of Doctors Without Borders. The doctor described non-functioning hospitals jammed with sick babies and post surgical patients.
Gaza hospitals need to be evacuated to functioning hospitals in the region. That's what a humane international community would do. Anything otherwise (what Jake said) is purposeful death and further disability.
I'm sure Sullivan spoke forcefully about Russia's attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities and the killing of medical workers. Sullivan told CNN's Fareed Zakharia:
Russia continues to show every single day that it is acting in monstrous ways.
The U.S. public sees America whitewashing Israel's actions, the very same ones for which we condemn Russia. It's not a good look.
Disclosure: I helped evacuate two hospitals, one completely inoperable from flooding and the other prior to a Category 5 hurricane. I can attest inoperable hospitals need to be evacuated ASAP and to the difficulty of moving hospitalized patients in a limited time frame. Neither of those evacuations was in a war zone.
Update 1-7-24: U.S. foreign policy is driven by corporate interests, not public will.
There are perhaps a thousand key individuals involved in setting policy. The public interest plays little role.
Update 4-5-24: The world is horrified by the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Jesse's Crossroads Cafe wrote:
Over 30,000 innocent civilians and 196 aid workers have been systematically targeted and murdered in Gaza in this ongoing act of ethnic cleansing. The aid workers and food convoys are being targeted to promote the starvation of a civilian population. Their lies and phony claims are disgraceful, and transparent to the rest of the world. Yesterday's strike that targeted seven Western aid workers has finally provoked a response. More misery and pain is being inflicted in the West Bank, in what can only be said as a 'grab for land' of other people.
" How do you face people and tell them we couldn’t do our job?”
After three weeks of futility the Red Team finally selected a leader. Applause....
Next up, funding the government. Trump wanted a shutdown. Will "MAGA Mike" give the former president what he wants?
I suggest the new Speaker cover his genitals.
Update 10-28-23: I expect significant dysfunction in Congress under Johnson's Speakership. By the time 2024 rolls around most people may be too disgusted to vote. And that may be the plan.
Update 10-31-23: The House will pass a bunch of bills that go nowhere (but provide campaign slogans). They have eighteen days to do their job funding the government.
Update 11-2-23: The Insane Red Team is back at work. They told Sean Hannity that job #1 is to impeach President Biden. Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney said having Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House is dangerous to our democracy. Red Team Congressman Ken Buck said ""Too many Republican leaders are lying to America" in reference to election denialism and the January 6th insurrection. He plans to retire and not seek reelection. A vote to expel George Santos from the House failed. Incurious George gloated.
Israel is yet to let 500-600 American citizens leave Gaza. Hamas pretended to have "governing its priority" while it planned its horrific terror attack.
President Biden visited Israel and said the hospital bombing came from "the other team," as if describing events at a football game. Biden is physically in Israel, not far from U.S. citizens trapped in Gaza. How is our close ally not letting them leave?
As for aid the U.S. and Israel "agreed to develop a plan that will enable..." Inspiring? Definitely not.
The common person is not a priority of those in power. We do get the fallout from their retaliatory impulses. Seeing widespread death and destruction is heartbreaking.
Update 11-12-23: On Face the Nation National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Israel is "searching for ways" to keep Gaza City hospital patients safe. How about not attacking them?
Sullivan spoke after Margaret Brennan interviewed the head of Doctors Without Borders. The doctor described non-functioning hospitals jammed with sick babies and post surgical patients.
Gaza hospitals need to be evacuated to functioning hospitals in the region. That's what a humane international community would do. Anything otherwise (what Jake said) is purposeful death and further disability.
I'm sure Sullivan spoke forcefully about Russia's attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities and the killing of medical workers. Sullivan told CNN's Fareed Zakharia:
Russia continues to show every single day that it is acting in monstrous ways.
The U.S. public sees America whitewashing Israel's actions, the very same ones for which we condemn Russia. It's not a good look.
Update 11-13-23: The Guardian has a piece on the situation at one Gaza hospital. It's a nightmare. NBC News reported:
U.S. President Joe Biden said Shifa hospital “ must be protected ” and called for “less intrusive action” by Israeli forces.
It's more than a little late....
Update 11-15-23: 100 State Department officials signed a letter regarding Israel's war with Gaza, calling it genocide and citing war crimes under international law. The letter stated President Biden is complicit with genocide.
Update 11-19-23: WHO called Gaza hospital a death zone.
Update 4-5-24: The world is horrified by the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Jesse's Crossroads Cafe wrote:
Over 30,000 innocent civilians and 196 aid workers have been systematically targeted and murdered in Gaza in this ongoing act of ethnic cleansing. The aid workers and food convoys are being targeted to promote the starvation of a civilian population. Their lies and phony claims are disgraceful, and transparent to the rest of the world. Yesterday's strike that targeted seven Western aid workers has finally provoked a response. More misery and pain is being inflicted in the West Bank, in what can only be said as a 'grab for land' of other people.
AP reported:
Over 180,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are packed into U.N. shelters as Israeli warplanes pound the tiny territory of 2.3 million people after their Hamas militant rulers launched an unprecedented weekend attack on Israel.
NPR reported:
All of the Gaza Strip's borders are closed, leaving Palestinian civilians with nowhere to escape and around a tenth of Gaza's population of about 2.3 million people internally displaced seeking shelter. Gaza has been under a blockade by Israel and Egypt for 16 years.
Reuters reported:
Egypt is moving to avert a mass exodus from the Gaza Strip into its Sinai Peninsula, as Israeli bombardment halted crossings at the main exit point from the Palestinian enclave on Tuesday, Gaza officials and Egyptian security sources said.Insider reported:
Israel dropped bombs near a Gaza border crossing full of civilians following officials' advice to flee.
International humanitarian law requires warmakers to follow specific rules. Hamas did not follow those rules and will reap what they've sown with their horrific attack.
That said, 2.3 million people in Gaza are not all Hamas. Currently, they are prisoners on an eventual death row.
The conditions of war kill more people than bombs or bullets. How many innocent people will die as a result of being trapped in a war zone?
Update 10-13-23: Israel ordered more than a million people to leave the northern half of the Gaza Strip within 24 hours. The United Nations and other organizations warned of a disaster if so many people were forced to flee.
Israel gave a Gaza hospital two hours to evacuate (before giving the hospital the night to clear out).
Terrorist Hamas called for a global day of rage. Man's inhumanity to man is front and center. Lord help us all. Protect us from horrible leaders who perpetuate violence against innocent persons.
Lord grant us a global day of peace, then a week, a month and a year. Provide us leaders who will work together to solve the many problems we face. Our hearts are broken over all the death and destruction.
Update 10-14-23: NYT reported:
John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said that Israel’s blockade was for now preventing the American government from transporting its citizens out of Gaza. He said that the White House was in talks with Israel and Egypt about the safe passage of civilians out of Gaza, including Americans, but that no breakthrough had been reached.
“Right now, they — they can’t leave. So, we would have no physical means of permitting that transit out,” Mr. Kirby said. U.S. officials estimated that 500 to 600 American citizens were in Gaza.
U.S. citizens in Gaza cannot get out. And this is from an ally? It shows every one of us is expendable.
Update 10-15-23: As for helping people get out of hellscapes there is recent history (May 2022). "______ stressed the imperative of enabling humanitarian access and evacuations from besieged areas." Chris Hedges points out razing Gaza is the objective.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind...
Update 10-16-23: There is no ceasefire for aid to enter Gaza.
Update 10-18-23: Hundreds of Palestinians were killed when a bomb struck a hospital in Gaza. It's important to know whose bomb it was. President Biden said it was "the other team." Really, that's what you have for the American people? It's not a $%#@ football game. American citizens are trapped in stinking charnel house.
Update 10-26-23: If Palestinians were Ukrainians the U.S. would be apoplectic that people couldn't leave an active war zone. Israel has used collective punishment for decades. It's more than an eye for an eye, it's ten Palestinian eyes for an Israeli eye. Fox News had someone on who said all Palestinians in Gaza are Hamas. That person wants 1,000 Palesinian eyes for an Israeli eye.
Update 10-29-23: Business Insider reported:
A French diplomat offered:
"Hamas has set a trap for us, and this trap is one of maximum horror, of maximum cruelty. And so there's a risk of an escalation in militarism, of more military interventions, as if we could with armies solve a problem as serious as the Palestinian question.
There's also a second major trap, which is that of Occidentalism. We find ourselves trapped, with Israel, in this western bloc which today is being challenged by most of the international community.
The debate shouldn't be about rhetoric or word choice. The debate today is about action; we must act. And when you think about action, there are two options. Either it's war, war, war. Or it's about trying to move towards peace, and I'll say it again, it's in Israel's interest. It's in Israel's interest!"
Update 10-30-23:
Update 10-31-23: Former President Trump said:
“If you spill a drop of American blood, we will spill a gallon of yours.”
He upped the ratio: for every one drop of American blood, Trump would take 15,140 drops of the attacker's blood.
Israel bombed a Gaza refugee camp to kill a senior Hamas commander:
At least six airstrikes hit residential areas in the Jabalia refugee camp on Gaza City’s outskirts on Tuesday, killing more than 50 people and injuring about 150 people.
A UNICEF spokesperson said:
“The numbers are appalling,” said a Unicef spokesperson, James Elder. “Gaza has become a graveyard for thousands of children. It’s a living hell for everyone else.”
Update 11-1-23: U.S. Senator says there are no limits to Israel's revenge:
Now what has Graham said about innocent people killed in Ukraine?
Update 11-6-23: Bill Ackman spoke to CNBC about his concerns regarding speech on Harvard's campus. Jordan's Queen Rania shared her thoughts about the horrific Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
People can protest the killing of innocent civilians and not be pro-terrorist.
Update 11-8-23: The intractable nature of the conflict can be heard in this video.
Update 1-7-24: Only 15% of Israelis want Netanyahu to stay Prime Minister after the Gaza War ends.
Update 1-14-24: Over 50% of Gaza buildings have been damaged or destroyed. That rises to 80% for building-s in North Gaza.
Update 1-18-24: Israeli citizens raising concerns over Gaza deaths have been jailed.
Update 1-20-24: System Update takes on South Africa's genocide claims against Israel in Gaza. Sky News reported on Catholic Church deaths in Gaza.
Update 1-26-24: The Executive Director of Chatham House challenged Israel's heavy handed response to the Hamas terrorist attack. How long before some billionaire calls that person anti-Semitic?
Update 3-2-24: The U.S. vetoed a UN resolution condemning the killing of Gazans seeking aid from food trucks.
Update 3-3-24: The U.S. airdropped food and water into North Gaza.
Update 3-7-24: More deaths in war are caused by the conditions of war, not direct fighting. This long known fact has been ignored by world leaders. Famine, starvation, dehydration....are predictable. Yet, no one saw it coming..... This is the horse hockey shoveled onto the masses.
Update 3-14-24: Israel attacked an aid station in Rafah, killing people seeking food and water.
Update 3-19-24: The current razing of Gaza prompted a suggestion from Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner that waterfront property be developed. Of course the Palestinians would have to go. Does that mean offshore oil/gas rights go to the new waterfront property holders?
Update 4-5-24: The world is horrified by the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza. Jesse's Crossroads Cafe wrote:
Over 30,000 innocent civilians and 196 aid workers have been systematically targeted and murdered in Gaza in this ongoing act of ethnic cleansing. The aid workers and food convoys are being targeted to promote the starvation of a civilian population. Their lies and phony claims are disgraceful, and transparent to the rest of the world. Yesterday's strike that targeted seven Western aid workers has finally provoked a response. More misery and pain is being inflicted in the West Bank, in what can only be said as a 'grab for land' of other people.
Many U.S. citizens are disgusted by politics. The brief relief from a bipartisan effort to keep the government operational ended when members of the Insane Red Team took out their own Speaker. The Red Team thought they had the weekend to recover from excess emotions that could have resulted in fisticuffs. They didn't get that opportunity.
Hamas launched a series of deadly attacks from Gaza against Israel. The attack occurred during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war. Over 900 people are reported dead.
President Biden declared it a terrorist attack and promised full U.S. support for Israel.
The President of the Arab League flew to Moscow to update Russian President Vladimir Putin. Saudi Arabia and Qatar blamed Israel for the violence.
Hundreds are dead and thousands are injured at leaders choose violence, death and destruction as means to accomplish their ends.
Israel will wipe out Gaza as players in the region pick sides. Last week was sad. Today and the coming week will be tragic and horrific.
Surely we can do better.
Update 10-13-23: It's been ten days since the Insane division of the political Red Team ousted their leader after he did not shut down the government. The clown car continues to spin and throw out candidates. Meanwhile, Israel asked 1 million people in Gaza to leave the northern portion of the Gaza strip for a pending ground invasion.
Update 10-17-23: Insane Red Jim Jordan is up for Speaker of the House. Jordan helped plan the January 6th insurrection.
Update 10-18-23: Jordan wants the speakership without delay and is utilizing tactics rarely seen since "the Hammer" Tom DeLay served as House Majority Leader. I lived in DeLay's Congressional district for five years.
Update 10-19-23: The next Speakerama continues as Jim Jordan seeks to cancel vote number three as vote two showed increased opposition. Thug tactics mean the total votes against could rise further in a third vote.
Jordan wants the third vote back on.
Update 10-21-23: Trump style bullying backfires on Jim Jordan. Can the Insane Red Team recover?
Update 10-23-23: An overwhelming 67% of Americans say the House should elect a speaker as soon as possible
Update 10-24-23: Speaker candidate #3 pulled out of the race. The Insane Red backdoor government shutdown continues as it enters its fourth week. The public is not pleased.
The symbolic petit four lasted but a few days before Rep. Matt Gaetz unleashed his acrimonious norovirus motion to vacate the Speaker of the House. His verbal diarrhea landed in spurts on the House floor. Now the House must be closed for cleaning.
Update 10-8-23: The House will reopen....?
Update 10-18-23: The House is yet to reopen as areas around world choose terrorism and violence. The current nominee for House Speaker is a leader of the Jan. 6th insurrection who refused to testify before the committee investigating that disturbing day.
The House can do no business on behalf of the American people until it elects a new speaker. The Insane Reds didn't get to shut down all of government but they did the next best thing. They paralyzed the House of Representatives, already behind the clock and under pressure to perform the people's business.
Former President "Bone Spurs" remained on the sidelines of this fight. He does like to watch when things get particularly gory.
We'll see what attack dog Matt Gaetz does with his pound of McCarthy flesh. I expect he'll sell it on Ebay. The price will be higher if he takes the time to autograph it. Matt's handlers will have to get it out of his mouth first.
Insane Red Team Lauren Boebert and her date were evicted from a Denver theater for vaping and being disruptive (not following theater rules). Boebert denied she had vaped during the production of Beetlejuice.
Video shows Boebert vaping. As one character said in the movie:
“You have got to take the upper hand in all situations or people, whether they’re dead or alive, will walk all over you.”
And the upper hand includes bald faced lying. That's Bill Clinton worthy.
Update 9-16-23: Boebert and her date groped each other during the play. He is seen fondling her breasts and she has her hand in his crotch. This video didn't lie.
Update 9-17-23: Fresh off grabbing her date's crotch during a public play for children over ten and adults, Insane Red Boebert landed a speaking slot at a conservative youth conference. The Texas Youth Summit is based on Judeo-Christian values.
CNN visited Farmville, Virginia to learn more about internet music sensation Oliver Anthony (Chris Lunsford). They didn't talk with Chris/Oliver directly but spoke with those who've helped the overnight sensation.
One thing is clear, Chris is his own man
A round of applause for that.
Disclosure: I grew up in Richmond, Virginia (for whatever that's worth) and worked in Farmville early in my career. I have relatives in the area and celebrated our mother's birthday with a lunch at the North Street Press Room prior to Chris' breaking the internet. I've waited to learn more about the singer before opining and am glad I did. His song resonates with the masses (which titillates the money-changers and power addicts.) I have a feeling Chris will be difficult for them to use.
Update 9-12-23: Chris/Oliver cancelled a concert in Tennessee over ticket prices.
Chris/Oliver told fans on social media not to buy tickets to his scheduled concert on Sept. 27 because they were $90 and $200 for a meet and greet. "That's not acceptable." "These are supposed to be affordable shows."
Update 9-22-23: Chris/Oliver signed with a Nashville based agent.
A number of former Trump confidantes reacted to the former President's mug shot.
Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan tore into Donald Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, slamming the former president as having the “moral compass” of an “ax murderer.”
I'll add "Creep 215" to the mix of characterizations. 215 is Trump's weight class, which makes him a "cruiser-weight" fighter.
Update 9-1-23: Trump's lawyer spoke of her client's amoral nature, before attempting a correction:
“He doesn’t do what’s popular or what’s right....”
Update 9-12-23: Trump has been orchestrating the House impeachment inquiry for President Joe Biden. "Pele" is trying to advance the impeachment ball into the hole and foot wedges don't count.
Update 9-15-23: A Red Team elected official said of Trump:
"[Trump] has none of the qualities you would want in a president, and all of the qualities you wouldn’t.”
Senate Majority Leaders Mitch McConnell called Trump an idiot. A former Trump attorney cited his "malignant narcissistic tendency to simply say that he’s never done anything wrong.”
"Bone Spurs" Trump said Red Team member Mitt Romney failed "to serve with distinction."
Update 9-17-23: Cruiser weight Trump lied countless times in a 60 Minutes interview with Kristen Welker.
Update 9-26-23: "Creep 215" turned tin horn dictator with his assertions the former Joint Chiefs of Staff General Milley deserves to be executed.
Update 9-28-23: People standing behind "Creep 215" as he gave a speech at a nonunion auto parts plant held signs that misrepresented, i.e. lied about their actual status.
A retired four star general referred to Trump and his rabid followers as a "lawless cult" and a "parallel to the 1930s in Nazi Germany."
Update 9-29-23: Former Trump advisor John Bolton is concerned a second Trump term would result in a constitutional crisis given Creep 215's pattern of ignoring the law and the U.S. Constitution.
A Trump ally accidentally referred to the former President as "President Chump."
Update 10-3-23: "Creep 215" took offense at late night hosts cracking jokes at his expense. President Chump has a glass jaw when it comes to humor. One shot and he crumbles.
Gen. John Kelly reinforced Trump's villain image with his assessment of his former boss. It ended with "God help us."
Trump believes nothing can break him. I suggest a dedicated supporter calling him "President Chump" might be the crack in the dam.
Former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson wrote in her book, "Donald Trump is the most grave threat we will face to our democracy in our lifetime, and potentially in American history."
President Chump played a solo game of Shark vs. Electrocution during a campaign speech.
Update 10-5-23: President Chump threw food once or twice a week.
Update 10-6-23: The age of Trump is a horror movie that is quickly turning into a very dark comedy. I got a belly laugh when his name was mentioned for Speaker of the House. Trump couldn't do the work. He's not capable.
Trump did spill nuclear submarine secrets to an Australian billionaire at Mar-a-Lago. The billionaire then told 45 people who told....
Update 10-7-23: Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said of President Chump:
"I believe political leaders should strive to be honest, ethical and moral people and should try to set a standard for the rest of the country. Donald Trump doesn’t do any of that. He frankly does the opposite of that. That’s one of the reasons why I think he’s unfit for office.”
Update 10-28-23: The majority of the Red political team now says Trump never tried to overturn the election. I think its on video folks.
Update 11-1-23: HuffPo reported:
Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele on Tuesday warned Republicans who are failing to denounce violent rhetoric that they’ll eventually become targets, too.
Update 11-11-23: Billionaire Peter Thiel had this to say about his past support for Donald Trump:
“There are a lot of things I got wrong,” he acknowledged. “It was crazier than I thought. It was more dangerous than I thought. They couldn’t get the most basic pieces of the government to work. So that was—I think that part was maybe worse than even my low expectations.”
Update 1-11-24: Trump said the sole reason the stock market is doing well is because he is leading in the polls.
Update 2-22-24: Trump daughter in law suggested Red Team voters would like their campaign donations to pay the former President's legal bills and judgments. Yes, this is a blatant conflict of interest given Donald is the titular head of the Insane Reds and plan to install Lara as co-chair of the RNC.
Update 3-19-24: Trump christened his new moniker, "honest Don" in an effort to educate the populace on the meaning of oxymoron. Oh and he flip flopped on the Jan. 6th rioters. Strangely, nobody cares that a petty, vengeful, easily distracted, sexual predator has a shot at returning to our country's seat of power. The list of former Trump aides working against that very notion continues to grow.
Trump's campaign has gone full delusional with its portrayal of Jan. 6th. The televised horror of that day is seared in my mind. Trump celebrates his cult of violence and for that America suffers..
A friend encouraged me to wait and not judge the singer or the song "Rich Men North of Richmond." I'm glad I did.
It's all about the human spirit. I couldn't agree with him more.
Update 8-26-23: Laying in bed early this morning a song ran through my head:
"...'cuz I'm a self-servin', stock tradin' member of Congress..."
Update 8-27-23: Oliver added via tweet:
“I. Don’t. Support. Either. Side. Politically. Not the left, not the right. I'm about supporting people and restoring local communities. Now, go breath some fresh air and relax. Please? :) I’m not worth obsessing over, I promise. Go spend time with your loved ones.”
Update 8-28-23: Blue Team Senator Chris Murphy scolded his party for its negative reaction to Chris/Oliver and his smash hit song. It behooves one to know something before saying something.
Update 9-12-23: Chris/Oliver cancelled a concert in Tennessee over ticket prices.
Chris/Oliver told fans on social media not to buy tickets to his scheduled concert on Sept. 27 because they were $90 and $200 for a meet and greet. "That's not acceptable." "These are supposed to be affordable shows."
Update 9-22-23: Chris/Oliver signed with a Nashville based agent.
Update 3-26-24: Oliver Anthony will play in at Cook's Garage in Lubbock on April 6th.
F-acebook message from Oliver Anthony, singer of "Rich Men North of Richmond."
Update 8-19-23: "Nothing terrifies people who only have money more than a person who cannot be bought."
The Farmville Herald did their part to share Chris/Oliver's Facebook posting.
Update 8-20-23: Chris/Oliver's manager spoke on his newly famous client. Chris/Oliver sings of the forgotten man and one columnist encouraged politicians not to ignore that widely shared sentiment.
Update 8-23-23: Country music radio may or may not welcome Oliver's smash hit. Variety suggests not, but it gets to song title wrong later in its article, referring to it as “Rich Men Up in Richmond.”
Oliver's lived life has him appreciating the diversity in our country and he lamented its use as a political tool to separate. The man is authentic and it will piss off those lining up to use him. As for those "Rich Men North of Richmond," they are winning.
Update 8-25-23: The "Rich Men" used Chris/Oliver's song as a prop during the Insane Red Team debate. Chris/Oliver said he found that "funny" and "aggravating" as he'd written the song about them (politicians of all political stripes).
The video of his performance at the North Street Press Club is worth the listen.
37:08: "And the Republicans and Democrats, Lord I swear they're all just full of crap"
Update 8-28-23: Blue Team Senator Chris Murphy scolded his party for its negative reaction to Chris/Oliver and his smash hit song. It behooves one to know something before saying something.
Update 9-22-23: Chris/Oliver signed with a Nashville based agent.
Update 3-26-24: Oliver Anthony will play in at Cook's Garage in Lubbock on April 6th.
Oliver cited his political neutrality in a video. I will take Oliver at his word. That said, the Red Political Team quickly embraced his song.
Insane Red Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted.
“This is the anthem of the forgotten Americans who truly support this nation and unfortunately the world with their hard-earned tax dollars and incredibly hard work."
The singer worked third shift in a North Carolina factory and found that experience wanting. Greene's district comes close to the Georgia-North Carolina line but does not meet it.
Greene may wish to listen to Oliver's words about workers not being paid fairly for hard work over long hours. Marjorie purchased Taylor Construction in 2002. Employee reviews on Glassdoor include:
...plan on working 6 days a week and over 65 hours a week drive time and mileage
Fast pace work and not enough time to take a break
There is absolutely no chance of advancement
Long Hours, Emergency work alot
...do not stand by there word
Many people will want to co-opt Oliver Anthony's message for personal or political gain.
Oliver said in a different video "You people are crazy" before inviting those close by to his performance at a Currituck, North Carolina Farmers' Market. He also said he was going to take things slow and it might be a while before anyone hears from him.
Oliver has the attention of the Rich Men North of Richmond. He also has the attention of the country. What will he do with it?
His next song may be "It's Hard to Be Yourself when Everyone Wants a Piece of You."
Update: ZeroHedge wrote Oliver is living in Appalachia. Sorry, Farmville is in the Piedmont of Virginia, not Appalachia. I worked in Farmville for a time in the 80's and recently celebrated my mother's 89th birthday in a Farmville restaurant with family. I will do a post on aspects of that trip later. Oliver deserves time and space before I write it.
Update 8-14-23: Oliver's faith is clearly a key aspect in his life. He may wish to consider the Rev. Billy Graham grew to regret the time he spent in the political arena. He said that time would have been better spent being with family or preaching the gospel.
Adam Taggert of Wealthion created a video on the sudden, massive embrace of Oliver's message. It's titled "Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' is the War Cry the Working Class Has Been Waiting For." Adam posited Oliver might be the next Bob Dylan or Joan Baez. I hope Adam is right.
Update 8-15-23: The enigma that is Oliver Anthony continues to captivate the U.S. Variety wrote about the instant smash:
But for others who consider the demographics of where Anthony comes from, region-wise if not so much subgenre-wise, it’s not so startling to hear Appalachian music that takes a rightward view.
They could have picked up on the timeless presence of the young singer, whose lyrics have as much gravel and grit as his voice, or his charm and innocence as he thumbs his way through social media that jars with a Blue Ridge Mountain life otherwise unmarked by modernity.”
Farmville is not in Appalachia, like Tazewell or Big Stone Gap. I find it odd that the Appalachia narrative continues to be foisted on Oliver Anthony.
Maybe Oliver was raised in Appalachia or his factory work in North Carolina was in that region. There is very little information on Oliver's life before instant stardom. It will be interesting to learn more about the person.
Mashable added a little to the sparse file on Oliver Anthony. I expected a story on Oliver in the Farmville Herald but nothing yet.
Update 8-16-23: COOPWB reported:
Born and raised in the charming town of Farmville, Virginia, Oliver Anthony has always been deeply rooted in his love for music. His undeniable talent and dedication led him to Nashville in 2021, where he embarked on a quest to make his mark in the country music scene.
There is a disclaimer at the end of the article in regard to its veracity.
Update 8-17-23: Oliver is playing at the North Street Press Club on August 23rd. The restaurant holds 300 and tickets are sold out.
The restaurant manager said:
“He’s a local guy. He’s performed here before. He’s from here,” Dowdy said. “People are happy for him."
Organizers said, “In his own words, Oliver is about writing songs and petting dogs. Let that be the vibe you bring with you should you choose to attend this historic event. It is the biggest thing to hit Farmville since the rail road arrived.”
Update 8-22-23: Billy Bragg released "Rich Men Earning North of a Million" in response to Oliver's hit.
Update 8-25-23: The "Rich Men" used Chris/Oliver's song as a prop during the Insane Red Team debate. Chris/Oliver said he found that "funny" and "aggravating" as he'd written the song about them (politicians of all political stripes).
The video of his performance at the North Street Press Club is worth the listen.
37:08: "And the Republicans and Democrats, Lord I swear they're all just full of crap"
Update 8-28-23: Blue Team Senator Chris Murphy scolded his party for its negative reaction to Chris/Oliver and his smash hit song. It behooves one to know something before saying something.
Update 9-22-23: Chris/Oliver signed with a Nashville based agent.
Update 3-26-24: Oliver Anthony will play in at Cook's Garage in Lubbock on April 6th.
Jesus offered a different eye related teaching, one that involves self reflection and possibly empathy. It's hard to consider those approaches when one is engaged in constant image monitoring and surface level optimization.
An eye for an eye based on lies. Trump's retaliatory impulse has no end. Should Donald Trump's will be done the White House will need lots of sticks for eye jabbing. That is almost the antithesis of Christ's teachings.
Update 6-18-23: Former Attorney General Bill Barr eviscerated Trump's handling of classified documents on Face the Nation. Barr cited Trump's need for constant adulation and his practice of putting his image (self interest) above what's best for the U.S.
"...our country can’t be a therapy session for a troubled man like this..."
Update 6-21-23: A conservative Christian said:
“You have in Donald Trump the person who probably most embodies the antithesis of the Sermon on the Mount, the person of Jesus, and the teachings of Jesus."
Update 6-28-23: Continual liar Trump characterized his recently released recorded confession of holding classified documents as "bravado." Recall his taped description of sexually assaulting women as "locker room talk." Boys will be boys, especially the selfish, spoiled ones.
Update 6-30-23: Trump is incapable of self reflection because everything he does is based on his omnipotence and infallibility. He's an ungodly god.
Update 7-16-23: Project much?
Trump's campaign spokesman, told Fox News Digital. "Everything that comes out of (Chris Christie's) mouth is a lie wrapped in incoherent psychotic rage and he needs to get some professional help."
Update 8-5-23: Trump's unquenchable thirst for revenge has grown with each legal indictment. He threw a fit after a judge called him "Mr."
Yesterday Mr. Trump posted on his dumpster fire social media site. Trump wrote in all capital letters:
“If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”
That turned into a request to the judge for a protective order to stop Mr. Trump's incessant whining.
Update 8-7-23: Trump's "eye for an eye" social media postings may actually be the Donald poking himself in the eye. There a new layer in Dante's Hell for Trump lawyers where the banned work in front of a pile of cash frozen in ice while their client burns every bit of their 24/7 work product.
Update 8-9-23: After launching a series of fat jokes at former Gov. Chris Christie Trump pretended to take the high road while still deep in the gutter.