Trump's Amoral Compass

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..

Oliver/Chris Reveals His Mission

 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.

Oliver Anthony Begins Sharing His Story

It's been difficult as I browse through the 50,000+ messages and emails I've received in the last week. The stories that have been shared paint a brutally honest picture. Suicide, addiction, unemployment, anxiety and depression, hopelessness and the list goes on.

I'm sitting in such a weird place in my life right now. I never wanted to be a full time musician, much less sit at the top of the iTunes charts. Draven from RadioWv and I filmed these tunes on my land with the hope that it may hit 300k views. I still don't quite believe what has went on since we uploaded that. It's just strange to me.

People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers. I don't want 6 tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don't want to play stadium shows, I don't want to be in the spotlight. I wrote the music I wrote because I was suffering with mental health and depression. These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they're being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung. No editing, no agent, no bullshit. Just some idiot and his guitar. The style of music that we should have never gotten away from in the first place.

So that being said, I have never taken the time to tell you who I actually am. Here's a formal introduction:

My legal name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford. My grandfather was Oliver Anthony, and "Oliver Anthony Music" is a dedication not only to him, but 1930's Appalachia where he was born and raised. Dirt floors, seven kids, hard times. At this point, I'll gladly go by Oliver because everyone knows me as such. But my friends and family still call me Chris. You can decide for yourself, either is fine.

In 2010, I dropped out of high school at age 17. I have a GED from Spruce Pine, NC. I worked multiple plant jobs in Western NC, my last being at the paper mill in McDowell county. I worked 3rd shift, 6 days a week for $14.50 an hour in a living hell. In 2013, I had a bad fall at work and fractured my skull. It forced me to move back home to Virginia. Due to complications from the injury, it took -me 6 months or so before I could work again.

From 2014 until just a few days ago, I've worked outside sales in the industrial manufacturing world. My job has taken me all over Virginia and into the Carolinas, getting to know tens of thousands of other blue collar workers on job sites and in factories. Ive spent all day, everyday, for the last 10 years hearing the same story. People are SO damn tired of being neglected, divided and manipulated.

In 2019, I paid $97,500 for the property and still owe about $60,000 on it. I am living in a 27' camper with a tarp on the roof that I got off of craigslist for $750.

There's nothing special about me. I'm not a good musician, I'm not a very good person. I've spent the last 5 years struggling with mental health and using alcohol to drown it. I am sad to see the world in the state it's in, with everyone fighting with each other. I have spent many nights feeling hopeless, that the greatest country on Earth is quickly fading away.

That being said, I HATE the way the Internet has divided all of us. The Internet is a parasite, that infects the minds of humans and has their way with them. Hours wasted, goals forgotten, loved ones sitting in houses with each other distracted all day by technology made by the hands of other poor souls in sweat shops in a foreign land.

When is enough, enough? When are we going to fight for what is right again? MILLIONS have died protecting the liberties we have. Freedom of speech is such a precious gift. Never in world history has the world had the freedom it currently does. Don't let them take it away from you.

Just like those once wandering in the desert, we have lost our way from God and have let false idols distract us and divide us. It's a damn shame.

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.

Rich Men North of Richmond

Farmville, Virginia singer/song writer Oliver Anthony took the country by storm with his song "Rich Men North of Richmond."  His angst filled ballad lays much of today's misery at the feet of our elected leaders in Washington, D.C.  

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.