Look, let's be honest. The FBI has a long history of messing up people's lives. This time the lives they're messing with just happen to be Presidential Candidates. Yes, the FBI messes with people big time - writers, actors, moviemakers, activists, organizers, peacemakers. It's all there. It's all documented. People's lives have been destroyed by the FBI.
But now the institution that has based its existence on secrecy and hasn't been accountable in that secrecy is being recognized by some in the media and the public as the truth teller, the organization we should be depending on for truth in a terrible election. I don't buy it. This is a very scary proposition. The history and tradition of dirty tricks, meddling and informants speaks volumes.
Monday, October 31, 2016
It's Almost Over......Or Is It?
This last week before the election will most likely be wild, discouraging, sad, and gut wrenching. I'm sure there are many more adjectives that people could and would use but the bottom line is that it certainly won't be pleasant. So many people, including myself, just wish it would end. Many are disgusted with both candidates, both major parties, the media coverage and the entire process. The FBI Director's entry into the fray late last week certainly didn't help and there are talks of more allegations, email dumps and innuendos over the remaining days.
Could it get any worse? Probably and we may as well brace ourselves for that eventuality. Find a good book, a favorite TV series, a movie or two, a comic book collection or even some cartoons. Clean the house, work outside, throw yourself at projects at work. But here's the really bad news. Many may think it will finally be over on Nov. 8th but that's only wishful thinking. No matter who wins this election, we're going to live with the results for years to come. Investigations, scandals, impeachments, resignations, gridlock, appointment battles, all seem to be in the cards starting on Nov. 9th.
Of course the saddest thing is that we've done all of this to ourselves. We've allowed the major parties to get away with a nominating process and candidate choices that few respect. We've fed the media machine by our addiction to reality TV.
And there you have it. This won't be over for a very long time. Many will find ways to tune out, others will take advantage.
Could it get any worse? Probably and we may as well brace ourselves for that eventuality. Find a good book, a favorite TV series, a movie or two, a comic book collection or even some cartoons. Clean the house, work outside, throw yourself at projects at work. But here's the really bad news. Many may think it will finally be over on Nov. 8th but that's only wishful thinking. No matter who wins this election, we're going to live with the results for years to come. Investigations, scandals, impeachments, resignations, gridlock, appointment battles, all seem to be in the cards starting on Nov. 9th.
Of course the saddest thing is that we've done all of this to ourselves. We've allowed the major parties to get away with a nominating process and candidate choices that few respect. We've fed the media machine by our addiction to reality TV.
And there you have it. This won't be over for a very long time. Many will find ways to tune out, others will take advantage.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
And Then There's The Hat
The hat itself isn't that bad. A good baseball cap is always welcome. Something to throw on when you wake up with bed head but need to walk the dog or go to the corner store for a coffee and a quick look around town. Also nice in the wind to keep the curls calmed down and in place.
But the artistry of the logo on the front is important. If you don't get it right you can look like a real jerk. Embroidery is nice and lots of color always helps. Letters with a saying across the front are the worst though. Cheap and silly may be the best way to describe that approach.
Of course the biggest issue with baseball caps is the overall look, the fashion if you will. A cap with a tee shirt and shorts works. Jeans and a sweater topped off with a cap is a nice look. Sweats and a cap can be seen on joggers, walkers, etc. But the absolute worst thing anyone wants to do is to wear a baseball cap with a suit. It just looks dumb, out of place and crazy. Did I say crazy?
So if you decide to run for President some day, think about the don't wear hats rule. And if you have advisors, which you should, insist that they tell you if you look stupid in a baseball cap and a suit.
But the artistry of the logo on the front is important. If you don't get it right you can look like a real jerk. Embroidery is nice and lots of color always helps. Letters with a saying across the front are the worst though. Cheap and silly may be the best way to describe that approach.
Of course the biggest issue with baseball caps is the overall look, the fashion if you will. A cap with a tee shirt and shorts works. Jeans and a sweater topped off with a cap is a nice look. Sweats and a cap can be seen on joggers, walkers, etc. But the absolute worst thing anyone wants to do is to wear a baseball cap with a suit. It just looks dumb, out of place and crazy. Did I say crazy?
So if you decide to run for President some day, think about the don't wear hats rule. And if you have advisors, which you should, insist that they tell you if you look stupid in a baseball cap and a suit.
How Did We Get Here?
Here we are in the middle of October, 24 days before the Presidential election. We have had two debates between the two major candidates. The Vice Presidential candidates have had their one and only debate. A tape has surfaced where one of the major candidates states that he has committed sexual assault and seems proud of it. Nine or ten more accusers have stepped forward at this point and the accused shames them by calling them liars and unattractive. Exactly what he said his opponent did to accusers of her husband's actions.
In the midst of all of this, otherwise decent and good people are either dismissing or defending language or actions that they know in their hearts is not defensible. Others are stating that these things are not defensible but then reiterating their support of the candidate.
Some of this is the nature of partisan politics which in itself is a sad state of affairs. On top of that, the other major candidate is not without her flaws or problems.
But what seems to be missing in all of the discussions by pundits, analysts, campaign surrogates and the candidates themselves is the answer to the question - How did we get here? What happened to our democracy and how do we recover? These are probably some of the most serious questions that will come out of our election in 2016.
I'm going to take a shot at answering these questions. I've written before about the lack of accountability on the part of Congress and I really think this goes to the heart of the discussion. The country has known, political parties, their leadership and the candidates have all known, how frustrated the American people are with Congress and its ineffectiveness over the past six or seven years. We have all known about and had to live with gridlock in Washington, DC. Did all of these leaders think their stupid and ineffective behavior could go on forever without consequences? If so, they are worse then we all thought. But that really is the crux of the issues we're facing today in our elections. People are extremely angry with the ineffectiveness of government, the gridlock and the partisan fighting that leads to nothing being negotiated with some level of civility.
The frustration level is so high that people have become what they hate and yes, decent people defend the indefensible. So now we have an election and one candidate in particular who has been flaming those levels of frustration and anger. He makes big, bold pronouncements not only about everything that people think is wrong but also about his fixes to the system. The missing and most critical piece of course is how, with a divided Congress, will he get anything done? How would his negotiations with Congress be more successful then Barack Obama's or George Bush's or Hillary Clinton's. Most likely he wouldn't be anymore successful especially if he continues to insult most members of Congress.
I don't think anyone looks forward to gridlock continuing and if it does it will only continue to exasperate the country and perhaps lead people to more extreme positions. We need the opposite of that. We need efforts that will bring people together. We need efforts that will help us all to get some things done for the sake of future generations. We need a real shake up in Congress. The non negotiators need to be replaced. They have created our current reality.
In the midst of all of this, otherwise decent and good people are either dismissing or defending language or actions that they know in their hearts is not defensible. Others are stating that these things are not defensible but then reiterating their support of the candidate.
Some of this is the nature of partisan politics which in itself is a sad state of affairs. On top of that, the other major candidate is not without her flaws or problems.
But what seems to be missing in all of the discussions by pundits, analysts, campaign surrogates and the candidates themselves is the answer to the question - How did we get here? What happened to our democracy and how do we recover? These are probably some of the most serious questions that will come out of our election in 2016.
I'm going to take a shot at answering these questions. I've written before about the lack of accountability on the part of Congress and I really think this goes to the heart of the discussion. The country has known, political parties, their leadership and the candidates have all known, how frustrated the American people are with Congress and its ineffectiveness over the past six or seven years. We have all known about and had to live with gridlock in Washington, DC. Did all of these leaders think their stupid and ineffective behavior could go on forever without consequences? If so, they are worse then we all thought. But that really is the crux of the issues we're facing today in our elections. People are extremely angry with the ineffectiveness of government, the gridlock and the partisan fighting that leads to nothing being negotiated with some level of civility.
The frustration level is so high that people have become what they hate and yes, decent people defend the indefensible. So now we have an election and one candidate in particular who has been flaming those levels of frustration and anger. He makes big, bold pronouncements not only about everything that people think is wrong but also about his fixes to the system. The missing and most critical piece of course is how, with a divided Congress, will he get anything done? How would his negotiations with Congress be more successful then Barack Obama's or George Bush's or Hillary Clinton's. Most likely he wouldn't be anymore successful especially if he continues to insult most members of Congress.
I don't think anyone looks forward to gridlock continuing and if it does it will only continue to exasperate the country and perhaps lead people to more extreme positions. We need the opposite of that. We need efforts that will bring people together. We need efforts that will help us all to get some things done for the sake of future generations. We need a real shake up in Congress. The non negotiators need to be replaced. They have created our current reality.
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