By Butch Freedman
Let’s get over it.
What else can be said at this point? The man-child is a crude, cruel, deeply narcissistic, evil, wannabe dictator, who has done irreparable harm to our country and its economy while enriching through illegal schemes, himself and his family of grifters. Okay, I could go on, and I will for just a bit longer. We also are burdened with the worst first lady in history, a foolish, preening, former “fashion” model who somehow thinks that the world wants to see her preening in vanity movies. Compare her (if you really want to be ill) with Michelle Obama—smart, compassionate, and real.
The list of “worsts” is long; there’s not a single cabinet member who is willing to speak up and contradict anything the mob boss says or does, no matter how heinous. And the republican congress—more cowards and sycophants. Once again, every senate republican, except two, refused to vote for implementation of the congressional war powers act, thus allowing the prez the exclusive power to continue his disastrous war in Iran, the one costing billions of dollars a day, while turning the rest of the world against us. Oh, and one of the two senators to vote for the bill was Susan Collins of Maine, only because she’s scared of losing her upcoming senate race. Otherwise, she’s been a consistent rubber stamp for trump, despite her cringy denials.
As you can see, it’s hard to stop screaming, stop spitting into the wind. Maybe that’s part of their strategy: to keep us all desperately trying to bat away the insanity. But there’s no way to halt the onslaught, other than to vote the scoundrels out of office. And the time to do that is now only a month away. So, let’s pay less attention to trump’s insanity, his blustering, his lies and brags, and pay more, much more to the mid-term elections. Of course, we have to get out the vote, at the same time we need to do all we possibly can to stop trump and his injustice department from throwing a wrench into the fair election process. They know that interference and lies are their only chance to remain in power, and so we have to expect this administration will do anything and everything they possibly can to disrupt and destroy. Democrats and independents and fair-minded conservatives must vote in such numbers that the victory is overwhelming. Anything close will be taken to court or held up in recounts and phony accusations of fraud.
And let’s not forget local elections. There’s plenty to be concerned about there also—lots of mini-trumps ready to take over state and local governments. Just because we live in a traditionally blue state, doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels. There’s a serious republican contender for Oregon Governor for the first time in many years, a woman who, ironically, is a staunch enemy of women’s rights. And on the local scene, Cyrus Javadi (rhymes with cavity. He’s a dentist.) is in a fierce battle with the trump aligned republican candidate, who shall remain nameless, for
State Representative. Javadi had the great courage to switch party affiliation when he realized that the republican brand had simply become untenable for anyone who wanted to retain an ethical and moral core. And republicans have not ceased to try everything they can to punish him for his “betrayal.” More later about this good man.
I know it is difficult, almost impossible, to look away from the daily insults of this administration, the horrors, both petty and existential, unfolding like a bad dream. But as much as we are able, it is time to look ahead and focus our energy and actions beyond anger and on to a new day. Imagine, if you dare, a congress that will stand up to trump and his band of bullies, and put a hard block on the outrages. It is possible. It is required. The time is now.
