Tag: trump

A Death in the Family

She lived a good life
Protected and nurtured us
Now lost forever

Yet birds keep flying
The sun continues to shine
Heedless of her death


Our grief is immense
Life, though, continues apace
While this old world turns


I’ve been asked repeatedly today how I feel about Trump winning the election. Truthfully I feel like there has been a death in my immediate family. Ultimately I know we will be alright, but right now I’m experiencing a deep grief.

I spent a sleepless night in which my thoughts circled relentlessly like a dog chasing its tail, and I recalled reading Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s book, On Death and Dying, in which she introduced the five stages of grief:

  1. denial, 
  2. anger, 
  3. bargaining, 
  4. depression, and 
  5. acceptance

From my psychiatry courses in college (where a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing) I remember that one can cycle through these stages in a variety of ways unique to each individual. 

I ran through denial pretty quickly. The numbers were there. And while it was heartening to note that Hillary won the popular vote, Trump undeniably took the electoral college votes. 

Anger is my current companion. I’m not angry at Trump or his supporters so much as I’m angry at their willful ignorance. They don’t care that he has no real plans to implement his policies. They like him because he’s not a career politician, and he isn’t politically correct. 

I’m angry at the registered voters who just didn’t show up. I’m angry at those who used their votes to protest by voting for non-viable candidates. I’m angry at the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle voter suppression tactics that were employed in several states.

I can’t imagine there’ll be much bargaining involved, but depression is anger’s little sister and I’m going to do everything in my power to avoid going down that rabbit hole. Today I smiled at everyone I saw and hugged a woman at work who supported Trump. Little steps.

Acceptance? That’s going to take awhile. But I won’t be like those conservatives who disrespected President Obama and actively rooted for his failure these past eight years. I’m going to support Trump as our president while continuing to fight for the rights of all those living in our country: health care, reproductive rights, racial and gender equality, etc. 

I know other bloggers have addressed this much more eloquently than I, but I think the healing starts when we lay it all on the line. This piece was part of my healing process. Maybe it will help someone else along the way.

Peace, people.

Joe Biden at FAMU/VOTE BLUE 

Warning: This post is all over the place. It started out as a recounting of my experiences at a rally featuring Joe Biden and then it morphed into the lists of accomplishments of both major party candidates. So sue me.

Living in a high-profile state is a treat during presidential election years. In the past six months I’ve attended separate events where former President Bill Clinton, and Vice-presidential nominee, Tim Kaine, have spoken. Today I was privileged to be present at a rally featuring Vice-president Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. 

Today’s event was held on the campus of Florida A&M University with dozens of local and state Democratic candidates in attendance. I’d been to FAMU before, and gambled that parking would be in the same place even though the venue had changed. It was a great gamble. I quickly made friends with a young woman who was headed to the rally, and we walked up the hill together.

After standing in an epically long line for nearly two hours we finally made it through the metal detectors as some of the local dignitaries finished speaking. I’d resigned myself to being in the back forty when a young man came and asked if my friend and I would like to move closer to the stage. Soon we were standing just a few yards from the the speakers. Better still, we had a shade tree. 

Congresswoman Gwen Graham was on hand to welcome the Bidens. Gwen is a strong voice for Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. My hope is that she’ll be our governor some day.


By the time the Bidens arrived my feet were in agony. I hadn’t really planned on attending the rally today and had worn boots that, while darned adorable, weren’t all that comfortable. So I did what any sensible person would do–I took them off. Ahhhhh! 

The Bidens took the stage together. Jill spoke about meeting Joe when he was running for office and she was a college student. She’d attended a campaign rally and was impressed by his passion and integrity. So much so that she voted for him.

The Vice-president spoke then. He is personable and funny and invested in making this country a place where everyone has a place at the table. He spoke about the cuts Trump has proposed and the programs those cuts would affect: Social Security, funding for education, and health care chief among them. 


As Joe Biden began winding his speech to a close I decided to put my boots back on in preparation for walking down the hill. I asked a sturdy young man If I could lean on him and he gave me a huge grin. He probably thought I was a nut, but patiently stood there as I got my left boot on. 

When I put my right toe into its boot I got a Charlie horse (cramp) in my calf and almost said a bad word, but managed to restrain myself. I thanked the young man who held my hand through the whole thing. Age does have its privileges. 

The crowd was fired up and ready to vote as we headed in separate directions. My new friend had cut class to be at the rally and thought she might catch the end of it if she hurried. She promised to vote tomorrow.

Tomorrow. Election Day 2016.

I’m sixty years old. I cannot recall a more important or divisive election in my lifetime:

On the one hand we have Trump:

  • a blustering demagogue who has been in bankruptcy proceedings numerous times, even though he encourages people to think he’s a great businessman. 
  • someone with a history of litigation against those he’d rather sue than pay for services rendered.
  • a bully who encourages violence against those exercising their rights to free speech.
  • a misogynist who has bragged about groping women because as a celebrity he can do as he pleases. 
  • a man who has refused to release his tax returns and has shady ties to Russia. 
  • an anti-Semite.
  • a candidate who has mocked the disabled, stereotyped Latinos, Blacks, Muslims, and women. 
  • a man who has been endorsed by the KKK.

Then on the other, dare I say, sane hand, we have Hillary Rodham Clinton:

Cut and pasted from a Daily Kos article:


Oh, she’s also been endorsed by more newspapers, Conservative and Liberal, than any candidate in history.

Is she perfect? No, but she has faced numerous investigations by the FBI and a GOP led congress and neither entity has charged her with a single thing. 

Don’t sit around thinking your vote isn’t needed. It is. 

Peace, and common sense, people.

Considering Calamity

What if Trump wins this election? I’ve invested so much of my time, my sweat, and even my money to electing Hillary that I’m not sure how I will handle a loss, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t considered my options in case the worst should happen.

The first thing I’ll do is pray. I’ll pray that there is some substance to this man beyond the demagoguery and bluster. I’ll pray that he surrounds himself with intelligent and steady handed people who actually have experience in governing. And I’ll follow that up with a fervent prayer that he is capable of listening to them and of taking their advice. Thus far I haven’t seen that side of him.

I’ll keep on working for Liberal causes: health care as a right and not a privilege, a living wage for all working Americans, reproductive rights for women, affordable college that doesn’t burden students for their entire adult lives, racial and gender equality, LGBT rights, and compassionate immigration reform along with common sense gun regulations.

I still believe Americans as a whole are too smart to fall for Trump’s grandiose lies and hate filled rhetoric, but they’ve gotten him this far. No one thought he’d win the party nomination, but here he is. 

Friends, there has never been a more qualified, more experienced candidate for the office of the American presidency than Hillary Rodham Clinton. You don’t have to like her. You don’t have to think she’s perfect. But if you want an America that we can be proud of, one that values the rights of all Americans, not just those of white men, you need to get out and vote for her. 

Vote early if you can in your state. Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Just vote.


Peace, and common sense, folks.

The Elephant in the Room

(Caution–some strong language)

Picture if you will Mr. and Mrs. Republican. We’ll call her Jane and him Dick. The two have gathered with their 2.5 children (Dick Jr., Little Mary and a player to be named later) ’round the dinner table. 

Dick: Look at this fine dinner your mother has prepared! Little Dick, why don’t you ask the blessing?

Dick Jr.: Ok, Daddy. Dear God, thank you for this meal, and please don’t let that bitch Hillary Clinton become the president. Amen.

Jane: Little Dick! That was hardly a Christian prayer! 

Dick: Son, you can’t just say that word in a prayer. Er, (looking at Jane) or about a woman.

Dick Jr.: But Daddy, I heard you call her a bitch.

Dick: Yes, but I’m a grown up. Pass the roast.

Little Mary: Mommy, what’s a bitch?

Jane: (sternly looking at big Dick) Sweetheart, that’s what a female dog is called. 

Little Mary: Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!

Jane: Sweetheart, let’s not say that.

Dick: I’m sick of political correctness! Call a spic a spic, a coon a coon and a bitch a bitch. You know that dear. That’s why we’re voting for Donald Trump.

Jane: (covering Little Mary’s ears) Well, about that. Well, hmmm, I’m not sure I can support Trump.

Dick: (slams hand on table) For heaven’s sake Jane! We’ve always voted Republican, and we’ll continue to vote Republican. Now, pass the potatoes. Did I tell you Rev. Johnson stopped by work today?

Jane: Oh? What was he doing?

Dick: Well, he’s in charge of the county’s “Baptists for Trump” rally and he asked if I’d introduce him. 

Jane: I don’t know why our church endorsed Trump. Shouldn’t the church stay out of politics?

Dick: Not with that Hillary knocking on the door of the White House. 

Dick Jr.: Trump that bitch!!

Dick: (ruffling son’s hair) Now, Little Dick….

Jane: Little Dick, if you say that word one more time you’ll go to your room without dinner.

Dick: (winks at son) Best mind your mom, son. 

Jane: (frowning) Maybe I just won’t vote this year. 

Dick: (turning red in the face) Now Jane, remember the good book says you must submit to your husband. Your husband says you’ll vote for Trump and that’s the end of this conversation. 

Little Mary: But Mommy!

Jane: What sweetheart? 

Little Mary: Didn’t preacher say we need to be like Jesus?

Jane: Yes. Yes he did. 

Little Mary: Did Jesus say it was ok to grab women by their pussies?

Jane: Oh! Little Mary! We just don’t say things like that, and Jesus would never have done such a thing.

Little Mary: Then why does Daddy like Mr. Trump? 

Jane: I’m beginning to wonder.

Note: I started this piece months ago, but just felt it was too dark and too cynical to publish. Then Trump went there, boasting of having groped women against their will, bragging that they let him because he was a celebrity. Still, I thought, surely this will give those evangelical Christians who’d thus far supported him time to reflect and realize that Trump really is the antithesis of Christian love, respect, and humility.

Then last night I came across a video post on Facebook that shook me. A supposedly good Christian man was exhorting people to put their trust in Trump. Most alarming, though were the comments of people I know, groupie-like in their pleas for Donald Trump to avoid some trap the media had set for him–the trap of telling the truth.

Jesus loves Trump, but I’m pretty sure he would drive him from the temple with whips and chains given the chance. God help us all if Trump wins this election. Can I get an amen?

Political Flasher

On my way home from my part time job in Tallahassee yesterday I encountered a flasher. The older gentleman was standing on the median at a busy intersection. As my car drew even with him he held out his hand and surreptitiously flashed a Trump sticker. 

Let me tell you that took me by surprise. I was expecting something more classy, like a glimpse of his wrinkly genitals or a handful of illegal drugs. 

I smiled, rolled down my window and as he came toward me I said, “When hell freezes over,” and drove away. 

Okay, I realize that wasn’t the most ladylike response I could have made to his political flashing, but I figured it was a case of kit for kat. Meow. 🐱 

Peace, people!

A Button’s Worth a Thousand Words


I suspect many of his supporters can relate to this.

When

When you wonder what happened to the ideals your friends once aspired to, and you 

question their reasoning and morals. When Donald Trump gets a pass for self reporting 

His sexual assaults because his celebrity status entitled him. When some women shrug and 

Claim that it’s only locker room talk, and all men do it, but you know that’s untrue. When

You can remember being groped by a boy, but you didn’t tell because he made you feel

Ashamed. When you know that the future of your granddaughters depends on your vote.

Never Trump. 

Snapshot #42.5

The photo is just so-so, since the paper was behind a plastic screen, but I couldn’t help but wonder if this story heralds the beginning of the end to the Trump campaign or if it means he’s pulling money from Florida advertising to be used in another manner. At any rate I’m calling this one, “Don’t Let the Door Hit You on Your Way Out.”

Let’s Try This Again

https://www.facebook.com/Giels/videos/10154481709327674/