Any Limits to Hypocrisy?

The level of hypocrisy in the Republican Party is without bounds.  These are all evil people seeking only power at the expense of everything else enshrined in the spirit of the US Constitution.  This entire Supreme Court puppet dance being performed by all these creeps is completely nauseating.  Led by head puppeteer Moscow Mitch, they all sanctimoniously opine how filling this court vacancy has no bearing on their actions of 4 years ago with Obama's pick of Merrick Garland.  So because they have the votes, nothing else matters except pushing this nomination through before the election so these creeps who sycophantically support the Liar-in-Chief can be assured that when (not if) the election results require a decision from the Supreme Court, the new nominee will put her finger on the scales and decide for the President to be re-elected.  How tragic for the United States of America. 

The founding fathers of this nation have to be turning over in all their graves.

 

The monster Liar-in-Chief has telegraphed that he will not accept the results of the election unless he wins.  He will not assure a peaceful transfer of power.  Has any President in history ever taken that position?  He is on a mission to destroy the validity of the election every day.  His henchman are trying to put straw dogs on the ballot in numerous states solely for the purpose of dragging votes from the Democrats.  They all are threatening to use their state legislatures, which are majority Republican, to create their own slate of electors to ignore the actual results of the vote, if necessary, to accomplish their goals.  This is just another example of why the Electoral College is defunct and needs to be abolished.

 

The Republicans are already rigging the election by engaging in voter suppression.  They are purging voter rolls; they are creating situations where registrations are being contested; they are planning intimidation by operatives at the polls.  The Liar-in Chief has trashed our Constitution and practically destroyed so much of our institutional credibility that the damage is severe on all levels.  Look at what has happened to the CDC and how the administration is writing their own pandemic guidelines that supplant scientific guidelines purely for political advantage.  There is no empathy for 200,000 dead, only lip service and constant lying about how it's all over now and we can get back to normal.  What universe are all these people in?  The US has 25% of the world's fatalities and only 4% of the world's population!  There is no plan for federal action, only the promotion of theories of Herd Immunity by so called experts who have no experience in public health.

 

I have come to the conclusion that we are basically a stupid country.  Over a third of our population has no awareness of how they are being duped and taken advantage of.  To try to argue facts and reason with them is a fool's errand.  Their minds are closed, sealed by misleading social media and the sad manipulation by Fox News.  It does not make any sense to talk to these people, they are lost already.

 

We are in the fight of our country's life.  Literally, we are fighting for the survival of democracy.  There is no doubt that the Liar-in-Chief will destroy our government if he succeeds in stealing this election.  He is an autocrat wanting to create a dictatorship.  His supporters do not see it; they remind me of the followers of Hitler who see no wrong in what that dictator was creating.  They chose to believe he was their savior, and we all know how well that worked out for them.

 

The Republicans in the Senate are beyond hope.  History will identify all of them as conspirators in the destruction of our country.  Their blind, cult-like sycophancy to the Liar-in-Chief illustrates no moral compass.  Rejecting witnesses at his impeachment; their aborting the process of a Senate Trial; their lockstep acceptance of McConnell's method of crushing fairness in the Senate; their outright lying about so many of the things that Trump has done makes them irretrievable, both as politicians and human beings.

 

We are in the last quarter of this 'game' with only seconds left. The majority of our country is chafing under the duplicitous leadership of the minority, and all that is left is for the majority to try their 'hail Mary' action of overwhelming the polls with a massive effort to get out the vote and making the outcome of the election beyond any doubt.  Otherwise we are going to witness the evilness of morally bankrupt people destroying all that is sacred about the idea of the American experiment.  Our future will be the 'end game' of our spiral to oblivion.

 

VOTE!  AND GET EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO VOTE TOO!

Something Not to Miss.....

Yesterday I watched the Rosh Hashanah services on my computer.  It was perhaps one of the most uplifting experiences I have had, certainly in the past year.  The streaming feed came from the Central Synagogue in New York City.  It was billed and designed as a virtual service, and since I have watched the High Holy Days services from this synagogue for the past two years, I sort of knew what to expect, or I thought I did....  In years past they had a full congregation present, and the viewer was simply present at the synagogue as a 'distant' observer.  

 

Yesterday was different.  These folks really thought about what a virtual service in these times under these conditions would look like and planned and executed it with great skill and intelligence.  This was a production that was conceived for ME.  It made me a part of the experience in a personal and engaging way.  Of course there was no one in the temple, save for the half dozen or so people who appeared:  the Rabbi (Angela Buchdahl--more about her in a minute!), 2 cantors with amazing voices and musical skill, a master of ceremonies and a four piece musical group.  The Bima and staging was incredibly beautiful.  The lighting was inspiring and subtle, yet dramatic in its simplicity.   As always with this temple, the music was stunning and so elegantly performed.  The net result was a personal experience that was moving, especially the way the service was designed to make use of all current technologies.  Participants for parts of the service were 'Zoomed' at the appropriate moments to do an aliyah or read a Torah portion or to blow the shofar.

 

But the real gems in this experience were the sermon by Rabbi Buchdahl and the

personal story by one of the congregation members that metaphorically related to the Haftorah portion.  This Rabbi is an exceptional person.  Not only is she incredibly intelligent, thought provoking and masterful at creating a message that leaves one with a feeling of understanding and insight, but she also is a remarkable musician, participating in the musical moments as well.....and there were many of them.  Her sermon was amazingly contemporary in her reference to the trials we are all going through with isolation, the virus, and our political trauma.  It was brilliantly constructed and delivered.  I was in awe of her.

 

This 'production' was carefully constructed to be rich in emotional visual and musical content.  The way the production was mounted and executed made me, the viewer, feel like this entire 2-hour experience was just for me.  As a television producer/director I can tell you--this is not an easy thing to do!  The production value, the attentiveness to direct eye contact with the camera, the feeling that the message was tailored for me were spot on.

 

So for all of you out there who feel the vacuum caused by not being able to attend services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I would urge you to give this experience a chance.  I am making the assumption that Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur streaming services will deliver the same level of quality and meaning that this first Rosh Hashanah service had yesterday.  Here is the link to the streaming portal, and if I were you, I would not miss the Kol Nidre service on Sunday, 9/27 at 8:00pm.   

https://hhd.centralsynagogue.org/live-streaming

A Better New Year.....

Tonight is Erev Rosh Hashanah--the eve of the new year.  Traditionally for Jews the world over this is a moment to reflect on all that has happened over the past year, analyze our shortcomings and transgressions and vow to be better in the new year.  The moment is marked by savoring a fresh challah bread or apples dipped in honey to symbolize the wish for us all to have a sweet year going forward.  This time is known as the High Holy Days of Judaism, culminating in Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement.  On that day we ask God for forgiveness for our sins, our transgressions, and vow to make amends and be better humans over the coming year.

For me, it was always a time of awe as I sat in the Synagogue as a young boy and listened to the haunting melodies and supplications to God.  It was a time to feel optimistic and cleansed of the 'mess' of the year past.  And so, this Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, all Jews around the world, but especially here in America have a yearning--a longing for relief.  The 'mess' of this last year is truly a mess!  We have lost loved ones to a scourge; we have endured a period of great anger, stress and lies; we have seen the foundation of what we all believed was indestructible in our society--our social fabric, our governmental order--being ripped apart by a wicked force personified by a despicable human being and his followers.

And yet, how interesting that the High Holy Days and our yearning as a people for the exaltation of truth, honesty and love of God coincide so neatly with the immediacy of our moment of electoral decision, and our yearning as a country for a better America.  What was once for me an assumed understanding of what the High Holy Days meant to Jews, now takes on new and pointed meaning for all of us as Americans.  There is so much that can be better...and it starts with our fundamental understanding that we are all one people.  We are one nation, under God.  Somehow most of us have forgotten that in the midst of unrelenting efforts to divide us.

The really scary part of all this is that as we approach our day of electoral reckoning, both sides of the divide seem to believe that if they lose, then all is lost for America.  That goes against 242 years of history where Americans have come together behind a newly elected leader and reaffirmed that we are one United States of America.  I fear that unless we promote that resolution and choose someone to lead who believes in that premise, we are headed for a violent aftermath to this election.  And it is clear from his pronouncements, his tweets, his divisive statements that Donald J. Trump will stop at nothing to win, including fomenting violence and upheaval if he loses.  There are those on the opposing side that foster the same kind of contempt for the result of Trump winning and will threaten to take up arms if that is the result.

I cannot remember a time like this ever in my lifetime, and doubtless no one can.  There has never been a prospect so devastating to the United States of America.  Unless we can find a way to take a step back from the brink, I fear we are headed for some desperate times.  

So, this Rosh Hashanah--I wish all of you some love, peace and optimism, and fortitude to weather what is upon us from the virus and our politics.  Let us be kind to one another and promote the goodness of our people to ourselves and all others.  May this new year offer all of us hope for the future and hope for a better America.

Tick Tock.....

Let's get real---

 

It can't be any clearer that we are dealing with crises that need immediate attention and action:

--Covid 19

--Climate Change and the blowtorch in the West

--Racial relations

 

The current leadership has absolved itself of any responsibility for what we are all suffering now, and has no plan for any of the above emergencies, much less the next four years, other than to support the Trump cult.

 

President Trump LIED to us about the Corona virus.  There is blood on his hands and the hands of his complicit supporters in Congress for the deaths of 150,000+ Americans for their duplicity and inaction.  He is still lying about Covid 19 and in fact suppressing CDC stats that are crucial for medical professionals to treat the ongoing pandemic.

 

The raging inferno in our western states is a direct result of the mounting effects of climate change.  Our administration is pinning the cause of these fires on 'forest management'.  Maybe thinning of forests would be helpful, but what is happening out there is way beyond solution by thinning forests.  We need to provide global leadership on taking steps to mitigate the effects, not withdrawal form global alliances and efforts to stem the causes.  This president and his administration disparage science, not only on climate change, but also on the pandemic.

 

Racial unrest is something that Trump is fomenting by supporting white supremacists and accusing Democrats of being anarchists.  He wants to cause panic by scaring the country about immigration, and about violence in the cities.  All he can do is scream at his rallies that Biden will bring violence to the suburbs, take away all your guns and bring socialism to the US.  It is a testament to the stupidity of his supporters that they blindly accept this kind of crap.  He does not propose anything for the next four years.

 

We see complicit Republicans trying to back up and support Trump in his attempts to defend against the Woodward tapes.  Aside from Trump's shamelessness about lying, what is so stunning is the Republican's acceptance of lying as simply acceptable.  Take a look at Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana's response when asked whether it was important or significant that the President lied to the American people about the corona virus.  All he could keep saying when asked repeatedly was that he did not want to give any significance to "Gotcha Books".  Well, it's not the book, Senator, it's the lie articulated by the President himself on tape that you are being asked about.....same answer!   Same answer from Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, or Thom Tillis of North Carolina.   All these people, including Trump's supporters have simply accepted the fact that their President has lied over 20,000 times since he was elected and that is just fine with them.  Is that American??  Do we all approve of lying?  I don't think so.

 

That is just one aspect of the moral corruption that is rampant in our country now.  We have one last chance to stand up for truth on November 3.  For all my Florida friends, we are a battleground state, and polling shows that we are just about tied for support between the two camps.  The time for listening and trying to reason with those who support a man and leaders who accept lying as a way to live is over.  I implore all of you to make sure you vote, and make sure you reach out to all your friends to make sure they understand how important this moment is.  Unless we are able to carry this election for the Democrats, our country will be corrupted beyond repair. 

 

Four more years of Trump and the current complicit leaders will leave our country; the world; all of us in fact, looking for places to hide.

 

  

Woe Unto the Wicked....

Now we see the depth of cravenness on the part of Trump and all his sycophants and lemming-like supporters.  Even last night in Michigan as a thousand pseudo-Americans cheered at the relentless, damaging, unevidenced proclamations from the mouth of a liar who had to read a teleprompter to make sure he listed all the supposed egregious things he was going to save us from by being re-elected, there was not a shred of regret on the part of his most ardent fans.  Even though he had lied about the pandemic to them, and as a result many of them probably lost family members as a direct result of his incompetence, they still cheered.  Are these pseudo-Americans able to think at all, or are they just automatons?  Can they really stand there and accept that they were directly affected by his duplicity without any moral outrage?

 

The moral depravity revealed by his own statements is breathtaking.  How can the people he claims to be saving from disaster not see that they are the ultimate victims of his perfidy?  If I were a Trump supporter, I think I would just take a minute, or maybe 2 minutes to just consider what I would say to my child if he had done did the same thing.  He lied and people died.  Let me say that again...

HE LIED AND PEOPLE DIED!

 Is there any greater shame than being the unnecessary cause of literally thousands of American deaths?  Only God will be able to mete out the final justice apparently.  Trump's complicit supporters and the Republican pseudo-Americans in the Congress have snatched the mantle of shame for all of history for their actions.

 

I sang a choral work in high school by a composer named Randall Thompson.  The work is called "The Peaceable Kingdom".  The words of one of the most starkly dark passages ring out to me as I ponder the place in the universe of Trump and his cult of followers:

 

"Woe unto the wicked!  It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given to him.

Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

 

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

 

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of his hands.

 

Howl ye: for the day of the Lord is at hand.  Howl, O gate; cry, O city thou art dissolved."

 

It is a magnificent piece of music to sing, and one of the few works that truly left a deep impression over the past 50-odd years.  I can still hear the music in my head...and the 'vexation of spirit' is a feeling that all these people will have when this nightmare finally ends.

 

Labor Day--Time to Reflect

 If an intelligent person looks at an accumulation of facts and statements over time about how a person behaves and talks, it is reasonable to be able to make some judgements about a person's motives, character and agenda.  Putting aside my own bias, let me try to do that for you.

 Over the past 4 years we have heard Donald Trump refer to military figures in a disparaging way.  He said about John McCain, " He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."  He also told a room full of people, "McCain is probably in hell for not stripping millions of people of health care, and also I'm happy the guy is dead".    When John McCain died in 2018, Trump said on the record,  “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral,” and he became furious, according to witnesses, when he saw flags lowered to half-staff. “What the f--- are we doing that for? Guy was a f---ing loser,”

 

According to Trump's niece, Mary Trump, he told his family that if Don Jr. ever joined the military he would disown him.  Trump has had nothing positive to say about any of his chief military advisors, all of whom were replaced: General John Mattis, General H.R. McMaster, and General John Kelly.  He has called Mattis ‘the world’s most overrated general’.  His criticism of Gen. John Kelly, "“tough-guy who didn’t do a good job and got fired.  I know John Kelly, he was with me, didn’t do a good job, had no temperament and ultimately he was petered out.”   In July of 2017 at a gathering at the Pentagon for a seminar, Trump said to gathering of senior military, "You're all losers.  You don't know how to win anymore.  You're a bunch of dopes and babies"

 

So, when one looks at the most recent allegations in the Atlantic Magazine by a well-respected 30-year veteran journalist, and pairs it with previous confirmed statements and attitudes by Trump toward the military, isn't the pattern clear?  Trump's attitude and disparagement of the military has been a long and consistent pattern.

 

Let me also take a moment to comment about Trump's behavior and statements with regard to how it matches initiatives by Russian intelligence.  If you listen to Trump's statements about voter fraud, disparagement of Joe Biden, the notion that Ukraine is responsible for voter interference in 2016, there is a stunning congruence in the articulation of the statements by Russian propaganda. 

Trump has been silent on Putin's action to put a bounty on our GI's heads in Afghanistan; he has been silent on the poisoning of Alexander Navalny; he initiated a troop withdrawal from Germany (one of Putin's greatest desires); he supported Putin's denial at Helsinki about election interference in spite of US Intelligence findings to the contrary; he attacked the EU and actively supports anti-EU, Kremlin-backed parties across Europe; he publicly says that Crimea is part of Russia and calls for Russia to be welcomed back into the international community with no consequences; he dismisses Russian interference and has done nothing to prevent future interference, putting him at odds with his own intelligence community; he has repeatedly, and inexplicably, parroted Kremlin talking points across a range of global issues; he has repeatedly failed to respond to human rights violations or support democracy abroad, creating a more permissive environment for autocrats to crack down;  he has repeatedly stated his desire to withdraw from NATO several times in 2018, complaining “that he did not see the point of the military alliance."

 

Given these positions and their congruence with stated Russian objectives, doesn't it make you wonder whether there is some sort of "Manchurian Candidate" effect going on here?  Please consider all that as you decide who to vote for.

 

And perhaps more than anything else, isn't it time for some kindness?  Some empathy?  Forget Democrat and Republican.  How about some demonstrated humanity.  Do we really want 4 more years of the division we are now experiencing?  Do you really think Donald Trump will offer anything more than that?