I’m sure you’re surprised to hear that I have still more angst that must be relieved in the form of snarky snippets, right? I mean … what could possibly be causing me stress in these peaceful, calm, dog days of summer? Well, let’s see … let me count the ways … By the way, before I forget, a special thanks to Scottie of Scottie’s Playtime for the header image of the Aunty Acid meme … he sent it to me and it pretty much perfectly describes the ‘me’ I’ve become of late! Thanks, Scottie!
ENOUGH!!!!
I remember when my children were little … the two eldest were only 16 months apart in age and a world apart in temperament, which could result in some pretty raucous battles! What I see happening within the U.S. today is reminiscent of those battles, only on a much larger, more dangerous scale.
Violence, or the threat of violence, is NEVER the solution to problems! NEVER!!! And yet, I hear that right-wing groups such as the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters et al are telling people to “Pick up arms,” and they don’t mean the two that are attached to your body. The culmination came with the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago on Monday, which those on the far right are claiming is justification for massive violence across the nation. It isn’t, but these people are so blinded by their own hatred and prejudices that they cannot or will not see that.
I’ve read of some calling for the assassination of Attorney General Merrick Garland, and I’m told that the judge who signed off on the warrant to search Trump’s domicile has been receiving death threats. Others are calling for ‘civil war’, as if they knew the meaning of that phrase. The most popular search term yesterday was “lock and load”, which means “lock your safety and load a magazine into your weapon.” Welcome to America where there are more guns than people, and every nutcase owns an arsenal!
Politicians like Kevin McCarthy and Jim Banks who, without having knowledge of what the FBI was looking for at Mar-a-Lago, jumped immediately and began disparaging and not-so-subtly threatening Merrick Garland and President Biden, do a disservice to the very people they are supposed to represent. Their voices matter, unfortunately, and some people will take their words, build on them, and claim they are “saving the nation” by taking up arms against … who? The FBI? The president? Or perhaps you and I get caught in the crossfire some day as we go about the business of grocery shopping or taking our children to school.
I repeat, my friends … VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER!!!
And I am not alone …
Richard Haass has been president of the Council on Foreign Relations since July 2003, prior to which he was Director of Policy Planning for the United States Department of State and a close advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell in the George W. Bush administration. In the preface to his upcoming (January 24, 2023) book, The Bill of Obligations, Haass writes that he’s often asked: “‘Richard, what keeps you up at night?’ Some suggest China? Russia? North Korea? Iran? Terrorism? Climate change? Cyberattacks? Another pandemic?” To which Haass replies …
“The most urgent and significant threat to American security and stability stems not from abroad but from within. The threat is from political divisions that for only the second time in U.S. history have raised questions about the future of American democracy and even the United States itself.”
Exactly. Y’know … all living things have an expiration date, so to speak. Nothing lives forever. Nations are living things, and perhaps the United States, such as we have known it, is about to reach its expiry date.
Tell me why you want the job
When candidates begin throwing their hats in the ring for the 2024 presidential election, the one question I would pose to each and every one is: Why do you want to be the next president?
Hmmmm … I can hear some of the answers now …
- To find Hunter Biden’s laptop
- To ‘make America great again’
- To put ‘America first’
- To make this a Christian nation
- To defeat Democrats
And of course the unspoken answer in many cases would be: To make this a white, Christian, male-dominated autocracy.
In my mind, the one correct answer would be: To restore integrity and compassion to our nation, to our government. To begin closing the gap between right and left, to heal the damage, the divisiveness, the bigotry, and the hatred that exists today.
Who, I wonder, would give that answer?
I leave you with just a few cartoons …
Filosofa's Word 
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, dear friend!!!
LikeLike
Good try, Jill. But the Repughs want power, plain and simple. They will tell any lie to get it.
If their followers and MAGAt cultists had any sense at all, they would listen to the words instead of the intention of the word-speakers. The Repughs intend to win, but people with sense know all they really want is to destroy America.🤑
LikeLiked by 1 person
They don’t just want power … they want unchecked power, they want domination over the 99% of us who are not wealthy and therefore can offer them little. It’s now or never to keep them out of the seats that would give them such power. If we don’t … woe to us.
LikeLike
The most important election ever in the history of the United States of America! Or! The most impotent election ever. I hope Americans decide correctly which direction they want to go. The rest of us can only watch, and hope.
But until that night comes, I will lend my words to convince voters this election is too important to not do your civic duty. A voter turnout of “at leasr” 80% of all eligible voters is mandatory!
Please, America, VOTE, And please vote your conscience.
LikeLike
Jill, these folks thinking of violence should pay attention to the sentencing of the insurrectionists. They foolishly listened to folks who are not very truthful and are going to jail.
In my view, Kevin McCarthy has let his country down as much as anyone. I have spoked to his staff about a half dozen times, pleading for him to be the leader the GOP needs (and in turn country needs). Except for one fleeting moment a week after January 6, 2021 when he blamed Dnald J. Trump for the insurrection on the floor of the House, he has backtracked into obsequiousness.
Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thus far, too many of the insurrectionists have gotten a slap on the wrist. I did see where one was sentenced to 7 years, though, and that was more appropriate, I thought. But those folk talking about violence think they have the backing of the GOP and its leaders, who they fully expect will reign supreme come January.
I agree … McCarthy had one brief moment of humanity, of clarity, but then he sold his soul downriver to Mar-a-Lago. And yet … he polls high in his California district, so there is very little hope he won’t return next year. I just wish he would keep his mouth shut for a while, but he tweets endlessly throughout the day and evening, presumably to keep the masses riled.
LikeLike
Pingback: Still More Snark Keeps Rollin’ | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News
Thanks, Ned!!!
LikeLike
Aunty Acid is great. To restore integrity and compassion to our nation, to our government. To begin closing the gap between right and left, to heal the damage, the divisiveness, the bigotry, and the hatred that exists today. Would be the best answer you could get but it won’t come from a Republican candidate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heh heh … yeah, Scottie sent me that last week and said he couldn’t help but think of me when he saw it! To some, that might not be a compliment, but I take it as high praise!
No, that answer won’t come from any Republican, nor likely even any Democrat. They all seem to have lost sight of what’s actually important. Sigh.
Cwtch
LikeLiked by 1 person