A favorite daily YTube post is from “Belle of the Road”, who is a Southern liberal answering questions from MAGA sorts. Often these will be “gotcha” sorts of questions (because the questioners don’t have the facts and believe what Trump & his minions tell them) but recently they have been “Why is Trump turning away from the issues he had promised us?” Her response: “Because he’s gotten what he wanted from you (your votes) and he doesn’t need you anymore.” Golly I love the frankness of this response!
Roberts and Barrett sided with Liberal members of the Supreme Court to deny Trump the delay in sentencing. He will go into office as a Felon convicted of 34 courts...Another victory for our team. I am sickened by the Republicans politicizing this Fire Crisis. We are all numb and we need to pull together.
I watched Jimmy Carter's funeral today and it was amazing. Pastor Andrew Young, President Joe Biden and Jason Carter gave great speeches. Please watch if you did not. It speaks of a man who created FEMA, The Department of Education and after the Naval Academy he worked on the Electric Submarine....my nephew works for Electric Boat in Connecticut....so many amazing stories about President Jimmy Carter.
I recently had a grumpy guy gripe about California water problems saying the same thing as Trump. So if anyone runs into one of these tell them this. A quick note about the Delta Smelt: If we cut off the fresh water running into the San Francisco Bay the salt water from the bay will enter the delta, get sucked into the pipes that bring irrigation and city water south via the aqueduct. As many farmers have noted on their personal billboards, "Crops don't grow in salt water." It's not good for bathing or drinking either. LA's problem is the same as everywhere. We can't afford the new infrastructure needed to protect us from climate change because the unregulated rich have sucked it all up.
It’s reported that Trump will raise $200 million for his inauguration. I keep thinking what Jimmy Carter would do with that kind of money and the support of so many billionaires. I can imagine him directing them to take their money to help those so severely impacted by the fires in Southern California. He would remind them that we are one country and we support each other in times of need. He would show by his example what America stands for. I miss Carter’s belief in what it means to live the Gospel.
It is common to say “the Supreme Court”, especially when referring to the Court’s recent or anticipated actions. For example, Robert wrote, “In the next forty-eight hours, the Supreme Court will signal whether it is irretrievably lost.”
But this Supreme Court has been an outlier in its politicization (among other things). Therefore it would be more appropriate to write and say *this* Supreme Court: use „this“ in place of „the“.
I must say this publicly. My reading attention span is shrinking. Maryanne Wolf, author of "Reader, Come Home" - The reading brain in a digital world - is correct. Sadly.
All the nonsense coming from republican maga leader about Greenland, Panama, Mexico and Canada is just deflection from his HORRIBLE cabinet nominations. While he's threatening to take over the continent and beyond, his nominees are quietly getting the support they need from senators.
Let's get OUR act together and be loud about these horribly unqualified and dangerous nominees and call and write your senators and call and write them again!
also- I totally agree that the Democrats need a new megaphone from the DNC that calls out and describes the nonsense going on with an alternative view from D side... A VERY LARGE MEGAPHONE
I am so glad that you and your family are safe. We are watching and praying from SC. We are used to hurricanes and floods here, but nothing like a fire storm. We are heart-broken for your area and thankful your friends have safe haven with you.
I have just joined y’all. Thanks ahead. It was today’s ‘Letter’ from Robert was the deciding point..’beyond the pale’ cinched it , I’m not a stranger to Substack though, feeling rather blessed, I add.
There’s a huge effort needed in the next period of our ‘fight’ for the freedom of Democracy..I believe there’s an increasing amount of ‘gloves off’ to hit the floor.
This is Gary Maes writing on my wife Pam's subscription. I am sharing a poem I wrote in 2017. I had hoped that it would only have a brief relevance back then, but sadly I am revisiting it and sharing it again now.
You may also receive a copy from our dear friend Carole Ferguson who is a founding member and introduced us to you 6 or 7 years ago. We read you daily and really appreciate all you have done.
So here is my Inaugural Poem 2017:
Inaugural Poem - 2017
Where was the poet?
Where was the poetry?
I still remember Robert
His white hair blowing on that frosty day
Giving us his gift outright
And yes, Maya
With her deep angelic voice
Like a rock pounding out the pulse of morning
Then young Richard
Reminding us we are more than white
Stirring a rainbow vision of a day when we are one
Some good news: There was not one bid on the oil and gas lease in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge today. The lease offering was required by Trump's 2017 Revenue package that funded the federal government. The banks and insurance companies don't want to have anything to do with drilling in ANWR. Jimmy Carter is working his magic from above.
The nebula is beautiful, and these photos are always a much-needed reminder to look up or down or outward for the beauty of the earth. I wrote 70 postcards for the two Virginia candidates in December. When I got the news that they both won, it gave me a tremendous shot in the arm. Don't stop taking action. Writing postcards is a small thing, but it helped me feel like I was doing something to counter Trump's idiocy, greed, and lawlessness. I'm delighted they won. Onward. To all of you in Los Angeles, please stay safe.
In the Soviet era, and under Putin, judges would usually wait to deliver their verdict until they received a call from the "Vertushka," a call from on high telling them what the verdict would be. Trump's call to Alito is a little reminiscent of that process.
A favorite daily YTube post is from “Belle of the Road”, who is a Southern liberal answering questions from MAGA sorts. Often these will be “gotcha” sorts of questions (because the questioners don’t have the facts and believe what Trump & his minions tell them) but recently they have been “Why is Trump turning away from the issues he had promised us?” Her response: “Because he’s gotten what he wanted from you (your votes) and he doesn’t need you anymore.” Golly I love the frankness of this response!
Roberts and Barrett sided with Liberal members of the Supreme Court to deny Trump the delay in sentencing. He will go into office as a Felon convicted of 34 courts...Another victory for our team. I am sickened by the Republicans politicizing this Fire Crisis. We are all numb and we need to pull together.
I watched Jimmy Carter's funeral today and it was amazing. Pastor Andrew Young, President Joe Biden and Jason Carter gave great speeches. Please watch if you did not. It speaks of a man who created FEMA, The Department of Education and after the Naval Academy he worked on the Electric Submarine....my nephew works for Electric Boat in Connecticut....so many amazing stories about President Jimmy Carter.
I recently had a grumpy guy gripe about California water problems saying the same thing as Trump. So if anyone runs into one of these tell them this. A quick note about the Delta Smelt: If we cut off the fresh water running into the San Francisco Bay the salt water from the bay will enter the delta, get sucked into the pipes that bring irrigation and city water south via the aqueduct. As many farmers have noted on their personal billboards, "Crops don't grow in salt water." It's not good for bathing or drinking either. LA's problem is the same as everywhere. We can't afford the new infrastructure needed to protect us from climate change because the unregulated rich have sucked it all up.
My letter to WaPo this morning
It’s reported that Trump will raise $200 million for his inauguration. I keep thinking what Jimmy Carter would do with that kind of money and the support of so many billionaires. I can imagine him directing them to take their money to help those so severely impacted by the fires in Southern California. He would remind them that we are one country and we support each other in times of need. He would show by his example what America stands for. I miss Carter’s belief in what it means to live the Gospel.
It is common to say “the Supreme Court”, especially when referring to the Court’s recent or anticipated actions. For example, Robert wrote, “In the next forty-eight hours, the Supreme Court will signal whether it is irretrievably lost.”
But this Supreme Court has been an outlier in its politicization (among other things). Therefore it would be more appropriate to write and say *this* Supreme Court: use „this“ in place of „the“.
*This* Supreme Court.
I must say this publicly. My reading attention span is shrinking. Maryanne Wolf, author of "Reader, Come Home" - The reading brain in a digital world - is correct. Sadly.
All the nonsense coming from republican maga leader about Greenland, Panama, Mexico and Canada is just deflection from his HORRIBLE cabinet nominations. While he's threatening to take over the continent and beyond, his nominees are quietly getting the support they need from senators.
Let's get OUR act together and be loud about these horribly unqualified and dangerous nominees and call and write your senators and call and write them again!
also- I totally agree that the Democrats need a new megaphone from the DNC that calls out and describes the nonsense going on with an alternative view from D side... A VERY LARGE MEGAPHONE
I am so glad that you and your family are safe. We are watching and praying from SC. We are used to hurricanes and floods here, but nothing like a fire storm. We are heart-broken for your area and thankful your friends have safe haven with you.
I have just joined y’all. Thanks ahead. It was today’s ‘Letter’ from Robert was the deciding point..’beyond the pale’ cinched it , I’m not a stranger to Substack though, feeling rather blessed, I add.
There’s a huge effort needed in the next period of our ‘fight’ for the freedom of Democracy..I believe there’s an increasing amount of ‘gloves off’ to hit the floor.
Bravo!
I wish someone had the balls of Daniel Ellsberg and leaks the Smith Report.
A true patriot.
Too dry and Jill we are all praying for the LA community. You are in our hearts. Please take good care
This is Gary Maes writing on my wife Pam's subscription. I am sharing a poem I wrote in 2017. I had hoped that it would only have a brief relevance back then, but sadly I am revisiting it and sharing it again now.
You may also receive a copy from our dear friend Carole Ferguson who is a founding member and introduced us to you 6 or 7 years ago. We read you daily and really appreciate all you have done.
So here is my Inaugural Poem 2017:
Inaugural Poem - 2017
Where was the poet?
Where was the poetry?
I still remember Robert
His white hair blowing on that frosty day
Giving us his gift outright
And yes, Maya
With her deep angelic voice
Like a rock pounding out the pulse of morning
Then young Richard
Reminding us we are more than white
Stirring a rainbow vision of a day when we are one
Where was the poet?
Where was the poetry?
Did you ask Billy or Mary or Wendell?
I suspect they would have turned you down
Though I doubt you thought to ask
Did you ask Garrison for a name?
Someone who could speak to us all
To voice all our concerns
To bring us together
I don’t believe you ever asked
Have you ever read a poem?
I don’t really know
Where was the poet?
Where was the poetry?
Perhaps in your vanity
You thought your words
Would give hope and healing
Lift us, inspire and move us
Bring us together
But no, sadly no
No rhyme in carnage
Not great again
While forgetting how far we have come
No voice for the earth
For the beauty surrounding us
I thirst for more than fear
I long for truth
Where are the poets?
Where is the poetry?
You need to know
We are still here
Whispering
Speaking
Singing
Shouting with no fear
Still here!
Gary Maes Jan 2017
WOW x a gazillion!
Some good news: There was not one bid on the oil and gas lease in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge today. The lease offering was required by Trump's 2017 Revenue package that funded the federal government. The banks and insurance companies don't want to have anything to do with drilling in ANWR. Jimmy Carter is working his magic from above.
The nebula is beautiful, and these photos are always a much-needed reminder to look up or down or outward for the beauty of the earth. I wrote 70 postcards for the two Virginia candidates in December. When I got the news that they both won, it gave me a tremendous shot in the arm. Don't stop taking action. Writing postcards is a small thing, but it helped me feel like I was doing something to counter Trump's idiocy, greed, and lawlessness. I'm delighted they won. Onward. To all of you in Los Angeles, please stay safe.
In the Soviet era, and under Putin, judges would usually wait to deliver their verdict until they received a call from the "Vertushka," a call from on high telling them what the verdict would be. Trump's call to Alito is a little reminiscent of that process.