(#5020) Why I am a Democrat

      Those who are not democrats or are not decided on what political party you are most represented by, this is why I am a democrat. All of my life I have been surrounded by people who are less than glamorous and not high intellectual achievers. For the most part we are just ordinary people who have for too many reasons of inequity were left behind by those who were much more fortunate than them. Their hearts and minds are/were of good ethical and common sense values but their initial goals of being special in our society were not allowed enough time to develop for so many complex, difficult, and different reasons.
     The less fortunate were for a simple explanation left behind to fend for ourselves in what has increasingly become a dog eat dog society. Yet our curiosity and compassion is still vibrant in our lives. To me we are heroes in the sense that we give/gave more good to the world then our more fortunate fellow humans, while having far less to offer. Because for some reason the more successful navigators of our unjustly compromised world seem to gravitate toward condescension and arrogance which is where the republican party has it's base. It makes sense when you think about it why the republican party has been a devoted ally to the wealthy and the conmen/women merchants. Where some of the worst natures of humanity are celebrated and encouraged.
     My heart has been for those whom I can help and appreciate the help. I have been in my life such a strong determined soul and enough of a physical presence to stand up in public and honor noble principles that are more to do with good character and happy personalities. The living of life with others in this world should not be about what I want from everyone else, but for what we all want for everyone. There will always be special ones in our societies and that is good for overall human evolvement, but the rest of us need to have the same rights and opportunities in life to pursue our more maybe less enlightened happiness but surely just as important to a healthy and vibrant society.
     

(#5019) Nearly a 1000 Russian troops died yesterday

      I follow the daily troop losses of the Russian military forces and not in my memory has Russia lost this many soldiers, 950, in one day to the Ukrainian military forces. At this rate the Russian military forces will be out of soldiers before the end of November and be lacking border protections along the thousands of miles long line of Russian territory. This cannot continue to be the daily rate of lives lost if Russia expects to survive as a nation. Yesterday was a horrendous day for the Russian people as they will soon find out when the information gets back to them around the Russian propaganda machinery.
     The demoralization of the Russian troops has already been a huge factor in their inability to fight this invasion for putin and now the added deaths of their comrades on top of that has got to make them even more ineffective. How can the military leadership of the Russian army continue to strategize their murderous invasion when their troops are in such a state? Yesterday may have been the psychological end of this invasion as a at best, improbable victory for putin. Today may be when the kremlin ghouls decide to make putin stop his madness in Ukraine and ultimately change the hierarchy of the Russian political system.
     The embarrassment to Russian elites and power brokers is non stop with Ukraine successes and Russian losses. This may be the final nail in the coffin of putin and the worldwide devastation that is at the feet of Russia. How much longer can the lives of the young in Russia be sacrificed? I know that putin cares not about their lives but the families of the dead Russian soldiers do care about the losses. So how long before the whole system within Russia is stymied because the Russian people will not take this insanity of putin any longer? This is truly the end of the Russian system as we know it and because of yesterday we will see the beginning of another chapter of Russian evolvement.

(#5018) 70,000 Dead Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

     How many more putin? How many more young Russian men will die for your ego? To call putin a mass murderer is to be kind. He keeps sending young men to their certain deaths as the Ukrainian armed forces are too well equipped and trained to do nothing less than destroy what putin puts in front of them. Yet putin keeps putting these now lifeless souls out as a reminder of how tough and strong he is. Well he is neither tough nor strong. He is instead a callous low minded cad who would gladly destroy his own country in order to keep power. Sound familiar to anyone paying attention in America? The same mindset of indifference to life for trump as it is for putin.
     The difference here though is that putin can send young men to their deaths with impunity. The kremlin is a toothless tiger who like the Russian military is devoid of character and principle. The smell of rot coming from the kremlin explains why they had not as yet put an end to putin's war crimes. They are letting putin destroy their nation with no brilliance to be found. The absurdity of putin's propaganda is reflective of what trump is doing here. No common sense to be explained yet followers galore. A sad commentary on the state of education and lack of wisdom that both Russia and America currently display.
     How much longer Russia can sustain the losses of life for no gain in Ukraine is really the big unanswered question. How much longer can the under the rock dwellers in the kremlin continue to sit on their hands and do nothing to stop putin? My guess, which has a terrible track record on this partiular subject, is terrible yet the logic of me thinking they will stop putin is sound. The law of diminishing returns guides my thinking and as long as Russia is throwing away blood and treasure the tipping point for making it stop to me has already passed. Yet nothing is being done that is obvious to stopping putin before another huge amount of deaths occur. Do something kremlin!

(#5017) putin is running out of weapons and time

      China must be salivating at the reduction in defense systems aimed at their borders from Russia. There are long held territory claims by China on the border with Russia so with putin taking defense systems away from defending against China and other nations they border with the old simmering conflicts will surely rise. The collapse of Russia is nearly upon us as long as putin is in charge and the invasion of Ukraine continues. The whole world is like a kettle and committee of vultures. Hovering above and sitting on the border fences, the soon to be carrion of Russian sovereignty is a delectable meal for the road kill eaters.
     In Ukraine, when Kherson falls back into the hands of Ukraine where it belongs the Crimean peninsula will follow. The north will also see the Russians defeated as the mighty Ukrainian forces will not stop until every Russian footprint on their land has been erased. What will putin do in the meantime? Continue to threaten nuclear war like he has many times during this illegal murderous invasion of Ukraine? Likely he will but never will he because he knows that is his last straw to pull. Before that happens those in Russia who are not quite ready to die for putin will stop him.
     But in the meantime until the threat from Russia is abated in Ukraine the nations chomping at the bit to put Russia under their boot keeps growing. The breakup of the Russian regions is becoming a foregone conclusion however that absolute certainty is not here yet, but is closing in. In the meantime the kremlin hierarchy must be squirming in their beds at night worrying about the neighbors they have traditionally treated very badly. Karma is in play here and the smart Russians know it. Payback is a motherfucker and it is coming for the weakened and now fearful Russian bear. The time for Russia to end putin and his invasion is past time but not unsalvageable when it comes to remaining Russia as we currently know it.

(#5016) Don't fall for putin trying to play nice

      Everything putin does is for his own advancement so if he is acting like he is willing to accept terms for a cease fire don't believe it. He is only stalling in order to better reinforce his military positions. What I find as the best thing to do is just laugh every time he opens his mouth and spews his insincerity. I do even more with trump as I don't even listen to his voice or read his words. When a someone who tells mistruths as a core principle then you don't have to wonder if you are missing anything important. With putin turning his ego into a monstrous advise and consent paradigm the only thing he could ever say, that I would care to know, is goodbye.
     The Ukrainian people, through partisan and military prowess, have shaken the tyrannical Russian leader and his followers to the core so words coming from putin are not to be trusted. He is losing his attacking invasion of Ukraine and his genocidal strategy to incorporate more territory into the all consuming putin agenda of rebuilding the USSR. That putin even acknowledges the possibility of a white flag moment is absurd and will never happen. The only way putin is going to know defeat is for him to be carried out feet first from whatever bunker he is hiding in. Much like hitler, putin is less than honorable so nothing he says will ever be truthful.
     How putin has survived this long speaks more to the Russian people being unable to stand up and be heard. I know the Russian people are not more like putin then Zelenskyy. They just need to find a way to prove it. The death of nearly 70,000 Russian young males to this atrocious invasion of Ukraine should have been enough to get the Russian people off of their hands and into action. How many more of the youth of Russia must die to aid the ego of putin and his cabal of death merchants? I for one had thought that by April the Russian people would have put a stop to the horrendous human known as putin but I was wrong and we are now about to enter November with the same status needing to be implemented.

(#5015) Are you on these early vote tracker lists? I am!

      There are 2 vote tracker websites that I am following. One is https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-elections/early-vote by broadcasting firm NBC, and the other is https://rpubs.com/ElectProject/early_vote_2022 by a private firm RPubs. They both seem to be tracking about the same numbers so which one you follow or both as I do keeps you informed about the numbers of early voters getting counted as voted. I find this useful in determining the enthusiasm of our electorate all over the country. As of this morning about 11 and a half million Americans have either voted early in person or had their mail in ballots delivered to their states county election offices.
     Now a word about when the ballots are actually counted. They are not tabulated until closing of the election day vote in the state you reside so no actual votes are being tabulated. But know this, they are in a queue after having been verified waiting to be processed as soon as the official closing of the polls is reached on November 8th. How they are counted as received is allowed before the actual election, such as early in person or mail and even in many different or all cases the party of the citizen, race and geography may be and are revealed. So we do get early information about whom is getting their vote turned in early and where which helps to understand trends and enthusiasm.
     So I am one of the 11 and a half or so million who has already had their ballot collected by the elections offices. Are you? Because the sooner we get our ballots back the more our political party can narrowly focus on efficiently and effectively accomplishing turnout in the final closing days. Which is why it is critical for early voters to get their vote in and not procrastinate the doing of it. Every vote is critical and the most effective way for our democratic party to win this midterm election is for us all to get our vote in as early as possible. I bring all this up because of the urgency and necessity of saving our democracy. Nothing in existence is more important than that, so go vote today and make our democratic party victorious on November 8th.

(#5014) 2 weeks from today folks is our destiny

      The time is almost upon us and if there is any doubt about what the outcomes will be then surely you are not paying attention. The republican party wants to tear apart our democracy while the democratic party wants to strengthen it. That is it in a nutshell. There is no ambiguity here! So you have to ask yourself what is it you want from your vote? Do you want to give up 235 years of living under our constitution with it's freedoms and liberty, or do you want to keep it and make it more modern to fit with our evolving society? If you want to let it go then join the ranks of republican voters who cherish a more dictatorial form of government like the one putin and xi are forcing on their nations.
     If you want to keep our constitution and work to improve it where it is outdated then vote with democrats and lots of independents. The choice isn't difficult to understand if you are at all paying even a little attention. There is no embellishment here at all. The republican candidates have made clear that they are not going to keep democracy as a ruling function of our constitution. They will eliminate the need for us to vote so as to keep power for themselves. The democratic candidates are also clear in their message. They want all of us to vote so as to give the people the authority to decide the fate of the people, which makes sense correct? We democrats are not greedy about keeping power for ourselves, all we want is for all of us to keep power.
     So in 14 days we will find out. Hopefully all of us who are eligible to vote will actually vote so we can have a crystal clear idea about the direction for all of us toward the future. When only some of us vote we don't get a good indicator of how we want our society to operate. Now is the time for all to vote who are eligible so that we can say without a doubt a true signal loud and clear has been sent. The mandate coming from this election will carry over for many years to come so the importance of this years election and the one in 2024 will cement whether we remain a democracy or are transformed into an autocracy where one or a few decide the fate for all of us. These are not the wisest nor most honest of people who are trying to rule our lives in the republican party so don't think for a minute that they have the best of intentions for what comes next.

(#5013) I feel the democratic momentum

      For a moment it seemed that our democratic momentum had gone, but now I feel it rising again. I suppose the lag on a plateau was inevitable as a sustained rising of enthusiasm and ground swell is not easy to maintain. But what is learned when the other side shows itself as a greedy self serving entity the pause at the plateau reinvigorates, instead of discourages and continues the journey upward. With 15 days left until the election it is important now to go nonstop to the end so that the republican nefarious agenda never sees the light of day. We who are fighting hard in a never ending loop to keep the republican wolves at bay, at times need to take a breath and remember that life is worthless if all our values are destroyed.
     The principles of democracy are at stake and never before has the outcome of an election in America been contested by an American political party. Although from the looks of it the American republican political party is looking more like a foreign terrorist one. Instead of building our society up they want to tear it down and further take our one person one vote and throw it away. When the republicans admire putin and his tyranny more than they admire the will of the people then is when you know that fascism has a hold on them. The deranged nature of putting suffering on folks for the sake of a madman like putin is appealing to republicans for whatever reason they cannot explain, but desire.
     So the only resolution to the republican anti American platform is to destroy them at the ballot box. Which is what I am feeling coming from our citizenry. There are many bad actors propping up the republican party but their narrative of blaming any and everything on democrats is falling short. They placed all their eggs in the basket of deception to try to tell us that up is down and inside is outside. Well we Americans, who are not as smart as we think we are, at least are not as dumb as republicans hope we are. The blue wave is coming and it is building again a steady but growing wave that will wash the republican dangerous nonsense right back at them on election night.

(#5012) Advocating for Ukraine, and democrats in our American elections is wearing me out!

      Both of these events are current and never more important. In a way they are linked. If the republicans end up winning control of the House then the Ukrainians will have more difficulty getting aid from us here in the States. The republicans have aligned themselves with putin and Russia so that they will certainly try to alleviate the world wide condemnation and support for Ukraine. They will also try to hurt us in the working middle poor class. The republican mantra of taking services away from those who need it most and instead giving it to the wealthy will cause such great harm that instead of prosperity and growth after the election there will be suffering and angst if republicans take control of the House.
     It is a simple fact that even they are explaining to their base. They want to end social security for the elderly. They want to end Medicare/Medicaid for the elderly and the less well off in society. They want a complete abortion ban that would give no rights to women concerning their body after impregnation. They want to end government control of education. They want to end the freedom to vote for all American citizens. They want to take away the way we choose senators and make it a choice only for ruling elites. The way we perceive democracy will be altered toward an authoritarian control where president for life is how we are ruled.
     The republicans will end democracy. They will end social services for all who are not wealthy. They will conscript the military like putin so that they can put down internal uprisings and abscond new territory for themselves from our neighbors Canada, Mexico and Central America. The end game of republicanism is total rule with no threat to their system. That is not democracy it is tyranny. Which in Ukraine would be the outcome if putin has his way much like here in America. Both of these current events are in play at the moment but both can be defeated with an onslaught at the polls by democrats and independents. 16 more weary days left to decide the fate of the world is enough motivation for me to fight through the weary and keep the pressure on for victory!

(#5011) If you want to fix the economy and more then vote for more democratic senators and house representatives

      It will only take us 17 days to begin straightening out the economy. At that time we will have enough senators to overcome the filibuster when they are sworn in on January 3rd. We will also have the necessary democratic house members to vote with the stronger democratic senate to pass legislation that will force corporations to lower prices and/or be hit with large profit taxes. We will also be able to fix other areas of concern like immigration reform, abortion protections, voting rights protections, police reform, greater health care reforms, raising the minimum wage, taxing corporations to higher degree, initiating greater climate change policies, improving education through insightful policies, creating better opportunities for all to work, supporting unionization for workers, etc...
     If any of these and many more things are a concern for you then you will vote for every democrat on your ballot whether federal, state, or local. Because if you don't then the republicans have promised us to reduce federal programs that we pay as insurance against old age and calamity. The republicans want to cut social security and medicare/medicaid entirely. They want the end of food stamps and discounted prices for those at the poverty level. They want women barefoot and pregnant without a vote to protect their interests. They want migrants to be punished for seeking normal agricultural work that has been a staple of theirs for centuries. in essence republicans want to despise us working middle poor class folks and order us around to fulfill their nefarious agenda of power over the people instead of people democratically controlling the power.
     In 17 days the beginning of a new day in America will begin and all it takes is for us to have the will and savvy to grasp it. It is all there for us to see the differences in the 2 major political parties so which shall we choose? I have already chosen mine and my ballot has already been processed into the queue for counting. Early voting here in California, where it will be nationwide once we get our people in place after the election on November 8th, allowed me to vote for every democrat on my ballot and to protect statewide abortion rights. We all have a clear and present chance to make our America into a shining city on the hill so make sure that you do you part and give all of us here and abroad a smile as wide as the Mississippi River the night of November 8th.
     

(#5010) Life is too short so do the correct thing and be a good person, and vote for every democrat on your ballot!

      You do know how you vote defines who you are don't you? Mean and greedy people vote for republicans. People who are too afraid to let anyone know who they are vote independent. People who vote for democrats are good and nice people. People who don't vote are the arrogant selfish ones who couldn't care less about reality. Now you may argue with me about these terms but I am just boiling down what I have seen over a lifetime of observation. The only people who are doing good things for all of us are the ones who vote for democrats. That is a fact whether you like it or not!
     So in which category do you belong? I always say that life is too short to be messing around like it isn't. By that I mean that defining who you are and standing up for that is how you begin life with sense and purpose. When you know that you are a good person and are living as one then you know you are not wasting the precious little time we have to be alive. Bad people who are selfish and mean are not living life they are just existing within life. Their content and behavior are what makes for the problems we have in the world whereas good people don't make problems for others as a way of life. So which is it you are?
     The coming election in 18 days will define who you are so who are you? I only ask because the fate of our nation is at stake and what you do is going to either save our democracy or you will be part of the problem which will destroy our democracy. Your choice! I for one am fighting like a hellcat to save our democracy not just for me or mine but for all of us who are alive and will become alive. Because I know who I am and I am one of those who wants good for all of us not just for myself or a few I think are like me. I am not a prejudiced person when it comes to human beings. I am for equality, equity, fairness so that we all have a shot at our pursuit of happiness. Will you join me and vote for every democrat on your ballot?

(#5009) The pledge of allegiance to our republic should determine your vote, so no vote for the insurrectionists!

     What is a republic? Per Google, "a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch." So any voter out there who willingly votes for a republican, in name only, who tried to overturn our election back on January 21st 2021 is voting against their promise to protect our nation from enemies from without and within! If that pledge you made all those years growing up is nothing more than something you can discard and not a solemn vow then you are not a patriot of these United States of America.
     You can disagree with me all you want but the fact remains that voting for insurrectionists is a violation of that pledge you made to keep our democratic republic safe and secure. Do not try to trick yourself into believing you are not abandoning our constitution through some pretzeled logic because no matter how clever the point is made to vote for an insurrectionist the reality is that you are offering aid and comfort to an enemy of our form of government. Now if you want to rescind your pledge then at least have the guts to admit it and not hide behind your mothers skirts. For all those who do wish to keep their pledge to our democracy then make sure your vote reflects that!
     This election is about our form of government, not about the effects of an up and down economy. Economic concerns are important but as a subset of our democracy. Our democracy holds all of our rights intact so that all of us Americans who are of age can vote, can determine the future of our lives, and can be anything that is possible. We need to keep our form of government strong so that when our democratically elected officials are confronted with life changing decisions they put our nation first and not their own prerogatives. Our republic will only stand if we the voters do our part and uphold our pledge by voting for candidates who will strengthen our democracy not try to uproot it!

(#5008) If you live long enough you see how much damage republicans have done to our society

      The republican party has not in my lifetime been a party of the people of America. They have been the political party of the wealthy. So when reagan got in and did his union busting and trickle down economics the republicans were chest bumping and glad handing each other because they were finally going to prove that they were right about our society. Well since those days unions have been decimated and the price of labor has stagnated and floundered. A real republican conquest. Not only that but with tax cuts to the wealthy, (trickle down) we see that nothing much of anything had trickled down over the last 40 years. So although the trickle never occurred the wealthy still got the bulk of profits.
     Remember that the republican party is all about making sure that the wealthy not only remain wealthy but increase their wealth at rates that are not good for those of us who are not wealthy. Which by the way is about 98% of us. So in a democratic society the republicans fully support about 2% of our citizenry while abandoning the rest of us 98%. So when you go to fill out your ballot this election just know that if you vote for a republican you are voting for tax cuts for the wealthy who are already ridiculously wealthy. You are also voting to deny unionization which protects workers and increases their labor. You will be voting against that if you vote republican.
     Then to top it all off you are hereby reminded that a political party that only represents about 2% of the population is not a party that will fight for democracy as a political system. Instead republicans would prefer an autocracy in the form of a cabal of the wealthy or a strongman like putin who would only represent those who have wealth and their own power. Democracy protects all of us who are in the working middle poor class so voting for a democrat makes more sense since we are the political party of the working middle poor class. What is actually also true about democrats is that we do appreciate the wealthy and their accomplishments but not to the point where we give them our rights to deny!

(#5007) I feel the excitement of a democratic blue wave!

      I have no doubt. Those four words are not easily enunciated after all the disappointments I have felt over the years. Especially in 2016 when trump was installed by the anti democratic electoral college as our president. I felt it in 2000 when the hanging chads of Florida ripped mine and others' hearts out. I remember the deflation when reagan defeated Jimmy Carter in a conjured up attack on Carter. But what disappointment I felt when our man Bobby Kennedy was assassinated during the democratic primary and dick nixon went on to beat a much less formidable candidate, Hubert Humphrey. So I know what disappointment and frustration feel like all too well.
     Yet I also know what over enthusiasm can do when the votes are finally counted. Even when our presidential democratic party candidate has won there was always a letdown in the overall Congressional races. Not always but mostly always. So it isn't easy for me to be without a doubt. Even now when I say I am without a doubt I know that one bad event could change everything in the last 21 days before November 8th. But aside from something horrible occurring I am without a doubt certain that we democrats will hold the House, increase our Senate majority, and take back several State house majorities.     
     That is how confident I am in our noble democratic party and how sure I am about the infections of disloyalty and dishonor that have plagued the republican party. While we democrats are fighting tooth and nail to support democracy, the working middle poor class, and freedom all over the world, the republican party is busy doing the opposite. I know that America can be difficult to understand when things are even keel but not when they are so out of balance. Our nation is topsy turvy at the moment and the only ones who are trying to rectify the upside down dilemma is we democrats. I expect more voters to align with us than with republicans because we Americans are not as mentally inept as we have been known to show in the past.

(#5006) Always the optimist, never the bullied!

      It is always a fine line between wanting everyone to do well and also being strong in the face of assholes. I always give at least one benefit of the doubt because I know that sometimes we all get to a place where we need to make mistakes in order to learn. However, the old adage of "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me" is a hallmark with me. I will not tolerate those who are willfully intolerant, willfully hateful, willfully undemocratic, nor willfully ignorant. There will always be those who cannot stand on principles of honor and respect. To those there is no space in my life.
     But for the vast majority of us there is nothing but space in my life. I am not immune to dismissing family and friends out of my life because I am just as equally adept at admitting new friends and family like people into my life. There is no time to waste on mucking around with chaos and drama when the best of what life can be is the alternative. That is why I am always optimistic about our future. We have way more good people than awful people in the States and I expect that to show itself come election day November 8th. Yet the fight for our soul is not done as there are still more than 3 weeks left until the election.
     As we get closer to the election we are seeing even more of the ridiculousness of the republican party. If it weren't so serious and dangerous it would be laughable. Yet too many take the republican talking points as somehow necessary which is why we need to make sure that no republican gets a single democratic vote. How we do that is by telling the truth and standing up hard to defend it. No more wiggle room for the bullies in the world only raised fists and a glare that would burn a hole in thick steel. We democrats want great things for our society and we will only get them if we fight with a vengeance to protect the opportunity!

(#5005) The closer we get to the election the more people will vote for democrats

      The national polling hasn't figured out how to formulate algorithmic momentum yet but regardless, momentum is on the side of democrats. How do I know? Pretty easy to figure out because who is excited to be a insurrectionist? Who is excited to destroy democracy? Who is excited to deny women equality in our society? Who is excited to only recognize white men as the only deserving privileged? Who is excited to destroy Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security? Who is excited to keep our planet in dirty energy? Not a lot of folks as far as I can see. But those who are against these obnoxious policies of republicans, like we democrats, are excited to defeat these horrendous goals of the republican party!
     Now I know I am not telling you anything here that if you didn't already know knew in your gut but were hesitant to admit. Well that hesitancy is all but coming to an end and with that are coming more democratic votes. It will be something special to witness if things continue over the next 3 plus weeks until election day. Many have already voted like myself because I and we want to make sure our vote is in so that we are free to help others if needed to get their vote counted. We need all of us to vote in our society so that our society is truly reflected in the results.
     We democrats won't be able to change the thick headed who cannot see the trees for the forest but we can change the minds of those who do practice critical thinking but are as yet fully informed. Those people will be the difference in how this election proceeds to a conclusion. So we must make our best arguments for our case so that not only will democracy survive it will thrive! Inclusion and opportunity will be our key words for our economy and reversing the wrongs of the past into positives going forward. We democrats are the future of our species while the republicans are the past. This will be our democratic narrative going forward and the fight for our civilization to continue toward a pursuit of happiness for all of us!

(#5004) elon musk is a dangerous supporter of putin

      So musk says that Russia can wipe out the US and Europe in 30 minutes if it wanted to. Well that kind of idiocy is what makes for fearmongering. There is no way in hell Russia can harm both the US and Europe without first being annihilated itself. So all musk is doing is being a dishonest spokesperson for putin. The damage a person like musk can create in the public market is immeasurable. He is like trump in that respect because there are always those who will believe anything he says. Both are a canker sore on the ass of our democracy and for our ass to heal the canker sores must be treated.
     Not only should musk be censored for his disloyalty to democracy but he must be made to pay where it will hurt him most, in his wallet. To make false statements in order to receive a benefit must be tried in court where real harm from his words can be adjudicated. He is "prime" now for damages to our society by what is essentially yelling fire in a crowded theater. People like him and trump who are conmen who only have their own interests at heart can easily be seen through when what they are supporting weakens our democracy instead of strengthening it. Same with putin, a despot who would destroy Ukrainian sovereignty and it's fledgling democracy for his own personal gain.
     Regardless of the absurdity of musk's comments, no change of tactic will come about. Ukraine will continue to push Russia back to it's borders and the west will continue to help them. putin and musk can lie as they will but we in the civilized world of law and order must act to make them pay for their choice. Like we are doing with trump, a process for finding guilt and then a process for sentencing must endure the obfuscation and deliberate denial of their proven acts. musk is now a straw man for putin and any attempt by him to play both sides must be met with the back of our democratic hand.

(#5003) Media polling doesn't make sense

      That there is even a chance for republicans in this cycle seems ludicrous. With insurrection and a massive hate for women, people of color and the middle working poor class in general, the idea that republicans could win the midterms is mind boggling. How can it even be possible? I think the media is skewing the polls they take toward being more accepting of republican tactics to destroy our democracy than being even handed or even calling out republican candidates who are well grounded in trying to destroy our democracy.
     I am sorry here but the polling sites can kiss my ass. They seem to be more a business than a reality check. And as a business they have to treat both sides as if they are equal in order to get the payouts they need to exist. So although the poling seems to favor democrats in the senate and republicans in the house I call bullshit! I think we democrats could easily gain 8 Senate seats and add another 10 house seats at minimum. I would be in the minority on this since the media has done such a good job of skewing favorability toward republicans. Yet the gut feeling I am getting tells me that most people know republicans are the problem in our society and many will vote accordingly.
     Too much weight is being given to historical trends and gerrymandered districts. What republicans have done and are still doing has transcended behavior within bounds of normalcy and have effectively destroyed their chances at being considered as serious public servants. They don't want to protect our democratic society they want to tear it down. Many voters will not vote for them that may well have voted for them this cycle before the truth of their agenda was revealed. Democrats will win many races that were thought to be going for republicans and that is what I think will be.

(#5002) The reckoning for putin is approaching

     As each day turns into night putin has to go to sleep knowing that his options for existing are dwindling. He is now at the stage where he is firing missiles at civilian targets in some kind of last gasp attempt to influence how Ukraine is operating this repulsion of his murderous invasion. All he is succeeding in doing is strengthening the resolve of the Ukrainian people as well as reinforcing the resolve of the west to stand firm on its commitment to Ukraine. He is finding out that the chicken littles are not in charge and instead the fight like hell warriors are!
     There is really only one card putin has left to play and he has already shown that card numerous times as attempts to scare his victims. None of the time has his nuclear threats deterred the mighty defense coming from Ukraine and the west. So all he has left is to actually use his nukes. There is nothing stopping him from doing so unless those inside Russia who have power decide enough is enough. What will happen when the defense of democracy, liberty, and freedom are under assault is to never back down defending those ideals turned into reality.
     So the fool putin will do what he does and we in the west will respond in ways that will certainly end Russia as a nation and will most certainly put putin out of existence. The negatives are what they will be and those who survive will have a record of just how it happened. Nothing in life is guaranteed and until most all humans understand that simple concept the way we live will be determined by fighting to keep the better and best of what we achieve viable. I doubt putin will go to the ultimate extreme but one can never say never when a despot is about to be caught and put to an end.

(#5001) Better to be off Facebook than limit my speech

      Yes, I have been hit with a 7 day suspension from Facebook for being frank about a war strategy. Fine, they got a problem with this speech and want to punish me for speaking then so be it. I will get along fine not being on their platform for a week or however long next time. Because I don't really care what they think about trying to tame me of my right to speech. I was not inciting anything, I was not hating anything. I was simply stating that blowing up that bridge that had already been damaged was the right thing to do. Blow it up and be done with the Russians easily supplying their troops in their murderous invasion of Ukraine.
     What is ridiculous is that I could have instead said eliminate that bridge and would not have been subject to Facebook's arbitrary guidelines. Yet I didn't so maybe I will try to be a bit more selective in my verb selection when describing real war tactics but the point being here is the context. If I am not allowed to discuss alternative strategies in an illegal invasion where 10's of thousands of innocent beings are being killed and maimed then Facebook is becoming more like putin and less like Zelenskyy. I suspect that to be the case anyway as too many of the ultra wealthy see themselves as demigods instead of citizens of democracy.
     So be it. In 5 days I will be back on Facebook with a tempered anger and ready to speak harshly but with more nuance. Or I will just enjoy my hiatus from the daily likings, not likings, and commentating. there seems to be much more time available to me in my little break from the masters of Facebook that I may just make it a regular item on my what to do during the day list. With all things that become more dictatorial than open and free with specific, not ambiguous, limitations, people will drift away. This is what I suspect may eventually happen to Facebook. Too full of themselves while trying to control our behavior and activities. Well enough of that and more of being the boss of our own selves.

(#5000) Milestone post about why I post

      In the beginning of this run of daily postings I wanted to talk about human nature and my take on it. For me the most important thing we can learn while we are alive is who we are as human beings. I have narrowed myself down to 2 things, Compassionate and curious. Sure I am a biological being with physical traits that make me and us by extension unique. But it is what is in our souls and our minds that fuel our evolution. I will add one more minor but nonetheless as important a trait and that is the will to survive. But for me, caring and wondering defines our definition of what it is to be a human. Now you may say to me but what about all the bad stuff we humans exhibit?
     Well I would say to you that when we are not allowing our compassion and curiosity to dominate our lives we become less than ideally human and that is when our more nefarious traits can overrule our better and best traits. Real simple, when we are not living as compassionate and curious we are devolving, not evolving into our true nature. If you think about how much time would be taken up by being compassionate and curious you then should realize that there is no time left for anything other. I know we are not machines that can switch off and on with the flick of a finger, yet we can condition ourselves to keeping to a mindset that not only benefits us individually but collectively.
     So for this 5000th post I just want to reiterate my reason for even starting this blog. To lay out my thinking on what we are as a species and how we go about living like the amazing species we have become. As far as I have been logically and scientifically shown we humans are the most intellectual and enlightened species ever to have existed in our environment. Given this great honor and duty, we are necessarily the stewards of time and space as we know it. Ours is a great responsibility and must be carried out with wisdom and foresight. All the species' on our planet are beholden to what we do for ourselves and by extension for them as well. Such a task we have and we must always live up to the moment.

(#4999) Take out Russian conventional missiles launched from Russia at Ukrainian population centers

      When one nation is trying to destroy another nation the rules for engagement must not restrict the nation from being attacked to defend itself. Regardless of the consequences the nation being attacked, in this case Ukraine. must be allowed and helped to destroy the offensive capabilities of the attacking nation, in this case Russia. No matter what military might the attacking nation poses through threats. If this is the moment of truth for which we have all been living under then so be it. Many have put this kind of threat in the back of their minds pretending that it is not real, however it is real and must be dealt with when a bully triggers the possibility.
     One who is in a fight cannot be asked to save his own life with one hand tied behind him. The one being attacked is the victim. Treat him as such and help him fight the unprovoked attack. Russia will do what it does and that will be on them so we must do what we do and not be hindered by threats from a cruel and brutish dictator. Our way of life is being tested so we must meet the test head on with all our principles for democracy intact. There will be no cowering to a bully only raised fists. It is on putin to prove he is a weakling or a madman. Either way he will be finished over this.
     Whatever long range missiles or fighter jets required must be allocated if we are to defend democracy for Ukraine. The Russian long range missiles need a response or the civilian population in Ukraine will continue to feel the throes of agony for generations to come. The madness of putin and his ease at committing war crimes must be put to an end and that means right now! The world is watching and will take their cues from those of us who have said we will protect Ukraine but what does that protection look like. Will we help Ukraine stop all attacks on it's  homeland or will we stand by and let the scoundrel putin murder scores of people because we are reluctant to face our own destiny?

(#4998) Is the end of putin within days?

      The situation with putin and his disarrayed invasion of Ukraine has left no doubt that the Russian hierarchy is not happy. More than 62 thousand dead Russian soldiers, crippling sanctions, and the tremendous loss of armaments has them on edge. Now internal strife between the military and the political leaders is beginning to simmer to the top. With the explosion on the Russia to Crimea bridge and a previous attempt on putins life, the situation with putin is obviously in flux. The unsettled nature of a power struggle within Russia is brewing.
     There is no hope now of Russia winning any territory in Ukraine and claiming any kind of victory so what will the end game be? How will this failed invasion of Ukraine be recorded when the final accounting is done? For me the end of putin is a logical consequence of his own deeds. He chose to attack Ukraine and steal their treasures. He chose to murder Ukrainians through warfare and commit war crimes. He exemplified the worst of what humanity can do when there is no respect for life nor liberty. He is the nefarious example of authoritarianism in real life. So his failure will deliver to him the dirty deeds he delivered to others.
     If Russia is to survive as a nation it will have to end the putin reign quickly. Otherwise putin will go into his death throes lashing out in any number of really harmful ways. He doesn't care about life except his own. If he is to be vanquished then he will take as many as he can with him. Which is why he must be stopped before he can entertain his worst thoughts on our heads. I expect those in Russia to do what needs to be done. They have the most to lose if not and the most to gain if so. The end of putin is becoming the only option so how quickly his end comes will dictate the future for everyone else.

(#4997) The republican party is correctly being punished for being anti democratic!

      As well they should be. The momentum that we democrats are carrying into this midterm election keeps growing and what was supposed to be an off party victory in historical terms is becoming an in party victory as it is trending. The reason for me is clear. The republican party has become a party of anti democratic policies and even supported an insurrection on January 6th 2021. That republicans feel the need to be anti democratic is based on the fact that they are not a party of inclusion, Instead they are a party of pure capitalism where too many are left behind with no hope of a life of happiness. Life is too short to have to be denied opportunity so only a few can have most opportunities.
     If I had to choose the most egregious denial of rights this cycle it would be the ending of Roe v. Wade. Taking the right of women to choose what happens to their bodies and future lives away from them is not only a bridge too far but it is so emotionally charged as to get most free thinking women and men angry and ready to do something about it. There are other problems the republicans are facing. They ignore science so often that our planet is about to have a reckoning against we human beings that could end our existence. Nature has always been a balance but republicans are not attuned to that concept. There is also the links to hate groups that are exemplified by right wing nazi propaganda.
     All in all the republican party has stopped offering social programs aimed at giving our society the equity it demands and has instead embraced authoritarian dogma that puts people into categories of property to be controlled instead of equal liberties with equal freedom. Most people are beginning to see through the veil of ignorance and lies that the republican party is fomenting and as we near the election day of November 8, 2022 I expect the democrats to have convinced the swing voters in this country that voting for republicans is voting for dictatorship and iron fisted rule. Democracy is a precious gift to everyone and people of good will know that and vote accordingly.

(#4996) putin is lucky to be here in our existence

      We are not lucky to have him here since he is a despot and a cruel one at that. His bullying is undeniable with his own people forcing them to fight an invasion they literally want nothing to do with. Hence many young men are leaving Russia any way they can to escape putins forced conscription. Guys like putin need to be dealt with immediately so that they cannot insulate themselves from accountability. What has perplexed me to no end is that not one Russian is capable of taking on putin and putting an end to his reign of terror. He is a monster to be sure but you cannot tell me that there are not good souled Russians who would forsake all if necessary to stop this madness.
     The threat of nuclear war is putins latest gambit, returning to a refrain he employed early on when he was losing ground in his invasion of Ukraine. Threats of nuclear war should put every decent Russian on edge to find a way to stop him. Who in their right mind would want the whole of Russia annihilated while only doing minimal damage outside Russia. Russia will not survive a nuclear launch from their battle placements. So why aren't the Russian people who have any sense, working on a plan to pull the rug out from under putin so to speak so that more intelligent Russians who want to exist in the world can begin to realign the Russian nation.
     I know how I am and that is why I am baffled as to why putin has survived this long. No one man should be able to act as a tyrant and demand the lives of his own countrymen for a folly and ego driven imagining. I have been saying this for months and will keep saying it until it is done. The life of putin is not worth the close to 100 thousand souls he has ended both in Ukraine and Russia. Our species has a flaw in it's DNA when things like this continue. Governance through democracy is self rule by the majority, not like the autocrats and monarchies where too few tell too many how to live or suffer harsh consequences. The end of putin is nigh and needs to be done before I finish typing this!

(#4995) 33 days until the election

      So many states have already started their early voting and we here in California will begin in 4 days when our ballots hit the mail. The tremendous effort it will take to get all our voters out to vote is still upon us so let us not take a break until we get every soul we know to the voting booth. Every election from dog catcher on up is extremely important. We cannot have right wing insurrectionists in any public office trying to influence any gullible citizen from a position of power. We must purge those we can this election and then make the rest that are not up for election, moot! Which means we like minded democrats, independents, and even sane republicans must work together to protect our democracy from the democracy destroying putin loving magas!
     I know when my ballot shows up I will be voting for every democrat on the ballot and if no democrat is running for any race on my ballot then the independent gets my vote. I will never cast a vote for a republican even if it means I write in my own name. The nature of the wealthy loving republicans is coming into focus with their women hating and race baiting positions. They choose to be racist in order to secure their white nationalist nazi voting base. Sad to say some still vote for them and refuse to believe they are connected to the worst dregs of our society. It is a sad commentary on their inability to comprehend even the most simple basic concepts.
     But those reality challenged souls are becoming fewer and fewer as we close in on the election. The republican party cannot hide their nefarious intent without being completely ridiculous. Too many independents are turning away from them because of the nonsense they are adamant about proclaiming. In an intelligent world this race for control of government wouldn't even be close for republicans because logic and common sense would destroy their absurdities. But we are not in an intelligent world as much as we would like so we have to resort to making sure we narrate the facts without hesitation so that those who are reality challenged at least get to hear a factual argument based upon the truth.

(#4994) My old laptop computer is back

      A couple of my keys were displaced on my Toshiba several weeks ago so I had to go out and buy a replacement device. A Gateway notebook was the choice that was reasonably priced to fit my tight budget. It worked fine but didn't have some of the features of my Toshiba, plus the keys were further spread out which played havoc with my intermediary typing skills. Well I sent away to ReplacementLaptopKeys.com and got the new keys that were displaced and my nephew Casey was here and easily installed them for me. He is a bit of a computer geek so I did ask him to do it for me not because I couldn't but because he is much better at the little detail things like this than I am.
     So now here I am typing away on my Toshiba only making a few errors because my fingers are having to adjust back from the Gateway to the Toshiba. I now have a spare computer that I can take if I travel away from home for any period of time. I do try hard to write my daily blog so this will still be a benefit having the extra computer. Now that I know this Toshiba will be working well I just ordered 8 other new keys to replace the ones that are worn down with little or no letters exposed on them. So a refurbishing for a low price is worth it. My fingers are flowing now back into the routine that I had become accustomed.
     With my Mothers recent passing my Dad is going to be having to make some decisions about the rest of his life so whatever he wants to do is what I hope to be able to make happen for him as best I can. It is possible he may want to move back up to Washington state where most of his siblings and a few of his children and grandchildren are and if so I will go with him to truck his belongings with him. I need an adventure if he does decide to do that and would welcome one up in the Seattle area. I lived up there for nearly 20 years and would enjoy seeing the progress the state has made since I left back in 1998. But if not I am well situated now with my Toshiba back in functioning order and am grateful for that.

(#4993) I can't seem to focus today

      This post will be about nothing in particular at this moment. I seem to be drawing a blank on what to say if anything. Normally that is not a problem as I have opinions on many subjects. Yet today is just a floating experience. Nothing to anchor me to any real commitment to advocate or surmise. I know what I am going through with tremendous loss but still life goes on and the time for floating through life is not now! Yet here I am. I remember the angst and fear that so many Ukrainians are living through so my little world problems should not be any excuse for me not to keep my wits about me.
     My guess is that I am really tired and need about a weeks worth of sleep. Even 8 straight hours would be a miracle. I was up at 3:30 this morning because on Tuesdays I schedule the watering for trees, bushes, plants, shrubs, and hedges. So taking care of that and doing some light yard work I was done before the sun came up this morning. I have been told by my Doctor to not do anything strenuous until I have the results reported back to me on an EKG that is scheduled for this Thursday. So no using my yard rake to stay ahead of the vast amount of fallen leaves. I get my 5th Covid shot on Monday and my Flu and 2nd Shingles shots on Wednesday. So busy time for me on the medical front.
     I think I just need a nice long uninterrupted sleep. Something that I haven't had in what seems like decades. My mind is always on go so getting it to slow down long enough to let me recharge is difficult. Plus my dogs, who bark at the wind blowing are of little help in the sleep department. Don't misunderstand about my dogs, they come first with me. Same with my cats but luckily they make little noise. So it seems I have written more than enough for a blog post so I will end here and wish all of Ukraine a speedy release from the tyrant putin and we Americans a decisive victory for democrats in the midterm elections.

(#4992) Hard day today

      Most of us who are born to a Mother who cared for us all of our lives eventually experience her passing. Such was my day last evening. My Mother Joanne lived to be 89 years old and was still on top of things mentally although her physical state was compromised. Her passing yesterday, apparently from a stroke sort of caught me by surprise as she seemed to be as normal as possible given her limited mobility. It isn't so much that I hadn't prepared myself for her eventual passing it is just that when it happened it was out of the blue. She didn't wake up yesterday morning and was labored in her breathing.
     So naturally my Dad, Sister Marie, and nephew Casey called an ambulance and she was rushed to a local hospital. They put her on a respirator because her breathing was too labored and during the day did their protocol to try to ascertain her medical condition. It wasn't until about 7:25 last evening that they removed the respirator and she stopped breathing on her own. My Mom who was one of the nicest persons I ever met was also one of the strongest persons I have ever met. Her will was amazing. If I have learned anything from her over the course of my lifetime it is to never give up. I even half expected her to survive this medical emergency.
     My Mom's father, Carl Morrow also had a stroke that debilitated him for most of his adult life so strokes are not unknown in our family. A huge family we have. Mom left behind 8 children, the eldest Jim Clark who died in 2004. She was also the eldest child of 8 that her mother Elizabeth Morrow brought into the world. Joanne is survived by her 2 sisters, Linda and Betsy, and 2 brothers, Bob and Art. I cannot tell you how many grandchildren my Mother had but it is more than 50 I believe. Then there are all the many great grandchildren. My Mom was the hub of life in our world and her passing leaves a void where no one can fill. My Dad, Bill Hall, who married my Mom when I was nearly 7 years old spent the last 60 plus years married to our Mom and he is naturally heartbroken and will have many of us family members around him for the rest of his life.
     

(#4991) Over 60,000 young Russian men are now dead because putin is an inhumane egoist!

      Lately on the invasion by Russia into Ukraine approximately 400 to 500 Russian soldiers are reported killed each day by the Ukrainian government. I tried to image a big block that size of generally 20 year old young men that each day disappears off the face of the Earth. 20 columns of 20 rows equals 400 young men and just trying to visualize, in my mind, the totality of a group like that is not easy. Every day that this invasion continues is just another day that many young Russian men cease to exist. I do not think that the cruel brutish behavior of putin should be allowed to dictate that these young people continue to die.
     If there is a group of people that should not spend one more day being alive it is those who are directing this catastrophic invasion of Ukraine, including the head of the directing. 60,000 young men are now no more in Russia. How many more young men of Russian nationality will no longer exist in the coming 10 days? Another approximately 4,000 to 5,000. Is this the value that has to be paid for no return? Because know this, Ukraine will not lose this putin led Russian invasion and putin knows it but is determined to spend his country's blood anyway. The mere existence of a person like putin is an affront to what is better and best of our species and when a member of our species behaves like putin is he doesn't deserve to continue to exist.
     A generation of souls is being liquidated of life by having to follow orders from, in my estimation, a madman. No, putin is not a raving lunatic, instead he is a cold calculating selfish opportunist who worked his way up to being the most feared tyrant on our planet. He has no empathy or concern for the cost of blood or treasure he imposes on those he rules with an iron fist. He just wants his results and his results are an expansion of his claim to be ruler of the world. There is only one option here that has a solution to saving young Russian lives that will surely be gone as each day passes and that solution is for putin to pay the fair and final cost for his own brutal actions.

(#4990) putin putting junior officers in charge because his experienced officers are mostly dead

      The obviousness of the latest putin maneuver to replace his dead commanders with military school recruits is mind boggling. He thinks that no matter what Russian the murderous invasion must go on despite the devastation to his military. That is one cold calculating monster. These young recruits both command staff and line soldiers will have no chance to survive the next month or so. The Ukrainian military and partisan fighters are seasoned and experienced in defending their homeland and attacking the Russian invaders. This will not be a happy time for Russians conscripted into fighting a no win invasion in Ukraine.
     The one who should be putting his life on the line is putin who has so far mismanaged this invasion while also underestimation the sheer force of will of the Ukrainian people. There has to be a reckoning for putin for his ego driven brutishness and outright lies to his countrymen/women. How in the world can the Russian people not uprise and usurp power from the ego driven putin and put him out of power. They have only themselves to blame for the 100's of daily deaths of their sons in Ukraine for only putin and his ego. Do they think they will get to share in the hoped for spoils of war against Ukraine? No, they will be no better off for all the sacrifice they have already made.
     With logic in place it is correct to assume that if the experienced commanders were unable to protect themselves and their troops how is it even possible to think fresh recruits will be able to reverse that? They won't, but what will happen to them is the same as their previous commanders, fertilizer for Ukrainian soil. The end of the Russian hegemony in Eastern Europe is officially being destroyed by the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people. So few thought this could occur but occur it is.. As long as putin is allowed to remain in leadership the worse for Russia the future becomes.