TODAY'S RAMBLINGS I really wanted to kick off Monday with a cheery, fun newsletter about a light topic.
But no. First was Bill Maher on his show on Friday night chatting up the story that the 13 House Republicans that voted for the recent infrastructure bill have each received death threats. Over an infrastructure bill that will benefit every single American.
(Wow, would President Dwight D. Eisenhower have been loathed by these people!!! First, he was the founding father of Anti-Fascism [or Antifa, for short] as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II, and then, as President, signed into law The National Interstate and Defense Highways Act, the largest infrastructure program in US history at the time. Eisenhower was a Republican and president for two terms, from 1952 - 1960.)
Then, there was this extensive and thoroughly documented article in The New York Times, about how advocating for violence is becoming de rigueur within the Republican party. Here's a link to a PDF of the article, so you'll have no paywall problems.
The article is important, and please, is this what we want in America? Armed violence among different warring factions? "When do we get to use the guns?" My God.
And of course, it's way old news about Dr. Fauci. Here's a brilliant doctor and public servant that has dedicated his entire life to saving the lives of others. Yet he receives death threats like nobody's business.
OK, there have always been nuts out there. But this is different and here's why. This is a quote from the "Menace" article, from a political scientist, in reference to America's history of political violence, like in the late 1960's:
“What’s different about almost all those other events is that now, there’s a partisan divide around the legitimacy of our political system,” he said. “The elite endorsement of political violence from factions of the Republican Party is distinct for me from what we saw in the 1960s. Then, you didn’t have — from a president on down — politicians calling citizens to engage in violent resistance.”
Let that sink in for a few minutes.
And then ask yourself this, please: If the insurrectionists had reached them on January 6, would they have mutilated or killed Vice President Pence? Speaker Pelosi? Would that have been a good or dreadful thing?
Despite the horrific carnage and loss of life, it might have been good thing, if only because you'd hope that would be enough to break the Trump fever and this new-found love for autocracy by people that should know better.
You know, the sight of duly elected officials performing a bedrock function of our democracy being brutally murdered by a Fascist mob, over a complete and total lie. Surely, that would be enough to end the madness, right?
Kevin McCarthy, would that be enough? Ted Cruz? Tucker Carlson? Jim Jordan? Marjorie Fucking Taylor Greene?
I tried to exhibit a balanced view in my last two posts. Is there any reader out there that can explain the equal dangers that Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are posing to society and especially, your way of life, that would warrant killing them (or me)? FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES This is from this past Friday night. They're filming a movie at the Palace of Fine Arts, and it was illuminated in a really trick manner, unlike anything we've seen in 30 years. That's the beautiful Laura Gonzalez, along with the equally beautiful Mrs. Portico Darwin. Is that an alcoholic beverage in a city park?
Thank you to any one that is reading this newsletter.
KLUF First the Raymond Michaels pick of the excellent and recent Kings of Leon album, "When You See Yourself", and now this. Perhaps my recent indictment of the current music scene, while not fully incorrect, was perhaps not fully accurate either? It seems impossible, I know.
But check out the KoL album, and also this record, My Morning Jacket's eponymous new album. Killer, and apologies for the Spotify stream.
And speaking of my morning jacket, there's this. I've been waiting for an excuse to use this gem, as you'd guess.
