by Paula | Mar 11, 2018 | Paula Persists, Uncategorized
Change itself is normal. Life around us does not hold still; the seasons change, children grow up, people get sick, we change jobs, and so on. There is a certain degree of predictability, or (at least) advanced warnings to most significant changes, and we modify our expectations accordingly.
However, the changes we are seeing on our national political scene are not normal. Nothing has been ‘normal’ since we handed the presidency to an unqualified Reality TV buffoon. Ever in character, The D’s administration has gleefully eschewed any semblance of normal with an ongoing display of erratic, unpredictable and bizarre behavior. Bizarre is The D’s normal.
This is not a ‘politics as usual’ disagreement on policies. Trying to discern The D’s actual policies is like chasing a rainbow–his policy positions are mirages that shift and change shape along with the prevailing cable news winds–sometimes dissipating altogether. Where does the D stand on gun control? On DACA, on North Korea, on import tariff exemptions, on Jared’s security clearance? The answer depends on which talking head he watched most recently on Fox News.
The D’s primary (and possibly only) concern is his own fame. He demands constant attention and acts like a sulking child if/when the spotlight shifts off his orange noggin for a nano-second; and like a sulking child, will act out in outrageous ways to regain the spotlight. Unfortunately, for all of us, The D’s temper tantrums result in ill-considered tweets, executive orders, or other directives that create division, chaos and confusion; with the potential to ruin people’s lives and/or livelihoods.
By many accounts, the D doesn’t read and regularly disregards his advisors – often dismissing them as boring. He feels that his own intuition is greater than anyone else’s knowledge, and openly disdains those that actually do their homework. His staff have short shelf-lives, as they either quit in disgust, or cannot sustain a sufficient level of grovelling to maintain their position.
As Americans, we need to resist the trend towards ignorance, divisiveness and governing by intimidation and fear-mongering. We cannot and should not accept this as normal. I refuse to believe that The D represents who we are as a nation.
I am much heartened by the activism displayed by our young people in the wake of the Parkland High shooting; they have interjected a much-needed boost of youthful passion to the gun control debate, and have given us much reason for optimism and faith that reason may once again prevail.
by Paula | Aug 5, 2017 | Paula Persists, Uncategorized
Our current administration is reminiscent of a soap-opera, complete with an ever-changing colorful cast of characters and over-the-top melodrama. The lead actor in this ultimate reality show thrives on the attention and chaos.
However, The D has had a rough couple of weeks. Despite years of rhetoric blasting the Affordable Care Act, his Republican henchmen have been unable to agree on an alternative. A bill that is cruel enough to satisfy the hard-core tea-partiers can’t get past the few Republican moderates that still have remnants of a spine. One of their many kooky schemes was to deliberately pass a horrible bill, with a pre-agreement that the House would shoot it down. They were going to kick a shit-can of a bill down the road with the hope that Paul Ryan’s House would rise above the stench.
The D’s bizarre policy-by-tweet approach is proving to be unsuccessful with top military brass, who were not consulted prior to The D’s s random tweet banning transgender troops. The Brass have made it clear that tweets are not a substitute for actual policy, and have (bravely and wisely) opted to take no action until and unless an actual command or policy emerges. On the bright side– It appears that the whole debacle has raised our awareness of the existence and bravery of our transgender troops.
It would be tough to screw up a speech to a bunch of wholesome Boy Scouts. Yet, the D managed to blow it–bigly. It was a bizarre, curse-laced political and self-aggrandizing rant. No merit badge for The D.
We should thank The D for one of the most entertaining episodes of his administration thus far–The Mooch! Scaramucci’s pugnacious, confrontational style stood out as over-the-top; even among the colorful cast at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Stephen Colbert had a field day with many Mooch quotes, including this “I don’t stab people in the back, I am more of a front-stabber”.
Sadly, for Colbert and his comic colleagues, The Mooch only lasted 10 days before getting ousted. But stay tuned, who knows what the next episode of “as The D Turns” will bring?
by Paula | May 16, 2017 | Paula Persists, Uncategorized
Well, well. We may finally be getting an answer to the question I posed just a few days ago: Is there any act that is too outrageous, unlawful, unconstitutional, self-serving, embarrassing or cruel for Trump to be held accountable by the Republican’ts?
Given recent events, we are seeing the faintest glimmer of hope that a few Republican’s are being reintroduced to their spines: the edges of the dark cloak of loyalty are starting to fray. Mere obstruction of justice (firing of Comey) wasn’t compelling enough: But–the casual sharing of highly classified information, for purposes of self-aggrandizement, to his Russian buddies just may just have crossed a line that even the Republicans won’t (or can’t) defend.
This post is short – by the time I press publish, there will no doubt be new plot twists and revelations to consider. You just can’t make this stuff up.
by Paula | Apr 22, 2017 | Paula Persists
Today, I am particularly nostalgic for the Obama’s grace and class. Barack and Michelle always treated each other with respect and love. In contrast, The D rarely misses an opportunity to display his boorishness and lack of common decency.
The D consistently ignores Melania and leaves her to her own devices when going from Point A to Point B, as recently depicted in their exit from AirForce One, which is in sharp contrast to the more congenial descents of other first couples.
Monday, the D flung some poor kid’s hat into the crowd after signing it at the hastily organized White House Easter egg roll–He essentially stole some kids hat to fling into the crowd. He also failed to put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, until Melanie gave him a poke.
The D recently took to Twitter to defend former Fox-News pundit, Bill O’Reilly –days before O’Reilly was fired due to a egregious pattern of sexual harassment towards female colleagues. O’Reilly and The D personify the despicable old-boy mindset that any women is fair game to be ogled and groped; or insulted if they are deemed too unattractive to ‘deserve’ their revolting advances.
To me, his outright refusal to shake hands with Angela Merkel remains as a low point in a very deep well of boorish behavior. Although–perhaps being ignored when offering a handshake is preferred over enduring the bizarre hurky-jerky, wood -sawing motion of the D’s handshake.
In addition to his astonishing misogeny, the list of character flaws is long. The D is absurdly vain and self-centered; frequently going off-script to congratulate himself and/or nonsensically describe how awesome he is; with forehead-smacking results.
During an appearance with the Italian prime Minister, the D referred to the great opera tenor, Pavarotti, as his great friend: despite the fact that Pavarotti has been dead for 10 years: Perhaps they used to party with Fredrick Douglass, another great (and deceased) friend of The D’s.
The D is too thin-skinned to attend the up-coming White House Correspondence Dinner. (On a side note: Women were not allowed to attend the dinner until 1962, when a persistent (and probably nasty) woman by the name of Helen Thomas raised a ruckus about it.)
Individually, some of these events are merely fodder for a national eye-roll. As a whole, a picture emerges of a leader who lacks basic emotional intelligence and is unable to feel empathy or respect for others.
I have a personal litmus test I use when gauging how responsible or trustworthy someone is. My conclusion for The D is: No, I would not trust him to feed my cat.
by Paula | Mar 25, 2017 | Paula Persists, Uncategorized
(Sung to the tune of Ding, Dong! The witch is dead–from the Wizard of Oz)
Ding, Dong! The Bill is dead. Which old bill? The Trump Care Bill!
Ding, dong! The wicked bill is dead.
Wake up – sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Bill is dead. It’s gone where the Crap bills go,
Below – below – below. Yo-ho, let’s open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong’ the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Bill is dead!
As a legally registered voter, in the country that we all love
I welcome this failure most regally.
But we’ve got to verify it legally, to see
To see?
If the GOP; Is morally, ethic’lly,
Spiritually, politically,
Positively, absolutely
Undeniably and dangerously Inept.
As a pundit, I must opine, I thoroughly examined them;
And the GOP’s not just inept, they are really most sincerely inept.
Then this is a day of celebration for all who Care.
Yes, let the joyous news be spread ; The wicked bad BILL for now is dead!
