The Gospel According to Ryan: Play My Video, or Else

 We are in dangerous times for this country. Student's rights and freedoms regarding religious are continuously under assault. The newly created Department of  Religious Liberty and Patriotism will be working to thwart any attempts to disrupt our Oklahoma Student's fundamental freedoms.  

In one of the first steps of the newly created department, we are requiring all of Oklahoma schools to play the attached video to all kids who are enrolled. We are also requiring that school districts send this video to all parents as well. 

Ryan Walters' email attached to the video sent to every Oklahoma school district.

Ah yes, nothing says freedom quite like, "requiring," young people and their parents to watch what amounts to a political propaganda film. Of course, we should expect this sort of Orwellian logic from now on. Indeed, now that America has jumped gleefully headfirst into the post-democracy era political and pseudo-Christian edicts are going to become common place. 

It doesn't matter to Ryan Walters if his proclamation is legal, or not In fact, the Oklahoma Attorney General's office almost immediately sent out a email of their own saying it isn't. All that matters to Ryan Walters is that his guy won the Presidency and now he gets to do whatever the fuck he wants--besides it is just a matter of time and some legislative chicanery before it does become legal. That's what happens when you're on a roll.

Walters went on CNN Friday to agree with his Lord and Keeper, Donald Trump that the U.S. Department of Education should be abolished. According to the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, America was better off without it and in truth, we were better off with one room schools located in towns with no paved streets, running water, and electricity. You know, the good old days. 

The Walters' demand, for now anyway, has been met with some resistance. Eight of the state's largest school districts have flatly refused to force their students to watch Ryan's right-wing screed and moment of patriotic prayer which was titled, "A Prayer for the Nation.". (His lead in was: Students are encouraged, but not required to join me in this prayer.) The school districts of Bixby, Edmond, Moore, Mid-Del, Mustang, Norman, Tulsa, and Yukon all refused to show the video. The Oklahoma City Public School District put off their decision until early this coming week. 

All the districts rebelling probably didn't accomplish anything except prove to Walters he was right. In his pre-prayer address he warned students and parents alike about the threat from, "the radical left." Then he told the kiddies, mommies, and daddies, "Wave also seen patriotism mocked and a hatred for this country pushed by woke teachers unions."   

Oklahoma state Representative, Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman) was moved to say, "This is true indoctrination and ignores local control at every level." Moore republican Representative, Mark McBride was quoted as saying, "We've got such a deficiency in reading and mathematics. These are the things in public education I think we should be focusing on and not a culture war." 

Well, Ryan Walters has never concerned himself with actual academics. He is far too busy spending state education funds to PR agencies to promote himself than things like that. Hey, it's more fun making a splash in the news, both local and national, than it is to improve public education. Especially when your real aim is to turn the public school system into a network of Christian nationalist madrasas. 

That's right baby, we're going to make everyone a soldier of Christ whether they like it, or not. And we're not talking about any namby-pamby Christ either. We're talking about the Christ who wears a red MAGA hat and takes no prisoners. A real man's Christ.

And while we're at it true believers, just ignore Matthew 6: 5-6 which in part tells us, "And when you pray you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they be seen by others. Truly I say to you they have received their reward. But when you pray go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." 

It is not part of the current agenda.  

11-17-24

Carina Saunders, Kelsey Bransby, and Alina Fitzpatrick: 13 Years After the Autumn of the Lost Girls

13 years ago things had gone darkly sideways in the Oklahoma City metro area. Within a single month Three teenaged girls were murdered. It began when the dismembered remains of Carina Saunders were found by animal control officers searching a field for feral cats. Then on October 27th authorities found Kelsey Bransby shot in the face in her far southwest side apartment. She died a short  while later at a hospital. Finally, the nude body of Alina Fitzpatrick was discovered in weed filled lot near NE 43rd and Anderson Rd on the east side of town. 

Saunders' gruesome murder was and remains the most sensational of the three, at least in the local media. From the very outlet in the city engaged in a months long feeding frenzy. The chum was in the water thanks in large part to the complete incompetence of the Bethany, OK police department. Most of Saunders' body had been found stuffed into a bag in their jurisdiction. The Bethany PD investigation was, for all practical purposes, conducted in public. The names, of both suspects and potential witnesses were released to the media almost as soon as they were identified, as were clues and possible clues. Some leads were solely based on the tales of jail house snitches. After being named in both the print and televised news witnesses changed their stories, denied ever saying anything to the Bethany cops, and began to scatter. Suspects were charged, but eventually released, and finally the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation took over the case, but by then it had gone cold. It remains that way as these words are being typed.

It turned out Kelsey Bransby was shot by an acquaintance, Cole Hopper. Hopper and his girlfriend, Danielle Cooley had dropped by for a chat and to get high. Hopper also brought along a handgun, which he liked to play with while stoned to the gills. That day, at some point, he pointed it at Kelsey Bransby while fooling around and it, of course, went off. Ms. Bransby wasn't killed outright by the shot, but her two, "friends," fled the scene, leaving her mortally wounded and alone in her apartment. Bransby died a day, or two later. By May of 2012 Hopper and Cooley had been arrested in connection with her death. 

On November 4, 2011 Alina Fitzpatrick was dropped off by someone near the intersection of NW 24th and Western Ave. It was around 10pm on a Friday night. The name of the person who gave her the ride has never been made public. Rumors floated around the media Alina had been worried about an unidentified man following her and receiving disturbing calls on her cell phone. So much so it was reported she had changed its number earlier. All these reports came from anonymous sources. After her body was found on November 9th precious little was reported by the local media. A lot of that may have had to do with the Oklahoma City Police Department who was conducting the investigation. Unlike the Bethany cops in the Saunders' case, the OKCPD appeared to know how real police work was done. 

Unfortunately, those same police, in the end, simply gave up. The end came quickly after Alina Fitzpatrick's autopsy report came back showing a sufficient amount of meth in her system which might have been enough to cause her death. That her body was found nude, littered with abrasions, other signs of a beating and evidence of blunt force trauma to the head didn't matter. Neither did the fact she was found with a gag stuffed in her mouth. Since none of her obvious wounds were enough to kill her, the obvious conclusion was she had OD'd. The state Medical Examiner ruled her death to be, "suspicious." but refused to call it a homicide. It was at that point it seemed the OKC police wrote her murder--because that's what it was--off and closed the books on it.

In some ways the fall of 2011 doesn't seem that far in the past. In other ways it seems like a completely different age. To put it in perspective, Barack H. Obama was still serving his first term as President. Donald Trump was halfway through his run as co-producer and host of the TV show, "The Apprentice." Cole Hopper got nine years for manslaughter. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections lists him as being released but doesn't specify when. The state DOC shows Daniell Cooley is currently an inmate at a facility in Taft, OK, presumably for unrelated charges. In their prison ID photos both are smiling broadly.          

If Kelsey Bransby and Carina Saunders were alive today, they'd be 32 years old. Alina Fitzpatrick would have been 30.  It is doubtful anyone will be charged in her death. Speaking of Fitzpatrick's case, former Oklahoman reporter, Matt Dinger put it this way, "The police have little confidence they'll ever solve it."

Indeed, one crime was investigated by publicity hungry idiots. The second was committed by the equivalent of a drugged-out Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. And finally, when it came to Alina Fitzpatrick's death, the cops may have been competent, but ultimately, they just didn't give a shit.

sic vita est

11-11-24

America is Exactly What Donald Trump Thinks it is

 Someday Americans will elect the President they deserve and then, God help us all.

A quote attributed to H.L. Mencken.

Mencken was right and last night the day arrived. Donald J. Trump, a convicted felon, known sexual predator, congenital liar, and con man supreme is once again President of the United States of America. 

By every known metric Kamala Harris was the superior candidate. She is younger, smarter, actually make sense when she talks, and her campaign reached out to everyone. Trump, on the other hand, made little sense when he spoke, filled his rhetoric with hate, bigotry, xenophobia. and misogyny. Hell, in the last week of the campaign at one point he didn't even know what state he was in. 

Tragically, Harris had two problems she could not overcome. She was the wrong color and, perhaps more importantly, the wrong gender. Trump promised women he would protect them while Harris promised she would empower them. Harris attempted to appeal to men's reason, while Trumps' not so subtle message to them was, "Do you really want some liberal, know it all, estrogen filled, bitch running this country?" Too many men and women took the bait. 

Last night, unlike India, Israel, Germany, the UK and other nations Americans proved they will not elect a woman as the head of state, no matter how stupid and evil the alternative is. Now everything, including democracy as we know it, is at risk. Including those who opposed Donald Trump.

Today Politico published the names of those who are at the head of Trump's List.. They are, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Letitia James, Arthur Engoron, Liz Cheney and everyone else on the Jan. 6th committee, Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, Mark Milley, James Comey, Hunter Biden and, in fact the Biden family, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Adam Schiff, Mark Zukerberg, Mark Pomerantz, Michael Cohen, Michael Byrd, Jamaal Bowman, 51 U.S. intelligence,  officials who signed a letter about Hunter Biden's lap top, anyone he decides was in on 2020 election fraud, and last, but not least, the publisher and everyone who works for Politico. 

Look for the List to expend. If history teaches us anything, it's that the people who start purges never stop them, It's a paranoia thing. Just ask the ghosts of Herr Hitler and Joe Stalin. Once you start looking, it turns out enemies of the state are fucking everywhere.

Here in Oklahoma Donald Trump won all 77 counties, the vast majority of them easily. The only place it was even close was Oklahoma County, home to Oklahoma City. Harris came up 1.7% short. In counties to the west she was lucky to win even 10% of the votes cast. The landslide was so profound NBC called the state for Trump about five minutes after the polls closed. 

Nationally it wasn't a Trump mandate, although he will claim it is. He won 277 electoral votes, only seven more than bare minimum. In four years though, those numbers will be long forgotten, or more likely, erased from the books. There is no doubt that beginning on January 20th next year all recent history will be altered dramatically, or changed completely much like Orwell envisioned it being done in his novel, "1984" Think not? They've already morphed the January 6th insurrection into a, "peaceful transfer of power."      

Well, one supposes Canada is always an option, or perhaps Belize if a warmer climate is more appealing. Maybe even New Zealand, especially if you have a taste for grilled lamb chops.  

One thing we know for sure is that now Donald Trump is back in the White House the only way he will ever leave again is if he is carried out. That, to paraphrase a lyric, is "the nature of his game."

Two days ago I wrote Harris would win because I believed this country isn't what Donald Trump thinks it is. I was wrong. The nation is exactly what that corrupt autocratic bastard thinks it is--a place filled with gullible rubes, fascists, and cowards. And it is utterly repellent.

Or, as our pal H.L Mencken also said, "On some great and glorious day the plain folks of this land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."   

Little did Mencken suspect we'd do it not just once, but twice. I guess, like me, the old boy simply overestimated us.

11-6=24

The End is Here

 On this, the day before the 2024 Presidential election it is safe to say two things. First, no one, absolutely no one. knows how it is going to turn out. Second, the national news media, be it left leaning, or off on the right edge of the universe, is in a state of mass hysteria. Yes, we are talking about levels of anxiety so off the meter the talking heads have, for the most part, been reduced to high pitched babbling.

It is as if everyone from Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham to Lawrence O'Donnell and Rachel Maddow are covering the Titanic disaster--broadcasting live from the top deck as the bow sinks beneath the black waters of the North Atlantic.

Indeed, the day of reckoning has arrived! THE END IS HERE!

The counting will begin in a little over 24 hours. Locations which will house those who do the actual tabulations in more than a few states have, thanks to the very real threat of violence, become well-armed fortresses. Drop off ballot boxes have been torched. Local election officials have received death threats both to themselves and their families. In swing states battalions of Trump supporters are vowing to show up at polling places to make sure there isn't any, "cheating," going on and if the need may arise intimidate anyone who doesn't look Trumpy enough.

In North Carolina and other states MAGA politicians have been pushing for the results of the election to be thrown out immediately so republican dominated state legislatures can hand the state's electors over to Trump within hours of the polls closing.

Their candidate is now running ads on national TV claiming if he doesn't win the nation will not only descend into economic chaos, but World War III. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it is either Donald J. Trump, or the fucking apocalypse.

Meanwhile, liberals are squawking like flocks of panicked starlings. Did Harris do enough to attract this, or that demographic? What about Hispanic men? What about young black men? What about suburban women, will they truly recognize the existential threat to their health care? What about Muslim Americans? AARGHH! Can Kamala Harris win the one eyed, lefthanded vote? 

And everyone is screaming, "For God's sake, which polls are accurate?"

Here is a hint. None of them are. Like everything else Trump and his supporters touch, polls have been delegitimized since 2016. It was the first step toward claiming elections are, "rigged." 

 The country is deeply divided. It appears nearly half the electorate likes the idea of leaving all their problems in the hands of a would be autocrat who has no respect for the law and little, if any use, for democracy. The final truth is we are witnessing the death throes of the white male power structure which has been in place since the nation was founded. For the first time that power structure's continued existence is dependent on a convicted felon and known sexual predator. And tens of millions of Americans, of all colors are fine with it.

From here it looks like, Kamala Harris will be the next President of these United States. Not because of some demographic swing, or surge. She will win because I simply refuse to believe the nation is so far gone most of us have given up on decency, civility, and respect for the law altogether. She will win because this nation is not what Donald Trump thinks it is.

At least I hope and pray it isn't.

11-4-24

Eight Days to Go: You are Either with Trump, or You are on The List

 Do you think Donald Trump is a fascist? 

CNN host, Anderson Cooper

Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, currently number one on The List 

While Donald Trump has never campaigned with any amount of dignity, restraint, or decency, up until now, Kamala Harris has tried to remain positive and with some sense of decorum, at least until now. However, with election day now right around the corner, Harris has shucked her gloves, much like a hockey player does at the start of one of those legendary, NHL gang fights on the ice.  

Harris waited to make that statement until after Trump's longest serving Chief of Staff, retired Marine General, John Kelly said publicly Trump, "meets the definition of a fascist." Kelly also related a quaint story about Trump wistfully telling him in the Oval Office he wished that he had generals who were as loyal as Hitler's was to him. Kelly had to let Big Don in on the truth--that Hitler's generals not only lost the war, but hated the guy to the point of plotting to assassinate him. It is unclear if these details made an impression on the former President, or not.

While this was going on, Donald Trump and his pals were out proving that the Vice President's assessment of his politics was spot on. 

In one of the most bizarre moments of a campaign chock full of bizarre moments Tucker Carlson opened for Trump at a Georgia rally. During his intro, Tuck compared those who oppose Trump to misbehaving children--specifically misbehaving adolescent girls. (Kamala Harris is a girl, get it?) According to Carlson even though these bad girls have been misbehaving, Daddy Don still loves them because they are his kids and is so magnanimous he allows them to live in his house. That little metaphor couldn't be any clearer. The nation is Trump's house. He owns it and it is only through his love and generosity that the rest of us are allowed to live here. Then the former Fox host went on:

"And when Dad gets home, you know what he says? You've been a bad girl, you've been a bad little girl and you're going to get a vigorous spanking right now. And no, it's not going to hurt me more than it hurts you. No it's not. I'm not going to lie. This is going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me. And you earned this. You're getting a vigorous spanking because you've been a bad girl."

While it felt like we just found out more about Tucker Carlson's sexual fantasies than we'd like to know, the crowd embraced the tale. When Donald Trump, republican nominee for President hit the stage he was greeted with chants of, "Daddy Don," and "Daddy's home." The only positive thing anyone can take away from the whole scene was at least the audience wasn't chanting, "Sieg, Heil." 

Then came Trump's mega rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden. It was a six hour marathon filled with racist jokes, crude profanities, and vile name calling. All of which sounded like the sort of awful shit (Hey, I'm not running for President, or speaking on the behalf of someone who is, so I can say stuff like that.) you'd hear deep into a Ku Klux Klan keg party.  Our pal, Tucker Carlson was there once again. He called Kamala Harris, "The first Samoan/-Malaysian low IQ presidential nominee."  However, the headliner of the evening was an Austin, TX based, "comedian/podcaster," named, Tony Hinchcliffe. 

Hinchcliffe's monologue included this: "I don't know if you know this, but there's literally a a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it's called Puerto Rico." 

While most of the crowd laughed, right now it is unknown if any of the 400,000 plus Pennsylvania voters who are of Puerto Rican descent thought the, "joke," was funny. In fact, Hinchcliffe's remarks about Hispanics were so offensive (These Latinos love making babies, just know that they do.) even the Trump campaign distanced itself from them. Although it took them over five hours and probably someone pointing out they actually need to win Pennsylvania, before they did. 

Others spoke, including a republican pol named, David Rem, who called Kamala Harris, "the devil," and, "the antichrist," while waving around a large crucifix. Radio host, Sid Rosenberg seemed to be unstuck in time when he took the podium. His opened with, "She's some sick bastard that Hillary Clinton, huh? " 

Which brings us to the question, do any of these evil fucks have a grasp on reality? After all, there have been a number of times Trump himself seems to think he is running against either Obama, or Biden. One supposes he could be excused for these lapses. These days there are so many, "enemies within," and their numbers are growing by the minute, it is hard to keep track of them all. In fact, the toughest job in the Trump campaign might belong to the person who has to keep, The List, updated and accurate. 

There are eight days to go and both campaigns know crunch time is here. The race is a dead heat, which in itself paints an ugly portrait of the American electorate. Here at the end, Harris has turned from being the joyous warrior to negativity. At the same time Donald Trump is still the monster he has always been, but now he and his cadre of political and half assed celebrity supporters have scrapped all the dog whistles. They are now out there with bullhorns telling everyone exactly what they are and what they plan to do. Their pro autocratic message is being shouted loud and proud, to borrow a phrase.

Indeed, it has never been more crystal clear. In these last eight days of the 2024 campaign, you are either with Donald John Trump, or you are on, The List.

10-28-24

Donald Trump and the Political Soul of America

 USA FACTS says there are 36 million Americans who are registered republicans. The site admits the actual number is much higher than that because in a number of states party affiliation is not part of their voter public records. Given that tidbit of information we know there are a whole lot of republicans out there, not to mention registered independents who hang out in the right corner of political attic. 

The other day the results of a national poll conducted jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Public Religion Research Institute. It found 19%, or nearly seven million of those 36 million people believe, Donald J. Trump should, do whatever it takes, to return to power. That includes calling the election rigged and invalid if he loses.   

It goes downhill from there.

The poll also reveals 29% of republicans, around 10 million of the fuckers thinks True American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to, "save the country." The same is true of 16% of independents who participated in the poll. Things have gotten so far out of control even eight percent of the democrats who responded say the same thing. Another 12% believe Kamala Harris should reject the results of the election if she loses.

But wait, as the TV ads say, there is more. 41% of voters who primarily watch right wing news outlets think using political violence to achieve political goals is a legitimate idea. 30% of Fox News viewers believe the same thing. At the same time 28% of white evangelical Protestants are convinced those, "true patriots," will have to resort to violence to, "save the country," while 33% of Mormons do. When it comes to other demographics, 18% of Hispanic Catholics, 14% of black protestants, and 10% of American Jews feel the use of political violence is somehow justified. 

The president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institue, Robert Jones was quoted by Axios as saying, "I've been doing this for 20 years and these answers are keeping me up at night." 

Get in line, Bob.

For those who could be, or rather, should be terminally depressed and appalled by the results of the poll, there are two glimmers of light in the darkness. When it comes to the Supreme Court, 73% of everybody believes there should either be a mandatory retirement age, for the justices, or a set number of years they are allowed to sit on the court. And, 68% of those responding, despite their party affiliation, believed people should be allowed to receive any FDA approved medication, including so called, "abortion," pills through the mail.      

Still, these are just brief flashes of sanity in a nation that has seemingly gone mad. Just the other day Trump compared the conviction and incarceration of the January 6th insurrectionists to the internment of Japanese-Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (For those not up on actual history, the Japanese-Americans were thrown into prison camps without the benefit of a trial because they were--well--Japanese-Americans. The January 6th rioters were tried and convicted of violent crimes we all witnessed on national television.)

Nearly eight years ago when Don Trump first took office we all saw his outraged befuddlement when it dawned on him the national media, or at least segments of it, wasn't his PR department and Congress wasn't just a bunch of corporate toadies there tell him he was right about everything. That realization and the 2020 election defeat, not to mention some, let's say, legal problems, appear to have pushed him over the edge. His lifelong disdain for the laws of the land spread to everything the Constitution says and means.                             

These days, when Trump isn't playing the martyr, or accusing his opponent of committing crimes against humanity and nature, he likes to take credit for a lot of stuff he had nothing to do with--like he is the, "father of IVF." However, let us give credit where credit is due. When it comes to survey responses like the ones we've just seen it is easy to say, with all confidence, Donnie, my boy, this pro-violence shit is all your fault.   

There is no doubt he will proudly acknowledge what he has done. Indeed, this time around there won't be any screw ups. You see, The Big Orange Guy has laid the foundation for victory, no matter what. Who cares if the process cost many their political souls? This is party over nation, baby, ego uber alles.

Congratulations, Donald Trump! After only nine years in politics, you've managed to convince millions of Americans that democracy and the rule of law are, as you put it once about military service, "for suckers and losers."   That'll show those teachers who thought you'd never amount to anything. 

There are two weeks until the 2024 Presidential election. Thanks to Donald Trump, only God in heaven knows if there will be any more.

10-22-24    

Dancing With Don and Listening to Kamala

 In July, 1518 residents of the city of Strasbourg were struck by a sudden and seemingly uncontrollable urge to dance...According to historian, John Waller the explanation most likely concerns Sy. Vitus, a Catholic saint, who pious 16th century Europeans believed had the power to curse people with a dancing plague. 

Evan Andrews, writing for the History Channel

Yes, it would seem that terrible plague has returned. How else can you explain what the nation witnessed earlier this week at a pro Donald Trump, "town hall," meeting in Pennsylvania? Of course, the citizens of Stroudsburg danced without musical accompaniment, at least until city officials brought in a band after a few days of all that weird shit starting. At the Pennsylvania get together the music was there the whole time, thanks to candidate, turned dancing DJ, Donald John Trump.

The entire bizarre affair began shortly after a Trump supporter asked him what he would do to help small businesses. Trump's rambling answer, which was quite nearly incoherent, seemed to be that he would increase oil and gas production--despite the fact they are at all-time highs right now--making it cheaper for small businesses to operate. At least that's one interpretation, although there could be many others. At this point who really knows for sure? Within minutes the candidate looked at event emcee, South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem (men admire her aim and dogs fear her name) telling her, "Who wants to listen to questions? A clear indication he was done. Then Trump demanded to hear his favorite tune, Pavarotti's version of, "Ava Maria." As it played, he began to sway to and fro, disorienting the crowd. You could see them asking themselves, should we stay? Should we leave? For God's sake will someone please tell us what the fuck is going on?  At one point Noem even thanked them for coming, seemingly ending the party.

Trump, however, refused to exit the stage, freezing them in place. Soon other songs were playing, including the gay anthem, "YMCA," to which Mr. Trump displayed his signature, "rocking out," move, the two handed horizontal fist pump--which satirist, Bill Maher has described as looking like the Donald is jerking off two guys at once.

The ghoulishly, demented, display went on for 39 minutes. Not as long as the dancing plague of Strasbourg--it lasted two months--but far too long for modern American sensibilities. (According to Andrews in order to get things back to normal in Strasbourg the authorities finally hauled the dancers off to a mountain top shrine to repent and pray for absolution. Something we know Donald Trump would never agree to, at least not without inciting a riot first.)   

Meanwhile, Kamla Harris was also in Pennsylvania, appearing at a rally which included over 100 GOP power types. More than a few of them had served in the pervious Trump administration and they all were adamant in their support of the Vice President and insistent that Donald Trump should never be allowed into the White House again. And that doesn't even count all the republicans and former republicans currently working for MSNBC who absolutely loathe the man.

The next day, Mr. Trump showed up in front of The Economic Club of Chicago. He was questioned by Bloomberg editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait. Micklethwait proved himself to be a persistent son of a bitch, by time and time again demanding Trump actually answer the questions asked, not the ones he was apparently making up in his own head. 

Afterward the candidate complained Micklethwait was hostile and biased. At the same time his son, Eric was telling Fox's Senan Hannity his dear old dad was at the top of his game and had the Chicago audience eating out of his hand. He also bellyached that the, "liberal media," never held Harris accountable for her lies. 

 Kamala Harris' answer to Trump the younger was to show up on Fox itself.  Last night, she entered the lair of the beast, so to speak. She appeared on Fox for a one on one interview with Trump shill, Bret Baier. Amid a barrage of aggressive questions and interruptions she held her own. At one point she temporarily, at least, shut Baier up when she pointed out the clip he showed of Trump had been carefully edited, omitting many of his damning words. After a moment of stunned silence Baier moved on to another subject. 

Trump, on the other hand, was holding another town hall, this time hosted by the Spanish language network, Univision. Today we learned from the former head of the network the audience had been hand picked by Trump's campaign and the agreement was no fact checking. In other words, Don Trump could run wild with the craziest shit imaginable, completely unattached to the truth. Which is exactly what he did.

There are less than three weeks left until election day, actually not even that since early voting has already begun in many states. The democratic candidate is out there taking chances, getting endorsed by former Trump officials, and answering tough questions posed by members of her opposition. The republican candidate refuses to get involved in another debate, much of the time speaks gibberish, and inexplicably performed a ghastly marathon version of St. Vitus' Dance which MSNBC found so utterly weird they showed it in its entirety. 

For those wondering why this election is even close we have two clues. First, despite the evasions and rambling answers in Chicago, when it came to immigration and tax cuts the crowd remained enthusiastic. And, after dancing with Donald for over a half an hour in Pennsylvania one supporter euphorically told a reporter, "It felt like I was in his living room with him."  

The sum of both those observations translates into two things. First, despite his obvious mental instability and cognitive disintegration, Donald Trump still might end up President once again. And two, no one who is sane, or at least has good taste, should ever want to be in his living room with him when the music comes on.

10-17-24