Honoring the Dead with Brats, Beer, Mattress Sales, Car Races, and Self Serving Politics

 According to Wikipedia over 1.3 million Americans have died fighting in wars. Actually it is more than that since that figure doesn't include those listed as missing in action. In addition up until the early 20th century official military records tended to be more like educated estimates rather than veritable facts. And of course the Wiki stats end at 2019, so any service members who have died in places like Afghanistan since then aren't included. 

Proving that being in the military during a war is a risky business even if you aren't at the front over half that 1.3 million died of disease, accidents, or some other reason than enemy fire. For example in the 1990-91 Gulf War 146 of the 294 deaths incurred by American forces were caused by reasons not directly combat related. In Vietnam that number was close to 11,000. In the American Civil War, if you count both sides, the death by, "other," figure was nearly a half million.

Not that it mattered, especially to those who died of say, dysentery, the flu, or because they were run over by a truck somewhere behind the lines. They were and are just as dead as the people storming a beach, or village. In the end, they wore the uniform and paid the price. 

The nation has set aside this day, the last Monday in May to honor their memory. It includes even those who died in wars, none of us remember. You know, like the 1798-1800 Quasi War. (It was fought entirely by naval forces in the Carribean against the First French Republic. There were 514 American deaths, 20 of them due to combat.}

How we do this honoring is a bit surreal though. Oh there are some parades scattered around the country and a small army of volunteers plant miniature American flags at the appropriate graves sites in cemeteries across the land. However, that Memorial Day Sale down at the Mattress Warehouse isn't something I'd expect 1.3 million war dead to appreciate or thank us for. The same for cook outs, chugging tall cold ones, ball games, and auto races.

Then we have the politicians. Donald Trump, apparently unaware they're dead, wished a happy holiday to, " those who gave the ultimate sacrifice." Later, in a burst of presidential eloquence, he urged Americans to make America great a again by getting rid of, "the communists, Marxist, and fascist pigs."   

Rival GOP candidate Ron DeSantis praised the republic as a, "great nation built on great values." His stated campaign goal is to purge diversity, equity and inclusiveness programs from all American colleges and corporations. A week or so ago one of the laws he gleefully endorsed was used to ban a book of poetry written by a 16 year old author from elementary school libraries. 

Whether either gentleman impressed the honored dead with their self serving sentiments, or not will remain unknown. However, as we swill our beer and chow down on brats and burgers, generally ignoring the purpose and meaning of today it is certainly hard to believe those two awful clowns did any worse than we have. 

I just hope 1.3 million dead can forgive us for our casual crassness. It probably isn't what they fought for, but in this day and age it is what we are.

sic vita est

5-29-23

Ron DeSantis Tries Something New

 When Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis officially declared himself a republican presidential candidate last night he tried something new. Instead of the traditional pep rally style format he decided to do it on Elon Musk's Twitter Spaces platform. Why was anyone's guess and more than a few have attempted to answer that question.

The kindest theory has been that Mr. DeSantis wanted to show how innovative he is. Others, knowing how much DeSantis personally dislikes his fellow citizens, felt he wanted as few people there in person as possible.   Finally, some have speculated he is so far down in the polls he had to do something which would attract the maximum amount of attention in the national media. 

Well, he did manage to get a lot of attention, if not last night, then today. Unfortunately for his campaign it was for all the wrong reasons. 

Today the technical disaster (21 minutes of static, beeps, clicks and dead air spiced with the occasional disembodied voice asking, "Are we on?") is the talk of the nation. The humiliating snafu added to the mystery of why he was appearing with Musk, a South African bazillionaire and David Sacks, a venture capitalist estimated to be worth $200 million in the first place. Let's face it, they both reflect a fairly limited demographic--one not well represented in places like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. 

The DeSantis people immediately blamed the series of crashes on the sheer number of people trying to witness the event. "You broke the internet," one told the governor. 

Or not. The Morning Joe crew pointed out earlier today, there were more people online to view Alice the Giraffe giving birth than attempted to watch Ron DeSantis last night.

After the technical melt down the governor finally was able to read his statement. His delivery was utterly without emotion, or enthusiasm. The statement itself was so canned you could almost hear the electric opener grinding in the background. Trump immediately pounced as only he can, without a hint of common decency, or mercy. DeSantis, so far, has failed to hit back. This continued lack of response leads one to wonder if Ron DeSantis is too frightened of Don Trump to really compete with him.     

Polls show Trump leading the governor by 30 points. That is putting him close to what is known as a marginal candidate. It's so bad that, at the moment anyway, it looks like Ron DeSantis' best chance to get nominated is for Trump to get locked away in a federal prison sometime in the very near future.

While it is a possibility it isn't something you can count on. 

There is, as many like to note, a long way to go in this race. That doesn't mean you can waste your time and other people's money with embarrassing fuck ups like last night though. At some point you have to at least look like a viable candidate. 

For Ron DeSantis that certainly didn't happen last night. The question now is, will it ever?

5-25-23

Ron DeSantis Doesn't Make History, He Just Rewrites It

 Ronald Dion DeSantis received his B.A. degree from Yale. After graduation he went to Harvard Law School where he was awarded his J.D. The only reason I mention these two factoids is to debunk the widely held right wing belief these universities indoctrinate their students into becoming wild eyed, homosexual and commie loving liberals.

Well, that and to show even Harvard and Yale can produce a fascist clunker every now and then.

Mr. DeSantis is currently not running for the republican presidential nomination, although it sure does feel like he is. It has been speculated he remains undeclared at this point in order to avoid a gaggle of financial and ethical regulations which kick into play as soon as he does. While no one can prove this is the case it certainly sounds like something the Florida governor would do. Let's face it, he isn't very keen on letting people, especially Florida taxpayers, know who is paying for his world wide and national travels. He is obsessive about that sort of shit, like he is when someone objects to his overtly authoritarian legislation.

We do know he isn't the best of fund raisers. Stories of him snubbing and otherwise treating potential GOP donors poorly are nearly as frequent and legendary as his historical perspectives of the American Civil War and our lust for Native American land.

Those revisionist views are no doubt the pillars of his current political philosophy which he has, in a disturbing number of cases, enacted into state law. Those laws, which, among other things, attempt to purge any wrongdoing by white people in Florida school curriculum. They are being described as, "the Florida model," for America by ultra right wing slugs across the land. It gives us a preview of what Dion's vision of a perfect republic is. In his words, "Florida is where woke goes to die." 

Hey, so do a lot of other things and people, but no one else changes the circumstances of their deaths to cleanse history of the truth.

Here is what a Florida 4th grade textbook had to say about civil rights pioneer, Rosa Parks. before DeSantis, "The law said African-Americans had to give up their seats on the bus if a white person wanted to sit down." After DeSantis it reads, "She had to move to a different seat."

The governor has also been clear that in his mind it is, "inappropriate," and, "not true," to teach students that America was built on stolen land. In other words, We built the country in unoccupied territories because the people who lived there had died.

And just think, we haven't even touched on the whole, "don't say gay," and the war on Disney nonsense. Not to mention defunding diversity, equinity, and inclusion programs at state universities and the elimination of African-American AP courses in high schools. Those subjects are for another time, perhaps when things get politically tighter.

Right now, Ronald Dion DeSantis is trailing Donald Trump in every poll imaginable. The latest shows El Donald at 58% while DeSantis sits mired at 16%. Trump considers the governor a traitor because he might be running against him, despite DeSantis' reluctance to attack him publicly. Trump insists DeSantis once came to him pleading for his support. Of course if you asked him, Trump would tell you Jesus of Nazareth was a nobody until he came begging, with tears in his eyes, for the former president's help. There is no doubt, given Trump's ego and delusions, it was only after he gave Christ his personal backing that the Lord rose from the dead and became so famous there was a Broadway musical named for Him.  

But, I digress.

The feeling here is by the time we roll into the actual election year and he officially declares, DeSantis will be climbing in the polls. In fact, after The Big Orange Guy gets indicted a few more times and possibly goes on trial for crimes so heinous they make Benidict Arnold look like Bill Maher, he might look like the only choice to a lot of republicans.

That's right the future is a muddied pond and there is a long way to go. So much so he real problem DeSantis might have and not be able to overcome is himself. A lot of major GOP donors have negative impressions of him. that have nothing to do with destroying public education, persecuting gays, and passing pro gun legislation so insane even Wayne LaPierre shudders when he reads them. And with out doners there isn't the sort of campaign he needs to put away anyone, much less an elephant in the room like Donald J. Trump.

Indeed, in the end, Dion's downfall might be because, as one cable news wag put it, "It isn't that we don't like Ron DeSantis, but it's that we know Ron DeSantis doesn't like us."

Although the current evidence appears to contradict the front half of that statement, given his noxious politics the back half rings absolutely true.

Such is the nature of today's republican party.

5-22-23

It Isn't the Deep State, It's the Deep Pockets: Gun Deaths in America

The great state of Oklahoma has a long, perversely proud, history of gun violence. Hell, the first mayor of Oklahoma City died of a gun shot wound after a shoot out over a peace of land just west of what is now downtown. Even though His Honor, William L. Couch bit the dust way back in 1890, no one seemed surprised, or upset in 2019 when current Governor, Kevin Stitt signed a bill which made it legal for citizens without any training, or licensing regulations to carry a concealed firearm. At the time Mr. Stitt proudly enabled every pissed off crank, paranoid schizophrenic, and gangster wanna be to pack a piece 14.9 out of every 100,000 Oklahomans could count on being killed by a gun one way, or the other.

As of the fifth month of the year 2023 that number has risen to 21.2, or, a little over six additional human lives.  

Now, in Oklahoma when it comes to unwanted statistics such as deficiencies in literacy, education, health care and the like, we always say, "Thank God for Mississippi." That's because, no matter how we try, or not try as the case may be, the Magnolia State always seems to out do us when it comes to the really bad shit. This year in Mississippi 33.9 people out of every 100,000 have died from gun violence.

See what we mean. Thank God for Mississippi.

To be fair, there are other states between Oklahoma and Mississippi. A few are, Alabama at 26.4, Alaska 25.2, Louisiana 29.1, New Mexico 27.8, and Wyoming 26.9. There are a few others, but why go overboard? The point is there are a lot of people in this country who are killed by guns. 

In Oklahoma the raw number right now is 836 dead. By the time you read this the odds are it will be higher. In 1861 over 60,000 troops on both sides fought the first battle of Bull Run. They were--you know--fighting a civil war, actually trying to shoot each other. After the smoke settled the total number of dead was 837. The current body count in Mississippi is 962.      

Thank God for Mississippi.

Here is the weird part. Contrary to world opinion, most Americans want to stop the carnage. A solid majority of us understand we will never stop this madness unless we make it more difficult to purchase a gun. That's right, unlike Kevin Stitt we've figured out more guns, guns that are easier to buy don't do anything but make things worse. It is like trying to eradicate arson by making sure all the arsonists have matches. 

That some meaningful gun control legislation hasn't passed, can't pass is beyond mystifying. In fact, it might be the most perfect example of minority rule in the history of the republic. 

Indeed when it comes to gun control corporate interests have overridden the will of the people. Oh sure, there are a bunch of gun fetish loons who make a lot of noise, but in the end arms manufacturers have rendered congress and therefore most of the voting public impotent. Deep state my ass. It is the deep pockets and propaganda departments of companies like Smith and Wesson who really run this nation.

That's the bad news. Ok, that and within the first four and a half months of 2023 there have already been 15,665 gun deaths in the United States. It is more than twice the 7,000 of U.S. service people who were killed on Iwo Jima. 

The good news? Well, thank God for Mississippi.

5-15-23

Nazis at Donald Trump's Doral Resort ReAwaken America

 Tulsa's Clay Clark founded the ReAwaken America Tour a couple of years ago. Clark, at the time, was usually referred to as a, business coach and entrepreneur which was a nice way of saying no one really knew what he did for a living. He first rose to fame, of sorts, when he sued the city of Tulsa during the dark days of the Covid plague. He claimed the city's mask mandate caused migraine headaches, shortness of breath, and dizziness among other things.  After it made a splash in right wing circles the suit was dropped.

The tour was designed to be a weird combination of tent revival and political rally mixed with small business boosterism and spiced with Alex Jones style conspiracy theories. In short, it's a traveling variety show for MAGA rubes who need their twisted versions of reality validated and praised.

This Friday and Saturday the tour makes a stop in Miami, FL at the Trump National Doral Resort. Some of the speakers include Eric and Lara Trump, Peter Navarro, Kash Patel, Matt Whittaker, Devin Nunes, Michael Flynn, and Roger Stone. There are others, mostly members of what can loosely be described as the clergy.  You know--a couple of relatives, a few low level members of the failed Trump administration, a crude fixer, and a handful of evangelical quacks on the grift. Or, as they say, the usual suspects. 

Last night on her show, Rachel Maddow pointed out a couple of more on the schedule who pretty much defy description, at least a rational one. 

Scott McKay is a self-proclaimed, "American Patriot Streetfighter," who has a podcast on the social media site, Rumble. For those unaware Rumble is the place you end up after every other social media site has kicked  you off for speech so vile, so racist, so incredibly hateful you can easily be considered a walking, talking crime against humanity.

How else can you describe a man who says the Jews were behind the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, William McKinley, and Abraham, by God, Lincoln. (We've all been taught it was John Wilkes Booth, but it was really a Rothschild plot.) How, or why they weren't involved with the murder of James Garfield has been left unexplained. Perhaps a Trans Terrorist got to him before the cabal could.

In addition Brother McKay has said the Jews brought down Hitler--apparently not the good thing we all thought it was--and the late, unlamented, Adolf was fighting against, "many of the same things we are today." 

Charlie Ward is billed as another speaker. He also has a podcast on Rumble. According to Mr. Ward more people have been killed by the Covid vaccine than were murdered in the Holocaust. That's because those pesky Jews faked the Holocaust and are behind not only the deadly vaccine, but the disease itself.  

Oh and as a side gig and for your listening pleasure Charlie Ward sells recordings of select speeches delivered by Herr Hitler during his salad days. 

Now there are a couple of guys I'd want my son, daughter in law, and property to be associated with. Well, Donald has other things on his mind these days, so maybe he just missed Ward and McKay's connection to Nazi philosophy. Or maybe the Doral needs the money, no matter who shows up. After all a lot of legal fees have been incurred lately, and more are on the way. Or, worse, Donald John Trump might actually like these two evil fucks. There is mounting evidence pointing in that direction. 

Why not? We know Clay Clark must. You don't ask Nazi slugs like McKay and Ward to speak if you don't. It isn't like they hide their despicable views of the world.

Yes, given the circumstances it is easy to see why Joe Biden says we are in a battle for the soul of America. And to understand just how right he is.

5-9-23

Seven Dead in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma: The DOC Screwed the Pooch and Jesse Got a Gun

Jesse McFadden was 39 years old when he killed himself. He had spent right at 17 of those years in prison. because in 2003 he raped a 16 year old girl. He had received a 20 year sentence, but the Oklahoma Department of Corrections had let him out three years early, in part for his good behavior while he was in the joint.

The grounds for his release raises at least one question. It is, what sort of crime do you have to commit, while incarcerated , for the Oklahoma DOC to consider your behavior bad? You see, in 2016, four years before he released Jesse McFadden got his hands on a cell phone then began sending salacious messages and photos to another 16 year old girl. He was charged with soliciting sex from a minor and possession of child pornography. The charges were still pending in 2020 when McFadden walked out of the Jess Dunn correctional institute. He was due in court to face trial on them this past Monday.

So much for Oklahoma's concept of a speedy trial. Not to mention the efficiency and awareness of the DOC bureaucracy. 

Once Brother McFadden got out he married a woman named, Holly Guess who had three children by a previous marriage, or marriages. Two of those kids were, that's right, teenaged girls. Then, last year, for reasons known only to herself, Holly Guess bought a .9mm hand gun. 

Given the circumstances just outlined you really don't need to be Shakespeare, or even Dashiell Hammett to see a tragedy in the making. It wasn't a matter of if, only when.

What exactly happened last weekend is unknown. We do know Jesse McFadden, his wife, and her kids, Rylee Allen, Michael Mayo, and Tiffany Guess were at a rural Okmulgee County property owned by McFadden. Tiffany invited three friends over for a slumber party. One declined , but the other two, Ivy Webster and Brittany Brewer accepted. 

Reports have said the seven people were going to McAlester to work on a ranch, but they didn't show up. The teen aged girl who didn't attend said Tiffany Guess had told her they were going to a mall in Tulsa.  It is doubtful McFadden had planned either trip. The walls were closing in and the only thing he was thinking about, besides sex with under aged girls, was murder.

According to Holly Geuss' mother her daughter was unaware of McFadden's 17 year stint in prison, or why he was sent there when they were first married. The father of Brittany Brewer has told media outlets he was also completely unaware of McFadden's record. Still another report quoted a friend of Holly Guess as saying Ms Guess had recently found out McFadden was molesting at least one of the daughters and was getting ready to divorce him. That particular information remains unsubstantiated. 

In addition McFadden was due in Muskogee County District Court on Monday to begin his trial in the 2016 case. In other words, his immediate future looked bleak at best. However, thanks to this being America and his wife, there was a gun readily available. 

So, Jesse McFadden did what any depraved, bat shit crazy guy would do. He shot his wife, her three kids, and the two other girls in their heads anywhere from one to three times. Afterward, according to authorities, he, "staged," the bodies around the property. At some point during this nightmare he texted his accuser in the upcoming trial, telling her, "This is all on you." His final act was to save the state of Oklahoma a lot of time and money by blowing his own diseased brain out.

All this while he was clearly listed on the Oklahoma Sex Offender Registry.

The alarm bells began to go off after Ivy Webster and Brittany Brewer didn't go home when they were supposed to Sunday evening. By Monday an Amber Alert was broadcast saying the two girls might be in danger and were thought to be in the company of a known sex offender. A search warrant was issued and cops arrived on McFadden's land that same day. They got there too late. The evidence points to the carnage having occurred Sunday., although McFadden himself might have still been alive that morning.

No one on the national cable news networks seems to have noticed this horror show. Perhaps it is because it was a family affair of sorts located in wilds of east central Oklahoma. Or, maybe it's because we've become so numb to this deadly shit the media just doesn't care any more. Another mass shooting--because that is exactly what it was--well, it doesn't have the panache of a school, or mall shooting. Find us something with cell phone, or police body cam videos. Even security camera footage will do. Until you do, we'll move on.

Such is the state of the first and second amendments to the constitution of the United States these days.

It is highly doubtful it's what the Founding Fathers had in mind nearly two and a half centuries ago.

sic vita est

5-4-23