The Scum Rises To The Top 

 The Scum Rises to the top - have you heard this phrase before.
I need to write a sidebar here - I wrote this 2 weeks ago when the Harvey Weinstein scum came out, and since then, there have been accusations daily, against him and others.  And many of our politicians seem to exhibit their choice of the bottom of the barrel. 
To keep current on all this scum, one must write every 12 hours.  Sorry, I don't have that time.  I do my best. 
 I had and with all that is going on, phrases come up from my long-term memory that apply to some of this “crap.” I guess the Harvey Weinstein debacle made me think of it, because of all the celebrity attention that is getting. This has been going on for years. I have always heard stories in the midwest of the “casting couch.” But what is happening is people are saying- WOMEN are saying “We aren’t going to take it anymore.” Enough is enough. The travesty that is our government has forced these horrific situations into the forefront. After all, we have a self-admitted sexual molester as our president. What else could happen? So, since Mr. Trump has been running for president, holding rallies promoting hatred, “Lock her up”, and similar travesties of public decency you would NEVER expect from government officials, the bar for expected behavior continues to go down. Those of us who continue to “rise” and expect the best from most people, are exhausted from the absurdity. I think we are all at the place of “we aren’t going to take it anymore,” not just the sexual assault, but the absurdity, the hatred, the abuse of citizens and non-citizens, abuse of blacks, latinos, children, women, LGBTQ community, all of it. I am so sick of it and I’m surprised when people quote these crazy people and give it credibility and act surprised. But, we should all be appalled.

As The Scum Rises To The Top

 So I ask myself “what can I do?” Legitimately, what can I do to help this. The Republicans in congress can call for justice on these actions, they can hold these people accountable. Not just Trump, either. I am left with calling, writing, voting, being kind, helping to make the world a better place in any way I can. We hear those feel good stories and I know most of us still care for our neighbors, and humanity as a whole. But as in self-esteem, what is the rule - one negative can overpower 1000 positives. That is what we pay attention to. So we need to work to continue our focus on the good stories, the positives of our country, and not let the negative scare us, depress us, or get the better of us. As the scum rises to the top, in cooking I would scrape it off and get rid of it.

 How about you?

And Then, This Week

And Then, This Week...

I write this blog as a therapeutic tool for sane people.  Because what else are we going to do.  Our country has been taken over by idiots, fools, liars, deplorables, troglodytes, narcissistic, selfish …. (insert your word of choice here).  

Donald Trump embarrassing our country at the UN, ongoing damage and struggle by people from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.  People dying in Florida and Puerto Rico and islands from lack of power and resources.  Millions of homes destroyed.  Trump does a campaign rally in Alabama condemning a black football player who peacefully protested. Mitch McConnell again wants to take away everyone’s healthcare, because they want to make the Koch brothers proud and collect their $400 Million.  I also read all these other quotes from white male Republican CHRISTIANS who talk about the hurricanes and we should all be on our own, we do not have the right to protest, and as Mr. Pence says, losing our healthcare is part of our democratic society.  Let’s fire Jemele Hill because she dared label Trump as a white supremacist, which he proceeds to prove daily that he is.  Dictatorship - yes.  You, the people must follow my rule, or you are “fired,” or dead to me.  Such a sad excuse - again, my favorite word with definition - 

Travesty:  a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something:

"the absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice"

synonyms: perversion of · distortion of · corruption of ·

[more]

misrepresentation of · poor imitation of · poor substitute for · mockery of · parody of · caricature of · farce of · charade of · pantomime of · sham of · spoof of · apology for · (poor) excuse for

 

And Then, This Week

What are we to do with all this information?  How do we survive this onslaught?  What power do we have?  I would LOVE if “We, the People” were able to say “enough is enough” and make changes.  At this point, I want to take back our country.  Our country and our values and freedoms are being taken away from us, and we are being put in danger.  

Our democratic system is broken.  The Russians influencing our election and hacking our systems is proof of that.  So, why can’t we, as other countries do, call this an illegitimate election and have another election of the 2 parties. Hillary Clinton is the rightful president. And we know it but can’t do anything about it.  

Mitch McConnell stole the Supreme Court seat by being undemocratic, and we know it and can’t do anything about it, and now we have an extremist judge who does not care about the citizens.

Members of the White House break the rules consistently and daily, yet they are still in position - emoluments clause, lying on their forms, lying to hearing committees, stealing funds for private jets, luxyr, yet they continue.

Do Not Normalize Crazy

Mitch wants to take away everyone’s health care, except theirs, of course, and cost us and states millions, and millions will die.  He really doesn’t care.  More important to him and the Republican party to repeal ACA.  Why is that?

Our Republican Party no longer has any moral fiber and will do whatever, including manipulate and lie, for money.  

Just the beginning.  So, as a people, and citizens of the United States,this is our government, and our politicians, why can’t we take our government back.  The rules, laws, Constitution that were good, are no longer honored.  Right to carry arms has been twisted into AK47’s by the NRA, free speech has been twisted into the KKK and hate mongering and white supremacy,  Immigration has turned into hatred by our president and they are separating parents and babies, and letting people die, and sending people back for no reason to dangerous conditions, and banning people who do no harm.  Elections no longer indicate the vote of the people.  Al Gore and Hillary Clinton both won the popular vote, but due to an antiquated electoral college system AND deceit by the Florida Attorney General and other failures, including Russia, neither of them became president.  

 

This is not what the people I know stand for.  

Hanging In There Emotionally

Hanging In There, Emotionally 

I wrote this a week ago and did not post.  This was followed by another "bad" week - UN, North Korea, Kaepernick, Jemele Hill, Puerto Rico receiving little help.  It gets hard to take just watching.

How are we all doing out there?  Hanging on?  Okay, so the fact that our potus retweeted the golf ball to the head and thinks that is funny is a travesty.  Travesty - def.

a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something:

"the absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice"

synonyms: perversion of · distortion of · corruption of ·

[more]

misrepresentation of · poor imitation of · poor substitute for · mockery of · parody of · caricature of · farce of · charade of · pantomime of · sham of · spoof of · apology for · (poor) excuse for

I'd say that's an excellent word about now, wouldn't you?

Do Not Normalize Crazy

That is for anyone to do that.  But it is unbelievable it came from the so-called president of our United States.  What an embarrassment.  But then it goes back to Katy Tur’s book, and Hillary’s book and the Republican convention - the shirts, buttons, posters that demeaned people, were disgusting, and threatening.  This stuff still is threatening.  These are not just idle threats out there.  We know there are many american people who feel like that and would act on it.  Some of the things that Katy Tur wrote in her book i.e. Trump kissing her - remember when he bragged that he could kiss women because he was rich and powerful.  (PUKE).  I am a woman, by the way.  SOOOOOOO disgusting.  How did a sexual predator get to be president?  

I am one of those people who voted for Hillary Clinton.  I respect her, just so you know where I’m coming from.  I love Hillary for her brains, her continuity, her experience, integrity.  Honestly, I see through all this media crap that is going on now.  I would feel the same way if it was Bernie and he was being treated to same way for telling his story of corruption, etc.  

She has every right to say “What Happened,” as we need to know what happened.  I do.  I have wished that Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, and many other strong politicians with integrity would speak up.  We need your voices.  We cannot depend on the media.  Look at the fact that Sean Spicer was on the Emmy’s.  Who thought that was a good idea.  He has defended Trump, twisted facts, manipulated, lied - now we honor him by laughing at the Emmy’s. I don’t think so.  

I look for integrity, people above all this “crap.”  There is no other word for it.  I am an older single woman, who is a Lesbian.  I raised 3 children, and now have grandchildren, who are all taught how to treat people, how to be decent citizens, how to respect each other.  Yes, they all had the ability to learn that and act that way, and I am very proud of them.  None of us would treat people this way, neither would any of the people I choose as friends.  Disgusting.  I would never want to meet Trump.  He is a disgrace, he is wrecking our country.  Even though not a lot of laws have been passed, they are trying, and they are trying to appoint judges.  I won’t even start on my opinion of what has happened to the Republican party.  This is not the republicans of old.  They started changing with the Tea Party, giving in to their demands, and also becoming the “party of NO” during Obama’s Presidency.  They now have no policies they strive for except more money for the wealthy, and repeal the Affordable Care Act.  Oh, yes - gut social security, because I take so much from the government - wait, I already paid that into the government, I’m just getting it back.

Hanging In There Emotionally

How do I not pay attention to this craziness?  I am a therapist and have always worked with people on the more severe end of the behavioral spectrum.  Now, it is out there everywhere.  I almost wrote that it is becoming the new norm, because it is not.  It is just the “loudest voice in the room.” Which is an excellent analogy.  In substitute teaching, sometimes with tough populations of teenagers, the “loudest in the room” is often the one being inappropriate, disrespectful, arguing with me, and twisting everything being said.”  I stand there and I hear it and I watch it, but the only way to get through to it, is to try to find “back doors,”  remain calm, look for an opening of rational thinking on their part.  Because the truth is, they are not listening to anything I have to say nor do they want to.  Sound familiar?  In a simple request of “talk more quietly”, from a small number of students I may get “what are you talking about, we’re not talking”, “everyone else is talking”, “why are you yelling at us?”  What does one say to that, since none of it is true.  Such is our government today.  So much has no truth.  Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Mnuchin, McConnell, Ryan, Trump, among many have all stood in front of the camera and lied.  So, crazy making behavior.  We ask ourselves “what the hell is going on here? Is it me or them?”

My Heart Breaks!

My Heart Breaks!

My blog goes back to 2011.  I found myself offended by so much that was going on in our country and the Republican party becoming a party of "No."  So much is craziness.  I am old enough to watch the whole evolution of the Democratic and Republican parties.  Let me say, I am not as intelligent and factual as are many reporters, etc. about this process.  In that, I cannot name all the facts, but I do watch news and I watch how the world has changed.  I also watch what has happened to the Republican party.  I went to Europe when George W. Bush was president and an embarrassment to our country.  Facts were then becoming increasingly lost.  Now, we are hard pressed to decide what might be the truth from people's mouths.

So how did Donald Trump get elected?  I am hoping the investigations will get to the answer to that.  Manipulation of the Electoral College.

My Heart Breaks!

Purging votes.
Gerrymandering.
Cross check.
Russia.
Russian Trolls.
Russian Hacking.
Putin.
Lies.
Attacks on Hillary Clinton.
Manipulation of the Bernie Sanders/Hillary Clinton fans and trolling.
Hatred of minorities, people of color, women, LGBTQT, Obama.

For All of This, My Heart Breaks!

I know there are many more reasons.  I am now very scared about future elections.  Trust me, I will vote.  But what will be true and not true.  Who will really win the election.  Even when I went to vote this year, I had trouble with them finding me in the computer and the paper rolls, even though I consistently vote.  I had to go to 3 people, and wait until they could find me.  My question is where did I go from the paper trail as I was there 6 months before.

I have been enlightened about the level of misogyny in our country.  To the point of having such distrust/dislike of many superior acting middle age white males.  There is an arrogance there that I was not aware of before.  And I have just a small inkling of how awful it is for the females, especially Hillary Clinton.  I will remember Mitch McConnell telling Elizabeth Warren to be quiet in the Senate - "She was warned, and yet she persisted." REALLY!

I am an educated, single white female.  I am an older female.  I am also lesbian.  I have my own numerous experiences of discrimination and experiences that have happened to me as a single woman surviving on her own.  I became single in my 30's and raised 3 children, including 2 sons. Hopefully they are more enlightened males.  I will not list my experiences, but I know that my experience was different because I was a single female they were dealing with, no male at my side.  So I have just a teeny, tiny taste.

So, what does this have to do with Charlottesville this weekend.  In watching interviews tonite about our innate white supremacy, I want to know what I can do about it.  Last week, I remember reading about a black family being afraid to travel places and my heart broke.  I wanted to offer myself as someone to travel with them as a support.  Now this.

My Heart Breaks!

My Heart Breaks for the Future!

What I do know:
(BY Many and Most, I meant the majority of our citizens in the United States and the World)

Most of our country does not hate.  
Most of our people are not white supremacists.
Most of us care about others.
Many of us loved Hillary Clinton
Many of us loved Barack Obama and his family.
Many of us abhor what the Trump presidency has brought/enhanced/shined upon in our country - our country's SHADOW side.
Most of us don't care what color or religion someone is - we care how someone treats others. 
Many hate what the "Republican Party" has come to represent.  
         Money for the top 1%.  
        No healthcare for the country.  
        Destruction of the middle class.  
         No taxes for the corporations and CEO's but yes for the rest of us.  
         All of the "other" making $8.00 an hour because we are "lazy" and no benefits to speak of,                            including food stamps, day care, education, social security, or medicare.  
        Getting rid of all immigrants - be they mothers, children, fathers.  
         Discrimination and taking away right to vote from people of color, Democrats, etc.  
        Take away rights from women, as per Planned Parenthood, Birth Control.  

Gaslighting

This Presidency has brought the hate out of the shadows.  And it is surprising and sad that there is so much darkness.  But in the presence of light, there cannot be darkness.  So we have work to do.  As I said many years ago, a bully is willing to fight in a very different way than the rest of us will do.  As in Charlottesville, the supremacists were willing to carry automatic weapons, willing to kill, looking for a fight, and using physical aggression against the peaceful protestors.  This is one of the reasons I have taken to writing this article.  It is the Women's March that happened after the inauguration.  We have to fight and support each other.  We need the help of companies firing the identified supremacists.  We need the Republicans to stand up to the Trump presidency and all that it has brought.  Call our congress and Senators.  It is about more than health care and taking away rights from many.  

My Heart Breaks!

I wish I knew the answer.  I have always lived my life on the basis of respect for others and that we all have value. Yes, my heart breaks. The thinking and behavior of our leadership and others - we cannot understand it because we do not have it in us.  We are not all capable of being so callous and cruel.  I worked in schools teaching social skills and empathy.  How can we teach our children but the people running our government have none.  

Yes, my heart breaks, but that will let more love in, more understanding by me of how many have to live.  Even though I am a gay, single white female, I am not muslim, Jewish, black, or Latina, or another minority.  But I want to stand with them.  My heart breaks, but hopefully all of our hearts will heal!

My Heart Breaks, but they break wide open and then our hearts can heal.  

Our Hearts Can Heal!

Morphing, Morphing, Morphing...

Morphing, Morphing, Morphing -- What the heck does that mean?  What am I talking about?
Morph - to be transformed.  (verb)  As this whole election process has gone on for the last 2 years, I've gone through many, many stages.  I keep thinking I need to write - to express myself, perhaps help others, to relieve some stress. As time has gone one, I've been evolving.  I am impressed by how much others know, how talented others are, and can feel somewhat intimidated. But I still have a need to relieve some stress, anger, and frustration.  I get so angry sometimes.  I also see things from a new perspective almost weekly.  Thus the "morphing".  

Plus as time has gone one, Trump won the election and I was totally dismayed, along with others.  Now he is president and has created such chaos and I am constantly incredulous.  Newscasters, tweeters, and facebookers constantly repeat the awful things, and i understand the need to know.  I have the need to know.  But it does not help me to hear about Jeff Sessions over and over.  And as the last 3 weeks have continued, and his  cabinet has been chosen, and his relationships with Putin get revealed,  I have a new perspective. 

It is not about the details - it is about the big picture.  The big picture is the "crazy man" who will do anything, as will his staff.   The big picture is that our country has been taken over by fascists.  Many are calling it fascism.  Actually I checked the definitions, and I feel we either have a dictatorship, an autocracy, or totalitarianism.  I will add definitions for you.  The definition of fascism is a country run by the "state" and I feel we are being run by Trump, Pence, Bannon, Putin, and the Koch brothers.  Does that mean the "state"?  I don't think so.  I believe the Senate and House so far are only allowed to continue their agenda as long as it doesn't step on anyone in the White House's toes.

So my awareness that this is where we are, not heading there, I question the point of me going over and over all the "idiot moves" made by the White House, as they will just get more and more bizarre. And they are doing so.  

The mental health issues - the way the citizens of the US are being treated- is awful.  We are being lied to every 15 minutes by Conway, Spicer, Trump, senators, Bannon, on and on.  The manipulation and word games are part of the "gaslighting" process.  A perfect example is 
McConnell saying it would not be tolerated that the Democrats block the Supreme Court nominee, yet he told us he would refuse to consider M. Garland and if Hillary Clinton won, he would not consider her nominee.  Yet he says Democrats are wrong.  Now what does one do with that "craziness." 

If you are a person with a high level of intelligence and open to varying facts and information, but can discern the truth from the lie, there is little place to go.  How would I ever respect this party who has sold their souls.  Truly.  They don't care about anyone.  I am a middle class white woman who is single and I suffered a great deal  in a patriarchal world as a single working Mom.  Things happened that would not have happened had I been wealthy and male.  Money does buy you out of a lot of situations, and/or the good old boy's network helps you out of situations.  Single moms with lower income do not have those options.  

Gaslighting

Gaslighting makes people crazy.  Anyone feel that way.  I'm watching Brian Williams tonight, I'm not sure the woman's name - Nicole Wallace - I'm having a hard time the way she is lumping Trump's base - I feel like anyone outside the political arena are being lumped together.  I am not one of those working class people out there who is okay with this craziness.  I am an intelligent, well-educated woman who could be considered lower-middle class because I do not have a lot of money.  But I resent what I feel is sometimes the assumption that clumps people together.
I resent/hate/am insulted by the absurdity that is Donald Trump.  Do I understand it all?  No.  But I do know what is happening, and there was NEVER anything in me that would enable me to even considering voting for Trump.  I do not understand those who call themselves a democrat, or who have a brain in their head, who could vote for him.  Unless it is all about the almighty $$.
Something I do wonder is how the Republicans have become so blind to voting for anything that might be democratic.  I tend toward a Socialist perspective - I have always worked in social services and education, attempting to help promote the betterment of families and children.  I too have been a single parent, I have been close enought to needing services - not because I'm "Lazy."  Because sometimes the odds are stacked against us.

Gaslighting

As the 2% get richer and richer, it will get harder and harder for any of us to dig out of a hole.  Forget trickle down economics, folks.  They really want us all working and making $7.50 an hour and no health care.  We then become pawns for their beckoning.  Do you really think that the top Cabinet members that Trump picked, that are all billionaires, could care less about us?  Do you think they care about our betterment?  If they did, why would they talk about getting rid of health care, medicare, social security, minimum wage increases, unions.  Please, people.  How do you think this group of billionaires has any concern for us.  They are only watching their own power and control and money.
Gaslighting comes in here because they are doing crazy lying.  Donald Trump says something one day, then denies saying it.  We have videos and audios of things he has said and done, and then he or KellyAnne say they never said it.  Gaslighting.  Crazy Makers. " You didn't see that, even though you did see that. "  I work with groups of people much like this, who, I'm convinced believe their own lies.  And for those of us with integrity, honesty, compassion, and intellect who DO NOT operate like this, the goal is to make us doubt ourselves, believe them, and express shock and awe that we do NOT believe them.  An example is KellyAnne Conway defending Trump about making fun of a disabled reporter.  Even though we all saw the tape and know what it was, she denies it, as does Trump, and she says we should look into his heart.  This, my friends, is gaslighting.  Does she believe herself?  I don't know.
I personally would not be able to carry on like many politicians and reporters, and those supporting Trump, because it would mean compromising everything I stand for and believe in and live. 

Government Insanity

Government insanity.  So I will have to change the name of this blog.  As is true for many of you, and myself, time to get more active and outspoken.  Everyday I hear something that leaves me astounded and I feel I need to say something.  So I will be that person on my blog.  Please read if you are looking for another intelligent voice.  If you are a smart person, you must be going a little crazy right now.  Perhaps I will have to put this in small phrases responding to each government insanity.
The law seems to be broken again and again, yet parties have NO consequences - everyone is just talking.  Where are the consequences?
How can Trump remain in office in a rigged election?
crazy, crazy, crazy.
What about the people he is putting in office - billionaires, generals, all having ulterior motives?
I am in despair about the loss of the middle class - really the loss of the bottom 98 %.  The loss of integrity, truth, and justice in our government.  They are all free from any consequences.  The Republican party has no integrity.  They no longer want to fix the country's issues. For the last 8 years, their only goal was to get rid of Obama and anything he stood for.
I just had a conversation with someone commenting how government does not care about people anymore.  Why knock social security, health care, education - all things affecting the middle class.  Right now they are talking about Putin affecting the election, why is he still our elected official?  Please someone answer these questions about this government insanity.  Someone today said there is no way to understand this - years ago, I created a virtual "stupid file" in my head because I could not understand someone's behavior.  I did not have it in my being to understand this.  And that is true right now.  How is he continuing, are we really stuck with this man. 

.