Cruel Intentions Monday Musings

How is this cruel?  Other than the usual I-have-go-to-work blues?

It's cruel to me because I'm about to list comments that would ALL generate response if I put them individually on social media rather than post them here.  It's like I'm deliberately putting myself in a vacuum. Oh, well.  No plan is perfect.


The Oscars

Since the DVR, I have learned to speed watch the show, so there may be some things I missed.  Chris Rock was a great host, and his commentary was spot on, and did not go over the top.  Lady Gaga's rendition of her nominated song was a show highlight.  The In Memoriam segment is always overwhelming - you don't realize how many we've lost until they run through it.

A number of films came up winners, with Mad Max winning the most, thanks to the technical craft awards.  I highly enjoyed Leonardo DiCapria's speech for his Best Actor win.  I don't mind them using their speeches to make a political statement, especially when it's for something as incredibly important as recognizing global warming.  We're running out of time, folks.  Whatever can be done to focus our attention, I'm all for.

Spotlight may be a good movie, it may even be a great one.  But it's most definitely NOT a ripping good yarn.  It's something that could easily be seen from the home, and the kind of movie that is often made directly for HBO. For my money, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the best picture of the year.  It wasn't even nominated.

Politics

Yep.  No doubt about it.  Bernie got his ass handed to him in South Carolina.  The worst part of it is he has been unable to add significant numbers of African-American voters to his coalition.  I think he could gain them in time, but I'm not sure there is enough time.  Certainly not by Super Tuesday.

But this is a marathon and not a sprint.  Clinton is not always an effective campaigner, particularly when she's in front.  And I feel Bernie's message is too vital not to take all the way to the convention.

So, yes, absolutely.  I'm still feeling the Bern.

There's not enough time this morning to say all the disgusting things I'm feeling about Trump.  I just wish my Republican friends who know enough to be reviled by him will stay firm and prevail against unleashing this monster upon us all.

The Music Man

This is the beginning of Hell Week, where there are long rehearsals and then performances every night through Saturday topped with a Sunday matinee.  This is on top of a hellacious work week, with a slew of tax deadlines to cope with.  It will make one question one's sanity is choosing to do theatre.

But sometimes, when I'm front of an audience, and I can feel them respond and react, it makes it all worthwhile.  I love applause and appreciation, and that sure don't happen in accounting.

And it's going to be a delight to be onstage again with my son, Benjamin.  He has multiple characters, solo singing lines, and an incredible dance scene.  Me?  I try to be funny and not trip too badly over the furniture.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Primary Endorsements: Saturday Political Soap Box 125

Quickie primary endorsements!

I'm going to endorse candidates before the Georgia primary, just like I was some big city newspaper, instead of just some crazed blogger for whom most of his blog stories tops out at around 50 views.  Oh, well,  If you can't be grandiose here, where can you be?


Republican

Yes, the election of any Republican would be an unmitigated disaster for the country.  Global warming would worsen and go unchecked, our progress in health care would be reversed, and the Supreme Court would be socially conservative and corporate friendly for the next twenty to thirty years.  BUT - political precedence actually favors an election of a Republican this year.  Demographics make it a challenge, but that could be overcome with the right candidate and the right circumstances.

So, in all sincerity, which candidate do I recommend to Republicans?

John Kasich, Governor of Ohio.

He has a diverse background, experienced in politics and business.  He has served at the national level and the state level.  He has proven to be as adept at building coalitions to actually get things done as any Republican candidate in the race.  He is very conservative, as are all the contenders (except Trump - Trump is a fascist, not a conservative...Well, Cruz is a conservative but he is also a Christian Dominionist).  But I do believe he is one that can accomplish things.  Maybe not the whole pie, but a larger slice than you might expect from the others.

And, as an extra bonus, he is by far your best bet to beat Hillary Clinton, should she be the opponent. He is based in the Midwest rust belt, where this year's election will be determined.  The other sections are pretty well set how they will vote, but this section is up in the air.  If you take Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and PEnnsylvania, you will take the election.  And he can neuter Hillary's claims as first female President by selecting a female running mate, like Kelly Ayotte, Republican Senator from New Hampshire.

Rubio is a choice that might help slightly with Florida and Latinos. but the Marcobot is inexperienced, unaccomplished, and prone to glitches when taken off talking points.  His views are very extreme, something we don't notice as much because of the other crazies in the race.

Now, who do I recommend on the Democratic side?


Bernie Sanders, Senator form Vermont.

Anybody who has read my other political blog entries surprised by this?  I would think not.


Both Clinton and Sanders are experienced.  I would argue that Sanders has been more successful and accomplished.  Clinton's sole term in the Senate was relatively modest, with little to show for it.  Sanders is known as the Amendment King, for the number of amendments he is able to get into legislation.  He has a solid record, from the time he was a Mayor, of working with the other side.  Yes, he is an unabashed progressive, but he also knows how to get things done.

It's partly a matter of speed.  Clinton will works towards progressive change at about five miles per hour. Sanders will go sixty.  Mybe he is slowed to ten by other forces, but his ending point will be better than Clinton's.

I am first and foremost a single-payer person.  I beleive decent medical care is a basic human right, and Medicare for All is the way to accomplish it.  Bernie is for this.  Hillary has said she is for universal healthcare, but I am not sure what she means, as she has stated that single payer will never, ever pass in this country.  How in the world could I make someone with that attitude be my first choice?

Electorally, I believe that Bernie is the stronger candidate.  He simply does not have the baggage that Clinton has, most of it not her fault, but it's still there.  Will the Republicans demonize Bernie as well?  Of course they will!  But Bernie represents a new kind of politics that the old attacks just won't work as well on.

Clinton has simply been out of synch in both years she has run.  She represents an old style of politics, a kind of Republican lite that was more suitable to the 90s.  She has been backed into a corner as the less progressive candidate both times.  She has yet to prove to be a highly effective campaigner, and she is a huge participant in the whole Super PAC responding to special interests style of politics.

Will I support her if she is the nominee?  Of course.  A corporate Democrat, as flawed as that may be, beats any corporate Republican a hundred fold over.

A vote for Bernie is an affirmative vote in the belief of our country's future, an endorsement of the path that we must follow in order for the nation to survive and prosper.

Will we follow it?

I don't know.

And that scares the bejeezus out of me.

Backstage The Music Man Cross the Crick at the Ritz!

One week to go!

The backstage cramming and concentration has already begun!  Nikki Spivey, who is fortunate or unfortunate enough to play my wife, Eulalie Mackacknie Shinn, counts the pages until she goes back onstage.  

Kimberly Beck leads the way across River City's romantic footbridge.

Professor Harold Hill, played by Taylor Hereford, stands on the footbridge waiting for his new sweetheart.  He only looks tall because of the size of the bridge.  He's not really tall.  You would know that if you saw the way I towered over the bridge.  Then you would know for sure who was tall and who wasn't.  So now you'll just have to see the show to know.

Who's that kid dancing the Shipoopi?  Why, that's the BenJerMan hisself! You'll have to come to the show to catch this triple threat!

We interrupt this rehearsal for a brief "Funky Chicken".

Pictureless Monday Musings

Yes, I know.

More people view my posts on social media when I have a picture with them.

But that's hard to keep giving the time to do when Facebook leaves it blank or picks Hillary Clinton at random or just puts in some bizarre black and white arrow.

I would take it more personal, but I have seen it with other people's postings.  It may be some kind of war between Facebook and Google (my blog is from a Google Plus thing).  I'm mot technologically inclined, so what I can do about mega-Corp wars?  Oh, I know - elect Bernie Sanders.

Which is looking a little less likely this Monday.  Hillary won Nevada with a slight lead, and now the mass media is back on board the HILLARY IS INEVITABLE train.  She should tromp Sanders in South Carolina, which will clinch her victory in their minds.

But the nomination is long and complicated, often with unexpected bumps and twists, so I wouldn't get out the victory kazoos quite yet.

On the other hand, if you are a Republican, you must be a little fearful knowing your train is now officially the CRAZY TRAIN EXPRESS.  Trump is so repulsively and frighteningly bad, it distracts from how horrible the rest of the field is.  At least we won't have the feared Clinton/Bush triple replay.  Never has a candidate been so soundly rejected as Jeb Bush, losing miserably while spending in the neighborhood of $150 million dollars.

-------------------------

I saw an amazing play this weekend.  Purlie Victorious put on by Purlie Productions at the Okefenokee Heritage Center was off the chain good.  Joey Timmons hit all the right notes as Rev. Purlie, varying his voice, emotions and responses like a virtuosos,

They performed the same play last year, with a different actor in the lead.  It was good then, too, but I was distracted during the Sunday I saw it.  It was during that performance that my good friend and Curator of the Okefenokee Heritage Center, Steve Bean, lost his battle in a hospital in Jacksonville.  He was the one responsible for the revitalization of the Studio at the Heritage Center, and for encouraging both the performing and written arts at the Center.  It touched me deeply to hear the director of Purlie, Barbara Griffin,dedicate the play to Steve.

It was one year ago today that Steve passed.  His positive influence and love continues to embrace my family.  We remember him and love him.  He was a true inspiration to our creative and spiritual sides.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

It's time to Vote!

It's time to vote!

Georgia gets to participate in our great, convoluted process of selecting the nominees for the major parties' Presidential nominees.  It's one small thing that actually symbolizes everything - we live in a country whee we can still effect the process if we so choose.

Indeed, early voting has already begun here.  It's designed to increase voter participation,  How successful it's been, in the wake of greater registration and voter ID restrictions, in our unfortunate atmosphere of declining civic engagement, I'm unsure.  Voter participation has not been rising.

Georgia will be part of a big event called Super Tuesday, that in particular has a good number of southern states voting on the same day.  We may be deluged with commercials and campaigning, although all I see in this area so far are Cruz and Trump signs.

But you don't need to vote for one of those two just because those are the only signs you see.  Don't be intimated by the deluge you see, from the negativity and superficial pangs that our political contests are heir to.  Don't vote based on looks or whose personality you find most engaging.  Find what you really want, what direction you really hope the country will turn to, and choose that.  Who is going to do the best for your family, who is going to do the best for Georgia, who is going to help the country and the world be a better place.

Take away the filter of the nasty ads, the puffery personalities, the shifting polls, the intimidating endorsements, the fear mongering and hateful rhetoric.  Replace them with the issues that drive you the most, and who you think can best accomplish the greatest progress with them.  The country may be in less of a mess than some proclaim, but there are many places and ways it could improve.

You're not going to find the perfect candidate.  None of us are completely one thing or another.  We are all mix of motivations and positions.  One candidate may seem refreshingly politically incorrect, wildly swinging at "telling like it is", but then you realize so does your crazy Uncle Bud at Thanksgiving dinner, Another candidate may promise to enforce a Christian version of Sharia law, blowing past any definition or understanding of separation of church and state.  Other candidates may swear to you that they will take on Wall Street and other wealthy interests, while at the same time they are bloated with money received from the very interest they swear to you they will hold in check.

They may have something in their past that other candidates prey on and make you see that their opponent is less than perfect.  Well, guess what?  You're not going to find the perfect person.  One of those hasn't been around for a couple thousand years.  It's the candidate's journey that's most important, the strength of character and purpose that have allowed them to grow to represent the things most important to you.

So find that person that brings you your closest match to accomplishing goals for yourself, your family, your state, your country and Planet Earth.  Disregard the polls, ignore the negativity, forget the clever ads, deemphasize the peer pressure that may cause you to lose sight of what may be important to you personally.  Focus in on the issues that mean the most to you.

You might be surprised as to where the process takes you.  Hopefully, it takes you to the polls as an informed citizen ready to do your part in participating in one of the greatest democratic processes the world has ever seen.

May it be revitalized, improved and continued forever!

Comics Spinning Round and Round!

Just going to the drug store was such a treat!  There was candy and toys, magazines and sodas, and best of all, there was a spinning rack of comics!

Each spin would take you somewhere new and exciting!  It could be the world of Archie and Jughead, Betty and Veronica, those crazy teenage kids from Riverdale High.  Others would allow you to read more exciting adventures from the TV shows you loved - Sea Hunt, Gunsmoke, Twilight Zone.  There were comics based on your favorite stars - Roy Rogers, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis.  There were comics that would take you to deepest space, the wild west, World War 2, the Okefenokee Swamp (thank you, Pogo and creator Walt Kelly).

When I started to collect, taking a fist full of change to the local mom and pop, super-heroes were revived and starting to dominate again.  I was then, and am now, a big Superman fan.  When he is written at his best, there is no better defender of truth, justice and the American way.  When he first came to Metropolis in the disguise of Clark Kent, he focused his career in helping the most disadvantaged citizens, and in going after those who would exploit them.

I saw the beginnings of the Marvel explosion, with the introduction of the Fantastic Four and the Amazing Spider-Man.  New, more realistic heroes with every day conflicts and angst.  They came one after another, creating incredible icons that still endure and dominate today.

Movie comics, Disney characters,adaptions of literary classics, funny animals, young romance - the variety was infinitely colorful and fun.  And all available for first a dime, then 12 cents, then 15 cents.  Now they cost as much as $3.99.  But most of you don't know that.  Because the spinner rack is gone.  Even as comic book characters dominate our TV and movie screens, the actual monthly comic has disappeared from our lives.  Oh, they still exist.  But you have to be in a big city and visit one of the dwindling number of comic shops, or order them online.

Now the visit to the drug store and other local establishments are so much plainer.  There is little to no reading material, certainly very little for kids.  Even the number of paperback books have been narrowed or eliminated.  You're left with greeting cards, celebrity gossip, and maybe a handful of magazines about hunting, cooking, guns or cars. Virtually nothing for the imagination to soar with, nothing to take you someplace else.

I know.  Times change.  Now kids get most of their stuff through computers and tablets.  You can get books and comics right to Kindle.  You can get video games from the computer, ones that can even play on your TV.  You don't ever have to leave home.

I think they're missing out.  There was nothing like getting on your bike and going to the drug store, and finding yourself someplace else.  From the super-powered world of Metropolis or Marvel, to the jungles of Tarzan, to the teens of Riverdale High, to the delightful talking swamp creatures of the Okefenoke, your bike ride became a ticket to the infinite horizon.

All in color for a few coins.  Ah, yes.  I miss those days.

Grace Filled Valentine

Every year our church has a special Valentine's dinner put on by the Youth Sunday School class.  Thanks to Sarah Rollison and others, our parish hall is turned into a very romantic and swanky place, the perfect ambiance for a special Valentine dinner.

Everyone enjoyed either Baked Ziti (prepared by Alison Strait) or Broccoli Bowtie Alfredo (prepared by Brandi Holland), and some clever few took a Tour of Italy and got both!  The Artisan salad was prepared by Audrey Jernigan, garlic bread prepared by Jeris Tyre, and there was a Chocolate Raspberry cake prepared by Jennifer Strickland.  Drinks included sweet and unsweet tea, coffee, water and wine.

Here we see Brandi Holland at the Kitchen prep table and Alison Strait at the stove busily preparing their signature dishes.  My self assigned job was to aggressively and constantly taste everything, and I put on the extra pounds this weekend that proved I did my job well.

The talented and polite waiting staff consisted of Carli Holland and Benjamin Strait, seated here, ready to enjoy their own dinner after making sure everyone else was served and satisfied.  Lilly Holland greeted guests, taking their tickets and helping them get seated.  In the background, Mike Taylor was at the piano, serenading guests with romantic music.

Grace Episcopal is blessed to have the VERY best way to celebrate a Valentine's evening.  Maybe next year you can join us too!  (Do remember about the Tour of Italy!)

The March of the Con Men: Saturday Political Soap Box 124

Ah yes, America!  The land that I love, where we have an unfortunate tendency to admire con men and all sorts of flim flammery, even in our entertainment.  I am currently preparing to be in the musical The Music Man (from WACT playing at the Ritz the first two weekends in March).  The lead, Professor Harold Hill, is a gifted con man, selling band instruments and lessons without really knowing anything about music.  As is the nature of theatre and storytelling, Hill falls in love and learns to mellow, but in a way, the story still romanticizes and admires his con artist skills.  

My own character, Mayor Shinn, despises Hill, but that is in large part because he is a con artist as well, although of lesser stature and ability, who has made money off his position and control of the town and it's businesses.  I think he really resents Hill "horning in" on his territory.

This is just one example of this.  The con artist may be the most dominant theme in American literature and entertainment.

Which brings me to -

The Greatest Con Artist of Our Time!!!

Yep!  That's Donald Trump!  He'll say anything and do anything to be President!  AND while he's doing it, he'll make you think he's being "honest" and "politically incorrect", when he's really just your crazy Uncle with super charged Tourette's syndrome!

It's like P. T. Barnum come to life, and an unpleasantly large swath of the American public are buying it!  But it's P. T. Barnum with a nasty undertone of fascism. 

The Second Greatest Con Man of Our Time!

Yes, Ted Cruz.  What a horrible human being.  Don't believe me?  Ask Ben Carson or Bob Dole or John McCain or Mitch McConnell or his college roommate.  

But somehow this Ivy League educated, Wall Street/Goldman Sachs connected snob is making inroads with the group that his selfish politics actually makes him furthest from - so-called Christian voters.

How does he do that?  Because he is a con artist!  He'll do anything to get into power, without morals or qualms.

TRavelling the Slippery Slope to Con Artistry

Do I think Hillary can be sincere and pragmatic?  Yes.  Do I think she has potential to be a good President?  Yes. Do I think she slips into con artistry, and shifting her position to advantage her at any particular moment?  Unfortunately, yes.

The Clintons may be great leaders and politicians, but they are used to playing the game under the old rules.  Sometimes they try to be too crafty for their own good.

So, yes, Hillary has a con artist streak.  Unlike Bill, she is not particularly good at it.  She would be better served by speaking from the heart, and keeping her approach consistent.

The Lesser Cons

Although I don't like Jeb Bush's policies, I think he has large stretches of utter sincerity. and tries to be himself, probably too much, because the American people aren't really enamored with him (of course, it doesn't help that his brother was arguably the worst President in American History).

John Kasich is probably the most sincerely religious of the Republicans running, but he is also not completely who he pretends to be.  He made his fortune on Wall Street, and is very much their friend - although you may not hear that much on the campaign trail.

Mario Rubio hides his thin resume and lack of intellect with blustery speeches that sound purty - until you hear him robotically repeat them.  He is clearly The Stepford Candidate.

Ben Carson seems sincere, until you realize his autobiography is exaggerated fiction, served up to sound like exciting Christian testimony.

The Anti-Con

It is exciting to me to no end to see a man so sincere and honest do so well in the early contests.  I mean, look at him.  He doesn't even comb his hair or bleach his teeth.

From your political perspective, you may think of his proposals as costly, impossible dreams.  Many economists and others who have looked at his proposals would disagree.  We can't have them because our political system is broken, and it won't allow them.

Why?

Because we keep electing CON MEN!

Let's do the right thing.  Let's break with that worthless lunacy.  Let's reverse the shrinkage of the middle class that is setting us at each other's throats.

Feel the Anti-Con!

Feel the Bern!

Purlie Victorious is here!

Catch this great show starting tonight!  An outstanding cast featuring Joey Timmons as Purlie.  He is one of the most promising young actors in our area, and I can't wait to see him shine!

Slow Down and Kick the Cobblestones

Slow down.

You move too fast.

You got to make the morning last.


Those are the opening lines to The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) from Simon & Garfunkel.

I remember it well from Junior High choir.  At that time it was fairly new.  It was like, wow, we're singing a pop song!  My own feelings about it were less enthusiastic.  I didn't care for the word groovy, and I found the part that I had to sing of it lethargic and bland.  I was a bit of a snot and a music rebel when I was in Junior High and High School.  I normally didn't like anything that became hugely popular with my peers.

My attitude on Simon and Garfunkel changed by college.  I had a much better appreciation for their lyrics and rhythms, and I was really impressed with Garfunkel's vocal range.  Bridge Over Troubled Waters became one of my favorite songs, along with Bookends.

The lines above are striking a particular chord this morning, as I wish profoundly that I could slow things down, and had more time to think and write and reflect and soak in the world before I charged over to a profession that this time of year is like an unceasing zombie, wanting to eat up all my time, energy and brain power.

This is my long, abstract way of saying that my writing, the thing I enjoy the most, may be somewhat limited over the course of the next couple of months.  I am trying to balance this, along with a demanding job, and participating in the musical The Music Man with my son, Benjamin.

I had been pretty consistently adding three to six blog entries a week, but that may slow for awhile.  That is unfortunate in that my blog traffic is beginning to slow, and it will probably take a concerted effort to bring it back,  That will probably slow to one to three entries for awhile, which will probably only accelerate the decline in visits I'm getting.  The decline doesn't have all to do with my writing - something to do with connections to Europe or some such thing.  Whatever the reasons, it's been very difficult to get back on an upward trajectory.

I would love to take more time, saunter down the lane kicking cobblestones, write some more thoughtful pieces, watch from the comfort of our screened-in porch the dance of dogs and squirrels and acorns.  But I'm not there yet.  Not quite.

Someday, lamppost.  Someday, I'm going to be able to ask wha cha' knowing, and have a deep, long conversation.

Not this morning, though.

Eric Reid & the Time Team: Join the Team Today!

Ebook #3 now available for sale on Amazon, ready for your Kindle or Kindle App.  This cover features my son, Benjamin Strait as Eric Reid, and the very talented Emily Beck as Princess Tamaini.  Emily is the outstanding local actress who recently played Anne Frank in Purlie Production's The Diary of Anne Frank.

This is an eshort, and is (I think) 28 pages, and can be obtained for your Kindle library for only $1.99.  

If you purchase and want to write a review, that would be most welcome!  The more positive reviews I can get, the higher Amazon will place it and the more attention it will draw.

All aboard the Time team!

Beating Expectations Speculatron: Saturday Political Soap Box 123

It's almost here!

The New Hampshire primary is only three days away as I write this.For those who read this before the primary, be amazed at my bold  prestidigitation.  If you are reading it after the New Hampshire primary, well, I'm too lazy to re-edit to make it look like I knew what I was doing.

Anyways, it's not about exact order.  If you want that, here it is - Sanders Clinton for the Democrats; Trump, Rubio, Cruz, Kasich, Bush, Christie, Carson, Fiorina for the Republicans.

But in New Hampshire, it's not always about winning.  It's about beating expectations.  It's about the difference between what mass media predicts, and what actually happens.  It's how Eugene McCarthy propelled his campaign just by finishing 7% behind LBJ.  A 42% showing was enough to help propel the President of the United States' decision to withdraw from the race.  In 1992, Bill Clinton was able to turn his third place showing into visions of being "The Comeback Kid".  And that implausible presumption actually worked.

As we approach New Hampshire, Florida Senator Marco Rubio is trying to convince everyone that his third place finish in Iowa clinches his getting the nomination.  And sadly, he may have a point.  The two people in front of him are so unsuited to the Presidency, and are so vile and dangerous, that his positioning has to be considered. It may put in the lead to be the Establishment's last great hope.

So here's my rundown of the expectations game:

Bernie Sanders

Poor Bernie.  He is poised for a tremendous victory over the greatest political machine of the modern age. This man, who far more than Trump represents a thirst for a new politics in this country, for a break from the domination of wealthy special interests, this 74 year old Jewish Democratic Socialist, is set to deliver the most important message our political establishment has ever heard.  And the mainstream media is fully set to dismiss him no matter the outcome.  He wins big?  So what!  It's a neighboring state to Vermont, and the next states are all Hillary country.   He wins but by less than current polling?  OMG, Hillary is GAINING on him!  So what if she was ten points behind?  Some polls showed he was up twenty points with a few days to go!

Hillary Clinton

I know this may not make sense to you, but Hillary is in the cat bird's seat.  There is nothing that can happen in New Hampshire that will stop the mainstream media's gushing over her.  And no, this has nothing to do with media being in the bag for her, or the Clinton News Network.  She is the ESTABLISHMENT candidate representing ESTABLISHMENT interests (albeit from a Democratic frame), and they are very slow to recognize the Sanders revolution.  They will probably be disbelieving and dismissive all the way up to President Sander's inauguration.

Donald Trump

He'll win, but nobody will pay attention to it.  It will probably be by less than current polling.  Trump does not wear well.  More people will abandon him as people pay closer attention, and the opposition gets a face (or faces) attached to it.

Ted Cruz

And now, I will drift away from my family friendly portion, and say....he is an ass.  He is a stand out ass among asses.  The most horrifying admission I have to make out of Iowa is to admit that Trump was right - Cruz body-slammed Carson, and tried to clamber over his political carcass in order to squeeze out his victory.  Expectations for Cruz in New Hampshire are not too high, but I think he will even fail those.  Expect no better than third and possibly a fourth place finish.  He will make his stand in South Carolina, and Super Tuesday later in the month will either be his victory or his Waterloo.  Personally, I'm pulling for our Canadian Senator to it get his repulsive ass stomped.

Marco!  .......  Rubio!

Both a candidate and a delightful pool game!  Don't get me wrong.  I think he is a lightweight who doesn't have much depth and has trouble showing up to work.  But he can be good at speeches (even if he has to crib Obama), and being intellectually weak has never been a disqualifier in the Republican Party (sorry - just keeping it real - look at their history of nominees and contenders). I think there is an excellent chance he finishes second, much closer to Trump than anyone is currently anticipating.  This is likely to start an establishment stampede to Rubio.  This may be premature, as I'm not sure Rubio will wear well.  We will see.

Republican Establishment Fight Club

The first rule of Republican Establishment Fight Club?  That if you don't get your s... together soon, there will be NO Republican Establishment Fight Club!  Bush, Kasich and Christie are barely hanging in there. Whomever finishes third or fourth from this group MAY get a pass to continue, particularly if the percentages are close.  The other two will be pointed to the exits, whether they want to take them or not.  I suspect the ticket out will be grabbed by Kasich, but there is a real scramble here.  The lesson is that maybe they should have done more to take on Rubio in Iowa.  Oh, wait.  Jeb Bush did that, spending over 14 million dollars for a sixth place finish and less than 3% of the vote.  But Jeb has a plan!  Beg people to clap for him, and run a last minute ad featuring Bush, Jr., so we can get a last minute reminder that he is brother to the worst President of the modern age. Well played, Jeb.  Well played.

The Are They Still in the Race Club?

Thanks, Cruz!  Ben Carson will probably now stay in the race regardless of the results just to defy Cruz's insanely evil tactics.  And Carly Fiorina will soon find herself only talking to fax machines.  The candidate you know nothing about, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore, will chug along with only a handful of votes and no media attention whatsoever.

So there it is.  And the special thing is, it won't take long for you to see how full of it I am!

On to New Hampshire...and beyond!

Monday Morning Rubio Robo Update

I rarely come back and make a major update to my speculatron posts, but Rubio's Saturday debate performance was just so godawful, it was one of those late breaking events that could really change things up.  His constant repeating of the same set speech, even after he was called out on it, played into everyone's worst fears that Rubio didn't have the depth, experience and intellect to handle the job.  Kudos to Christie for a masterful job in calling him out.

Who will benefit?  Probably Trump.  Rubio was closing in on him, and now all that has gone with the debate winds.  This will leave Trump fairly secure in first place, as the Republican Establishment Fight Club is now a four-way brawl, with little time for one of them to emerge from the pack.  For months now, I keep mentioning Kasich, and I am ignored and thought foolish by my fellow political junkies, but I think there is a real possibility that Kasich will finish second and get the Establishment Golden Ticket.

Cruz should finish somewhere between third and fifth.  This will not be an impressive performance, but his real battles will come in South Carolina, and in some of the more conservative states on Super Tuesday. Any Establishment Fight Club member that finishes behind Cruz should consider exiting the race, for the sake of the party, and to save themselves further embarrassment.  Yes, I'm talking to you, Jeb Bush.

Sanders is more likely to win by five to ten points, rather than the fifteen to twenty I had hoped for.  Get ready for Clinton to be called "The Comeback Lady".  In Iowa, her .02% margin of victory was considered a win for the ages,  Now watch the Clinton people reverse course and claim victory in New Hampshire NO MATTER HOW MUCH BERNIE WINS BY.  

Sigh.  Politics.  It ain't bean bag.

And, yes, Barack Obama does know what he's doing.  THANK GOD!

Fly Into Community Theater!

This weekend!

Peter Pan performances for the public starts Thursday@ 7,Friday@ 7,Saturday@ 2 and Sunday@ 3

At the Flying Dragon Arts Center on Tebeau Street next to the Downtown Sandwich Shoppe.  Children's theatre at it's finest!

Coming up next weekend.......

Through the Closet and Into the Woods On Sale On Amazon!

Check it out!

Just one of the many great ereads from local authors you can find on Amazon!

Who knew that working in an accounting office could be so much dangerous fun? Settle in for the most unusual day a General Ledger Manager of a newspaper has ever had, as Jeffery is taken by the eccentric and attractive Dorothy through the accounting closet and into a whole new world! Enter Pazoria and...beware! Excitement, danger and romance await! 

Let's Give Iowa A Try! and Other Monday Musings

Let's Give Iowa a Try!

That's one of the song lyrics from the upcoming musical The Music Man, being put on this March by Waycross Area Community Theatre at the Ritz.

It's about an Iowa town being enticed by a con man into buying stuff the con man is not capable of falling through on, selling band instruments and uniforms to build a youth band he has no real ability to train, or is able to stick around for as he instead slithers off to the next town to hoodwink.  Romance and reform ensue, but you get the basic idea.

Having not been in a musical for many years now, and having never done one in the Ritz, it is fascinating for me to see the large support team being deployed to help make this musical a success.  We have a great, diverse cast, an amazing director, an efficient and competent crew, craftsmen to build the set, an orchestra full of talented musicians, someone who is there every night to do costuming, a gifted choreographer, a brilliant choir director, and I'm still probably leaving somebody out!

I will post much more about this exciting show as March approaches, but I urge you to give Iowa a try!

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Benjamin had his first driver's training course Saturday.  It's hard to believe he is now on a course that will soon leave him being the one to drive himself to school!

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I attended an executive meeting of the OHC Writer's Guild Saturday.  We have many exciting things coming up, including participating in the Superhero event at OHC, a book signing, and a writing course this summer.  I'm also thrilled at our growing presence on Amazon, with ebooks and regular books available for sale.  Please check us out, including April Lee, L Thornhill Crane, David Rollison, Rem Farr, Iryna S. Combs and me, T. M. Strait.

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I have to wrap sooner than I thought.  Not enough book sales or lottery wins yet that I can forego going into work.

But, briefly, speaking of Iowa and Con Men, the Iowa Caucus is tonight.   In the Republican Party, the biggest con man on Earth leads their pack and is likely to win.  He doesn't have the organization of the others, and some of his base will be too lazy to show, so the margin may be closer than anticipated.  The real question in Iowa is whether Rubio finishes ahead far enough of the other establishment con men in order to give him a boost in Iowa.  Cruz is fading fast but he has an elaborate organization, so he may hold second.

Sanders has enthusiasm and a great organization, but Clinton has the money and the party apparatus behind her.  It should give her an edge in a close race.  The mystery factor is O'Malley.  In the Democratic caucus, at each precinct/gathering, the candidate has to get at least 15% to remain viable.  If they don't, the O'Malley supporters have to go to support Clinton or Sanders (or leave).  Since O'Malley is highly unlikely to poll greater than 15% virtually anywhere, then where those votes go could determine the caucus.  Unless Clinton has promised him a prominent position in her government (most likely Vice President), than I would think he would tell his supporters to go to Sanders, in order to keep the process open.  This has happened before, when Kucinich directed his people to support Kerry in 2004.

Regardless of what happens, I am committed to voting for Sanders in the Georgia primary.  Sorry, Hillary.  Although if you are the nominee in the Fall I will vote for you, I will never forget that you told me to stop dreaming.  Never.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait