The Newest Marvel/DC Blockbuster! Omicron vs. Southeast Georgia!

 IT'S HERE!

(probably).

When I heard the name of the latest variant, I thought, "Man! That sounds like a Marvel Super-Villain!"

Close!

There was a Hydra base by that name. in the comic 2020 Rescue. The base was infiltrated by Pepper Potts, and she succeeds in destroying a good part of the base. Pepper Potts is a secretary and love interest for Tony Stark (AKA Iron Man AKA Robert Downey, Jr.). In the movies, Pepper Potts is played by Gwyneth Paltrow.

So, yes, in a way, in the Marvel Universe, the world was saved from Omicron by Gwyneth Paltrow. Who had that on their Bingo card?

It's also interesting to note that Hydra is a long-running evil organization in Marvel, with the mantra,  Hail, Hydra! Immortal Hydra! We shall never be destroyed! Cut off one head, two more shall take its place! 

Yeah. That's a pretty good description of COVID, don't cha think?

Not to be outdone, DC has an actual villain named Omicron! He appeared in World's Finest Comics #296 - 300 in 1983. World's Finest was a comic that featured both Superman and Batman, so this dude must have hated both of them. I'm still researching what his powers are - kinda sounds like our COVID Omicron! It's doing something, but we're not quite sure yet what.

Omicron has torn apart most of the country. Has it got to Southeast Georgia yet?

Well, cases have gone up recently. As a result, our color-coding has gotten darker. But the state system has broken down, and I haven't seen a County update since Wednesday 1/5!

But y'all know how well-behaved this area is - I'm sure we'll all stay safe!

Ok. probably not. I'm just praying that it continues to be milder than earlier waves. It is much more contagious, so I fear that everyone who lives around here will get it. Hopefully, many cases will be asymptomatic to extremely mild.

In the Marvel Universe, the Omicron base did not survive long (and was beaten by the Goop lady!) In the DC Universe, Omicron terrorized mankind for five issues and then was written out of existence.

May we be as fortunate!

A Celebration of the Commons

One of the oldest ideals of our American society, even predating the Revolutionary War, is the town commons' concept.

The town common was a space, not owned by any individual, where the townspeople could gather and participate in municipal activities or share a space.  Most often, these were small parks in the center of town.  People would gather for concerts, dances, open markets, town discussions, debates (trust me - much different from our modern debates), and many other types of social gatherings.  It was the primary way that a diverse town could feel united, that everyone had a voice and a right to participate.

As time went on, we lost many of the activities that bound us together.  I remember my parents participating in bowling leagues, bridge clubs, and square dancing.  My Dad joined Civic Clubs, such as the Lions, who helped do good works for the sight-impaired.  The movie theatres were large and packed,  television programs were watched by millions (All at the same time!)  As it is now, politics was divisive, but nowhere near as cutthroat, where we seem to be bordering on civil war.

Social media, which was supposed to bind us, has often led to more division, as people create alternate realities based on their own preferences.

Despite this assault, the commons still exist.  And that can be seen most in our community's public libraries.

Our public libraries are a great access point to the world of books, which, being a devoted bookaholic, I love.  But it is so much more than that.  There are DVDs if you love movies.  There are computers where one can research and play games - computer access does not have to be a matter of wealth.  There are magazines galore.

Much more than this, though, are the dozens of activities that the library sponsors - book clubs, Story Time for children, arts and crafts projects, gaming groups, writer's groups, instructional classes and lectures.  One of my favorites is Free Comic Book Day, where hundreds turn out for a whole range of activities, many in costume.

Everything that the town common achieved, the public library is keeping alive.  And how important is that in this world that pulls us all apart?  There is no division between race or class, rich or poor, religion or politics.  All are welcome.  All are invited to join together.  And how many area activities can make that claim?

Even in times of adversity, such as the current Pandemic, the public library does everything it can to stay vital and, as things slowly open up, to offer a safe space to join together and use its resources.

When it is time to vote for funds for the public library, such as is the case with the Waycross Ware County Public Library where a SPLOST proposal is on the ballot, please consider how important it is to hold onto this oldest and most cherished value, that of the Town Commons.

 

The Portland Rorschach Test: Saturday Political Soap Box 245

It's the ultimate political Rorshach test.

What the hell is going on in Portland?

What we see may depend on our own biases and media filters.

The above shows a veteran who asks questions of the unidentified federal forces and winds up getting attacked, pepper-sprayed and has hand broken.  He never makes any aggressive moves.  He only questions their constitutional authority.

I don't know what my friends on the other side of the cultural divide see.  Maybe they don't see this at all.  Maybe it is presented to them in an entirely different context.

Some see the federal (?) agents as heroes, preventing a descent into chaos and rioting violence.  They value monuments and buildings more than human lives.

They don't seem concerned that the federal agents are unidentified (some may actually be members of private security forces or militias).  It doesn't bother them that protestors are swooped up in unidentified vehicles and taken to God knows where for God knows what.

Portland protests were centered into a two-block area.  They might have been disturbing to some, but they were relatively controlled, and as much a celebration as a protest.

But that is not what my Trumpeteer friends are seeing.  They see toppled statues and burned buildings.  They see groups who are bent on the destruction of America, and who plan on marching out to the suburbs and doing...Ok, I lose it there.  I don't know what they think is going to happen.  That's too far down the irrational rabbit hole for me.

Their media is flooded with images, and it seems that they are the opposite of what I see.  Notice in the one above that the question asked is heavily loaded.  They assume the protests are violent enough to demand federal intervention.

Referring back to last Saturday's Political Soap Box, conservatives no longer believe in small government.  They only believe in power.  They have no qualms about bypassing local authorities and state government,  The only parts of the government that matter are those controlled by Trumpeteers.

Unlike the 50s and 60s, the federal government is not coming to defend the civil rights of citizens within a state or community.  They are not trying to get anyone into a school where they have been barred because of the color of their skin.  They are not investigating the murders of civil rights advocated.  

They are coming in, against the wishes of the local and state authorities, WITHOUT IDENTIFICATION, and sowing chaos and violence in one of our great American cities.  A fresh, vibrant, friendly city that my family visited just a few years ago.  A city that my son, Benjamin, is in love with and may want to move to someday.

And I don't care what Rorschach test you go through.  I don't care how your news is filtered.

This is never right.

NEVER

What Does Conservative Mean Anymore? Saturday Political Soap Box 244

I don't know.

I don't know what it means.

I don't know what the word conservative means anymore.

I thought one of the most fundamental principles of conservatism was SMALL Government.  I thought they were for LOCAL control.

I did not know that the supreme form of government was state government, hat it had the right to supersede local governments.

Local governments cannot decide when it's safe to open schools, businesses, to mandate masks as a measure of public safety? 

This is not the first instance of this madness.  Michigan, under Republican state control, would take control of whole local governments, dismantling and replacing locally elected leaders and state officials taking control of local decisions.

Like Michigan, Kemp's decision is mainly directed at minority communities.  Which city did Kemp decide to target with court action?  Why, the black mayor of Atlanta,  of course!

Local public schools are under siege by the sabotaging of state moneys to be directed to private schools.  In my home county, public schools are awesome, and a source of pride, joy, and employment.  And yet, they have to fight for support from the state.  And now President Trump and Secretary of State DeVos are threatening to withhold federal funding unless the local governments are willing to put their children's lives ar risk (not to mention all those the children may infect).

When did conservatives decide that local control was wrong?

Maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe it's not the size and authority of government, at any level, that's the issue.

Maybe it's not conservativism.

Maybe it's power.

Raw, unaldurated power.

Whatever level of government Trumpists control - that is the one that should reign supreme.


It's got nothing to do with conservatism.  Although it is not a philosophy I adhere to, it's one I respect.  It's one that has a rightful position in the marketplace of ideas.  It's one that deserves to be listened to, and sometimes, it's ideas blending in and shaping legislation.

For those of you who are truly conservative, I feel for you.  Your ideology has mainly been taken over by a group that has only one clear principle -

MIGHT MAKES RIGHT.

Georgia by the Numbers 2: Keeping Your Distance 34

Update:  Where have we gone in the three weeks since I Posted the first Georgia by the numbers?

People are starting to press.  No one in my area is pressing anymore.  THEY'RE JUST GOING OUT - FEW MASKS, LITTLE YTO NO SOCIAL DISATANCING.

When can we go to a restaurant?  Based on the crowds I see, people are going NOW.

When can we be in a play, or attend one?  WACT has a play scheduled for late June.

 When can we go to church? Some, but not all, have opened up.

When can we hold in-person meetings of our favorite clubs and organizations? I'm not sure about this one - I think most people are still doing ZOOM.  Given the scheduled Trump rally Saturday, I'm glad I don't live in Tulsa.  HOWEVER, we're close to Jacksonville and the scheduled Republican convention.  Oy.

Some of these and related questions have been answered by Governor Kemp - sure!  Go ahead and do it!  After all, things are getting better here in Georgia!  Kemp has a few common-sense rules, but they are being widely ignored.  

Well...

Are they?

Have we had 14 days of declining numbers, as the CDC suggests?

All I can go by is the Georgia Dept of Health numbers, updated three times a day.  Honestly, they may not be the most trustworthy numbers.  There have been press reports that suggest that Georgia and Florida have been manipulating and/or suppressing data to make their states look like they're recovering.

That may be true, but let's just take the Georgia Department of Health numbers and see what the state itself is reporting.

I've looked at seven-day accumulations, starting with May 5th, in two categories, confirmed cases and the number of deaths.  Results are summarized below -


                                                   Confirmed Cases                    Confirmed Deaths

May 5 - 11                                       4,565                                          198

May 12 - 18                                     4,281                                          205

May 19 - 25                                     5,117                                          199

May 26 - June 1                              4,499                                          241

June 2 - June 8                                4,598                                          119

June 9 - June 15                              5,917                                          286  


Although cases have not skyrocketed over this period, you certainly cannot claim they are declining.  And deaths have remained sadly steady.  The increase in numbers in the most recent week looks very ominous.  The rise everyone feared is here, but everyone around me still acts like it's over.

And then came Memorial Day Weekend.  A massive nationwide orgy of misbehavior.  What will be the effects of that?

 I'll let you know in two to three weeks.

The verdict is in.  Cases are rising in at least 22 states, especially in the South and Sunbelt.  

The President has suggested that the way to beat this is to simply stop testing.

So, the major question is...

Why do I still have friends who support Bunker Boy?

Stuck in Wave After Wave of a Nightmare Episode: Keeping Your Distance 17

You are a fantastic writer, Rod Serling.  And I love The Twilight Zone.  But could we please just end this terrible episode and move on to a better storyline?

Look, I 've figured out the story.  Electing someone as narcissistic and ignorant as Trump would have devastating consequences for us and the entire planet.  So, lesson learned.  Could we please go back to the way history should have gone?  Could we please restore the timeline to something that makes sense?  Please?

Of course, sadly, Trump is not alone.  He has whole news (?) networks like FOX and OAN, radio talk show blatherers like Rushy Limbaugh, and an army of so-called Christian evangelicals.  All who egg on people who, although not a majority, are loud, obnoxious, and downright scary.

And part of that army of lemmings are other Republican officials.  One of those leading the way is Georgia's own Governor, Brian Kemp.

No one in their right mind, in a state that has not peaked, where many areas of the state still see a rising number of cases, would decide that this is a sweet time to reopen the state.

It is madness.  It is malfeasance.  It will cost lives.  

It's hard to keep up with the numbers.  As  I write this, April 21st at 9:33 EDT,  we now have 774 deaths.  We currently rank 12th nationally in the number of cases.

Does it seem like it's getting better to you?

What would it take to reopen the state?

1) WEEKS of declining numbers.

2) Massive testing.

3) Thorough and complete contact tracing.

Is Kemp doing any of that?  Of course not.  What he's doing is saving the state money in unemployment payouts.  You can't claim unemployment if the business you have worked for reopens.  You can either choose to stay home without income (good luck making that $1200 last - but don't it have a sweet signature on that phat check?), or you can choose to risk your life, and the lives of everyone you love, by going to work.

You really want to risk your life serving popcorn to somebody who couldn't figure out how to see Trolls World Tour from home?

You really want to cut the hair of someone who the previous weekend was at a protest blocking a hospital and passing out, hand to hand, candy to children?

You really want to help at a gym where people are panting, gasping for air, and expelling COVID by the expectorate cloudfull?

Genuine essential workers, like medical staff and first responders (not, as Governor DeSantis of Florida believes, professional wrestlers), are needed, but EVERYTHING on earth should be done to protect them.  Shortages of PPE gear is criminal neglect by federal authorities who, if they were halfway caring or motivated, could get it to those who need it.

What is another way we can help medical staff?

By aggressive social distancing, so they are not overwhelmed by cases, stretching medical resources up to and beyond their capacity.

Care about others.  Help us get through this.

Don't be like Kemp.

Please, Rod.  Stop beating us over the head with it.

I don't like this alternate timeline we have careened on to.

I'm ready for a different episode.

Unfortunately, this one seems stuck on repeat.

With wave after wave crashing against us, breaking our heart and our spirit.

Remember, remember, this third of November.  Let's do everything we can to change the channel from this nightmare.

Kitchen Sink Political Update: Saturday Political Soap Box 223

In looking back as to what number this Saturday Political Soap Box would be, I was startled to see that the last one was in September, four weeks ago!

With so much happening, how could I be gone so long?

Part of the problem is taking the Saturday title so literally, and I have been busy most Saturdays recently.

Another part is the incredible speed with which events are happening, it is hard to keep, to say something relevant and current.

I'm going to kitchen sink it by throwing several topics against the kitchen wall and see what sticks.

The Impeachment Inquiry

We are now to the point that even Mitch McConnell expects there to be an impeachment and Senate trial.  Many recent polls are showing not only a majority supporting an impeachment inquiry, and even some showing majority support for impeachment AND removal!

These are stunning numbers, exceeding any percentage supporting the Clinton impeachment, and rivaling support for the Nixon impeachment (except for near the very end).

It's crystal clear that Trump committed an impeachable offense.  There's no mystery about it.  He used foreign policy to try to leverage dirt (real or fabricated) on his political opponent.  There was even the elusive quid pro quo.  We have the summary transcript of the Ukranian call that makes that undeniably so.  We have a whole bevy of State Department officials that make it clear.  We have Guiliani's Ukranian thug-buddies being arrested.  We have the President of the United States openly resoliciting Ukraine, and even throwing China into the mix. We have the Acting Cheif of Staff Mulvaney publicly confessing at a press conference.

The only defense left to the Treumpeteers is - we just don't care. Preserving our erratic, narcissistic leader is more important than our country.  Loyalty over patriotism.

But some other things are making support among Senate Republicans more problematic.  And that is...


Abandoning the Kurds

An issue that unites all but the most extreme isolationists.  The Kurds were instrumental to us in helping box in and diminish the threat from ISIS.  They put their lives on the line to help us.  And their reward?  To see us turn our backs on them, and let Turkey come and slaughter them.

Republicans who have stayed silent over so many horrible things this President has done have come out in opposition on this front.

Because I opposed the Iraq War so strongly, some may see me as an isolationist.  Bull hockey.  I believe in engaging the world, primarily through diplomacy, but also, where absolutely necessary, through the judicious use of military force.  It needs to be in conjunction with others, it needs to be in support of humanitarian and democratic goals, it needs to have a specific objective, and it needs to further American national interest.  What happened in Syria does none of those things.

Who will ever support us again?

Has the US ever abandoned allies before?  I'm sure, to one degree or another, we have.  That does not excuse or justify this.  And no one, NO ONE, can argue that this is in the long term national interest.

But that's not Trump's only problem.  There is also...

Repeated and blatant violations of the Emoluments  Clause

In the face of everything else, Trump still has the stones (or stupidity) to announce a sweet contract deal for next year's G-7 summit to be held at his own resort, the Trump Doral.

This is such a clear violation of the Emoluments Clause, it can be used in future textbooks to define what a violation looks like.

The Democratic Field

Yeah.  I could nitpick here, give ammunition to my Trumpeteer friends, give them false hope as to think I might turn on one of the Democrats running.  But let me reassure them - there is no one that I wouldn't vote for opposite Trump or whoever the Republicans select.

That said, I still believe a progressive choice is superior to a corporate choice.  But trust me, reasonable Democrats will argue about this endlessly, but make no mistake - when the dust is cleared, regardless of who is nominated, all the chickens will come home to roost.

It is clear from the most recent debate that Elizabeth Warren is now the front-runner. At least it seems that way by how the other candidates relentlessly attacked her.  She can handle it.  That comes with the territory.

The one biggest disappointment to me in the Democratic field?  Tulsi Gabbard.  She is not who I thought she was.  I don't think she's the villain or closet Republican or Soviet sleeper agent some are trying to make her out to be, but some of her political stances are not ones that interest me.  If she's the nominee, I would vote for her.  But I don't expect her to be the nominee.  The way she's going, she may not even win back her Congressional seat.

UPDATE: Another sign that events move faster than I post.  I was unaware of the extent of the word war between Tulsi Gabbard and Hilary Clinton.  Nether is shining because of this, but I am more disappointed in Hilary Clinton, implying that Tulsi is a Russian agent.  Not true and not helpful.

I'm so glad to see Bernie Sanders rebound back from his health crisis.  He is stronger than ever.  Even if he is not my first choice, I so appreciate the strength of his voice and vision.  And if he does get the nomination, he will have my super-enthusiastic support.

The Young Constituents and the Waycross News

I can't say enough good things about this group and the vital work they have done in our local area.  Offering young people a political voice in this area, bringing in candidates for a symposium - kudos to you!  This is what participatory democracy is all about!

Shame on the new facebook group Waycross & Blackshear News for tilting as severely to the far right as the recently closed daily Waycross Journal Herald did.  People who post things promoting events for moderates or the left should not feel harassed or intimidated or have their events withdrawn from publicity (whether the withdrawal is done by them or the one who originally put it up).

We need balance in this area.  The Blackshear Times provided some of that.  It also is under new ownership, and only time will tell how much of that neutrality will be preserved.

Also, only time will tell about the new weekly Waycross Journal Herald.  I hope for the best, but I fear the worst.

Have I caught up yet?

Hardly, but It's probably not best to drone on forever, especially with my political posts getting fewer and fewer views.

Nevertheless, I persist.

Elect Barbara Griffin!

Another citizen takes a stand!

Barbara Griffin has stepped up to the plate and is running to serve the residents of Georgia House District 176.  A special election is taking place (February 12, early voting Jan 22 to Feb 8) to replace an incumbent who has taken another state position.

I have known her for many years now, and cannot think of a more passionate defender of the working person than she.

In the words of her devoted spouse, Lamar Deal:

VOTE FOR BARBARA GRIFFIN GA HOUSE DISTRICT 176
Why? Because Barbara Griffin actually cares about people; in fact, her entire career as a Social Worker began in 1973, when she got her Master's degree from the University of Georgia. She currently works in the dialysis field, helping patients navigate the health care labyrinth.
Barbara Griffin will work hard for:
- EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE. Many South Georgians postpone getting medical care until they get very sick and end up in the ER, incurring higher medical bills for everyone. Keeping rural hospitals open means better health outcomes and lower infant mortality. More trauma centers (there are currently NONE in South Georgia) means saved lives. Barbara Griffin will work to bring quality healthcare to all Georgians.
- PUBLIC EDUCATION. A quality education means more opportunity for financial success. When companies look to expand one of the chief criteria is good schools. Rural Georgia needs a skilled workforce to attract higher paying tech jobs. Barbara Griffin believes in robust public schools from Kindergarten through graduate school.
-JOBS. Better jobs means a better quality of life, which begets more and better jobs. Barbara Griffin will work to bring those jobs to District 176.
- THE ENVIRONMENT. South Georgia has a sunny climate year round. Solar farms and residential solar are environmentally friendly and increasingly cost-effective. Industrial pollution and fossil fuels threaten our rural way of life by endangering wildlife and our health. Barbara Griffin will work to keep District 176 clean and beautiful.

Barbara Griffin is a hard-working, compassionate, intelligent woman. How do I know this? I'm married to her. I see her best qualities in action every day. VOTE FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL GEORGIANS. VOTE FOR BARBARA GRIFFIN.

This is a map of her district.  Yes, gerrymandering is another strange part of Americana.  You can check your registration at the Georgia Secretary of State site, and it should clarify what district you are in.  

There is also a Facebook page, Elect Barbara Griffin, GA House District 176, which I encourage you to join and like for all the latest updates and information.

If you live in District 176, early voting for this Special Election is January 22 through February 8 and election day is February 12.

The Reddening of Pierce County: Saturday Political Soap Box 197

I thought we had turned a corner.

I thought it would get better.

I was wrong.

I look forward after each election to The Blackshear Times printing a detailed grid, precinct by precinct, of the election results.  I have not found that yet.  I did see a news story that described the results in general terms.

And it was heartbreaking.  Devastating.

I thought we had hit a low point in 2016.  Democratic candidates, including the locally despised Hillary Clinton, averaged around 13% of the vote.

This year, I believed with all my heart and soul that things would get better.  No miracles.  Even 20% would convince me that we were back on the road to better balance.

We had a courageous Pierce County candidate, a hometown boy, running for State House Representative.  We had in Lisa Ring the hardest-working, most aggressive Congressional Democrat this area had ever seen.  She made her presence known here, and canvassed here, and did not ignore this county like so many previous Democrats would have done.

So what was their reward?

They, like all the Democrats on the ballot in Pierce County, received roughly 10% of the vote.


10%.

We are now at Soviet monolith proportions. 

We are now at autocratic levels.

I am so sad.  I hate living in a place where you have to fear what might happen if you express yourself full force.

I am saying this more for the Democrats and Progressive people that I know.  I understand why you have been afraid to speak out. I have not had the intelligence to restrict myself.  In print at least, whether it's on Facebook, The Blackshear Times, or my world famous blog, The Strait Line.

It's not that I'm brave.  I'm not.  I'm an idiot who has loved discussing politics all his life and doesn't know when to shut up.

Over the years, it has had some consequences, but nothing too dire.  2002 was particularly rough, with most of a whole local church deciding I was evil incarnate.  My sin?  I dared to state at the beauty shop where I get my haircut that I would not vote for Kay Godwin, a local Blackshear resident running for the State House, and one of the leaders of the movement to redden Pierce County.  Yeah, somehow, years later,  NOT voting for local State House candidate Greg O'Driscoll didn't carry the same weight (I proudly voted for our local boy).  We had a prominent preacher, Mike Stone of Emmanual Church,  pretty clearly state that being a Democrat and a Christian is incompatible (I don't know what to say - I struggle every day now how you can be a Christian and support Trump, so I may have lost the moral high ground on this one).

In 2012, my son was told by at least one of his peers that if he talked about his support for Obama, he would kill him.  After the 2016 election, one of my co-workers threatened to report me to the boss if I dared talked about politics again.  Now, don't get me wrong,  The others can say whatever damn fool thing comes into their heads.  I'm the one who was intimidated into silence.

In the most recent episode of Real Time, Bill Maher said we just stop talking about politics with the other side.  It does no good.  They don't listen and it just ostracizes you further.

For the most part now, I don't talk about politics with those whom I know are Trumpeteers.  But if they start talking crazy, if they initiate the conversation, it's hard for me to stay quiet.  I'm always at a disadvantage in most conversations because my heart beats faster and my sense of reasoning flees me.

Although I understand Bill Maher's point and try to avoid talking about politics to the Trumpeteers as much as I can (although I think about it about as often as most psychologists suggest men think about sex).  It's not easy, but I do the best I can.  Most of the Trumpeteers I know are individually good people, so it just adds to the confusion.  I've lost more sleep and stressed more about this than I have anything in my life.

I'll continue to speak out, particularly in my blog. 

It hurts to stay silent.  I'm not good at internalizing things.

And I think of Anne Frank, and all the terrible things that happened at the hands of the Nazis,  I think of Schindler and how he cried about not being able to help more, blaming himself for every Jew he could not save.

Silence in the face of tyranny, of autocratic fascism, of a narcissistic, racist bully - it's just something I cannot do.

It may be hopeless to reverse the Red Tide that has engulfed my home county. 

But I can't give up.

Anne Frank haunts me.  Schindler haunts me,  Children in cages haunts me.  A crazed madman with his hand on the nuclear trigger haunts me.

Sorry, Bill Maher.

Sorry, Pierce County.

I cannot stop,

My conscience will not let me.

Final 2018 Election Speculatron : Saturday Political Soap Box 196

So, Tom, any changes since your last Speculatron (word patent pending)?

Well, not too much.

House

In August, I predicted the Republicans would hold the house with a 5 seat edge (223 to 212, with 218 needed for a majority.

I still think that is in the realm of possibility, but everything would have to break the Trumpian way.  The country would have to be a lot more intolerant and fear-based than even I think it is. So, yeah, this could still happen.

I'm a little bit more optimistic now.  I think the Democrats will retake the house with a 10 seat edge (228 to 207).  There are just too many districts where Trumpian support is marginal at best.  Trump's extremism and racist tone are attracting and energizing his base supporters, but it is also repulsing more people in the middle.

Senate

In August, I predicted that the Republicans would gain two seats (53 to 47, including Independents that caucus with either the Democrats or the Republicans). 

I remain pessimistic about the Senate.  They could lose three or four seats instead.  Democratic incumbents in red states, like Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota and Joe Donelly in Indiana, are in grave danger.  Many of them have tried to stake grounds as Republican Lite, which I think is ALWAYS a dangerous strategy.  Why vote for a pretend Republican when you can have the real thing?  I would love beyond measure to see Beto O'Rouke beat Ted Cruz in Texas, but that is no sure thing.

If the Blue Wave is strong enough, it is possible that Democrats could do slightly better.  Here's my most intriguing possibility  -

      The Senate winds up a 50 - 50 tie, which is then broken by the Republican Vice President             (currently Mike Pence).  BUT Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Independent (nominally- one time   she lost  the  Republican primary, and then won by doing the Joe Lieberman thing) has an   unprecedented fit of   conscientiousness and decides to caucus with the Democrats.  Unlikely?   Maybe.  But you never   know.

State and Local

I'm not going to make Georgia predictions for local candidates.  I pray Lisa Ring wins.  I don't want to say anything else about that.  Greg O'Driscoll would be fantastic in the State House.  'Nuff said.

Stacey Abrams deserve to win.  In a fair election, her odds are better than even.  But she's running against the referee.  On my social media feed, my Trumpian friends have reserved their most vile venom for her.  I wonder why.

Andrew Gillum looks poised to win the Governor's race in Florida.  What a refreshing break that will be from the white-collar criminal con-man Rick Scott (who should also lose his Senate race)!  Governor Gillum should become a Democratic superstar, and I welcome that.

Across the country, the Democrats should gain in Governorships and State Legislators.  It will be wonderful to restore a better sense of balance throughout the country.

The Bad News

No matter who controls Congress, Trump will use the outcome to his advantage.  If he retains control, you can kiss Mueller goodbye.  It will confirm his approach of racism, sexism, and hate.  The remnants of Obamacare will be destroyed, with nothing to replace it.  The debt will mount, and programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will be under constant siege.  Global warming will accelerate, endangering the entire planet. Treaties will be broken and allies offended, while dictators get lavished with love. Things will be as ugly as can be, uglier than your worst nightmares.  I'm not trying to scare.  It's just the facts.

If the Democrats should take the House, Trump will have much of his most extreme agenda stuck.  They'll be plenty of hearings and investigations, and RIGHTLY SO.  Will Trump be impeached?  He should be, but I don't know that he will be.  What he will do is turn into Harry Truman, and rail against Congress 24/7, and blame them for EVERYTHING, especially the stuff that Trump himself does wrong.  When the economy slumps (which, given the deficit, trades wars, rising personal debt, automation, and the business cycle, seems inevitable), he will use the Congress as a whipping boy, blaming the collapse he created on the Democrats,  and try to demonize his way to re-election in 2020. 

If the Democrats take the House, it will provide an essential check on extremism.  It will not turn the world into puppy dogs and rainbows.  It will still be a very, very scary world, and will remain so until the worldwide trend towards authoritarian fascism is finally reversed.

The Good News

Whatever the exact outcome, the number of Progressives in Congress should increase.  And that is a beautiful portent for the future.  It means we're slowly moving closer to Medicare For All, a living wage, affordable college, checking climate change and creating green jobs, a strong military acting as a force for good in the world, and a place of greater civil rights, kindness and caring. 

It can't come fast enough.

Seven Who Deserve to Win: Saturday Poiltical Soap Box 195

Four years ago, at the midterm, I posted seven politicians who I thought deserved defeat,  This time I would like to focus on seven who deserve to win.

First and foremost is Lisa Ring, 1st Congressional  District of  Georgia.  I have never in my life seen a candidate work so hard to earn the support and trust of her district.  She is a grassroots-creating whirlwind, doing all the basic retailing politics that I don't believe has ever been done in this district.

Her husband and son are military, with her son currently serving overseas.  She is a former corrections officer and has experienced many of the same ups and downs as her constituents.  This has given her great empathy and an ability to address problems with the everyday citizen in mind.

She doesn't take money from corporate interests or political PACS.  She is funded by small donors.  She is a Democrat, but she is not a corporate Democrat,  She won't be beholden to any political establishment, but instead represent the interests of her district.

She'll fight to make sure you get the healthcare you deserve.  She'll fight to preserve and strengthen Social Security.  She'll work for a clean environment, and not for the polluters.  She'll fight to get veterans all that they have earned through their patriotism and sacrifice.

If you live in her district, you have a golden opportunity to endorse a new, more representative politics.  I have never been prouder to cast a ballot in a Congressional race than I will be for Lisa Ring.

Chances of winning:  Not good, but there is always a chance.  This area has never seen a grassroots effort like hers before.  It is a district where parts are turning more Democratic, and the political polling here has not been extensive.   If she does win, even my Michigan friends will be able to hear my shouts of joy.

Greg O'Driscoll, State House candidate District 178 (man, Georgia has a big ol' House!), deserves to win.  He's not sponsored by big money interests, and he's just a regular Joe working at a hardware store.  He's also very bright and has a great rapport and connection to his constituents and what they go through.  He's going to cut through the partisan crap and work to represent the working families of his district.  He's one of us fighting for all of us!

And I will be proud to vote for him on Election Day!

Chances of winning:  Not likely, but his presence is priceless.  This area needs to have choices, not just Republican establishment echoes.

Stacey Abrams, if she wins, will be Georgia's first African-American Governor, and also the first female Governor.  Both of these are long overdue.  She has run a smart race, building a broad coalition, and campaigning across the entire state, even in rural counties like Pierce and Ware.  She is mobilizing the voter turnout, and I am hopeful that her run will benefit Democratic turnout throughout Georgia.

There are many reasons I will be voting for Stacey Abrams, but the most important one is she gives me...Hope.  My son is ready to start college next year, and for all we've saved and planned, without the Hope Scholarship we can't do it.  This may infuriate some of my conservative friends who must not pay attention to what Republicans actually do, but they will never preserve, defend and EXPAND the Hope Scholarship like it needs to be.  Stacey will also protect public education and stop the madness that is putting our public dollars into the hands of private school entrepreneurs whose primary goal is not your child's education but to enrich themselves.

Chances of Winning:  In a perfect world, her odds of winning would be slightly better than even.  But when your opponent, Brian Kemp, is also Secretary of State in charge of elections and is blatantly suppressing the vote to favor himself, the odds fo her winning steepen dramatically.

To my conservative friends who are not bothered by this -  Imagine your favorite college team is going to play their rival.  Now imagine that that rival has set that the referees are to be coaches and representatives of their college!  How fair do you think that would be?  And you're still okay with Kemp being the referee for this Governor's race?  For shame if you are!

Heidi Heitkamp, Senator from North Dakota, is not my cup of tea.  She is a Blue Dog Democrat who often sides with Republicans, the kind of Democrat who, if the Democrats win the majority, can't always be counted on to support the party's position.  She is particularly frustrating on gun control.

But when a crucial vote came for someone who had no business being on the Supreme Court, she stood firm and voted against him.  She believed one of the most compelling witnesses I have ever seen (Dr. Christine Ford), and watched Brent Kavanaugh (one time with the sound off, observing his snarl and mean spirit, his body language that betrayed him to be the partisan hack and abuser that he is), and even though she knew it might cost her politically, she cast a vote against him.  Had anyone else had the stones she did (and also Lisa Murkowski) - Joe Manchin, Jeff Flake, Susan Collins - the Republicans would be scrambling right now for a replacement nominee.

Chances of winning:  Unfortunately, she is almost certain to lose.  And this may also be key to the Democrats being unable to retake the Senate.  Still, she is a profile in courage, and I admire Heidi for her brave and courageous stand.

Andrew Gillum poised to be the Governor of Florida.  And I can't think of a more deserving person to take that job.  An impressive speaker, debater, administrator, and campaigner, it has been a joy to watch this neighboring state's candidate come into his own.

Chances of Winning:  Very, very good.  And that makes me very, very happy.

Alexandria Occasio Cortez, young Congressional candidate from New York, represents the future of not only the Democratic Party, but our nation.  If handing over the future of the country is to people like her, then I finally see a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel we are currently in.

Chances of Winning:  Excellent.

Last but not least, we have Beto O'Rourke, Texas Senate candidate.  By far, the most charismatic candidate in the country, if we ever really do have a Blue Wave, he will be the one leading it.  He is genuinely caring about the people of Texas and will represent them on the basic human level they deserve to be represented at.  Texas has been a deeply red state, but its shifting demographics, that includes people who have voted for Republicans in the past, may give Beto the chance he deserves.

You also have the extra bonus of getting rid of one of the scummiest, most pathetic politicians around, Ted Cruz.  He's the kind of smarmy scumbag that even most Republicans don't like.


Chances of Winning:  Toss Up.  Beto would be a sure thing in most states, but this is Texas we're talking about.  Still, I have high hopes he emerges victorious.

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

There is a considerable list of political figures that I would love to see defeated, including Rick Scott, the aforementioned Ted Cruz, Steve King, Duncan Hunter, Scott Walker, and many, many more.  I want for the Democrats to regain control of the Senate, but if Democratic New Jersey Robert Menedez (who had been mired in corruption scandals) is defeated, I'm not going to shed too many tears.  We need more candidates like the seven I mentioned above, and fewer establishment hacks.

VOTE!  Everything depends on it!

One of Us Fighting For All of Us

We all know the problem.

Only one side runs for our elected offices, and there are no alternatives offered, no other viewpoints heard.

Someone needs to step up and speak up.  Someone needs to have the courage to run.  For all my blogging bravado, I did not step up.

But someone did.

And that someone is Georgia District 178 House of Representatives candidate Greg O' Driscoll.

He is seen in the picture above with Barbara Griffin, receiving the endorsement of the National Asociation of Social Workers, Georgia.

Greg is one of us.  He has a full-time job, working at a home improvement store.  He has a family, including the arrival of a new baby boy this summer.  He's experienced the same day to day financial pains and struggles many of us have.

He will not have a special interest agenda when he goes to be our representative in Atlanta.  He'll fight for the family farmer, and not be in the pocket of large agribusiness.  He'll do everything to extend Medicaid, and do everything in his power to ensure as many people as possible have access to decent health care and work to prevent people from going bankrupt just trying to provide basic health care to their family.   He'll deal with the terrible drug and opioid crisis in our area, in a way that emphasizes rehabilitation, recovery and work with the medical community.   He'll fight to preserve and grow the Hope Scholarship and to strengthen the backbone of democracy - public schools.  When industries pollute, he will be on the side of the health and well-being of your family.  He'll aim to bring green jobs to Southeast Georgia.

He is one of us fighting for all of us.

Please consider voting for one of us this election.  Please help revolutionize the Georgia legislature so that it once again represents the interests of its citizens.

Greg O' Driscoll - it's time one of us went to the statehouse!

Greg O'Driscoll being introduced by Melvin Johnson, chairman of the Pierce County Democrats.

See You Tonight at the Elect Greg Meet 'n' Greet at KD's!

Come meet the courageous candidate that's going to flip Georgia House District 178! 

Greg O'Driscoll is an everyday, hardworking American, who wants to go to the State House to represent YOU and not the special interests!

He'll represent regular farmers, not agribusiness.

He'll stand for the working man, not the large corporate donors.

He'll support your child's school needs, not those who are looking to make a quick buck off of private and charter schools.

He'll work to make the environment livable, siding with those who suffer from polluting effects (like coal ash) instead of the polluters.

He'll be what you need most in Atlanta - someone who represents YOU.

So, come out tonight and meet YOUR representative, Greg O'Driscoll!

Today at 6 PM - 8 PM

KD's Cafe
504 Elizabeth Street
Downtown Waycross

A chance to get to know and discuss the issues with Greg O'Driscoll, the candidate for GA State House District 178 (Pierce and Brantley County, western Wayne and southern Appling Counties, and Waresboro in Ware Co.)

Brushes With Celebrity: Our Time with the Smiths

I haven't spoken to or seen too many celebrities in my life.

I live fairly sedately.  I rarely go out of my way to see anybody, much less anybody famous.  I can hardly believe that people I know want to talk to me, much less somebody well known.

I once went to a comic book convention with two of my sons, back in the 1990s, and we waited a long time in a line to see one of the more well-known comic book artists of that era.  When we finally got to see him, it was a very sterile experience.  We were rushed along by security, he signed something my sons had ready for him, didn't even look up at us, and we were pushed out.  It had all the emotional resonance of stamping a rubber chicken on an assembly line.

Later, we waited in a much shorter line for someone less well known, but a favorite of our family, Jeff Smith, the creator of the Bone comic book, an all-ages fantasy that was sort of a cross between Disney Donald and Scrooge McDuck adventures, and Lord of the Rings.  Even though the line was shorter, it took a very long time to see Jeff Smith.  That's because he was taking his time with each person.  When we finally saw him, it took him very little time to break down my shyness barrier, and make me and my sons feel comfortable.  He talked to you as a real person and was even willing to do a quick sketch.  Up until that time, it was the best celebrity experience in my life.

Several years later, Jeff Smith popped up in my life again.  He was the honoree at Pogofest and was inducted into the Okefenokee Area's budding Cartoonist Walk of Fame.  Alison and I were designated to help Jeff and his beautiful wife, Vijaya, at their Pogofest booth at the fair.  Somehow we stayed with them for most of the rest of the trip here, including an after party with other famous cartoonists, breakfast at Huddle House, and a trip to the Swamp Park.  He drew pictures for all the members of my family.  By the time they left, we were very good friends.

I did not follow up.  I let them live their own lives and did not pursue a friendship after.  I've always wondered if that was a mistake, but that's what it's like with us introverts.  We don't often take the initiative.

You may not have heard of the Cartoonist Walk of Fame.  That's because not too many years later, the whole idea was abandoned.  Pogofest became Swampfest, a much smaller event that took place in April, encompassing about a block of downtown.  What was a national event became a small downtown festival.

I don't know the ins and outs as to why Pogofest was abandoned.  There may have been business and/or political reasons.  I've heard all sorts of rumors over the years, but nothing I could assert was definitely true.

I do know that before I moved into this area, Pogofest was the one and only thing I knew about Waycross.  And I think that was true for many others.  So, it is rather sad to me that it is now gone, vanquished into the recesses of area history.

I would love to see the return of Pogofest.  It may be too late now.  Fewer and fewer even remember the Walt Kelly cartoon set in the Okefenokee Swamp.  It would be great if more would try to restore the memory of that clever comic strip, alive with humor and relevant social satire.  But restoring it may be beyond the capacity of anyone, especially an introvert like me.

I miss the Smiths and all their cartoonist friends.  For a brief time, Alison and I pierced the celebrity veil and connected on a personal level.  For a fleeting instant, celebrity came to Waycross, and we found them just like us.

May the Cartoonist Walk of Fame live again.

UPDATE:  There has been some confusion about my memories of the Swamp Park visit.  Did we go to the Swamp Park?  There is someone else with strong memories of the Swamp Park visit, and I don't think they include us, for both the public event (which Alison and I were definitely not part of it) and a private event the next day.  My own memories aren't very strong of the interior of the park.  My strongest memories are of taking pictures for them and with them on the road outside the park, and of Jeff drawing pictures for us on a picnic table outside the swamp.  Did we take them there and not go in?  Neither Alison and I are sure.

Here is one of the three drawings that Jeff Smith did for Alison and me.  The other two were done for my sons, Greg and Doug, and they have those. Our pictures with them were from before call phoanes, and I'm not sure where they are.

No, it's not as elaborate a picture as he may have done for others, but for us, it was extraordinary and treasured.  The question isn't whether Jeff and Vijaya bonded more with others, but that they did bond with us, about as much anyone can, given our introverted instincts.

Finally, I'm not sure Jeff & Vijaya referred to themselves as the Smiths.  They used different last names in most of the public material they have, Jeff Smith and Vijaya Iyer.  They are married but may have chosen to keep their surnames, at least in public material. 

Strength in Ballot Diversity: Saturday Political Soap Box 185

Choice is always good.

You wouldn't want to go to the grocery store and find only one brand of peanut butter.  You want to be able to have a variety of tastes and to be able to comparison shop for price or other factors.  And since we all have different filters for our choice, not everyone will walk away with the same brand.

No one wants to walk down the aisle and only see GENERIC Peanut Butter, GENERIC Lima Beans, GENERIC Corn Flakes, and on and on.  It would be like shopping in the old Soviet Union.

Speaking of the Soviet Union, and other autocratic countries (including the new Soviet Union, known as Russia), their lack of diversity is not limited to their consumer markets.  It's also seen on their ballots.  There is only one viable option.  Either there is no choice on the ballot, or opposition is just for show.

I can't imagine living like that.  I like having choices in the stores.  And I love having choices on the ballot.

Unfortunately, ballot choice has not existed in my adopted home state of Georgia.  For decades, the Democratic Party dominated across the state.  The opposition was paltry and uncompetitive, and often Democratic candidates would run in November unopposed, with the Republicans unable to mount even a token opponent.

But this did not last forever.  In recent years, the Republican Party has taken a chokehold on Georgia politics.  The great switch, primarily provoked by the national Democratic Party's stance on civil rights, and then egged on by religious leaders of the conservative right, so much so, that by the early 2000s, the Democratic Party had been reduced to minority status, only able to hold sway in a small number of districts.

In my own neck of the Georgia woods, there would be very few Democrats appearing on the ballot.  Everyone around me seemed to accept that the real election was the primary, and were completely undisturbed by the Soviet-style ballot in the Fall.

But not me.  It bothered the bejeezus out of me.  I grew up in an area of Michigan that had very competitive elections.  Sometimes the Republican won, sometimes the Democrat.  No one could win by only appealing to party.  Splitting ballots was more common than not.  And those who were elected, if they refused to compromise and get stuff done, their jobs were in peril.

Not so today.  And this is true in many parts of the country.  Districts have been gerrymandered to be uncompetitive, to protect one party or the other.  The reason Republicans have dominated so much the last decade has as much to do with their surge election in 2010 as anything else, when they captured an enormous number of state legislatures.  This enabled them to control how districts were formed coming out of the  2010 census, and shape them to favor Republicans for the next decade.

In 2020 this could flip if the Democrats have a wave election.  And that would be just as wrong.  Elections districts should be determined by geography and population, not by granting one party or the other dominance.

But all is not doom and gloom in Georgia.  The Democrats have mounted competitive candidates this year, at both the state and local level.  And many of them are real choices, not just faint echoes of the other party.  Will this improve the percentage of the vote the Democrats get?  I don't know.  But at least Georgians get to hear a real choice for once.

Even locally, our ballot is slightly more competitive.  We have a real go-getter, a really vibrant choice, in our Congressional race, with the introduction of an effective, articulate Democratic candidate.  The incumbent Republican Congressman, Buddy Carter, is not going to be able to sleepwalk his way to victory.  He's going to have explain himself and defend the decisions he has made, and that is as it should be.

And the race for State House Representative is actually a two-party race for the first time since I can remember.  The last time I recall was in 2002 when the Democrat actually won.  And then immediately after winning, announced his switch to the Republican Party.

Things are not ideal yet.  There are still many local races, including every county race, where there is no November opposition.  Much of the ballot is still Soviet style.

But it is getting better.  And that, I think, is to the benefit to us all.  Choice makes democracy stronger.  Choice makes democracy real.

Face it.  Choosy voters choose choice!  Works for peanut butter, really works for democracy.

This year, spread the choice.  Shop around.  We'll all be better off for it.