California Day 3 Hey Is That Iggy Pop?

 A driving tour of the rest of LA with Max's Brother in control. Breakfast at Nick's (I think it's in Chinatown) which was a meal that RFK Jr would definitely not like (Or considering what he actually eats that's a good thing), 

The driving tour of Laurel Canyon and the Sunset Strip, featuring the Comedy Store, The Whisky a Go Go (big Doors fane here) and the Troubadour where a quick glimpse of a man outside made me think it was Iggy Pop but turned out to look more like Gary Busey. Bill M
aher and Woody Harrelson's weed store, the gate that the Manson Family entered to butcher Sharon Tate and Tail O The Pup.

To show how kind California is on a corner in Hollywood or West Hollywood or who knows is a small vehicle that offers free STD testing. 

Negative of course.

The Getty Museum on the hill is free (but it does cost to park). The museum is a wonder of art and sculptures. You could spend hours there if you were an art afficianado. I am just a peasant when it comes to art so the Monets and the Van Gogh thrilled me and the rest was just yeah cool. Again the view from the Getty is phenomenal. The horrid traffic at 4 pm, the ocean, all the cities is all there. Now thats art to me. Spectacular views.

Finally, the Santa Monica Pier. Yeah a tourist trap but worth a visit once in your lifetime. Tourists, kids, teens and one guy in a MAGA hat. It was all fantastic to see the tide come in and to us flatlander Midwesterners whose greatest water view is whatever manmade lake you're at. It's always been a dream of mine to drive Route 66 from Chicago to the end, which is Santa Monica. Thus, I've seen the beginning at the Chicago Art Museum and the end at the Pier. All I need now is the middle.

In conclusion, Waymo. Waymo is the name of a driverless taxi that wanders around the ritzy parts of LA. Now you may have seen this thing when Aunt Chippy rode in one much to her chagrin. But to see it at first appalled me but by the next day it intrigued me. We didn't get one but next time a definite yes.

The trip was over. Lots accomplished. Thanks to Max's bro for the guided tours. It was so nice to ignore the upcoming transition to fascism.

Side notes

Some dude on the plane from Denver to LA fell asleep on my shoulder for two freaking hours. When I gently woke him up, he freaked out. 

Gas in LA is $4.50-$5 a gallon. At one place it was $7.70 and there were actually people gassing up there. Must be trendy.

I still have no idea the difference between Metro and Metro Link even though it was explained to me a thousand times. All I remember is one was $4 and the other was $20. One reminds me of the subway or the L in Chicago. The other one looks like Amtrak. Maybe next time.

Much like New York, Los Angeles features all kinds of people, all kind of languages and a diversity that didn't make me want America to be "great" again. Unlike some people, differences make me happy to be alive. 

Nebraska football is dead. THAT will never be great again. I am now convinced. Nobody can save the program. But it's just football. Right? We can't have nuthin in Nebraska. Just uptight assholes running the place under the no fun EVER mentality of dumbasses we keep electing because of the R next to their name.

California Day Two Another One Score Loss!

 Day two involved the Nebraska-USC game at the historic LA Coliseum. Taking a subway/train from Little Tokyo to the USC campus was fast and easy. Train sticked full of Husker fans wearing cornheads and chanting Go Big Red much to the dismay of a poor woman just trying to get to work. 

The Coliseum is over 100 years old and the things that have been held there is amazing, The Olympics, USC glory days, Dodger baseball, national championship games. The game itself was just barely watchable. Two 5-5 teams battling it out to see who wanted to lose more, Go Big Red, cuz nobody wants to lose more than us. 

15000 Husker fans made a lot of noise. And 50000 USC fans gave it right back. Seated in the end zone under the massive scoreboard and where the game itself looked like a bunch of ants running around and the scoreboards at the other end were too tiny for old guys to read. Hey, the band, the horse, the Trojan (I guess the used condom we found in the fountain meant Go Trojans) and the lighting of the flame at the beginning of the fourth quarter. It was all worth the trip. Yeah, the Huskers lost but whatever, we are used to it. Hey, Husker fan in your 50's, no need to dress up in a full uniform, including shoulder pads and a helmet. You look ridiculous.

Back on the train to Litte Tokyo and a walking trip around at night was very interesting, lots of restaurants, lots of pop-up shops including a store completely geared to Godzilla fans which of course Max had to visit. This is truly a diverse town, and I love it.

Back home after a side trip to The Stockroom (google it). Verrryyy interesting indeed.

California Here I Come Day One!

Haven't been to California in years but the self-flagellation that is being a Husker fan brought us to sunny LA to watch the latest one score loss. With tour guide Max's brother in charge of travel our first stop would be a tour of the iconic Dodger Stadium. Yeah, it takes you 20 minutes to get in and about 5 minutes to get out. No wonder the stereotype of Dodger fan late arrivals and early exiters is true.

Dodger Stadium is under renovation construction as you can see. Therefore, the "tour" would not include a trip down to the field to sit in the dugout or a short glimpse into the locker rooms. We started on the top level and pretty much stayed there. Lots of memorabilia from Brooklyn and from Los Angeles Dodger seasons past. A trip to the Vin Scully press box and a short trip into a suite was about it. The tour guide was nice and well informed. The tour guests were either Koreans interested in Otani and a bunch of Nebraska bros or us. Yes, Nebraskans, but not THAT kind of Nebraskans. The view to the downtown was great. and all in all it was worth it.

To downtown LA with a gusto. A trip up and down the Angel Flight, a car that climbs a hill featured in any movie/TV series that involves 1930s Los Angeles. $2 up and down. The Central Food Market is much like Reading Terminal Market in Philly or Faneuil Hall in Boston (damn I've been from coast to coast this year). Lots of food stands, from Chinese to ice cream and Mexican, Cool.

Drive around downtown, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Crypto ah hell the Staple Center (where a line of people around the block was camping out to get into Sabrina Carpenter later that night). Lunch at some place called Jollibee, a fast food Filipino chicken joint where you can get two pieces of white meat (a leg and a thigh?) and a side of spaghetti with hot dog or ham bits in it. Yeah, it's not great but it must be experienced. 

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, with the stars on the ground. I was specifically looking for Donald Trump's star to give it the finger. The place was chock full of people wearing N's. Hustlers and scam artists catering to the rubes. Wannabe rappers selling their CD's. A guy selling pro Trump gear. Some nut with a box full of snakes (ewwwww) and all in one section, the stars of Trump, Diddy and Vince McMahon. The sexual predator section.

Finally a trip up to the famous Griffith Observatory. No knife fights that I saw (Rebel Without a Cause reference) and the planetarium show, which was fascinating and yet confusing as fuck. No wonder lazy asses choose to buy the God, six day creation bullshit. Max's brother slept thru it (he's prob seen it more than once) and Max himself philosophizing that if you were stoned, you may have an existential crisis. I wasn't high and I had one anyway. Trying to guide the asteroid back into the Earth didn't work.

The view from up there is worth it. The lights of LA, the Hollywood sign, the hills,  it really is remarkable.

Day One in the books.

Funny Girl!

 The national tour of Funny Girl opened in Omaha on Tuesday night. The 60 year old musical about the life of Fanny Brice is a classic for sure, made famous by Barbra Streisand and not really ever revived until recently probably because of that fact nobody can top Babs. Then came the Broadway revival that was a bit of a disaster because the lead wasn't very good and was replaced after a short period of time. But the national tour became the way to go so us out here in the sticks can see an epic musical.

Sometimes you get a bagel with everything and sometimes you get a bagel with just cream cheese. Streisand is everything, the touring show is the latter. Not to say that's bad, some of us don't want everything on the bagel and that would be me.

From the moment Hannah Shankman as Fanny says "Hello Gorgeous" to the moment the play ends abruptly, she owns the stage. She is a force of nature. Her voice is a powerhouse, her stage presence is dominating, and she is funny, ya know, like the title says. Shankman may be the greatest female singer I've seen on a stage in a long while. She really is phenomenal.

Steven Mark Lukas as Nick Arnstein, Fanny's love and husband, is dashing and creepy at the same time. He's quite the cad, a con artist who has to be in control, but when Fanny becomes more successful than him, the marriage crumbles. Melissa Manchester (yes that Melissa Manchester) plays Fanny's Jewish mother. She is so good at both dominating the stage when she's on it with her fellow Jewish mothers and backing off to Shankman's power when necessary. A real pro. Izaih Harris as Fanny's best friend, Eddie, is phenomenal when he tap dances onstage to the woo hoos of the crowd. He's not onstage much but when he is, it makes the musical better.

The choreography is phenomenal in duplicating the Ziegfeld Follies of the 1920's, vaudeville, dancing, singing, chorus girls, and comedy. Fanny juggles her career, her marriage, and her insecurities. Nick spirals out of control as he loses money in one scam after another and when Fanny bails him out he resorts to embezzlement to deal with HIS insecurities and goes to prison. Fanny waits, she gives in to her need for love, and Nick rejects her. Bummer. Or was it?

Funny Girl isn't the greatest musical of all time for sure. It's something I'd probably never see again but it's a fun time for the 2 1/2 hours. It's a classic and you'll be happy you went. 

Really America?

 Look at what happens when adults lose election. They concede. Had Kamala won there would be fucking crying and screeching like no other, well at least since 2020 and that never ended. And now that they won, instead of quietly celebrating and looking forward to heading backwards, some, not all, are gloating. We have racist Trumpers who think it's "funny" to send texts to black students ordering them to a plantation to pick cotton, and the bros, the single most despicable demo out there, thinks telling women that their bodies are now theirs to do with what they want, which I assume is rape. Sorry bros, you were incels on Nov 5th and you're still incels now, maybe more so. Not to mention with tariffs your X Box is going to skyrocket in price. Elections have consequences as they say.

Anyhoo, with the election of Trump, and the drooling vampires and vultures who know how to manipulate a nitwit, the future is bleak. Project 2025 was the plan all along, as anybody with a brain that isn't fried by Fox News and endless pseudo grievances knew. They now admit it and think it's so funny they "fooled" everybody by insisting Trump knew nothing about it, which he probably didn't since it didn't mention his name. But Project 2025, if implemented would actually end this 298-year-old republic for real. Oh, and I have no doubt this is why it was invented. Let's take a look at the possible future.

On page 133 of this shitshow (hey its 900 goddamned pages) it calls for defunding the cops (hey I thought they opposed this) the FBI and Homeland Security, use the military to shoot protestors, and incarcerate "illegals" in camps and deport them. Also on page 133 is that old end birthright citizenship crap that could conceivably end Barron Trump's birth citizenship. (yeah sure like that would happen) but it sure as hell affects children born here to non-citizens. 

On Page 319 it calls for an end to the Department of Education, funnels taxpayer money to religious schools and calls for teaching religion (I assume Christian nationalism) in public schools. After all, A dumb population is a controllable one.

On Page 363, it calls for drilling in the protected Arctic region (bye bye polar bears) and deregulation of the oil industry. It calls for drilling in national parks and elimination of the FDA, the CDC, the national weather service, OSHA, and the EPA. So, get used to snake oil, more viruses, more deaths from hurricanes, and unsafe work conditions. Nothing looks better than an oil rig right next to a formerly pristine national park. 

Page 449, oooo this is a big one for you ladies, calls for abortion to be illegal in ALL circumstances, bans contraceptives, end the ACA, and cut Medicare to the bone. Man oh man, you seniors that voted for this guy have cut your own throat but at least we don't have some colored broad in office, amiright?

Page 545, ohhh this is a biggie for the gays, calls for ending gay marriages. Did all you "normal gay guys" that voted for this ok? It ends civil rights protections for people that need them. Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve, as stupid as that sounds, could become a campaign slogan.

Finally on page 581 thru 691 it calls for the elimination of unions and any contracts to be voided, eliminates overtime pay (so there's no tax on nonexistent work, right?), gives additional tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy and raises the retirement age. Work till you die baby.

Theres more bullshit in there, including ending no fault divorce, end free school lunch programs, ban books about black history and slavery, and pack the courts with friendly judges who will not cross them on any rulings. 

But that's what you filled in the little dot for, America. You broke it and now you pay for it.

Unfortunately, we all have to pay for your clumsiness. Really, America?

The Election!

 I was shocked. Yeah, it was a gut punch when the American public decided a felonious piece of crap like Donald Trump was preferable to a black woman. Well, you spoke. And now you will have to deal with your choice. Project 2025, Agenda 47 whatever the fuck it is coming because the far right controls the 3 branches of government and they can do what they want. Obnoxious assholes like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Ted Cruz, Rick Scott and the rest all won easily. This country is incapable of change even if their Rep is a pedophile, a crazy person, a hand job artiste', a Medicare thief or a werewolf.

Trumps dark message of hate, despair and gloom and doom appealed with a majority of the voters. It was yet another white man, male Latino and white women tantrum. That black or Indian broad was just to goddamned joyful for the white men and the women they tell what to do. White privilege is real and whether we admit it or not, we like it. And we wanna keep it. Oh yeah, we tell pollsters we love our minority neighbors and have no problem with the gays, but deep down when the doors are closed and the windows down and we are among our white friends and family we don't particularly like them. They are too loud, too demanding, too ungrateful we freed them, and they dress funny. Why can't they just be like us? Dull and less flamboyant. When the cops pull us over, we want to laugh and joke and try and get out of the ticket because the cops are just like us. White meatheads. And if those obnoxious blacks just sat there and took it like we do, they wouldn't be murdered killed by scaredy cat cops who are just like us, scared of anything unlike us. And the gays, oh don't get me started, if they just read the Bible or stayed in the closet, or better yet converted, none of their problems would be known like the good old days. And why do they all dress up like women and groom kids? Ya know, like youth pastors or Republican legislators. White privilege rocks, vote fascist and deal with it, losers!

The hidden Trump vote. It's there and we must acknowledge it. The polls lie, we all know it, if a Democrat leads by a little or is tied they are toast. People tell pollsters they hate bigotry and hate discrimination, and that Trump is a bad guy, but a certain portion are lying. They love all that. Yet, they for some reason feel obligated to be "woke" when they are anything but. The question I have is if you think that way, yet lie to pollsters, you MUST think what you actually believe is wrong. Think about that. What you believe is wrong in your own mind, so you lie about it. Thats some fucked up psychological shit there. Get some help, on the DL of course cuz men don't need any help or you're a sissy. 

Here in Nebraska. Holy cow! This is one fucked up state. We voted for medical marijuana huge, we voted for paid sick leave bigly, we repealed a law that gave tax money to private schools, YET, we voted to restrict abortion and allow our super majority legislature to eventually ban it Texas style and rejected codifying abortion, the ONLY state to do so when asked. Go Big Red baby. We sent back to the Senate the most worthless woman in the Senate named Deb Fischer, we sent back a trust fund baby name Pete Ricketts to the Senate for two years and we sent back 3 utterly worthless backbenching Congress critters named Bacon Flood and Smith, a really bad law firm. Now here in Omaha and Lincoln, the places where people actually live, we voted for Kamala, we voted for Dan Osborn to oust Fischer, we voted for Preston Love to send Ricketts back to Daddys bank vault, and we voted for Democrats to be Congress Folks, BUT, the rural voter demands dullness and the 1950s and thus, we lose. We voted to codify abortion bigly, we voted against abortion bans, yet rural voters doing what their charlatan pastor tells them vote in such overwhelming numbers unlike us its impossible to overcome. If Omaha/Lincoln votes 55-45 or even 60-40, the 85-15 or even 90-10 against us beats us everytime. It sucks to live here sometimes. But the Blue Dot remains and thus so do I. 

Yes, this blows, just like Trump and a microphone, but there are decent people I pal around with. And really this is all that matters right? Gawd, even I don't buy that and I so want to. 

I dont know what lies ahead, my predictions suck, but I see darkness and pain, I see polio and new viruses undealt with, I see grocery prices soaring after the mass deportation, I see everyday goods rising 30% due to tariffs, I see pain for young women and their rights, I see pain in the Latino community as they lose family members, I see black folks getting no breaks unless they kowtow to the white power structure that deep down hates them anyway(see Byron Donalds) and I see white women being just as terrible as white men. This is a stupid country. Yesterday proves it.

Good luck to Ukraine, Gaza, and western Europe, you are gonna need it.

The Ellipse!

 75,000 people showed up to hear Kamala Harris exorcise the demons and the stench that lingered over the Ellipse since Jan 6, 2021. 75K showed up or in Trump math, a million plus. She spoke, briefly, compared to that other guy who rambled on for what seemed like days, then sent his goons to the Capitol to kill people who were in his way of keeping power forever. Much like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Kamala has the ability to put an end to a movement of slithering snakes nobody knew existed (or at least hoped the didnt exist) that has seeded chaos for 9 years of some of the most turbulent times in American history

"Nearly 250 years ago America was born when we wrested freedom from a petty tyrant....They didn't do that only to see us submit to the will of another petty tyrant". Harris went on "We the people, declare today that the most evident of truths, that all of us are created equal, is the star that guides us still, just as it guided us through Seneca Falls, and Selma and Stonewall". Oh my. She brought in women's suffrage, civil rights and gay rights and left out MAGA obsessions like Confederate names on bases, 1798 laws about imprisoning entire races of people and being an asshole. 

Now unfortunately, President Biden (it's hard to remember he's still running the show) made a statement about the comedian bigot calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage by stating the only garbage he sees is his supporters. Now whether he meant the comedians followers or in fact MAGAts isn't relevant because the professional victims that are Trumpers never miss an opportunity to cry that they are so oppressed and looked down on by the "elites". Not a timely move Joe. It allowed Fox News to go on a 24 hour whinefest about the Biden comment. Despite the fact that their boy has used the term garbage to describe his opponents, the country itself and tried to trade Puerto Rico for Greenland. Old Joe, the senile one who has no idea where he is, suddenly became an insult comic with a rapier-like wit. Marco Rubio rushed onstage at a Trump rally like Pearl Harbor 2 had happened to announce that the dementia addled Biden had called them all garbage. Pathetic. The garbage became angry, or just angrier.

But back to Kamala Harris, speaking to 75K people, dwarfing the 53K that listened to Trump rant on Jan 6, 2021 (oh sorry it was millions and millions). "Unlike Donald Trump, I dont believe people who disagree with are the enemy. He wants to put them in jail, I'll give them a seat at the table". Harris tried to unify the nation with her words, as impossible as that may be, with an olive branch everyone knows will be spat on. Harris tried out her Medicare paying for in home care, child tax credits which at one time lifted millions of kids out of poverty until the "pro-life" party killed it, and making housing affordable and increasing the numbers of new housing. All of this policy. Not bullshit rage. It's an actual plan, not a concept. But the "liberal" media was honed in on Biden's garbage gaffe. Anything for a horse race, right folks? Bending over backwards to show a gang of low information cult members how goddamned fair they really are. Again, media, they hate you, no matter what you do to placate them. Chrissakes, they are always thiiiiiis close to just attacking you if their bronze god told them to. It's really pathetic, not as pathetic as Marco Rubio rushing onstage, but pretty damned pathetic.

Kamala Harris would be 20 points ahead in a perfect world, keeping the crazy count to 40% (still too high) but the crazy here is rampant. I believe she will win, handily, but I thought that in 2016 too. So, who knows. 

How is this even close?

Burn Baby Burn!

 They're burning the drop boxes; they're burning the ballot boxes. A few ballot boxes in Washington, Oregon and Arizona have been set on fire. Now Im not sure where that idea came from, oh yeah, I do, it's from some twitter asswipe named Wall Street Silver who encouraged this kind of skullduggery because MAGAts have no idea what integrity is. Like their orange hero, if you aren't cheating you aren't trying. The incidents in Portland and Vancouver resulted in hundreds of ballots being destroyed and the voters whose ballots are gone will need to be informed so they can vote again to which MAGA will probably scream they are voting twice. 

Meanwhile in Arizona, some nut with an arsenal of weapons and a crazy ass face shot up a Democratic office in Maricopa County and had planned a mass casualty event. Poorly planned I might add. Then there was another guy who decided to burn drop boxes in Phoenix along with mail boxes which of course brings the Feds in. The genius doing this in Arizona has a history of just weird crimes. He may just be mentally ill and not MAGA (a fine line I know). But more of this is coming because there will be anything done to keep Trump in the running and out of jail. 7 days to go and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Conservative "humor" isn't getting any better. They lack the gene to be funny as they're always punching down without any self-awareness or self-deprecation. Attack the gays. attack the blacks, attack the Hispanics, attack women, attack migrants while realizing any jokes about their God would be met with expulsion from the cult. Ryan Girdursky, formerly of CNN (he was shitcanned today), last night was arguing the Gaza situation with Mehdi Hassan (formerly of MSNBC he also fired) when he cracked "I hope your beeper doesn't go off" a clear reference to the Israelis blowing people up by hacking their beepers. Hassan, not a wallflower, went all what the fuck which set off the panel into a feces throwing craziness. Gidursky apologized to no avail. Dumbass. Look, I don't understand conservative humor at all. This goes back to my youth when I sat there at a Red Skelton (who I loved on TV) show and listened to him rant about communists and how Nixon was being lynched by liberals, blah blah blah. Then my bro and I sat at a Bobe Hope show, we looked at each other and said something like "This guys supposed to be funny?". Conservative humor doesn't exist. 

Finally, back here in the Good Life of Nebraska (trust me that's an oxymoron) the states AG and the Sec of State who approved the medical marijuana petition to be on the ballot, have suddenly sued to challenge 100,000 signatures and get the petition thrown off the ballot. Without the 100K signatures this thing goes away which is how Republicans cheat. Find the friendly judge, sue, and get the whole thing thrown out. Right, South Dakota? You passed a recreational marijuana ballot issue only to have Governor Puppy Killer find that friendly judge to overturn what the people of South Dakota voted for. Now I don't get South Dakota at all because two years later they rejected the same ballot issue. Maybe Governor Extensions batted her eyes at them and they all fell in love. Anyway, the "trial" began today and the Medical Marijuana executives and workers all went 5th Amendment, not because they have something to hide, but because they fear that this Attorney General , a real tool named Mike Hilgers, will prosecute them for what they may or may not say. The old chilling effect.

Its gonna pass easily. But if its ever implemented well I would be shocked. Pete Ricketts and the Peed Family money talks in this state. What Pete wants Pete gets because the citizens of this state are easily manipulated by TV ads paid for by him. In this case there's no need for ads, the Republicans will just cheat and get the money to do so from Pete.

How is any of this close?

What The Hell Was That?

 What the hell was that? The Madison Square Garden rally from yesterday. Was this a Trump attempt to lose so he can call for violence? Was this just another moronic gathering of MAGA simps? Was this an actual Nazi rally? Was this a mistake? You're goddamned right it was.

Trump is fascinated with New York City. He's from Queens, he moved to Manhattan and the elites and powers that be rejected him as a crude rich boy interloper. He hasn't ever gotten over his rejection by the very people he wishes so bad to be a part of. The revenge has been going on for 50 years. A bitter racist jagoff slamming the celebs and rich people he so wants to hobnob with. Madison Square Garden is the mecca of Manhattan and Trump wants it. He so wants it and thus he may have committed political suicide by holding whatever that was yesterday in his beloved Garden.

Back in 1939, American Nazis like Charles Lindbergh held a pro German Bund rally at the old Garden. Its infamous and thus the comparisons are inevitable. Meet the new Nazis same as the old Nazis. And no MAGAts, the 1992 DNC that nominated Bill Clinton was not a "Nazi rally". Yesterday was a temper tantrum by the people who embrace authoritarianism, want to not only own the libs but "slaughter" them and bigots in a safe space to listen to and laugh at racist jokes about Puerto Ricans, blacks, Hispanics and anybody else not white enough for the Staten Island, Long Island crowd.

Tony Hinchcliffe, "comedian", seems to have drawn the most heat over his racist jokes and general unfunny frat bro vibe. If you think this "comedian" had a bad day, just google him. He's a "comedian" who does Asian accents, uses racial slurs and performs in front of dozens of "comedy" fans who find 1930s racial comedy funny. Yeah, he deserves either all the disdain he's getting (except on Fox News of course whose hosts still can't stop slapping their knees) or he's a plant and meant to bury Trumps campaign once and for all. Probably the former because I don't think The Democrats are that bright. Tony may end up a hero if Trump goes down like the lead anchor he is around fellow Republicans.

This "rally" had crude Noo Yawkers swearing, calling Hillary a "son of a bitch" and the Democrats "degenerates". It had Rudy Guliani screeching about Palestinians "killing us". It had some guy calling Kamala Harris the anti-Christ while holding up a cross like he was fending off a vampire (where was Stephen Miller during this?". The rally had some mook giving the finger. Stephen Miller went into his best Joe Goebbels impression by screeching "America is for Americans" which of course means white people only need apply. We got Byron "the Clayton Bigsbee of the House" Donalds furthering the kids go to school a boy and getting off the bus a girl nonsense. We got "illegal alien" and skipping dipshit, Elon Musk, claiming to be "dark gothic MAGA". We had J D Vance, fresh off being skewered by Jake Tapper, up there being weird. We had Melania speaking in some sort of pidgin English about crime rates. We had the worst marital "kiss" between Trump and his mail order bride since Josh Hawley pretended to enjoy a kiss. 

Then came Trump. Same boring shit. Migrants, enemy of the people, racism, homophobia. transphobia. lies, rambling stories that sent some people home early. Goddamn he has become tiresome. In 8 days, we have the chance to stick MAGA into a tube and shooting it to outer space. This rally may have provided the fuel to do that.

Meanwhile, the Republicans that have the sense to know what they saw, are scrambling to distance themselves from the Puerto Rico joke. The rest of it, blacks carving watermelons instead of pumpkins, "degenerates", "anti-Christ", middle fingers, crude loudmouths dropping f bombs, and calling for "secret plans" between Trump and his Keebler Elf Speaker to steal the election is a-ok with them. Migawd, this is bad stuff.

Anyway, after last night, if you STILL have a Trump sign in your yard, I know what you are. And it's not good.

How is this even close?

Stress Reliever! Plays and Concerts!

 I'm so sick of politics. I'm sick of the stress involved with the closeness of an avowed fascist being this close to overturning American democracy. This race should be over. But there are too many white males who will not give up their privilege, their sexism, their racism and their power without a fight. And they are fighting to keep America a white male stronghold by force if necessary, working in cahoots with their kowtowing women. It's disgusting.

To keep the mind off this 4th Reich, there are distractions.

Angels in America is playing at the Omaha Community Playhouse. It's a tough watch. It's 3 hours of misery and hypocrisy and if you don't know what it's about, just forget it. You wouldn't be interested. The Tony Kushner play is about the AIDS crisis' early days. With stories of a dying man, his cowardly lover, a man in the closet and his nutty wife, and Roy Cohn and his closeted hatred of himself  3 hours will go fast. If you're interested. The local talent is amazing. The story is harsh, there's lot of swearing and even a brief moment of nudity but if you are an adult, you can handle it. If you think watching gay stories will make you gay, yeah, forget it. But if you want to watch a Tony Award winning play in an intimate setting, run don't walk to the OCP and "enjoy".

Last night Korn came thru town dragging some band named Spiritbox and the Olympic famous French metal band, Gojira. I went to see Gojira, period. Korn is of no interest to me any longer.

Spiritbox is a female led metal band with a unique look at heavy metal. There aren't many female lead singers who can do the whole roaring Cookie Monster thing but Courtney LaPlante does it as well as anyone. Their short 30 minute set was fine, I'm still out to lunch on the whole screeching thing that metal bands do, and Spiritbox didn't bring me back. But hey, to each his own.

Did I mention the place was packed? Oh yes it was. much to my shock. I guess the metal starved folks in Omaha will take advantage of any show like this that comes thru town. I get it. We are a place where when country people show up to see whatever Bro is in town(which seems 75% of the concerts).The rural people have to risk their lives to come to the big city (big eye roll) and party in their cowboy hats and PBR. Again, to each his own.

Gojira hit the stage and launched into their version of heavy metal. These French head bangers speak perfect English, talk about the environment a lot and sing songs about whales, climate change, and Marie Antoinette's head. Their hour-long set was LOUD and had the fans moshing on the floor like crazed black clad badgers. It looked scary. I'm sure it was. Moshing is a young man's game. Pass. Gojira was a rocking good time but an hour of growling and loud was enough for me. Crazed drumming and screeching guitars are great, in limited doses for me.

So, after Gojira was done. I left. No Korn for me. I saw what I wanted and since the ticket was cheap I didn't stick. I assume Korn did its job but after looking at the setlist there's no way I'm enduring that for 90 mins to hear Freak on a Leash. Sorry.

Now back to stressing out about the coming fascism.

How is this even close?

Il Douche!

 The guy is getting more and more deranged. It's like the Felon thinks going full Nazi is the path to a big win because he knows nobody in his party is going to call him out on it. Must be the aversion to death threats and the lack of a spine that fellow Republicans suffer from. When General Kelly reiterated that Trump wanted Generals like Hitler had, ya know the kind who would carry out his sick orders to kill half of America, the GOP chickenshits all fell into line to either bash Kelly or dismiss Trumps rhetoric with a oh that's just Trump being Trump. Thanks media, for the sanewashing of this anti-American nutcase. When did the statements that END any other campaign suddenly become normal? Because the media did this over the last 9 years. Hey, its ratings man and more importantly, profits. Remember back in the good old days news on TV was not meant for profit but as a public service? Yeah, me too. Then came the man who started all this bullshit, Ronald Reagan, who deregulated the FCC, repealed the Fairness Doctrine and set up the right-wing malarkey that spawned the dregs of society getting unchecked access to the public airwaves. Limbaugh, Savage and their hundreds of phony local puppets who stink up the AM radio. But Hitler "did some good things"? "It doesn't cost $60K to bury a fucking Mexican, don't pay it." "I want Hitlers Generals".... This madman is running even with Kamala? God this is one sick society normalizing Nazi drivel. 

The polls. They are tightening. Oh, Trumps ahead, no Kamala is ahead, no they're tied. This happens every 4 years as the for-profit media pushes the whole horse race scenario. This increases ratings, increases ad revenue, and keeps their 24/7 talking heads busy. Are the polls close? Hell if I know. I know libs who are in full panic mode because Kamala isn't 10 points ahead, like in any other country of sanity. But here, with its deepening rural/city divide and its devotion to a TV host who "talks just like me", this nonsense is close. Trump never gets more than 47% tops. Thats not a winner BUT here, with its election system invented 240 years ago to placate people who owned other people, its a real possibility that Trump loses by millions and millions of votes, yet still "wins". Congrats Founding Fathers on your eternal fuck up, one of many. The polls are meaningless. Voting is not.

Kamala called a spade a spade last night on CNN. She called Trump a "fascist" which of course he is. Already some media talking heads are criticizing her for it. You can't call another candidate a fascist, thats not presidential. I guess "Low IQ, retarded, enemies within, sleazeball, dumb as a rock, not my type, shit vice president, Komrade Kamala, commie" these are all ok because the guy who says them is a clown. And man is he funny! Just look at the trash behind him at rallies, laughing like loons as their hero describes Arnold Palmer's dick. The Yuengling must be flowing freely if you think that's funny.

Here in the "Good Life" of Nebraska the AG and the Sec of State are doing their damndest to throw a wrench into the abortion Amendment 439 and the legalizing medical marijuana amendments 437 and 438. They know what's coming. Passage of medical marijuana and codifying abortion. That cannot stand here because oh I dont know, cuz we have kids or some such shit. We have kids is the excuse that conservative crackpots have used for years to justify anything from 7 O'clock fireworks on New Years Eve to banning porn sites in the state to banning books and now to overturn what will be passed amendments to the state constitution. The men (and its 99% men) who have the proverbial stick up their ass, never quit. This state's leader's idea of fun is binge drinking with lobbyists (who pay) and secretly jacking it with a "woman" on the internet (both of which happen regularly among the conservative set).  We shall see what happens, but with what we have as an AG, not a doubt he's already lined up the Nebraska version of Aileen Cannon to do what those people do. 

How is this even close?

The Schlong Enthusiast Fry Cook!

 What a bizarre weekend. The former guy is in full insanity mode. While Kamala worked at McDonalds at age 20 or whatever, Trump decided age 78 was the correct time for him to try yet another thing he isn't qualified for. French fries. Trump and his "advisors" thought this would be a good idea to fake like he was working at a McDonalds, a closed McDonalds with only supporters allowed at interact with Donald the Clown. Ooooo that'll show her. This entire stunt was performed so that at the merciful end the Felon (who McDonalds wouldn't hire) could state, "I've now worked 15 more minutes than she has at McDonalds." This very strange obsession by this campaign that Kamala never worked at McDonalds because corporate has no record of her working there in 1984. Yeah, like corporate keeps a list of the millions of employees who have worked at a locally owned McDonalds in the last 40 years. It's a stupid argument that only appeals to the cult, who have probably worked fast food jobs in the past. I mean who hasnt? My time in 1973 at the local KFC is something that probably isn't on paper either but trust me, I knew my way around a steamer and a cutting board. And I also knew that employees don't stick their hands into a fryer to get the fries out. 

In Pennsylvania, Trump rattled off a ludicrous 12-minute spiel about Arnold Palmer because he was at the Arnold Palmer Airport. The screed went off the rails as Trump began an outlandish "story" about the size of Palmer's schlong. Apparently professional golfers back in the 60s and 70s all showered together which is peculiar in itself that he believes this, and these "golfers" all couldn't believe the size of Palmers driver shaft. He was "all man". This type of ridiculous talk may go over well at the boardroom as the yes men all laugh, and it may go over well with the bros and the middle-aged men who never grew up but come on now. Palmer had a huge dick is actually something Trump thinks about. Other people's genitals is a MAGA obsession. They are preoccupied with this sort of thing. What lies in these people's closets is frightening. Palmer's daughter came forward (how uncomfortable) to state her Dad didn't really like Trump and his crass demeanor though he was a die hard Republican. JFC Donnie Darko, please leave your infatuation with golfers tallywackers at home/

The "enemy within". Trump doubled down on his weird McCarthy like bullshit in which he states that Pelosi and Schiff are bigger "enemies" to the nation than his good friends and lovers, Putin and Kim. He said it, he named names and yet the Republican sycophants refuse to admit he means it. Ohhhhh come on now, Donnie is hyperbolic, he means migrants, he means gangs he doesn't mean Americans. Yeah, he does. He said it, he named names. All this shows is that the Joe McCarthy DNA still lives in Republicans. This is their modus operandi for the last 70 years. Commies! You Democrats are commies! Definition of commies? Anybody who disagrees with me. 

All in all, this "enemy within" shit is the most dangerous of all of Trumps uncouth rhetoric. He fucking means it, folks. If this tyrant wins, this "enemy within" hot air will become reality. Is there any doubt that right after Trump ends his federal indictments, he will invoke the 1798 Alien Act, which is what has been used to imprison draft evaders and an entire race of people being forced into camps. 1798 baby! Back when America was "great" Women couldn't vote, blacks were enslaved, Indians were massacred and white men dominated society. I always thought MAGA wanted back the 1950s. I had no idea they actually meant 1798. These people are sick. Trump is deranged.

How is this even close?

Random Thoughts And Rants!

 Well let's see. Kamala reached into the bell of the beast, Fox News, yesterday and pulled Bret Baier's heart out of his chest and showed it to him before she put it back in. Botox Baier, in full gotcha mode, tried time after time to mansplain everything to the former DA, AG, Senator and current Veep like she was some sort of passive Kayleigh McEnaney. Harris turned it around, called him out on a video of the Felon not addressing what Baier had claimed, rammed the question back down his throat and flustered him into silence. Afterwards, Fox News, in full self-preservation mode, made Baier into the modern Edward R Murrow as they gushed over his performance. And because during the daytime, Fox is not full of loudmouth hacks like Watters, Ingraham and Hannity, they had to praise Harris for hanging in there. Then came night and the howling monkeys began screeching on how bad she was. Whatever. 

Trump aka Donaldo Trump, went on Univision and got torched by an audience of Hispanics not personally chosen by Trump goons. Trump, truly uncomfortable not only with the questions but the fact many questions were asked in "Messican" which must have made him want to deport them immediately. The audience was truly not charmed by El Stupido, rolled their eyes and looked like they were listening to some guy who still says "w*tbacks". One questioner, a former Trump voter, asked him about Jan 6 which had soured him on El Insurrectionist to which the former prez claimed that Jan 6 was nothing but "a day of love". Tell that to the Capitol Police.

Down in Texas, Ted Cruz (Asshole-Tx) actually showed up to a debate with his Senate opponent. Colin Allred, a congressman and former NFL player. Cruz, a man nobody likes, was fricasseed by Allred over Jan 6th. As Allred took off his coat, texted his family he loved them, and prepared to do battle with the white trash that invaded the Capitol that day. Meanwhile, Ted Cruz, tough guy sycophant. hid in a supply closet. Ouch! For a toxic pussy like Cruz that was so crushing he went into defense mode and laughed. Allred called him out on that (It's not funny). Cruz looked like he'd been emasculated like a castrato. Is Teddy in trouble in Texas? Probably not, but to watch that werewolf wannabe squirm, dismiss the abortion debate and then go back to the hits, like men in women's sports (JFC stop already). Cruz is a jellyfish now claiming to be "bipartisan" who reaches cross the aisle. Yeah, sure he does. The only time Ted Cruz reaches across the aisle is if a Democrat is holding up a free plane ticket to Cancun.

Meanwhile back here in Nebraska, where we all live the "Good Life", the abortion debate is in full beast mode. Amendment 439 is on the ballot which would codify abortion into the joke of a Constitution we have around here. It's been done in Kansas, Ohio and Montana and we need that here. But unfortunately, a billionaire named Pete Ricketts, former Governor who bought his Senate seat, pushed forward millions of his Daddy's money to fund a rival amendment that would outlaw abortion after the first trimester but leaves it open for further legislative trickery to outlaw it completely. The petition process featured paid liars to call the amendment "Protect Women and Children", claim it didn't outlaw anything and confuse people. It worked because it's also on the ballot as Amendment 434. Reminds me of the time when I got into a verbal bum fight with some lady who wanted me to sign and wouldn't take no for an answer until I told her to "fuck off". Anyhoo, both amendments are on the ballot and if they both pass, which the polls say they will (God this state had some dummies) the amendment with the most yes votes wins. Thus, to codify abortion here in the "Good Life" you have to vote NO of 434 and YES on 439. Yeah, good luck because most people cannot follow directions. Let's just hope that the delusional and bullshit ads that the pro-434 people have out do no harm. It features OB-GYN's claiming that codifying abortion puts the government INTO your health care which of course is 100% the opposite. Let's hope that Ricketts money does not allow him a win this time. But unfortunately, this guy's money has not failed him maybe ever here. Nebraska citizens do whatever he says. Its maddening.

The ballot here also contains the legalization of marijuana for medical purpose. Its going to pass but the Republicans in government are already gearing up to do a Kristi Noem, no not kill a dog, but to find friendly judges to overturn the result. It's already started. Two years ago after the medical marijuana amendment qualified, some Sheriff somewhere filed a lawsuit, and it was kept off the ballot by the dopes who comprise the Nebraska Supreme Court. Some Sheriff, yeah ok. It was Pete Ricketts because of course it was. This time the effort to keep it off the ballot failed. But after it passes, buckle up. 

Let's all hope that the 2-hour trip to Missouri (yes Missouri for chrissakes has legal pot) will not be necessary for the patients who have seizures that the Nebraska GOP doesn't give a shit about.

How Is This Even Close?

 Let's have a town hall led by noted dog killer and hair extensions enthusiast Kristi Noem and the GOP nominee for President, Donald J Trump. What could possibly go wrong? Well Noem found out real fast what kindergarten teachers all over the country know, corralling 4–5-year-olds is not easy. Trump, the ultimate kindergartner, went off script so many times that Noem had to keep calling him "Sir" to attempt to keep the toddler in line. Then came the problem. Trump looked out at the small crowd, became uninterested and then when two separate MAGAts fainted and needed medical attention, Trump went full Trump, told a man being wheeled out to "lose weight" and then because the attention was now off him said fuck it and called for music. 39 minutes of music while Trump swayed and danced, and Noem attempted to stay on topic eventually also saying fuck it and clapped and looked like her path in life may have been misguided. People onstage rolled their eyes, slow clapped and just wanted to get home to watch Dancing With The Stars or whatever MAGATs watch. Ave Maria, Ave Maria again, Ave Maria again, YMCA, Nothing Compares 2 U (I'm surprised Prince and Sinead didn't rise up from the grave to strangle him) and It's a Mans World, very appropriate for MAGA. 

39 minutes of this. Can you imagine if Biden had done the same? Can you imagine if Kamala Harris had done it? The man is gone. Gone not because his brain is pudding, it is, but gone because he pouts if he is not the center of attention or if the crowd of people he'd have thrown out of Trump Tower is too small and not reverent enough, he loses interest. How is this even close?

Trump held a town hall full of women only. Again, a small crowd, but a crowd of women that applauded him when he came onstage like they'd just seen Channing Tatum shirtless. Hardly a crowd of diverse women, just a lot of Trump groupies led by Harris Faulkner, Fox News' black best friend. Trump began talking to the women by ranting for 10 minutes about migrants, banning men in women's sports, more migrant talk, transphobia, more migrant fear mongering, called his opponents Marxists, Commies and Fascists, claimed he is "the father of IVF", fantasized about Katie Britt ("a fantastically attractive person"), bragged about Roe V Wade being overturned, and giving cops immunity "except for the bad apples". Ok ladies, there ya go. Your dream man. Puke.

Meanwhile here in Nebraska, home of the blue dot, the TV political ads are permeating the airwaves. There are two Republicans elected in blue territory who are in trouble. Don Bacon is the continuance of the dull, milquetoast Midwestern dolt that represents this district in the House just as others had before him. This district doesn't like bomb throwers but loves dullards who pose no threat to their comfortable lives. But Bacon is down in every poll to Democrat Tony Vargas, a state senator from Omaha. Vargas is the Democratic answer to Bacon. He's not a bomb thrower, he's a well-reasoned lawyer who is a voice of reason in the increasingly MAGA Nebraska legislature. But per the Bacon ads, Vargas, the son of Peruvian immigrants, throws shit at cops, pals around with AOC, voted for higher taxes, and in one particularly juvenile ad, "cops hate his guts". I know you are but what am I? Pretty soon they'll have a Trumpian nickname for Tony Vargas. Oh, they do, Criminal Loving Tony Vargas. Good lord. This is the stupidest of times.

Deb Fischer, a true dimwit Senator who moves the needle only to sleep mode, is in trouble. Her opponent is a mechanic, an independent. a kind of John Fetterman for Nebraska, Dan Osborn. He led a union, led a strike at Kelloggs, and rejected the Democratic party to run on his own. He comes across as a guy who actually worked for a living, has friends who also work for a living, and speaks plain English. Fischer, who thought for sure she had an automatic re-election in the bag because of that R next to her name, had to bring in millions of dollars in PAC money to begin the mudslinging. Osborn "loves Bernie Sanders", he wants to give amnesty to "illegals" then play a sound bite of him NOT saying that. Fischer, a so called "rancher" from Northern Nebraska, promised two terms and then she'd leave (who would notice?) but obviously has withdrawn that "promise" because she had no idea how the Senate worked. Jesus H Christ, this woman won two terms in the US Senate while apparently not knowing how it "worked". Deb Fischer is a welfare rancher who has lived off the government she hates her entire life. She was a state senator who funneled highway money to the rural areas where nobody lives at the expense of Omaha and Lincoln which are over half the population of this state. Fischer is a rubber stamp, and everybody knows it. She's not popular, she's dull, she hides from voters by going out back entrances after speeches, she refuses to debate Osborn and she hasn't had a town hall in over 6 years. This is the kind of leech set up to lose. I'm not saying she will lose, she probably won't, but the fact she is scrambling and spending money she usually gets to keep to herself makes me very happy. If you have a few bucks send it to Dan Osborn, he needs it and he will use it to win, not to enrich himself as some others do.

How is this even close?

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!

 Celebrating a genocidal maniac has never made sense to me. Not to mention he's not even Italian but probably a Sephardic Jew from Spain. Not to mention he never set foot on North American soil. Not to mention he was such a bad navigator he thought he was in India. May as well turn Veterans Day into General Custer Day. Shhh, don't give em any ideas.

Hurricanes And Eugenics !!

 Hurricane Milton, this week's storm of the century, millennium or ever, crashed into the west coast of Florida overnight and tore the roof off of that dump they call Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays which could be the silver lining of this hurricane. Florida officials, including Governor DeSantis, are falling all over themselves to address misinformation about the FEMA reaction yet still not offending the Florida blowhard who started all the bullshit.

Trump owns the Republican Party, and to cross him on anything he spews out of his tiny mouth brings death threats and the Wrath Of Donnie on his shitpost site Truth Social. So, Florida officials have to tread lightly in numerous ways. They must praise the leadership of Governor Shorty, yet still expose the lies and dangerous misinformation from the cult. Because the leader lies, they all lie. The GOP bigwigs, the Rubios, the Tubervilles, the MTGs, the crazies at Fox News all must back up the horse manure that Trump dumps on the airwaves. Thus, there are thousands of people in the affected areas of Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia, still reeling from Helene's destruction, now believe that FEMA is making them evacuate because once they leave, their property is seized, or that accepting the initial $750 (up from $500 when The Felon was POTUS) would lock them into getting no more money. All of this is bullshit, of course. Trump and his minions are lying to bash Kamala Harris on the response from FEMA. They ran out of money because they gave billions to "illegals". It's dangerous rhetoric because it encourages people to stay in harm's way, and distrust people trying to help them. But Trump and his political goons keep it up. Crazy like "they" control the weather tweets from Cro Magnon Marge. It's all so evil. But it's not the most evil thing coming out of a Trump rally lately.

That would be the talk about "genes" and "poisoning the blood of America". Its eugenics, Trump style. It's racist, it's evil, its Nazi-like. But Trump knows that the hordes of human halfwits who follow him will buy into it because they already believe it. Trump is just the blowhorn for their racism. Yeah, I know these dumbulbs all have brown, black and Jewish "friends" just like they always do. But the browns are "invading" their communities taking the shit jobs they wont do. The blacks are "running rampant" in blue cities killing every white person crossing the street for coffee, and the Jews are secretly "running" the whole damn world keeping them down.

Trump has already claimed the new immigrants (browns, blacks, Muslims etc) are "poisoning the blood" of America just like his buddy Adolf said. Now he thinks murdering is in the "genes" of Hispanic immigrants. Nothing can be done. It's all genetics. Except for those two white guys who took potshots at him I guess. Trump's genetics are the best, MIT grads and real estate deals and building giant buildings and stable geniuses. Not to mention bankrupting casinos, banging anything that moves and snorting gawd knows what.

As this election enters its final 26 days, America's Hitler will get worse. His only hope is a giant turnout of white nationalists and dumb white men. Will it happen? I don't pretend to know. But this racist eugenics garbage is just unreal in 2024. This shit is so 1924. 

We are not going back.

More Rants And Thoughts For A Monday!

 This is what every normal person does at 3am right? The former President of the United States, a raging mental case, went straight from dodging flies attracted to his stench, to lying about a very dangerous hurricane that killed over 200 people. Instead of the old thoughts and prayers bullshit, this fuckin guy decided to start exploiting tragedy and death for his own political gain. Oh, I know, none of this is surprising, it's who he is, but to lie to hurting people and knowing that some of them are dumb enough to believe anything he says, is unconscionable. 

The guy is obviously demented, mentally ill AND just a bad person. Whatever syphilis entered his brain probably on Epstein Island is doing a real number on this guy. He's getting worse. FEMA has stolen money to give to illegal aliens. FEMA has stolen money from a bank. FEMA has abandoned red state America. FEMA has no money left. All of these lies hurt real life people whose lives have been destroyed. Why pile more onto them, especially when he knows that to many people his words are gospel. 

"DROP HER! Yeah ok, I'm not sure what that means, does it mean "drop her" as in attacking her physically, "drop her" as in a lot of people are voting for her and I know I'm losing North Carolia and Georgia so don't vote for her? Who knows with this schmuck. To admit he's losing anything is almost impossible to imagine, so I'm going with he's calling on his goons to do something. Mister "Beat the hell out them" and "Don't be nice when you put them in the car" has done it before. This guy cant go away fast enough.

The Leonard Leo/ Harlan Crowe Money Circus has reconvened in Washington. The Supreme Court has already told Texas, yeah go ahead ,podnah, and let women die there's plenty more out there to birth our babies. The Texas abortion law which forbids Texas hospitals and physicians from performing virtually any abortions. The Biden Administration sued them over the fact they were ignoring federal law that required abortions be done in case of a medical emergency. Texas sued back cuz they're intent on keeping the harlots in their place. The notoriously MAGA 5th circuit court locked arms with Texas and upheld the law. Today SCOTUS said yeah, Texas looks good, we aren't taking the case. Good luck Texas Women.

Liz and Dick Cheney. Hey great, you're voting for Kamala Harris. Now go the fuck away. This Cheney love that many of my fellow lefties have for these two is baffling. They aren't fucking heroes, one is war criminal who can't leave the country or the Hague awaits, and the other was a conservative freak who voted just like any other MAGA devotee. And yes, I realize that this is an F5 tornado headed for democracy, and we need to keep an eye on the ball to keep from being stuck in a storm cellar for the remainder of time, but just say thanks and move on because you know if a Cheney ever got close to power again, it would be same MAGA shit, different MAGA leader. Ever notice how Mama Cheney never weighs in on this?

Finally, with a benefit of time, I'm talking Pete Rose. Rose died last week, and the tributes began to pour in, put him in the hall, he's the greatest blah blah blah. I never ever liked Pete Rose. He was a cocky hillbilly who made good by being a great hitter, a great baserunner and a real prick of a human being. Chrissakes, his totally unnecessary headfirst slide bullshit was meant to impress who exactly? Sportswriters? Casual fans? Rose got his nickname "Charlie Hustle" not because of his alleged dedication to giving it 100% but by Yankee great White Ford seeing Rose run to first after a walk in a spring training game and derisively saying "Oh look at Charle Hustle go". Rose was a statutory rapist, a liar, an addicted gambler, a misogynist, in other words, a dumber Trump if that's possible. Not a good guy. Even two ballpark tour guides in Cincinnati stated they didn't care for him. I'll tell you why I couldn't stand him in an anecdotal way.

In 1983, the Phillies and Rose were at Wrigley in the waning days of the season. I was there with about 2000 others because the Cubs were just losers and couldn't draw flies at the end of yet another losing season at the time. The Phillies were warming up in the Wrigley outfield and began to come into the dugout one at a time. Two kids in the front row, just in front of me, appealed for autographs from the Phillies. Al Holland came over and signed, Darren Daulton came over and signed, Mike Freakin Schmidt walked over and signed, Gary Maddox signed and then came Rose. As the kids called for Pete to come over, instead of ignoring them, Pete Rose stopped. He stared at these 10-year-olds for a good 30 seconds then out of Pete Roses's mouth came "Fuck Off" and he hustled off the field. Yeah, great guy. Rest in Peace Big Guy, I hope you heard the same Fuck off at the pearly gates.

Walz V Vance!!!

 Well, I'll tell you one thing, this debate between two Vice Presidential nominees was certainly a throwback to the old days, when two fellas got together and debated civilly and politely. Yeah sure, one was lying his ass off the entire time and the other was at times a bit baffled on how to express himself, but ya know, it was nice to see the civility. For 90 minutes at least.

Vance was the slick Yalie acting like he was the smartest guy in the room and condescendingly mansplaining to the two female moderators his lies. He treated Walz, the midwestern gadfly in a small town in Nebraska who the town knows is the lib but still get along with, like a lesser while lying about everything. Usually when you think you're the smartest guy in the room, you aint even close. The Dunning Krueger Effect, folks. But Vance is incapable of not thinking that because he truly believes his bullshit don't stink. 

Walz was the guy listening to the loudmouth at the end of the bar yet resists all urges to tell the guy he's full of shit because that is who Walz is. Walz grew up in rural Nebraska, where the Republican ties are almost genetic in nature. Walz has heard this crap his whole life, and deals with it accordingly in a gentle polite manner. And boy was the crap flowing last night.

Vance lied about Obamacare, actually claiming Trump "salvaged" it, Yeah, by repealing it for hos concept of a plan. Thank you, John McCain, who actually DID salvage Obamacare. Vance, one of those guys who says your name in every sentence, was like a sleazy furniture salesman who gets in your way as you attempt to rid yourself of his presence. He lied about the economy, he lied about the border, he lied about inflation and for some reason thinks the Veep has power to institute policy. Vance, who was outwardly decent, had that inner Trump ready to go but Walz wouldn't let him unleash it.

Vance claimed he never ever proposed a nationwide abortion ban. Oh sorry, JD, screen shots are forever. Everyone with a sense of sanity knows that 100% bullshit. It was on his website until he deleted it. He pushed the Trump lie that he would veto a nationwide abortion ban. Vance lies even more smoothly than the word salad that comes out of Trumps mouth. He's a trained liar. Thanks Yale.

Walz was unpolished for sure. For the style over substance crowd, this was a slam dunk for Vance. If you're a substance over style person, Vance lost bigly. But cmon now, man, who'd you rather have a conversation with? Thats a real slam dunk.

Then came the election denial when Vance could not bring himself to say that Trump lost because he knew the perp was watching and posting on the joke Truth Social. And when that happened, Walz pounced and knocked Vance out. 'Thats a damning non-answer" was the line of the night. Because it WAS. Stop with the I'm all about the future garbage. Answer the fucking question.

All in all, the debate was pointless. Nobody changed their mind. But it was interesting to see the civility between the two men and their wives as Trump hate posted from Mar A Dumpo. That was actually cool.

So post all the "I have become friends with school shooters" stuff you want, Magats.. That was a slip of the tongue. Denying the election results from 4 years ago was a lie and a calculated one at that. Denying you were for a nationwide abortion ban was also a calculated lie.

It's your choice America. The guy who helps you fix your car or the guy who lies about how to fix it.

The Debate And Other Stuff!

Its the night for the Vice-Presidential debate and why anybody cares is beyond me. Nobody is going to change their mind based on this so-called debate. CBS News has already abdicated responsibility for when J D Vance tells his tall tales by refusing to fact check him. Same with Tim Walz, thought the only lie he's been caught at is that Menards gives back 11% in rebates when he said 10%. So, with Nora O'Donnell, the person who lost control of the 2020 debate, and Margaret Brennan, who both sides everything with a certain Chuck Todd vibe, Vance and his bullshit are free to be said. If Walz wants to fact check Vance, I guess he could but that gets into a whole different aura and gives the horse race press something to talk about. I like Tim Walz a lot. He's a rural Nebraskan who had the sense to get out before the local towns got all up in arms over the town liberal teaching their kids about communism like empathy and fairness. He's basically my Dad, another rural born Nebraskan who came to the big city to thrive. Every time Walz speaks, I hear my father. Every time Vance speaks, I hear my Dad hollering at the TV that the guy is a liar and a phony. This debate shit will be just that, shit. 

Trump went to Georgia yesterday even though nobody wanted him there. Dragging along phony "Christian" Franklin Graham, and a crew that built him a little wall of bricks from destroyed buildings, Trump called for unity then immediately reverted back to form to blame Biden for not contacting Brian Kemp about disaster relief. Of course since it came out of Trumps mouth, it was a lie pointed out by Kemp himself, who said Biden called him first and offered whatever he needed. A contrast from Trump, when he was POTUS, who delayed aid to suffering states because he didn't like the party the Governors belonged to. He made Gavin Newsome beg on camera. He gave Roy Cooper (D-NC) less than 10% of the money needed. But Biden did things like a moral human being and gave little creeps like Ron DeSantis (who voted against Hurrican Sandy aid cuz it was Noooo York City). Trump also went on his social media dumpster fire Truth Social to accuse Harris and Biden of leaving people to drown. So much for "Unity".

Jimmy Carter turns 100 years old today. He is one tough son of a bitch for being at deaths door for two years and hanging on to vote for Kamala Harris. Carter was my first vote for President in 1976. He wasn't my favorite candidate but at least he wasn't Gerald Ford (who looks damn good nowadays). I remember my Dad thinking Carter's smile as 100% crap and the whole evangelical thing as disturbing. But he got by that, and we all voted for him. Then came hard times, inflation, gas prices, unemployment, recession, energy dependence and general malaise. Carter had the balls to tell Americans that hard times were here and let's ride it out together. Then came Ronald Reagan and his "optimism", He'd never tell you hard times were coming or even being here, it was all Carter's fault. Then came the Iran hostage crisis. Good lord, can one man be this unlucky? Ted Kennedy ran against Carter, I supported Kennedy, and didn't even vote for Carter in 1980. Oh, I didn't vote for Reagan either. 

Jimmy Carter left office. He wasn't bitter, He just reverted back to being Jimmy Carter. He spent the rest of his life making the world a better place, He built homes for the poor, he negotiated the end of wars, he monitored elections abroad, he stayed true to himself. 

Happy Birthday President Carter. You were done wrong by people like me. I hope he lives forever to remind us of the best of America since nowadays the worst of America seems to win. 

Judas Priest And Sabaton!

 

Head banging at my age is not easy. But if you get the opportunity to do so, especially when metal gods like Judas Priest come to town, by all means conjure up your 20 something self and go for it. Priest came to the Baxter Arena last night and blew the roof off the place.

Opening act Sabaton, with whom I've become familiar with over the past few weeks, is a Swedish metal band whose songs are based on historical events, mostly wars. Their 1-hour long set was crazy. With a fake tank onstage, which held drummer Hannes Van Dahl at its top, Sabaton hit the stage with Ghost Division and Last Stand, songs about a German Panzer division in WW II and the Battle of Thermopylae, which the movie 300 was based on. Yeah, these guys are heavy duty history buffs who turn head banging into an art. Lead singer Joakim Broden belts out the lyrics with a force that makes your ears tingle. The band itself is loud and proud and never stops coming at you like Stormtroopers, another song about WW II. You get Joakim playing a pink Hello Kitty guitar during Resist and Bite, yet another song about WW II Belgian fighters resisting the Nazis. You get Joakim coming out for Attack of the Dead Men in a gas mask and a firing smoke at the crowd in reference to WW I gas attacks by Germans. This is a band that is obviously ready to rock AND teach you something about history if you want. They are yet another Swedish metal band that opens for rock legends. Much like when I saw Ghost open for Iron Maiden, I must check out Swedish metal. It's smart, it pierces your ears, and it slams you in the grill with a force that you can't help admire. 

Judas Priest hit the stage to a recording of War Pigs and immediately went in to Panic Attack, You've Got Another Thing Comin and Breakin the Law, getting some of the better-known songs out of the way early. Priest is legendary. Lead singer Rob Halford is one of the best front men of all time and at age 73 he proves it. His piercing voice and energy is still there, he doesn't do much talking and leaves the stage through a curtain often, presumably to change outfits and drink lots of water (Sabatons lead singer also left the stage a lot, but presumably to read a history book). All the Priest classics are there. My personal favorite, Turbo Lover, involved a captivated crowd to sing along. The head banging never let up for an hour and 45 minutes. The encore got the crowd involved also with a sing along to Livin after Midnight and then, it was over. It went like that. This is great stuff.

Sabaton and Judas Priest, touring together, is an event you must not miss. Look, my tastes are all over the board. Just this summer I've seen Lionel Ritchie , Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Winwood, the Doobies and Ringo Starr. As great as those artists are, it's not head banging. Keep yourself honest. You cant head bang every night any longer, at least I can't, but the energy saved from just enjoying great, diverse music, means you CAN head bang once in a while. Standing for 3 hours is stressful. Head banging is stress relieving. Between the two of them it doesn't matter, my knees are killing me today.

I cant wait for the next one.

Blue Dot Nebraska!

 You may have heard of this blue dot phenomena occurring here in Nebraska. These lawn signs are popping up everywhere in Nebraska District 2 which is basically Omaha, a city of half a million people in a state with two million. The state is red as hell. It's been red as hell since 1968. It used to be a reasonable red, which means the Republican politicians were not batshit crazy. They included Mike Johanns and Chuck Hagel and Dave Heineman and Charlie Thone. Now it's Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer and Jim Pillen and gang of 32 legislators who do what they are told to do by the GOP powers that be.

The blue dot. Nebraska has, since 1992, a system that allocates electoral votes by congressional district. We have 3. District 3 is full of dying small towns and people who vote Republican because their daddy did and his daddy did and blah blah.. District 1 is Lincoln but contains enough small towns in the surrounding area to keep it red. Then we have District 2, Omaha and its surrounding area and is purple. The first time my vote counted was in 2008 when Barack Obama won the district and thus, one of the 5 Nebraska electoral votes went to him. The second time was 2020 when Joe Biden won the district and in 2024 Kamala Harris will win it because quite frankly people in this big city are sick of Trump's shit.

Oh The Republicans suddenly hate the system they put in. Ordered by their boy and his minions like Charlie Kirk and Cat Turd, the GOP tried to take it back and install winner take all this year because Trump is in trouble. It failed to come to pass in the regular legislative session and again during the recent waste of $200,000 on a special session that accomplished nothing. Recently the issue came up again because Trump is panicking. 

Call yet another special session, Governor Pillen, and get this winner take all system installed by November 5th. Shhhhh, but the only other state that does this is Maine, and they can't change to winner take all after September 18th. So, on September 19th here comes Trumps lapdog, Lindsey Graham, to put the screws to the Republicans in the state legislature that Trump wants winner take all and that Kamala doesn't represent "Nebraska values" whatever the fuck that means.

Mike McDonnell is a state senator from Omaha. He used to be a Democrat then his feelings got hurt so he changed to Republican. He's a former Fire Union head from Omaha. He's also a professional Catholic pro-life advocate who has let that run his life. McDonnell got a call from Trump. He is the 33rd vote to do Trumps skullduggery and make Omaha irrelevant in presidential elections. Whay will he do?

Today Mike McDonnell announced he was NOT going to be the 33rd vote at this time. McDonnell is term limited out of the state legislature, so he's done. But Mike wants to run for Mayor of Omaha and if he blows up the system he's probably toast. So, Mike is not going to be that 33rd vote, at this time.

Pfew! At this time anyway. Meanwhile the blue dot signs permeate this city from I-680 east to the Missouri River. West of I-680 is scared, well off white people and not so many exist out there. 

The blue dot is real. The excitement for Kamala is off the hook here. She will take the district and one electoral vote. Now we just hope the coattails take down District Two's milquetoast Congressman Don Bacon, a retired General who pretends to be nonpartisan but in reality, is just another MAGA vote in the House. He may be a nice guy, but politically he's no different than MTG, Matt Gaetz or Trump himself. His TV ads portray him as a reasonable sort who works with both sides to get shit done. Meanwhile the PACS that support him portray his opponent, State Senator Tony Vargas, as a commie loving criminal advocate spendthrift. Don stays nice, the PACS do the meat chewing.

The blue dot means that Bacon is in perpetual trouble. He won last time because too damn many people voted for Biden and Bacon. But the win was razor thin. This year, with the blue dot excitement, he may be fried bacon. Lets hope so.

Want a blue dot sign for your yard? Go to BlueDotNebraska.com and find out where and when you can get one. It makes one feel like you are not alone.