Democratic Socialism!

 Democratic Socialism!! It scares the shit out of old white men, currently in power, because it threatens their very relevance. The GOP pisses their pants at its mention. The Democrats, instead of embracing the concept and accepting the new guard, start blathering about leaving the party because it means they are finished. You're old boomers. Your time is over. Accept it. I am to the point where anybody over 70 will never get my vote again. Go away. And truth be told, I'm dangerously closer to 70 than 60 and realize my generation of boomers have become their parents. We used to protest, smoke weed, stand up to the man, march for civil rights, end wars and drive crooked presidents out of office. Now? We want to run over protesters legally, oppose legalizing weed, are the man, suppress civil rights to keep white men in power, supports wars and shrug when a crooked president does something crooked. We are pathetic. We are the Progressive insurance commercial. We've become our parents and not in a good way.

Now some of us had cool parents. Greatest Generation people who may not have understood the hippies and the antiwar movement but accepted it without hollering about it too much. Archie Bunker was real then and unfortunately is even more real today. Archie was a clown to be laughed at. The ignorance was funny. Mike Stivic was also a clown in his own way. A condescending lib. They were all to be made fun of. Haha.

But alas, though the ignorance of the masses remains, the ignorance of the politicians is dangerous. The United States Senate was once considered the "world's greatest deliberative body" full of intellects and the smart people. The House has always been a carnival side show, full of some of the dumbest people on Earth, but the Senate? Even the red states sent smart people, though they be Republicans, and with few exceptions, you could be proud of your Senators. Well then came 1980, and the whole thing changed. A wave of morons swept into office on the coattails of the guy who started this all, Saint Ronald Reagan the First. Christ, Chuck Grassley was elected in 1980, and the old bastard is still there because Iowa refuses to vote anybody out of office. And its only gotten worse/

Dopes permeate the Senate. Evil permeates the Senate. When you have the likes of Tommy Tuberville, Marsha Blackburn, Eric Schmitt, Mike Lee, Tim Scott, Katie Britt, Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Pete Ricketts, Cindy Loomis, and whatever that twosome from Idaho is, the body is the same as the House. Hissing possums.

Oh the Democrats don't get off here. When you have the likes of Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Angus King, and even Bernie Sanders all OVER 80 still hanging on, no wonder younger people like Mamdani and Abdul El Sayed win primaries. Democratic socialism! Shhhhh but go real dumb like Trump, over 80, and say "communism" just lke the GOP has done since 1946. When you got nothing, go straight for the C word. And the GOP got nuthin.

What is Democratic Socialism? It's Finland, or Denmark, or Holland, or Norway or Sweden. Hardly bastions of commies, these countries provide its citizens with basic needs. Health care, income, holidays, a balanced work/life. low crime rates and democracy. Even for the hypocrites who constantly rant about nonwhites yet accept all the benefits of democratic socialism. The white supremacists are all over these countries, but they seldom elect them, unlike here where we elect the old bitter white supremacists to office and then shrug when they act like the racist bigots they are.

It's time for the old white men to get the fuck out of the way. As much as they kick and scream, or threaten to bolt the Democratic Party, they must be ignored. Leave! Go ahead and leave! OR....get onboard and work together to eliminate the threat of another 2 years of Trump ass kissers kissing his ass.

If that happens, because of Democratic infighting over a word, or more likely their refusal to cede power, we are doomed. 

This is the year my friends. We either cut this regime's nuts off, or we let their cowardice win again.

Democratic Socialism? It's simply a word.

No use throwing away 250 years of democracy out the window over a fucking word.

Magic of Motown!

 Who doesn't love the Motown hits? Oh, I'm sure there's some cranks out there who do not but they are wrong. Period.

The Magic of Motown traveling show came thru Omaha last night and though it wasn't exactly a packed house, it was a show full of energy both from the singers AND the crowd. The rotating cast included four male singers handling the Four Tops, Smokey, Sam and Dave, and the Temptations while the three female singers knocked it out of the park with Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, a killer version of R E S P E C T and another killer version of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You performed by a young lady stating how she hoped she did justice to the song, much to screams of "You got this Girl" and other encouraging shout outs. She, of course, like she does every night, killed. It was phenomenal.

The show is a sort of Vegas type tribute show and there is nothing wrong with that because it's all about the music. People of a certain age made up the vast majority of the crowd. Black folk, white folk all singing along and the black folk proving that they got the moves and the white folk do not but nonetheless, they have fun. Watching old white people dance never fails to amuse me and it didn't disappoint yet again.

So much talent on that stage and it's a shame that I don't know any of their names because the Orpheum Theater in Omaha has one of the worst sound systems in existence. If you didn't know the lyrics to the classics, you were left out. The introduction of the cast of singers was garbled and indecipherable. Oh well, all I can say is that one guy doing Smokey and MJ was fantastic. That one woman doing Aretha was kick ass and that other woman doing Whitney was marvelous. Sorry I don't know your names.

Notes:

They used local musicians in this show. Sax players and guitarist were local. Keyboard player and drummer are with the show. All of it was smooth as hell.

Late Arrivals--I mean Ive been there getting there late. But 99% of the time I am in my seat on time. This crowd walked in 15 minutes late, a half hour late and it's a pain in the ass distraction. In this case CPT doesn't mean what it usually does. This time it stood for Creamy People Time or Cracker People Time. Be on time people.

The sound system---It sucks. Sometimes a show will bring in their own sound systems and sometimes they just use whatever atrocity passes for a house sound system. This show relied on the in-house sound people. I'm not blaming them; they only have to work with what they got, but cmon man. FIX IT!

The Magic of Motown-- worth it? Absolutely. The music is timeless. The performers are great. There's a joy in the air listening to these classic hits. What more can you ask for?

If it comes back, I'll Be There and there Aint No Mountain High Enough to stop me.

Anthony Fauci Vs Rand Paul!

 The calling of American hero Anthony Fauci before a Senate hearing led by his arch enemy, a moss haired "libertarian" named Rand Paul (Neighbor-Ky) was bad enough, but when Paul and his fellow blowhards decided to simply use it as an opportunity to appeal to the anti vax, Covid was a hoax, anti-mask morons who make up the GOP base it was a shitshow.

Fauci gave a statement, calling Paul unhinged, and then clammed up, invoking the 5th for the rest of the hearing because he understood it was nothing but a trap to satisfy Paul's weird ass obsession with the good Doctor. Now Paul, a so-called libertarian who hates the feds overreach, did what most "libertarians" do when pushed, they turn into pro federal government thumb breakers ready to throw everyone in prison. Paul warned Fauci of "repercussions" for zipping his lip. I guess that means Paul will go home, dress in his Prussian military threads and think of ways to define "repercussions".

Meanwhile the screeching monkeys of the Senate committee got all their sound bites in. Senator Pussy, aka Senator Hawley, asked Fauci what day it was. Hawley, a fist pumping anarchist, then proceeded to get in his campaign shorts before yielding. Typical Hawley performance. A laughable high school theater production of All The Presidents Men. But in this case, the pussy from Missouri is on the crook's side.

Senator Bernie Moreno, a used car dealer and crypto prick. dropped the F bomb to get the attention he craves. Who the fuck do you think you were? Migawd, these assholes could ask the same questions of their cult master. The irony is out of sight.

But the worst moment was when the "Libertarian" Rand Paul, had Fauci's lawyer, David Schertler, removed from the proceedings for having the gall to bring up the Bill of Rights. Schertler left and Paul lost all libertarian cred. Again.

Look, Fauci is a national hero. He aint perfect, but he saves lives. Which is more than I can say about the libertarian, the pussy and the used car salesman. 

A contempt of Congress vote will come next week which I'm sure that Senate idiots like Tommy Tuberville and the bag of hair Marsha Blackburn will vote yes. Then Fauci can join the list of contempt of Congress folks still to be dealt with. Ya know like Jim Jordan (Greasy-Oh). Christ Ohio, what the fuck is wrong with you electing sex crime cover up artists, couch fuckers, used car salesmen and that wife beater Max Miller (DV-OH). Stop trying to become Alabama, that's Nebraska's job.

Paul released portions, very carefully, of Dr Fauci's diary (Gawd they love diaries over there on the fascist side of the aisle) that would intend to make Fauci look start struck. What Paul left out, I'm sure it was just an oversight, was Fauci's views on what a dangerous idiot Donald Trump was. Fauci was baffled by the President and his obsession with ratings and covering up Covid, which of course Trump thought would make him look bad. You know like the Covid will be over by Easter and the churches will be filled. 

Dr Fauci is 85 years old. He is retired. He has Fuck You money. And he's using it.

Rand Paul is 63 years old going on 126. Unfortunately, he still has a job. And he will use it to grandstand and roll his eyes and blather on. Fascinating!

Oh, and come on Kentucky. Your senators are this dweeb Rand Paul, and some guy who may not even be alive. You can do better than reelecting a "libertarian" fascist or a turtle on life support. Don't try and become Louisiana, that's Nebraska's job.

Yukking It Up With Fascists!!

 There she is, Meet the Press' Kristen Welker, yukking it up with Joseph Goebbels Stephen Miller at the White House Correspondents Dinner last week. This is proof that journalism is deader than Lindsey Graham. When the so called "free press" laughs it up with the very fascists who would jail them for saying bad stuff about the Fascist in Chief, it is deader than Tommy Tubervilles brain. The usual nonsense that is the WHCD usually consisted of a gathering of the Washington "journalists", they jerked each other off, and then the current President would get up and give a funny speech. Clinton was funny, W was funny, Obama was funny and then came the least funny man in the world, no not Greg Gutfeld, but Donald Trump. Trump refused to show up, keeping up his image as a press hater with his foolish followers. until last week. 

Well of course he was supposed to be there in June, and was, but some guy busted in with a weapon, and attempted to "assassinate" uhhhh hell I don't know. So the event failed to launch. RFK abandoned Cheryl Hines, Vance rushed out without Usha, Miller ran out feeling up Katie and Trump peered out from behind a curtain like "wow my fake assassination attempt seems to be going well". Thus, the event was cancelled and rescheduled because the WHC never misses an opportunity to praise themselves.

It was last Friday night. Trump sat there looking glum and playing with his mouth thing, whatever that was. The journalists getting awards, much to the anger of Trump, walked up to him and shook his hand with a fuck you smile. Kaitlan Collins did that, but had no idea what was coming.

Trump's speech was misogynistic, xenophobic, racist, homophobic and included his obsession with transgenders (whats with these weirdos?). He compared Collins to Dylan Mulvaney, called other politicians clowns, stated his hate for Adam Schiff (very Christian of you), went after late night talk show hosts, and even tried to joke about RFK's penchant for eating roadkill. Silence except from Trumps clapping monkeys in the cabinet. The problem, Donnie, is that your lame ass shit doesn't play with an audience not wearing red hats and being easily amused.

But back to the beginning. Laughing it up by "journalists" with the very people who would put you in a camp as soon as they get Supreme Court permission is a bad image. Independent press? Oh, I know it's ALWAYS been a reach around jerkfest with the politicians and the press, but the threat of Reagan or Bush or W was nothing comparable to this guy, Trump. Those presidents had a sense of humor, gently chided the Fourth Estate and even were self-deprecating. This guy is incapable of anything but lame jokes and jabs at others while comparing himself to Jesus, Lincoln and Einstein. 

I don't know what's going to happen. Journalism may not survive as heads of networks and news organizations cower in fear that Trump could cost them money. So, they kiss his ass, back off on reporting on the crimes he's committed, settle lawsuits, appoint Bari Weiss like sycophants who fire anybody who gets too close to the truth. It is disgraceful what this maniac has done to the cowards of the "free press". And it's disgraceful that the Fourth Estate turns out to be such chickenshits. It is a perfect storm for fascism. November will tell the tale.

Meanwhile the only saving grace is the reaction of the crowd to Trump's attempt to be Bob Fucking Hope. Including his cabinet members after he brings up their weirdness of eating dead whales.

Yuck Yuck!

Trump Regime Math!

 They are from the top left

1) Lt Tyler Feehan of Hawaii' 25 years old

2) Sgt Michael Swinton of North Carolina 30 years old

3) Pvt Isabella Gonzales of Texas 19 years old

4) Sgt Angel Rampersad of New York 28 years old

These four soldiers died due to Iranian missiles and drones hitting them in Jordan and Iraq, respectively.  

This last week, the Pentagon, led by Low T Pete Hegseth, removed them from the casualty list because, ta daaaaa, Trump had declared a ceasefire in April so therefore, they aren't really dead or whatever. Translation....18 dead looks worse than 14 dead so if we just ignore those last 4, everything is kosher ad lets Trump brag that we "only" lost 14 souls in the Iran War as opposed to the "200,000" we lost in Vietnam. Too bad Prez bone spurs wasn't one of them.

These four young people died for the ego of an 80-year-old maniac from the USA, a 76-year-old monster from Israel and a 77-year-old Thumbreaker from Iran. These 3 old men have caused such suffering in the world to satisfy their own ego, insanity and political madness, that they are the Putin, Xi and Kim of the so-called free world and a religious theocracy.

But when it all comes down to it, I don't give a rat's ass about any of the aforementioned creeps. The sooner they are gone, the better. What will the warmongers and whackos whose solution to everything is to bomb the shit out of anybody, do when those 3 are just a footnote in history. Probably try and find a new war criminal to kill more people. But whatever, all political leaders who act like those 6 are pieces of shit and deserve whatever happens to them. Think Khadaffi.

What I do care about are those 4 dead kids, along with the 14 others who died in the Trump/Netanyahu Folly. All should still be alive and those 6 should be in prison.

But they aren't, the 18 are still dead and those last 4 are erased by Whiskey Pete Hegseth from the killed in action list. Hegseth is a despicable human being who prances around a Navy boat like he's auditioning for the Joffrey Ballet. He claims Low T is a problem for troops. No, getting fucking blown up is the problem. The only thing Hegseth ever blew up was the Fox News bathroom. 

Hegseth had to make "sacrifices" to satisfy his evil master. And I guess two women, a black guy and a white guy were cool to bump.

Fuck Pete Hegseth. Fuck Trump. Fuck Netanyahu. Fuck the Ayatollah.

Those heroes deserved more gratefulness from their leaders.

I for one thank them for their service.

Mat Franco!

 Magician Mat Franco won America's Got Talent 12 or so years ago and has a residency at the Linq in Las Vegas. Now years ago, I gave up trying to figure out magic because I don't really want to know. Years ago, Dirk Arthur gave a box. It was a box. The box was empty. Then Abra Cadabra the box got heavy and he pulled a duck out. Where the hell did the duck come from? I was holding the damn box the whole time. It freaked me out and from then on, I don't even try.

Franco is personable, charming, self-deprecating and can zing you with a gentleness that you don't even know you've been zinged. Trust me, he saw me sitting there with folded arms and I regretted it as soon as he commented on my apparent cynical view of his magic. Tip-don't sit in front row unless you are aware he can see you. Oh yeah, I ended up with 3 bags of ramen noodles. 

His magic is absolutely baffling. Now we've seen Dirk Arthur, Penn & Teller numerous times and they were all great. But this guy? Wow. He does card tricks, makes things disappear, finds phones inside of tables, banters with volunteers and much like Penn & Teller calls you out if you screw up his instructions (for instance he asked a volunteer to roll imaginary dice and the guy said he rolled a 14 much to Mat's and the audience's amusement). He calls up a lot of people, kids (a young boy was called up and was funny and quick), adults, men, women, everyone. They say its "Magic Reinvented Nightly" and I imagine it is as volunteers are very unpredictable. This guy is a pro.

I cannot recommend this show enough. It's reasonably priced and if you buy the cheap seats in the back and the front is not sold out you just may get upgraded to the front row. This happened to us. But just don't fold your arms or else.

The Wizard Of Oz At The Sphere....Finally!

I am a cynic. Nothing really impresses me. The hype is always too much and I end up disappointed. Then came this.

After my hospital stay was over, and I was placed on meds, Max's Mom contacted the Sphere to see if the unused tickets could be transferred to Thursday. They graciously said yes.

Off we went to the Sphere to see this classic event. The staff there was helpful in not making us walk up steps but instead let us in the VIP entrance and take the escalator up to the nosebleeds.

The place is phenomenal. Full of distractions, entertainment and things to pose for selfies in front of. The escalator seems to go on forever as you head for steerage. The steps are steep and getting to row 13 was not fun for these old fogies. But we made it and sat, hoping to never get up again. WRONG! Being on the aisle meant constant standing and stepping out onto the steep staircase. Ok great.

The movie begins right on time which is good but also means the late arrivers will bug the shit out of you for a good half hour. What is so hard about being on time? Pet Peeve #1! The place is full of every type of person, the most diverse crowd Ive ever seen. The people in back of us spoke no English. There was a healthy pot full of blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, men, women, children, old people, young people, people dressed as characters. It is great to see. However, why is a small percentage of any crowd such narcissistic assholes? They get up to leave during the film, they come back climbing over everyone to get back, they show up late and climb over everybody. Christ its annoying.

The film experience itself is stunning. This cynic was in from the get-go. The huge screen, the special effects, the tornado scene where the leaves fall, your seat shakes, and the wind blows. It's unlike anything I've been to. And I loved it. The apples fall from the ceiling when the trees pelt the 4 characters. Yes, Max's Mom got one dropped right in her lap. Finally, the poppy scene where it starts snowing drops dishwashing liquid on you. Too bad it almost immediately melts or I'd have preserved it and taken it home. And Margaret Hamilton is the greatest screen villain of all time and I'm not going to argue about it. She just is.

Despite the fact the movie has maybe a half hour cut from it (Its very obvious) it is still as great as ever and the Sphere screen makes it like seeing a concert.

It ended and I wanted to see it again. We sat there to allow the crowd to disperse. I relived my old drunken bar days as workers started yelling you gotta leave. However, it was worth every penny when I saw Max's Mom crying happy tears during Somewhere Over The Rainbow. That made my irregular heart soar like a hawk.

One tip. Do not walk outside. It'll send you into A Fib. Walk thru the Venetian. It's all inside. Had we known that, the hospital stay may have been avoided, however, I'd have never known of my problem.

Would I go again? Of course.

But quite frankly, I would kill to see Metallica st the Sphere. I would only wound to see the Wizard of Oz again.

Go if you can. You will be happy AF.