Trump campaign meets with Liechtenstein

Well, no, they didn't. If it was Liechtenstein, Spain, Botswana or Vanuatu, no one would care. It was Russia. Not only was it Russia, but everyone seems to have forgotten to include meetings with Russia on their security clearance forms. It's almost as if the Men in Black had gotten to them.

Here are those on the Trump team that met with Russian representatives (that we know about so far):

• Jeff Sessions
• Jared Kushner
• Michael Flynn
• Carter Page
• Roger Stone
• Paul Manafort
• Donald Trump, Jr.
• JD Gordon

So many of them. So many who neglected to meetings these meetings on their security forms. Not one who met with Liechtenstein and forgot to mention it. Or New Guinea. Or Costa Rica. Funny, that.

Monsters in our midst (well, in the midst of the Congress and Senate)

I already know the answers, but I have to ask. why would Republicans want to reduce medical coverage for the neediest and most at-risk Americans?  How can these people, many of whom consider themselves religious and caring, even think about doing what they are about to do?

Of course, the answers are obvious:

1.  They don't care about the people losing healthcare.
2.  They don't care about most religions' pronouncement on caring for the less fortunate.
3.  Maybe they care a little, but they care more about their wealthy donors' tax breaks.  

I've seen a lot of galling things in my life, but this one takes the cake (see above.) Tax breaks for the rich don't help anyone but the rich (see Kansas under Brownback). But that's the point, isn't it?

Who should pay for healthcare? Only those who can afford it? Would you deny healthcare to the those who can't? Should they (maybe I should say "we") just be allowed to suffer and die, while Congress and their owners eat steak? What kind of monsters are you, Republicans?

Can't remember, but it will come to me soon.

On the way to work this morning, I had a great idea for a blog. Two hours later, when I have time to think about it, nothing but a vague memory that I had a great idea. That is all.

Trump has made his bed, so he has to lie about it

Donald John Trump, 45th President of the United States, is not someone who lies. He is a liar, someone whose lies are a defining part of his persona. He lies about everything. He lies to cover up misdeeds, he lies to make himself look better. Sometimes he lies just to lie.

I will not use the word “misspeak” in this post, with its implications of accidental use of wrong information. No, Trump lies on purpose, and enjoys the idea that he gets away with it.
And get away it he does. He knows he lies, we know it, the people who defend him know it. Even the Wall Street Journal, which in early January (before the inauguration) refused to call Trump’s lies “lies,” by March said that he clings to falsehoods “like a drunk to an empty gin bottle.”

In a way, it’s an impressive feat. He has gotten evangelical Christians to forget the ninth commandment (thou shalt not bear false witness); they love him anyway. He deflects by calling other people liars (Lyin’ Ted! Lying Hillary! Comey’s a liar), when they point out his lying ways.

The old joke “who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?” must have been invented for him. When presented with audio or visual evidence that contradicts him, he sticks to his lies about: illegal voters; his net worth; Russian intervention; his health; releasing his taxes; Obama’s birthplace; his inheritance; Muslims cheering 9/11; and on, and on, and on.

When he calls James Comey a leaker, that’s a lie. The wall? A lie. Heathcare for everyone? A lie. Tax reform? A lie. Maybe it would be easier to name instances where Trump has told the truth. Nope, can’t think of one. And that's the truth.

The Audacity of Trump's Hope

Today former FBI director James Comey testified before the Senate that President "hoped" he could "let it go," meaning the pursuit of Michael Flynn in the investigation of Russia's meddling in our election. Comey was taken to task by Idaho Senator Jim Risch (R) for interpreting "hope" as a direct order. If Sen. Risch had access to a dictionary, he would find that any definition of "hope" as a verb, either transitive or intransitive, includes the words "desire" and/or "expect." See Merriam/Webster's entry HERE.

Trump was not using "hope" as one would hope, say, the Penguins win the Stanley Cup (go Pens!) You don't send all the other important folks,except the one person who can stop the investigation, out of the room to "hope" something happens. "Gee, James, I hope it doesn't rain during my golf game this weekend!" Come on, Sen. Risch, get real.

Trump likes to use the word "hope." He thought Comey should hope there were no tapes.

Today, Comey said, basically, Bring on the tapes! You want to know what I hope? I think you can guess.

Shut Up and Bring Me My Food

It has been a long time since I wrote anything not political, so here's a post on my other favorite topic: complaining about "good" service at restaurants.

I understand that restaurant staff (waiters, waitresses, servers, whatevertheywantobecalled) are trained in obsequiousness, but I don't have to like it. They start with "My name is Ignatz, and I'll be taking care of you." No, you won't, unless you're my significant other or a hitman. Eventually you'll be taking my order and with any luck, bringing me what I asked for.

I'm in my sixties, and by this point I have learned to read a menu and decide what I want to eat, ALL BY MYSELF. Sometimes I've even gone online and seen the menu before I've arrived. Yes, I'd like to hear the specials, but I don't want you ask me if I'd like an appetizer, and before I can politely respond, "No, thanks," you begin to recite (as you've been trained) the litany of small plates from the menu, which I've already read. Shut up, and let me order.

Oh, Matthew, you say, you're such a curmudgeon. Damned right I am! As I said, I'm in my sixties, and not only can't I eat as much as I used to, I can't even eat any of the deep-fried, cheesy, sriracha-laced, yummy-sounding concoctions any more.

Don't get me started, Person-Taking-Care-Of-Me. Why would you tell me what your favorite dish is? Have we ever met? Maybe your favorite dish would give me hives. Maybe I'm not in the mood for peanut butter/banana/sushi dessert that is your best seller.

What prompted this rant today? I actually had a server who left me the hell alone, and it was a delight. I don't know her name; she told me, but had no name badge, so I forgot. She helped me choose a dish by asking what I liked. She refilled my beverages and asked me once how I liked my food after it was served. She asked me if I wanted dessert, and most importantly (pay attention here) she did not ask me "Are you sure?" when I politely declined. It's amazing how many servers rudley question me on my certainty of not wanting dessert.

To sum up: I go to restaurants to eat and socialize with the people I'm with. I do not want a relationship with the staff. Okay? Bring me my food.

We're all mad here!

I've always been a fan of Lewis Carroll's Alice books. First as a child, and even more as an adult after reading Martin Gardiner's brilliant "The Annotated Alice," I delighted in the cleverness, the zaniness, the INSANITY of it all. I never thought I'd find myself in a dystopian version of Wonderland, a world in which so much makes no sense that I want to get back to my own side of the looking glass.

If I hadn't seen, heard and lived through the lunacy of the last (almost) two years, I would have thought that a raven is indeed like a writing desk. Could anyone have dreamt these events possible in the 21st century?

• The Senate refused to hold a hearing to a Presidential nominee for the Supreme Court. 
• A wealthy man with no governing experience announces he is running for President of the United States. He loses the popular vote, but wins in the Electoral College, despite the fact that he (among other things):
• Insulted the Hispanic population of the U.S. by calling Mexican immigrants criminals and drug dealers;
• Refused to release his tax returns
• Was shown and heard on tape making disparaging remarks about women;
• Encouraged Russia to hack the Democrats;
• Had a campaign manager that attacked a reporter;
• Had a campaign advisor that is a blatant racist and anti-Semite;
• Had not one specific plan for implementing his ideas;
• Incited his supporters to harm and/or jail his opponent.
• Installed Cabinet Secretaries who by and large want to destroy the departments they head.
• Refused to separate himself from his businesses and brought his (also inexperienced) children in to the White House as advisors.
• The Republican-owned Congress is doing nothing to stop this man from destroying our country.
• Here's the big one:the people who voted for him still support him!

I keep hoping I'll wake up and this will have been some horrific nightmare. But it's real. And it feels like there's no way out.