Commentary by humorists such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert has given us clear insight and keen observations of the insanity and nonsense entwined in American politics. Our tradition of political satire has been on the cutting edge since the nation reached its first centennial, when Mark Twain noted, "We have the best congress money can buy".
Later Will Rogers witnessed the onset of the Great Depression. Like our present situation, humor was a vital antidote to the toxic devastation wrought by deregulated capitalism and government servitude to the predations of Wall Street and greed of the economic elites.
Today's stew of madness, sponsored by the Republican Party, has produced the latest rise of racist, authoritarian nationalism in Trumpism.
The ugly side of politics and human nature can only by countered by first shining a bright light into the darkness. Humorists have always been the first to hold a torch in volatile times.
We're lucky to have contemporary humorists taking up the role that journalism has failed to fulfill.
Corporate media too often means corporate slanted news.
Corporate media too often means corporate slanted news.
Fortunately some political truths are timeless. The words of Will Rogers are as alive today as when he first uttered them.
In fact, he has provided all the facts and perspective we need for this election.
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting for your edification:
The Will Rogers Guide to the 2016 election:
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A fool and his money are soon elected.
The problem ain't what people know. It's what people know that ain't so that's the problem.
I am not a member of any organized political party — I am a Democrat.
There ain’t any finer folks living than a Republican that votes the Democratic ticket.
The 1928 Republican Convention opened with a prayer. If the Lord can see His way clear to bless the Republican Party the way it's been carrying on, then the rest of us ought to get it without even asking.
The difference between our rich and poor grows greater every year. Our distribution of wealth is getting more uneven all the time. A man can make a million and he is on every page in the morning. But it never tells you who gave up that million he got. You can’t get money without taking it from somebody.
People want just taxes more than they want lower taxes. They want to know that every man is paying his proportionate share according to his wealth.
If Wall Street paid a tax on every “game” they run, we would get enough revenue to run the government on.
See where Congress passed a two Billion dollar bill to relieve bankers' mistakes. You can always count on us helping those who have lost part of their fortune, but our whole history records nary a case where the loan was for the man who had absolutely nothing.
Republicans take care of big money, for big money takes care of them.
When you get into trouble five thousand miles from home you’ve got to have been looking for it.
We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.
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4 comments:
I like your style! I'll be reading your blog regularly.
Thanks, Mike. Good to see you.
Dave, I absolutely agree with your sentiments regarding Trump and a Republican party that would nominate such a boorish fool. He is totally unfit for the presidency. I have long noted that I will not vote for him.
That said, I also note that there are millions of Republicans and conservatives that will refuse to vote for Trump on principle also. This includes many leaders and celebrities in the GOP.
It is sad that the same cannot be said for many of our Democrat friends and those on the left. While Trump is a fool and an embarrassment, Hillary has genuinely been criminal in many of her activities. And yet... while some on the left acknowledge their displeasure with her, they still plan to vote for her.
Trumps nonsense was largely nothing but talk. Hillary's was criminal actions in many cases. Many in Trump's party denounce him and refuse to vote for him. I wish that more Democrats and leftist friends had that same sense of integrity with for whom they cast their vote.
Perhaps then we all, left and right, could demand candidates of integrity to represent two once great parties that are nothing but a weakly cast shadow of themselves today.
I respect your judgment on Trump's lack of fitness for the presidency. You demonstrate common sense there my friend. ;-)
And kudos to Republicans and conservatives for sharing your insight. The man has no grasp of issues, no civility, no regard for truth, and no decency. Yes, Trump is even worse than Bill Clinton, since he needs to compare himself with him.
The words of a presidential candidate are never "Nothing but talk". If it were otherwise, words from Hitler and Mussolini were also nothing but talk before they took power.
Talk reflects intent and attitude. Like verbal threats, words of hate carry dark intent. Did you see his racist hate is still directed in full force at the black men falsely accused and imprisoned in the Central Park case? DNA and a confession by the guilty man matter nothing to that racist asshole. He still wants them executed!
In fact, you've just come close to echoing Trump's words. "Lock her up, we'll decide the charges later", is the message. Tell me her crime. Show some evidence. I'm open to judge her, but only based on facts. She didn't kill anyone in Benghazi, She didn't kill Vince Foster, and she didn't hand over top secrets to enemies. Maybe she even learned a lesson from her mistakes.
Admitting mistakes is leadership. Denying them is not.
Make no mistake, Trumpism is a creation of the far Right. Racist birtherism, sexism, bigotry, lust for torture, and scorn for the truth have whipped up a toxic stew.
As for Hillary. I stopped voting for neoliberal neocons decades ago. To her benefit she has supported honest efforts to bring better healthcare to children and has promoted equality for women around the world. She worked to get healthcare for 9-11 first responders. Not exactly the work of the devil there.
But her support for war and global neoliberal corporatism is a deal breaker. In my eyes, this is where she sold her soul.
If she committed crimes, she should be punished. You have never once indicated a specific crime she committed. If the far Right hate machine is honest, she would be the devil Trump called her.
To me, she's not much different from the usual politician in the pockets of the military industrial complex, the banks, and the rich. And that's quite enough.
I would only vote for her if mine was the only one to stop Trump. I love my country that much.
I remember the brief time when both parties supported civil rights, voting rights, social security and medicare. They compromised. How antiquated.
This is no longer true. Now it's all evil communism. Now compromise itself has also been demonized by the far Right.
What happened? White resentment, scapegoating, blame, and hate was deliberately cultivated by the Republican Party. The Nixonian "Southern Strategy" chickens have come home to roost.
Trumps rise to prominence should be a warning sign for America. I'm worried the wrong message will be learned, and the Right doubles down on their intolerance.
That man has poisoned our country more than anyone else. So yes, words matter old friend.
I hope you're having an enjoyable Autumn. I love the fall. We even have wild turkeys in the yard most days.
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