In the United States today, June 12, 2020, there were OVER 27,000 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 with around 800 “new deaths.” Of course, those totals are just guesses because various republican governors around the country continue to LIE about the statistics. Well, maybe LYING is too harsh a word, people like Ron DeSantis in Florida are simply not allowing the complete statistics to be published. (That’s essentially LYING isn’t it?) I’ve been saying for some time I believe, in Florida, they are blocking the release of the cause of death on people dying from Covid-19. When you look at the numbers of cases that suspicion seems to be borne out. And, of course, when a member of the state’s health department lost her job for refusing to hide these statistics there’s further evidence of some kind of “hanky panky” going on.

This has been an issue all across the nation and we’re seeing ballooning numbers of cases almost everywhere – except in New York and New Jersey which still have a declining number of cases, but….. As many of us have suggested this year, the problem with NO national “plan” is that you can’t run away from this virus. People in New York have been diligent in “mitigating” the virus, but now they have to worry about visitors coming from Florida or South Carolina or……… you get the idea? The cases we’re seeing today are largely the result of the “opening” of the economy during the Memorial Day weekend. Soon we’ll be seeing the results of the protests of the MURDER of George Floyd. And, the one thing we can count on in all of this is that individual 1 will be “AWOL” in showing ANY leadership. In fact, he’ll begin his tour of America where he’ll be holding rallies (where you have to agree to hold him harmless if you get Covid-19) with lots of people in a confined space with no face coverings. OMG! What could go wrong???

Clear and simple, our national government is in the “hands” of IDIOTS! Larry Kudlow: “There is no second spike. Let me repeat that, there is no second spike.” Well, technically I suppose you could say he’s correct – because the FIRST “spike” is still RAGING. Apparently, the way to make sure there’s no “second spike” is to ensure the FIRST spike never ends. As health experts have said “we’re in the 2nd inning of a 9 inning game.” This is far from over and the lack of leadership coming from the “top” is more apparent every day. Take for example Mike Pense – remember, he’s the head of the coronavirus task force: “By Memorial Day this will all be behind us.” OK, well, that was STUPID. How about Jared Kushner “senior adviser to the (IMPEACHED so-called) president: “By June we’ll be rockin!”

I suppose if by “rockin” he meant hospitals around the country would be searching for ventilators once again and health care workers would be, once again, scrambling to find enough PPE to keep them from contracting the virus from their patients – then, I guess, “we’re rockin.” For heaven’s sake what on earth has Jared Kushner EVER done which would qualify him to be a “senior adviser to the president” – even an IMPEACHED so-called president? If you want to get a good idea of who’s creating the “Middle East peace plan” among the other incredible things in his “portfolio” read “Kushner, Inc.” by Vicky Ward. It should both enlighten you and scare you to think someone as …… while I’m trying to think of the right word there all I could think of was he married individual 1’s daughter and even though he’s the “son-in-law” the only thought I can “muster” is the saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

It’s easy to see why, when you read all the books you can about individual 1 and his administration – OK, you probably don’t but I do – those who have not worked out in this administration starting with Steve Bannon always refer to “Jarvanka” as being a MAJOR problem in the “White House.” Bannon, for example, while I loathe him is actually very SMART in my view. In fact, I always considered him DANGEROUS in a more DANGEROUS way than I consider individual 1 DANGEROUS. He’s a true schemer! I believe those of us who can’t stomach this (IMPEACHED so-called) president should be thankful Bannon was “banished” and Jared has remained as the “senior adviser.” Between himself and his wife, Ivanka, the “advice” they give just keeps the poll numbers going down for individual 1.

I still remember reading how Bannon, for example, was saying the firing of James Comey was the worst decision in… well, I don’t remember how long he put it, but he knew what would happen next – the special counsel. It was Kushner who thought “everyone,” including democrats, would by happy with the firing of Comey. Even though individual 1, with the help of his “lap dog” William Barr, is busy trying to get history rewritten in regard to the “Russian thing” that adventure is likely to end up just like everything else they do – an unmitigated disaster – from the standpoint of our IMPEACHED so-called president. You can’t change history – the FACT the Russians “interfered” in the 2016 election is undeniable. And, the FACT the FBI felt obligated to investigate that “interference” would only be a SCANDAL had they not done so. My point is that many of the STUPID decisions coming from the “White House” likely would have been much different had Bannon actually been the “senior adviser.” (Of course, it still would have been incredibly BAD!) But, onward we go!

The other half of “Jarvanka” is, of course, Ivanka who was, apparently, the “brains” behind the now infamous trek across Lafayette Square to stand in front of “The Church of the Presidents,” St. John’s Episcopal Church, brandish a Bible (upside down), and pour “gas on the fire” regarding the protesters who are demanding change in regard to the systemic racism which has been an issue in America forever. With the help of William Barr our IMPEACHED so-called president had those protesters cleared from the “square” with the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, flash bang grenades, and officers on horses. I believe individual 1’s photo holding up that Bible will be a lasting image from his administration because of the context around it and the suggestion by many he should open and read that book. My point is “Jarvanka” as “senior advisers” to the (IMPEACHED so-called) president clearly shows why nepotism is a bad idea!

Today, our IMPEACHED so-called president – who avoided service in the 1960’s by getting his doctor to LIE about “bone spurs” which, to him, was “smart” (he got 5 deferrals to avoid service during the Viet Nam era) – gave a speech to the graduating Cadets at West Point. I couldn’t force myself to watch/listen to the speech (It was probably all about his “winning”) but the fact he insisted on doing this caused the Army to fly over 1000 cadets back to West Point – 15 returned with the virus – for a service which was originally planned to be digital. I’ve personally “graduated” three times and it is a time to celebrate and maybe the Cadets wanted to return to go through this ceremony – the hope is they avoid being affected by the virus which is “picking up steam” as I’m writing this. Does anyone but me wonder why individual 1 wanted to do this THIS year? I’ve been unable to find evidence he’s spoken to these troops at graduation in previous years. Curious!

The next few months, as individual 1 restarts his campaign with rallies putting his supporters in venues where “social distancing” is unlikely if not impossible (likely, they don’t care – as the attendees will all sign a statement holding individual 1 “harmless” should any of his supporters contract Covid-19), the number of confirmed cases of the virus – if you believe the scientists – are likely to be skyrocketing. Scientists warned that “opening too soon” could lead to a disaster and, it appears, that is exactly what is happening. Hospitals are again feeling the danger of being overrun with really sick people – with many needing ventilators in order to save their lives. It’s curious to me this would be a campaign strategy of individual 1 because, I guess, he believes a new “spike” in the virus will not negatively affect the economy.

Right wing governors can LIE about the cause of death for people in their states and they can try to hide the number of people infected with Covid-19 but they can’t hide the numbers of people needing ICU care in their hospitals. As the hospitals in Florida, Texas, Arizona, the Carolina’s, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and other states – mostly in the South or Southwest – fill up with people needing ICU care we’ll then know for sure whether this “First wave” of the virus is spiking up again. Everything I see would suggest that is true and, of course, individual 1 continues to pretend the virus is a “thing of the past.” How “we the people” respond to this abandonment of responsibility for leadership remains to be seen, but it appears our IMPEACHED so-called president is looking at dropping poll numbers each and every week.

While I’m encouraged about individual 1’s dropping poll numbers this November’s election is about far more than getting him out of office. The reality is it has been the republican party which has been BLOCKING the changes people in this nation have been wanting and, now, are finally demanding. I believe the protests go far beyond the demands of reforming the police. The issues which have been boiling under the surface are coming out as you see a wide diversity of people marching in the streets after the MURDER of George Floyd. The obvious “change” being demanded by protesters is the police reform – being “suggested” in many ways – especially those who are saying “defund the police.” Well, when I try to process what “defund the police” actually means my mind starts spinning. That’s a post for another day. The bottom line is it appears “change” is on the horizon. I can hope!

Final Thought: Today I was at church “digitally” and our service was a conversation with the pastor of my church and an African American pastor of a church in Portland, Oregon. My pastor was born and raised in Alabama and the pastor from the Church in Portland’s family migrated from Alabama to Oregon back in the late 1930’s after a race riot which ended up with the person who would be the Great Uncle of this pastor in Oregon being lynched and then, while “hanging in the tree” being riddled with bullets. The pastor from the church in Portland became very emotional as he was detailing the history of his family in these days where people are still protesting the MURDER of George Floyd. Reliving really BAD memories are difficult for African Americans! (And, likely impossible to fully comprehend by people like me – although I totally agree with the African American pastor I listened to this morning – the key is just that, listening to each other)

I have to admit I was surprised this happened, but, at the same time, it was a real encouragement. I’m really feeling so many white Americans watching George Floyd being MURDERED in such a horrific manner very well may lead to the changes in our society many have been lobbying for, unsuccessfully, for years. I’ve been saying, in my naive manner, since my children were young, “we the people” have the power to make the change we want via the voting booth, and it’s looking to me as if that may be happening. My prayer is and has been that we would have a nation whose government would work from the bottom up. That, by focusing on “the least of these,” our nation would begin to heal spiritually and we could become a nation where accumulating wealth is not the goal but working to achieve the lofty ideals of our constitution would be. (And, to me, the beauty of the constitution is that it’s malleable)

Our history is full of dark places, the “original sin” being the issue of slavery, the – I can’t find the words to explain my thoughts about Native Americans other than “it’s another one,” and, because we are the world’s melting pot, (a blessing and a curse?) the issue of racism and discrimination have been part of our DNA since the beginning of this great “experiment.” At the same time, we’ve had the privilege to GROW and govern ourselves and this feels like a real inflection point to me, right now. There are disasters piling on top of one another but all that is going on has awakened our people, especially our young people, and I’m encouraged in the face of what looks like disaster. Of course, in my mind, success is predicated on what happens in November and, I’m sure, my pastor would remind me of who’s “in control.” So, I’ll end by saying I don’t think anyone would have to wonder what I’m praying for.

Oh yes, if you happen by here you’re very likely a “bot.” I write to vent my own feelings and frustrations with no intentions of anyone reading them. If you do, thanks for stopping by and I hope I’ve caused you to think.