Journaling and Thoughts

No post last week, I needed a few days to myself to do nothing but where the wind took me.  It was a relaxing change of pace; I tend to be scheduled pretty heavily most of the time.

Even my weekends are pretty busy, I go to a group on Saturday Mornings and then either to the Library, Powell’s Books or one of a couple of Starbucks and usually write my blog, grab some dinner, and go home.

Sundays do not tend to be that laid out, but I rarely just do nothing, I usually keep busy.  This weekend that was nipped in the bud.

Apparently Ted Cruz won the Iowa Caucus Monday night and yelled “Allah Akbar”, oops, the Republican version, “to God be the glory.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have an issue with believing in or calling upon God.  Cruz and the recent faces of the Republican Party smack me as a complete lack of sincerity, a ploy to manipulate people that would vote for the Devil himself as long as he said he believed in God (how much you want to bet he does believe, the Devil, not Trump).

America’s professed puritanism amuses me, sex is a bad word and worse act, but when it comes to making a buck; sex is the easiest place to go.

On the other hand, when it comes to manipulating the simpleton Republican masses.  The people who live in poverty, starving, no healthcare, or education, but still vote Republican because one day he might be one of the rich, all you have to do is claim to be a Faithful Christian, and you are in like Flynn.

I’ve known Hillary Clinton since she was 19 years old, and have nothing but respect for her. In my view, she’s the most qualified candidate for president of the political system we now have.

But Bernie Sanders is the most qualified candidate to create the political system we should have, because he’s leading a political movement for change.

The upcoming election isn’t about detailed policy proposals. It’s about power – whether those who have it will keep it, or whether average Americans will get some as well.Robert Reich
Jan 26. 2016 Blog Post
Emphasis mine

I like Sanders, but the truth is that I have little hope of him being able to accomplish most of what he is campaigning on, not for lack of trying, but for the same reasons President Obama has failed to achieve what he had hoped, the sheer enormity of fighting the powers that be.

First term Presidents make grand promises of change, and we buy into the dreams; that is part of the charm of America.  For change to occur in today’s world, though, there has to be a massive change at once.

Bernie by himself would end up fighting not just the Republicans, but a good chunk of the Democratic Party as well.  Without enough change going to Washington at the same time, poor Birney is going to make Barach Obama feel like he had it easy by comparison.  I’m not sure we want that much chaos and lack of movement in Washington.

I find the opposite argument to be just as depressing, I just don’t see much changing in this country under a Clinton Presidency.  She’s a centrist at best, almost a Reagan Republican.  What does it say when the establishment candidate for the Democratic Party is someone who could have probably given Ronald Reagan a run in the 1980 Republican primaries?

The part that depresses me the most about the whole thing is that there is no one on the Republican ticket that I could even consider at this point.  It seems that in the last few election cycles, the Republican candidates have had to play to the whack-a-doodle side of the party if they want any chance of the nomination, Trump is an excellent example of this.

As far as the Republicans are concerned, I am just watching the show and praying that something comes through that would not be an absolute disaster if they should win.

The Conservative Right on FOX’s “Lucifer”

I stumbled across a new show that has the Conservative Right foaming at the mouth, “Lucifer” on FOX.

The basic premise is that the Devil has gotten bored in Hell and is taking an extended vacation in Los Angeles, where else?

There have been two episodes so far, and I have been enjoying it so far.  The writing has a great sense of humor, and I am beginning to think my favorite interplay is going to be Lucifer and this little girl that is the daughter of our female lead, Chole.  Watch this video, couldn’t get it to post, and about 2:44 she asks Lucifer his name, Lucifer does not seem to do well with children.  Watching Lucifer squirm when she hugs him in episode two is hilarious.

So as to the video at the top, this is one of those songs that has always perked me up when I am running low, and the live performance is so much better than the original video (ya just gotta love ’80s parachute pants).

So have a great week and enjoy!

Robert