Author: Rik Goodman

Understand the Science

Let me preface this post with the fact that I lean to the left. I wanted to say that in case anyone had any doubts!

Okay I have had enough. These idiots who think that protesting the stay at home orders by gathering in public spaces and not respecting ”social distancing” need to leave this earth. I don’t care how they leave or where they go just get the hell out of our lives. Carrying Trump signs and Confederate flags these are the worst of our society. Now even Stephen Moore has chimed in saying this equates to Rosa Parks sitting in the white only section of the bus. This is the man that needs to lead the exodus.

And now our “president” tweets “Liberate”. That is inciting civil disobedience. Does he understand that can be an impeachable offense? Does he really want “his” country to experience a longer pandemic? Or does he really understand the science?

I am not fond of the stay at home order, nobody is. But it here for a reason. I know the economy is going to suffer and people are going to suffer because of the economy. The alternative is that more people die. The protesters either don’t care or aren’t intelligent enough to understand the science behind these orders. We are all going to have to live without for awhile. Without work, without friends, without loved ones. It’s what must be done. Our federal government must help us out. It is the responsibility of the President to protect the populace of the country. We need guidance from the White House. What we are getting is excuses and “blame the other guy” press conferences (aka campaign rallies). Our Governors have the power in their states. They say when we open. The Feds need to support the Governor’s decisions. Some Governors need to stop sucking up to the President and listen to the science. Do not open until the science says it is okay. I know this sounds hypocritical because I said the Governors have the power. That doesn’t mean, to me, that they can use the power in stupid ways.

I have been lucky. I am still employed. I know many who are not, many who will not be again. I have been lucky. No one I know has died of Covid-19. I know some who were infected but have recovered. I have been lucky. My family and other loved ones are healthy and safe. I have been lucky. Others not so much.

Bye Bye Bernie

Now is the time for Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders to settle up and agree that winning the White House is the most important job? Joe Biden, after Super Tuesday 2, looks to have the inside track to be the next Democratic nominee for President. Bernie Sanders, and his team, need to realize this and withdraw from the race. Then he needs to get his team to work hard and turn out his supporters for Joe. I know it’s still early and Bernie’s path is not completely blocked. But it looks as if the Democratic voters are speaking, and speaking loudly that they believe the best chance of taking the White House is with Joe. Joe has proven he can rule in the South, he’s won is Michigan, Texas and others. Bernie’s supporters will have a hard time making the transition but they need to hike up their knickers and get to work. There is a lot of work to be done to defeat the incumbent President. Democrats cannot take for granted that they will win. Just look back at 2016. We don’t want a repeat of that!

Now on to the running mater. Who do you think would make the perfect running mate for Joe? Should it be a woman? Absolutely. Should it be someone of color? Absolutely. That lets out Mayor Pete. How about Kamala Harris?

Stacy Abrams?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?

The first two…yes. AOC not a chance. She is too much left of center to be much help on the ballot. Corey Booker would be in the mix. He does has some of the right attributes.

There is a need for an influx of youth, progressive ideas, color and womanism in the White House. Right now the need is a bridge. My choice is Stacy Abrams. She’s progressive but only partly. She’s black, she’s a woman, she’s smart and she is extremely popular.

Joe Biden, as he put it, is the bridge to the next generation to lead our country. He should be a one term president, guiding our country back to democratic ideals, decency, honesty and morality. This is what our country needs. A change in direction, not a whole new path. Let us take time to move the needle, we have plenty as long as we start now!

James Carville had a great tag line for Joe’s campaign

Joe Biden…It’s Time For A Change

How Long Has This Been Going On?

To start with let me say thank you to Ace for the title. And also to the Shangri-Las (you have to find that reference yourself).

How long ago did this quiet takeover of our democracy begin. I can’t believe that in just the last three years our elected representatives have decided that it is okay to ignore our constitution.

Many years ago, it seems, Russian influence began to infiltrate the Republican Party. Secreted away from the public the Russian propaganda has been spread and accepted by this secret society. It makes one wonder if our current President, with his love of Putin, has been the “chosen one” all along. Was he the leader of the pack? Russian influence evidently has been years in the making. Little back room meetings, strategy sessions, when to make the move, when to allow the new Beloved Leader to take his rightful place. 2016 seemed right to them. They caught us off guard. How would we know that nearly half the country had been converted under our noses? And that there was a way to influence our elections so that the electoral college would favor this despot. And now Republicans are spouting Russian propaganda in their speeches and rants. Since Vlad said, prior to our President’s inauguration, that Ukraine was behind the tinkering of the 2016 election, we have heard the stories. Of course our own experts have debunked this for what it is…Russian propaganda. House Republicans even vomited this out on the House floor during the impeachment vote debates. Vladimir Putin has been dancing in the streets.

So when did Moscow Mitch, Lindsay “The Switcher” Graham, Little Jimmy Jordan and others join in with Putin’s grand plan? Must have happened over time. Were all these seemingly honorable Americans always in favor of a monarchy? Or were they brainwashed over time? Is this what the flavor of power does? It seems that many, if not most Republicans have been swayed to notion that a king is better than a president. Or at least a dictator. As our President and his followers make a mockery of the rule of law, ignore and tear apart our constitution, we see a wave of acceptance across the country.

Racism, bigotry, misogyny, white supremacy have started to become the norm. The Republicans have embraced this. They have bowed down and kissed the feet of this President. This President that lauds the powerful dictators of the world’s most tyrannical governments. Russia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and more. The same president that has a person who believes in white supremacy setting policy for immigration.

How long has this been going on? We never will know for sure. But it has begun to take shape. We are teetering on the edge of democracy. How do we make sure the balance of power does not shift toward communism, oligarchy, monarchy, etc.? The ballot box. We have to VOTE.