September 29, 2020--$427 Million

Most people are focused on the New York Times' report that Trump paid just $750 a year in federal income taxes. That is an amazing story but not supprising. We've known for some time that he's a crook.

What amazes me is how much money he made from his TV show, The Apprentice.

Over 15 years, $427 million. Yes, $427 million.

And he needed every penny of it to again bail him out. He was bankrupt, having squandered another $400 million that he got from his father to cover what his favorite son owed because of collapsed real estate deals.

I know I'm in the wrong business.

So how's this? 

"Donald Trump--You're about to be fired."  

September 19, 2020--What Was She Thinking?

What was she thinking? 

I think I know. Though one is not supposed to speak ill of the departed, what was Ruth Bader Ginsberg thinking? 

That Hillary Clinton would become president and Justice Ginsberg would then resign to allow the first female president to select her successor. 

Just as historically the Supreme Court had a "Jewish seat," this would create a "women 's seat."

How's that strategy working out?

Since Mitch McConnell will ram though an appointment before January 1st to assure he'll still have 51 votes even if the Dems flip three to four Senate seats, by the new year we could have Ted Cuz plopped in a lifetime seat on the highest court in the land.

I'm not making this up. About Cruz. He is already on a very short list of possible replacements for RBG.

So Ginsberg's legacy may include that her selfishness will mean Roe v Wade will be overturned.

September 14, 2020--Empathy

When it comes to running for president of the United States, being empathetic can get you quite far. Though likely not elected. Even when running against a narcissist such as Trump.

Let's think, then, about candidate Joe Biden who is about as empathetic as it gets.

The contrast between the two was on vivid display recently when a day apart they visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, because of the protesting and violence there that was a response to an African-American man being shot seven times in the back by the local police.

Without evidence that would justify this, Trump supported the police more than the victim, even going out of the way, while there to comment about another shooting--a 17-year-old self-described white supremacist "vigilante" who, without provocation, used an assault weapon to shoot and kill two unarmed protestors.

Trump did not visit Jacob Blake's family whereas Joe Biden spent time with them, spoke with Blake on the phone, and attended a church service with the family.

Politically, anyone who wants a president who can "feel one's pain" has, in Biden, someone who from his life experience has faced a lifetime of loss, and is exceptionally good at sharing what he has learned from it and is comfortable literally embracing people who are struggling with grief.

Many of Biden's supporters say they will vote for him because of what this reveals about his character.

Others, who have national security concerns, are looking for more, something additional from the former vice president. They are seeking someone who they feel will also be a formidable commander in chief. A strong leader for times of peace and a courageous and effective leader when we are directly threatened. When more than empathy is required. 

They may have questions about Biden's ability to assume that role. Recall, he was the only senior staff official during the Obama administration who did not support the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. From this example alone some are concerned that he does not have the chops to protect us from the world's bad guys. 

What he needs to do then, and soon, is include in his stump speech and in more formal settings how he would deal with ongoing threats such as those represented by Iran, Syria, and of course, best for comparison purposes, Russia and North Korea. The content needs to be tough minded and the presentation muscular. 

Joe can and should remain the empathetic Joe (as if he could change his nature) but he needs also to show his steely, self-confident side.

September 5, 2020--General Kelly: Where Are You??

In 2017, 4-star General John Kelly, then Trump's chief of staff, invited Trump to accompany him on a Memorial Day visit to Arlington Cemetery where his 29 year-old son was buried after being killed in action in Afghanistan.

At the grave, the commander in chief allegedly said, "I don't get it. What was in it for them?"

If true, Trump never said or did anything worse.

To clear up this claim about Trump is easy. All Kelly needs to do is confirm or deny it. But he remains mute. 

I doubt if his son would be impressed by his father's silence.

Not exactly 4-star behavior or courage is called for. A simple yes or no will do.

September 3, 2020--Couscous

Since late June we haven't been able to find any boxes of Near East couscous at our local food markets. It's one of our staples and we've been feeling frustrated. 

The absence of couscous has been a mystery. Couscous? We're in Maine, not Manhattan. It's hard to conjure that many Mainers craving this exotic grain. Frankly we've been surprised and delighted that it in the past has been so available. 

So, what's the story? In a pandemic running out of toilet paper I get, but couscous?

I finally figured it out thanks to our president. Yes, him. 

You ask what does he know from couscous? Fair question. He's more a Big Mac kind of guy. Not some effete sophisticate.

But lately he's been talking about supermarket items.

Here's what he said at a press gaggle on Tuesday about the rioting in Kenosha:

In cities across the nation, we've also seen police officers assaulted with bricks, rocks, bats, Molotov cocktails, frozen bottle of water. 

Somebody said last night, one of the protesters--I saw it--he said, "It's only water. How can water hurt you?" Yeah, they don't say it's frozen, in a bottle the size of a football. And they throw it at the police. It's unbelievable. It's water." 

And then they have cans of soup. Soup. And they throw the cans of soup. That's better than a brick because you can't throw a brick; it's too heavy. But a can of soup. You can really put some power into that, Right?

So that's what's been going on. Trump weaponized soup and couscous and the shelves are picked clean.

Also, at some point he referred to Campbell soup. Tomato soup. The kind, he said, Andy Warhol painted.

Trump? Andy Warhol? I've got to get a grip.

September 1, 2020--Biden Spotting

A welcome change of plans--Biden is not waiting until after Labor Day to begin in-person campaigning. 

Here he is Monday, arriving in Pittsburg for a talk at Carnegie Mellon's Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute. 

Trump, in the meantime, is trying to bully his way into an invitation to visit Kenosha. The governor and mayor have thus far asked him not to come.

Biden's comments, by the way, were excellent. Just what he should be doing every day.