HOPE
OR
HOPELESS
That’s the real equation.
Tag: Politics
ANYONE LIKE BEING SPIED ON?
The other afternoon we were sitting with friends in our Smoking Garden when a fast-moving object caught my eye. Shaped like a small airplane, it dashed across a span of sky visible between the limbs of a maple overhead and then halted. What we heard sounded like a large mosquito and was about just as welcome.
We presume it carried a camera and was spying on the neighborhood. When we edged outward for a closer look at the offending intruder, it scooted away, only to return several times later. Maybe it didn’t like being observed. For that matter, neither did we.
“If we had a gun, could we shoot it down?”
Well, how far does our airspace extend? And what rights do we have versus theirs? Whoever they are. Potential burglars looking for easy prey? Perverts? Even police?
The fact is, the experience is disconcerting, even before we get to the notorious role of drones in Afghanistan and other military – and not so military – zones.
Who’s responsible for this one? What’s it doing there, above us? And why?
Some of us cherish privacy as an essential American right embedded in the First Amendment. And then there’s that matter of my home is my castle, arising in English Common Law.
Besides, a mechanical drone has none of the freedom birds enjoy. The lower reaches of the sky should belong to natural aviators, not an artificial intruder.
Anyone else care to “chirp” in?
AS A RUNNING MATE?
Is it true that Donald Trump’s hairstylist is among his finalists for vice president?
Makes as much sense as anyone, so far. Would anyone else dare get that close?
ABOUT THOSE INCOME-TAX FILINGS
Donald Trump’s refusal to release his income-tax filings naturally spurs suspicions. What’s he trying to hide? What’s he afraid they’ll show?
What, you think he’s squeaky clean? Please! The fact-checkers have found little in his outrageous claims that’s really true. We don’t need a liar-in-chief, we need someone we can trust.
So Trump’s financial dealings are bound to be fair game as the campaign spirals on.
For one thing, they give us a clearer view of how a candidate handles money. The Obamas, as we discovered, are really quite frugal, even conservative. Trump, on the other hand, seems to employ a lot of sleight-of-hand, as his loans-to-donations-to-himself demonstrate. (How many times can you count the same dollar, anyway?)
Well, we can assume the accountant-types will have a feast with whatever is there, as will the tax experts and financial gurus and businessmen large and small.
In the meantime, it’s fodder for the pundits.
Among the possible reasons Trump won’t release his income-tax filings? Are there clues to indicate:
- He’s not worth nearly as much as he claims …
- The Clintons have more liquidity than he does …
- Bernie’s right about billionaires as welfare queens … and right about how to fix that …
- He’s dependent on government subsidies. Or even, that’s all he paid …
- He’s hoping campaign contributions would provide sufficient cash-flow for him to avoid personal bankruptcy …
- Just how much are his lawsuits costing him, anyway …
- Just how low are the returns on his enterprises …
- What’s he writing off as charity …
- He says these are deductible expenses …
- He’s playing the Wizard of Oz.
Well, right or wrong, it’s a start. The facts will either support his claims or knock them flat.
Any other wags want to weigh in?
WHAT OF THE ART OF THE DEAL?
He claims to be a skilled negotiator, someone who can finesse a deal, but that’s not what we’re seeing. It’s all bluster and bullying. In a business deal, the other party cries “Enough!” and leaves the table. No deal, forget it, we’ll do business elsewhere. Or the workers strike or quit en masse or simply but effectively undermine the whole operation. (Anyone want to cite case studies? By the way, this guy’s refusing to open his books to potential suitors. Where are those tax returns, anyway?)
One possibility, as some power brokers seem to be sensing, he’s way out of his league. Are they sniffing weakness behind all his bravado? The way a wolf pack smells blood? Or the way an investor or market quickly turns in a flash to depose of a loser? Write off a bad investment or risk? Is there enough in his political portfolio for as much as a fire sale? Can he even keep his shirt, if his act falls apart?
Besides, in this game he should know, the house always wins, at least over time. Remember, he’s not playing in Trump Casino anymore. This is the Republican tent, where the owners are getting antsy and wonder about calling in security to escort a player from the premises.
Besides, the joker’s not the only wild card in this deck, and it’s dwindling.
Now, whose turn is it to deal?
COULD IT BE QUICKSAND?
For those who set out to shut down government in Washington, the next step should be fascinating. Are they prepared to shut down their own political party?
A line emerging in the sand (is that quicksand?) would separate those determined to stand on their stated values from those putting their faith in continuing the organization at all costs, regardless of its position. It’s looking more and more like they can’t have both.
This is shaping up as a definitive history-making moment. An earthquake, perchance? In Cleveland? Woodpecker will be watching closely, sensing it looks a lot like climatic instability, an issue many of them have long denied.
But then, sometimes reality hits. This time, a mega-storm seems to be brewing.
CHECK THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR
Don’t blame Obama.
Not with this do-nothing Congress.
Some folks just like a mess. Especially one of their own making.
AS FOR THAT SECOND AMENDMENT
For those who claim to be defenders of the Second Amendment, let’s insist they embrace the entire provision, the part that mentions a well-regulated militia.
There’s nothing well-regulated in what we’re seeing in the cancer of mass murders resulting from assault rifles. A particular model, at that.
Note, please, that regulated means regulations, first, and their efficient enforcement, second. The Congress that adopted this amendment knew what it was doing, unlike more recent politicians beholden to the gun lobby. As the amendment insists, it’s the militia that shall not be infringed. The well-regulated militia.
By the way, having lived in rural areas, I’ve come to appreciate the place of hunting and knowledgeable hunters in the wild. Some are deeply devoted naturalists, aware and alert in the nuances of their surroundings. Natives have much to teach about the rhythms of their game. I’ve seen how a local hunting and fishing club regulated much of a rural county, keeping irresponsible “sportsmen” away. In Washington state, the return and proliferation of elk can be credited to concerned hunters in conservationist organizations. There’s a role for that culture – one, we should note, that accepts legal limits on its activity.
~*~
These days, I’m thinking more and more about the militia part of the Second Amendment. What if we required all gun owners to be a member of one? Perhaps it would be like the Army Reserve, where each member would have to take so much training each year and put in community service time. Training? First-aid and CPR are always good for the public. We’re far more likely to need those than a gun, anyway. I see this as a kind of auxiliary for public service. Why not?
No exceptions for people who claim to be too busy, either. Someone like Donald Trump would have to put in hands-on time. Public service, indeed.
OF AN OLD DOG WITH A MASTERY OF DIRTY TRICKS
Well, well, well, Karl Rove’s finally popping up in the campaign, albeit criticizing Donald Trump’s strategy but not the message. Here I’d been expecting we’d have found his fingerprints all over another dirty primary in South Carolina as a dutiful Bush operative. Admittedly, I wasn’t looking that hard, but apparently, neither was anyone else. Just see what happened with Jeb as a consequence.
S0 what’s the story now? Is Rove feeling left in the dust? Is he hoping to land an insider role with Trump? For a fly on the wall, that could be entertaining.
And if they get together? Woodpecker, for one, would be busy.
WELL, IT REALLY WAS NEWS TO ME
This morning’s newspaper had a headline that sent an “Oh, gee, I haven’t seen that before” running through my head. As I mentioned the other day (Why Woodpecker Can’t Keep Up, June 14), so much of the news can be same-old, same-old variations on a theme. But this one really was new:
Motorcyclist Hits Bear.
As I also mentioned (Harley Heaven on Lake Winnipesaukee, June 16), we just had the nine-day Laconia Motorcycle Week, which attracts swarms of bikers to the Granite State, and racing along mountainous roads is one of their joys. Every year the event is accompanied by accidents and usually a few fatalities, but I don’t ever remember seeing one involving a bear. This one happened in the afternoon. Broad daylight on a perfect day.
Unlike moose, which are slow and dumb, convinced they can continue ignoring oncoming traffic, bears can be fast-moving, when necessary, and alert. Moose-car accidents are, in fact, commonplace throughout northern New England, while bear-car encounters are also a standard news item, though less frequent. I suppose I’ve seen a few moose-motorcyclist crash stories over the years, or at least should have.
This time I found myself recalling a report I’d edited and written the headline for back on my first news desk position right after college. We were Upstate New York, which has its own mountainous terrain. That time, a motorcyclist ran into a porcupine on a dark highway, and the results were fatal. As a city-boy, porcupines were still a curiosity, rather than a critter I often acknowledge in my journeys.
In this morning’s dispatch, the driver was airlifted to a hospital and reported to be in critical condition.
~*~
Another item making the rounds also seems to slip over from one of the routine categories — in this case, political survey results — into the I’ve-never-seen-that-before status. In the race for the White House, a Democrat, and a woman at that, is polling evenly with Donald Trump in the overwhelming Republican state of Utah.
~*~
This reminds me of another reaction I often have as a novelist: “This wouldn’t work in fiction.” Accompanied by “You couldn’t invent this if you tried.” Life really does take some bizarre turns if you look.
Really.
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