I'm becoming repetitive.

So in yet another example of people showing their privilege, today I showed a liberal coworker a headline I saw in passing about DT starting a commission to investigate voter fraud; of which there was none so this another total waste of time and (I'm sure) taxpayer money, and continuing to deflect from the real threat of his tyranny.  This coworker is really easy-going, and proceeded to go on about some theory which culminated with basically saying "You're cutting years off your life by getting so crazy about this."  As a side note, I don't think it was necessarily directed specifically at me; more of a collective "you" to those of us who continue to speak up.

While on one hand I actually think there is merit to that thought (I have had the same thought myself, hence my need to pull back for a couple of days to recoup), I can't help but think this is just letting life happen to you, and in this case, everyone else who may have even less choice, voice, or opportunity.  We can't just sit back quietly and calmly, waiting and hoping he will eventually implode; too much damage may have been caused by then.  If we get complacent and let it all normalize around us, we may not realize all the effects it's having until it's too late, including to those of us who do have privilege.  We're already going to have a deep hole from which to dig out; let's not make it worse by taking a lazy attitude about it.  We have already seen some of "our" (I put that in quotes because I still really have yet to do anything outside bitching behind my monitor; a.k.a. I'm shamefully showing my privilege) actions have positive effect; we have to keep at it!  Thank you for all you do!  #resist

I absolutely hate the New England Patriots.

Yes, I used the "H" word.  I think I may loathe this team more than any team in professional sports, and that includes the New York Yankees, and I REALLY can't stand them.

This is not a bitter jealously thing because my Minnesota teams haven't done anything really worthwhile in years - and I'm not taking anything away from the WNBA dynasty of the Lynx with that statement.  They have done some great work recently; I'm just not a huge basketball fan in general.  Nor am I taking away from the talents of the teams.  Regardless of how one feels about them as a whole, the effort and abilities of these people absolutely cannot be denied.  Anyone who has ever played would love to have half the talent of Derek Jeter or Tom Brady or LeBron James.

But no; this is about overexposure and arrogance.  I am so sick to death of hearing about the same players and teams over and over and over again!  This is just as bad as the media constantly covering Trump's campaign without giving proper equal time to every candidate just because he was/is a ratings draw.  I watched the news throughout the campaign season and everyone kept going back to him and his antics.  The same goes for the national sports media in that every story is about the Yankees, the Patriots, LeBron, and Tiger Woods (who, by the way, is lousy now!).  Closed circuit to ESPN, et. al.: NOT EVERYONE GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THOSE HANDFUL OF PLAYERS AND TEAMS!! Sometimes we want to hear about other teams in different markets.  To hell with the fact that they may be "smaller;" they're still valid or they wouldn't even be in their respective leagues. talk to us about what Joe Mauer needs to do to break out from his continued struggles, whether or not the Cleveland Browns will ever be relevant, or if the Columbus Blue Jackets are for real.  I love the cities of New York and Chicago, but I can't stand their sports teams - enough with the attention just because that's where all the money is!!

And arrogant?  Do I have to go any further than than Bill Belicheat - I mean Belichick - and Tom Shady - I mean Brady - (copyright Dan Cole, the Common Man)?  Their cockiness just oozes out of every pore in the bodies, and they don't give a damn.  And hell, why should they?  They know they're great and their fans will keep coming back year after year, and they will just laughing their conceited, wealthy, conservative asses all the way to the bank.  I cannot wait for the year(s) when they both finally decide to hang it up (and again, why would they when they both continue to defy failure) and Bob Kraft is suddenly left holding the pieces of his former glory, at which time I expect he will sell, because isn't that what multi-billionaires do?

And speaking of these particular conservative multi-billionaire jerkoffs, the final reason I can't stand this franchise and was so desperate to see them lose tonight I think can be summed up by this NSFW clip:

And I'll just leave it at that (with a big proverbial middle finger to the Patriots organization) for fear of going off on another real political rant because trying to follow up Bill Maher with anything is an exercise in futility.  Go #MNWild!

Don't tell me peaceful protesting does nothing.

I have seen several responses that say protesting does nothing, one such I referenced in a previous post (is that really arrogant, to site myself on my own blog?).  In that post, I said that we may not see immediate results, but they are happening.  Organizations are starting to stand up against the tyranny (see the Uber CEO suddenly renouncing his place on DT's business council, or whatever he is calling it, and reaffirming a commitment to immigrants and refugees).

And then this happened.

Congratulations to the Attorneys General of Washington state and Minnesota (shout-out to my home!) for bringing this suit, and for Federal Judge James Robart for seeing that morality and justice are done.  Now, as expected, the crybaby had to go and appeal for an emergency stay on the ruling, because, heaven forbid, he understands the checks and balances that were set in place by the founders specifically to avoid any one branch of the government from doing what he is trying to do.

People of good conscience who are aware we are not just one nation, but we are a global community, are speaking out and fighting.  These are small victories, but worthy ones.  Now we need even more companies and officials and insiders (way to fight, @RougePOTUSStaff!) to stand up and rebel.  Our voices are being heard.  Are there any with greater authorities willing to fight, too?  We certainly have some voices in Congress, but at the present time it may not quite be enough.

I agree with Van Jones on this one.  Nothing is going to happen to DT in the next two years.  We cannot sit back and rely on the rumored GOP members suddenly getting disgruntled with him; they are still too much about the party face.  The only way anything is going to happen is if they lose control of Congress; then, just maybe, there can be some greater action.  For that to happen in 2018, we need to act now: keep talking, keep marching, keep calling.  Keep it all going and then make a better showing than historically recorded at the midterm elections.  We mustn't give up hope or become complacent.  It's the same battle cry: don't normalize any of it!  Stay strong and #resist!

You're going to give up on me before I even get started.

I truly appreciate you all for taking an interest in reading my blathering.  I hope you'll stick with me as I go through a touch of a dry spell; coming up with daily wit and thoughtfulness is hard!  Not that there hasn't been a bunch to discuss (new sanctions, convincing people the Berkeley riots were anarchists and not liberal protesters, the continued ridiculous one-sided fight with the media, and let's have a moment of silence for the day the truth died - remember Bowling Green, KY), but for the past couple of days I have been learning by headline, not by substance, and I don't want to be hypocritical by talking like that; it does nothing right by the truth or being well-informed.

In addition to what I said yesterday about taking a mini break from ranting and raving in order to get a bit back to "me," and what I have said in the past that this was not intended solely to be a political tirade blog, today was a very long day at my job (the beginning of a VERY long and tiring week - Super Bowl weekend is rough in the casino industry, I'll just leave it at that) followed up by a night I have come to look forward to every year at this time: the Daddy-Daughter Dance.

So as tired as I am and in need of getting to bed to face another grueling day, I am dedicating tonight's post to my little girl.  I am just as in love with this beauty as I am my son.  Sure, what parent isn't in love with their kids, but I just have to say it.  Just as with her brother, she has come so far since the beginning of the school year, testament to the kindergarten teacher they have both had.  Her reading skills are wonderful.  She is definitely learning and becoming her own little firebrand.  She's not breaking any records just yet, but there is a creative intelligence brewing beneath her surface. And the fact that she is going to be my little actor is absolutely thrilling to me!  I can tune the satellite radio to On Broadway and she will attempt to sing along with anything that comes on - you should hear her try to knock out Hamilton riffs, and if it's Frozen, forget it; it's her show.  Last summer I took her to her first live show, an amateur production of Disney's Beuaty and the Beast, which she loved. Next month I'm taking her to the Smith Center to see the national tour of Matilda; this is going to be the real test to her future love of theatre.

So enough today.  Just my little love letter to my baby.  Hold yours close.  Good night.

I really have nothing tonight.

I am winding up my weekend (I work in a casino, remember?).  I still glossed over shared Facebook headlines, attempting to evaluate their worth from their original sources (not the members who posted them), and continued to be angry at our current lot; I watched a Robert Reich report.  However, for the most part this weekend, I had to separate myself.

I have been so livid and vocal about the whole thing for so long now, as I've said before, it has consumed me.  I almost don't know how to think about anything else anymore.  I feel guilty if I do.  I feel guilty for not really paying attention to anything for two days.  I feel like I'm forsaking my duty as a concerned (putting it extremely lightly) citizen.

For those of you who think you can pounce on my hypocrisy for lowering my vigilance, I have to admit that on one hand you'd be right to do so.  On the other hand, I assure you I have not completely relinquished my little role in this fight.  Once I can refresh and reset, I will have plenty to say.  I don't expect that to take long as he and his minions are constantly doing something to harm us all.  But right now, I need to remind myself who I am and, while there are plenty of things bigger than me, that my life and what I have in it are important, too.  I have to remember what I have rationally said about us all wanting the same things, that at our cores most of us are good people, and that I cannot go through life judging everyone based on whether they're on the left or the right.  If I can't stop that, I will ruin a lot of relationships; I am a better person than that, and so are we all.

So for today, that's it.  I am going to kiss my wife and children good night, get some good rest, and try to start a new week level-headed and ready to work.  Peace and love.

I forgot to address something else yesterday.

From the same "discussion" yesterday about "getting over it" (I hear your collective sigh, "Again?!"), another statement was made that has stuck in my craw:

"[A]t this time, too many people are too caught up in the many issues we need to address. And unfortunately, rather than find the truth and move forward with a resolution we have women knitting pink hats and wearing them to protests. Wonderful! But really, what did it solve? Nothing. To nitpick, it was counterproductive since the yarn could have been used to make hats and scarves for the homeless. I assume most women used transportation that runs on gas to get there. They justified our "need" for oil and further encouraged the pro-pipeline supporters. And what about the environmental cost? 

But this is the kind of conversation we can't have. Because people are too passionate right now. It would be nice to see that energy focused on solutions rather than crafts and chats."

I'm not even exactly sure how to respond to all this.  Full disclosure: I have no idea exactly what side of the political spectrum this person lands on, so I am responding to the comments based solely on the words, not with any political bias against the person.  Also, I think this person is a distant relative whom I have never met, so I have to be nice.

• "Too many people caught up in the many issues we need to address."  Does that mean there should be less people involved?  Fewer issues addressed?  Yes, there are many people caught up, and they should be; and let individuals decide which are the most important issues for them to address.
• "What did it solve?"  Well, we may not necessarily see the results of the protests, certainly nothing earth-shattering happened at the exact moment they were taking place.  DT was not going to descend upon the rabble from his gold throne that has been newly-installed in the Oval Office (can't wait to see that during his first public address) to suddenly say, "Ya know what, you brave women are absolutely right and I hereby rescind everything I have said and done so far." You want to know what it solved?  Allow me to steal from another brilliant piece I found tonight:

"For everyone who DID something, small or big, your efforts have been successful. Because of you:

1. Federal hiring freeze is reversed for VA (Veteran Affairs).2. Court order Partial stay of the immigration ban for those with valid visas.3. Green card holders can get back in country.4. Uber pledges $3M and immigration lawyers for its drivers after #DeleteUber trends on Twitter.5. Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) enrollment ads are still going to air.6. The ACLU raised 24M over the weekend (normally 3-4Mil/year).7. HHS, EPA, USDA gag order lifted.8. EPA climate data no longer scrubbed from website.9. More people of different career/religious/economic/race backgrounds are considering running for political office than ever before.10. MOST importantly, since we live in a participatory democracy, the people are engaged.While more is needed, you have to celebrate your wins."

• "To nitpick . . . "  Yeah, ya kinda are.  What do we know what else those women have done in support of the causes for which they fight?  Maybe they DID knit hats for the homeless.  Most of these rallies happened in major metro areas, so I suspect many of them took public transportation.  Maybe they just see this fight as having taken top priority and will return to the others when this one is won.
• "This is the kind of conversation we can't have."  I disagree.  Yes, people are very passionate right now, but that does not mean we can't come together as rational adults as discuss things. We have to rise above the cacophony and vitriol to admit to each other that we ultimately all want the same things; we just have differing philosophies on how to achieve them.  It certainly won't be easy because of the passion, but it has to happen, and soon, before we tear ourselves apart.

So I say don't lessen the importance and value of protest just because a common symbol was chosen as a means of showing unity.  Don't dismiss the actions because you personally don't see grand results.  Be grateful that we live in a country where (at least for now) your voice can be heard by whatever means you choose to use it.  Do what you feel is right, so long as you are not infringing upon another's rights.  For those of us who believe as we do, to quote Mad-Eye Moody, "Constant vigilance!" and #resist.  To us all, peace, love, and prosperity.

Don't ever tell me or anyone to "get over it."

So here we are again talking about dismissive language.   However, today it came from another liberal.  I will say it again: under no circumstances should anyone be told to shut up and deal . . . unless you're forcing a whiny kid to eat his broccoli, then maybe you have a valid reason.  

Seriously though, whether it is meant in a demeaning way or not, to say that to someone who is speaking his/her mind about a strong belief is insulting and rude.  I get it: Facebook is not really the best platform to air our grievances.  There have been plenty of memes like this one floating around:

                           

But that doesn't make the poster's opinions any less valid.  Believe me, I would love for us all to go back to showing off our kids' report cards and wannabe 5-star meat loafs and face-planting drunk cats, but that is not where we are now.  And there are too many of us who feel extra emboldened sitting behind a computer screen.

                                                           

We are in a time where everyone can express their opinions and beliefs, and anyone can choose to ignore you.  If you are one of those who is so over it all that you are just going to bury your face in the sand, and accept and normalize the shitstorm we are now in, domestically and globally, well, by my own argument, you are entitled to that, too.  

However, remember that you allowed your privilege to blind you from all those whose voices do not get heard.  Remember your choice when your Muslim neighbor is detained from returning to his American family after visiting his home country.  Remember your silence when your lesbian niece has to explain to her child why no one recognizes her marriage to the child's other mommy anymore. Remember you turned away when swastikas are spray-painted on mosques and synagogues. Remember you had enough when your grown son is dying because he lost his health care and he had to choose between rent, food, and medicine.  Or don't, because you will be safe in your own little box living your safe little life where you are not responsible to anyone.  And remember that when no one come to your aid in your time of need, because I promise you, this administration's decisions will eventually adversely affect us all.

That is why we speak up.  That is why we march.  That is why we will not be silenced.

    #resist