Suck it up? I Don't Think So...

Here is the response I wrote to a man telling liberals to suck it up and accept donald trump as our president: 

IF in fact he had won, your position would be valid. We would need to suck it up and accept him occupying the white house as the will of the majority. But the truth is that he did not win! Not by a long shot. Notwithstanding that only half of the country even bothered to vote, Hillary beat him by THREE MILLION votes and another EIGHT MILLION+ people, CITIZENS of the UNITED STATES, voted for someone other than he or Hillary. So in FACT, despite half the country abstaining and the thievery and shenanigans of the orange wizard, the repugs and the Russians, your guy STILL lost the election by more than ELEVEN MILLION votes! That my dear, is the mandate, the platform if you will, for why EVERYBODY HATES trump!

He, the Russians and republicans hell bent on disenfranchising AMERICANS of their right to vote may do whatever to insinuate him into the white house but NOTHING they can do will ever insinuate him into the hearts and minds of people who truly detest him. NOTHING! He is a clueless, hateful, egotistical, reckless racist, womanizing, xenophobic, misogynistic, under-educated, internationally uninformed tweeting bully with ZERO diplomatic skills who is a walking national security threat and a risk to the sovereignty of OUR nation and the lives of young innocent people whose lives he will risk in an unnecessary war that will benefit only him and his rich cronies... (I could go on) republicans hate him just as much as we do but as his path, no matter how littered, no matter how crooked or corrupt, was the only one leading to 1600 Pennsylvania, so it is they who have sucked it up, who have chosen to sell what little there is of their souls, and decided to hold their noses and suck it up until such time they can figure out how to get rid of him.

Two months ago, they hated and found trump repulsive too. Even those he is appointing to his cabinet avoided him like the plague. They would not dare be seen with him. They too thought him an embarrassing buffoon. Those who supported him and made national asses of themselves are now on the outside looking in; christie, guliani, gingrich, palin, omarosa and I dare say many who regrettably voted for him. He is a user. He used the peons well to put himself in a position to play ball with those he prefers to play with anyway, those who heretofore have not respected him as a man, as a businessman, as an intelligent or thinking person, as a peer and certainly NOT as POTUS. Explain that!

trump will get and deserves the respect that he and other repugs gave PRESIDENT Obama for EIGHT years of his presidency. If you were quiet then, please be quiet now. At least President Obama decisively WON BOTH of his elections. Can't say that about your guy... Gonna' be a long, 'unpresidented', unpredictable, humiliating and embarrassing four years. You will silently cringe and hold your nose too. Most of us will hold our noses but not our tongues, and somehow we will manage to get through it.

FTR, the ONE republican who I do respect is Governor Kasich. He is the ONLY one who has exhibited any semblance of integrity and character. He thought trump a dunce before November 8th. He thinks him a dunce still and has consistently responded accordingly. Agree with his politics or not, I respect him as a man who has shown us, especially our children, how a person of principle and true character behaves! Rare quality in American politics where parties and winning seem to be all that matters... So no, Mr. Hedberg, NOT sucking it up! Neither would you!!!

The Marmel Page

Meet The RESIDENT!!!!

I have struggled with what I will call donald trump. There is just no way I could ever call him president. It occurred to me this morning as he will occupy, thereby take up residence at the White House, I will simply refer to him as THE RESIDENT!

Gonna' be a long four years! We have to keep laughing to keep from crying!

Can't lose trump? Lose the "P"! LOL!!! He can't spell, either can we!!! Follow the "leader"! LOL!!!

Pass it on...

Just Do Something!!!

D Day has arrived. The Electorate College will vote. Lay people and grassroots organizations are fired up and have appealed to them to not to confirm donald trump, therefore validating foreign interference in the process of our government, namely our elections. So what are the Dems going to do? What are they saying? Crickets...  I am so over this woe is me', we are the victims, Democrats are doormats stuff! JUST DO SOMETHING!!!

We don't need our elected officials to rant and post the injustices or the latest findings on Facebook or other social media networks, WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED!!!! What we DO need you all to do is to take some measure, make some noise, take a JOINT position at least giving those who call ourselves Democrats something to be proud of, let us know that we are NOT in a party of WUSSES', because that is how it feels. 

I am more ashamed of the apathy of our party than I am of the Russians who have done what hostile governments do, HACK their adversaries. However for US, American politicians on either side of the aisle, to act like it is OK, is more disheartening than I can say. To not be moved to action when daily we are informed of some new form of imminent danger we are in and for our parties to just seem paralyzed, inept or unwilling to do anything about what is clearly a coup taking place right before our very eyes, with bribes and dollars instead of bullets, thereby conceding to a crazed dictator, who by the way only has that power we concede to him, is BEYOND RECKLESS and quite damn disturbing!!!

I am a lay person and off the top of my head I suggest that the Dems, the DNC or whatever persons or bodies of authority can do all or any of the following:

1 - File a petition for injunction halting the electoral process, demanding a new election in light of undisputed interference by a foreign government, an election reflecting the voice of the American people NOT Russia. To discuss the motive for the interference is NOT the issue but is a convenient distraction. That they interfered IS the issue!

2 - Write an open letter to the Electoral College appealing to their sense of duty and reminding them of their mandate to protect us from presidential harm which in this case is already leading to instability with China relations.

3 - PUBLICLY challenge the patriotism of trump and any republican who dares to side with Russia and the KGB in the face of what SEVENTEEN US intelligence agencies is reporting, INCLUDING the CIA. (As the FBI does not come with clean hands, they lack credence in this matter... ) Flip the script. Give the republicans some of their own medicine. Challenge their patriotism. Put them in a position where they will have to publicly defend taking any such position, now or at the time of their next bid for re-election.

4- Tell HRC to stop licking her wounds and and come out swinging like only she and Bill know how! Based on current and new data, she should rescind her concession, which amounts to nothing more than a "gentleman's" agreement in the face of lies and deceit!

5 - Dems should align themselves with grassroots efforts already in progress

6- Call a press conference of all Dems, inviting all sane republicans to join in, declaring their objection to an "election" decided by a foreign government, friendly to the US or not! Such interference is unacceptable. We tell our children ZERO TOLERANCE for far less, surely foreign interference and espionage make rank. Surely!!!! That is what the American people NEED to hear!!!

Again, I am just a lay person. I don't have the skills, knowledge or resources that the Democratic party has. If I can stretch my mind to come up with these suggestions, surely our elected officials can come up with SOMETHING that says to WE THE PEOPLE, to the world that is looking at us in utter disbelief as we have TOLERATED & ALLOWED the presence and tolerance of one man to take us from a place of international respect restored by the Obama administration to one of the world's greatest international laughing stock!

As trump has employed nothing but the unconventional and unprecedented, to reduce us to our new standing, we need not feel bound by that which is conventional or precedent to get us out of this mess. Meet him and the greedy, shallow repugnant arm of the republican party right where they are! STOP with patting ourselves on the back for having taken the high road. Who cares? Where has that gotten us? When in the pit with snakes, stop pretending they are worms! Spit back with venom. Make it sweet venom but venom nonetheless!!! No one is on that high road but us. Whose passing you? Who is in your rear view mirror? ONLY other Democrats! Sometimes taking a detour is not only acceptable, more importantly, it is required...

WE ARE AMERICANS who are fed up! We are NOT victims! So stop acting as such and stop telling us to behave as such or to just suck it up so that we can all just get along. Rodney King is dead and at times like these, so is that line of thinking. trump is a bully and behaves like a dictator. Why? Because we, the press, elected officials and others are responding to him as such. Last I heard we are still a democracy. We are Americans who tell the rest of the world to fight and stand up against their governments for what they believe. We intrude and dismantle other governments presumably to save nations from dictators and coup attempts, yet we are willing to sit back and allow our government to be dismantled by the whims of a bonafide mad man aided by a desperate and conniving American political party and a foreign government. Really??? Come On Speaker Pelosi. You just fought to maintain your seat, now DO SOMETHING with it!!!

I called several Democratic offices over the past few days. I encourage anyone reading this to do the same. Lift OUR Voice, the voice of WE THE PEOPLE. Can't say it loud or often enough! We are looking to our elected officials to DO SOMETHING!!! Even if you guys lose, at least lose trying!!!! Again, I am more disgusted with the Democrats right now than I am with the Russians. I don't expect them to look out for my well being. I DO however, expect at least that much from my American government, from my political party!!!

JUST DO SOMETHING!!!!

The Popcorn is Burning...

Pass the popcorn as the mainstream media kowtows to their fear of trump, the POTUS they created, and does its damnedest to "normalize" crazy and convince us not to be concerned as they downplay the disaster and lack of even basic knowledge or regard for international relations or understanding of diplomacy their candidate, mr. trump, has... Where is Aleppo? Ha! That political footnote will become child's play when compared to the monumental and/or international blunders trump will make. God Help Us!!!


Ummm, can you imagine the outcry and infinite "breaking news" cycle IF President Elect Obama had broken a 40 year standing agreement regarding US relations with a foreign country that we have intentionally not recognized in the interest of promoting his business or some personal interest??? What if PRESIDENT Obama, you know, that Black and "inexperienced" guy that "mesmerized" our nation had violated diplomatic protocol and called Tyrone, I mean Taiwan? The press and the repugs would be eating him for lunch and dare I say that the courts would not be discouraging but instead promoting recount efforts. The Electoral College would not think twice about reversing their votes. But trump, the orange wizard, is a rich and privileged white guy capitalist. No matter how unskilled, unscrupulous or dangerous, he is held to another standard. America will ignore ALL of the blaring red flags and allow that he be a royal screw up no matter the consequences, no matter how far reaching the effects...

Do you think the Dems are huddled somewhere in a dingy, dimly lit room fervently plotting the demise of the orange wizard even before he assumes office? Or are they leaving that dirty but familiar deed to the expertise of the repugs who want trump to be their president even less than they wanted PRESIDENT Obama to be their president? I would say God Help trump but it would be a disingenuous prayer...

Popcorn tasting pretty burnt...

In Unconventional Times...

Congresswoman Barbara Lee stepped out from her colleagues and opposed the war in Iraq. In her lone dissent, she commented, "We are not dealing with a conventional war. We cannot respond in a conventional manner". Does that not apply to our current situation?

For those naysayers who feel that demanding a recount or challenging the electors to reverse themselves or holding protest marches or any other measures being taken to address the aftermath of November 8th is a waste of time, thereby suggesting that we should just throw in the towel, roll over and accept donald trump as president, I say to you we are not dealing with a conventional or reasonable man, we are not fighting a conventional war, we should not restrict ourselves to conventional measures in unconventional times to remove and defeat him or alternatively decide how to deal with him should he regrettably come to occupy the white house. What do we have to lose??? Why not support these efforts? Did not our ancestors employ non-conventional measures to secure civil rights in America?

So little about this campaign/"election" season has been conventional. Most of what we have been subjected to, mostly by trump, has been unprecedented, hopefully never to be repeated. I say we meet him where he is and stay his course. Continue to expect the unprecedented to get us through. Expect that the Electoral College could break from tradition and reverse the election as is their mandate. Expect that perhaps our voting process was compromised by domestic or foreign interference and that quite possibly a recount can uncover a decisive number of ill gotten votes to change the electoral outcome of the "election". Expect that there might be sufficient reason, not in his favor, for donald trump to oppose a recount. Expect that no matter the results, going forward we still have a voice and that we must be prepared to raise it loudly and often. Expect that we are way overdue in making our government work FOR and WITH us, not lobbyists and corporations...

Think and behave unconventionally because playing by the rules has not served us well. Think and behave outside the box because this IS war, because it IS about our survival and the soul of our nation...

Have a fantastic Saturday & kudos to Congresswoman Barbara Lee and others who are driven by their conscience and that which they believe to be right rather than by their peers, public pressure or that which is safe, popular and conventional... When in an unconventional situation, respond in kind...

Do SOMETHING Folks!!!

Pass The Popcorn...

I am loving it! Morning Joe is beside himself because Kellyanne from the hood, you know the one who was beyond loyal to trump and whose undeniable skill set is responsible for getting him to his present state, apparently "went rogue" on the Sunday morning news circuit yesterday and went completely off script. She all but dared trump to betray his supporters by making Romney Secretary of State.


She and others are demanding that in exchange for any such appointment, one of the most important appointments to be made and one wherein she feels Romney can undermine trump, that Romney apologize for all the horrible (but undeniably true) things he said about trump during the campaign. LOL!!! Who didn't say horrible things about the orange one? Everyone was holding their breath hoping this walking nightmare would go away. While others folded and saw trump as their (the repugs) only path to the white house, Romney has no intention of apologizing. I think he only considers the position because it seems rather clear that no one expects the orange one to be around for long. He probably thinks if he can hold his nose long enough, the stench of trump will go away and he will report to pence, as though he is any better...


Meanwhile, Kellyanne from the hood, who apparently has been cut off since she is no longer of value to trump (surprise! surprise!), made her point clear. According to joe, she is not included in any decision making meetings nor has she been given whatever is her coveted position. Seems the little misses has been reduced to the p**sy trump thinks she and all other women are... LOL!!! Love it! Serves her right! she could not have possibly believed this guy was anything more than the scum she defended him to be. She knew what was his regard for women. He showed her. He showed the world. Now he is proving himself to be who he showed us he was... No surprise here...


Kellyanne however is a Jersey Girl. Good for her for standing in her truth and being brave enough to speak her mind. She undoubtedly was sending a message of her own on yesterday. Certainly she holds lots of secrets that are potentially damaging to the orange one who has NOT been confirmed as anything yet. Kellyanne may go down but not without a fight! Meanwhile, the Dems are finally waking up and joining in the Green Party fight for a recount, Hillary STILL holds a commanding lead in the popular vote and the electoral college is watching... Keep talkin' Kellyanne!!! This is getting good! 

Pass the popcorn...

Who Knew?

Who knew that when Harriet Tubman said she would have freed 1000 more Slaves if they knew they were Slaves that one day she would be talking about poor and working class white folks? Who knew?

Waking Up After the Nightmare...

Still I have not totally checked back in. My house has been pure silence Tuesday. No boob tube unless mindless. No loud mouth pundits spewing their opinions as fact or expertise, no election results. No "breaking" news... Can't bring myself to hear that ignoramus' voice nor subject myself to seeing his disgusting orange face. Not yet... Gonna' be a long and painful four years in more ways than one...

What keeps resonating for me however, is what are White women saying when more than 50% of them vote for trump? How do they explain away even minuscule support for such a vile, racist and sexist person? 

For those who have questioned over the years why I have always so firmly declared that I am NOT a feminist, now you know why. Can someone get me the damn t-shirt please? LOL!!! I have always been clear where Black women stood in the White feminist woman's struggle for respect and equality; firmly behind her. The vitriolic anti-Black man, therefore anti-Black woman, rhetoric and rants of susan b. anthony and other founders of the women's movement, made that sentiment perfectly clear when they raised their voices to object to even the possibility that their White brethren would dare give Black men the opportunity to vote before them. That is the premise upon which lies the very foundation of the women's/feminist movement. Black women, who are feminists by force of life, have always carried the banner of womanhood, even when we did not want to, have been mere pawns in and distracted by another struggle while we ignored, diluted, denied, failed to see and/or tend to our very own, very real and very persistent struggles...

I have always been clear that at the end of the day White women, who would have us believe that they too are "minorities" who share our struggles (they are minorities of and when it is convenient), who would have us believe that they too are oppressed by White men as are Black and other folks and therefore rightful beneficiaries to the rewards and gains achieved through the struggles for Black freedom and civil rights, ultimately these women are the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the very white males whose behaviors dominate and control them and whose behaviors they condemn. Ultimately, they do not share our struggle... They are NOT minorities, numerically or otherwise. I am NOT a feminist.

Reason, anger, hurt, being disrespect or disappointed gives way to race for many of these women when such relationships give them access to and power, protection and privilege, access to all that being White entails; to not only include power, protection, privilege but unlimited opportunity and a solid footing and a firm standing. 

I will spare you the acknowledgment that I enjoy very real and very healthy friendships with many White women and that my criticisms and judgment herein in no way extends to ALL White women, but to not question when more than 50% of them, some of whom I am sure I call "friend", vote for the offensive and deeply disturbing racist, xenophobic, sexist and vile message of trump, would be inexcusable...

While astounded by the numbers, never have I believed that most White women's civic alignment with Black or other women of color trumped any of the benefits of whiteness. Any doubt that being white trumps all, literally trumps all, for most white people, whether women or poor, should have been forever removed on Tuesday when white women joined voice with white men, poor, ignorant or otherwise and voted for the worst kind of white man who does not respect, care about or value white women nor anyone else. 

I was fooled however by the obviously feigned outrage and level of offense taken when their candidate, their White brother, who is accused of raping even a 13 year old, was exposed for making such lewd remarks which pretty much reduced them and all other women to nothing more than a pu**y. I thought for sure that insulting women, white women, was the final nail in the orange one's coffin. Finally we had gotten a resounding answer to whose life mattered; White women of course! He had insulted every other possible group yet kept climbing or maintaining his standing in the polls. I foolishly thought that insulting White women was the kryptonite that would destroy him. Not withstanding the comey effect which was his last life line, not even degrading White women would be his destruction...  

No one will ever convince me that we have not been jacked and that the election was handed to one rich white guy by the maneuverings, back room dealings and manipulations of other rich white guys. Even me however, a non-feminist, is disturbed by the level of complicity of white women. This vote suggests to me that White women do not respect or value themselves. No one of sane mind and self value plays Russian roulette (literally) with the safety and sanctity of not only their own existence and pleasures of thought and freedoms but that of the rest of the world as we know it. No one of sane and sound mind, dignity and self respect gives power to a racist, sexist and vile bully who has shown us his true colors, his true intent, his lack of respect and ill intentions affecting women and every one else imaginable. Self respecting people just don't do that...

So who are we, us Americans? What kind of America do we really live in? Who can we trust? What must/will Black folks and other people of minority persuasions do to protect ourselves, for ourselves, by ourselves? These are the post election questions I ponder... What is our response and how do we challenge those persons of financial, monetary and legal means (the Bloombergs, the Cubans, the Oprahs, the disgusted republicans) who so vociferously and publicly spoke out against this moron to now join forces, voices and resources to diffuse the orange one's power and long range, long term and irreversible detrimental effects? These people too can wheel and deal and engage in back room manipulations. I'm Just Sayin... Make it happen!

Young people, who I certainly hope voted, I am told are protesting in the thousands across the nation, continue to think outside the box and keep pushing the envelope. One thing that is for sure is that Tuesday proved to us in so many ways, that conventional practices are no longer the sole response... We are essentially working from a cleared slate. Time to draw a new design. Yes this is going to be a long four years but it does not mean that we must or should resolve ourselves to being victims. Nope, not going to down like that. Of that I am sure!!!

Black folks should now have the awakening that all who deny us jobs, deny us housing, refuse us promotions, entrance to college, reject our requests for bank loans and more, do not all wear red. Some of them, far more than we are willing to accept, wear Blue and are our neighbors, our "friends" and our teachers, our co-workers and so on. Wake up Black People!!! We are in this on our own, Always have been, Always will be. Time to spit out the Kool Aid and start taking care of, supporting and saving our own...

I am interested however in hearing from both my Black Sistah Girl Feminist friends and my "I am woman, hear me roar" White feminist woman friends as well. Do Black feminists feel betrayed? Are White feminists re-evaluating and re-assessing who they are, who is their audience, what is their stated purpose? Are you all talking? How many of you who marched to the polls together smiling, bra less, feeling proud displaying raised fists and unified voices parted in more ways than one once you entered that poll booth? Silly me, but I am just wonderin'...

I have had the pleasure of meeting Dorothy Pitman-Hughes, the Black woman featured in the infamous photo used by the feminist movement. I would like to speak with her. Perhaps I will...

This nightmarish election is the awakening we ALL so desperately needed. Are you awake yet? Just Askin'...

So The REAL Nightmare Has Only Just Begun...

Ok so somewhere around 8 or 9pm on election night I left my Friend's house and didn't turn on the boob tube when I got home... An hour or so later I turned off the ringer on my cell phone. Although I was trying to push even the possibility out of my mind, it was lurking. It was making me sick...


I checked in and out of Facebook every now and then or read the occasional text message. At some point I checked completely out and did not read any messages and certainly did not watch any of the pundits who were in heaven playing folly with our nation's future. Ratings for them. That is all they truly care about... Our media and their reckless and relentless greed for sensationalism and ratings is responsible for the creation of trump...


At 4:15 am I walk into the kitchen and see the message light flashing on my phone. Of course I want it to be flashing to tell me good news. I build up my strength and begin to read the messages. I can see before I even begin to read that it AIN'T good news...


The writing seemed on the wall early in the evening but in my heart I just c/would not accept just how deep not only racism but stupidity and hatred runs in America... I checked out early last night wanting to believe that sanity would prevail and that I would wake up and find that Hillary eeked out a victory not only for herself but for God's sake for the sake of the rest of us, our sovereignty. I felt it inevitable that as a nation, we would look in our rear view mirror at our near missed and potentially deadly collision and truly reassess what just almost happened in our country because the story and angst behind the scenes was/is bigger than trump...


Thank you hoover, I mean comey. You are spineless and for whatever reason you handed this election and the country over to the devil himself...


While I would love to just check out and do nothing for the next few days, my standing in life does not afford me that luxury. I have to deal whether I like it or not. My first Facebook response was to a redneck classmate that I have not seen or heard from in more than 30 years. He was gloating. I told him given all I have heard about him since we graduated high school in 1978, I was not surprised by his elation for the rebirth of the klan. I dismissed him by telling him that as we have not seen one another or spoken in more than 30 years, that we should keep it like that...


I feel that way right now about a lot of people. Don't kid yourself folks. It was not just Mountain Dew drinking, trailer park living, uneducated, yahoos wearing plaid shirts and bib overalls and singing dixie and who have not read a book in decades (like trump himself) who handed our country this devastating blow. They have LOTS of cuzzins' and they live all around us and believe it or not, SOME of them even wear blue...


This nightmare takes me back to two elections beyond the obvious devastation of Gore/Bush 2000. First I am reminded of Bush/Kerry 2004. I was still in law school. I had worked the polls all day before a 6pm Constitution law class. I went into class hearing the exit poll results that pretty much gave the election to Kerry. I was elated! The Bush nightmare would be over SOON!!! To my horror somewhere around 9pm word started spreading through class that Bush had won (notice that I have capped his name. Pre trump, I thought he was the worst. Post trump, he was a damn blessing). I was devastated. I coasted home via auto pilot after class and did not eat, come out of the house, turn on the boob tube and likely spoke to very few people for at least the next 24 hours...


Election two that this debacle brings back to mind is Doug Wilder for VA Governor 1989. I campaigned hard for him, for history, and worked for his election right up to the end... I remember that we knew early in the evening on election night who had won on the ticket from Lt. Governor down. We did not know until the next morning that Mr. Wilder, a Black man running for Governor in a VERY RED state, had won the seat. What that said to me then and what it says to me now, is that folks will tell you whatever they want outside the polls but once they get in that booth it is between them and a stroke of a pen... Those good Blue hearted Democrats with whom Black voters so closely and blindly align ourselves, went into the voting booth and while they did not cross party lines, as has obviously happened here again, and vote for the republican candidate, they did not vote for that Black guy either!!! So just like last night, MANY said one thing and did quite another, to include White women and dare I say even some Black, Brown and immigrant folks I am sure the results will bear this out...


And while my apartment is still quiet, no noise from the TV and I have not ventured past my phone text, email and Facebook messages, I imagine a lot of yahoos are dancing all over the streets in trailer parks and such around the nation. I imagine they are the same people who threw shit at their TV and cursed the day President Obama, and all who shed tears of elation in celebration of his victory on this very day 8 years ago, was born. As many thought him our savior, these folks feel like they have hit the lottery, look forward to having their slaves back and will kiss the feet of the orange lunatic as he turns from orange to their great white hope who has risen to save them and give them their nation back...


Silver lining? There will be no chaos, cross or church burnings, suspicious lynchings and/or other random acts of hate crimes committed against innocent and random people. Proudly, Democrats are not wired that way... We take the high road even when sometimes we should opt for that low road. The republicans count on it... That is just who we are and in this instance, it is my preference...


Silver lining two? I am proud to say that I live in a Blue state and all that it implies; thinking, learned, educated, less racist (because racism has always been nigh), etc., etc people... While there are definitely trumpettes amongst us here on the Blue Coast, they are squarely in the minority. While I will be looking at mostly everyone side eyed, it gives me some comfort to know that at least for now, they will keep their sheets on...


So I have had this news for just over one hour now. I am still processing. Unfortunately, as with Kerry/Bush, I cannot check out. Life mandates that I engage in just a few hours, so I will...


These are my initial thoughts. I will keep writing as the REAL nightmare has only just begun...

Election Day 2016; The Nightmare Ends...

Well it's here. Election Day 2016. Seems an eternity since the nightmare of trump began. As much as

I do not respect most republicans and their ideology in general and Lord knows the thought of a ted cruz candidacy scared the absolute hell out of me, trump trumped it all in his over the top display of just how disgusting, frightful, distasteful, hateful and indifferent republicans can really be... 

trump took their level of hate, racism, machismo, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, etc. to a whole new low. The sight of his face on TV, even with the volume down, nauseates me... The thought of him as POTUS scares me shitless!


I look forward to tomorrow and hope he will keep his promise to just go away and disappear forever in the face of defeat... Of course I don't suspect that will happen. Nor do I foresee that he will ever concede, not ever... He will instead incite even more anger in his deplorable and uncontrollable followers by convincing them that Hillary Clinton and those dirty Democrats stole or rigged the election. He will give them an excuse not to face that their time has passed. That they are no longer relevant... trump likes being in the forefront, sucking up all the attention the media has indiscriminately given him for damn near two years now. So sadly, the orange loud mouth wind blown bully ain't going no where... We are stuck with him...


What we can do however, is lower the decibel, the perception of might behind his rhetoric. We can hand him not just a defeat but a HUGE defeat!!!! As we say in the Black community, mop the floor with him! Leave no room for doubt that his ass has been thoroughly kicked and that the rebirth of the nation he seeks, ain't gonna' happen. Not here. Not in USA 2016!


I shared with a Friend just yesterday that I don't ever understand why in sports competitions the winner can't just be satisfied with beating the other team. Why do they have to crush and humiliate their opponent? I now understand. I want us to crush trump at the polls. Shut him, and as many republicans as is possible, down!


Election Day 2016 is upon us but the hard work is before us. We must now stop, breathe and assess what just happened in America and why it happened... The elephant in the room is now standing on the coffee table, trumpeting as loud as he can, demanding to be heard. We cannot continue to ignore him.


There is no denying that America is broken. Our work, WE THE PEOPLE, has now begun. We must challenge not only Hillary but more importantly our local legislators, to hear our trumpet and to do something about our overall displeasure with the state of our government. We must remind them with the power of our voice, through organization, through assembly, through our vote, that they work for us!!! Failure to do so, renders us vulnerable and ensures the inevitability for a national crisis like we have not seen before...


First however, GOOD MORNING & go vote!!!! Make Hillary our President! Vote like your life, your freedom, your dignity, your integrity, in support of your intelligence, vote as though our national persona and reputation depends on it. ALL of that and more, because it is so!


Happy Election Day! The nightmare of trump is almost over. Thank You God!!!


WE GOT THIS! GET TO THE POLLS TO ENSURE WE GOT THIS!!! 

VOTE PEOPLE VOTE!!!

Sugar Comes to Harlem!!!

Good News QUEEN SUGAR Fans in the NYC area.

On Wednesday night, November 9, 2016 Aunt Vi will be in Harlem!

Come to The Cove Lounge for a Queen Sugar Watch Party 

WITH AUNT VI!

Yes that's right! Aunt Vi in the flesh!!! My Friend Tina Lifford will join us to watch this week's episode! How Cool Is That? NO! She won't be revealing any secrets for all of you speculators and co-writers! LOL!!!!

When Black Women Gather and Cove Lounge Welcome you!!!! 

Discount Drinks!!! 

Support a Black owned business and also Enjoy Dinner and/or Appetizers while you are there.

Not in the area? Pass it on to your NY peeps!!!

The Cove
325 Lenox Ave
Harlem, NYC
November 9, 2016
9:00 - 11:30pm
MTA 2 or 3 Train, 125th Street Stop

SIX Days Until Election. Get Out The Vote!!!!

SIX Days Until the Election!


Understandably some folks are a little nervous. ALL of us want this never ending horror story to end. ALL of us need to do whatever we can to do our part to ensure the victory we want. If you are reading my posts, I am assuming that you are sane, literate, intelligent, self respecting and that Hillary is your candidate. IJS...


A Friend inboxed her concerns to me. My response to her was to keep the faith, roll up her sleeves and spend these last few days pushing to get the vote out. We got this! But we have to get out the vote. The repugs know this. Where they cannot depend on us staying home, they are doing their part to disenfranchise the voter, to kill our spirit, to impede our vote. This should piss you off! It should piss you off so much that you are running to the polls!!!!


Get involved folks! Reach out to your fraternal, civic or other social organizations, churches, local NAACP, local Democratic headquarters, Color of Change PAC, etc. Ask what you can do to support their efforts during these last few days. Knock on doors, make calls, send text messages, drive folks to the polls, call your elders and make sure they have a ride, start a family/friend network calling on those in your circle encouraging/reminding them to vote, where IDs are necessary to vote, educate yourself to make sure your friends, family, neighbors, church members, etc have the proper ID now BEFORE showing up at the polls... And of course your local voter registration office can likely use poll workers on election day.


ATTORNEYS: I heard yesterday on Roland Martin's show that the NBA (National Bar Assn) and the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights is needing attorneys to do voter protection work between now and election day. I am sure they are not alone. Contact your local bar associations and campaign headquarters to see how else you might support such efforts.


Trust me folks, there is still work to be done and you WILL feel good knowing that you did your part! It is never too late. Get Involved.


Try this link to help Color of Change PAC get out the Black vote for Hillary! Lift your voices! We did it before. We CAN do it AGAIN! OH YES WE CAN!!!


See ya' at the polls. Vote early where you can and do volunteer work on election day!!!


Onward to Victory!!!


http://act.colorofchange.org/survey/Textathon_Virtual/

Eight Days to Election...

EIGHT Days Until this nightmare of an election is OVER!!! If ever God Bless America has been true and relevant, it is now...

Get out and vote Dems! The repugs are nasty, not to be trusted bullies, comey has proven this. Remember in the 2012 election how we pushed back when they tried to stop us from voting early and got angry when they pushed up against POTUS. It was like the more they tried to disenfranchise us and muck with our President, the more determined we were to vote.

I worked in FL where the governor cut down early voting sites. I witnessed and was brought to tears of pride and joy as Black folks and others stood in long, long lines despite the hot, hot sun and made sure they voted. Let's do it again!

The one thing we can count on from the repugs is that they don't learn from their mistakes. Let's show them again that we can be consistent and that unlike them, we retain our lessons. Do It AGAIN Folks!!! Vote People Vote!!!!

I will be spending as much time as possible during these next 8 days supporting the Color of Change initiative to text as many citizens as possible to get out the vote. Please do your part to not let this last minute and highly unethical political tactic work. Make comey pay. Make trump pay. Make sure Hillary and the American public wins!!!

Comey is A Republican "Homey" After All...

It is Sunday morning after a long week and a long and trying Saturday. I lay in bed this morning mostly listening to the rhetoric of the Sunday pundits. I am waiting to hear someone adequately explain what is right about what FBI Director comey has done...


He is a man in a high place with a lot of power and there is NO question that he abused that power. It is no secret that he is a republican in whom President Obama placed great trust in his effort to genuinely promote bipartisanship, nurture peace and lead by example politicians actually working together across the aisle in Washington. It was quite the risk, particularly in a position as influential as FBI Director. j. edgar hoover comes to mind...


Earlier this year comey did the right thing and rose above party politics and declared there was no smoke where many had hoped find or start a fire. Fire that would derail Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate. Didn't happen. Fair minded people who are truly tired of the inertia in Washington were happy. Vindictive people committed to division were angry. They obviously had vested a lot in the plan of Hillary's destruction. You know, the same people who fed us the tale of weapons of mass destruction so to achieve another political, self serving vendetta, I mean, initiative. So good for comey! He was the bigger man.


Fast forward, he probably caught a lot of hell in his republican circles. No doubt he was labeled a traitor (1) for not finding Hillary Clinton guilty of any wrongdoing and (2) for giving any semblance of credence to President Obama's effort to successfully reach across the aisle. Recall that on day one of his presidency comey's team vowed to do whatever was necessary, even compromise the safety and/or legitimacy of the country, to make his presidency fail. They probably has party to celebrate comey's appointment to FBI Director but then comey let them down. He violated team rules and played the game as intended by President Obama, with integrity void of party of politics...


So this morning I listen to hear something that legitimizes what this man has done. SOMETHING of relevance that prompted him to make this call. Surely he saw a trigger email that raised SIGNIFICANT suspicion that warranted such a drastic call ESPECIALLY at this crucial hour, less than two weeks before the presidential election which his party is clearly losing thanks to the clown they nominated to represent them. Surely comey has obtained a warrant and has already seen these emails he wants the public to believe are highly suspect. SOMETHING has suggested to him that SOMEHOW Hillary, the Democratic presidential candidate who his party is expending infinite energy and resources to convince the rest of us that she is more untruthful, corrupt and untrustworthy than is any other politician and certainly than is the republican spectacle of candidate, is involved in and suspected of some misdeed warranting his very public consideration. Certainly a man of comey's presumed intellect, skill and authority is not surprised that there exists email communications between a key Clinton aide and her spouse. Surely, this guy did not decide to interfere with, influence an election or cause such uproar based on nebulous and unfounded conjecture. Surely not...


Well, it seems he did. From all that I have heard not only this morning but also previously, that is exactly what this man of supposed intellect, prominence and presumed integrity has done. He has not seen ONE email. He has obtained NO warrant. He has cited no plausible reason to negate the impression that his motive was to do anything more than to disrupt the course of the election that seemed pretty likely would result in not only a Presidential victory but a senate and ultimately a supreme court victory as well. Either remorse, guilt or feelings of abandonment overcame him or the pressure from his party became too great. He threw his reputation and integrity to the wind and resorted to party politics and overnight became the hero of his party.


One had to know that there would be a ninth hour bombshell that would eventually be proven unfounded but cleverly not in enough time for the Democratic candidate to recoup prior to the election. That's what they hope. But we, the thinking public, are far too smart for that. We will not be so misguided, bamboozled or fall for this obvious act of distraction. Not again!!! IF in fact, comey had something to support his conjecture, he would have revealed such in his letter to the Congress. He would have clearly cited any such evidence knowing full well the affect it would have on an already tenuous and very crucial election.


He has no such evidence to support the very vague double speak he subjected us to that said nothing to sane and thinking Americans but spoke very loudly and said everything that far too many in his party and those less discerning, blood thirsty other Americans wanted/needed to hear. As a result, President Obama should throw taking the high road to the wind and immediately relieve this guy of his duties. Give him 48 hours to produce evidence or send him packing. We are a resourceful country. Provided a judge grants comey a warrant, even if there are thousands of emails as he has suggested, combing them for the smoking gun he wants us to believe is there should not be a lengthy process. President Obama IS HIS BOSS! Make him produce, retract or get out!


This is a war for the soul of our nation. Among other things, trump is a national security risk and under no circumstances should he ever be allowed to step foot, even as a guest, in the white house. It is my hope that Democratic voters don't cave under pressure and decide to stay away from the polls. The republicans are counting on that. More importantly however, if in fact this or some other last minute or suspicious tactic solely intended to derail or hang up the election on chads just happens to be successful and the orange one is declared the presumptive "winner", it is my sincere hope that unlike in 2000, the Democrats DO take the high road, roll up their sleeves and fight back, for truth, prosperity, integrity, global relations, fight back to save the sake of the soul of the nation!


We Got This Dems. Don't be discouraged, distracted or derailed. Not now! Be not a victim. Be offended, be motivated, be a Democratic Homey and get to the polls! 

Onward to Victory!!!

Twelve Days Before Election 2016!!!

There are TWELVE days before the US presidential election. Enjoy this parody set to the tune of our childhood Christmas carol, The 12 Days Of Christmas. Sing in tune and pass it on...  Get to the polls on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 and VOTE!!!



Twelve (12) Days before election and Donald gave to me...

TWELVE Nasty Women




ELEVEN Muslims voting



TEN Stolen Speeches

NINE Climbing Hombres  

EIGHT Tax Evaders  

SEVEN Sniffling Noses  

SIX Red States a Flippin'  

FIVE BANK-RUPT-CIES  

FOUR Captured Heroes  

THREE Lost Debates  

TWO Small Grabby Hands

And a VICTORY FOR 

HILL-A-RY!!!!

I'M A NASTY GIRL, 

I VOTE &

I'M WITH HER!!!!  

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016

VOTE FOR RESPECT FOR ALL!

VOTE FOR HILLARY!!! 

Birth Of An Awakening...

Have you seen the movie Birth of a Nation? If no, it is not too late. Get to the theater....

As soon as I heard the name of this movie and understood that it was about Nat Turner, I knew it was a movie I wanted to see. I heard loud and clear the genius of the message producer, director, writer and lead actor of the movie, Nate Parker, was sending for me to hear. I fully expected and was not disappointed that that he would capture the essence of who Nat Turner was and the story of Black rebellion that has been stifled or resisted throughout history in every genre. There was no way he could be so bodacious and then not wholly step into the expectation he had created. He did not disappoint...

The original Birth of a Nation was a racist post reconstruction film released in 1915. White actors in black face depicted the previously enslaved, now free Black majority in the south as a threat and a menace to the very existence of the white minority in the south who had previously ruled and enslaved Black Americans who were now empowered to vote and hold political office, to work and prosper for themselves,  support their own communities and live and thrive independently of white folks. You know, the kind of fear trump is doing his best to instill in white America now, 100 years later in 2016....   

Certainly the original movie made crystal clear that the virtue of White women was at risk. Ravenous Black men would become consumed with them and their undeniable beauty and would surely start raping them with impunity if Blacks were in control. The movie depicted the worst of scenarios given even the possibility of a Black ruling class. It added to the fear and fury and became the holy bible and most effective recruiting tool for racist Whites and the kkk whose membership flourished. The movie, charging between 75 cents and $2 was a blockbuster, raking in more than more than $10 million in 1915! President Woodrow Wilson hosted a private viewing of the film at the white house and declared it amongst the best ever made. I wonder if President Obama will host a private viewing of the 2016 Birth of a Nation and make a similar declaration. Hmm, Just Wonderin'. I digress...   

Originally I saw the movie in Harlem on the night before it's official debut. Seated behind me I could hear a Black man crying. Black men don't cry, certainly not in public theaters. I share that to illustrate just how impeccably Nate Parker conveyed the story of Nat Turner and the power of telling a story of pride, resistance and rebellion of Blacks enslaved in America. Mr. Parker left no stone unturned in what is undoubtedly intended to be the signature piece in his life's work. That this film embodied his passion as a writer, director, actor but most importantly as a Black man is inescapable as is the fact that his work speaks in very loud volume to any progressive, forward thinking and proud Black American who longs to have the truth of our history to be told.  I left the theater with jumbled emotions; feeling empty, overwhelmed and uncharacteristically speechless but undoubtedly overjoyed and proud that the movie was made and resolved to do my part to make sure that others got to the theater to see it.

In less than 48 hours following my original viewing, I would co-host an organized private viewing and community discussion of the film with a group of 150 movie goers. The comments offered following the movie were made from the heart. Attendees, old and young, offered their immediate and gut reactions to seeing the movie; from an elder who offered memories of the indignity of being poor in South Carolina picking cotton alongside her parents until the age of 16 when she offered her own rebellion and just refused to do it any more to a young man of 12 or so who offered his joy that the resistance of slavery by Blacks as well as the reality of the cruelty of slavery was being shown for its truth and not romanticized or watered down as being nonexistent regarding the former or less harsh in the latter as often is the case.

Compelling and inspiring commentary was offered by all. Interestingly enough, many brought it back home to what is happening in Black America still today. Comparisons of Black lives mattering then and now seemed inevitable. A prime example that comes to mind is how many in opposition to the movie and any celebration of Nat Turner criticized that he and his band of warriors killed women and children. To which I respond in amazement that one dares to compare loss of life of 60 whites over two days of revolt, no matter how tragic, to loss of life, liberty, dignity and so much of millions of Blacks for more than four centuries. Our babies were fed to alligators... Our women were raped... Our men were castrated and hung... Nat Turner himself, upon capture two months after leading his revolt, was skinned and dismembered. His limbs were preserved as "souvenirs". His skin was used to make purses for women... Two days and 60 bodies. More than four centuries and to many bodies to count... Really? Is there any comparison?

Of course there was pride in our story of rebellion finally being told. Nate Parker also made it abundantly clear how religion was used to manipulate compliance, obedience and to instill fear in the enslaved African and Nat Turner's masterful ability to understand and reverse the application of religious teachings.

The film depicted the will and determination of the Black man to protect and defend his woman and the strength and determination of the Black woman to support and empower her man. Someone pointed out that Nat Turner lived and was willing to die for a single purpose, to uplift and free his people; a quality and level of commitment few possess for any cause today.

Above and beyond all it was abundantly clear after watching this movie why such efforts were made to create the negative chatter specifically intended to quell the excitement, if not the release, certainly attendance at this movie, Undoubtedly it is a truth that some would want never to be told. Never should Blacks be empowered or inspired by our history. or to believe in ourselves or our capabilities. Never should Blacks enslaved in America be depicted as aware or unhappy about our predicament then or now regarding enslavement in America. Never should Blacks who dare(d) to rebel in America be celebrated. Never, never, never...  Thus stories of distraction were created to deter from the relevance, importance and ultimately delivery of this story.

This film and it's message of resistance, pride and rebellion far outweigh what might be any trepidation or reservation one might have about seeing the movie, supporting Nate Parker, criticism of acts committed by Nat Turner, artistic freedoms depicting history or any other excuse not to see the movie. The movie is powerful, all inspiring on so many levels, is certainly award worthy. It tells a must see story that any proud people would want to be told, that any proud people would want to see...

Prior to seeing the movie I might have accepted one's decision not to support to film for any one of a myriad of reasons being offered. Now that I have seen Birth of a Nation, I view any such reasoning, particularly by Black Americans, as beyond frivolous, obstructionist, destructive, ill thought and certainly not in accord with any claims of progressive thinking. No matter your misgiving, it does not outweigh or rise above the importance or relevance of the message of this movie.  Don't be part of the problem contributing to suppression of an awakening in American, impeding the telling or celebration of Black heroes and Black history in America, deterring our taking control of the narrative of our story about us and how it is told in America. Don't be bamboozled or distracted by those who have ulterior motives that don't serve you/us well. Step up and be part of the solution. GO SEE THE MOVIE!  You can thank me later...  

Reflections on Debate; Round One!

Hillary remained cool, calm and collected and allowed trump to show/be the ass he is...

Her coolness forced him to damn near choke on his tongue. He wanted so bad to have her engage in his ignorance with him but she refused. She allowed him to ramble, at one point she asked us to listen to what we had just heard. He is such an ass, she didn't even have to go after him. He tripped over his own words...

She invoked Michelle Obama's speech which subtly reminded us of his wife stealing the First Lady's speech when she quoted that when they go low, the Dems stay high. Most times I criticize them for it but tonight it worked!

His water became his pacifier. Every time he wanted to go off, he sipped on that water. He had to restrain himself . rubio should send him a case of water as he did rubio after his gaffe with water...

Why would he bring up temperament? BAD Move!!! The audience even laughed...

She got him to concede that he hasn't paid taxes! Not to mention her 3 points on why he won't produce his taxes; he's a fraud who exaggerates his wealth, who has not paid taxes, who does not give to charities, who is indebted to banks and foreign entities and who is quite possibly a security risk...

She showed him to be a racist; 1973 Housing discrimination, stop and frisk

She showed him to be a sexist reminding him/us that he has called women pigs, slobs and dogs. He was foolish enough to bring up Rosie O'Donnell. Hillary reminded him of Alicia Machado, the beauty queen who has since become a citizen and who she reminded votes! Translation; she's a woman who votes who you insulted, women vote. She's a Latina, Latinos vote! And not for trump!

trump really put his foot in it when he taunted that she stayed home while he campaigned. She concurred that she did in fact stay home preparing for the debate, unlike him... She cold cocked him when she added that similarly she has been preparing to be President inferring that he is not! POW!!!

She did a rope a dope on him that was so good, Ali was cheering her on from Heaven!!! Easy to rope a dope when the subject really is a DOPE!

She did a good job! The yahoos are gonna vote for him no matter what. Those on the fence could not have been impressed with him. Hope they came to the side of the blue woman in the red suit!

She showed up decked out in republican red, throwing their colors in their face! She let them know that she was there to kick some republican ass!!! Mission accomplished! trump said she did not look the part, I beg to differ. She looked well rested and very prepared. She exuded absolute confidence and measured pride making her power statement in her red suit!

trump could never have been prepared for this or any other debate. One cannot learn in a few weeks, not even in a few years, that which he refused to learn or pay attention to over decades. That is what is so important to remember at the polls. While politics may be calling for a non traditional and novice candidate, being well read, literate, abreast of at least basic domestic and international issues coupled with a solid understanding of foreign affairs, is NON-negotiable. Campaigning to the unthinking who are not concerned about his incompetence is probably a better use of his time. He cannot play catch up in just a few weeks... 

GOOD JOB on Round One HILLARY! Now let's do our part, VOTE, as Hillary said, like our future depends on it because it does!!!

Peaceful Protest...

For all who would silence or condemn 49er Colin Kaepernick for sitting out the national anthem at a recent football game, remember our Brothas at the 1968 Olympics, John Carlos and Tommie Smith. They told them that the time and place they chose to exercise their first amendment right to peaceful protest was 'inappropriate" too. FORTY EIGHT years ago they protested to bring attention to the same issue, the state of Blacks in America. So tell me, when is the "appropriate" time and what is the "appropriate" manner to raise or bring attention to this very relevant matter? 

I await your response...

The Question of Timing & Birth of a Nation

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