Category: Steve Bannon

Tap Dancing

3/6/2017

From our political correspondent Dorothy "Lottie" Dawe:

Evidently Donald Trump was off his meds again this past weekend when he tweeted ludicrous claims about wire tapping at Trump tower. Where does he get this stuff?

Oh, that's right -- he gets it from Breitbart,a site known for publishing falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and intentionally misleading stories.

He certainly doesn't get his falsehoods, hoaxes, and crazy accusations from the legitimate press. No, he's trying to discredit the legitimate press and make them the enemy of the American people (I wrote about that HERE). Instead, he forms his fantastically alarming opinions based on the information he gets from discredited "news" sites and the warped outlooks of white supremacists on his staff who are bent on destroying our democracy. Plus, in the past, Trump actually said that when it comes to gathering information, he just wants bullet points -- "I like as little as possible" (I'm not making that up).

It's scary to think this man is the head of our government, the Leader of the Free World. His departure from reality reminded me of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "The Only News I know" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen a poem with the same opening line (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

The Only News I know
Is Big League Tweets all Day
From Alt-Right Trolls and me.

The Only Shows I see –
Tomorrow and Today –
Are ones that cave to Me –

The only Truth to know
Is Mine – the Only Law –
Resistance – Is perverse

The Only News there be –
Or Acceptable Show –
I’ll tell it You –

By Emily Dickinson:

The Only News I know
Is Bulletins all Day
From Immortality.

The Only Shows I see –
Tomorrow and Today –
Perchance Eternity –

The Only One I meet
Is God – The Only Street –
Existence – This traversed

If Other News there be –
Or Admirable Show –
I'll tell it You –

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Time to Loosen the Tin Foil Hats

2/3/2017

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From our political correspondent, Dorothy “Lottie” Dawe:

Last week, we wrote about Week One of the new Trump regime -- HERE. It was quite a clusterTrump.

Now Week 2 has passed. ClusterTrump x 2 squared.

We have to admit that we just can't keep up with trying to cover and comment on all the mischief, damage, disruptions, trickeries, and madness of this administration. We are exhausted in trying to keep the pace. Here's just a little of what transpired: a Muslim ban, an assault on human rights, a coup at the NSC with the appointment of a white supremacist, total disregard of Jews in a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Executive Orders that were unconstitutional, flat out lies, reliance on a voter-fraud "expert" who was registered to vote in three states, threats of war (even against Mexico), an incredible (and laughable) lack of knowledge about African-American history, telephone hang-ups, and fatigue -- proving that Trump just doesn't have the stamina to be President. Sad.

Our UN ambassador said that she was "taking names." In attempting to assure that Trump knows that Frederick Douglass is dead, the president's Press Secretary actually said the following:

Tapes have resurfaced with Steve Bannon's neo-Nazi views of the world, the chief strategist in the White House and the man Trump wants on the National Security Council. Scary stuff.

Kellyanne Conway ended week two with a bold-faced lie...er, alternative fact...about the fictional Bowling Green Massacre, a bloodbath THAT NEVER HAPPENED!!!

Oh -- even the language of the GOP is evolving: they are now going to "repair" the Affordable Care Act instead of repeal it. More than likely, what was once called "Obamacare" will soon be referred to as "TrumpDon'tCare."

By the way, while all of this was going on, Ivanka trump tweeted a picture of herself in her favorite tin foil hat (pictured at the right).

We just can't make this stuff up.

Ivanka's tin foil hat reminded us of two other fashion fads associated with the madness that is the Trump administration. First, "orange is the new blech." Second, the Trump classification system of gold stars (pictured below). We have posted this picture before, but we thought we would post it again since all of this talk of Trump fashion reminded us of Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "The morons are bolder than they were" (further below on the left) which references the wearing of gold stars. Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "The morns are meeker than they were" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

The morons are bolder than they were –
The nuts are getting strong –
Steve Bannon’s cheek is plumper –
The Voice of the alt-wrong.

That Milo wears a gayer scarf –
And Kellyanne alt-garb
So I can be identified
I’ll put my gold star on.

By Emily Dickinson:

The morns are meeker than they were –
The nuts are getting brown –
The berry's cheek is plumper –
The Rose is out of town.

The Maple wears a gayer scarf –
The field a scarlet gown –
Lest I should be old fashioned
I'll put a trinket on.

Below: Just a few things associated with Week 2: A comedy site posted Trump's Black History Month comments verbatim; Trump had to be schooled on the Geneva Convention; Trump's ban was not a ban while simultaneously being a ban; pictures of some of the bad dudes Trump is targeting, including a vicious tiny lass in handcuffs.

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Royal Pain

1/31/2017

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From our political correspondent, Dorothy “Lottie” Dawe:

The continuing chaos surrounding King Trump's Muslim ban signifies one certainty: he and President Bannon are drunk with power. They are so giddy and intoxicated with power that they quickly penned their detestable and unconstitutional royal edict that even the Department of Justice would not uphold it. Of course, when his royal lowness heard that, he hissed out a hissy fit and dismissed acting Attorney General Sally Yates for daring to exercise her objective legal judgment to uphold the US Constitution which she swore she would do when she took her oath of office.

Hmmm...I seem to remember King Donny taking a similar oath, but that was as meaningless to him as climate change. Instead, he yipped about Yates' betrayal to the crown, bayed at the full moon, and grew a face full of fur.

As a result, people are now wondering if the Donald's administration is a reign, a regime or a Reich. To be honest, it seems to be some horrific combination of all three. As a result, our imperiled democracy is sinking and sinking fast. Alas, it is high tide in the swamp (to top it all off, watch this incredible bit of irony: Jeff Sessions asked Sally Yates during her confirmation hearing if she would be willing to defy a President if he asked her to do something improper or unlawful -- HERE).

This sudden rise in the swamp waters reminded us of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "We sank -- because he rose" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired his third cousin Emily to pen her poem "I rose -- because He sank" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

We sank – because he rose –
I thought it would be opposite –
But when his power gained –
Our souls grew shocked.

We jeered this reigning King –
We stood firm – with our – Chants
We shown the Filth – of him –

And when the Days passed by
That showed his Lust for power
We met him –
Qualm for Qualm

He gave his Worst – and passed
Through his low Arch of Hate –
And cast so brave
We spurned his Prate –

And through his Words he grew
An Emperor gross –
Tried to disconnect us
Though we resist –

And so with Thought of him –
And Sinew from within –
And ways I knew not that I knew – we will –
Rise above him –

By Emily Dickinson:

I rose – because He sank –
I thought it would be opposite –
But when his power dropped –
My Soul grew straight.

I cheered my fainting Prince –
I sang firm – even – Chants –
I helped his Film – with Hymn –

And when the Dews drew off
That held his Forehead stiff –
I met him –
Balm to Balm –

I told him Best – must pass
Through this low Arch of Flesh –
No Casque so brave
It spurn the Grave –

I told him Worlds I knew
Where Emperors grew –
Who recollected us
If we were true –

And so with Thews of Hymn –
And Sinew from within –
And ways I knew not that I knew – till then –
I lifted Him –

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A Small Toad in a Big House

1/29/2017

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From our political correspondent, Dorothy “Lottie” Dawe:

Week 1 of the Trump administration was nothing short of a clusterTrump. We wrote about it HERE. Week 2 is promising to out-do week 1 in shock and dreadfulness.

In addition to the President’s Muslim ban (from countries which had NOTHING to do with past terror attacks on the US and where Trump has no business connections), he dismissed the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from the National Security Council. He then added neo-Nazi and avowed Leninist Steve Bannon (who has said his aim is to “destroy the state”).

The Boston Globe reported that “the addition of President Donald Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, to regular meetings of the country’s top national security officials was essential to the commander in chief’s decision-making process.”

We believe that that is somewhat of an alternative fact. The truth is that this decision of Trump’s is essential to Bannon’s decision-making process. Another truth is that all of this is horrifying.

Pictured at the right: Steve Bannon dictates the Muslim ban to Trump.

As Week 1 mutates into Week 2, we are reminded of Emmett Lee Dickinson’s now-classic poem, “The first Week’s End had come” (below on the left). Dickinson’s poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem “The first Day's Night had come” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

The first Week’s End had come –
And startled that a week
So terrible – had been endured –
It shook my Soul to shriek –

I think his Strings have snapt –
And Soon – to Atoms blown –
If we don’t mend him – we have work
To take him from his Throne –

And then – a Day as huge
As all last week times two
Unrolled its horror in his ban –
Until it stunned me so –

My Brain – begun to cry –
I tweeted – like a fool –
And tho’ the Courts had helped – that Day –
My Brain keeps strug’ling – still.

There’s something odd – with him –
The person that he is –
And sound Mind – do not seem the same –
Could it be Madness – this?

By Emily Dickinson:

The first Day's Night had come –
And grateful that a thing
So terrible – had been endured –
I told my Soul to sing –

She said her Strings were snapt –
Her Bow – to Atoms blown –
And so to mend her – gave me work
Until another Morn –

And then – a Day as huge
As Yesterdays in pairs,
Unrolled its horror in my face –
Until it blocked my eyes –

My Brain – begun to laugh –
I mumbled – like a fool –
And tho' 'tis Years ago – that Day –
My Brain keeps giggling – still.

And Something's odd – within –
That person that I was –
And this One – do not feel the same –
Could it be Madness – this?

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Press On!

1/27/2017

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From our political correspondent, Dorothy “Lottie” Dawe:

Yikes! Week One of the Trump administration can only be described as a “clusterTrump” – or perhaps more of a clusterTrump inside a Trumpster fire in the midst of a clusterTrump. In quick recap, there were alternative facts, discussions of torture, concern over grizzly bears at schools, a clampdown on our National Parks, concealment of climate change data, tantrums over a silly (but VERY expensive) wall (which Americans will pay for), churlish quarrels with Mexico, threats against our cities, blather – and then flip-flops – about punitive tariffs, rants about important issues like the size of the “crowd” at the inauguration, outbursts about fictional voter fraud, and more. Oh – and Melania sold jewelry on the White House website.

To top it all off, the GOP and the administration crowned Kellyanne Conway’s brazen declaration of their reliance on alternative facts with deliberate public efforts to discredit and suppress the press. First, Congressman Lamar Smith croaked, “Better to get your news directly from the president. In fact, it might be the only way to get the unvarnished truth” (we can only assume that Mr. Smith used air-quotes when he uttered the word “truth”). Then, white supremacist and chief Trump strategist Steve Bannon told The New York Times that news outlets were “the opposition party,” and he snapped that “the media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut.”

Wow.

Emily Dickson once said, “Truth is so rare that it is delightful to tell it.” She must be rolling over in her grave. Truth will most certainly be rare with this administration, and now more than ever we will have to rely on our mainstream journalists to have the courage, determination, and doggedness to uncover the truth from these proud peddlers of false facts.

Pictured below left to right: Emily Dickinson; white supremacist now working inside the White House, Steve Bannon; Representative Lamar Smith and his Boo. Click the images to enlarge.

Of course, such deceitfulness and fraudulence is not new to politics. Back in the late-1800s Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) wrote many-a-poem about the very loose handling of the truth by Fredreich Drümpf, a distant relative of Trump’s (we’ve posted past plog posts about Drümpf HERE and HERE).

When Drümpf ran for governor of Ohio, he tried to pull off a shameless political stunt with a pre-election day speech and parade. He gave a cheerless speech to a small crowd of confused passers-by about the “misery and carnage” associated with life in Ohio, and that was followed by a lackluster parade of farmers on mules. The next day in the Chagrin Valley Times, he tried to pass it off as having had “the largest audience to ever witness a parade in Ohio or around the globe. Period.”

Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote his now-classic poem, "Inconceivably solemn" (below on the left), about Drümpf's ridiculous charade. Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen a poem with the same opening line (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Inconceivably solemn!
Things so dark
Told – by the very Press
Of Liberty –

The sparse Parade – observed by the eye
With a mute Pomp –
And fading Pageantry –

Flags, oft a brave sight –
Were even Eyed
Dull as they went by –
Steadily –

Musings were rampant –
To our fine Ear
Wincing at despair’s
Dark atmosphere –

By Emily Dickinson:

Inconceivably solemn!
Things go gay
Pierce – by the very Press
Of Imagery –

Their far Parades – order on the eye
With a mute Pomp –
A pleading Pageantry –

Flags, are a brave sight –
But no true Eye
Ever went by One –
Steadily –

Music's triumphant –
But the fine Ear
Winces with delight
Are Drums too near –

OBAMA, 2009: