Is Cesar Chavez's alleged sexual abuse an attempt to divert attention away from Trump and the Epstein files? Usual Trump strategy. How were Chavez's accusers found? Why speak out now? Were they paid to come forward by Trump advocates? Chavez isn't here to defend himself. Perfect situation for Trump.

Apropos: From the Roman philosopher, Seneca, about the exceptionally cruel Emperor Caligula: "Nature produced him, in my opinion, to demonstrate just how far unlimited vice can go when combined with unlimited power." Caligula reigned for only four years. Let's hope Trump isn't president that long.

Against the Iran war? Are you contacting your Congress people? Will you be protesting the war and Trump's evils on March 28? If you are not, then you're abandoning your country. Yes, it is a lot of trouble to join in, but what kind of country will we have, if we don't? Speak out while you still can!

The war in Iran is another projection of Trump's many evils onto another person and/or a country. He is ultimately responsible for the killing of protesters here and trampling the rights of all Americans. What better way to escape blame than to accuse another country of what you, yourself are doing?

Who is responsible for Trump's presidency? We must always remember that it's the people who voted for him. Yes, he is ultimately responsible for the deep wrongdoings of his administration, but without his people, he is powerless. The guilt for the deaths, suffering and chaos rests on many shoulders.

Art inspires and consoles: The incredible Roadrunner and Snake metal sculptures in Borrego Valley, Southern California. These are the two newest of 26 other desert sculptures in the Sky Art series. Artist is Ricardo Breceda.

How low can you go? Accepting a Nobel Prize that wasn't awarded to you has to be one of the most pathetic acts by Trump so far. It reeks of weakness. I don't know where the bottom is for this terrible man, but we will find out--unless Congress has the guts to impeach him. And the sooner the better.🙂

"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered ..."--Thomas Paine In 2026, we have the opportunity to conquer the hell that is threatening our country. Let's do it with letters to our representatives, peaceful protests and a commitment to not give up until Trump and his allies are vanquished for good.

Consider the Roman Emperor Nero: He allegedly burned Rome to make way for his Golden Palace. Sounds like the devastation of the East Wing for Trump's ballroom. There're no moral boundaries for this man. Nero ended powerless and driven to suicide. And Trump? Evil always burns out. It just takes time.

Trump's War on Women has shocking news (if we can still be shocked by his misogamy): 200 words, including "female, females, feminism, women" can't be in Head Start applications. Trump's pretty puppets, i.e. Bondi, are the women he tolerates: Compromised sycophants who have betrayed their country.

"Nature produced him, in my opinion, to demonstrate just how far unlimited vice can go when combined with unlimited power." This quote is from the Roman philosopher, Seneca, about the famously cruel Roman Emperor Caligula. This quote describes Trump too. The more power he gets, the worse he becomes.

Caligula or Nero, or? Which Roman emperor was the most depraved and cruel? I think we can compare Trump to the emperors who helped bring the empire to its knees. History has pronounced judgement on them, but we don't have to wait to pronounce Trump an increasingly dangerous threat to us. Fight back.

Again, the Romans predict what could be: "... in the last feverish decade before the crossing of the Rubicon, the sudden appearance in Rome of a rash of grandiose monuments had served as portents of the Republic's ruin." Dynasty, Holland. Consider: the Trump ballroom and the proposed Arch de Trump.

Oh, the irony of the same last names! Heinrich Müller was the chief of the Nazi's Gestapo. Stephen Miller (Miller is the English equivalent of Muller), is the White House deputy chief of staff, who promotes the vicious, Gestapo-like hunt of immigrants and spews hateful rhetoric towards his enemies.

The emperors' Rome. Is this our destiny too? "... the annual cycle of elections and magistracies that once, back in the days of the Republic, had delivered to ambitious Romans the genuine opportunity to sway their city's fate still endured--but as a largely irrelevant sideshow."--"Dynasty," Holland.

It is reported, today, Oct. 18, Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton in Southern California will be closed from 11 am to 3pm due to Marine live ammunition fire, causing massive delays and threats to nearby residents. This is intimidation, not celebration.

Airshow or intimidation? There're aviation TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) around Camp Pendleton for "security, air shows/sports and VIP" for 10/15-10/18. So it's probably true that Vance (or someone) is coming to divert attention from No Kings Day. Oct. 18: More important than ever. Be there.🙂

"Lucky Loser" and Mary Trump's "Too Much and Never Enough" provide insights into the criminal and disturbed personality of Trump. Good news: Two long-time Trump flags in our neighborhood are gone. One, inexplicably, was for JFK, Jr., who is, of course, dead. Maybe these MAGAs are seeing the truth.

It is way past time to impeach Trump. Congress must stand up, and do it now! His speech to the military today is frightening on many levels. If the military follows through, no one is safe. Please remember the "No Kings" events on Oct. 18. And contact your representatives; insist they impeach Trump.

This administration is like a bad reality show, only it's real. Our incompetent, mean-spirited, lawless president and his allies are trying to destroy us. Trump is out of control. If you care, write your representatives, and attend a "No Kings" event Oct. 18. It's our democracy; only we can save it.

Roman history? Yes, it's relevant to today's crisis, which parallels the fall of the Roman Republic. When I see how dictator Sulla "reformed" the Republic, I feel like I'm witnessing a similar crisis in the U.S. When Caesar crossed the Rubicon, there was no going back. Will it be the same for us?

All of this death, chaos and anger could have been avoided if Congress had done their job and impeached Trump. They had two chances. Both times, they supported Trump, not the Constitution or the American people. Now, all of us are suffering the consequences, unfortunately, some with their lives.

Trying, trying to understand why anyone would support Trump: From "Helter Skelter:"... whenever people surrender their minds and souls to a dictatorial cult figure, there comes a point for the followers when it is too late to turn back...and whatever direction he goes in, he takes them with him."

Thinking about the book, "Helter Skelter," the story of the 1969 Manson murders again. I see a similarity between the Trump women and the Manson Family girls. The TW are slavishly loyal to Trump and do his bidding no matter how atrocious. How far will they go to please him? Consider Kristi Noem.

I'm reading "Helter Skelter," the story of the 1969 Manson murders, and I see the similarities between Charles Manson and Donald Trump. I will never understand what these men have that evokes the unquestioned loyalty of their followers. Would MAGA extremists murder for Trump? I believe they would.

How fast can we rebuild America when Trump and his allies are gone? Are government archives, museums, parks and schools preserving things that tell the true story? Maybe it's a fantasy that we can come out of this terrible crisis with democracy intact. Every day things gets worse, yet I am hopeful.

Here's a bit of humor compliments of Barnes & Noble Booksellers in San Dimas, Calif. While this collection of books features somewhat dark humor, it is humor, something we can use more of lately. Look closely at the book titles. This display is next to the Mystery/Thrillers section of the B&N store.

Dignity. Integrity. Decency. Presumably, this poor pooch must sell his belongings due to hardship, yet he retains his dignity. I do wish the politicians who support Trump would search their souls for any of these qualities, instead of selling their souls to gain power from a morally corrupt Trump.

Shocking! The USPS has a stamp coming out in August featuring William F. Buckley, Jr., an avowed racist who believed whites were "the advanced race" and should rule over blacks. (National Review, "Why the South Must Prevail," August 14, 1957.) Read it. No stamp should be honoring such a man.

A must-read! if you're interested in the genesis of the current authoritarian crisis and our march towards oligarchy, you can start with Heather Cox Richardson's book, "How the South Won the Civil War." BTW, today (7/17) is an opportunity to protest the Trump administration's terrible agenda. Do it.

Surprise, surprise. Until last week, I thought the word "men" in the phrase "all men are created equal" meant humanity. Now I know it meant just men. Just white men. How can white men consider themselves superior to everyone else? Look at the wreckage they've caused throughout our history. I'm sad.🥲

Good news! There's a protest on July 17 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm in Claremont, Calif. It's sponsored by Indivisible (there are many more protests planned all over the country). The protests are peaceful, uplifting and something anyone can do to help fight the threats to democracy and our well being.

Success! The Claremont, Calif. "No Kings" protest boasted about 2,000 people or more. This is a lot of people for Claremont. People of all ages were there. Many good signs! People are very creative. It was peaceful, uplifting & brought hope that our voices were being heard and changes are possible.

There'll be a "No Kings" protest on 6/14 in Claremont, CA on the corner of Indian Hill and Foothill from 2-4pm. If you live nearby, it's your chance to show your displeasure with Trump's terrible policies. If you don't have a sign, bring an American flag or just bring yourself. Every person counts.

I don't believe we are a heartless nation, but we now have a heartless government driven by greed and callous ideology. Our power as individuals may seem limited, but if we band together to advocate for the country we once were, the heartless will be defeated. June 14 protests. Be there if you care.

How do we fight back against the evil in our current Federal government? Protests and letters, yes. But also, counter their ill will with love and kindness. Try to do a kind act every day. Think positively about everyone, even those who enable Trump to hurt others. Positive thoughts are powerful.

Today, I got my inspiration from a Halls cough drop wrapper.

Does this help explain Trump's support? Stanley Milgram, social psychologist: A substantial proportion of people do what they are told to do, irrespective of the content of the act and without limitations of conscience, so long as they perceive that the command comes from a legitimate authority."

Why do Trump followers, most of whom are ordinary, nice people, obey him, i.e., the January 6 riot and the acceptance of inhumane treatment of migrants? See the landmark Stanley Milgram experiment described in his 1974 book, "Obedience to Authority (p.189)." The results are disturbing.

How do I email the White House? I'm not seeing an email address or contact information other than the physical address on the White House's website.

I am new to BlueSky, so this is a test post!