Thanks for finally speaking out against the former guy who unfortunately is becoming less "former" by the day. PR genius, totally incompetent to be president. We can only hope the courts bring him to justice...because the media still worship at his feet.
Thank you. Thank you. I’m sending this on to others. I wish we could get this monster buffoon off our airways and out of our headlines. We miss you out here in Minneapolis. I was in your audiences and remain a fan who like you, age 81, will have a mitral valve replacement this December. Wish me luck!
Let’s not forget that in the Trump years Niki was joined at the hip with the ex-prez flying around with him on Air Force One until gossip of an affair put a stop to that and she suddenly was given the title of ambassador for the UN even though she had no foreign policy experience. Evidently, she wasn’t entirely happy so quit after a year or so. She probably had her eyes on a political run for office back then. Please don’t praise her too highly as she was with the previous guy never quitting when she should have. Even though she could see what he was doing to our country and to the people. She may have been critical at times but still stuck with him.
She is a republican and went along with the anti-abortion stance in South Carolina, she opposed improving voting rights and she supported Ted Cruz for president. That should say a lot about her. She once said of the previous prez in her book, “In every instance I dealt with him, he was truthful, he listened and he was great to work with. On his policy, I agree with everything that he’s done.”
Thank you, Mary Kay, for setting the record straight on Haley (trying to look more impressive in her 6" clumpy heels at the "debate"). I'm surprised at Garrison's take on her as he should be viewing her through the same lens he sees the Orange Menace since she has been a sycophant in the past as you so aptly note. What is most worrisome is that neither party can come up with a candidate with more integrity then any so far particularly if Joe B. is simply judged too old. Even he, a you recall, threw Anita Hill under the bus allowing the creepy Thomas to plague us for all these years. Politicians!
What you state is true about Anita Hill. Biden has been apologetic to Ms. Hill which still is difficult to take, but he now has the most diverse group of women of any President. He has Ms. Harris as his VP, chose Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and has made it a priority to nominate women of color as federal judges. He made a mistake with Ms. Hill, but he has been trying to make up for that error which, yes, we pay for now with Thomas, but let us not forget Barrett, Kavanaugh, Alito, Roberts and Gorsuch.
Thank you for reminding me of Biden's attempts to make up for his error. I hadn't thought about his female/women of color nominations in that regard. But will now give him some credit.
Biden making up for the Anita Hill error is a personal thing that very well could cost the rest of us dearly! He goes off willy-nilly poking people into spots where the shoe often doesn't fit. For example, why in the world would he put Harris in the VP slot when he could have put Jackson there with, in my opinion, a much higher vote garnering ability?? A heartbeat away from the Presidency? Furthermore, how much penance is enough, especially when it is foisted on us?
Ok Garrison. It is time to get off your hind end, get some tools, and start building bridges to make sure Trump does not get elected. And this applies to the liberals and progressives too. After six years I am really surprised somebody has not taken the time to understand who votes for Trump. It’s not that complex.
I know the people that are on the verge of voting Trump into office. I live with them, work with them, and play with them. They are not stupid.
Of this group, I estimate 25% are ignorant. You want to write a group off? Ok, do it here.
Another 30% are disenfranchised. When American poverty gets addressed, these folks will stop voting against the establishment. But this is going to take 1/2 a generation to fix because this problem has been building for about 1 generation.
Now for the next group, and they are around 50%. These people live in a culture that is very different than the metropolitan culture that you love so much. I find it sad when folks from American cities go to other continents of the world to explore other cultures when they won’t take the time to get to know the other culture that exists in their own country!!!! When you take PHC on the road to small Southern towns, you START to understand this culture I am referring to. Superficially you have stated how you enjoy this culture and how they treat you well. I wish you, and others from metropolitan areas would take the time to further understand the people in this culture. You may have to accept some things which you do not understand or which you cannot rationalize. But in doing so, bridges of understanding could be built, common interests could be reinforced, and we could work together to elect a leader we all could be proud of.
I think you're right. I live in a small rural town in NH, and I knew Hillary Clinton had lost the election as soon as she referred to Mr. Trump's supporters as a "basketful of deplorables." It was a clever sound bite, but insulted a huge swath of society. I voted for Ms. Clinton, but because of her crack, I wasn't happy about it. We need to stop thinking about what's good for the Republicans or the Democrats, and start trying to figure out what's good for our nation. And Mr. Trump ain't it.
Thank you so much for this. I wish that her whole statement had been referenced by the media, because things may have turned out differently. At least now I can be happy that I voted for Ms. Clinton. Thank you.
Let's not forget she was an "unlikable" woman who got three million more votes than trump, who got in her personal space on the debate stage and threatened to imprison her. I think a big part of the problem is that so many people seem to think that their ideal candidate should naturally be the nominee ("otherwise what's the point?" and/or "we're doomed if this is the best we can do!"—even when the choice is between a champion of democracy and the exact opposite).
Good points, all. I guess I, too, have become a part of that 50%. A lifelong dem, who over the last decade or so has felt alienated by the leaders of that party. Went independent the last two elections. I also live outside the city and its culture. If the dem party can't disavow its far-left elements, Trump might actually win again. Heck, I even find myself (a former lefty) considering voting for the big doofus as the cliched poke in the eye. Shallow, I know, but here we are. Lord, have mercy!
I fear that even the Bard’s “independent” vote will served no purpose other than to help the Democrat candidate to lose and thus contribute to a Trump win. We have two parties, sir. Choose.
I live in NZ . I listened to an excellent audiobook by American journalist Sarah Smarsh . 'Heartland , a memoir of working hard and being broke in the richest country on Earth '
Opened my eyes !!
Reading your comment ,brought that book to my mind .
Brilliant, Garrison, brilliant. Your "fable" should be printed in every newspaper in the land.
In November 2016 I wrote the following, and I'm afraid that events have borne me out.
THE CASE FOR UM
Because I have no wish to feed the President’s malignant narcissism, not to mention unintentionally advertising his brand each time I write or speak his name, I have decided to refer to him by simply the syllable UM. Those two letters stand in about the same proportion to his full name as his insecure real self must stand in proportion to his overblown ego persona. He cannot t _ _ _ _ democracy if he is after all only an um. (Capitals are optional.) I already spend more time obsessing over the acronym for The Really Ugly Man Presiding than he deserves, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Um will be much easier to put out of my mind, to establish um-free zones of thought. The best way to defeat um is to shrink him in our minds as small as he is inside, a colicky red-faced infant in a five-hundred-pound gorilla suit. Because in the end even thinking of him plays into his tiny hands. I believe that um would like nothing better than to become all we think about, all of us, all of the time, the center of everyone’s attention, and we can’t let him have that satisfaction.
If all that isn't "bewilderment" I don't know what is.If it were baseball, I'd guess Garrison is working on his "screwball"...the one in which there is virtually no spin on the ball and it wobbles.
Candidates who throw it are not quite there yet, given the "current bewilderment" in all of us, ptichers included..
What to do? Go with your heart first. If the heart is not nodding, neither should we.... Move on and write-in some on who is on.....as JImmy Smits said in his opening speech to his party leadership in "West Wing: "I'm not here to tell you what you want to hear. I'm here to tell you what you NEED to hear." Who out there has that timidity....anyone? Anyone?
This year I'm picking Tom Hanks again.All sides of him are good, even as an actor.
I’ve been told there are many kind of unusual spins, BHFP. Most are legal. I haven’t heard “knuckleball” in a long time. But that’s surely what it may have been. Thanks for the heads-up while that ball spins many ways. How they are hit is beyond me. Cheers, Tom
Your vote for Tom Hanks might just as well be a vote for Trump. I’m sorry, but it is ridiculous to try to make a point with a vote that goes literally nowhere in a two party system. We have no logical choice but to vote for the candidate who will do the least harm.
MARGLING, I DO THINK GOOD SENSE TRUMPS TRUMP. MR. HANKS GAVE US A HANKERING! I LIKE THIS; "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." WE NEED MORE MR. SMITHS AND MR. GUMPS
That opening, breathless, intense, hysterical-yet-chilling paragraph is one of the most remarkable I’ve read in a long time--especially in the anti-MAGA sub genre of American letters. He is so outrageously comedic that it makes perfect sense to attempt to say something about him with such exaggerated and masterful prose. Perhaps you alone--someone of such vast writing experience and someone so fond of comedy even as you so value human compassion and goodness--can really contend with him. Thanks for this.
Thanks for finally speaking out against the former guy who unfortunately is becoming less "former" by the day. PR genius, totally incompetent to be president. We can only hope the courts bring him to justice...because the media still worship at his feet.
Love it! Write on!
Poor Mrs. Mrs. Moehlenbrock. She must have had the patience of a saint!
"Presidentless" Why does that sound like a breath of fresh air?
Poophead for President?
Poophead already WAS President.
Yes, if having a crush on someone is akin to supporting them, then I’m all about Nikki
My thoughts exactly!
As the old adage applies. Never wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty and the pig loves it.
More truth than fable.
Thank you. Thank you. I’m sending this on to others. I wish we could get this monster buffoon off our airways and out of our headlines. We miss you out here in Minneapolis. I was in your audiences and remain a fan who like you, age 81, will have a mitral valve replacement this December. Wish me luck!
LUCK!!!!
Let’s not forget that in the Trump years Niki was joined at the hip with the ex-prez flying around with him on Air Force One until gossip of an affair put a stop to that and she suddenly was given the title of ambassador for the UN even though she had no foreign policy experience. Evidently, she wasn’t entirely happy so quit after a year or so. She probably had her eyes on a political run for office back then. Please don’t praise her too highly as she was with the previous guy never quitting when she should have. Even though she could see what he was doing to our country and to the people. She may have been critical at times but still stuck with him.
She is a republican and went along with the anti-abortion stance in South Carolina, she opposed improving voting rights and she supported Ted Cruz for president. That should say a lot about her. She once said of the previous prez in her book, “In every instance I dealt with him, he was truthful, he listened and he was great to work with. On his policy, I agree with everything that he’s done.”
Need I say more?
Thank you, Mary Kay, for setting the record straight on Haley (trying to look more impressive in her 6" clumpy heels at the "debate"). I'm surprised at Garrison's take on her as he should be viewing her through the same lens he sees the Orange Menace since she has been a sycophant in the past as you so aptly note. What is most worrisome is that neither party can come up with a candidate with more integrity then any so far particularly if Joe B. is simply judged too old. Even he, a you recall, threw Anita Hill under the bus allowing the creepy Thomas to plague us for all these years. Politicians!
What you state is true about Anita Hill. Biden has been apologetic to Ms. Hill which still is difficult to take, but he now has the most diverse group of women of any President. He has Ms. Harris as his VP, chose Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and has made it a priority to nominate women of color as federal judges. He made a mistake with Ms. Hill, but he has been trying to make up for that error which, yes, we pay for now with Thomas, but let us not forget Barrett, Kavanaugh, Alito, Roberts and Gorsuch.
Thank you for reminding me of Biden's attempts to make up for his error. I hadn't thought about his female/women of color nominations in that regard. But will now give him some credit.
Biden making up for the Anita Hill error is a personal thing that very well could cost the rest of us dearly! He goes off willy-nilly poking people into spots where the shoe often doesn't fit. For example, why in the world would he put Harris in the VP slot when he could have put Jackson there with, in my opinion, a much higher vote garnering ability?? A heartbeat away from the Presidency? Furthermore, how much penance is enough, especially when it is foisted on us?
⬆️ These are pure talking points for trumpers at this point.
I believe in redemption.
Spot on.
Ok Garrison. It is time to get off your hind end, get some tools, and start building bridges to make sure Trump does not get elected. And this applies to the liberals and progressives too. After six years I am really surprised somebody has not taken the time to understand who votes for Trump. It’s not that complex.
I know the people that are on the verge of voting Trump into office. I live with them, work with them, and play with them. They are not stupid.
Of this group, I estimate 25% are ignorant. You want to write a group off? Ok, do it here.
Another 30% are disenfranchised. When American poverty gets addressed, these folks will stop voting against the establishment. But this is going to take 1/2 a generation to fix because this problem has been building for about 1 generation.
Now for the next group, and they are around 50%. These people live in a culture that is very different than the metropolitan culture that you love so much. I find it sad when folks from American cities go to other continents of the world to explore other cultures when they won’t take the time to get to know the other culture that exists in their own country!!!! When you take PHC on the road to small Southern towns, you START to understand this culture I am referring to. Superficially you have stated how you enjoy this culture and how they treat you well. I wish you, and others from metropolitan areas would take the time to further understand the people in this culture. You may have to accept some things which you do not understand or which you cannot rationalize. But in doing so, bridges of understanding could be built, common interests could be reinforced, and we could work together to elect a leader we all could be proud of.
I think you're right. I live in a small rural town in NH, and I knew Hillary Clinton had lost the election as soon as she referred to Mr. Trump's supporters as a "basketful of deplorables." It was a clever sound bite, but insulted a huge swath of society. I voted for Ms. Clinton, but because of her crack, I wasn't happy about it. We need to stop thinking about what's good for the Republicans or the Democrats, and start trying to figure out what's good for our nation. And Mr. Trump ain't it.
Thank you so much for this. I wish that her whole statement had been referenced by the media, because things may have turned out differently. At least now I can be happy that I voted for Ms. Clinton. Thank you.
Let's not forget she was an "unlikable" woman who got three million more votes than trump, who got in her personal space on the debate stage and threatened to imprison her. I think a big part of the problem is that so many people seem to think that their ideal candidate should naturally be the nominee ("otherwise what's the point?" and/or "we're doomed if this is the best we can do!"—even when the choice is between a champion of democracy and the exact opposite).
Good points, all. I guess I, too, have become a part of that 50%. A lifelong dem, who over the last decade or so has felt alienated by the leaders of that party. Went independent the last two elections. I also live outside the city and its culture. If the dem party can't disavow its far-left elements, Trump might actually win again. Heck, I even find myself (a former lefty) considering voting for the big doofus as the cliched poke in the eye. Shallow, I know, but here we are. Lord, have mercy!
Think again, sir. The man is a walking disaster. Have mercy.
I fear that even the Bard’s “independent” vote will served no purpose other than to help the Democrat candidate to lose and thus contribute to a Trump win. We have two parties, sir. Choose.
Well, I wrote in Tulsi Gabbard last time and I just might do it again. I'll vote with my conscience. We'll see.
Your conscience will not elect a better choice for President. You will simply waste your vote. And that makes no sense at all.
A vote in good conscience is never wasted.
When it becomes part of the final domino in the end of democracy and the rise of fascism, wasted is a total understatement for what it is.
I live in NZ . I listened to an excellent audiobook by American journalist Sarah Smarsh . 'Heartland , a memoir of working hard and being broke in the richest country on Earth '
Opened my eyes !!
Reading your comment ,brought that book to my mind .
Brilliant, Garrison, brilliant. Your "fable" should be printed in every newspaper in the land.
In November 2016 I wrote the following, and I'm afraid that events have borne me out.
THE CASE FOR UM
Because I have no wish to feed the President’s malignant narcissism, not to mention unintentionally advertising his brand each time I write or speak his name, I have decided to refer to him by simply the syllable UM. Those two letters stand in about the same proportion to his full name as his insecure real self must stand in proportion to his overblown ego persona. He cannot t _ _ _ _ democracy if he is after all only an um. (Capitals are optional.) I already spend more time obsessing over the acronym for The Really Ugly Man Presiding than he deserves, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Um will be much easier to put out of my mind, to establish um-free zones of thought. The best way to defeat um is to shrink him in our minds as small as he is inside, a colicky red-faced infant in a five-hundred-pound gorilla suit. Because in the end even thinking of him plays into his tiny hands. I believe that um would like nothing better than to become all we think about, all of us, all of the time, the center of everyone’s attention, and we can’t let him have that satisfaction.
If all that isn't "bewilderment" I don't know what is.If it were baseball, I'd guess Garrison is working on his "screwball"...the one in which there is virtually no spin on the ball and it wobbles.
Candidates who throw it are not quite there yet, given the "current bewilderment" in all of us, ptichers included..
What to do? Go with your heart first. If the heart is not nodding, neither should we.... Move on and write-in some on who is on.....as JImmy Smits said in his opening speech to his party leadership in "West Wing: "I'm not here to tell you what you want to hear. I'm here to tell you what you NEED to hear." Who out there has that timidity....anyone? Anyone?
This year I'm picking Tom Hanks again.All sides of him are good, even as an actor.
"Write in "SOMEONE"....."on" doesn't do it.
Forgive me, but isn't that particular pitch known as the "knuckleball"?
I’ve been told there are many kind of unusual spins, BHFP. Most are legal. I haven’t heard “knuckleball” in a long time. But that’s surely what it may have been. Thanks for the heads-up while that ball spins many ways. How they are hit is beyond me. Cheers, Tom
Your vote for Tom Hanks might just as well be a vote for Trump. I’m sorry, but it is ridiculous to try to make a point with a vote that goes literally nowhere in a two party system. We have no logical choice but to vote for the candidate who will do the least harm.
MARGLING, I DO THINK GOOD SENSE TRUMPS TRUMP. MR. HANKS GAVE US A HANKERING! I LIKE THIS; "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." WE NEED MORE MR. SMITHS AND MR. GUMPS
And you think your wasted vote will put Mr Hanks or any other dark horse into the White House. Think again. Don’t waste your vote.
That first paragraph describing the orange guy might be the best thing I've ever read! So accurate.
That opening, breathless, intense, hysterical-yet-chilling paragraph is one of the most remarkable I’ve read in a long time--especially in the anti-MAGA sub genre of American letters. He is so outrageously comedic that it makes perfect sense to attempt to say something about him with such exaggerated and masterful prose. Perhaps you alone--someone of such vast writing experience and someone so fond of comedy even as you so value human compassion and goodness--can really contend with him. Thanks for this.