Election

Yes, the real estate tycoon is a know-nothing, uninterested-in-learning-anything buffoon. Also: a demagogue and a bully whose emotional instability would pose a threat to national security.

But the Cruz alternative, it seemed to me then, was even worse. Cruz is smarter than Trump, more calculating than Trump (which is saying something) and way, way more conservative than Trump.

A Trump presidency, or so I reassured myself, at least offered the prospect of unprincipled deal-making in the service of what is Trump’s only guidepost – promoting the greater glory of Trump. President Cruz would be as absolutist as Sen. Cruz, and therefore, from my point of view, the worse president.

I was wrong.

Since that column in mid-December, Trump has proved himself to be even less knowledgeable and even more unhinged. His election would constitute a grave threat to American values and, potentially, American democracy. …

Trump is Nixon with all of the megalomaniacal willingness to abuse power and none of the crafty realpolitik.

No more laughing off The Donald | Albuquerque Journal

Election

Hey, Congress: Do your damn job!

Sun 02/14/16 mjh

If Republicans refuse to accord Obama the same right that they gave Raygun in February, 1988, then they are braying their hypocrisy for all the nation to hear in an election year. Please note this self-serving, self-dealing, despicable act by Conservatives. Don’t give Republicans the White House — and with it, the Supreme Court — take the Congress from these [expletive deleted].

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

The sudden death of Justice Scalia creates an immediate vacancy on the most important court in the United States.

Senator McConnell is right that the American people should have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice. In fact, they did — when President Obama won the 2012 election by five million votes.

Article II Section 2 of the Constitution says the President of the United States nominates justices to the Supreme Court, with the advice and consent of the… Senate. I can’t find a clause that says “…except when there’s a year left in the term of a Democratic President.”

Senate Republicans took an oath just like Senate Democrats did. Abandoning the duties they swore to uphold would threaten both the Constitution and our democracy itself. It would also prove that all the Republican talk about loving the Constitution is just that — empty talk.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren

Grassley hypocrisy from Democratic Underground via Occupy Democrats.

The Atheist's Pulpit

Thirty-four years kissing Merri Rudd

Sun 02/14/16 mjh

Thirty-four years ago today, Valentine’s Day, 1982, Merri Rudd and I shared our first kiss. It was the morning after the first Valentine’s Day Pajama Party at Preston Road.

Happy Anniversary, Darling! xox, mjh

“I’ll be your man.
I’ll understand.
Do my best
to take good care of you.
You’ll be my queen.
I’ll be your king.
And I’ll be your lover, too.”
— Van the Man Morrison

Flickr, photos

Sacsawaman ruins near Cusco, Peru

Wed 02/10/16 mjh

mjhinton posted a photo:

1drv.ms/1TODsg7

The Atheist's Pulpit

Stupor Bowl Stunday

Sun 02/07/16 mjh

Today, two billionaires pit teams of millionaires against each other in a stately pleasure dome built at taxpayer expense. Tomorrow, whether you’re grinning or crying about “your” team, a few people will be even richer and their surrogates will be hard at work opposing raising the minimum wage, arguing against the estate tax and regulations, while praising the non-existent free market. Hey, at least it’s more fun the original feudal system, right? Right? Go team!

[originally published Feb 2, 2014 @ 07:47 ]

Election, WTF?!

Hey, sober realists — get over yourselves

Tue 02/02/16 mjh

Today, Ruth Marcus joins the chorus of those who feel honor-bound to throw cold water in the faces of Sanders supporters. The steady message is we are stupid, foolish idealists, unrealistic, and blind to recent history. The message is it is wrong to believe you can change a system you find increasingly intolerable. The message is it is foolish to think that if millions of people work together they can make any changes. The message is give up, shut up, and put up with the status quo because that’s the best you can hope for. Wanting anything else means losing everything.

I find these pundits, these adults, these oh-so-smart people increasingly unbearable. I’ll give Marcus the benefit of the doubt that just because she’s paid by big media and lives among the rich and powerful doesn’t mean she can’t have my best interests at heart.

I’m tired of corrupt capitalism run amok. I have little faith in the sacred market and less in the status quo and its advocates. I’m tired of seeing and hearing that democracy is meaningless, sold to the highest bidder. I’m tired of a system that lets the richest people and corporations do and have anything but tells the rest of us to sit down and be quiet.

I’m sick to death of this crap. I’m going to wipe the cold water from my face and vote the way I want to for the change I want. I hope millions of other people will do the same. Change will come.

Election, NADA - New American Dark Ages

Immoral Capitalism MUST change NOW

Mon 02/01/16 mjh

A banker gets paid to make a bad loan. A banker gets paid to foreclose on a home. A CEO gets a huge bonus. A company takes a write-off. Shareholders profit. A family goes homeless.

This is but one reason many of us are furious with capitalism and sickened by fools who blindly worship a fantasy about the Sacred Market. The rich get richer. The rest of us are royally fucked for their profit and pleasure. You better welcome Democratic Socialism, cuz you ain’t gonna like the alternative (blood in the streets, heads on pikes — it’s been done before).

mjh's blog

No more laughing off The Donald