The Mark of the Beast

Wearing baseball caps since my Little League days, has become an everyday thing for me. I even used baseball caps for business. I have a photo collage where the first pic was taken in 1996 during my second year working in the HIV/AIDS field. These days baseball caps are acceptable gear for casual, and also business attire. 

Have you noticed? Since the Orange Turd decided to enter politics, wearing a MAGA red baseball cap is the "mark of the beast". It is viewed as a symbol of divisiveness, or a "cult-like" and blind loyalty to their "really smart - a very stable genius" leader. 

Now I can't wear a red baseball cap in public (which happen to be my favorite baseball cap color), to prevent being mistaken of supporting the MAGA movement. The Phillies team uses a red baseball cap, and my favorite Yankees hats are also red. It has become politicized due to the popularity of the MAGA hats. To avoid confrontations during my daily commute, I stopped using my Yankees red hats as the MAGA red hats became popular. 

I just spent a couple of hours editing some of my earlier photos from past years, turning my red baseball caps into dark blue or black. What a conundrum.

Suck It Up, Buttercup

I am getting a little tired of hearing MAGA's complaining about the war with Iran. Not even a week into this war and these MAGA are already grumbling. Last time I checked, your dear leader said, "It's not a war, we don't have boots on the ground." MAGA's keep complaining, "I can't pay my bills, I don't have any food in the refrigerator, my child is starving, my medical insurance premium went up." Suck it up, buttercup.

The labor market lost 92,000 jobs in February. Count your blessings you still have a job, others are not that lucky. Besides, your dear leader reassured you that Americans have to sacrifice, that this is just a temporary hiccup. 

Gas is too expensive for you? Buy a Tesla. Your dear leader told you last year from the White House lawn to buy a Tesla from Elon Musk. If I am not mistaken, your dear leader make believe that he purchased a red Tesla from Elon Musk. Buying a Tesla will save you all the high gas prices you are complaining about now. If you are a true MAGA, you will follow your dear leader advice and buy a Tesla. Or as he said yesterday concerning rising gas prices, "... if they rise, they rise ...."

It's really sad to see all these MAGA supporters crying about not being able to pay bills, not being able to put gas in their cars. Your dear leader told you we are going to experience a little temporary pain, so pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Your family is starving .... for peace in the Middle East. 

Remember, your peace president is asking you to suck it up, buttercup. And boots on the ground, has not been rule out. The body bags are compliments of the Orange Turd and the drunk Pentagon Secretary of War.

The United States and Iran Are On The Brink of War

Just recently, Trump threatened to attack Iran if they killed protesters. Here is a newsflash for you, Trump's fascist tyrannical regime shot and killed American citizens protesting ICE. In my opinion, one of the most patriotic things anyone can do is protest and hold our government accountable.

During the presidential campaign, Trump called himself the "President of Peace" and campaigned on a platform of ending foreign conflicts. Since then, he invaded Venezuela, threatened Panama, Canada, Cuba and Greenland. Trump is currently moving aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircrafts into position in the Middle East.

The difference this time is that the Iranian leadership appears to be even more deluded than Donald Trump faithful MAGA kool-aid drinkers and their thirst for war. Trump's authoritarian tactics could use the Iran war to deflect the attention from the Supreme Court tariffs debacle, and the Epstein Files cover-up. 

I Gotta Admit, I Wasn't A Big Bad Bunny Fan

But I must confess that it's extremely entertaining to watch MAGA and extreme radical right-wing heads explode because of Spanish songs during the Super Bowl Halftime Show. MAGA snowflakes are melting at the speed of light. The more unhinged, racist and xenophobic they become, the more I love Bad Bunny. 

The Trump White House Is A Raging Dumpster Fire

Trump is on track to be a total success [insert sarcasm here]. He promised to make himself a dictator. He promised mass deportations. He promised deregulation and the allowance of billionaires to r&pe our natural resources. He promised to conquer Venezuela, Panama and Greenland. He promised to make it so no one would ever need to vote again. He promised to punish people who disagreed with him. He has done or is in process to successfully deliver on all of these promises to systematically destroy our country. And not surprisingly, his supporters cheer.

Now he wants to nationalize the vote, Trump wants to control voting. This is against the Constitution. But since when did Trump or the Republican Congress ever let the Constitution get in the way of anything they wanted to do? 

Now it appears that the Trump administration is openly talking about taking your guns away. 

Yesterday on FoxNews, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro, threatened to arrest law-abiding gun owners. “You bring a gun into this district, count on going to jail." “I don’t care if you have a license in another district and I don’t care if you’re a law-abiding gun owner somewhere else.” 

Asked about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, President Donald Trump told reporters last week: “You can’t have guns, you can’t walk in with guns. You just can’t.”

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s threat to jail law-abiding gun owners who travel to Washington, D.C., with firearms has sparked anger from Republicans, including some of President Trump’s MAGA staunchest supporters.

History shows that authoritarian leaders remove the individual's right to keep arms. Folks on one side of the political spectrum think it won't affect them, until it does. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

I remember just a few years back, "the Obama, Biden and Harris are going to grab your guns" hysteria. It turns out that the Trump White House is the one now openly talking about taking your guns away. Thanks to the 2nd Amendment, MAGA's next civil war may be brewing against the White House.

The Right To Bear Arms

The right to bear arms has been a big Republican Party issue for decades. Minneapolis shooting victim Alex Pretti was legally carrying a firearm. But top Trump administration officials now say he did not have a right to do so.

After the killing of nurse Alex Pretti by a federal agent in Minneapolis this past Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel claimed on FoxNews, that protesters cannot bring loaded firearms to demonstrations. It appears that the Director of the FBI is incorrect. In addition, some Republican government officials are now saying that nurse Alex Pretti deserved to be shot because he was LEGALLY carrying a gun.

Under the Second Amendment and MN Stat. 624.714, gun permit holders may legally carry firearms in public, including during protests. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public carry is a constitutional right. Carrying a firearm does not legally constitute "inciting violence". 

During the January 6, 2021 attack to the Capitol, the police identified supporters of Donald Trump who were carrying firearms including AR-15s, rifles and Glock pistols on the National Mall on the morning of the insurrection. These same people now claiming that nurse Alex Pretti shouldn’t have been carry a weapon defended the January 6 Capitol protesters who were armed.

It appears that many members of the Republican party want only MAGAs to own and carry guns.  According to their logic, the Second amendment only applies to conservatives. In my opinion, what happened to nurse Alex Pretti was an execution carried out by our government in broad daylight.

Dow Jones Headed For Worst April Since the Great Depression

The Wall Street Journal's front page today reads: Dow Jones headed for worst April since the Great Depression. 

$1.4 trillion was just wiped from the Stock Market today. Trump approval rating falls to 42%, lowest since taking office. When it comes to the economy, only 37% of Americans approve. They must be so tired of winning.

Elect A Clown, Expect A Circus. 

Regret Sets In For Many Trump Voters

The other day I spoke with friends and former co-workers who I know voted for Trump. It turns out that some of their family members received a letter terminating their federal job. No severance pay, or unemployment benefits. 

They had been working for the federal government for years, and their contract stated that they could not be fired unless they had done something wrong. They could not believe what is happening. Some now say that the biggest mistake of their lives was voting for Trump. They voted for others to lose their jobs and civil rights, not for themselves.

I guess they didn’t believe Trump when he said….. “I don’t care about you, I just want your vote “. These Trump supporters are suddenly surprised that cruelty and revenge as a political strategy actually hurts people, until it affects them. 

Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP Benefits, Education Funding and Medical Research are next on the chopping block. Don't say you weren't warned. 

A Funny Thing Happened At The Dentist Today

When your dentist greets you warmly and asks about your family or work, this is probably a good sign your dentist likes you.

I've written about my favorite dentist before, and the circumstances how I ended up getting my dental services with him almost 20 years ago. Before I met him, I've been scared of dentists since I was traumatized at the age of seven.

The reason I love to visit my dentist is twofold. I get my teeth cleaned; today got my second cleaning this year. Plus, I am updated in the latest MAGA conspiracy theories stories from my dentist secretary.

So you see, I get my excellent dental care service, plus I am entertained by the secretary fringe beliefs. Deep down, I think she is trying to persuade me into joining her party. I try not to laugh, but she is funny and the way she describes her conspiracy theories is hilarious.

Foto Friday - United States Capitol Building

This picture was taken during a trip to Washington DC on November 2020, two months before the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States.

I remember setting up my camera gear near the grassy triangle on the House side of the Capitol's East Front. This is the location where reporters and politicians hold their press conferences.

The phone rang and it was my sister who lives in Puerto Rico, and knew I was spending the weekend in DC. She was worried about me; afraid that crowds of MAGA supporters would protest, and that it would turn violent.

At that time there was a lot of hateful rhetoric and misinformation about the "Stop the Steal" movement from Trump. To put her at ease, I reassure her that some small pockets of MAGA supporters were marching outside the Capitol building, and chanting peacefully. So I was not concerned.

My visit to DC was two months before Trump and his minions encouraged his followers to march inside the Capitol building, and the riot and chaos that ensued. Every time I look at this selfie of myself photographing the Capitol building, brings back memories of when my sister called from 2,000 miles away, very concerned about my well being.

MAGA Humiliation: McCarthy Dumpster Fire Chaos Reveals Total Collapse of the Republican Party

For Republicans, this is one of their biggest humiliating, self-inflicted embarrassments in recent American history. For the first time in 100 years the majority party fails to garner the votes to elect a Speaker of the House.  This is worse than their failed red tsunami prediction, after 7 rounds of voting. Even Hannity and the GOP State TV FauxNews say that the House Republicans are a total clown show after McCarthy loses 7^th straight Speaker vote.

It is actually hilarious to see. I'll say nominate serial liar Rep-Elect George Santos for Speaker of the House. He'll fit right in with the other corrupt Republican liars.

I've gone through 2 gallon-sized boxes of popcorn over the last 24 hours watching this McCarthy clown show. It really tells us something when even Fox is calling this group of Republicans a clown show.

The GOP played to and courted the crazies on the fringe and now the crazies are taking them down. You reap what you sow, the chicken has come home to roost.

The Red Wave That Wasn't

I frequent a political internet forum, where for the past two years the right wingers, and MAGA Christian extremists folks have been screaming their views at the top of their lungs, and promised a giant "red tsunami".

Republicans made gains, but the "red wave" failed to materialize. Their dreams of a "red wave" fizzled, the giant tsunami failed to emerge. At the political internet forum the coalition of Trumpists, bigots, religious zealots and neo-fascists have gone so quiet, the silence is deafening. Now all I hear is crickets.

I expect them soon to begin the same rhetoric about the 2024 White House race soon.