The Politically Homeless

Congressman Adam Kinzinger recently penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal titled "A Political Homeless Shelter." It is Adam's belief (taken from a different source) that roughly 30% of our population feel they are represented by the Democrats; 30% believe that the Republican Party represents them, and 40% consider themselves to be politically homeless. I don't know if his percentages are accurate but I don't doubt that a large number of us are experiencing the political and societal pathos that Adam is obviously feeling and describing. For those still capable of objective reasoning the article is a good read. I will follow it up with a couple of my own comments.

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 BY CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINZINGER

America is at a crossroads. Politically speaking, so am I.

The Republican Party I joined decades ago is unrecognizable today. It has favored conspiracy theories over truth, anger over hope, and division over problem solving. As I serve my final months in Congress, I find I am left carrying the torch for the values and principles of a party that’s been overtaken by partisan politicos looking for the limelight and clinging to their sense of power instead of upholding their oaths of office. I’m holding out hope for what I know the Republican Party has been and can be, but every day that passes, I’m feeling more politically homeless. And I’m not alone.

Shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, I made a video calling out my party for having lost its way. Then I started the Country First organization for reasonable people of goodwill who want to bring truth and accountability back to government. In one year, it has grown to nearly 150,000 members, including 6,000 volunteers, with chapters in all 50 states.

Americans across the political spectrum are tired of the vitriol and feel disenfranchised by both parties, yet the outrage machine continues to churn out negativity. Bad actors are getting rich by peddling disinformation and fear, and the American people are paying the price. From wild conspiracy theories to carefully crafted misinformation, the public is more susceptible than ever to falling for these untruths.

With everything going on in Ukraine, we have to be clear-eyed about the gravity of this geopolitical moment, one of the most pivotal of our lifetimes. Some are using their platforms to provoke the latest outrage on Disney instead. It makes me sick to see people stoking this cultural anger and division for the sole purpose of ratings and money. Saying it’s a disservice to the people who trust them would be a severe understatement. It’s dereliction of duty.

We are better than this, and to turn things around, we must demand better—from our leaders, our media outlets, and ourselves. The Republican Party is led by a former president who admitted asking the vice president to overturn the 2020 election for him, and who seems to believe the delusion that he can be reinstated. In Congress, we have members who stand with white nationalists and value money over principles. In the right-wing media, we have commentators who echo Vladimir Putin’s propaganda and blatantly lie to their viewers and readers.

These aren’t the leaders we need, but the leaders we need are too afraid to stand up and speak out—for the most part. They worry that voters won’t have their backs. So we the people need to prove that we do. Washington isn’t going to fix itself.

Through Country First, I’m organizing a nationwide effort called Primary First, focused on voter education and engagement. I want to encourage Americans to show up for primary elections and vote for candidates who will be servant-leaders to their constituents.

It shouldn’t be a novel idea to tell the truth, to stand up for our democracy, and to serve with integrity. But it is. Now more than ever, we need to turn things around and put in the work to break free from toxic tribalism and extreme partisanship. My time in Congress may be coming to an end, but my fight for this country continues—politically homeless or otherwise.

The original article can be found on The Wall Street Journal's website here.

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Adam wrote, "These aren’t the leaders we need, but the leaders we need are too afraid to stand up and speak out—for the most part. They worry that voters won’t have their backs."

 What he's saying is that the fear of losing their next election and perhaps the opportunity to be a career politician is keeping them silent. What greater reason could there be to than to have term limits? If I don't have to fear losing my seat I'm much more likely to stand for what I believe rather than what I think my colleges and voters want to hear.

Adam also wrote "In the right-wing media, we have commentators who echo Vladimir Putin’s propaganda and blatantly lie to their viewers and readers."

C'mon Adam...are you saying that left-wing politicians, media and commentators don't lie? They do. And they also spread misinformation, just like the right-wing. An article I read some months ago is an example.

"On September 15, 2021 Tucker Carlson was being interviewed by Dave Rubin on Rubin’s show “The Rubin Report,” which airs on YouTube and BlazeTV. Rubin was asking Carlson about CNN anchors like Brian Stelter, Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon — he called them "clown people" — who “just lie again and again.”

Here’s what Carlson said:

“I guess I would ask myself, like, I mean, I lie if I’m cornered or something. I lie. I really try not to. I try never to lie on TV. I just don’t — I don’t like lying. I certainly do it, you know, out of weakness or whatever, but to systematically lie like that, without asking yourself, why am I doing this?” 

At least Carlson admits that he lies. I don't know of anyone else whose had the cajones to admit it.

So how do we get out of this political/societal quagmire we're in? How do we get back to reason and civil discourse? It would be great if Kinzinger's Country First organization or something like it could gain steam and become a platform for the moderate liberals and conservatives to come together. Can it happen? Who knows?

Why Carry a Gun?

That's a question I ask myself every time I strap on the ole' hogleg and mosey into town. Technically my gun is not a hogleg. Hoglegs were typically long-barreled revolvers like the iconic Colt Single Action Army, aka "Peacemaker'. My gun is a compact semi-auto 9mm...the kind of gun that Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickock would have laughed at, taunted me for carrying a toy, and challenged me to a showdown. What them boys don't know is that I can dodge bullets pretty good, and after they'd fired their 6th and final shot my 13 round capacity 'toy' would have sent them both to Boot Hill lookin' like Swiss cheese. Granted, it ain't as dramatic blowin' smoke off a tiny 2" barrel after a shootout but I'd a done it anyhow. 

During the days of Wyatt and Wild Bill you weren't supposed to carry your gun in town. Most western towns had ordinances requiring that guns be checked at the sheriff's office upon entering town. That was to prevent liquored-up cowboys from shooting each other or the sheriff. In the more civilized east you couldn't carry a gun without a permit, and they weren't automatically handed out.

Fast forward to the United States today. In many states if you've reached legal age and are not a convicted felon you're free to carry a gun just about anywhere you please, without a permit. The only place I go where I don't carry my gun is the medical clinic, because there are signs prohibiting guns. There are businesses that have signs saying, "The legal carrying of concealed guns is welcome."

Many political hopefuls include concealed carry in their platforms. This screenshot is from the website of Kandiss Taylor, who wants to be Georgia's Governor. 

Forget about the economy, infrastructure, healthcare and education...her #1 priority is to get and keep guns in the hands of the people. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that, just seems a little unbalanced. I only briefly glanced at her website so I don't know what the connection is between "Jesus, Guns and Babies."

So back to the title of this post; why carry a gun? Right off the bat, I don't really like carrying a gun because it's a pain in the butt. First, I have to remember to take it. It's not laying out in open view so I'm often half-way out of the door before I remember it. Then I have to undo my belt to thread the belt through the pant loops and the holster. Then I need to think about my shirt. I could just carry the gun in the open but that's not the culture here. In five years of living here we have seen just three people openly carrying guns...two men and one woman. What you do is wear your shirt untucked so the gun doesn't show. So I have to be wearing a shirt/polo/tee shirt that is long enough to cover the holster, and roomy enough so as to minimize the bulge. Actually it's easy to spot the bulge if you know where to look. And there are an amazing number of bulges to be seen. 

I carry a gun because I read the news, and read about the daily mall, school, church, tavern and street shootings. There are too many nut jobs out there ready to blaze away anywhere at anyone. I want to be able to protect myself, Maribel and others. Carrying a gun gives me the means and the confidence to do that if necessary. 

Jennifer Strahan is another candidate...

...who is running for Georgia's 14th congressional district on the Republican ticket. She is well educated and seems to have adequate administrative experience. Her webpage is well done, and though the message is the typical campaigning verbiage (click on My Stances to see what I mean) I had no problem with it but will admit that I cringed when she said......

I want to believe that the comment is tokenism so as not to alienate the many Trump supporters in the district. I subscribe to her mailing list, and based on the email I received today she is certainly not afraid to alienate Marjorie Greene supporters. It says in part:

"Every time we think she’s reached a new low, MTG opens her mouth again.

In recent weeks, as Russia has bombarded Ukraine and committed horrific war crimes targeting civilians – killing thousands of innocent men, women, and children – she’s called the people of Ukraine Nazis and suggested that Ukraine is to blame for the invasion.

She’s heaped praise on the Kremlin and she’s parroting Vladimir Putin’s vicious lies! She's even been featured on Russian state-owned television multiple times being used as a tool for Putin's war propaganda machine!

To call MTG’s pro-Russia rhetoric ignorant and disgraceful is an understatement. She cannot be allowed to continue to serve as our “representative” in the U.S. House.

We need to HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE and SEND HER PACKING on May 24th."

Amidst all the calls to hold the far-left accountable, it is refreshing to hear accountability of the far-right called for. 

But unless the suit to disqualify Greene from the election is successful (I doubt it): a hearing is scheduled for this Friday, I see her winning the primary on May 24th. The ultra-right culture in this district is so deeply ingrained and wide spread that I doubt if anyone except Jesus could defeat Trump and by association Marjorie Green. Plus she's got the acronym thing going for her...I mean, everybody knows who MTG is. I think she's even overshowed AOC, and that's doing something. But MTG is entertaining, I'll give her that. Kinda like a side-show in the traveling carnies that used to go from town to town when I was a kid. 

Georgia 14th Congressional District Voters - remember the name Charles Lutin

Charles Lutin is one of six Republican candidates on the May 24th ballot for Georgia's 14th congressional district. He is one of three who completed a "candidate connection" survey on the website BALLOTPEDIA. If he remains a candidate, and if he is honest and sincere regarding his philosophy and goals, in my view he represents the perfect candidate...a moderate conservative Republican who prefers bipartisanship, reason and truth over political mudslinging. What follows are selected questions/answers from the survey.

Who Are you? Tell us about yourself.

Charles Lutin is a retired physician, originally from Nashville, TN. He has practiced 35 years in hospitals and 5 years in the US Air Force and has treated 250,000 ED patients just like you without mishap or problem with medical ethics. Charlie has been retired from medical practice for about two years.

Charlie has two children ages 22 and 36 years. He is an outdoorsman and has a longstanding love of aviation. He has been a private pilot with additional ratings since 1983. This is his first run for public office. He is a Conservative Republican without extreme views to detract from his policies.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, Public Service Mentality, Analytic ability

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Integrity, Bipartisanship, deep understanding of our military preparedness and Emergency response agencies

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

We have a distinctly anti-democratic faction in the modern Republican Party that nearly overturned an election violently and harbors ambitions to do it again. We have a serious global commercial competitor in China and a military competitor in Russia, but the most significant problem facing the US is within ourselves.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be remembered as the guy who sent MTG home where she ought to be.

Charles Lutin's website is worth reading. And unless something changes he's the man who will get my vote on May 24th. The time for a return to sanity is long overdue.

Chiclayo Peru Production Goes On The Road!

It started innocently enough with an invitation to some friends to come over to our house for lunch and then after eating if they felt like it to look at some photos of our recent trip to Chiclayo, Peru. Maribel and I had chosen a few photos that we felt captured the essence of Chiclayo and depicted our activities while there. We deliberately avoided an excessive number of those oh-so-boring pictures of relatives...you know what I mean, "Here's my cousin Maria looking left, here she is looking right, here she is smiling...." the kind of photos that soon have the viewers eyes glazing over. To our surprise, our friends, whom had not been to Peru were intensely interested in each and every photo, asking many questions both during and after the presentation. I use the word 'presentation' because we had copied the photos to a usb and plugged it into the television for ease of viewing.

A few days later we received a phone call from some friends of our friends, who asked if we would consider presenting our show to a gathering of people at their house. We agreed, showed the photos, and again were surprised at the depth of interest and many questions. 

A day later a priest from a Catholic Church (Our Lady of Considerable Distance from our House) phoned to ask if we would consider doing our presentation in the church auditorium during their Friday evening fish-fry, in sort of a dinner theater format. The priest said that they would handle the publicity and assured us an audience of at least 150 parishioners. When he asked for the name of our presentation for publicity purposes we were at a loss, never having entertained the thought. That was the moment when "The Sensual Sights and Sounds of Chiclayo Peru" was born. The presentation went well.

This coming Monday, April 11 at 1:00 PM will mark the final showing in Georgia of The Sensual Sights and Sounds of Chiclayo Peru. Just as it started, it will finish as an at-home showing for friends. Then we're on to bigger things. On Wednesday, April 13th we open at the Huntington Theater in Boston for a three-week run, followed by a two week engagement at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, prior to beginning a six-month residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

We are gratified at the interest shown in Chiclayo, Peru as evidenced by the reception we've received at each showing, by the intense audience interest, and by the many positive reviews of our presentation by critics from both print and broadcast media. Some recent reviews include:

* Chattanooga Times Free Press entertainment reviewer - "I couldn't find the Rossville address but I'm sure that I would have liked the show." 

* President Joe Biden - "They continually mispronounced Chicago."

* Marjorie Taylor Green - "Haven't seen it - won't see it. They're pro-Hispanic!"

* Donald Trump - "Pewooo is a gweat countwy. I admire the Mayan culture". 

* Will Smith - "It made me want to slap someone."

* Tennessee Governor Bill Lee - "Doesn't Peru border Alaska?"

* Georgia Governor Brian Kemp - "Yes, it does."

* Chicago Tribune - "The potato originated in Peru. They should feature potatoes."

* An unknown guy who walked in off the street - "Coulda been some popcorn."

Residents and visitors to Boston, Los Angeles and Las Vegas will soon be able to view the show that everyone's talking about - The Sensual Sights and Sounds of Chiclayo Peru. See you soon!

** Disclaimer - We do have photos on a usb of our recent visit to Chiclayo. We do have friends who have seen the photos. Everything else is a figment of the author's imagination. 

The Sights and Sounds of Chiclayo, Peru

I remarked in a previous post that during my recent visit to Chiclayo, I felt as if I had never left. There were some changes...a new restaurant here, a remodeled home there, but it was essentially the same Chiclayo I had first encountered in 2005, and last seen in 2017.

This is the view from a second floor window of our house from the room we call 'the bistro.' The photo was taken last month but could just as well have been snapped in 2005. 

With some minor differences, the activities of Chiclayanos haven't changed much either. The street vendors are still out there in full force, offering fruits, vegetables, tamales, fish, soy milk, etc. What is different is that they now use loudspeakers mounted on top of their carts to announce their wares, which is easier on their vocal cords, and some of them even play recorded massages so they don't have to do anything other than push the cart. It's rare to go more that 30 minutes without the cry of a vendor being heard. When I first moved to Chiclayo the vendors were a huge annoyance to me, but like most I soon learned to tune them out. 

Processions on the streets are not uncommon, sometimes taking the form of a funeral procession, a political protest, an election rally, a religious ceremony, the inauguration of a new park or business, and any of a dozen other reasons. This one is a group of energetic  soccer fans getting fired up to support their team at a game that evening.

I was happy to see that street bands are still out their doing their thing. The deal is that three or four musicians roam the streets, playing their instruments and hoping that someone will toss some money their way, or hire them to play for whatever occasion they may have going on. Tradition is that if they see you watching them play, you have to pay them something. I learned through experience that if you do that, it is a guarantee that they'll be back. 

It was comforting to learn that the Chiclayo I had left five years ago still exists. With one noticeable exception. In the past, it was not possible to walk almost any street without hearing the sound of turkeys gobbling, ducks quacking or roosters crowing. During my recent trip, in three weeks of roaming the streets I heard only one rooster crow one time. I so identified those noises with Chiclayo that the absence of those sounds seemed eerie. 

I was not able to get information about why people had apparently stopped raising poultry on their roofs. I know that there was an ordinance prohibiting the raising of poultry in the city in the past, but it was ignored and to my knowledge never enforced. Anyway, it reminded me of a post I had written about a personal experience with the subject years ago on my old blog. I searched for, located it and reproduced it below, my only reason being that it brings back some good memories.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2011

How to teach a rooster not to crow at 4:00am

Chiclayo is a modern city by Peruvian standards. Burro and horse carts are no longer encountered on city streets, nor are sheep, cows or goats seen in yards or on roof tops (actually cows were never seen on roof tops for obvious reasons. Goats, being much lighter in weight were in the past observed on concrete roofs, but never on thatch roofs, as you can well understand). However the transition from farm to city is not yet complete. With the exception of the very center of the city, the sound of Peruvian songbirds – also known as chickens, ducks and turkeys fills the air.

This is a rooster. He has a harem of about twenty hens all to himself on his roof-top kingdom. He is apparently a very happy rooster. The rooster expresses his happiness by crowing, starting with his greeting each new day at about 4:00am. The rooster does not care one iota that my bedroom is on the other side of the window lower-left. The rooster’s owner is also not concerned about the rooster/bedroom proximity. Two separate discussions with the man had resulted in his essentially saying, “This is Peru. If I want chickens on my roof I’ll have chickens on my roof.”

It is not an exaggeration to state that each and every morning at 4:00am when I opened my eyes in response to Mr. Barnyard Bigmouth’s serenade I fully expected to see him perched on the foot of my bed. His crowing is that loud. This was not a satisfactory situation, so to remedy the problem I did what any reasonable adult would do.

Rummaging through my odds-and-ends tool box I found what I was looking for… a piece of PVC tubing with a ½ inch inside diameter. This would serve well as a ‘blow gun barrel.’ Next I needed to find the ammunition. I considered purchasing ball-bearings at Sodimac but decided against it both because of the expense and the possibility of actually harming the rooster. After all, my intent was not to kill him; simply to modify his behavior via negative reinforcement. A solution for the ammunition was inadvertently stumbled upon during a walk in the neighborhood when Maribel spotted seed pods littering the ground at the base of a tree. The pods are oval, moderately hard, and best of all average about 7/16 inch in diameter. Brian and Maribel soon stopped scoffing when I demonstrated that at about 20 feet I could consistently hit a 4 inch target, accompanied by a satisfying ‘whap!’ sound.

This is Mr. Barnyard Bigmouth a split-second after being hit in the chest with a hard seed pod shot from our dining room window. I hit him on the second attempt…the first just missing his head, causing him to do that stupid head-bobbing up and down dance that chickens always do when they sense something is not quite right. He didn’t stop crowing immediately after that first hit, but he no longer brazenly jumped up on the wall. I would first see his head nervously appear, looking to see if the coast was clear.

I am happy to report that after taking several direct hits Mr. Barnyard Bigmouth no longer crows from the wall. He continues to crow, but from behind the wall, which reduces the sound to an acceptable level. He still perches on the wall but he doesn’t crow while there. Sometimes when I see him sitting on the wall I open the dining room window and point the tube at him just to let him know that I’m on the alert because after all, chickens are so immature.

Tom