FRIENDS?

The news tells me that Donald Trump and David Pecker had a long-term friendship.  But how can you be friends with a liar and narcissist? I would assume your so-called friend would lie to your constantly, not be interested in anything concerning you, and probably resent any achievement that wasn't his. I would guess that Trump would bore Pecker to death with his constant bragging, endless exaggerations, and tedious tales of victory. And how could a snob like Trump show any interests in a low-brow rag like The National Enquirer? Also if their friendship was based on comparing cheating-on-your-wife sexual conquests, that would suggest that Pecker was as immoral as Trump himself, so maybe yes they could be pals.

STUPID COMMERCIALS

Having been an award-winning copywriter for 40 years, I feel qualified to comment on today's commercials, most of which have no concept, no wit, no nothing. Here are my most offensive.

Anything from Liberty Mutual, who create the worst of the worst and then play them endlessly, Most offensive other than smelly and the emu is, "How many people did you tell?" 

I have seen The First Response spot about 80 times, often three or four times in a row. There should be a law against running a commercial that often. Same is true of L'Oreal's mascara.

The 12-year-old boy racing the Dodge Hornet is plain irresponsible. (Just yesterday a boy of about the same age took his parents' car for a joy ride and killed two people.)

Any pharmaceutical, as who wants to hear all the ways the product can cripple or kill you, or worse make you kill yourself?

Most car commercials who try to flatter you into buying their product by telling you how adventurous you are when you're not.

All ambulance chaser spots who brag about how much money they squeezed out of companies on behalf of a greedy client without ever mentioning the large slice they keep. 

The new trend for whole body deodorants in which an attractive women tells you how repulsive she actually is.

The good news:

The best commercial of the year remains the very touching "Thanks Dad." spot for Publix. Pity it's for a supermarket chain that supports anti-democracy politicians and is most noted for high prices and lowbrow music.

Another series of excellent commercials is for Freshpet. Love that these people value their dogs over their stupid friends.

ANOTHER POSSIBLE TRAIN WRECK.

Tomorrow the Supreme Court will hear arguments as to whether Trump should be granted immunity for his crimes and should given free reign to be the criminal asshole we all know him to be. Considering all the recent idiotic and biased judgements of our Inquisition, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the republican toadies kissed both sides of Trump's enormous buttocks and ruled in his favor. And if they do, consider all hope gone for a fair and lawful democracy.  The fact that Clarence Thomas is married to, and pussy-whipped by, a traitor to the United States is shameful enough, but that the majority of the court ignores the Constitution and rules based on their religious superstitions is appalling. 

"Honeybun,  let's discuss tomorrow's vote."

THE AMERICAN SUCKER.

You now who thinks you're stupid? The TV networks.  They think you are so mindless that they can treat you any way they like. Mostly that means deluging you with commercials knowing you will never complain. You're so uncomplaining they have recently not only upped the number of commercials at each break, but repeat the same ones one after another often as frequently as three times. And guess what? They don't even have to run as many commercials as they do to make a great profit.They're doing it out of greed. So you, poor sucker, are forced to see thousands upon thousands of commercials, mostly boring, so a network exec can make a ton more money. And keep in mind you were told years ago that if you paid for TV service, there wouldn't be any commercials. So the jokes on all of us.

BIG PAYOUT FOR NOTHING.

Supposedly the story by the doorman at Trump Tower that Trump fathered a love child with a tower maid is false. Then why did Trump, and Pecker and Cohen give him $30,000? That seems like a generous reward to someone peddling a false story. Hmmm.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

 The bad news is that our Supreme Court has become a joke. With few Democrat exceptions it is controlled by a lawless bunch of Trump appointees who care more about their magical thinking religion than their country. We have a drunk, a wimp, a traitor, and two religious fanatics. It wouldn't surprise at all to see this panel of dummies grant Trump the immunity he has been begging for and insists is his right. Never mind that it would be an insane precedent.  The only good news is that that same immunity would apply to Biden, so he could shoot Trump in the head and get away with it, which he would never do, damn it. 

AN ESSENTIAL BLOG

I didn't write these two paragraphs. They are taken from a much longer blog from The Rude Pundit, whom everyone should read regularly if they want to save our democracy. 

In a sane country, Biden should have already all but won the 2024 election, his age and verbal gaffes be damned. He's been a historically successful president, and that's not me saying that. That's historians. In a survey of them, they already have Biden as the 14th-best president after just one term, ahead of Reagan, ahead of Wilson, tied with John fuckin' Adams himself. You already know who's last.

I get the idea that more attention needs to be paid to Trump's obviously declining mental faculties, and, sure, we always need to be reminded of just how fucking bugfuck insane and just downright fuckin' weird Trump is. Seriously, he's a creepy weirdo. But we're not gonna convince the MAGA cretins to jump ship now. They've mortgaged their souls to get that dumb orange motherfucker back into office. Trump could impregnate a 10 year-old girl during one of his wannabe Nuremberg rallies and laugh because she can't get an abortion, and his idiot hordes would cheer his virility. They're gone. Forget about them for now. So it's about making sure that anyone opposed to Trump gets out and votes for Biden.

DEMENTED DONNIE'S DREAM.

While Trump's dwindling fans are yacking about "Sleepy Joe" and carping about the few years difference between Trump and Biden,Trump is sitting on his more than ample ass in a New York courtroom while Joe is out vigorously campaigning. And on the first day of his trial, not only was Trump, as usual, argumentative and self-absorbed, part of the time he was sleeping. Yes sleeping. He closed those wrinkled orange lids over his dead-fish eyes in order to dream about world control, violently assaulting his enemies and plunging his pallid obesity into swimming pools of the money he conned out of all the working class people he needs so badly and hates so much.

FROM YUMMY TO YUCK.

 There are many food products that have proven to be successful despite their tasteless mediocrity. The one that comes immediately to mind are Pop Tarts. I had Pop Tarts for breakfast this morning, or at lease half of one, and found it a completely unsatisfying experience, not unlike, I would imagine, eating cardboard sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. This surprised me because I remember liking them. Did they change the formula? Have my taste buds matured? Who knows? But I am aware of other seemingly popular products that are equally distasteful, like Hostess coffee cakes, (unlike Drake's) and several flavorless treats from Little Debby (Debbie?). If anybody actually reads my ravings, I could expect them to submit their own favorite yucks.

THIS IS YOUR HERO.

America has always shown respect for its service members. To fight for your country in a time or war is the ultimate expression of courage and patriotism. Which makes one wonder why so many brave veterans who served their country during dangerous conflicts admire a coward like Donald Trump, who was so terrified of being hurt that he had a crooked physician claim that he had bone spurs. During Vietnam, while many Americans were risking their lives, and just as many were losing theirs, Donnie was wasting his father's money, sleeping with hookers, cheating suppliers, and considering those who served their country to be losers.

"When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, saying that “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and that the Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true."

A VERY EXPENSIVE OOPS.

Here's just one example of what amazes me about advertising.  A well-paid advertising agency with the Metamucil account creates new ads for the product. This takes at least a copywriter, art director, and account executive. They present several ideas to the client, which includes several member of the company. They settle on  a TV commercial. Then the concept is given to the director and his staff who plan its production, which requires the assistance of many people. Assuming that most of those  people involved in this very costly procedure is educated, what amazes me is this: The Metamucil ad I see every day encourages viewers to use Metamucil "everyday", which is grammatically incorrect. Didn't anyone notice? 

THIS FINGER IS FOR YOU.

Every person in America who came here from another country to avoid violence and repression must be determined to vote for President Biden in November and Vote Blue in general.  If you don't do so, you may soon find you are living in the kind of country you escaped. This is the face of a very angry, power hungry man. And such people are very, very dangerous.

RING UP "NO SALE"

I was ready to make two internet purchases today: a microwave oven and fitted decorative bedspread (a rare item). But in both cases the form was too fucking complicated, and they want a password, which I detest. I am certain that many retailers lose millions in sale because they don't have a simple purchase plan without the irritating red tape of passwords, i.d. numbers, and more information than necessary. If I want to buy something all they need is the mailing address and my credit card number. Why do they need my e-mail? So they can send me endless ads and notices which I don't want. 

DON'T WAIT FOR ME.

I have had several friends encourage me to listen to the popular Public Radio program "Wait. Wait. Don't Tell Me." I did. I'm sorry to say I find it to be the least funny program I have ever heard in my life. Whether the audience is real or recorded, they react with uproarious laughter at the weakest jokes and lamest puns. The hosts indulge in the most insipid commentary, and the guests respond in kind with their own lame chatter. I detest this program, but then I am also not a fan of Saturday Night Live, so who cares what I think?  

ADS INFINITUM.

 I haven't commented on advertising much lately, though I should. Not only are most TV ads terrible these days, either because they are hard to understand, badly produced, or just plain stupid. All Xfinity ads suck because they are so cynical. from the kid who insults his brother, to the pseudo-doctor who walks out on an operation. Ha ha. The Hornet ad with the 12-year-old driving a speeding car is tasteless. And any commercial from Liberty Mutual is boring at first watching and torture when seen 500 times. Which brings up this new trend for showing the same commercial two or three times in succession. Most car ads are transparent in their desire to flatter the ego of the possible buyer. And the epidemic of pharmaceutical ads is disgraceful considering the hypochondriacal U.S. is the only country that permits such visual tedium. Worst of all, today's station breaks often include 9-12 commercials. Networks obviously have no regard for their viewers.

I hate to admit it, but the best commercial on TV is the one in which the girl finally calls her stepfather "dad". Gets me every time. Pity it's for Publix, a major supporter of the traitorous Republican Party. 

DID TRUMP SAY HELL OR SMELL?

He must have said, "In 72 hours all smell is going to break loose." After all he is incontinent and sitting in a courtroom for a period of time is sure to wreak havoc with his bowels and bladder. Which makes one wonder why anyone would want to have a seat for that trial. 

THERE ARE A MILLION TRUMP CHUMPS.

 I wonder how many Trump fans are tradesmen. How many of the men and women who attend his rallies and shout his praises are electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and owners of their own shops. And of those who are self-employed, I wonder how many know their hero's reputation among small businessmen. Trump is notorious for not paying  his bills. He spent his whole life stiffing armies of workers, tearing up mountains of bills he never intended to pay, and leaving countless owners and employees kicking themselves for ever buying his lies and promises. So if you're one of the adoring fans who, for some inexplicable reason, plans to vote for Trump, consider this: If Trump hired you for your expertise, you would never receive the payment you earned, never; but if Biden hired you would receive a prompt and full payment. Unless you're a masochist, that should tell you something. 

These are only Trumps unpaid rally expenses.

A GRAVE INJUSTICE

I am still mystified as to why  Ivana Trump,  a successful New York business woman with a coterie of friends is buried on a golf course. The Trump National Golf Club at Bedminster is such an ignominious grave site for such a well-known person. We know that Trump chose the site to save on taxes, but why did Ivanka's children not protest? And why did the news not make a bigger fuss about this bizarre burial? Surely given the choice while alive, Ivana would have chosen an elegant mausoleum in a prestigious setting with a flattering metal plaque and the regular upkeep of a gardener instead of a weed-filled pauper's grave in New Jersey. Why did her ex-husband even get to make the choice? And were her three wealthy children so indifferent to their mother's disposal they never complained? It's sad that whatever friends Ivana had must visit her in this dreary setting. And instead of bringing flowers only, they had better also bring garden shears and weed killer.

ONE OF THESE DAYS.

 The top UN climate official used jarring, controversial framing in a stark speech in London on Wednesday, claiming we only have "two years left to save the world."

That's a dire warning. Only two years left. And that's if we have a president who wants to save the world, which doesn't apply to Trump. Since his only concern is his own welfare, why would he care about a world that exists when he's not around? He wouldn't. He's so self-centered and jealous, in fact, that he would hate the idea of life going on without him - in other words the Jim Jones attitude. Sadly Trump fans don't have any idea of how evil and selfish Trump is, and how quickly he would snuff out their lives if they ceased to be of value to him. He's not a fool; He knows his days are numbered. He's also not an altruist and has never given a thought to what he leaves behind. There is no behind for Trump. No loving bequests. No hospital, school, artistic institution, medical grant. I don't think any man has been more afraid to die, or more unwilling to accept it as a possibility. He is as unwilling to leave mortality as he was to vacate the presidency. And when he does he intends to cause just as much chaos. 

THE BIG, FRIGHTENING, AND COMPLETELY UNEXPLAINED WHY.

 Why are we allowing a compulsive liar, thief, con man, grifter, mountebank, philanderer, and rapist to run for president of our proud country? What can we possibly be thinking? Why would we so blindly place our democracy in the hands of a mentally unstable autocrat? Are we just trying to be fair to all the nearly illiterate morons who have no ability to make sane decisions and feel if they are unhappy, they want everyone to share their misery? 

SCHLOCK OF AGES.

 Being an atheist, it's hard for me to believe anyone actually thinks there's an invisible deity who knows or cares what everyone is doing at any minute. That these same people believe that after they die they will rise again to play God's parlor game: Heaven or Hell?, is also astounding, But I accept that there are such people in the U.S. in basically this breakdown: Christians, 31%; Islam, 24%: Unaffiliated.15%, and Hindu, 15%. This means that when the pious and bigoted Republicans push for a Christian nation, they are spitting in the face of more than half of U.S. citizens. What a way to get votes! To my mind most Christianity is a scam, which explains why so many churches are rolling in money, real estate, and valuable art works thanks to its gullible worshippers. Recently, one such GOP moron in Alabama actually used God as an excuse to prevent INV births and the State's other magical thinking GOP  idiots went along with his superstitious devotion. This Christian daffiness is spreading. In Florida we have one of the most brainwashed boobs in America, Ron DeSanctimonous; but American politics is rife with religious anti-science zealots, who are eagerly pushing for laws that aren't in the Bible and acting is if their warped view of religion should be the only law of the land.  Even in my atheistic conviction, I shout: God help us!

IS ANYBODY THERE?

Does  anybody read my blog?  If so,  please let me know by clicking "no comments", which I agree is a very stupid way to solicit comments. If you do respond, tell me what you would like me to bitch about.

WORDS MANY PEOPLE CAN'T PRONOUNCE.

 For some reason people have terrible trouble with contractions, even newspeople and actors. I constantly hear people say cunnint, dinnent,  and woonent. Why? It's not that hard. Other super popular mispronunciations are innanat, innaview, and many other words with an interior T like Atlanic, mennal illness,  rennal, sennimennal, and dennal which is even slurred on toothpaste ads. Another popular mispro is iony instead of the correct I-ron-ee. But the most offensive mispronunciation of all is antiSemetic instead of the correct antiSemitic. Many Jews and Arabs were Semites not Semetes. 

Semitic people or Semites is an obsolete term for an ethnic, cultural or racial group associated with people of the Middle East, including Arabs, Jews, Akkadians, and Phoenicians. The terminology is now largely unused outside the grouping "Semitic languages" in linguistics.

WHERE ARE THEIR SPOUSES?

Since it's pretty obvious that every Republican in office in Washington, D.C. has turned his or her back on America and democracy, one can only wonder if all their husbands and wives have done the same. Surely there must be one or two spouses who remain patriotic Americans who want to maintain our democracy and preserve freedom for their children. Where are they? I have not seen a one single story about a mate leaving their traitorous spouse or at least protesting the disappointing turncoat nature of a once-patriotic partner. We have seen the shocking loyalty a justice on the backstabbing Supreme Court pays to his quisling harridan wife but where are the morally strong still clearheaded mates of brainwashed GOP cultists?

MY MOST HATED WORD

I have been watching MSNBC all morning mostly to hear more condemnation of the world's worst person, Donald Trump.  But there is also a lot of coverage about today's eclipse. And here's what bothers me. All morning highly paid anchors and deeply educated reporters can't seem to find a better description of this rare and remarkable event than "cool". I hate the word cool since it is a lazy replacement for hundreds of other adjectives that are far more descriptive. It seems to me to be a word for tween ages who have not developed a vocabulary, yet it is epidemic among adults, even those who are college educated but unwilling to employ descriptive words they have learned over a lifetime. Among the lexicon lazy, cool is used to describe an endless selection of experiences, events, and encounters. What a waste of an education! The word "cool"has been leeching off our language for a long time now, but it's just the latest in slop-pop language and sure to fade like its cousins fab, funky, groovy, fly, phat, gnarly, rad and the cat's meow.

A CLEAR CHOICE.

Like Joe Biden I am 81 years old. Actually I'm older than him since I was born in July of 42.  Thus when people criticize his age, I can only assume they are unimaginative Republicans or petty carpers looking for an excuse to fault him. These people are bitching about the minor flaws he always had while devoting his life to our country. They are whining about the careful steps he takes which is a wise course for anyone over 60. But while I am in good shape and weigh a healthful 150, I could never deliver the speeches with the passion he does, never cope with the amount of traveling he does, and never maintain the volume of facts he accesses with such ease. Joe Biden is strong because he has led a purposeful life and continues to fight for the American people. Contrast that with his younger, by 4 years, rival who had led a dissolute life of lying, cheating, grifting, philandering, rape, and unrelenting greed. A man who has never used his once-healthy brain to benefit humanity, nor his inherited wealth to ease the suffering of anyone. A man who today spews his evil objectives along with insufferable grammar and mountainous mendacity to the gullible masses he pretends to protect but privately despises. At 81 I am pleased to still be strong, alert, energetic, and wise enough to not be taken in, even slightly, by an evil, ruthless, transparent mountebank like Trump.

THE MISSING MONTHLY CHECK.

Many elderly people (if not most) depend heavily on their Social Security payments. So it surprises me when I see news coverage of Trump rallies how many seedy senior citizens are devoted to the Monster Trump. He constantly threatens to do away with Social Security and Medicare. So how delighted will these elderly people feel about having voted for Trump when they are living on the street without relief from the many painful maladies of aging? And how will younger people feel when their elderly and infirm parents beg them for shelter and sustenance? If our government allows a criminal and would-be dictator to run for office and he wins, how many gullible cultists will rue voting away their future happiness for the once preventable nightmare of sudden poverty? 

LET'S FACE FINANCIAL FACTS.

I am fascinated by the number of anti-Biden "Americans" who bitch about inflation, as if Joe were to blame.  The reason prices are so high on so many items is not caused by inflation, but by greed. American industry, given the chance to raise prices, will do so; as well as lowering content and diluting ingredients. Since the madness of Trumpism, greed has been on the rise everywhere: rents, ticket prices, home services, restaurants, etc. Every electrician, plumber, doctor, dentist and veterinarian has raised their prices in the hope of becoming wealthy. Greed is inflation. Greed is the landlord who can do well with $500 a month rents, who wants and can demand $1,500. Very few business owners today take pride in giving a quality product or service at a fair and reasonable price. This is true from finding a comfortable affordable first home to being able to afford the electric bill if you do. Think about that the next time you're having an $8.50 ice cream cone.

P.S. President Biden recognizes and fights greed, as he did with bringing down the cost of Insulin. Trump has not and will not bring down the price of anything, included his $60.00 Bible, which is free in any hotel room.

P.P.S/ This Monday there are many people who are traveling to various cities to see the Eclipse. This is causing the greed monster to thrive and some hotels are charging up to a $1000 for a room.

MASS MURDERER?

In January of 2020, when President Donald Trump entered the final year of his one and only term. the U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Having no concern for the health of others and being an incompetent,Trump, without further research, lied and said the virus was “totally under control.” Believing this madman, many, mostly Republicans, avoided vaccines. Thus a year later, in his final hours of lying and denials, the pandemic's U.S. death toll had eclipsed 400,000. I personally knew one of those who died of COVID 19,  a 40-year-old Trump devotee, who refused to be vaccinated, a decision that resulted in him dying alone attached to a hospital ventilator. 

 

JIM JONES WITHOUT THE KOOL-AID

 On November 18, 1978, in Guyana, Jim Jones, the charismatic leader of the People's Temple knew his time was up.  He had to commit suicide or face exposure and years in prison. But being a cruel and arrogant leader he would not die alone. Thus he forced over 900 men, women, and children to commit a willing or forced suicide by swallowing a flavored drink laced with potassium cyanide. Donald Trump is a very similar cult leader with millions of followers, none of whom he feels any affection for. They merely exist to fund his coffers or keep his ego inflated. Like Jim Jones, he will face a day of reckoning, and believing himself to be the most important person on earth, he will not face defeat and humiliation alone. But one cannot get millions of followers to ingest a poisoned drink. However if he is President or dictator at the time of his ultimate madness, he will have a nuclear arsenal. 

AMERICA'S WORST GOVERNOR

 Just because I haven't mentioned Ron DeSantis lately doesn't mean I don't still regard him as an arrogant, prudish, ignorant, pussy-whipped piece of shit. I do. He's still prancing around Florida passing his moralistic laws against literacy and free speech, which are mostly anti-women and anti-education. What a joyous day it will be when he's out of office and finds out how worthless he is without power.

LIES DICTATORS TELL THEMSELVES.

 

      "I DID NOTHING WRONG."