From Margaret and Helen, a couple of wonderfully erudite, supposedly old ladies I've been following since the Bush nightmare. They don't post all that often, but when they do, they slam it out of the park:
FROM HELEN:
Margaret, I watched that jackass in Cleveland and lost my voice. I saw a Presidential nominee paint a picture of an America I don't know and have never known. I tried to respond but I couldn't find the words. I watched his wife lie to a reporter saying that she had written every word of her speech. When she hadn't, I watched the media say it wasn't her fault. I tried to respond but couldn't find the words. I listened to children who have known only life's riches praise a father who had made his riches by cheating others. I tried to respond but I couldn't find the words. I watched an audience shout down a Senator when he told them to vote their conscience. I tried to respond but I couldn't find the words. I watched amazed as Trump got more popular rather than less and truly I couldn't find the words. But last night, I watched a battle-worn President who had been unjustly treated and unfairly maligned rise above it all. I watched Barack Obama, my President, paint a different picture, a beautiful picture of hope, kindness, forgiveness and humility. And now I am going to respond because I have indeed found my words. Screw you, Mr. Trump. You better give your heart to Jesus because your butt is mine and I plan to kick your ass from the bottom floor to the top floor of Trump Tower and then down again. As I live and breathe, you will never be President. Never.
I have always said that even when I watch my P's and Q's, I can still spell bullshit. Eight years ago, Sarah Palin walked onto the world stage and American politics hit a new low. I saw a bitch and I called her a bitch. She spewed hatred, fear and ignorance better than any hillbilly I had ever known. I have no regrets for calling her a bitch. Palin was a joke. Trump, however, is no joke. He is the real deal. He is the bitch to rule all bitches. Trump has an ego the size of my ass (and trust me when I tell you that is one yuuuuuuuuge ass). Everything he does is for selfish reasons, fueled by greed and motivated by power.
Salty language and a strong opinion don't bother me. Saying what's on your mind is usually a good thing. Usually. But what's on Trumps mind isn't fit for human consumption. It's just hatred, fear and plain old racism. He put together a carnival in Cleveland to make the case that America has become a horrible place that no longer has time for political correctness. But I am here to tell you that speaking your mind and being politically correct are not mutually exclusive. Political correctness is having the emotional intelligence and decency not to use language, evoke images or take actions that marginalize, offend or otherwise insult people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against. Kind of sounds like something Jesus would support if you ask me.
The America he described is not the America I know. In fact, it's not the America anyone knows. The rest of us know an America of hard-working, compassionate people who no longer have time to hate and who don't aspire to harass and humiliate their fellow countrymen. The America we know wants to end poverty, end war, educate our children and take care of our elderly. We welcome diversity because we are and always have been the world's great melting pot. Our America has been and always will be great. Trump sees America as some ugly girl just waiting for him to take her to the prom. It's bullshit and we all know it.
Trump takes offense that President Obama and Secretary Clinton don't use the expression Extreme Islamic Terrorist, suggesting, I guess, that all Islamic people are terrorist but some are just more extreme. Funny. Whenever another old, white man blows up an abortion clinic, I don't hear anyone calling him an Extreme Christian Terrorist. Why? Because you don't attribute the bad actions of a few Christians to the entire Christian faith any more than you should attribute terrorism to the entire religion of Islam. You don't, of course, unless you are trying to stir up a bunch of ignorant mouth breathers that have been drawn to the talk radio/Fox News/Sarah Palin/Michelle Bachman brand of Republicanism that is today's Republican base. Trump's America seems to be one filled with roaming bands of brown gypsies raping and pillaging at will. I guess the view from Trump Towers is somewhat skewed when you watch Fox News and listen to talk radio all day. To him, there is evil in anyone who doesn't bow to his perceived greatness.
Trump is partly right. Evil is indeed alive and well in America. It's just not as widespread as he would like to scare us into believing. It seems to be alive and well in about 4% of the population – roughly equal to the number of votes cast for Trump during the primaries. Coincidence? I think not. And funny enough, the worst of them all decided to travel to Cleveland last week.
Donald. You sir are no Reagan. You are no Kennedy. No Clinton. You are no Obama. You aren't even a Bush. You are a self-aggrandizing, hatred-spewing, lying sack of shit. And yes, I realize that my name- calling is just as bad as yours. But I am not running for President. You are. So be a man and act like it. Sadly, I sincerely doubt you can.
The Republican Party, the party that likes to think it has a monopoly on god, family values and patriotism, owes America an enormous apology. Palin was bad enough, but Trump is inexcusable. I mean it. Really.
FROM MARGARET:
Helen, you had better sit down for this. I have news. It's happened and we've both lived to see it. After watching three nights of the Democratic convention, my Howard woke up this morning and told me that he, a dyed in the wool Republican, will be voting for Hillary Clinton in November.
Helen, dear, I have now seen it all and I am planning to wear my Sunday best everyday because I could now drop dead at any given moment. He's with her. I couldn't be happier. You should be too. Have some pie. We've got this.
Bravo!