A proud vote

Early voted for Bernie today in the Illinois Primary. Proudest vote for Prez aside from my 2 for O. Bernie has been a true progressive, caring actor on the public scene since college days at U of C starting in 1960. That's 56 years of keeping faith with the highest ideals of public citizenship and public office. He's one candidate who never has to pander, waffle, lie or disassemble. His message is simple, just and desperately needed. If he secures the nomination, he will only inspire tens of millions of us to work even harder for his election. If not, we must all keep faith to create the sane, fair, decent society and world we and future generations deserve.

Neocons pick for Prez? Rubio

here's oodles of reasons to despise neo-Fascist presidential candidate Donald Trump. One I can't abide by is the neocons' terror at a Trump presidency ending the neocon perpetual war gravytrain. Aside from a few blips such as "I'll bomb the shit out of them (ISIS) and "There won't be one square inch of it (ISIS territory) left", neocons bristle at Trump sins of calling out George W. Bush as a war criminal (lying US into war is ipso facto a war crime), saying Putin isn't our enemy, opposing new and endless Middle East wars, and possibly worst of all, arguing for a reasoned approach to the Israeli, Palestinian dispute.

The neocons two-fold approach is to join the chorus of Republican factions trashing Trump's candidacy and to pour millions into the candidacy of young Florida Senator Marco Rubio who slavishly supports their war always agenda. Rubio vows to overturn the 5 power Iran nuclear deal on Day One should he get elected. He's pledges further riches to expand our annual $900 million give away to the bloated military, intelligence and anti-terrorism programs. Spending more than the next seven countries combined on defense is not good enough to neocon Rubio. He's been supported for years by some of the richest and most virulent neocons including casino mogul and Israeli settlement fanatic Sheldon Adelson. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Singer, board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition and strong ally of Israeli President Bibi Netanyahu, was Rubio's second largest contributor between between 2009 and 2014. A third billionaire Norman Bramen has been financing Israeli settlements on Palestinian land for years and according to the NY Times, bankrolling Rubio's campaigns, legislative agenda and even his personal finances, hiring Rubio as a lawyer and his wife as a Bramen foundation consultant. With all the dreadful statements Trump has uttered that are racist, sexist, xenophobic, ignorant and demeaning, this is what Rubio chooses to criticize about Trump: “His position is an anti-Israel position. You cannot be an honest broker in a dispute between two sides in which one of the sides is constantly acting in bad faith," Rubio charged, not seeing the irony of Israel's dishonesty.

Rubio is the most likely of the four dreadful Republican candidates left to pursue a neocon foreign policy agenda. He's in hock up to them up to his slicked down hair and has no conscience regarding perpetuation of a bellicose foreign policy which puts us at all at risk.

Marco Rubio is oft likened as the most moderate and electable alternative to Donald Trump. But he's merely a stooge for the war party, bought and paid for, and grasping at their riches as he grasps for the brass ring.

Book Review: 1932 by David Pietrusza

Thought I knew much about these two giants of 20th century leadership till Pietruza's new history with one focus: their simultaneous rise to power in 1932; a truly momentous year. Pietrusza fills in the gap that most histories skim over, the minutia of how both schemed endlessly to grab the reins of power in two countries near collapse from Depression and failed leadership.

Neither had a clear path to power at the start of the year. Hitler used extreme violence, masterful propaganda and demonic energy and will to overcome both his inability to garner an electoral majority in repeated elections, and the hatred of him by virtually everyone else in power, including revered old President Paul on Hindenburg who vowed the 'Bavarian Corporal' would never become Chancellor...till he did just after 1932 mercifully ended. FDR was as cool and reserved in his quest for power as Hitler was hot and ego-maniacal. He deftly overcame incredulity of his ability to lead America out of Depression by party bosses who largely supported another run by Catholic Al Smith, who lost to Hoover in 1928. They and much of the electorate during the Democratic campaign viewed FDR as a wealthy, elite lightweight who offered no real program of economic salvation other than his cheery charisma.

A joy of this tome is the detail devoted to the incredible cast of characters drawn to the Hitler/FDR orbits. One who traversed both titans was Ernst Franz Sedwick "Putzi" Nanfstaegl, described by Pietrusza as "Der Fuhrer's clownish American descended intimate ("Hitler's Piano Player"). FDR's old friend from New York's posh Harvard Club, who said 'Roosevelt made himself by conquering an infirmity of the body; Hitler by conquering the infirmity of the German people'. "

The scary 2016 Republican presidential campaign featuring the neo-Fascist run by Donald Trump was never far from mind as I read this fascinating history of how the right man and the wrong man grabbed the top spot in America and Germany 84 years ago. If you think that's a stretch consider the wise words of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and activist Chris Hedges:

"Fascism is about an inspired and seemingly strong leader who promises moral renewal, new glory and revenge. It is about the replacement of rational debate with sensual experience. This is why the lies, half-truths and fabrications by Trump have no impact on his followers."

Neither Trump nor his followers would ever read "1932". The rest of us all should to understand how it can happen here.

We're all mis-hearing The Donald

He's actually saying: "Let's make America hate again." 

Only one Pink Slip needed to fix Illinois

The daily drumbeat of public employee layoff notices, students losing state aid, autistic kids denied desperately needed assistance, state vendors going belly up due to unpaid invoices is truly disheartening. This sickening crisis is due to unconscionable actions of a governor trying to run Illinois like one of the many acquired companies he broke up en route to fabulous personal wealth. Governor Bruce Rauner took a solvable financial dilemma in Illinois and turned it into a cruel assault on Illinois' middle class and most vulnerable to further enrich his rich base. He used his wealth to buy the governorship to implement a pretend 'turnaround agenda' which has done nothing but turnaround for the worse, the lives of folks with whom Rauner can never identify with. 

Having followed Illinois politics for ever 60 years now, I've seen five governors indicted, four of whom were jailed. Yet, none did so much damage to so many as the the heartless business mogul who's literally playing with peoples' lives and livelihood to ram his pro business agenda down Illinois' collective throats. Rauner still functions on the diseased vulture capitalist mindset that if an acquired company doesn't bend to his will it must be broken. Rauner may never sit in a real jail cell, but for millions of us he's already earned a lifetime sentence in the moral jail cell of governing cruelty. 

One Pink Slip can begin to heal Illinois. It bears the name Bruce Vincent Rauner.