Stop the Midazolam Massacre

Midazolam sounds like a drug name, possibly designed to induce sleep. Bingo. It's used to put undesirables to sleep forever; one of a three drug cocktail states commonly employed to practice legalized murder. Arkansas, like most states using lethal injection, are running out of the stuff as manufacturers say 'Nyet' to such disgusting use of their anesthetic Midazolam to kill folks instead of curing their ills.

Arkansas's stash runs out April 30 which caused them to schedule 8 state sponsored murders in the span of 10 days; 2 each on 4 days between April 17 and the 27th. Gov. Ira Hutchinson is aware of the grotesque spectacle saying: "I'd have loved to spread those executions over months or even years, but that's not the situation I'm facing...and the families of the victims that have endured this for so many years deserve conclusion." But such teeth gnashing hasn't prevented Hutchinson from halting the Midazolam Massacre which will shame Arkansas throughout the civilized world.

During this state sponsored murderfest authorities should play the 1928 No. 1 pop tune 'Sweathearts On Parade' with the following altered verse:

"Two by two, they go marching through...the condemned men on parade."

Walt Zlotow

Glen Ellyn, IL

630 442 3045 

TR: the first...and the worst

As we survey American interference around the world, blasting away at regimes and peoples we don't like in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Iran, to name eight, it's helpful to look back 120 years to the man who epitomized American imperialism: Teddy Roosevelt. TR was instrumental in dragging America into war with Spain in 1898, ostensibly to free the Cubans and Filipinos from Spain, but using that made up war to gobble up Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippians and Guam. TR wasn't shy about engaging in imperialist war. “I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one. Any opponent would do, but the most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages." Roosevelt, with a lot of help from publisher William Randolph Hearst and other imperialists, got his war with the trumped up USS Maine explosion; formed the Rough Riders to charge up San Juan Hill, and parleyed that fame into the NY governorship and US presidency. Afterwards Teddy said “Oh, but we have had a bully fight! I feel as big and strong as a bull moose! There comes a time in the life of a nation, as in the life of an individual, when it must face great responsibilities, whether it will or not…. We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with a high and resolute courage. I know now that I would have turned from my wife’s deathbed to have answered the call."

Out of office in 1917, Roosevelt became apoplectic over Wilson's pussyfooting about entering the Great War. Stung by his criticism, Wilson rebuffed TR's efforts to reprise the Rough Riders on European soil. Frustrated, TR demanded his 4 sons serve, but only succeeded in getting Teddy Jr. gassed, Archie wounded and his beloved Quentin shot down and killed in an aerial dogfight.

If we had to take one American Giant down from Mt. Rushmore, I'd pick TR, the original and Mother of all US imperialists and warmongers.

Yemen raid damns Trump's legacy into eternity

Try to understand. Ten days into his presidency Trump orders an needless, criminal military operation on the sovereign country of Yemen. It gets a US soldier killed and wounds three others. More ghastly, it kills 30 Yemenese civilians, including 10 women and children, and levels a village in Bayda Province. Trump lies repeatedly, saying it was approved by Obama and the generals, gathered worthwhile intelligence and was a great success. In his first speech before Congress last night, Trump doubles down on the lying, using the prop of the dead US soldier to proclaim it was a “highly successful raid,” emphasizing the death of soldier Ryan Owens as having “secured our nation” with the raid, and "secured his legacy into eternity.” There were tears shed and thunderous applause when Trump spoke those lies. But there were no tears and no thunderous applause for the 30 innocent men, women and children slaughtered by the sociopath Trump using his monstrous war crime to show he can lead the war party. Ryan Owen is simply canon fodder; a hired gun to wage perpetual war, now martyred to glorify the masters of war who rule us. But it's Trump's legacy that will be secured into eternity; that of a soulless warmonger.  

Trump budget: Guns get $54 billion; butter loses $54 billion

The peaceniks who thought Trump would be less warlike than Hawkish Hillary got a rude wakeup call when Trump proposed a 10% hike of $54 billion to the already bloated military, to be paid for by all the programs that truly make life better for Joe Sixpack. The EPA coughs up $2 billion, a cool quarter of its budget, guaranteeing we'll all be coughing more during the Trump era. Poverty programs, diplomats, IRS agents overseeing the games the one percenters play, education and science will all chip in so the munitions makers can gorge on obscene profits, and the hawks can fund more warfare. I remember the good ole' days half century ago when LBJ tried to do both guns and butter. Trump doesn't suffer such fools. His mantra: All guns, no butter.

Trump budget: Guns get $54 billion; butter loses $54 billion

The peaceniks who thought Trump would be less warlike than Hawkish Hillary got a rude wakeup call when Trump proposed a 10% hike of $54 billion to the already bloated military, to be paid for by all the programs that truly make life better for Joe Sixpack. The EPA coughs up $2 billion, a cool quarter of its budget, guaranteeing we'll all be coughing more during the Trump era. Poverty programs, diplomats, IRS agents overseeing the games the one percenters play, education and science will all chip in so the munitions makers can gorge on obscene profits, and the hawks can fund more warfare. I remember the good ole' days half century ago when LBJ tried to do both guns and butter. Trump doesn't suffer such fools. His mantra: All guns, no butter.

Summary of Trump's first 38 days in one sentence.

Virtually every time he speaks, releases a tweet or appoints a mendacious governmental appointee or adviser, Trump debases, disgraces the presidency; something his predecessor didn't do once in 2,922 days.