My New Hero

Sally Yates, acting Attorney General, told her department to not enforce trump's unconstitutional and inhuman immigration dictum. Fired by trump within hours. A woman worth of our respect and honor. An example of what we have to do, what our legislators have to do, an example of what America should be about. We are not the minions of this sorry-ass excuse for a man that 59 fucking million uninformed, misinformed, simply wrong people voted for. 

Let's follow her example, let's force our congress that are seemingly on our side to follow her example, let's resist the 4th Reich that trump is trying to bring upon our now semi-democracy. 

I'm not advocating the motto the Philippines once had about politics: "Ballots and Bullets". Yet. 

Cheers,

Mike 

We're not stopping

My oldest, Kate is in this. She and my other kids won't stop, won't quit. Neither will I, my abilities might be less, but I'm with them in spirit. 

Three things

An edit, in a paragraph I said 'your actions', I actually said 'our government's actions'. It's in #2.

1. My second email to trump:

'president' Trump:
Actually, I'm guessing this is read by a staffer at best, probably an unpaid intern. If so, Jesus, have some respect for yourself and get a real position with a person less despicable then trump. But here goes:

President Trump
My second email to you.  Your policies, enacted in your first week, disgust me. Particularly the one released today regarding changes in immigration and refugees. It is so unamerican  as to be beyond the pale of understanding.

I'm 71, and unlike you a veteran. I served in Vietnam, one wonders what you were doing to serve your country in 66-69. I was there two tours.

Your policies disgust me, especially on refugees. Ever hear of the Bermuda Conference (staffer or intern, look it up, it's enlightening. Happened during WW2)?  Bet you'd have been in favor of that, right? Keeping refugee Jews from being sent to the camps. That is exactly what happened. We had the opportunity to save at least 100,000 Jews.....but said no.

I am, for the first time, ashamed to be an American. Because of you. I'm ashamed that we have you to call 'President'.

2. I went to a local store today, I'm visiting in Seattle. A woman in full Hijab was outside, going in. I stopped her, and told her I'd like to apologise for our government's actions. Not on your behalf, trump, understand, but on mine.

3. (back to the email) I don't think you're all there. As in a couple bottles short of a six-pac, as we say in Montana. I think the 25th Amendment is in order.

Again, to the staffer or intern that may have gotten this far before hitting the 'delete' button, don't demean yourself by working for this sorry excuse of a man.

Sincerely,
Mike Mulligan
Butte, MT

An old one, but true like seldom before

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Edmund Burke

Current status, a bit of humor

My favorite, below

Hey, we medico people have a weird sense of humor, what can I say. 

Cheers to all. 

Mike

Waiting and Random Thoughts

As Joanne reminded me, I have some time on my hands. Her blog, Cup on the Bus, is well worth your time to read by the way.

Listening to Trumps first days in office reinforced what I'd thought: he'll be no different as president than he was as candidate. A liar, a self-serving, racist, nazi buffoon. He's using methods tried and true, by dictators in the past for press control and population spreading information.

"Alternate facts".....what amazed me is she could say that with a straight face, without breaking down and giggling. But it's the central fact of this administration. Lies, repeated, lies and more lies. And, sadly enough, a sizable percentage of our population will believe him. Facts, truth, ethics, are not part of this president's repertoire.

I love the response of women (and men) in the marches on Saturday. But I kept wondering where was all this organization, dedication, passion, etc in the weeks and days ahead of the election. And on election day.

But then I also realized that the entire voting population of CA, WA, OR, could have voted for Hillary, she could have won the popular vote by 15 million, and still lost the election. Such is the system.

The march was great. But something has to carry through for two years and through the mid-terms, a usual weak spot for democrats. If it doesn't, we're screwed. If we don't gain back seats at the state and national level at the mid-terms, we're fucked.

Let's remember that the Germans, in 1933 and 1936, overwhelmingly voted Hitler into office. The response of progressives, socialists and Jews was "We'll get through this, we'll persevere".

Take a lesson from that.

Fight this attitude fostered by Trump in every way possible. Fight it when you see it, in the street, in stores, in conversations. I'll start:

There is a blog, Lone Wolf Concerto who has a blog. Here's today's post, it shows you what we are up against. I don't think he's alone in his view, as horrible as that may be. Here it is:

http://lonewolfconcerto.blogspot.com/2017/01/questioning-myself.html

It was included in a list of blogs on another, great blog I read. I asked to be taken off the list, I didn't want to be on a list it was part of. Instead, the blog took his off. But it's still out there, spouting hate and filth against women and anyone not white.

Call this stuff out. Or, we succumb to the Trumpian way.

Cheers,
Mikekkk

first email

My first email to our new 'president'.

Mr. Trump
I did not vote for you, I feel you are perhaps the worse choice the American people (not a majority, 2.8 MILLION more voted for Mrs. Clinton) have ever made for any elective office.

I think you lie almost as often as you breath.

I will make every effort possible for a private citizen to have you removed from office.  I will encourage congress and my representative to oppose every initiative you propose.

I believe you would have fit in very well in Germany, circa 1936. They were your kind of people.

Cheers,
Mike Mulligan
Butte, MT

One can go to the White House website and email the president, vp or first lady.

Seattle

Both my girls are somewhere in this crowd.  I can't be more proud of them.  

My test have started, will continue through the week. 

Isn't it something to have a bombastic, fascist, nationalistic 'president'? I thought his 'address' was a masterpiece of 'I'm going to shove my version of America down your throat' under the guise of 'you have your country back'. 

As I write, my oldest is negotiating the 600 miles to Butte. Tomorrow she'll drive me back, and I'm going to have another round of procedures.

It may be a bit before I post again, we'll see how it goes.

My best to each and every one of you.

Cheers,
Mike

The first of your wishes, from the wish fairy

Congress moves to repeal health overhaul

Roughly 30 million people will find themselves without health insurance in a week. Well, according to you trump voters, it's what they needed, right? If they didn't have it, they would have got out an got a job, right? 

And more to come. A HUD sec, who while apparently a neuro surgeon, I wouldn't let diagnose a common cold. More than a couple who have said in the past the department they have been proposed to head should be eliminated. What fun for us. His sole qualification is he's owned a house. I'd like him run through a screen for Alzheimer. 

We went from having an honorable, honest man to a huckster, rich because his daddy was, a demagogue in the worse sense of the word. And my, does he have his followers. Does he ever. Outnumbered yes, in the general election, by 2.6 million, but that's meaningless. 

Trump is a geek, the classic definition being the guy who is outside the tent, biting the heads off chickens, to lure passerby's into the tent, to be fleeced. Lots of metaphors there. I wonder how long the GOP inside the tent will tolerate the nut outside. 

Wait till we see who is his Supreme's nomination.  Boy, one can hardly imagine.  

I see 'One Day More' blog has a reminder for us to watch a PBS show, "A Nation Divided". 

It's correct, and where oh where do we go from here........because I understand the divide. I understand the political differences that divide us. A nation, my friends, the readers of this blog. 

We don't disagree.  We actively dislike each other. In at least case of one reader, he hates me. Other's have the dislike that comes from me being a liberal.  We, as a tribe, a region, a country have moved it steps beyond that. We hate each other. All because of this, Trump vs Clinton. On to liberal vs conservative, on to white vs other colors. etc. We can't talk about it, because our voices immediately go into scream mode. I have neighbors I no longer hear from, because I didn't vote for Trump. 

I can think of only one other time it's become so apparent.  1856-59. 

It's pretty fucking sad. 

A recent political survey

My Dem Senator, Jon Tester, who I worked for in his last campaign and actually had a couple shots of Headframe Whiskey, sent a survey, asking us to pose questions to the potential cabinet positions president Trump has submitted.

I like Jon, a lot. Like all politicians, he's learned to survive in his environment.  It's Montana. We won't elect Bernie Sanders. So he carefully treads middle ground mostly. But lord, look at our other Senator, the one I've sent so many 'nasty emails', as Bruce reminded me, that he may be behind our recent sub-zero temps.

Anyway, here's my reply to Jon. It asked for questions to give to the potential cabinet members.

M. Mulligan <mm5.montana@gmail.com>	7:35 PM (6 minutes ago)
to Senator

Senator Tester/Jon

I have serious questions about damn near every one. More than one have previously stated, on the record, that the department they are now being selected to head, should be abolished. What more is there to ask?  "Oh, I was just kidding", "Um, changed my mind", or they could pull a 'Trump' "I never said that. I don't give a damn what the recording says.". 

Sessions. Perhaps he could answer for his statements on racism in the 60's through the 80's. Enough that his peers, peers, mind you, in Republican years, said he was too racist for the judicial job he was trying for. 

What does he say to that? Basically, he has two potential, truthful, answers. One: "I've changed my views, I was wrong. Yes, I can enforce the laws of the the United States", or, "No, that's what I still think. I'll use my position to try to bring the country's laws and enforcement back  to what I think it should be." 

I mean the rest of them, for a Democrat, are repulsive. We're going to lose a lot of ground in the next few years. 

What I don't want to see is you being dragged to the center, then the right, of the party. I know we're a rare breed in Montana, but hell, your principals gotta start and end somewhere, pal. 

Cheers,

Mike Mulligan

Butte, MT

A Song

I've always thought of my girls, Kate and Emily when I listened to this.I encourage you to click on and enlarge the video..

The Reader

It occur's to me I haven't posted a picture of the Adorable One lately.  A bit go I read a post, and damned if I can remember who wrote it, and can't find it, about how the little buggers can pass a cold along like a Montana to Rice pass.

She's in the first grade now.  How fast it goes.

Pool party on the patio this afternoon

Butte, MT

RIGHT NOW

-31°

Clear

3 Jan 2017 10:30am MST

Weather in Barrow, Alaska, USA
◢
Now

25 °F

Weather in Butte, Montana, USA

Now

-15 °F


Somehow, given the locations, there's a certain wrongness with this.

Warming Trend

For the next few days:

TUE

10%

-18°

4°

WED

10%

-27°

6°

THU

10%

-8°

7°

FRI

10%

-4°

15°

SAT

10%

15°

22°

SUN

20%

24°

36°