Donald Trump is a Transbender…

by R. C. Danon | May 31, 2016 | Brokennews

Photo taken from an article written by  Todd Starnes and found on freedomcongress.org

So what is a transbender…? Trans’ bender- Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of which direction to lean or bend does not correspond with his stated preferences or history. A person who is a mismatch between who he really is and those he wishes to mislead or sway to a different point of view.

As in… “The Trump” is leaning or bending to the right. Or, he’s leaning or bending to the left (Not so much at the moment however. But I guarantee you, he will again). Or, he leans or bends with the wind. Or, he leans to the politics of the people he might be addressing at any given time. Or, the Trump leans or bends to attack in a most disgusting manner; depending if you are a woman, an Hispanic, someone who is disabled, an opponent, a news talking-head, and just about anyone who might disagree with him. And he’s been known on occasion to quickly bend back the other way, to a less drastic point of view, if too many people he was hoping to sway, seem to be distressed with his bent point of view.

Or: The Trump recently stated that he is open to raising taxes on wealthy Americans, backing off his prior proposal to reduce taxes on all Americans.

Or: The Trump not long ago stated that he felt women should be punished for seeking an abortion. Then leaned, or bent back the other way, stating that the doctor who performed an abortion should be held responsible.

Or: When the Trump clearly and vehemently stated, “Until our government can figure how how to deal with them, all Muslims should be banned from entering the United States…” He then bent back, a bit more to the left, stating that it really was only a suggestion.

And most recently, “Breaking News” everywhere jumped all over an apparent 25 year old recording of the Trump pretending to be someone else while talking to a reporter on the phone. And of course, when questioned, he assured us that it wasn’t him… “No, it doesn’t sound like my voice at all. I have many, many people that are trying to imitate my voice, and you can imagine that, and this sounds like one of the scams, one of the many scams.” So I ask you the reader… Who do you think really cares about this guys behavior?

The bottom line… The Trump is a lying, misleading, vulgar, demeaning, flip flopper and his supporters could care less… That’s right! They like the guy! He is the TEFLON Trump and it appears he can get away with almost anything and everything. And it’s not difficult to understand why millions of voters want an outsider. Well, consider those he appeals to… In the eyes of many Americans, Donald Trump pales in comparison to our Congress, and the cheap, sleazy crooked politicians (of both parties) who have been mismanaging our country for years and years. And when one considers the monkey wrench that Mitch McConnell and his feeble followers keep throwing into the wheels of progress, it’s easy to understand why folks want someone different. And the Trump is certainly different. And please let’s stop blaming Obama for everything. That holds no water and will be addressed at another time.

Everyone, in both parties should be working together to keep the Trump out of Washington. But I suspect that Paul Ryan and the GOP don’t have the integrity to walk away from this lout. They’ll back him, and if he wins (and he might, as difficult as that is to imagine), we are all in for an interesting ride… Republicans especially, and Democrats as well, should be oh, so, worried.

So “transbend” away Trump man… Just don’t take us all down with you.

For me personally, I hope Bernie drops out very soon and puts his heart into convincing his supporters to back Hillary. It’s clearly the right thing to do. And if he is the man he has been telling everyone he is, then he needs to help keep our country in safe, sane and experienced hands. Anything else by Bernie would be deceitful. And to my Bernie friends, I ask that you also read the following:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-d-rosenstein/sanders-candidacy-devolvi_b_10168566.html And whatever your feelings might be about Hillary, are you ready to be Trumped? It’s clear the GOP isn’t happy about the possibility. And that’s clearly a red flag… So get out there and vote for the one person who can step into the job without missing a beat and hope for the best. And for what it’s worth, if you don’t vote, don’t complain. You have a responsibility, so live up to it, get involved, speak up, put your two cents in, and pull that lever for democracy.

Peace. I am Bob Danon, and integrity does matter…

From his cold dead hand…

by R. C. Danon | May 24, 2016 | Brokennews

It was December 14, 2012. The shootings had been over for some time now, and various law enforcement agencies had their people walking around the school halls and classrooms. The evidence techs were taking measurements and photographs at this sad and grizzly scene. We would learn the body count later, but nothing being reported from outside the building seemed even remotely promising. As we learned more and more each day, one thing became quite clear… Enough already!!

An evidence technician lifted the now lifeless hand of the shooter from the .223 caliber Bushmaster “assault rifle,” used to murder twenty lower-school-aged children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Looking down on the dead-by-suicide corpse laying at his feet, a police officer might have thought to himself, “assault rifle. Yes, this was definitely an ‘assault’ of unbelievable, and tragic proportion.” He would then place the weapon on a plastic tarp, next to the shooter’s cold dead body.

Now I don’t really know if that’s what took place at the scene. I can only imagine. But think about my opening line: “From his cold dead hand…” Former NRA president Charlton Heston was known to bugle similar words on more than one occasion, and I used to think, “You go Charlton! Give em hell! Pontificate away big man. Let everyone know that when you mess with the NRA, you’re messing with Charlton Heston, and when you mess with Charlton Heston, you’re messing with Moses. And a gun- toting Moses ain’t nobody to mess with.”

And so it goes… Follow CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, to the gates of hell as he fights to save your Second Amenment rights: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Wayne would tell you those sacred words were adopted into the US Constitution just over 224 years ago, on December 15, 1791, to be exact, and that there is no need to change anything. He won’t, of course, address the fact that there have been a few changes over the years… little things like semiautomatic and automatic weapons with large clips to hold more bullets. And of course the armor piercing bullets weren’t available back in George Washington’s day. He doesn’t want to talk about any killings, some of which have been mass murders like those at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. He won’t tell you about the never ending drive-by shootings and gang violence in Chicago. But he’ll fight for the right of every NRA member, and every American, to own an Uzi submachine gun and armor piercing bullets. Anyone know the last time a hunter shot at Bambi using an Uzi?

How about the truth for a change… As reported in the New York Times on August 07, 2012, Wayne LaPierre said in his four-page plea for cash, that President Obama’s re-election would result in the “confiscation” of weapons and a possible ban on semi-automatic weapons. “The future of your Second Amendment rights will be at stake,” the letter stated. “And nothing less than the future of our country and our freedom will be at stake.” It was a statement geared to defeat Obama from being re-elected, and nothing more. But as we all know, President Barak Obama was re-elected… BIG TIME!!

Up until December 14, 2012, the day of those senseless murders of innocent school children, and their daily protectors, LaPierre’s statement was nowhere near the truth. If anything, President Obama has been lax on gun control issues. But now, President Obama and Americans everywhere should be demanding some sort of organized, bipartisan effort to control guns, to make all of our lives safer. In fact, if the NRA really had the “bullets” (so to speak) and the safety and well-being of Americans in their heart, they would lead the way in that effort.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that will happen. But I do believe the NRA has a responsibility to help formulate and put forth a plan to assure that the all too frequent incidents like these senseless killings never, ever, happen, again.

The time for serious talk is long gone. It was yesterday, it is today, it is tomorrow… When asked shortly after the December 14, 2012, violent assault in Newtown, Connecticut, White House spokesman, Jay Carney said, “Today is not the day” to discuss gun legislation. He indicated that the various issues would be discussed… “the usual policy debates.”

Jay is right of course… but that day for discussion was December 13th, and long before. And there could have been a discussion on July 12, 2012, the day before the Aurora Colorado movie theatre shootings, or the day before the January 08, 2011 shootings in Tucson, Arizona, when Gabby Gifford was shot point blank in the head. Congresswoman Gifford survived, but others did not. The day for discussion was the day before the senseless murders at Columbine on April 20, 1999, and the other senseless shootings between then and now.

Since Columbine, there have been more than 35 mass shootings in the U.S. Several hours after the tragic killings that took place in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012, President Obama addressed the nation and the world. “We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent tragedies like this, regardless of politics …”

I agree with the President. But when will it happen? And will it happen at all? That’s a tough one, but if shooting six and seven year old children “multiple times with an assault rifle” doesn’t lead to “meaningful action,” then nothing will. And God help us all.

So Wayne LaPierre, how about you put down your gun and drag your cold beating heart up to the podium, and tell those parents, relatives and friends, of the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School that the NRA will do everything they can, to promote real gun safety. Maybe an “assault weapon ban” would be a good start. And extensive background checks would certainly help. But to be clear, I am not suggesting that the right of gun ownership should be taken away. But better and stronger laws and a system that truly punishes those who break the law would go a long way. And personally I think I’d feel better if I believed Wayne-boy truly represented his membership more and gun manufacturers less. After all, who is paying his salary. Yea! Who is paying his salary?

The bottom line…
A week to the day after the mass killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Wayne LaPierre held a news conference- http://www.businessinsider.com/nra-press-conference-gun-control-sandy-hook- school-shooting-2012-12.

What follows is in no way being said to make a joke of the horrible tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. It is nothing more than an example of putting the shoe on the other foot, or for the sake of this conversation, putting the gun in someone else’s hands. So, imagine if…

A pretty, little, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, ten-year old girl wearing sneakers, Levis, and a pale yellow t- shirt with an image of Bambi on the front, along with the words…”I’m a little dear from Sandy Hook,” walks into the NRA press conference. She is carrying a long, narrow, pale green gym bag.

In attendance, with the usual, numerous drooling press, are a number of NRA members with all eyes focused on the guest speaker, Wayne LaPierre, adjusting the microphone in his cold, live, hand. The little girl cannot be seen as she is short and in the back of the hall. Quietly, she places the gym bag on the floor and pulls out a brand new, high-pressure, “Super Soaker Water Rifle,” originally known as a Power Blaster. The Super Soaker uses pressurized air (or Pneumatics) to force water out of the rifle’s barrel when being fired.

This particular water weapon has been customized with a double-pressure “air” clip, and an over-size reservoir filled with deer urine (hunters can purchase deer urine as a tool to attract deer). She slings the rifle strap over her shoulder, holding it in both hands, and boldly walks down a side isle, and up towards the speaker’s podium.

As Mr. LaPierre turns to greet her, and ask her to step back, she begins to unload the liquid in the Super Soaker reservoir. She shoots Wayne right between the eyes and all over his now grimacing face, including a full-frontal soaking. She then turns and easily nails the press and attending NRA members as they fail to run for cover, not realizing what the liquid was that was spraying all those close to the podium. Breaking News! They all quickly got the message.
So here’s the question Mr. LaPierre: Pissed off, or pissed on?

There’s only one answer… You bet!

(Photo Credit: Donkey Hotey)

By the way, if you were expecting a dissertation on the NRA and the Trump’s usual lack of knowledge, “Fuhgeddaboudit…” Forget about it – the issue is not worth the time, energy, mental effort, or emotional resources. So says the urban DICTIONARY. And the Trump, as usual is the real “doofus …”, as he proves over, and over and over again.

Peace. I am Bob Danon, and integrity does matter…

Looking back…

by R. C. Danon | May 17, 2016 | Brokennews

What a week that was… It was over three years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Monday, January 21, 2013, the day we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. It was also the day President Obama was inaugurated for his second term — His second term! In reality, January 21st was a reenactment of the actual swearing-in the day before. January 20th is the day the Constitution dictates the swearing-in must take place.

Later that same afternoon, I went to a reading of a David Mamet play at Northwestern University. The title of the play was “RACE,” and it was being presented in honor of MLK Day. About half way through the reading, I realized the message we were to take away was to be determined by those of us in the audience. Individually, we would each decide for ourselves the significance of Mr. Mamet’s words.

It wasn’t all black and white… so to speak. There were numerous, memorable lines in this play. There were words of hate. There were various descriptive words that were foul and insulting, and will not be repeated here. But I assure you those words had purpose. One line in particular that really touched me and cut deepest into my being was, “Race is the most incendiary topic in our history.” It was that line that made me realize we are what our experiences dictate.

Our feelings about race have to do with where we grow up, who our family and friends are, where our influences come from, in school, after school, from the books, magazines and newspapers we read, the television shows we watch, etc., etc. All the varying experiences that take place in our daily lives do influence the way we think, act and respond to matters of “race.” And as I said, it’s not all black and white. Yet to some, it’s very black, while to others, it is very white. Or should I say, it’s very black vs. white?

The American experience… Friday, 01/25/13. The week ended for me in Birmingham, Alabama, where I was visiting a friend. On Friday morning, I was up and out of the house early and drove into downtown Birmingham to tour the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. I’d wanted to the BCRI on previous visits, but it never worked out. And now I was there, and at a most appropriate time — appropriate because of the Presidential inauguration, appropriate because of the MLK holiday earlier in the week, and appropriate because of the way I was brought up.

The Institute or Museum itself is a work of art. But the images inside, and the spoken and written words of people coming at each other from different directions dating back to the Civil War, give one a sense of history that, until recently, I believed were “historical.”

Granted, the separate classrooms and water fountains and bathrooms marked “Whites Only” or “Coloreds” don’t exist in today’s world. But in my opinion, the disrespect shown our President, and the numerous, somewhat successful attempts to keep our President from doing any good whatsoever under Republican Majority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell’s banner of, “My single most important goal is to make Barak Obama a one-term president,” just reeks of racism.

On 09-09-2009, during an address to Congress by President Obama, (R) Rep. Joe Wilson from South Carolina interrupted and shouted out to the President, “you lie…” On January 25, 2012, a video of the (so-called) lady governor from Arizona, with her mouth agape and her scolding finger just inches from the President’s face, was played on news programs across the country. These two incidents, along with Sen. McConnell’s (failed) crusade are, in my opinion, race-based examples of disrespect not witnessed in this country, at that level, in a long time.

As a white, northern liberal brought up in Chicago during the 50’s and 60’s, it all smacks of racism. And I challenge anyone of these three apparent “haters” to defend their positions and aggressive acts of disrespect towards our President. Unfortunately, many in the media did not dig as deep into this story during President Obama’s first term, as they did into Beyonce, lip-syncing the National Anthem, earlier in the week. The fact of the matter is: These three political dolts hate the thought of having to sit across the table from the black guy… who by the way is a whole lot smarter, caring and credible than any deadbeat racist I can think of.

The bottom line…
If you ever get the chance, visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Walk through the historical, chronologically-arranged galleries. Read the words and listen to the audio presentations. Be reminded of blacks getting the right to vote, of Rosa Parks riding on a bus, sitting in the “Colored” seating area as she refused to give up her seat to a white man who had nowhere to sit in front. Watch the footage of the Freedom Riders in their attempts to ride public transportation into southern states that practiced segregation. Read of their bus being blown up and of the beatings they received when attacked by local mobs.

Lastly, if you really want your world rocked, stand back five to ten feet from the large-screen video presentation of the Rev. Martin Luther King giving his “I Had a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C., in 1963. Then, when you leave the building and step out into the fresh air and the sunshine, look back one more time, and be ever so grateful that we have a president who really does care about all Americans, including McConnell, Wilson and the “finger lady”. And take pride that so many believed so strongly that Barak Obama was the right guy for the job… twice!

Peace. I am Bob Danon, and integrity does matter…

Wow!! Sarah Palin again?

by R. C. Danon | May 10, 2016 | Brokennews

Are you kidding me?
Is there anyone in politics less significant than Sarah Pailin? I think not!

Oh I know, there was the, “I am not a witch” lady. And of course there are occasional Michele Bachman sightings. Both of whom have recently appeared as guests with Brooke Baldwin on CNN. And if that isn’t broken news, what is?

But getting input, or an opinion from Sarah Palin about anything other than scaling a carp or buying shotgun shells seems a bit far fetched. I mean really… Defending the Trump against Paul Ryan based on a sound bite or two. It’s safe to assume she didn’t read it in a newspaper. After all, the only thing she’s ever done with a newspaper is wrap up those scales and entrails.

When will Sarah Palin, the “I am not a witch lady”, Michele Bachman and others like them just disappear? They bring nothing to the table. They offer nothing of significance in any way, shape or form. And for that matter, the Trump doesn’t really offer much either. But then again, who better to promote the Trump, than another loose cannon… Bang!

Yes, the Trump is a very different kind of candidate than anyone has ever had to deal with before. As he slithers in the gutter, he attacks his opponents with vile, disgusting accusations, name calling and lies. He lies about the opposition and he lies about things he has “seen’, and “heard”. And to top it all off, his knowledge of the issues is remedial at best.

I can’t remember anyone who has so successfully “worked the press” the way the Trump has. This election cycle is far different than any that I can remember. It is truly a sight to behold. CNN, MSNBC and many of the local networks are Breaking (the) News on an hourly basis by sitting on the edges of their seats as the Trump spouts, talks, insults, threatens and weasels his way towards the GOP convention while the GOP is in a shambles trying to figure out how to out- trump the Trump. Good luck on that.

The Trump: Lots of talk but very few specifics; lots of over-talking, interrupting, “excuse me” snap-backs, always pushing interviewers around; endless derogatory comments about women, Hispanics, and his primary competitors. His attacks on Megyn Kelly in the first GOP debate were both disgusting and absurd. All Ms. Kelly did was question his “documented” comments about women, and all of sudden she is being endlessly attacked by the Trump. That’s his way… Bullying, monopolizing every conversation or interview, name calling and lying about the intended victim. And most of the time it seems to work. Absolutely amazing…

On November 06, 2015, Mary Kate Cary wrote an article about the Trump for US NEWS. In that article – The Master of Manipulation subtitled- The press keeps taking Donald trump’s bait – and all the free coverage is keeping his campaign alive, Ms Cary wrote – “Here’s what Mr. Trump wrote in his 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal:” “One thing I’ve learned about the press is that they’re always hungry for a good story, and the more sensational the better… If you are a little different, or a little outrageous, or if you do things that are bold or controversial, the press is going to write about you.”

The bottom line…
The polls and the pundits are all over the place and there’s still about six months to go until the election. How will we all survive this? I don’t see Trump becoming Presidential during the campaign. Oh he may try from time to time, but what you see is what you get, and there is no pretending by this guy. He expects to be believed, no matter what he says or does. But like Sarah Palin, he doesn’t have much to offer.

As for Hillary… I suggest she stay out of the gutter. No name calling and no trash talking. Just stick to the issues. Because the issues and and the apparent lack of depth of understanding of those issues is where the Trump will falter. He shows it over and over again. And when called on it, he talks his way, away from the original question. Repeatedly, the Trump skates the topics presented to him by the interviewer. If only more of the talking heads would press the question, and then fight to get the answer. And my prediction is that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won’t let him off so easy. I can’t wait…

Peace. I am Bob Danon, and integrity does matter…